1 - Lila
Asher pulled me from a deep sleep, his voice gruff and filled with agitation.
"Lila. Get up. We need to get going. Get dressed quickly." He shook my shoulder once more, and then moved back, allowing the light from the small lantern in the tent to roll over me.
I sat up and brushed my fingers through my hair, trying to figure out where I was and why.
Right. Trip to Dubai with Asher. We were still in the tent he had rented in the middle of the desert for a camping adventure of sorts. The camel rides and evening entertainment had been perfect, but him making love to me, actually making love...so slow and lovingly...it was too much.
"Lila. Get up and get dressed. Come on. There’s a sand storm headed this way. Now!" He yelled at me and I jumped up, not quite sure of what to make of it all.
"Sorry. I'm still half asleep, shit." I worked quickly to get my clothes on, and started to gather the two small bags we'd brought with us.
He opened the tent and shook his head. "Forget the stuff. Let's go. Everyone is running around like all hell’s about to break loose. Let's go."
I moved through the tent with one of the bags on my shoulder, and took a quick glance around. The air was filled with a heavy cloud of dust, and the large crowd of people we'd come with were rushing toward a line of SUVs. Men were barking commands, but it sounded like nothing more than a whisper. The roar of the wind was getting louder and louder.
Asher took my hand and pulled me toward an SUV as someone yelled for him to hurry. Time was of the essence and the sand was at our backs.
I got in beside him and buckled up just before the vehicle took off through the sandy abyss. The darkness around us was swallowed by what looked like a million bees.
"Sand?" I mumbled and shivered, my sleepy state leaving me less affected and confused, yet fear was beginning to permeate through the haze.
The vehicle came to a stop and the driver got out, mumbling something about additional passengers who needed a ride.
"What? Fuck that. Drive the..." Asher was almost screaming, but the driver ignored him and slammed the door as he jogged back toward the storm.
I turned and locked the doors before moving toward Asher as a soft whimper left me. "This is scary."
"It's okay. I’ve got you. Come here, baby." He reached out and pulled me close to him, wrapping his arms around me and kissing the top of my head. "Nothing to worry about. We'll be perfectly fine right here. The driver will be back in a minute."
"Okay," I murmured and snuggled in tightly as the sound of the wind and sand beat against the vehicle. Never had I experienced something as terrifying as having the large SUV shake back and forth. The force of the elements beat against us in, blotting out the light of the moon and covering us in utter darkness.
He kissed the side of my face again and rubbed his strong hands down my back in a soothing pattern as we rocked back and forth, buffeted by the storm.
"Where's the driver?" My voice broke as tears burned my gaze. I hadn't been put into too many situations that gave way to fear, but this one would soon take the top of the list.
"I don't know, Lila. It's okay though. These guys are used to these storms. Nothing’s going to get in here with us."
I tilted my head up to look at him. Fierce determination sat on his features and my heart fluttered. I was falling in love.
No. It was the love making. Don't let him do it again.
"I'm more concerned with the SUV rolling over and over and us getting buried underneath a huge mountain of sand." I shivered and his arms tightened around me again.
"Stop thinking the worst. You're going to be fine, I promise. As long as I'm here, nothing is going to happen to you. I won’t let it." He gave me a smile that seemed forced before dipping lower, kissing my lips. "I'll dig us out of the middle of the earth if I have to. Okay?"
"Okay." I chuckled and wiped at my tears before shifting a little to find a comfortable place
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