“The one that allowed time travel?” He nodded.
“That is where it was hidden. My grandfather moved it to another location. I cannot take you to that place, as the Medjai chieftain is the only one allowed to know where the artifacts are that we “liberate” from those who would misuse them. But I will show you where the amulet was then, however, and where my grandmother was almost lost.”
Jo turned to look at Khalid. “Almost lost? You mean they couldn’t find her? And isn’t it getting a little late? We should be stopping for the night soon, shouldn’t we?”
“We’re going to be there in a couple hours, Johara. And you get to go camping, doesn’t that sound like fun?” Khalid smiled; he knew already what her answer would be.
“No! My idea of roughing it is no hot tub.” Jo stopped her horse, glaring at her husband. “You know that, so stop rubbing it in. And I don’t see a trail, how will we get up there?” She pointed to the top of the cliff.
“Easy, kalila, don’t you trust me?” Khalid grabbed Marah’s reins and pulled her along.
“Well, okay, but if I fall off the side, I’m coming back to haunt you first.” Saleh snorted with laughter behind her, and she turned and glared at him in jest. “And you’re next!” Jo tugged the reins out of Khalid’s hand and rode along beside him. When they reached the cliffs, he led the way up a winding trail, the narrowness making for slow going. Saleh returned Sahar to her own horse for safety and the rest of the party started up the trail.
“I sure hope you know where you’re going, Khalid. I wouldn’t want to be lost out here in the dark.” Jo looked nervously over the edge of the trail. She had given Marah her head, confident that the horse would find the best footing without her rider to hinder her.
“We are only a few miles away, Johara. Soon you will see what I have in store for you.” He and Damis’ disappeared over a ridge and Jo called to Sahar, who giggled, “Just a few miles, he says, then vanishes. Right!”
She came to the top and saw that Khalid had dismounted and was standing at the edge of the cliffs. Jo got off her horse and approached him, afraid to get too near the edge. She put her hand on his arm and he turned, putting his arm around her and pulling her closer.
“Um, that’s quite close enough, Khalid. I can see everything from here. It’s a nice view, now let’s go.” She tried to edge out from under his arm and back up, but he held on tighter. Saleh and Sahar appeared next to them, Sahar hanging on to Saleh for dear life.
“Johara, Sahar, this is the place that my grandmother, Emma, was almost lost to us. Tate, the man who had half of the amulet, held her here until my grandfather told him where to find the other half. When Ardeth told him, Tate let her fall over the edge. My grandfather tried to throw himself over to join her in death, but his men stopped him. Later, Emma’s brother found her clinging to a small ledge below here and rescued her.” Without realizing it, Jo was standing at the very edge of the cliff. She looked up at Khalid, tears in her eyes.
“My god, that must have been awful for him, thinking she was dead. Did he get the man?”
“Yes, he and the Medjai rode down on him and his men and killed them all. Ardeth fought with Tate in one of the caves, killed him and recovered the other half of the amulet. Emma showed up in the middle of the fight, the surprise causing Ardeth to lose his scimitar, but he got in under Tate’s guard and stabbed him with a dagger. He hid the amulet and the other artifacts in a new place after that.”
“Oh, Khalid, that is a great ending!” She suddenly realized where she was and paled. “Now, sweetie, can we move away from the edge? I think I’m gonna faint.” Jo hid her head in Khalid’s chest and stood very still. She felt his lips on her temple, a gentle caress.
“All right, kalila, we have a way to go anyway. Our camp is about seven miles from here.” The small group returned to the horses, where Khalid gave Jo a quick kiss and handed her up on Marah. Saleh and Sahar remounted, and Khalid led the way north, the rest of the Medjai having moved past the foursome by the cliff edge. Finally, they topped a ridge and Khalid stopped, looking down at some caves below.
“There is where Tate and his men were killed. We will not go down there, but camp a little further away.” They stood there for a short time, thinking back to what had happened there so long ago. As they rode along the ridge, Jo reached out to take Khalid’s hand. He looked over at her, smiled sadly and kissed her palm. “Thank you, kalila. It bothers me, even though I was not there to see it. Let’s go on and enjoy our holiday, eh? Come, my children, our camp is just ahead.”
They could see a glow ahead of them and as they got closer, it resolved into a large lighted tent, with a fire going outside. Some of the tribe were tending the food cooking on the fire, and one of the woman warriors came up to them and took the horses when they dismounted.
“Oh, my, this is nice!” Jo exclaimed. Khalid chuckled.
“But there’s no hot tub. Are you sure it’s good enough?” Jo smacked his arm and turned toward the tent.
Khalid pointed to several other tents a short distance away. “Saleh, Sahar can stay with Amina in her tent, and you can find your own bed for the night. Good night, my dear young lady. I am glad you came with us. And to you, ya ibney, you have chosen well. And take the dog with you, if you please.”
Jo kissed Sahar and Saleh good night, knowing they would take the longest way to get the short distance to the other tents. Rafiq walked up just then and asked to talk to Jo alone. Khalid looked at him not sure of what he wanted, but Jo waved him away and took Rafiq’s hand.
“What is it, Rafiq? Are you all right?” She looked at him, concerned that he was regretting his decision to come along.
“I just want to thank you for caring enough to talk to me last night. I was feeling left out, I think, because Saleh has Sahar and my father had you. In case you didn’t notice, I don’t seem to come from the same planet as my family. Seeing you and Abu so happy and Sahar with Saleh made the differences even worse. Please forgive me, and know that I will be here for you if I am needed. And I am sorry that I caused you and my father to have an argument.”
