Oasis Read online

  “She’s from Louisiana,” Charisma said sarcastically. “But it does take a little getting used to. The desert was unbearable this afternoon.”

  “What were you doing in the desert?”

  “Taking pictures.” Like her uncle, he shared the same views on her safety.

  “For that safari magazine?”

  She was surprised that he remembered. “Yes, it’s a beautiful place.”

  “There’s nothing there except sand.”

  “That’s because you’re not really looking.” The song ended and a slow one replaced it. Someone tapped Robert on the shoulder. It was Prince Shakir.

  “May I have this dance with Ms. Romaine?”

  Robert hesitated a bit. “Certainly your majesty.” He released her and walked over to talk with her uncle.

  Shakir pulled her into his arms. “How long have the two of you been engaged?”

  Damn, he’s tall. “We’re not engaged. We grew up in the same town. I met him through my uncle, and we go out every now and then.” His moves on the dance floor were amazing and his body wasn’t bad either. Her height plus her heels brought her up to his chest.

  “That means engaged in my country.”

  She laughed. “So you do have a sense of humor?”

  “I use it occasionally when I’m not being arrogant.”

  He pulled her closer. She couldn’t miss the sizeable lump in his pants as it rubbed against her hip. He was attracted to her and he wasn’t trying to hide it like Robert always did. “I like it. It makes you seem human.”

  He chuckled and spun her around. “I’m sorry I got you in trouble with your uncle.”

  “I’ll get over it. I’m too old for him to punish, but you better believe he’ll make sure that I don’t leave the house without my bodyguard again.”

  “He’s looking out for your well-being.”

  “I know, and I’ll try not to disobey him again. He’s been like a father to me since mine died.”

  “How many years ago was that?”

  “Six.”

  “That would make you…”

  “Twenty-two on my next birthday. I’m about to graduate from college and I’m trying to finish my thesis. That’s why I’m here in Africa.”

  “A college girl?”

  “Yes, I’m a journalist and photography major.”

  “And you like snakes.”

  “No, I don’t like snakes, but they’re very photogenic.”

  The song ended. “It’s been nice, Ms. Romaine, but I think I better return you to your date.”

  “He’s talking politics with my uncle. He wouldn’t notice if I disappeared from the face of the earth.”

  “I’d notice,” Shakir said huskily. “Black is definitely your color.”

  “Because it distracts from my gigantic booty?”

  “No, it doesn’t,” he replied matter-of-factly. “And I’m glad.” He walked away.

  Charisma stood frozen in her tracks for a moment and then she dashed off to find Carmen. She found her in the kitchen giving orders to the cooks.

  “Dinner will be ready shortly.”

  “Not food. I need to talk.”

  Carmen led her upstairs. “What’s wrong?”

  “How do you know when a man is interested in you?”

  “Robert is interested in you.”

  “Not Robert.”

  “Not Robert?”

  “No, Prince Shakir.”

  “Oh, I see. Well, why would you think he’s interested in you? You’ve just met.”

  “It’s the way he looks at me.”

  Carmen laughed. “Have you looked in a mirror lately? You’re a beautiful young woman.”

  Charisma blushed. “It’s because of my mixed heritage.”

  “It’s kind of hard to miss. Your father was one of the handsomest men in Louisiana. Add my gorgeous Puerto Rican sister to the mix and they made one beautiful baby.”

  “I think he likes me.”

  “He probably does, but you’re practically engaged to Robert.”

  “I don’t know why everyone keeps saying that. We hardly ever kiss.”

  “He is a gentleman.”

  “He’s boring.”

  “Like Seth?”

  “Oh, so you’ve heard the story already.”

  “You are a handful.”

  “I am not. Anyway, I think he’s worse than Seth. He only wants to discuss politics and the news.”

  “It’s his job.”

  “Not when we’re on a date.”

  Carmen patted her hand. “It will get better.” She walked toward the door. “Give him a chance.”

  * * * *

  The girls were back serving Prince Shakir drinks and listening intently while he spoke. “They probably don’t know that he’s a big old chauvinist pig,” she muttered as she pretended to be interested in the conversation Robert was having with King Hakeem. Shakir looked up once, peered over at her, and then went back to his conversation. There is no way I would be fawning over a man like him. I know his type…he’s the kind who thinks that a woman’s place is in the kitchen, or probably his bedroom.

  A waiter passed with a tray of appetizers. Charisma took one, popped it into her mouth and chewed slowly watching Shakir. His brothers and cousin joined the group. They seemed to have a very tight relationship with each other by the way they are joking and laughing. Dinner was announced. Good, I’m starved. Food is a better distraction than watching an arrogant man.

