‘In light of the security concerns today...’
‘That was an angry man with a coffee,’ she corrected, shaking her head. ‘You had no business interfering with the arrangements my state department made.’
‘Your safety is my priority.’ He lowered his voice. ‘As it is theirs—they were also anxious we limit your exposure to uncontrollable elements.’
‘You mean people?’
He smiled, but she wasn’t amused. Frustration shifted through her.
‘Amir, I’m here to do a job. I want to do it.’
‘And you can,’ he promised. ‘The higher profile events are still there. Your schedule has been curtailed, that is all.’ He ran his eyes over her face slowly. ‘But if you disagree, then have it reinstated.’ He lifted his broad shoulders, but he might as well have been pulling on a string that ran right to her heart. She felt it ping and twinge. ‘I trust your judgement.’
The string pulled again. Her heart hurt.
I trust your judgement. No one had ever said that to her before.
She lifted a palm to his cheek. ‘Thank you for caring.’
His eyes widened and she saw something like shock in the depths of his eyes before he muted it, assuming an expression that was ironic. ‘You’re my guest in Ishkana. It’s my job to care.’
Boundaries. How insistent he’d been on those boundaries, right from the start. He was insisting on them now, just not in so many words.
‘I’ll defer to you,’ she said. ‘On this matter only.’
He laughed, shaking his head. ‘Heaven forbid you defer on anything else.’
Her own smile came naturally, but she knew what was at the root of her capitulation. A lighter schedule meant she could sneak more time with him. Her time in Taquul was almost at an end. They had to make the most of the days they had left.
‘Your Majesty.’ Ahmed’s expression showed worry. ‘It’s four in the morning. Where have you been?’
Amir hadn’t expected to be discovered returning to the palace. He stared at Ahmed, a frown on his face, wondering for a moment what he should say before realising he didn’t have to say anything. He answered to no one.
‘Did you want something?’
Ahmed continued to stare at Amir. His hair was wet, and, while he’d pulled his pants on, he’d left his robe off for the walk back to the palace. He had it thrown over one arm now. He’d been too distracted to dress.
‘If you’re going to insist on monopolising me, then I shall have to think of a form of payback.’
‘Oh? What do you have in mind?’
She’d straddled him, taking him deep within her, and leaned over him so her dark hair teased his shoulders. ‘What if I told you I have no intention of wearing underwear tomorrow, Amir?’
A smile flicked at his lips as the memory seared his blood. Desire whipped him. It was practically daylight, and still he found he couldn’t wait to see her again.
‘Yes, sir. There’s been an intelligence report. A band of vigilantes is forming in the foothills.’
Amir heard the words with a heavy heart, the statement jolting him back to the present, regretfully pushing all thoughts of Johara and her promise from his mind. ‘Well, that didn’t take long.’
‘No, sir.’ Ahmed’s voice was similarly weighted.
‘Damn it.’ Amir dragged a hand through his hair. ‘Give me twenty minutes then meet me in my office. Have Zeb join us,’ he said, referring to the head of the security agency.
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Your hair is like a bird’s nest,’ Athena chastised with a smile. ‘What in the world happened?’
Johara smiled, remembering every detail of the night before. ‘I went swimming.’ The words emerged before she could catch them. Her eyes met Athena’s in the mirror. ‘Alone. Last night. I found a stream and it was so hot, and no one was around...’