Jo hugged Rafiq warmly and kissed his cheek. “You’re welcome, Rafiq. And don’t worry, we made up. We seem to do that a lot, but then we are still learning about each other. And learn about your people while you are here. You may be surprised at what you find out. History is a powerful thing; it keeps cultures alive. Now, go, and sleep well.”
He smiled, yelled good night to his father and ran off to join the others by the fire. Khalid held the flap open for her to go in. He followed her, but immediately ran into her. She had stopped in amazement at the plush interior, lit with several ornate lanterns.
“My word, I feel like I’m in an Arabian nights tale.” Khalid nudged her forward and she walked into the center and tried to look at everything. There was low table loaded with food in one corner, a couch and several pillows in another. A huge bed with a satin coverlet dominated the far side of the tent. A large bathtub was in another corner. The water steaming, Jo looked at it longingly.
“Well, kalila, is this what you thought of when I said camping out?”
Khalid’s arms slid around her waist and he nuzzled the sensitive area under her ear. She leaned back against him and sighed. “No, this is definitely not what I envisioned. It’s wonderful, habibi. I had no idea a tent could be like this.” She ran her hands over his strong arms, feeling the sleek muscles beneath his brown skin. “Mmmm, I love it when you hold me like this, lover. I feel like I can face anything, do anything.”
Khalid pulled her in even tighter, enjoying the sense of well being he always had when holding his wife. “I love it too, my jewel, you are my strength, also.” Jo turned to him and took his face in her hands, looking into his warm brown eyes.
“Ana ahibuk ya habibi.” (I love you my darling). Never doubt that. You are my heart.” She slid her hands up into his long black hair and pulled his head down for a gentle kiss. He ran his hand up her back to cup her head, his fingers buried in her curls. He smiled against her lips and broke the kiss. He moved her head to lie on his chest and rested his head on hers.
“I love you too, ya habibti, and always will. Now, I want this to be a special night, so first let’s get changed into something a little more comfortable before we eat.” He turned and took something from the bed. ”When we first visited Mohammed, I asked him to make something special out of the teal silk, remember? Well, here it is.” He held up a beautifully embroidered caftan that made Jo gasp.
“Oh, Khalid, it’s wonderful.” She took it reverently and looked around for somewhere to change.
“I’ll go and check on dinner, shall I, kalila? You can have a bath first, then I’ll take one.”
He walked out and she hurriedly threw off her robes and bathed quickly. After toweling off, she picked up the silky caftan and pulled it on over her head. It was the most sensuous thing she had ever had on. The silky friction seemed to set her nerve endings on fire. She looked around for a mirror and spied one next to the bed. She walked over and studied her reflection. Her gold eyes were like molten amber, her red hair shone. She smiled and giggled, feeling like a princess.
She heard splashing and looked around the dividing curtain of the bedroom part of the tent. Khalid was in the tub, shampooing his hair. She turned back to the mirror and fluffed her damp hair. She heard Khalid rinsing off and the sound of the water rushing off him as he stood up in the tub.
“Allah, Johara,” Khalid said moments later, his deep voice was hushed in wonder, “You are truly beautiful.” He reached out a gentle hand and stroked her cheek. “Come, my princess,” he said, as if reading her mind. “Let’s eat.” She noticed that he had changed into a soft, white glabiya after his bath. It set off his dark eyes and skin to perfection. His dark hair hung in damp ringlets on his shoulders. He led her to the table, helping her down onto a pile of pillows and sitting behind her. They fed each other, talking quietly and laughing together. Jo finally groaned in surrender.
“I cannot eat any more, habibi! It is delicious, but I am stuffed. Can we walk a bit?” Khalid nodded and helped her up from the cushions. They left the tent and walked a little ways away.
Sahar and Saleh watched them pass, hidden in shadows of one of the tents. They had stopped by the fire for some food and then walked together, seeking a bit of privacy. As soon as they were out of the firelight, Saleh drew Sahar under his arm pulling her close to his side.
“So, kalila, how did you like your first day in the desert?” He stopped by the tent and turned her into his arms and enveloped her on his warm embrace. She sighed happily, thinking of the long ride.
“It was wonderful, jaan, thank you for taking me along.” His hand came up and tipped her chin up so he could capture her lips with his in a gentle kiss. “If you hadn’t come along, Sahar, I would have never left the village.” His deep voice washed over her and she closed her eyes. Her fingers combed through his silky black hair and pulled his mouth down to hers again. She ran her tongue across his full lower lip, teasing him. He opened his mouth to her and the kiss deepened, their tongues exploring each other’s wet heat. Saleh tore his mouth away and pressed her head to his chest.
“Sahar, we must stop.” He stroked her long hair, loving the feel of it under his hands, like living silk. “You are such a beauty, kalila. I will be hard pressed to keep my hands off of you.” Sahar ran her hand down his cheek, and he pressed a kiss in her palm.
“Saleh, ya hayat, it will be just as hard for me. But, we can use this time to get to know one another better, can’t we? And, then again, a little kissing and hugging never hurt anyone.” She tugged at his beard until he lowered his head enough for her to lightly rest her lips on his. “Kiss me, jaan,” she whispered into his mouth. He gathered her in close and did as she asked, giving her a soul-searing kiss that made her knees weak. She could feel a liquid heat run through her body and she gasped in reaction. Saleh pulled away, grasping her arms and forcing her away.
