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And he took her ain with all that consummate skill, that wondrous fire, and Cleo didn’t have the chance to tell hi the year’s worth of birth control pills she’d brought with her on her backpacking trip

Not then and not later, when he smiled down at her in that way that she knew meant he believed the matter was settled Solved

She didn’t tell hi those pills in these pastwhen she brushed her teeth the way she always had at ho their week in the oasis That it was one of the only routines she’d kept from her old life

She would tell him when they discussed this further, she assured herself She wasn’t trying to deceive hiet to know him better He would understand that Cleo was sure he would

Which hy she also didn’t tell hi them

“Have you tired so quickly of the marital bed?”

Khaled glared at the shadow that detached itself froht that it ell intoand became Nasser

“You are the onlyto my face,” he said in a low voice “And the only man I will not kill for such temerity”

Nasser smiled, unperturbed “And well do I know it”

Khaled started walking, s an unnecessary hand over his shirt as hehall that led toward his office Always his office Always so else to be done Always another fire to put out

And never the fire he craved most

“My duties did not suddenly coreat feast and a brand-neife,” he said darkly “I must secure the future of Jhurat You know this as well as I do And there is one very easy way to do that”

“Ah” His old friend was quiet for a moment Then, “Babies That would cement your line as Talaat has not, and secure your position in the eyes of the world nicely, wouldn’t it? Everyone loves a happy family”