‘Hold tight,’ he warned her as the handler urged the camel upright, back legs first, threatening to plunge her forward into the sands if not for the steel-like bands of Khaled’s arms surrounding her. Then the process was reversed as the camel raised itself on its front legs, forcing her bodily against him.
Then the five camels set off, with Khaled in the lead, padding their way over the soft desert sands. The side-by-side motion of the camel was familiar. The feel of his body so close to hers was not. She was nestled into the space between his thighs, pressed close to the wall of his chest, her head perilously close to his shoulder, feeling the friction between them increase with every step. His scent, woody and masculine, surrounded her, spiking subtly with the motion, adding to the cocktail of sensory impressions.
And there was no way she could hold herself aloof. There was no way she could keep her distance. If she wanted to stay on she had to cling to him, and cling tight.
Not that she was likely to fall off, not with the band of his arm circling her waist. Every breath she took, every rise of her chest brought his arm closer, tighter. But she dared not squirm. Already heat gathered low inside her, alluring, seductive. To wriggle in the cradle of his thighs would be to invite disaster.
‘Are you not comfortable?’ he asked, bending his head low to her ear. ‘Maybe you should try to relax.’
Relax? Like that was on the cards. ‘Why couldn’t we take the cars? I would have thought that with four-wheel drives and helicopters, camels would have been a thing of the past.’
‘Out here they still have some uses. There’s an escarpment coming up. We could drive around but the camels will take the most direct route and save us hours of travel.’
‘And helicopters?’
‘Not half as much fun, wouldn’t you agree?’
Her dark silence seemed to amuse him and his chuckle welled up, rippling through his chest. ‘Besides, have you forgotten? The airport is closed. Such a shame.’
She gritted her teeth. ‘A damn shame,’ she muttered.
The ground became rockier. Pebbles took the place of sand and she became aware they were climbing, gradually at first, until they reached the escarpment and began the steep climb up the ancient track. Now she could see why they couldn’t bring the cars. The narrow path was barely wide enough for a man, let alone a camel. A vehicle had no hope.
Below them the desert sands were spread out like a golden blanket, rippled and shadowed, warm and seductive in the fading light. It was beautiful and already she felt her life enriched, more textured by the experience.
The camel’s movements became less rhythmic, more unpredictable as it ascended. Somewhere near the top of the escarpment, one plate-sized foot slid sideways on loose gravel and the camel lurched, jarring her out of Khaled’s lap and threatening to launch her over the side, but his strong arms only tightened around her, reeling her back in close to him again.
She huddled close to his chest, waiting for her breathing to calm, her heart still racing from her narrow escape, but it was another rhythm that caught her attention. Outwardly he was so composed, so in charge. Yet inside she could feel his heart thumping wildly.
Had he been taken by surprise as well?
‘Do not be afraid,’ he whispered as she clung on to his arm. ‘I would never let you fall. I would never let you get hurt.’
Tremors shook her body, though whether from relief or the impact of his words she couldn’t be sure. For somehow she knew what he said was true.
‘I’m okay,’ she replied, thinking he might release his tight grip a fraction once he knew she was all right. But his arms stayed vice-like around her, even after they’d reached the summit and were finally nearing the collection of tents that made up the encampment. She couldn’t wait to get down. The dust of a day’s travel had worn into her skin and she was sure the smell of the camel had done likewise. But now she wouldn’t have long to wait.
Small dark-haired children ran towards them, smiling and laughing, their long robes flapping around their bare shins and feet. A herd of goats looked up momentarily, checking out the latest distraction before losing interest.
A taller youth met the camels, his eyes alert and intelligent, his smile genuine. Excitement fired his features as he pulled on the nose ring of the lead camel and urged him to sit. Sapphy felt herself rocked forward as the camel dropped to its knees but Khaled’s grip never let her fall. Then the camel was down. He released his hold enough for her to slip out of his grasp and onto the earth before he, too, dismounted.
‘Majeed,’ Khaled said, embracing the boy.
‘Good day, Sheikh Khaled,’ he replied formally, obviously working hard at his English. ‘You have brought my new teacher?’
‘Of course, Majeed. Didn’t I promise?’
Moments later she noticed the youth leading away one of their fellow travellers. She wanted to ask Khaled about the exchange—she’d assumed their several accompanying riders were all guards—but she was surrounded by the young children, hanging on to her hands and chattering non-stop.
‘You might want to clean up now,’ he suggested to her, ruffling the children’s hair as he steered her through the throng and towards the camp. ‘Your bag will have been delivered already. I will show you to your tent.’
He turned back to the children and rattled off something fast in his language. They all scattered immediately, heading for the tents like shot from a gun.
‘What did you say to them?’
‘I told them to tell their mothers the doctor will be ready to see them shortly.’
‘A doctor came with us? I thought those men were guards.’