“Kaaf (enough), Sahar. I am only a man. Now go to bed and I will see you in the morning.” He pressed a kiss on her forehead and took her to the tent where she was staying. She watched him go, her feeling of belonging in his life growing stronger.
Jo and Khalid walked the perimeter of the camp, quietly talking. “This has been so nice, Khalid, just you and me, talking, learning more about each other. You were only gone three weeks this last time on your business trip, but it seemed like three years. Sometimes I think you are away more than you are home lately.” Jo felt his large hand come out and grasp hers.
“I know, kalila, I hate it when I have to leave all the time, but we have businesses to take care of and the MedJai need the income to be able to fulfill our destiny.” She shivered and he pulled her close to put his arm around her shoulders. She snuggled into his warmth and sighed.
“Let’s forget all that now, my husband, I just want to be with you. I think we need to go back inside and warm up.” She slid her cold hand into the neckline of his robe.
“My jewel, you will never freeze me out, so don’t ever try. Let’s go.” While they were gone, the table had been cleared away and the bath water emptied. Khalid went over next to the bed and did something and music started playing. “Remember this, my jewel? I think this is ‘our song’. Care to dance?” Maria Muldauer’s sultry voice came on singing “Midnight At The Oasis” and Jo started to laugh.
“”Sure, my sheik, why not?” She danced into his arms and they moved together, not caring if they were in time with the music or not. “So, lover boy, did you send your camel to bed?” Jo asked Khalid, her breath warm against his ear.
“Mmmm, of course, it’s past his bedtime.” Khalid kissed Jo’s neck, nipping lightly as he moved his mouth to hers. “Will you take me for a ride, kalila?” His lips came down on hers and she groaned. Her hands dove into his soft hair, holding his mouth to hers fiercely. Their tongues met and fought a mock duel, retreating and coming back for more.
Khalid turned Jo so her back was to him, knowing she loved being held this way. His arms slid around her waist from the back and he pulled her against him. His hands ran over the soft silk of her dress, molding it to her body.
“Ana ahibuk ya habibti (I love you my darling). My wife. You are more beautiful than the desert in all its glory.” His hands moved to caress her breasts through the material, creating a friction that caused her sensitive nipples to harden. Khalid rolled the peaked tips between his fingers and Jo moaned. “Tell me, kalila, what you want.” His hands moved lower to stroke her belly.
“Please, Khalid, touch me.” She placed her hand over his and guided it down to the juncture of her thighs. He pressed his fingers into her over her dress, as she shifted to accommodate him. She could feel the hard column of his sex pressing into her bottom.
Khalid reached for the hem of the dress and pulled it up over her head. His hand returned to dip into her hot, wet chamber. He ran a finger over her secret jewel and she cried out. He turned her to face him and their mouths met in a frenzied kiss of desire.
“Khalid, I want you inside me. Imshi!” He chuckled and moved her to the bed. He paused to undress and joined her.
“So, you have learned another Arabic word, eh, my jewel?” Khalid leaned over her and brought his head down to nuzzle her neck. “We are not so young anymore, you need to learn another. Bathmahal, slowly.”
“Like this, my husband?” She ran her tongue around his ear and gently bit the lobe. Her voice husky with passion, she whispered,“ Bathmahal, ya hayat.”
He sucked in his breath and turned his head to find her lips. He gently cradled her face in his hands and the kissed deepened. Jo ran her hands across his back and down to his muscular derriere, pulling him closer to her.
“Johara, we have all night, love.” He moved his mouth down to capture one of her nipples, sucking it to a hard peak. His hands moved down to stroke her belly and thighs. She gasped and dug her short nails into his backside and she ground her hips on his.
Khalid chuckled against her breast and his mouth followed the path his hands had made. He settled between her legs, his hands on her thighs, spreading them to give him greater access. His tongue ran through the thatch of curls hiding her treasure, stabbing into her hot, wet chamber.
Jo cried out, her fingers grasping the sheets, ”Please, Khalid.” Her voice rose at the end of his name as he found the center of her pleasure and he licked and suckled the sensitive nubbin. The knot of tension deep in her body wound tighter and tighter as he feasted on her, loving her with his tongue and lips. Her hands grabbed his hair, holding him to her, her hips rocking up to meet his greedy mouth. She cried out with her release, and he soothed her with his tongue, then moved up to hold her until she stopped trembling. He kissed her tenderly, stroking her back, until she caught her breath. She lifted herself off of his chest, leaned over him and kissed him thoroughly, exploring every corner of his mouth, tasting her own essence. She held his head in her hands, stroking his ears and cheeks tenderly. She finally broke the kiss, moving her lips to his ear, dipping her tongue in to swirl around, then nipping the lobe. Khalid tried to reach for her, but she pushed his arms back down.
“My turn, ya habibi, enjoy!” Her tongue moved down his neck and over his chest, stopping at each nipple, teasing them. She licked at his soft chest hair and moved down to his belly, where she circled his navel then stabbed her agile tongue in and out until he groaned. His hand came up to hold her head, his legs moving apart as she followed the arrow of hair on his stomach with her questing tongue. His hips rose up as her mouth closed on his upper thigh and gently sucked in a bit of skin. She soothed the small red spot she had created and giggled. Her soft, cool hands grasped his hard length, running up and down. He grew larger, and he gasped as she lowered her mouth on him, her tongue pressing the sensitive cord along the underside of his velvety shaft. She raised her head, almost releasing him from her mouth. Khalid pushed up against her, as she lowered her head once more. She established a steady rhythm, swirling her tongue up and down as she did. Her fingers grasped his soft sac, kneading it gently. Soon, Khalid’s fingers tightened in her hair and she felt him tense. She quickened her efforts and he gave a shout of release, thrusting into her mouth, the convulsions rippling through his body. She held him gently in her mouth until he reached down to pull her up to him.
