Page 69 of Defenders of Jawhara

PJ chuckled. “Yeah, and don’t you forget it.”

“As if you’d let me. Make camp and maybe you can grab a few hours’ sleep.”

“Sounds good. Talk to you in the morning.” The com unit buzzed, then went silent. She turned to see Talib watching her with an undiscernible look in his eyes. “What?”

“Your team members care for you.”

“Yeah, well, it’s mutual. I told you we’re all kind of like one big dysfunctional family. We watch each other’s backs and help each other out whenever possible with the normal parts of our lives. Did you know that Carlos has six kids back home?”

“What? Why is he here, then?” Talib questioned.

“It’s what he does. He married his childhood sweetheart and then enlisted because he couldn’t find a good-paying job. Uncle Sam promised to educate him and train him ‘to be the best that he could be,’ and he bought in. He did ten years in the service before Slade enticed him out. Now, he goes on these short missions, keeps in contact with his wife almost every night, and gets to see his kids grow up. He’s completely happy with his life.”

“Hold on,” Talib cautioned her as he gave the camel the command to kneel so they could dismount. He couldn’t contain his chuckle when PJ grabbed at his arms in order to keep from being tossed from the animal’s back as it rocked steeply, then lowered itself to its knees.

They made short work of removing their supplies from the camel, and PJ watched as Talib expertly and efficiently pitched a small tent in the sand.

Shaking her head, she said, “Done this a time or two?”

Talib looked up at her in the moonlight. “Once or twice. When Khalil and I were younger, we imagined ourselves treasure hunters. We were always taking off into the desert on some excursion.”

“How old were you?” PJ asked, helping to spread the carpet out on the floor of the tent for padding.

“Twelve. Thirteen maybe.”

“And they let you go into the desert on your own?” she asked, surprised.

Talib laughed. “Not hardly. Since Khalil and Kamal were heirs to the throne, they were never without at least one palace guard apiece. Most of the time we were outnumbered two to one on our excursions, but the guards knew how to give us our space and would never interrupt us unless we asked or were endangering ourselves.”

“Sounds a little claustrophobic.”

“Not when that is all you know. Miss Malone’s child will grow up the same way. Threats can come from anywhere, and lack of privacy is a small price to pay to ensure one’s safety.”

“I guess. And hey, at least it keeps people like us in a job.”

Talib smiled at her. “Come, let us try to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to require all of our focus and wits.”

PJ agreed and quickly fell asleep. Her exhaustion didn’t even allow her to dwell on the fact that the man who had wrapped her in his arms to share his warmth was hotter than any man she’d ever been with. Just the memory of his kisses from earlier had her heart speeding up and her body ready to go. She let the memory of their small interlude carry her into sleep.

14

PJ

“Rise and shine, you two,” came Carlos’s voice over the com unit.

PJ started to stir, only to realize that Talib had his arms banded around her tightly. As she became more aware of their positions, she could feel the solid evidence of his body’s reaction to her nearness against her buttocks.

“Talib?” she questioned softly.

“I heard,” came the mumbled reply. When she started to move once again, Talib tightened his arms around her, whispering in her ear, “Hold still unless you wish to start the morning by making your teammate wait for our response, which will make him worry and then send in the cavalry.”

PJ became as still as a statue. “I’d rather not, if you don’t mind. Exhibitionism was never my style.”

“Mine either.” Talib placed a tender kiss on her cheek and then hugged her close a moment before pushing her away from him and reaching for the radio. “We hear you, Carlos. Give me an update.”

“The target has started moving. From the pictures I’m getting, I think there might be a problem.”

“What kind of problem?” PJ inquired, not liking the sound of Carlos’s voice. She slipped her short-range com bud into her ear. Her hijab would cover it eventually, so she didn’t have to worry about the kidnapper spotting it. She just hoped the fabric wouldn’t muffle the mic too much.

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