The Things I Lost In The Desert

Chapter 3 - Sandstorm Surfers

Thank God for melanin because I would've been as red as a tomato. The toes in my sneakers curled back and I felt something heavy pull in my lower abdomen. I cleared my throat and took his hand, determined to show him I was unaffected.

"Getting on is the hardest part," He placed my hand on the handle of the saddle "You need to leap onto it." 

When he saw me struggling to straddle the beast, he came behind me and placed his hands on my waist, lifted me up and seated me correctly. I couldn't believe he threw me on like a rag doll. With ease.

"Comfortable?" No. 

"Yes." I lied.

"Good. When she stands up, lean back. She's going to get up with her back legs first, and you don't want to fall off." He tugged at the animal and it stood. Just like he had said, it stood up hind legs first so I leaned back. I held onto the saddle tightly, it felt very rocky getting up. As if the animal was trying to throw me off.

"Good girl." I smiled but quickly realized he was speaking to the camel. Once he was satisfied that I was ok, he went back to mount his own. Swiftly and flawlessly.

When we were both seated on our camels, his camel did a little turn around. We were now facing each other, waiting for Karim.

"How does it feel?" He asked.

"It feels..." I shifted my hips, "A little uncomfortable to be honest."

He nodded in understanding. "That's normal. Riding a camel is not the same as riding a horse. Remember to sway with her, don't resist."

"O-ok."

"Never force your own rhythm. They're very stubborn creatures, just like you." He flashed me a bright smile. He definitely got a kick out of getting a rise out of me.

"Excuse me? And I suppose you're just perfect at riding?"

He did that sexy head tilt. "In more ways than one." 

It took me a moment to realize what he was referring to but when I did my entire face felt like it was burning beneath the surface. I walked right into that one. He was clearly enjoying my discomfort because his cheeky smile was back. This time showing off a dimple in his left cheek.

Always so perfectly timed, Karim came running back to us.

"Oh you on? This is good, this is good." He nodded smiling at me and rubbing his hands together. He looked to Raheem. "Shall we?"

Raheem nodded and Karim took the reigns of my camel, guiding us to Sofia. Once we were all together we rode toward the sunset, leaving Raheem's bodyguards behind.

As the sun began to set, the wind picked up and I instantly regretted coming out here with no jacket. The infamous desert night temperatures were kicking in and sand particles flying all over were hitting my bare skin. Because Karim was leading Sofia's camel by foot, they were far behind us. I couldn't ask if she had a spare jacket stashed in her oversized handbag. I couldn't ask for my water bottle either. The reigns of my camel were tied to Raheem's, as an expert rider he had taken me quite far into the desert.

"Raheem?" I tried to call out to him over the wind and sand whirling around us but he couldn't hear me. He seemed to be scanning our surroundings. "Raheem!"

"Rome." He answered back in acknowledgement.

"Can you help me dismount please?"

"This is not a good time, habibti."

"Please? I have been sitting in this saddle for hours, my butt is starting to-ouch!"

"What is it?!" He called over his shoulder. From where I was sitting I could see worry knitting his brows together. "Rome?"