“Johara, you are truly my treasure. Come here, my heart, I want to kiss you again.” She moved to his side, meeting his passionate kiss with one of her own.
He rolled on his back, pulling her up to straddle him. He reached up to stroke her soft breasts, his rough palms rubbing the sensitive tips. Jo leaned down to thrust her tongue in his mouth, her hands splayed on his chest, fingers tugging at the soft hair. Khalid’s fingers tweaked her nipples, and she broke the kiss and threw her head back. His hands crept around her back, bringing her peaked nipples down to his waiting mouth. He suckled first one then the other, drawing in deeply. Jo could feel the liquid heat pooling between her legs and ground her sex down on his belly, trying to scratch the itch he was creating. His hands grasped her generous hips, pushing her back on his body until she could feel his hard staff under her. She rubbed her wet heat on him, and he clenched his teeth. He raised her up, positioned the tip of his sex at the entrance to her hot, wet chamber and pulled her down to meet his upward thrust. Jo cried out and grabbed his shoulders, digging in. Her back bowed as she moved up and down, causing a friction that they both felt to their very cores.
“Now, Johara,” Khalid ground out, “Now, habibti.” He reached one hand down between them and found her center, flicking the sensitive nub there. Jo threw her head back, pulling him up in a sitting position, as her climax slammed into her. He felt her muscles convulse around him and his release followed, his arms holding her tight to him. He buried his face between her breasts, breathing heavily, stroking her back. He raised his head to see tears on her face. “Kalila, are you all right?” He gently lowered her down, wiped her cheeks with a corner of the sheet and kissed her.
“Khalid, my darling, I am so all right, it makes me cry.” She smiled a loving, if watery, smile at him and snuggled down at his side. He chuckled and pulled the sheet over them. Her even breathing soon told him she was asleep, but he continued to lay awake, watching her.
She was a wonder, this woman who had given up everything to live half way around the world in a foreign country for the man she loved. He gently stroked a damp curl away from her eye, marveling at her soft beauty. She was a generous, willing partner in everything they did with the strength of purpose to take on a new way of life, learning horsemanship and fighting techniques to be what she thought he wanted in a wife. No other woman had been willing to do anything like that for him, not even his wife. Khalid closed his eyes and slept, his heart full.
“Johara, wake up.” Her husband’s voice finally penetrated the terror she was experiencing. She shook with fear, throwing herself into his embrace. “Allah, Johara, you scared me to death. What is going on? Why the dream now? You are safe here.” His warm embrace encircled her and she inhaled, breathing in his dear scent. She was trying to erase the memory of the dream, which was more real this time than ever before.
“I wish I knew, Khalid, I wish I knew. It seems to be intensifying more each time.” Her face was buried in his hair, muffling her voice. “It’s probably just because of the shock of finding our LeClair is out of jail. I’ll be fine.” She loosened her hold and turned her back to him. He pulled her against him, an arm around her waist, and soon fell asleep. Jo lay awake for a long time after Khalid went back to sleep, trying to figure out what her dream meant. She finally fell into a fitful sleep just before dawn.
The next few days flew by for the group. The first morning after they arrived, Saleh was already showing Sahar how to hold a scimitar with his arms around her, looking over her shoulder. She was trying to concentrate, but it wasn’t easy to block out the feel of his hands on hers. His soft black beard tickled her neck, and she could feel the muscles in his arms flexing as he showed her how to grip the weapon. His warm voice in her ear made her shiver.
“Now, hold your right hand on the grip like this, but relax, no need to strangle it.” Sahar loosened her grip and the scimitar dropped toward the ground. Saleh’s hands caught hers and tightened on them. “Easy, you’ll cut off a toe that way. Just a second.” He moved around in front of her, his breathing a little fast. Their close proximity affected him also, and he needed to clear his head. “Now, hold it like I said, and just practice swinging it. Feet apart, knees bent slightly, turn sideways a little to present a smaller target. There ya go, now go ahead, turning your hand as you swing so the blade is flat when it hits.” As Sahar swung the blade, she tried to remember all the things he’d said. She finished the swing and stood straight, looking at Saleh for his reaction. “Great, nice swing, now go swing at that practice post, and try swinging the other direction, too. I’ll be right back.”
He left her to her practice and walked over to his father, who was watching them.
“Abu, is Jo coming out? She told me she really enjoys the fight training at home.”
Khalid nodded. “Yes, Saleh, she’ll be here soon. Don’t tell her I told you, but she has been having nightmares about being kidnapped. She had them before we had our run in with LeClair, but they stopped afterward. Now, they are returning, and getting worse. She was still sleeping a few minutes ago when I went to find her. I have to figure out what is triggering these dreams so she can sleep. She should feel safe out here, Saleh; LeClair has no idea where we are.”
Jo walked up to the two men, seeing their serious faces. Uh-oh, now what had happened? “Khalid, Saleh, is everything all right?” She put her hand on her husband’s arm, and he turned to her and smiled.
“We were just trying to figure out if we should get too close to Sahar. She seems to be a natural with a blade.” He pointed to the young woman, her green eyes shining, a grin on her face as she worked the blade.
