Page 21 of The Manticore's Fire

Her mouth downturned in disappointment but she couldn’t argue against his logic. She squinted at a nearby tree and sighed longingly.

“I think I see an olive tree, too, but I believe that this would be the wrong time of the year for them. But then again, I’m surprised to see ripe figs when it is far too late in the season for them,” she observed aloud.

“Not for the desert,” Samir gently corrected. “This is the beginning of the fig season. You will see different bushes full of ripening fruit for a few months yet.”

“Oh,” Abby murmured. “You know outside of dried preserves, I know how to make a good jam from the figs, and we can have them sugared and baked in a dessert, and?—”

“I shall leave it to you,” he interrupted with a chuckle. “Just point me in the direction to assist next time we arrive, and I will help however you require.”

“You are nearly perfect boyfriend material,” Abby teased. “You know exactly the right thing to say and are eager to take directions.”

Oh gods, did it sound like she was flirting with him? She bit her lip as heat filled her face, and it only seemed to get worse—but for entirely different reasons—when Samir purred as if in agreement.

“Do not go quiet now,” Samir rumbled playfully. “But as for your olives, you may get lucky. Some varieties ripen as late as into the beginning of the winter. Just be glad that you were not sent to murder me in the midst of the summer. You would not be able to enjoy such plentitude from the oasis then. At least not of these fruits.”

“I think you would not have needed to worry about anything in that case. The heat would have surely done me before I even got to your cave,” she joked lamely.

“Then I am doubly fortunate that you arrived to me in this time,” he purred, and Abby smiled privately as warmth filled her chest with pleasure.

“You may regret that when you see me making a pig out of myself,” she returned. “You have no idea what a glutton I can be.”

“I look forward to feeding you then.”

His words fell between them like a vow and Abby fidgeted, her fingers twisting within his mane. She didn’t know what to say to that, but apparently, he did not expect a response because he said nothing further as he made his way among the trees,bushes, and tall grasses that sprouted from the sand. The route to the fresh water took them within such close range of the figs that branches hung within their path, giving all the opportunity she needed to pull a couple fruits free in passing. Pinching the bottoms to break open the skin, she peeled it back to slurp up the soft, sweet innards. She ate them slowly, savoring each bite as she watched the blue water get closer and closer until finally Samir lowered himself onto the grassy banks and waited patiently for her to swing her legs over and slide off his back.

Grass and sand shifted slightly under foot, but she found her balance quickly and turned to pull the water jugs from Samir’s harness. Murmuring his thanks, the manticore freed himself with a groan and slowly stretched out his back as she peeled the harness off him.

“My thanks, kitten,” he groaned. “This is always such a chore to do by oneself. I am grateful for the assistance.”

Abby grimaced sympathetically. “I can imagine. You are at least more limber than I am, but it still looks like it would require a lot of awkward—and very careful twisting, especially once the jugs are full.”

“Indeed,” Samir agreed with a faint grin, and he collapsed leisurely in the grass. She went to pick up one of the jugs to fill it, but he waved her off. “There is no hurry. I will need to rest a while before attempting the return. Swim and refresh yourself for a while if you like. We can fill the jugs at the spring head just over there here in a little while.”

Sounded like a good plan to her. Without a word she began to strip and toss her clothing to the ground at her side. A strained look rose to Samir’s face, but he didn’t object. In fact, he appeared to be trying to ignore her. She smirked, unable to resist getting a rise out of him, so she slowed down and accentuated every movement until every muscle in his body was rigid. His control was really remarkable. Giving him one last sassy smile,she spun away with a little bounce that drew a strangled moan from her audience of one and she headed down to the water’s edge, walking with a bit more jiggle than was necessary.

Dipping her foot into the water, she recoiled with a screech. “Oh my gods, cold, cold, cold!” she yelped. “We are in the middle of a desert, how is it so damned cold?”

“The pool is constantly being fed by a cold spring that runs underground, before erupting from between the rocks over there,” Samir replied drolly from where he was stretched out on the grass. “You complain overmuch. It should feel pleasant against the heat of the evening.”

Abby gave him a dark look, but he smiled guilelessly as his tail curled at her.

“Of course, if it is too much, you are welcome to stretch out here beside me,” he purred.

A quiver shot through her belly. It was so tempting and yet, the desire to finally be completely cool and clean was strong and eventually won. Hardening her jaw against the anticipated shock of the cold water touching her skin, Abby splashed abruptly into it and waded in to about waist-deep before turning to look back at the manticore. His eyes glowed in the early morning light. Now that she was in the pool, the cold water was beginning to feel good on her stiff muscles and overheated flesh, and she moaned softly as her muscles gradually relaxed under the influence of the cold water. She sank slowly into the water, pausing for a moment as she released the softest of gasps when the water teased the sensitive flesh of her nipples. Samir’s ears tipped toward her and his gaze fixed on her chest. She smiled and sank further until her chest was below the surface, her hair fanning out in the water around her.

“Feel good?” Samir rumbled.

“Very. Why don’t you come in? Don’t you swim?”

“I can when the occasion calls for it,” he replied to her taunt.

“Then come swim with me,” she cajoled and proceeded to splash a little water in his direction.

His ears twitched at her, his scorpion tail curling in itself slowly as he regarded her. Was he considering? Perhaps he needed a push in the right direction. She didn’t want him safely on the outside watching her in a detached fashion. She wanted him there with her, in the water, splashing and playing—intimately connecting with her rather than being so restrained and aloof. She wanted another glimpse of the real Samir, and she was so certain that the moments of playfulness from the male hinted at something that there was a whole lot more of just beneath the surface.

“Come on,” she called again and finally, with a faint smile curling the corners of his mouth, Samir rose and rushed into the water with a growl that had her shrieking as she backpedaled through the water.

His thick mane flattened ludicrously to his head and neck, giving his face a slightly more pronounced feline appearance as more of its natural shape was revealed. Even with his fur plastered and sodden, Abby thought he was the most beautiful male as he splashed toward her. His playful snarl sent a tingle of awareness through as he lunged, and she gasped with laughter as she made a valiant attempt to escape. It seemed that he was just as quick in the water as he was on land, though because his long tail lashed the water as he propelled himself to her so that he was able to scoop her up effortlessly in his arms.

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