{"id":1929,"date":"2015-07-17T14:59:58","date_gmt":"2015-07-17T13:59:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/abbygreen\/?post_type=portfolio&#038;p=233"},"modified":"2016-02-17T09:36:01","modified_gmt":"2016-02-17T09:36:01","slug":"the-call-of-the-desert","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/portfolio-item\/the-call-of-the-desert\/","title":{"rendered":"The Call of the Desert"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-av_section-d18d8c2c81d10022ebd21ffa95322c35 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-1929'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_two_fifth-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb\">\n.flex_column.av-av_two_fifth-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_two_fifth-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb av_two_fifth  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-42d85e5d42d4a3afb03a73e989228051\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-42d85e5d42d4a3afb03a73e989228051{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-42d85e5d42d4a3afb03a73e989228051 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-42d85e5d42d4a3afb03a73e989228051 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-42d85e5d42d4a3afb03a73e989228051 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-2  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Description<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>When Julia\u2019s first love affair with the exotic Crown Prince of Burquat ended in heartbreak, she\u2019d never expected to meet him again. But fate brings them back together. And when the Emir Kaden Bin Rashad al Abbas realizes that their desire is as strong as it ever was, he is determined to take his revenge on the woman who broke his heart\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap av-av_button-c92618446e5c68b64e558e8e19060c32-wrap avia-button-left  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_hr '><a href='#excerpt'  class='avia-button av-av_button-c92618446e5c68b64e558e8e19060c32 avia-icon_select-yes-left-icon avia-size-medium avia-position-left avia-color-dark'  ><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_left' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue84f' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Read an Excerpt<\/span><\/a><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-f9c49c3d3336fc54a3f31ed109c785bd\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-f9c49c3d3336fc54a3f31ed109c785bd{\nheight:30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-f9c49c3d3336fc54a3f31ed109c785bd hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_button  el_before_av_social_share '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='av-social-sharing-box av-av_social_share-091364a88cbf1bf8768d3d05e1fe0801 av-social-sharing-box-default  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_hr  avia-builder-el-last  av-social-sharing-box-fullwidth'><div class=\"av-share-box\"><h5 class='av-share-link-description av-no-toc '>Share this Book<\/h5><ul class=\"av-share-box-list noLightbox\"><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-facebook' ><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" href='https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/abby-green.com\/portfolio-item\/the-call-of-the-desert\/&#038;t=The%20Call%20of%20the%20Desert' aria-hidden='false' data-av_icon='\ue8f3' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' title='' data-avia-related-tooltip='Share on Facebook' rel=\"noopener\"><span class='avia_hidden_link_text'>Share on Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-twitter' ><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on Twitter\" href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=The%20Call%20of%20the%20Desert&#038;url=https:\/\/abby-green.com\/?p=1929' aria-hidden='false' data-av_icon='\ue8f1' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' title='' data-avia-related-tooltip='Share on Twitter' rel=\"noopener\"><span class='avia_hidden_link_text'>Share on Twitter<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-pinterest' ><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on Pinterest\" href='https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fabby-green.com%2Fportfolio-item%2Fthe-call-of-the-desert%2F&#038;description=The%20Call%20of%20the%20Desert&#038;media=https%3A%2F%2Fabby-green.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F07%2FThe-Call-of-the-Desert-UK-446x705.jpg' aria-hidden='false' data-av_icon='\ue8f8' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' title='' data-avia-related-tooltip='Share on Pinterest' rel=\"noopener\"><span class='avia_hidden_link_text'>Share on Pinterest<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-mail' ><a  aria-label=\"Share by Mail\" href='mailto:?subject=The%20Call%20of%20the%20Desert&#038;body=https:\/\/abby-green.com\/portfolio-item\/the-call-of-the-desert\/' aria-hidden='false' data-av_icon='\ue805' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' title='' data-avia-related-tooltip='Share by Mail'><span class='avia_hidden_link_text'>Share by Mail<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28 av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_two_fifth  el_before_av_one_fifth  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_image-de809192423bc12d0d9545c04f4b58ef\">\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-de809192423bc12d0d9545c04f4b58ef img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-de809192423bc12d0d9545c04f4b58ef .