“I see what you mean. Leave this to me, my brave men.” Jo approached Sahar, calling her name as she went.
“Sahar, you are very good. Have you done this before?” Sahar stopped and turned a flushed face to Jo.
“No, but I love it! I have been doing some kick boxing and power training, but this is so cool!” Jo laughed and pointed to Khalid and Saleh.
“See those two big, brave warriors over there? They were afraid to come over here while you were swinging the scimitar.” Sahar giggled and feinted a swing at the two men, who moved back a step. Saleh shook his finger at her and came over to continue the lesson.
Jo also trained, practicing some more difficult techniques. She learned to throw her sword and then retrieve it while on horseback. Khalid also instructed her in the use of a dagger. She had Rafiq as her opponent a few times. The young man seemed to be getting along pretty well, considering his attitude when he arrived. Khalid also sent him and some others to the village a couple times to check on Yusuf and Fatinah. They were being guarded by other MedJai, but Khalid needed the reassurance.
Some days, they took Snoopy and went hunting rabbits. They were teaching him to use what came to him naturally through his breeding. Jo thrilled to see the Saluki flying across the sand in quick pursuit of his furry prey. True to his breed, he killed the rabbits without breaking the skin. Khalid explained the reason for this to Jo. The Koran forbade the eating of meat that the dog had killed; it must be ritually dispatched by the hunter for the meat to be consumed. The hounds were trained to hold the prey but not kill it. That death grip on the throat cut off oxygen and forced the prey into unconsciousness, awaiting the arrival of the hunter. If the hunt was for hares, and the hunter was on foot, the saluki would be trained to bring back to him the unmarked, unconscious hare. Salukis coursing a hare or gazelle must work together to turn the prey toward the strong jaws of the nearest hound.
Evenings, Saleh and Sahar got to know each other better, for the most part staying near the others, only occasionally seeking private moments. Jo and Khalid also got to know each other better, sometimes sitting outside by the big fire by everyone else and others times spending the evening in their tent just talking. They discovered things about each other that surprised them.
“More tea, habibi?” Jo offered the pot to Khalid. He nodded his head, looking at her in wonder.
“You mean you really like hard rock music, Johara?” She laughed as she poured his tea.
“Yes, sir, I do. I love it. The Scorpions, Def Lepard, Meatloaf, Van Halen, Starship, all those guys. You can’t beat a good guitar riff. My favorite rock song of all time is ‘Jane’ by Starship and my favorite rock ballad is “Still Loving You’ by the Scorpions. I love slow dancing to that one, it makes me tingle all over.” Khalid chuckled and shook his head.
“I like rock and roll, but I am a child of the 60’s and 70’s. I like the Beatles and the Stones, among others.”
“Oh, I like them too, but if you ever want to get on my good side, now you know how. What is your favorite movie, Khalid? Have you been to any lately?” He grinned at her.
“Young Frankenstein with Gene Wilder. I love the part where the horses neigh every time they mention Frau Blucher.” Jo laughed in disbelief.
“Here I thought it would be Lawrence of Arabia or something like that. Or is that to cliché for you to like a desert epic?”
Khalid got up and walked over to a package lying on the side table. “I just remembered something. I bet I have another way to get on your good side, kalila. Close your eyes and open your mouth. Ready? Here you go.” Jo felt his mouth on hers and instinctively opened her lips to him. Her eyes flew open and she squealed.
“Mmmm, habibi, you taste like chocolate. And if I’m not mistaken, it’s Hershey’s. You are definitely on my good side. Where on earth did you get it?” He laughed and handed her the rest of the bar.
“Rafiq brought it back with him. He said you mentioned one day how much you craved a Hershey bar.” Jo put a piece in her mouth and her eyes closed in rapture. He leaned over to kiss her again, glad she was enjoying it so much.
“Want some, sweetie? I’ll share!” Jo offered him some chocolate. He took it, put it on his tongue and leaned over to kiss her. She giggled and opened her mouth to him again, savoring the taste, thinking how much he was like chocolate. Smooth, dark, sweet, delicious and melt-in-your-mouth good. “Yummy! Let’s go finish this in bed, habibi!”
Khalid stood, pulled her up and headed out of the tent. “I have to go check on something first. I’ll be back soon. Go ahead and go to bed, kalila.” Jo stood, looking at the chocolate in her hand and wondering what had just happened. Khalid never left the tent once they were in for the night, unless someone came and summoned him to take care of something.
She put the chocolate back on the table and undressed and went to bed. Later, she woke up as Khalid crawled into bed. Jo waited for him to reach for her, but he pulled the sheet over himself and went to sleep. She lay awake for a while, thinking up reasons for the change in his behavior towards her.
The next morning, Khalid entered the tent, expecting to see Jo up and dressed. Instead, she was still asleep, her head buried deep in her pillow. He sat on the edge of the bed and laid his warm hand on her bare back. “Johara?” At his touch and voice she startled awake, flinching away from him. She looked at him with wide startled eyes, trying to focus on his face. “Kalila, it is me, Khalid. Are you all right?” As his words sank in, she relaxed back into her pillow.
“Sorry, habibi, I had the dream again after you got up this morning. I think I’m going to stay awake from now on.“ Jo smiled up at him, trying to make a joke of the whole thing. “Maybe I’ll have to learn to like your coffee. What did you want, anyway? Another race? Or are you looking for a little action?” She ran her hand up his leg and squeezed his thigh.
