6KhalidI noticed the bus stop close to the gallery and held her close as I led her towards it. I felt a little guilty for stopping her from enjoying in the rain, but the carefree look on her face still remained. My eyes averted to the couple of drunk men leering at women as they passed by. My hold tightened on Valeria’s hand, the sound of rain falling on the ground and her cane tapping surrounding us. “Look at that wet little thing,” one of the men whistled, walking towards us. They blocked our path. Two of his friends surrounding us, reeking of cheap beer.Valeria pressed closer to me, my hand tightening as I felt how tense her body had become. She was afraid. Her icy fingers squeezed mine as she whispered, “Let’s go, Khalid.”“You heard the lady.” I eyed the three men. “Let us pass.”But they were too drunk to process what I said as one of them lifted his hand towards Valeria. I grabbed his wrist and glared down at him. Drawing a slow, steady breath, I said in a controlled tone,
PART TWO “I want to paint you, Valeria.” 7ValeriaEverything became muffled in his living room when I whispered those sweet words. It felt as if a membrane had dropped around us, caging us in a heady sensation.‘Can I… Can I kiss you, Khalid?’I let out a small gasp when I felt his hand wrap around my waist and pull me closer to him, settling me on his lap. My first impression of Khalid was how hard he was—no, not there, but how strongly built he must be. Like a concrete wall. And how broad his shoulders were when my hands fisted the material of his shirt. He was large, larger than anyone I had ever known, caging me on his lap, his muscular arms with corded veins wrapped around my waist.But his touch was gentle, like a wind brushing petals of rose. He was gentle. It made my heart ache.Then I felt him. The hard bulge underneath my thigh. Did I cause that? A pulse throbbed violently between my legs. White hot lust turned into a melting sensation in my lower belly. I was aching painf
8Khalid“Meet your new mother,” my father’s gruff voice rumbled through the room, a pale woman standing beside him, holding a cane in her hand. “Her name is Isabella.”I glared at her, scoffing and crossing my arms in my hand. So this is why he was absent from the Palace for three months. He went and married someone else even though mother was his wife. Zain squeezed my shoulder, giving me a look to behave and stepped ahead to introduce himself. Father smiled proudly at him, even ruffling his hair. He never did that to me. “Pst, pst, Khal!” I glanced over my shoulder at the curls of Zayed’s hair. He was hiding behind a pillar and calling me over to play with horses. I smiled at his dimple and was about to sneak over to him when my father’s voice stopped me. “Khalid Al Latif,” I mentally winced at his harsh tone saying my full name. “Have I not taught you any manners?” I clenched my jaw and glared at his dark eyes. Isabella was smiling in my direction but she wasn’t looking at me
9KhalidI watched Valeria turn around, her hands brushing the empty oak wood table. I told her where all the paint tubes and brushes were kept with large bottles of paint placed in the shelf at the corner of the room. I had decorated the walls with some of my smaller paintings, stacks of panels and canvases stored at the back of the studio. Faint scent of the paint thinner and oil lingered in the air. Her hand touched the large pillars on our left with heavy doors open. The view was nothing but endless sand dunes. I remembered sitting there at night and staring at the sky. “It feels different in this room,” Valeria muttered. I walked beside her, warning her about the chaise lounge before she could stumble into it. The end of her cane gently tapping against it. It was navy blue in color, looking black in certain lighting. The arms of chaise were intricate in gold, making it look elegant. It was the only piece of furniture which stood out the most in my art studio. I never painted
10KhalidI watched in surprised awe when my muse grinned, turning away and walking to the dining area with a bounce in her step. Valeria Dunne was something else. She made me feel everything that had been dead and buried under my rotten body for so long.I had to remind myself that we were there for the painting. And nothing else.I shouldn’t—I couldn’t have feelings for her.I followed Valeria, entering the lantern lit area. The table was low and, on either side, deep red satin coverings were placed. Valeria was moving her head in a different direction when plates of steaming exotic food with delicious scent were placed on the carved table, teasing both of us to devour everything. Instead of sitting across her, I sat beside her, crossing my legs which brushed with her bare knees. The lantern lights cast a soft glow, making the area look more intimate. The staff left as soon as the platter of food was placed, giving us privacy and to have their own food in the castle dining area. I h
11ValeriaI hummed sleepily, snuggling closer to the warm heat that surrounded me. Strong hands traced the skin of my arms, going up and down to the crooks of my elbows. I shivered, tingles of heat following the path of his touch. I could feel his burning gaze on me as he traced my cheekbones. My lashes fluttered when his hand descended down to my slender neck. Lower. To the soft peak of my breasts. “Khalid…” I sighed, my voice sultry because of the sleep. I felt his breath fanning on my neck, our bodies touching each other, when his hand trailed across the neckline of my dress. “Mhmm,” he hummed, his voice hoarse and masculine. My toes curled hearing his rich voice. “Good morning, Valeria.”My name had never sounded so beautiful. So soft yet hot. His tongue wrapped around my name, striking a chord deep in my belly. Khalid’s hand traced the curve of my body in the soft fabric of the dress. I took a deep breath when his hand found the hem of my dress, trailing it up to reveal the s
12 KhalidI answered the phone and closed the doors of my room behind me.“How is my dear brother doing?” Zain, my elder brother and the Sultan of Azmia drawled in his deep voice. I rolled my eyes. Zain cockblocked me with Valeria just to ask me how I am doing? “What do you want, Zain? I was… I was doing something important.” Or I was about to, anyway. “Something important or someone?” I could hear the smirk in his voice. “Someone important,” I corrected him. “Now, tell me, why are you calling me? You know I am at the oasis.”“You have never brought anyone at the oasis before. Not even your own brother. Not even Zara.” He couldn’t hide the disbelief in his tone. I scratched the back of my neck. “I am painting.”“Are you painting that someone important? Or are you painting on her?” I planned to do that soon. “Zain, I do not want to talk about this with you right now. Why did you call? Is Nasrin okay? Jadati (grandmother)?” I heard him sigh through the phone. “Yes, everyone is
13ValeriaI tried not to tremble when I felt his tall, large body looming over me. I knew Khalid could see how aroused I was, naked in front of him, while he was fully clothed in a room filled with paints and brushes. I clenched and unclenched my fingers in a fist when a cool breeze whispered through the room, roving over my bare body, making my skin prickle. How will I be able to sit still for hours? I could feel the tension increasing in my body. My arms and shoulders feeling heavy, as if someone was physically pushing me down. I felt small. Almost afraid. Like the night—No. Khalid is with me. He is a good person. I am okay. I am safe. I am fine. The sound of charcoal moving across the canvas made me well aware of his burning gaze. He had already started sketching me. Khalid Al Latif was taking a nude sketch of me. Should I look at him? But I could only hear whispers of the charcoal, and it made my body tense with nervousness. I didn’t know what to do, where to look, my eyes h