With one final thrust, he shouted her name before collapsing on top of her, his cock spending inside her. He needed a moment before he could rise up on his forearms to make sure she was okay. Looking up at him, a satisfied smile on her face, she lifted her head for a kiss, and he met her halfway. Their tongues tangled, exploring each other. When they stopped, they were both panting, and he rested his forehead against hers before reluctantly lifting himself up and away from her.
Giving her a soft kiss, he rose to go clean up and grab a wet washcloth. When he returned to the bed, she watched him from where she still lay sprawled and didn’t protest this time when he cleaned her. His ministrations soon took on a new life, and before he knew it, he was ready for another round. He didn’t want to push her too soon, though, so he restrained his desire to take her again. She was still exhausted, and they needed to talk.
19
ERIN
Kamal set the washcloth aside, stretching out beside her and pulling Erin tightly against him. She sprawled across his chest, grateful for his warmth.
Drawing in a breath, he spoke softly. “Habibti, we must speak about your actions while I was gone.”
Erin stiffened against him, but feeling his hand run down her back, she relaxed and listened.
“You belong to me. You are my responsibility, one I take very seriously. What you did today for those refugees may well have saved lives, but when you willingly put yourself in danger, you not only could hurt yourself, but the baby. You did not have enough security with you. In addition, leaving without my approval is a form of disrespect to me and to my position. There are protocols that must be followed, and you did not stop to consider the delicate nature of the negotiations taking place.”
Erin struggled to remain silent.
He thinks he owns me.
“Kam, you cannot own another person.” When he was silent, she continued. “I didn’t mean to disrespect you, but I was not going to sit idly by while so many lives were in jeopardy. I told you that earlier. You haven’t been there or seen what it was like for yourself. Lives are more important than protocol.” Erin paused and took some long, slow breaths. She didn’t want to berate him, and deep down, she knew that he was trusting others to have things under control. Which is what a good leader needed to do.
Kamal didn’t speak, perhaps realizing she was trying to work things out in her head.
“I’m an adult, Kam. I’m not used to having anyone else besides Shira worry about me. My parents trust me to take care of myself.”
“I trust you to take care of yourself, but there will also be certain protocols that as my wife, you must follow, and your safety will always be my first priority.”
“I’m not your wife yet,” she reminded him.
“Merely a technicality. One that could be rectified this very evening if you do not wish to wait the month.”
“Well, there are a couple of other technicalities that we need to discuss.”
Kam stiffened beneath her. “And those would be?”
“Well, one—you haven’t actually asked me to marry you. You’ve made demands, but you haven’t asked.” When Kam opened his mouth to speak, she held up her finger to silence him. “And two—what about love?”
Kam gave her a strange look before he spoke. “Whataboutlove?”
Erin sat up, pulling the sheet up to cover herself. She suddenly felt vulnerable and wondered if she’d need some armor to finish this discussion. “We’ve only known each other for a short time and most of that was spent thousands of miles apart. Do you love me? Is it too soon to say that I love you? What if things don’t work out and we end up resenting each other?”
Her questions stuttered to a stop when Kamal got up from the bed. Erin immediately worried that she’d said too much. That he didn’t love her. What would she do then? She pulled the sheet tight against herself, wishing she could make herself invisible. She looked up when she heard something snap closed and watched Kam return to the bed.
Kneeling on the bed next to her, he held something in his hands, a small box. Erin gasped when he opened it. Inside was a beautiful diamond surrounded by emeralds and set in a platinum band.
“I chose this ring for the emeralds, which reminded me of the color of your eyes. The diamond is part of my family’s collection and has been passed down through the generations. Nothing would make me happier than for my future bride to wear it. Erin Malone, would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Erin was speechless as she switched between staring at Kam and then at the ring. Pulling the ring from the box and taking her left hand in his, he said, “I love you, Erin. Probably from the first moment I saw you, I knew you were the one for me. So, will you please say something?”
She began to rapidly nod before blurting out, “Yes! Yes, Kam, I will marry you. I love you, too.” Kam placed the ring on her finger and she stared down at it, her eyes too blurry with tears to really see it. She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him to her as she told him again and again that she loved him.
Kam sat back against the headboard and pulled Erin to his side and wrapped his arm around her. Erin was fiddling with the ring, staring at it in awe. He reached out to still her hands.
“Now that we have made this official, shall I call for an officiant to marry us this evening?”
“No,” Erin hurried to answer. “My parents would be very disappointed if I got married and they weren’t here for it.”
“What ship are your parents on? I will have them brought to Jawhara immediately.”