“Just can’t get enough, huh? Been saving up for years?” Jo removed her hand and backed away from him, not believing what she had just heard.
“We’re doing some training, and I wondered if you wanted to join us. Feeling up to it?” Khalid stood, moving away from the bed, and Jo dug herself out of the tangled bedclothes.
“You bet. Just give me ten minutes to get dressed.” Jo hurried to get ready as he left the tent, trying not to cry, wondering how she was going to face him again. She hadn’t realized he didn’t want her as much as she wanted him. All the times they had made love, he seemed as eager as she was. The events of the evening before now made some kind of sense.
She joined the rest of the group as they were practicing, noticing how well Sahar was doing. Rafiq waved to her, then resumed practicing throwing his scimitar at a target set in the ground. She cheered him as he hit it squarely, and retrieved his sword cleanly.
She called to Sahar and went over to talk to her. She asked Sahar for tips on surprising one’s opponent, determined to get the best of Khalid in their next fight. She was so hurt by his actions; she would do anything to humiliate him. After she and Sahar had practiced a few times, she looked over to where Khalid and Saleh were sitting in the shade talking.
“Khalid, Saleh, come over here!” They looked at her, only Saleh noticing the set of her jaw. He was about to say something to his father when Jo called to them again.
“Hey, come on, we won’t hurt you, come and play, boys.” Jo laughed nastily, and her scimitar sang as she drew it from her belt.
Khalid and Saleh looked at each other, shrugged and drew their swords. Saleh and Sahar kept it simple, so she could learn some basic moves. He showed her some feints and parries and a couple easy spin moves. She had a natural grace and seemed to pick up the techniques quickly. Soon, Saleh was seriously defending himself, while trying not to use moves she hadn’t learned yet. All of a sudden, just as he knocked the scimitar out of her hand, she turned, crouched, and kicked out behind her with a karate-like kick with her hands crossed over her face, just hard enough to knock Saleh on his back when it connected with his chest. He lay, stunned, as she walked up to him and offered a hand up. The other Medjai stood around, laughing good-naturedly at his defeat.
“Are you all right, jaan?” Her face was worried, until he took her hand and pulled himself to his feet with her assistance.
“Well done, kalila,” Saleh grinned and bowed. “Will you teach me that?” She smiled back and began to teach him the move.
Jo and Khalid were watching and she sneered as she turned to her husband. “So, are you ready, Khalid? Think you can do better than Saleh? Let’s do this.” He looked at her, wondering what she was up to.
“Johara, I have been fighting with swords for over forty years. You have been doing it for a few months. I will defeat you in a serious fight, so let’s just practice nicely, huh?
Jo turned to him and saw that he was serious. “Oh, really? Well, I think you’re afraid I’ll beat you, and you don’t want to look foolish in front of your people. After all, I did beat you in a horse race, didn’t I?”
Khalid frowned. He stood looking at her, torn between wanting to teach her a lesson and worrying about her safety. He sighed and nodded. “All right, Johara, it is your call. Loser is the first one off their feet.”
Jo took her stance, knowing he liked to go on the attack right away. She was right. He immediately tried to knock her sword away. She parried the blow and the fight was on. Jo knew he was a better swordsman than she was, but she had her plan all figured out. She did some fancy footwork and held him off until the right moment came. Khalid had suddenly mounted a furious offense and she had lost her scimitar, but she knew this was the moment. She rolled in under his guard, sweeping one leg behind his knees to knock him down on the ground. As he fell, she pulled her dagger and landed on his chest, straddling him. Her knees held his arms down and he looked up to see her dagger pointing at his neck. This time, the other MedJai were quiet, waiting to see what their leader would do. He glared at Jo, and she knew she’d gotten what she wanted. She stood and walked away, not looking back.
Khalid went to talk to Saleh about the news that had arrived the day before. He found him talking with Rafiq, but when they saw him approaching, his younger son hurried away, leaving his brother to face Khalid.
“Did you tell her, Abu? How did she take the news?” Khalid frowned, knowing he should have spoken to Jo about what he had learned by now.
“No, I did not tell her. The opportunity never came up. Have you heard anything new today?” Saleh nodded and pointed to a rider leaving the field.
“Ahmed just came in with the latest. LeClair has been seen at the cliffs. He is getting closer, Abu. What are you going to do?” Khalid scrubbed at his face with his hand, feeling like he somehow had failed Jo and his family.
“I don’t know, ya ibney, I don’t know. And now Johara is acting strangely. She looked at me as if she wanted to plunge that dagger into my heart.” Saleh placed his hand on his father’s shoulder, trying to lend him his strength.
“Maybe it is the nightmares, you said she wasn’t sleeping well. I know she loves you, Abu. Believe in her love.” Khalid squared his shoulders and turned to Saleh.
“Thank you, my son. Now, go find your brother and gather the others. We need to plan our strategy. And see if Sahar will go and talk to Johara, maybe she can figure out why she is acting the way she is.”
Saleh went to Sahar’s tent and called to her. She came out, her lovely face clouded with worry. “Did he tell her, Saleh? She deserves to know that that man is getting nearer.” He took her hand, leading her towards Jo’s tent.
“No, not yet. He says Johara is acting strangely, that for some reason she seemed to want to kill him when she beat him in the fight. He asks that you talk to her, see if you can discover anything that might help him understand what is going on with her.” Sahar nodded, glad to help if she could. They reached the tent and Saleh gave her a loving, lingering kiss, full of promise.