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-av_image-de809192423bc12d0d9545c04f4b58ef av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-8  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-1830 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-1830 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/The-Call-of-the-Desert-UK.jpg\" alt='' title='The Call of the Desert'  height=\"712\" width=\"450\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/The-Call-of-the-Desert-UK.jpg 450w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/The-Call-of-the-Desert-UK-190x300.jpg 190w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/The-Call-of-the-Desert-UK-446x705.jpg 446w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Mills &amp; Boon<\/strong><br \/>\nNovember 2011<br \/>\n<strong>ISBN<\/strong>: 0263887154<\/p>\n<p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_font_icon-37527e91100149cd6456693e0936bc1e\">\n.av_font_icon.av-av_font_icon-37527e91100149cd6456693e0936bc1e .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-av_font_icon-37527e91100149cd6456693e0936bc1e avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-left av-no-color avia-icon-animate'><a href='http:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/exec\/obidos\/ASIN\/0263887154\/agreen-21' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue924' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span> BUY NOW<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28 av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_one_fifth  el_before_av_one_fifth  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_image-3b05a4c33be51e4f08e22c46281e0191\">\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-3b05a4c33be51e4f08e22c46281e0191 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-3b05a4c33be51e4f08e22c46281e0191 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-av_image-3b05a4c33be51e4f08e22c46281e0191 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-12  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-1880 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-1880 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Keeping-Her-Close1.jpg\" alt='' title='Keeping-Her-Close'  height=\"712\" width=\"450\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Keeping-Her-Close1.jpg 450w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Keeping-Her-Close1-190x300.jpg 190w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Keeping-Her-Close1-446x705.jpg 446w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Also contained in the Anthology<\/strong><br \/>\nKeeping Her Close<br \/>\nAugust 2014<\/p>\n<p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_font_icon-c1bd645365a05d2581d07bb92d2ce865\">\n.av_font_icon.av-av_font_icon-c1bd645365a05d2581d07bb92d2ce865 .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-av_font_icon-c1bd645365a05d2581d07bb92d2ce865 avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-left av-no-color avia-icon-animate'><a href='http:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Keeping-Her-Close-Christofides-Desert\/dp\/0263246752\/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1439551577&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Keeping+Her+Close' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue924' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span> BUY NOW<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28 av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-15  el_after_av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_image-048b644fa031bbf397842f9404e60cfa\">\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-048b644fa031bbf397842f9404e60cfa img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-048b644fa031bbf397842f9404e60cfa .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-av_image-048b644fa031bbf397842f9404e60cfa av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-16  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2078 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2078 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373602391-653x1030.jpg\" alt='' title='9780373602391'  height=\"1030\" width=\"653\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373602391-653x1030.jpg 653w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373602391-190x300.jpg 190w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373602391-447x705.jpg 447w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373602391-450x710.jpg 450w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373602391.jpg 764w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 653px) 100vw, 653px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Seduced By The Sheikh:<\/p>\n<p>Jewel in His Crown by Lynne Graham &amp; Call of the Desert by Abby Green<br \/>\nMay 2016<\/p>\n<p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_font_icon-5d55b7d1532a056f0415a3935d0ec588\">\n.av_font_icon.av-av_font_icon-5d55b7d1532a056f0415a3935d0ec588 .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-av_font_icon-5d55b7d1532a056f0415a3935d0ec588 avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-left av-no-color avia-icon-animate'><a href='http:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Seduced-Sheikh-Jewel-Crown-Desert-ebook\/dp\/B01BB1XM56\/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1455701218&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=lynne+graham+abby+green' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue924' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span> PRE-ORDER NOW<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_section-a39f1395b9c26d6fce19cea65cb3b34b\">\n.avia-section.av-av_section-a39f1395b9c26d6fce19cea65cb3b34b{\nbackground-color:#f6f6f6;\nbackground-image:unset;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='excerpt'  class='avia-section av-av_section-a39f1395b9c26d6fce19cea65cb3b34b main_color avia-section-large avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-19  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-last  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-1929'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fifth-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fifth-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fifth-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-20  