The Desert Camp – Part 2: Under the Stars

Their tent stood a little apart from the others, a spacious black tent with the front flap rolled up to frame the stars. Inside it was warm and rich with rugs and cushions, with a low wide bed heaped with woven blankets and a single brass lantern glowing on a stool.

"It's beautiful," said Fatima.

"It's enormous."

"The bed is enormous."

"I noticed that." Chris sat on the edge, bounced slightly and grinned. "It's very bouncy."

She laughed and sat beside him. They looked out at the desert, at the black towers of rock against the star-filled sky, the sand pale as silver in the starlight. A cool wind moved through the tent. Somewhere far off, a camel grumbled.

"Fatima," said Chris, softly.

"Yes?"

"I'd like to kiss you, if that's a good idea."

"It's a very good idea."

His kiss was warm, familiar and quietly eager. She slid her hands into his hair and pulled him closer. The lantern threw their shadows huge on the tent walls. They moved slowly, in no hurry, with the whole desert silent around them, and fifteen years of knowing each other's rhythms made it easy and sweet and full of unexpected laughter. The wide bed was soft. The blankets were warm. The stars wheeled slowly overhead through the open flap.

"Is this too loud?" whispered Fatima, laughing.

"Who's going to hear? The camels?"

"They're judging."

"They're envious."

Afterwards they lay in a happy tangle under the blankets, watching a meteor streak across the dark.

"We should do this every year," said Fatima.

"Every year. Different desert."

"Same tent."

"Same bed," said Chris, firmly. "I'm not giving up the bed."

At dawn the sky blushed pink and the rocks lit up like embers. They sat on the carpet in blankets, drinking sweet tea, watching the desert wake. The guide brought the camel, who looked at Chris with the same wary expression.

"He's judging me again," said Chris.

"He's seen everything," said Fatima, and kissed his cheek. "He'll never tell."

More married couple romance: The Cruise · Couples Retreat · The Second Honeymoon