“Thank you, kalila, I’ll see you later.” He left her to go and meet the others at the practice field.
“Johara, may I come in?” Jo looked up when she heard Sahar’s soft voice. She really didn’t want anyone to see her, but she couldn't think of a good reason to keep her out.
“Come on in, Sahar. I’m just finishing cleaning my weapon.” Sahar entered, still not sure of what she would say to the older woman. She saw right away that Jo had been crying and went over to her and put her arm around her.
“Johara, are you all right? Are you hurt?” Jo laughed bitterly. Good question, she thought.
“No, sweetie, I’m not hurt, at least not physically. I am just so tired all the time I never sleep well anymore. I have nightmares about being kidnapped. I had them before, but they went away after LeClair was arrested. Now they’re back and getting worse. I don’t know what to do. It’s affecting my marriage and I can’t seem to stop it from happening.” She sobbed afresh at this statement and buried her head in Sahar’s shoulder. The younger woman hugged her, sure that no matter what Khalid thought, Jo loved him. Now, something must be done to help them. She made Jo lie down, staying with her until she fell asleep. Then she went in search of Saleh.
“I know she loves him, jaan, but she is exhausted. Maybe he said something or did something that her poor brain misinterpreted. She seemed to think the marriage was failing, and I know they are happy together.” Saleh held Sahar in his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head. He sighed, wanting the rest of the world to go away, knowing it wouldn’t.
“This LeClair thing needs to be cleared up, ya hayati, and until it is, I’m afraid they will not be able to get past this misunderstanding. I will talk to Rafiq and see what he thinks. Now, go eat, I’ll join you later.” He kissed her and she left his tent He found his brother behind one of the other tents, trying to hide something. “Rafiq, what are you doing? What is that thing?” His brother turned, putting something in his sleeve.
“Nothing. Why are you here? Did he send you after me because I wouldn’t stick around for him to yell at after his precious wife beat him?” Saleh grabbed Rafiq’s arm and a small two-way radio fell on the ground. He looked at it, not believing what he was seeing.
“What is that? Who have you been talking to on that thing?” He stared at his brother as if seeing a stranger. “Answer me, who are you in touch with?”
Rafiq pulled away, picked up the radio and strode away. Saleh dragged his hands through his hair. Now what? Could there be a connection between Rafiq and LeClair? No, it couldn’t be. Even Rafiq wouldn’t betray his people like that, whether he felt he was one of them or not. For now he would keep an eye on his brother and if necessary tell his father.
Khalid entered the tent, his anger dulled by weariness. He was too tired to even eat lunch; he needed a nap. Jo lay on the bed, asleep, clinging to his pillow, wearing the bright tie-dyed T-shirt he had worn the day before, one of the ones she had bought him as a lark. He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at her. She had dark shadows under her eyes and she seemed pale. She had lost weight in the past few days, her face noticeably thinner. They had been enjoying each other’s company so much, he had failed to see how much she was being affected by her lack of sleep and the strain of wondering what was going to happen. His hand touched her cheek gently, wiping away the tears she had cried in her sleep. MashaAllah (by the grace of God), they would get through this. If he only knew what it was that caused her such distress, he would do everything he could to fix it. He leaned over and kissed her sleeping mouth, hoping she wouldn’t awaken. Not only did she need her sleep, he knew she wouldn’t welcome his caress. He got up, took off his clothes and lay down on one of the couches. He was soon fast asleep.
When she heard his steady breathing, Jo dropped her pretense of being asleep. She had felt his caresses, but knew he just felt sorry for her. She couldn’t let him know how she still felt she didn’t want his pity. Khalid was a proud man and would never admit he had made a mistake, and she knew she would have to be the one to leave him. She had no right to make his life miserable any longer than necessary. As soon as they got back to the village, she would ask him for a divorce. The tears rolled down her face as she thought of never seeing his face again, or feeling his arms around her. A sob escaped her throat and she buried her face in her pillow a moment too late.
“Ah, kalila, come here,” Khalid’s arms were around her and she was in the place she most wanted to be. He rocked her and soothed her, his large, warm hands stroking her back. His gentle voice uttered almost inaudible words of comfort, making her shiver. As her tears dried, he turned her face up to his. “Johara, why? What is it, habibti? What have I done to you?” She shook her head, unable to even think about not being with him. She gazed at his dear face, trying to memorize it, so she would never forget it. She studied his eyes, his hair, looking for words to describe them, so she could remind herself when they were no longer in front of her. Her hands stroked his beard, trying to imprint the feel into her fingertips. Dear God, what would she do without him?
Khalid watched her, not understanding what it was she was afraid of. She seemed to be trying to commit him to memory, as if she would never see him again. He lowered his mouth and took hers in a deep, passionate kiss. He could feel her moan, and smiled.
“There you are, my jewel, I thought I had lost you.” His hands moved under the soft shirt to cup her breasts, delighting in the feel of them in his hands. His fingers tweaked the nipples, sending shards of sensation arrowing through her. She arched her back to him, and his greedy mouth moved down and latched onto a nipple, exploring the peaked flesh with his tongue. Jo’s hands were buried in his silky black hair, knowing this could be the last time, trying to make the moment last forever. His head moved down to her belly, his tongue making forays into her belly button and out again. Jo pulled his head up for another kiss, her teeth capturing his full lower lip, tugging at it until he gasped, then her tongue soothing it. He chuckled and captured her mouth again, delving his tongue in to find hers. His hand wandered down between her legs, seeking her hidden treasure. She shifted and her legs fell open to his questing fingers, as her own hand went on a treasure hunt of it’s own. As her fingers closed on his hard shaft, he found the sensitive bud hidden by the soft curls. She gasped and her fingers tightened on him.