el_before_av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fifth-16b6c90d55d7f1aa8be9bd43e81fe658\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fifth-16b6c90d55d7f1aa8be9bd43e81fe658{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_three_fifth-16b6c90d55d7f1aa8be9bd43e81fe658 av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-21  el_after_av_one_fifth  el_before_av_one_fifth  excerpt flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-a68ad2dea2f1b44df97ff973cba5613c\">\n#top .hr.av-av_hr-a68ad2dea2f1b44df97ff973cba5613c{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-av_hr-a68ad2dea2f1b44df97ff973cba5613c .hr-inner{\nwidth:50px;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-a68ad2dea2f1b44df97ff973cba5613c hr-custom  avia-builder-el-22  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue84e' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-6f15d4b484369cbbc3006be7a36ed206\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-6f15d4b484369cbbc3006be7a36ed206{\npadding-bottom:10px;\nfont-size:42px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-6f15d4b484369cbbc3006be7a36ed206 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-6f15d4b484369cbbc3006be7a36ed206 .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:42px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-6f15d4b484369cbbc3006be7a36ed206 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:22px;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-6f15d4b484369cbbc3006be7a36ed206 .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-6f15d4b484369cbbc3006be7a36ed206 .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-6f15d4b484369cbbc3006be7a36ed206 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-23  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock  av-inherit-size'><div class='av-subheading av-subheading_above'><p>Excerpt from<\/p>\n<\/div><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >The Call of the Desert<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Julia could see the tube station entrance ahead of her, not far from the building she\u2019d just left behind. The night \u2013 time London air was unbearably heavy around her now, making a light sweat break out over her skin and on the nape of her neck under her hair. Thunder rolled ominously in the distance. A storm had been threatening all evening and if she\u2019d been in better humour she could have appreciated the pathetic fallacy. The clouds that had been squatting in the distance were now firmly overhead, low, dark and menacing.<\/p>\n<p>What was making the weather feel even more ominous was the fact that she\u2019d been having disturbing dreams of Kaden lately. Maybe, she wondered a little hysterically, she was hallucinating? Hesitating for a moment, Julia stopped and looked back. But the building just sat there, innocently benign, lights blazing from the windows, laughter trickling out into the quiet street from the party. She shuddered despite the heat, she wasn\u2019t going back now anyway. She couldn\u2019t face Nigel again. <i>Or<\/i> Kaden\u2019s coolly sardonic demeanor. As if nothing had ever happened between them.<\/p>\n<p>Part of her longed to just jump in a cab but her inherently frugal nature forbid it. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a sleek black shape slow to a crawl alongside her just before she heard the accompanying low hum of a very expensive engine. At the same time as she turned to look on a reflex, lightning forked in the sky and the heavens opened. She was comprehensively drenched within seconds but had become rooted to the spot.<\/p>\n<p>Everything seemed to happen in slow motion as she registered the Royal Burquati flag on the bonnet of the car. She noticed the tinted windows, and the equally sleek accompanying jeep, which had to be carrying the ubiquitous security team.<\/p>\n<p>As she stood there getting soaked, unable to move, Julia was helplessly transported back to a moment in the winding hot ancient streets of Burquat city, when breathless with laughter, her hand clamped in Kaden\u2019s, they\u2019d escaped from his bodyguards into a private walled garden. There, he\u2019d pushed her up against a wall, taken away the veil hiding her face and had kissed her for the first time.<\/p>\n<p>It was only when the back door of the car opened near to her and she saw the tall figure of Kaden emerge, that reality rushed back. Along with it came her breath and heartbeat and the knowledge that she hadn\u2019t been hallucinating. The rain seemed to bounce off him, spraying droplets into a halo around him. The sky was apocalyptic behind him. And still that rain, beating down.<\/p>\n<p>Julia backed away, her eyes glued to him though, as if mesmerized.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Julia. Let me give you a lift.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Her name on his tongue with that exotic accent did funny things to her insides. A strangled half laugh came out of Julia\u2019s mouth. \u2018A lift?\u2019 She shook her head, \u2018I don\u2019t need a lift \u2013 I need to go home, I\u2019ll take the tube.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>She dragged her gaze from his and finally managed to turn around, only to feel her arm caught in a hard grip. Electric tingles shot up and down her arm and into her groin just as more lightning lit up the sky. She looked up at Kaden who had come to stand in front of her. So close that she could see his jet back hair plastered to his skull, that awesomely beautiful face. Those black eyes. Rain ran in rivulets down the lean planes, over hard cheekbones.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018What do you want Kaden? Or should I address you by your full title?\u2019 Bitterness and something much scarier made her feel emotional, \u2018You gave a very good impression back there of not knowing who I was. I\u2019m surprised you even remember my name.