Chapter 30
“Put your hair up. Your back is getting very red.”
She does as I say and looks back at me, smiling. “I could get used to this. Being pampered and having your hands on me all the time.”
“You’re a minx, Miss Turner.”
“Well, I can’t disagree. You turned me into a bad girl, my Sheikh.”
Madeline is facing away, nestled between my legs, on a lounger by my pool. I spin her around in my arms, seating her on my lap. “I’m starting to worry about your addiction to sex, Miss.”
“Are you complaining?” She laughs, leaning forward and adjusting herself over my cock.
Before I can respond, I hear my brother Zarif say, “Oh, so this is where you ran off to.”
All color drains from Madeline’s face. I suspect it’s both because of the compromising position we’re in and the fact that she’s almost naked, wearing only a tiny bikini.
In a second, she gets off me, grabs the beach cover-up from the floor, and covers herself. “Zarif, Irfan. How are you?” she asks, her anxious voice betraying her.
“Better now,” Zarif replies, not hiding his gaze on her.
I stand up and put an arm around Madeline’s waist. “I don’t recall inviting you both.”
Irfan laughs, ignoring the tension in the air. “Since when do we need an invitation? Zarif wanted to check if Madeline was okay, as she apparently vanished from the dance floor.”
I’m used to their teasing. In general, I don’t take it seriously, but today, I’m not in the mood for it. “You’ve seen her. Madeline is fine. You may leave now.”
She looks at me, and I can tell she’s upset. “Would you like something to drink?” she offers, disregarding my bad manners.
“What I want isn’t on the menu. At least not yet,” Zarif retorts, and I step towards him.
It’s evident that he’s referring to my girlfriend, and I won’t tolerate such disrespect.
Before I can do anything, Madeline steps between us. “I don’t know what your problem is, Zarif, but don’t you dare use me to provoke your brother. I’m not a toy to him, if that’s what you’re thinking. We are in a real relationship, without any of that contract crap, and I demand you respect that.”
He looks genuinely embarrassed. “You’re right. It’s nothing against you. I did come to check if you were okay.”
She sighs. “I am, thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take a shower.”
I watch her walk away, then I take a step in his direction. “Never speak to Madeline like that again or you’ll regret it.”
He doesn’t seem fazed. “Is what she said true? About you having no contract this time?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, it’s true. We are together.”
He laughs. “How long will that last? Soon you’ll have to find a wife, and Madeline will be history. I’ll be there to console her.” He walks away before I can react.
I could correct him, but I don’t. It’s not anyone’s business if Madeline is pregnant or not.
“What was that between you two?” Irfan asks. “The arguments seem to be escalating. They’re getting worse. Our ab[12] won’t be happy when she hears about this cold war between you two.”
“Since when were we best friends?”
“You were never declared enemies either.”
“He disrespected Madeline.”
For the first time since he arrived, Irfan smiles. “I never thought I’d live to see you jealous of a woman. So it’s serious?”
“What part of ‘we are together’ don’t you understand?”
“You’ve been with more women than I can remember. One for each month of the year. So don’t get pissed if I find this change in behavior strange.”
“Madeline is different.”
“Alright. I won’t meddle. She seems like a nice girl.” He pauses. “Too nice to be hurt, Kamal. Sweet and very young. Think carefully about what you’re doing.”
He leaves, and I head inside to find her.
When I open the door to the bathroom, Madeline is facing away from me, naked, water cascading down her beautiful body.
I remove my swim trunks and join her, circling her with my arms from behind.
“I don’t want to be the cause of fights between you and Zarif.”
“Forget about it. It has nothing to do with you.”
She turns in my arms to face me. “Why do you two always seem ready to pounce on each other?”
“I don’t want to talk about him anymore, jamilati.”
“What does that mean?”
“My beautiful.”
She smiles. “What if I want to call you that too?”
“Then it would be wasimi, but it doesn’t suit me.”
“Why not?”
“I’m a Sheikh. Powerful, virile. There aren’t enough words.”
As expected, she bursts into laughter, and the worried expression disappears.
“That laughter didn’t do wonders for my ego, woman.”
“I don’t think there are any doubts about how masculine, powerful, and virile you are, my Sheikh.”
I lift her in my arms, pressing her against the wall, and slowly enter her. “Now that sounds like my good girl, Madeline.”
London
“We’ve been dating for a day. I’m not going to bring a suitcase of clothes to your house. I might sleep there occasionally, but I won’t move in,” she says.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m afraid of getting too attached.”
I don’t have a reply for that.
I think about what Irfan told me. If she is not pregnant, how long will I go on with our relationship? It would be a collision of two completely different worlds.
I can see all her doubts written on her face.
“What are you afraid of specifically?” I ask.
“Of losing my heart and never finding it again.”
“And staying away from me will help you protect yourself?”
She doesn’t answer and looks down at her lap.
I reach out and tuck her hair behind her ear to take a proper look at her.
“I don’t intend on staying away, but I just need to shield myself a little,” she says. “Keep my world as I know it. So if things between us don’t work out, I’ll have somewhere to go back to.”
I run my hand across my face, irritated. I’m not used to giving in. “In any case, we will be traveling to Sintarah in a couple of days,” I inform her. “Regardless of the test results, I need to go back to my country. Duty calls.”
“Okay. I’m curious to see your Emirate. I just need you to explain the basics to me. How I should dress and basic manners so I won’t feel so out of place.”
“I’ll take care of that.”
She takes my hand. “Come to my apartment tonight.”
“What? Why, when my palace is much bigger?”
“Forget it.”
“No. Explain it to me.”
“I spent three days amidst luxury far beyond what I’m used to. I want to experience us both in a setting where I can sneeze without someone rushing to say ‘bless you.’”
“Are you talking about my staff in Ibiza?”
“No, about everyone wherever you go. People always seem ready to guess your desires. Here, in Ibiza, in Turkey . . . Come home with me. Let’s be an ordinary couple for one night.”
I stare at her for a few seconds before making up my mind.
“Alright. Show me the ordinary side of life, Madeline.”