"This is gorgeous." Amanda breathed as they stepped into a beautifully appointed suite. While the influence of Zakirian culture was obvious, it was a very contemporary décor. The servant quickly gave them a tour, explaining that their luggage had been unpacked and that a collection of Millicent-approved snacks and drinks were available from the small fridge.

Sahara immediately selected the rug near the hearth and settled down to sleep. Lifting the hem of the kaftan, Amanda groaned to see the condition of her feet and ankles. Lee winced in sympathy. The combination of long hours of relative inactivity, pregnancy, and the heat of Zakir had done a real job on his wife's slender ankles. The straps from her pretty sandals were digging ruthlessly into the tops of her feet. "Come with me." Lee ordered, heading toward the bathroom. The sunken bathtub was perfect for what he had in mind. Running cool water, he knelt down to remove Amanda's footwear, giving each extremity a quick massage as he did so. Folding a thick plush towel on the edge of the bathtub, he grinned and quickly lifted the kaftan over Amanda's head, leaving her naked except for the underwear that she'd donned in deference to meeting royalty.

"That bathtub looks big enough for the two of us." Amanda said casually. Lee blinked at his wife.

"Really?"

"Yeah." Not needing to be asked twice, Lee shucked out of his clothes in a moment. Gasping as he wiggle. Lee held her away from his chest for a moment. Her belly had started to round almost immediately but now her breasts were getting heavier too. He knew better than to mention that her backside was a bit wider too, but he was really enjoying it.

"You know, until I got to see you carrying our babies, I could never understand how incredibly sexy a woman becomes during pregnancy." Reaching for the new bar of fine-milled soap that the servants had left for them, Lee wet it and began sliding it over Amanda's skin, creating a velvety layer of suds.

Seeing his pleasure, Amanda relaxed into his touch. It never ceased to amaze her how, with all of his sexual sophistication, Lee seemed fascinated by their love making – as if every detail was new to him. Tugging her forward, he continued his soapy massage on her back, his hands occasionally drifting to her bottom.

For Amanda it was a quiet, sleepy, perfect moment. There was something to be said for making Lee do all of the work here. His hands were almost hypnotising, and the warmth of his chest against her cheek was not conducive to the acrobatic passion she'd been considering earlier. Dropping kisses along his collar bone, Amanda smiled as Lee adjusted her hips into position. Gasping as she felt him enter his body, Amanda pulled back so she could look at him. "I love you."

"I love you too. I never imagined that love could be like this." He told her quietly, his hands slipping down and guiding her body in the rhythm that would get them both to the finish line at the same time. "I also had no idea that I could do this to you." With that, his hands moved to take advantage of her bent legs. Turning to clasp her feet, he ran his thumbs firmly along Amanda's instep. Surprised, she shrieked into his mouth even as her body clamped down tightly on him. Repeating the caress, Lee almost choked on a laugh as Amanda's entire body began to vibrate with pleasure. The effect on his anatomy was instantaneous. Groaning, he continued his tender assault even as Amanda began to writhe and whimper in his arms. It was over much faster than he'd anticipated, both of their climaxes washing over them within seconds of each other.

"You're a ruthless lover, Mr. Stetson." Amanda grumbled happily, straightening away from him. Her own hands ran over his chest, spreading the suds that she'd left there. Lee smiled sleepily at her. He was certainly feeling the jet lag now. Reaching over for the handheld spray nozzle, he adjusted the water temperature so it was warm and quickly rinsed Amanda off. As she moved back to the side of the bathtub, he quickly scrubbed himself clean and rinsed off too. Amanda handed him one of the thick bath towels to dry off with.

Once they were dry, they made their way to the bed. Sahara rubbed past them and then made her way to the balcony, lightly jumping to a nearby tree. Seemingly unbothered by her lack of sight, the creature made her way down to the ground and loped off. Shaking his head, Lee closed the door and joined Amanda in the enormous bed. Spooning around her, he dropped a few random kisses on her neck and shoulder. "Go to sleep, sweetheart." She urged quietly. "We have a long day tomorrow."

Morning came to the desert as quickly as night had fallen. Lee was woken by Amanda's sleepy mumbling. Looking out into the northern garden that was still cast in early morning shadows, Lee chuckled to see his new friend waiting for him to let her in. Knowing that Amanda would wake up miserable, Lee slipped out of bed and let Sahara in before walking naked to the bathroom for a quick shower and shave.

Returning to the bedroom he found that Sahara had made herself at home, cuddling with Amanda on the bed. Lee wasn't sure he was flattered to be so easily replaced and he was pretty sure he was jealous at the sleepy stroking his wife was delivering to the cat's sleek fur. Going to the small refrigerator, Lee pulled out a bottle of water and a packet of crackers.