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Through the driving rain she could see his jaw clench at that. His black gaze swept her up and down, his hand gentled on her arm and perversely that made her feel even shakier. With something she couldn\u2019t decipher in his voice he said, \u2018I remember your name Julia.\u2019 And then with easy solicitude, \u2018You\u2019re soaked through, and now I\u2019m soaked. My apartment isn\u2019t far from here, let me take you there so you can dry off.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Panic mixed with something much more hot and primal clutched Julia\u2019s gut. Go with Kaden to his apartment, to <i>dry off<\/i>? She remembered the way his look had changed earlier to something ambiguous. It was a long time since she\u2019d felt that curl of hot desire in her abdomen and to be reminded of how this man had been the only one to ever precipitate it was galling. And that he could still make it happen twelve years on was even more disturbing.<\/p>\n<p>She shook her head and tried to extricate her arm. \u2018No thank you. I don\u2019t want to put you out of your way.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>His jaw clenched again. \u2018Do you really want to sit on a tube dripping wet and walk home like a drowned rat?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Instantly she felt deflated. She could well imagine that she did resemble a drowned rat. Mascara must be running down her cheeks in dark rivers. He was just being overly polite, had probably seen her and hadn\u2019t wanted to appear rude by driving past. His convoy would have been far too conspicuous to go unnoticed.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I could take a taxi if I need to, why are you doing this?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>He shrugged minutely. \u2018I wasn\u2019t expecting to see you\u2026it\u2019s been a surprise.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>She all but snorted. It certainly was. She had no doubt that he\u2019d never expected to see her again in his lifetime. And to think of that now \u2013 how close she\u2019d come to never seeing him again, Julia felt an aching sense of loss grip her. And urgency. She wouldn\u2019t see Kaden after tonight, she knew that. This was a fluke, a monumental coincidence. He was just curious, perhaps intrigued.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019d been her first lover, her first love. <i>Her only love<\/i>? Before she could quash that rogue and disturbing thought Kaden was already maneuvering her towards the open door of the car, as if some tacit acquiescence had passed between them. Julia felt weak for not protesting but she knew in that moment that she didn\u2019t have the strength to just walk away, because meeting him again didn\u2019t mean nothing to her.<\/p>\n<p>He handed her into the plush interior of the luxury car and came around the other side. Once his large rangy body was settled in the back seat alongside her, he issued a terse command in Arabic, and the car pulled off so smoothly that Julia only knew they were moving because the tube station passed them in a blaze of refracted lights through the driving rain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"center\">***<\/p>\n<p>Kaden sat back and looked over at Julia. He could see her long dark lashes, her nose had the tiniest bump which gave her profile an aquiline look, and her mouth\u2026he used to study this woman\u2019s mouth for hours. Obsessed with its shape, a full lower lip and the perfect curve of its bow shaped upper lip. He\u2019d once known this profile as well as his own. <i>Better<\/i>.<\/p>\n<p>She wore a light figure hugging jacket over her dress but the rain had made her clothes heavy and the V in the neckline of the dress was dragging downwards to reveal the pale swells of her breasts. He could see a tantalizing hint of the black lace of her bra, and the evidence of her agitation as her chest rose and fell with quick breaths.<\/p>\n<p>Rage at his uncharacteristic lack of control rose high. He\u2019d fully intended to leave, and put her out of his mind, but then he\u2019d seen her walking along the street, with that quick efficient walk he remembered. Not artful or practiced but completely sensuous all the same. As if she was unconscious of how sexy she was. He\u2019d forgotten that a woman could be unconsciously sexy. Before he\u2019d known what he was doing, he\u2019d found himself instructing his driver to stop the car.<\/p>\n<p>Sexual awareness stunned him anew. It shouldn\u2019t be so overwhelmingly fresh. As if they\u2019d hardly been apart. For a long time after she\u2019d left Burquat, Kaden had told himself that his inability to forget about her was because of the fact that she\u2019d been his first lover, and that brought with it undeniable associations and indelible memories.<\/p>\n<p>But, he couldn\u2019t deny as he sat here now, with this carnal <i>heat<\/i> throbbing between them that the pleasure they\u2019d discovered together had been more than just the voluptuous delights of new lovers discovering unfamiliar terrain. It had been as intensely mind \u2013 blowing as anything he\u2019d experienced since. And sitting beside Julia now was effortlessly shattering any illusion he\u2019d entertained that he\u2019d been the one to control his response to women in the intervening years. They just hadn\u2019t been <i>her<\/i>. That knowledge was more than cataclysmic.<\/p>\n<p>Julia could feel Kaden\u2019s eyes on her but she was determined not to look at him. When they\u2019d been together, he\u2019d always had a way of looking at her so intently\u2026as if he wanted to devour her whole. It had thrilled her and scared her a little in equal measure, his intensity was so dark and compelling. She\u2019d felt the lash of that dark intensity when it had turned against her.