Fiona Normanton unbuttoned al-Qasr’s denim shirt. She rubbed her soft fingertips over the rough hairs of his chest, kissed his neck and lay back on the cream duvet. ‘Do you like me?’
Al-Qasr smiled, admiring the rich blue woollen beach top she was wearing with its bright orange stars and yellow moons. ‘I’ve always loved brunettes.’
‘I got highlights!’
‘So I see.’ Al-Qasr picked at the deep blue wool that rested on her tiny navel. ‘Did you make this?’ Fiona laughed. ‘No, silly. I got it in Reno. There’s a great wool shop there.’
‘Hard to believe. Expensive?’
‘Do you like expensive things?’
‘Yeah. I think I’d miss them if they were taken away.’ He looked out to the lake through the glass doors.
All morning al-Qasr had been at Fiona’s apartment at Oroville while the FBI engaged in a second forensic sweep of his house up at Paradise. While Bureau agents took the place apart, the couple had swum in Fiona’s little pool overlooking the lake and talked a lot about life in California.
Fiona took al-Qasr’s large warm hand and placed it on her thigh. He fingered the edge of her sky-blue cotton panties and tickled her gently.
‘Mmm… Don’t stop.’
He slid his hand round under the cotton and stroked her smooth round hips and bottom. She pulled him closer, nudging his moustache with her little nose. She opened her lips and they kissed. His hand moved over the soft, round mound of Fiona’s stomach.
‘Shall I take this off?’
‘No, I like it. It suits you.’
‘OK.’
Al-Qasr lifted the cosy wool over her breasts.
‘Hey! Do you know what?’
‘Yeah. I’m boring, I’m middle-aged and I’m… just a little crazy about you.’
‘Oh, you don’t have to say that! Hey, Sami. If you lick my tits, I’m told the nipples come up like sombreros!’
Al-Qasr laughed again. Fiona Normanton was a lot of fun.
‘Go on! Try it.’
‘OK.’
‘See what I mean?’
‘Fuck! You’re right, Fiona! They do.’
‘Don’t stop, Sami. I feel the flame of fornication rising through my body.’
Fiona suddenly sat up and pulled her panties down. ‘Go on!’
‘What?’
‘You know! Lick me, silly! Now.’
Soon Fiona was breathing heavily; she moaned his name.
‘Hey, hey!’
‘What’s the matter, Sami? Don’t I turn you on?’
‘No, no. It’s just…’
‘Are you having a problem… you know, getting it—’
‘No, it’s not that. I guess I don’t feel like rushing.’
‘Oh! Oh, I see. Sorry, Sami.’
‘No, it’s my fault.’
‘I got an idea. You just lie back a second.’
Fiona slipped his buff-coloured chinos down his long, olive legs.
‘God, Sami! You look ready enough for me!’
‘OK, but…’
‘Look, I’ll lie here for a minute and you just lie back and think about whatever you want to think about. OK?’
Fiona positioned herself on the duvet and slid her right hand down as she spread her long legs. Al-Qasr moved on to his side and kissed her shoulder.
‘Fiona?’
‘Mmm?’
‘What’s it been like in the office the past few days?’
‘Mmm… Hot.’
‘Apart from that.’
‘I guess we missed you.’
‘I had things to do.’
‘Really, like what?’
‘Oh just things… You know.’
Fiona let out a deep groan. ‘Kiss me, Sami.’
‘Did… did anyone come into my laboratory?’
‘’Course not. God! No one gets past me!’
‘You sure? No one’s been messing with my computer? My files?’
‘Oh Sami!’ Fiona started to shiver. ‘No, baby. All your secrets are safe.’