Knowing from experience that waking his morning-sick wife was a dicey proposition, Lee set the water and crackers on the bedside table and moved down to the foot of the bed. He wanted to be close enough that if she did leap out of bed and felt faint, he'd be close enough to catch her. Lifting the covers away from her legs, he smiled as he ran a hand over her calf muscles, making her moan in pleasure. "Wake up, sleepy head." He ordered. Amanda groaned and stretched, freezing as she felt the warm furry body next to her. Opening her eyes, she found herself face to muzzle with their feline visitor.

"You need a shave, sweetheart." She quipped, as if Lee had transformed into the cat overnight. Chuckling, he watched as she reached out and rubbed Sahara's ear, earning a remarkably loud purr that shook the bed.

"I put crackers and a bottle of water on the bed-stand for you." He told her. Smiling, Amanda rolled over and took a cracker, nibbling at it slowly to ensure it played no tricks on her. "Remember, don't get up too fast." Amanda nodded and pushed herself up so that she could sit back against the headboard. She could see that Lee was worried. It was obvious that her faint the night before had given him a major scare and he wasn't quite ready to stop fussing over her.

"Let's take a few minutes and plan what we're doing today." Amanda suggested, taking a sip from the bottle of water. Lee smiled at her.

"Well, I was thinking that this is a good case for you to take the lead on."

"What?" Amanda gasped. Lee smiled.

"I think that, as part of your training, it's time for you to take the lead in a case. This will be a pretty analysis-heavy case which you're getting very good at."

"But what about the field work restriction?"

"I'll do the leg work – but you do the analysis and coordinate with the Agency." Knowing how important it was to Amanda for him to take her seriously as an agent in her own right, Lee tried to look as serious as possible. "I'm still going to supervise your work, and it will certainly count towards your course work, but I think that it's past time that you started to work on your professional leadership skills." Amanda launched herself at her partner.

"Thank you!"

"Don't thank me." Lee told her gruffly, dropping a kiss on her lips. "I'm going to be checking to make sure that you get everything done right. I expect a preliminary report in my hands by the end of the day."

"Yes sir!"

"I like the sound of that." Lee quipped, making her laugh. Giving her husband a particularly wicked smiled, she remembered something she'd been meaning to ask him for a long time.

"Sweetheart, you know that pilot's uniform you've used on some operations?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think that when we get home, you could maybe wear it… for a date with me?" Lee chuckled but his eyes told her that he was intrigued by the suggestion.

"And would you be wearing that black dress?" Looking down at her belly, Amanda grimaced. There was no way she'd fit into that dress just now, nor would she for months. Seeing her disappointment, Lee shook his head. "Or maybe, you could just be naked?"

"Dinner in bed? How very, very perverted of you, sir." Lee growled his agreement before kissing her again. When she reluctantly pulled away, Amanda sighed and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Unbothered, Sahara just rolled onto her back, offering her pristine white tummy for a rub. Gently scraping the soft fur with his fingertips, Lee earned a rueful look from his wife. "You're irresistible to every female alive."

"But I can resist all of them except you."

"Good answer, Stetson." Amanda laughed, heading into the bathroom.

A short time later, they made their way to the breakfast room where Penny, Rheza, and Hassam were waiting for them. Settling down to breakfast, the four adults discussed the day's plan.

"Amanda will be lead on this investigation." Lee announced.

"But I thought that you were the senior agent." Penny said, surprised.

"He is. But I'm still in training and part of that includes taking the lead on investigations." Amanda explained, smiling at her husband.

"And you do not mind this?" Rheza asked Lee, curiously. Both of the Stetsons noticed Penny's arch brow at the question.

"No, I even suggested it. Amanda has enough experience that she should be leading investigations by now, but because we're partners I usually take the lead. So, Mrs. Stetson, what's the game plan?"

"Lee, I'd like you to work with local law enforcement and see what information they've collected. Penny, can you arrange for me to meet the mothers of the girls involved?"

"Yes, of course."

"We can summon them to the palace." Rheza offered.

"That might be fine for the investigators." Amanda decided. "They will be honoured by a summons. But I think that it would be better for me to speak with the mothers in their own homes. I think that they might feel more comfortable there."

"Are you suggesting that I stay here in the palace to do interviews and you'll go out into the field, alone?" Lee asked.

"Well, not the field, exactly. I'd just be visiting mothers in their homes to talk about their children."

"Over my dead body." Lee told her cheerfully.

"Well, what do you suggest then?"

"If I could contribute?" Penny asked hesitantly, biting back a smile. She'd seen the sparks between these two when she'd first met them and it seemed that far from cooling them down, their relationship was fierier than ever.

"Of course, Penny."

"I can invite all of the mothers, as a group, here. That way, they will have the reassurance of each other's presence and Lee will know that you are safe within the palace walls."

"That might work." Amanda agreed just as Lee said he liked it.

"Very well, I'll arrange for it this afternoon."