<\/p>\n<p>If she turned and saw that look now\u2026she raised her hand on a nervous reflex to her neck and felt that it was bare. The wave of relief that coursed through her when she realized what she\u2019d just done was nothing short of epic. She always wore a gold necklace with the detail of an intricate love knot in its centre. It had been bought from a stall in the souk in Burquat. But the main significance was that Kaden had bought it for her and despite what had happened between them, she still wore it every day, apart from when she was traveling, for fear of losing it.<\/p>\n<p>The only reason she wasn\u2019t wearing it now was because she\u2019d been in such a rush earlier upon returning from the US that she\u2019d forgotten to put it back on. The knowledge burned within her because she knew that it had somehow symbolized her link to this man when no link existed anymore. If he had seen the necklace \u2013 her mind seized at the prospect. It would have been like wearing a badge saying, <i>You still mean something to me<\/i>. And she was only realizing herself, here and now how shamefully true that was.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We\u2019re here.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The car was drawing to a smooth halt outside an exclusive looking building. A liveried doorman was hurrying over to open the car door and before Julia knew it she was standing on the pavement watching as Kaden came to join her. The rain had become a light drizzle and Julia shivered in clothes that felt uncomfortably damp against her skin, despite the heavy warmth of the night.<\/p>\n<p>Kaden ushered Julia in through the open doors, the doorman bowed his head deferentially as they passed. Julia felt numb inside and out, shock was spreading, turning her into some sort of automaton. Sleek lift doors were opening and then they were standing in an opulently decorated lift, the doors closed again and with a soft jolt they were ascending.<\/p>\n<p>A sense of panic was rising as she stood in that confined space next to Kaden\u2019s formidable presence but before she could do anything the door was opening again and Julia was led straight from the lift into what had to be the penthouse apartment. It was an old building but the apartment had obviously been re \u2013 fitted and it oozed sleek modernity with an antique twist. It was decorated in understated tones of cream and gold, effortlessly luxurious. The tall windows showcased the glittering city outside as Kaden led her into a huge reception room and turned to face her.<\/p>\n<p>Julia looked away from the windows to catch Kaden\u2019s dark gaze making a leisurely return up her body. Heat exploded in her belly and when his eyes met hers again she found it hard to breathe.<\/p>\n<p>He backed away to an open door on the other side of the room and said coolly, \u2018There is a bedroom and ensuite bathroom through here if you want to freshen up and get dry.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Julia followed his tall form feeling very bedraggled. She was aware of trailing water all over the luxurious carpet. He turned again at the open door through which she could see a set of rooms, a smaller sitting room leading into a bedroom.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I\u2019ll have your clothes attended to if you leave them in the sitting \u2013 room.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Julia looked at him as a curious kind of relief went through her. \u2018You have a housekeeper here?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Kaden shook his head, \u2018No, but someone will attend to them and I\u2019ll leave some dry clothes out for you.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>How could she have forgotten the myriad silent servants who had always been present to do the royal bidding no matter what it was? Like erecting exotic Bedouin tents in the desert in a matter of hours just for them. Her belly cramped. Still in a state of shock, she could only nod silently and watch as Kaden strode away and left her alone.<\/p>\n<p>She walked through the opulent rooms until she came to the bedroom where she carefully closed the door behind her. She grimaced at herself, Kaden was hardly likely to bash the door down because he was so consumed with uncontrollable lust. She could well imagine that his tastes no longer ran to wet and bedraggled archaeologists.<\/p>\n<p>Shaking her head as if that might shake some sanity back into it, she kicked off her shoes and pushed off the door. She explored the bathroom which held a glorious sunken bath and huge walk \u2013 in shower. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and her eyes got big. She did indeed look like she\u2019d been dragged through a hedge backwards and hosed down with water. Her long blonde hair hung in rats tails over her shoulders and was stuck to her head. Mascara had made huge dark smudges under her eyes.<\/p>\n<p>With a scowl at herself she peeled off her drenched clothes and got a towel from the bathroom to protect the soft furnishings and left them in the outer sitting \u2013 room, half terrified that Kaden would walk back through the door at any moment. She scuttled back through the bedroom into the bathroom. With a towel wrapped around her she gave a longing glance to the bath but stepped into the shower instead. Taking a bath in Kaden\u2019s apartment felt far too decadent a thing to do.<\/p>\n<p>As it was, just standing naked under the powerful hot spray of water felt illicit and wicked. To know that Kaden was mere feet away in another room\u2026also naked under a hot shower? With a groan of disgust at her completely inappropriate imagination, Julia turned her face upwards. She resolved to get re \u2013 dressed in her wet clothes if she had to, and get out of there as fast as she could.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28 av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-25  el_after_av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Click to Learn More<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1830,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[21],"portfolio_entries":[23],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - 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