London. This time they hit all of the decorating sites, enjoying an afternoon of shopping and Sidra found several unique pieces that she had shipped back to the States for future projects. They laughed and lunched at a cute café, but when Laura received a message from one of her clients just before dinner time , their fun was at an end .
“Sidra, I’m so sorry but I’ve got to get over to this house and help this client. Apparently, something is wrong with her light fixtures and she’s just furious about whatever it is. ”
“No problem,” Sidra replied. “Go and get things fixed. I know how demanding some clients can be.” Secretly, she had a plan and didn’t want Laura tagging along so this was the perfect opportunity.
As soon as Laura left, Sidra locked up her friend’s apartment and headed for the drug store in the village. She was painfully embarrassed but she persevered, making her purchase and then getting back to her friend’s flat with a bag full of groceries. She had a pile of cheesy pasta, garlic bread and a bottle of red wine all set up as soon as Laura walked wearily into the flat.
Over dinner, they shared stories about various clients, laughing about some of their requests as they devoured the pasta and finished the bottle of wine. With all the carbs in their systems, they were exhausted as they watched a movie that night. The romantic comedy was just what Sidra needed!
Chapter 4
Sidra nervously tucked several of the various sized packets into her back pocket and carried one of Laura’s older blankets under her arm as she hurried out of the flat the following morning just as dawn was creeping into the village . She reached the rock earlier than normal and paced back and forth as the sky slowly lightened over the horizon. Would Rashid be able to get away again? And would she be able to follow through on what she wanted to do? She was so nervous, she didn’t hear Rashid as he and his horse walked through the underbrush until he grabbed her around her waist and lifted her into his arms.
She gasped and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him closely, kissing him desperately.
When he pulled away, he looked down at her. “What’s wrong?” he asked, feeling the nervousness in her body and not letting her get away with trying to hide it.
Sidra ran her hands up and down his chest, feeling his muscles and the incredible strength of him under her fingers. “I…um….went to the drugstore yesterday,” she said softly, unable to look him in the eyes. She stared instead at the middle of his chest, swallowing painfully and she knew that her face was filled with color.
Rashid stilled, wondering if she was saying what he hoped she was saying. “And?” he prompted when she stopped.
Sidra took a deep breath and reached into the back pocket of her jeans, pulling out several condoms of various sizes. “I was hoping…well, maybe…”
She stopped and was embarrassed by her assumptions. He was silent in front of her and she was now worried that she’d offended him in some way.
When she finally found the courage to look up at him, she gasped at the heat in his eyes. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, his hands flexing against her waist.
Slowly, with absolute conviction, she nodded her head. “Yes. Absolutely sure.”
He pulled her into his arms and bent his head. “You won’t regret this Sidra,” he said with a low, husky voice.
Sidra already knew that. “I’d only regret it if we didn’t do this,” she said a moment before his mouth covered hers. She was ravenous this time, unable to keep her hands off of him. She wanted him more than she’d ever thought possible. When he touched her, she lit up with the heat of his touch and before she knew what was happening , her sweater was tossed over her head. H is mouth moved to her neck, his teeth biting and teasing, sucking against her inflamed skin, she