“Khalid, now.” Her voice was thick with passion, her body taut as a string. The tension in her was almost at the breaking point, and she needed him. “Imshi, ya habibi, imshi!” He rolled her flat on her back, grasped her thighs and settled in between.
“Yes, now, my jewel.” He raised himself and she could feel the tip of his sex seeking her heat. As he entered her in one powerful thrust, she cried out, the sensations threatening to overwhelm her. Khalid slowed his movements, watching her face in wonder, seeing everything she was feeling reflected there. She sensed him watching her and opened her eyes to look at him, tears falling even as she cried out softly with pleasure.
“Khalid, don’t leave me behind, take me with you.” Her soft voice urged him on and he lifted her hips up farther to go deeper. “Yes, that’s it, that’s perfect……Khalid!” As she cried his name, he could see the waves of her climax wash over her. Her muscles clamped down on him and he buried his face in her neck as he found his release. He lay heavily on her, catching his breath. Then he looked in her eyes and smiled.
“Johara, my wife, I am glad to have you back.” All of a sudden Jo pushed him off and stood up, grabbed her clothes and ran into the bathroom area. When she emerged fully dressed, she looked at him with cold eyes.
“Never, ever touch me again. I will go and stay with Amina and Sahar until we return home.” She started towards the tent opening and he flew off the bed and grabbed her. She simply looked down to where his fingers were making red marks on her arm. He sighed and let go.
“Johara, what is wrong? Two minutes ago you were a loving passionate woman, now you are a cold unfeeling female. Can’t you tell me what I’ve done to deserve your scorn?” Jo spun on her heel and walked out the door.
Khalid turned to the dining table, grasped the edge and threw it over. Why? Why was she doing this? He got dressed and went to find his warriors. Something had to be done.
Jo walked to Sahar’s tent and called to her. When she came out, Jo asked her if she and Amina would like to go for a ride. The two women agreed and the three of them set off towards a small oasis in the distance. Because of the way they were heading they didn’t see the caravan of vehicles come speeding up to the camp, overwhelming the people within.
Khalid was getting dressed when he heard a cry of surprise come from outside. He ran out of the tent, straight into Renee LeClair’s pistol. He stopped, astonished to see the Frenchman in the camp. He looked around quickly and saw that all of his people had been captured. No, not quite all. Jo, Sahar and Amina were not there.
“So, Khalid Bay, not so superior now, are you? What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?” LeClair laughed, waving his pistol at one of his men. “Bring the son over here, I want them together so I can keep an eye on them. Put them in the large tent. Claudia, come along, dear.” The woman appeared, fresh as a daisy, indicating that she had no part in the raid. She put her arm in LeClair’s, and they sauntered to Khalid’s tent. She and LeClair waked over to the father and son seated on the floor, their hands and feet bound.
“So, Khalid, how is your fat wife? I have a score to settle with her.” Claudia’s hand rubbed her neck, as if it still hurt from Jo choking her the last time they tangled.
“I don’t know, she has left me. Too bad you didn’t come a few days earlier, she could have kicked your ass again.” He smiled, then grunted as Claudia kicked him. “What’s the matter, truth hurt?”
“Come on, cheri, let’s try out the bed. We can’t do anything or go anywhere until morning, anyway.” Claudia pulled LeClair over to the bed and they fell asleep.
Khalid and Saleh tried to figure out how to escape and also where the women had gone. Eventually, they too dozed off, exhaustion catching up with their bodies. As they had returned to camp, Amina halted the other two women some distance away.
“Something is not right. It is too quiet in the camp and no one is moving about. Wait here.” Jo and Sahar waited, quietly, wondering what was going on. Amina returned, her face grim.
“Johara, it is LeClair. He has the camp subdued. I saw him go into your tent with that Claudia woman. I saw Khalid and Saleh sitting in the tent when he opened the flap to go in. They were tied up.” She looked at Jo as if expecting orders. She wasn’t disappointed.
“Okay, here’s what we’ll do. Amina, I want you to ride back to the village and get help. It should take you about twelve hours, making it about five in the morning when you get back. We’ll go back to the oasis and wait there for few hours, then Sahar and I will meet you here at five, okay? We’ll try to think of a plan in the meantime.”
Amina nodded and rode off quietly, her horse well trained not to make a sound. Jo and Sahar rode back to the oasis, each lost in thought about what LeClair would do to the men. Jo was thankful that it had been drilled into their heads not to go anywhere without weapons, something she had questioned the wisdom of, but now was grateful for. Sahar prayed that she would have the strength and skill to rescue the others.
As the hours passed, Jo and Sahar slept fitfully, neither wanting to oversleep. Finally it was time to meet Amina and the others. They were waiting when the MedJai rode up, Yusuf and Fatinah in the lead. Jo jumped off her horse and ran to the older woman.
“Ume, should you be here? Are you all right?” Fatinah smiled and looked at Yusuf.
“Well, I had to convince some people by reminding them that I was very good with a sword in my not so distant past, but that’s another story. I’m fine, Johara, now what can we do?” Jo looked at Yusuf, who nodded to her. She swallowed and outlined her plan. The others would strike at LeClair’s men who were outside, while Jo, Sahar, Yusuf and Fatinah would storm the tent. They coordinated their movements and set out.