  The party went on for another couple of hours. Most of the guests went back to their hotels, but a few decided to stick around and wait for daylight. It was still so hot. Charisma got out of bed. “I think I’ll go for a swim.” Her uncle had a pool built at the back of the house, away from the desert. It was private and she didn’t think she’d disturb anyone in the house. She changed into her suit and walked down the back stairs.

  Charisma removed the terry cloth cover and dove into the pool. The water felt cool and exhilarating. She swam a couple of laps, and then climbed out of the pool and walked over to the screen and looked out on the dark grounds. The moon lit the night and the sky was filled with stars. She never saw a sight quite like this back home in Louisiana.

  “She’s not afraid of snakes and she swims like a fish.”

  Charisma looked over in the direction of the voice. It was Shakir and he had changed out of the tuxedo and into something a little more casual. She felt naked under his scrutiny and her robe was too far away for her to grab. “What are you doing here?”

  He reached down, picked up the robe and walked over to her. “I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about how sad and bored you looked all evening.”

  “Was it that obvious?”

  He helped her into the robe, brushing his body against hers. “Yes, why didn’t you just leave and go to your room?”

  She moved away from him. “Because my aunt would have had a fit and it would have been rude.”

  He walked over to a patio chair and sat down. “I would have been rude.”

  Charisma remained standing. “Yes, I know, but you didn’t look bored to me. Who were those girls? Part of your harem?”

  He shook his head. “No, just friends. I left my harem back at my palace.”

  Charisma sat down on the ground and dipped her toes into the water. “You’re kidding, right?”

  Shakir raised an eyebrow. “Am I?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You have an amazing body.”

  She tightened the belt on the robe. “Thanks. Would you care to join me for a swim?”

  “No, I would prefer to do other things with you…preferably without the suit.”

  “That is very unprincely of you.”

  “Yes, I know. Sometimes I can’t help being brutally honest about things.”

  “I think that is what I like about you. You say what is on your mind.”

  “I try.”

  Charisma smiled. “Modesty is not your forte.”

  Shakir
rose. “I think I better go in before I try something I might not regret.”

  Charisma smirked. “Yeah, I understand exactly what you mean.”

  Shakir bowed and left.

  Charisma got up and walked back over to the pool and dove in again. Her body and her mind were on fire. She swam a couple of laps and then she walked back to her room, showered and then climbed into bed.

  * * * *

  Shakir walked away from the balcony, wiping his brow. His pulse still raced at an alarming pace. Boy, am I a loser. That close to Charisma in that tiny little white bikini that barely covered her curvaceous body and I didn’t do anything. His penis danced in his pants as he conjured up the picture again. “Down boy,” he muttered. “It can not be.” He sat down. A gentle breeze rolled off the Nile. Of all the times for him to fall in love, and with an American girl, no less.

  Amon came out to join him. “What’s wrong, can’t you sleep?” He was still dressed in his tuxedo, but he had removed his tie and unbuttoned his collar.

  “No, I have things on mind.”

  “A woman?’

  Shakir nodded. “One particular woman who seems to be everywhere I look. I just ran into her down by the pool.”

  Amon looked over the balcony toward the pool. “Was she swimming at this hour?”

  Shakir nodded. “In a skimpy white bikini.”

  “Define skimpy.”

  “Almost nothing, and that ass, it just bounced as she walked around the deck. It had me hypnotized.”

  “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with you. We’re leaving in the morning.”

  “I know. It’s going to be a long ride home.”

  * * * *

  Charisma ate ravenously later that morning. There were hash brown potatoes, eggs and some kind of bacon substitute, since pork was a no-no in this part of the world. Her aunt entered, singing and waving a piece of paper at her. “You’re in a good mood.”

  “Good morning, Chrissy. Guess what this is?”

  “A piece of paper.”

  “No silly. It’s an invitation.”

  “To where?”

  “To the Nubian palace.”

  Charisma nearly choked on the food in her mouth. She washed it down with her grape juice.

  “It’s in the Sudan.”

  “You must have made a good impression on the family.”

  “Not me Chica, you. The queen gave it to me personally before they left.”

  “They’re gone?”

  “Yes. They left bright and early this morning.”

  Charisma smile brightened. A chance to see Shakir again.

  “They also invited Robert and his family.”

  Charisma’s smile disappeared. “Robert and his family?”

  “The king insisted. He sees that Robert might one day be the president and it would make good business sense for the two of them to get to know each other.”

  “Boring.”

  Carmen laughed. “It will be good for you, too. You’ll see that handsome Shakir again.”

