It felt so good, each thrust a taste of heaven, carrying her higher and higher, until she hung, suspended, on the bright edge of another orgasm. She was burning up, burning up with him inside her. Then the heat in her belly drew tight… and exploded.
She cried out, bliss burned through her, scorching and sweet. But this time, Malik was just behind her. He drove her climax home then moaned her name, his body shaking apart in her arms as he came inside her.
Kristi opened her eyes, met his gaze, saw a tenderness there that made her pulse skip, warmth blossoming behind her breastbone.
He kissed her—her lips, her nose, her forehead—then rolled onto his side, drawing her with him, cradling her in his arms, their legs twined together.
Spent and sleepy, she spoke from the heart. “I want strings, Malik. I don’t want this to end when we’re back in the US.”
When he didn’t answer, she looked up at his face.
He was sound asleep.
* * *
A noise wokeMalik from a dreamless sleep early the next morning. He found Kristi curled against him, still asleep, peace on her face. He hated to wake her, but something was out there. “Hey, angel, wake up. We’ve got company.”
Kristi opened her eyes, smiled at him.
The sound that had awakened him came again—a long, deep roar.
There was only one thing that could make that sound.
A lion.
Kristi sat bolt upright. “That’s close.”
Malik got up from the bed, walked to the window, and stared. “It’s very close. Yo, check this out.”
Kristi stood, walked over to him, still naked. “Oh, God! Look at them!”
A pride of lions had stopped to explore the SUV. One lioness sat on the roof, another on the hood, their cubs playing near the front tires. A male lion sat a short distance away, watching over his family, letting the other lions know this was his territory with deep, short roars.
“That sound—it gives me shivers.” Kristi slipped her arm around Malik’s waist.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, kissed the top of her head. “I think it’s supposed to. That’s your DNA saying, ‘Run!’”
They stood there, Kristi watching and laughing at the antics of the cubs, some of whom climbed on the male, who endured it all with patience. “Those cubs are so cute.”
But Malik’s gaze was on Kristi—the happy smile on her face, the light in her eyes, her beautiful naked body.
Her smile faded into a look of concern. “If that’s now the lions’ SUV, how are we going to get out of here?”
“Let’s hope they move on by the time we’re ready to go. If not, I can try opening the door and firing a shot to scare them off.” Malik took her into his arms. “Think of it this way. As long as a pride of lions is hanging on our front steps, no one is going to sneak up on us.”
“That’s true.” She stood on her tiptoes, kissed him. “You’re incredible, Malik. No man has ever made me feel the way you do.
“Good.” He kissed her back.
Graceful brows drew together. “I tried to tell you something last night, but you were already asleep.”
“Sorry about that.” Sex had finished what was left of him. “Tell me now.”
She hesitated. “I want strings.”
“Good.” He couldn’t help the idiotic smile that spread across his face—or the way his pulse skipped. He cupped her face between his palms. “I’m not walking away this time, Kristi. Not this time.”
Her face lit up with a smile that he felt in his bones. “You’d better not. Saying goodbye once was hard enough.”