  Charisma lowered her head and went back to her meal.

  “He had his eyes on you all night.”

  “He thinks I have a big butt.”

  “You do.”

  “You’re not helping.” She paused. “When’s this trip, anyway?”

  “Tomorrow. We have a lot of packing to do…and don’t forget your cameras. The scenery is superb.” She hurried out of the kitchen.

  Charisma sighed. “What am I going to do now?”

  Chapter Three

  Cheetahs and antelope ran through the short grasses of the African plain while rhinos splashed in water, oblivious to the crocodiles lurking nearby. Charisma captured them in their habitat as they drove toward Nubia. Natural waterfalls made excellent backdrops against mountains, allowing her to get pictures of cranes and storks as they bathed. A bevy of fish swam in shallow water as young African women beat their clothes clean on rocks above them. The temperature soared to nearly one hundred degrees outside. Thankfully her Jeep was loaded with a very powerful air-conditioning system. Seth and the others from Africa seemed oblivious to the heat. She had seen some pretty hot summers in Louisiana, but nothing like this, forcing her to hydrate with several bottles of water every time she was out longer than ten minutes. There were six cars in their caravan. Her aunt and uncle rode in their limousine, while their security followed in three white SUVs. The Edwards had a utility van and Robert brought up the rear in a Jeep similar to hers. She smirked. That probably was the only thing they had in common.

  “We’re entering the Nubian Dessert,” her uncle radioed back to her. “Nubia is just on the other side.”

  Charisma pulled a soda from the portable ice chest between the front seats. She opened it up and took a big gulp. “Ooh, head rush.” It burnt the back of her throat and froze her palate. “That’s what I need to quench my thirst before I faced the desert again.” The grass and trees disappeared, leaving nothing but sand as far as the eyes could see. She raised her veil and covered her nose and mouth. “Better safe than sorry.”

  Hours later, the caravan of motor vehicles finally reached the borders of Nubia. A battalion of camel riders waited for them on a hill. Amon moved out of ranks and came down to meet them. He dismounted.

  “Welcome to Nubia,” he said. “The palace is just over that hill.” He remounted and the camel lurched toward the north. Charisma and the others followed. The stark beauty of the landscape surprised her. The war was over and Nubia was rebuilding. The palace compound was a picture right out of the past. The high oval domes and steeple roofs had more of a Turkish design, and the palace took up a considerable amount of land. Military-dressed guards patrolled both inside and out, while gardeners tended the grounds. Amon and the others rode the camels up the front steps. One of the other camel riders jumped down and directed them to the area where they were to park their cars. After a quick security check, they were led up the steps of the palace and into the foyer.

  “King and Queen Hakeem send their welcome. They are in conference right now but will meet with you tonight for dinner after you have rested.” Two men appeared, along with a young woman around her age. “Rasui and Sefu will show you to your quarters,” Amon told them. The two men bowed and led everyone away except Charisma.

  Robert stopped. “What about Charisma?”

  “Layla will take her to her room on the opposite side of the palace where unmarried women stay.”

  Amused, but not totally trusting, Robert gave up and caught up with the others.

  “He’s very protective,” Amon noted.

  Charisma agreed. “ Like a hawk.”

  Amon smiled. “This is Layla. She is assigned to see to you during your stay.” He pushed the young woman forward.

  “Don’t be shy, Layla. I won’t bite.”

  “Yes, Ms. Romaine.”

  Layla was pretty with a thick black plait that ran down her back. She was dressed in a brightly colored uniform that showed off her shapely body. “Call me Charisma. It’s nice to finally have another female my age to talk to.”

  Layla relaxed and looked over at Amon. “But I have been taught to address you as Ms. Romaine.”

  “Okay, but only when we’re around others.”

  Amon nodded in agreement and winked at her. “I’ll send someone for your things. Layla will show you to your room.” He turned and walked away.

  “Are all the princes so arrogant?” Charisma asked as she followed Layla down a hall.

  “Yes, it’s part of their training.”

  Layla left her alone to bathe and rest in a room fit for a princess. There was a queen-sized bed covered with a white muslin spread. The pillow shams were made of the same material but embroidered with lace. All of the windows were covered for privacy and to keep out the heat. There was mosquito netting across the top of the bed to help ward off bites. The bathroom had a shower stall and a sunken tub, and some funny contraption which she thought might be a bidet. Charisma blushed. S
he didn’t think they still made those things. The fixtures were made of polished gold. The color theme was brown and tan marble…cool, yet practical. After a quick dip in the tub, she crawled into the bed for a nap.