Sinfully His

by Alice Raine

  The only positive thing to have happened in the last few weeks was that I had finally started work. The school was amazing, the children in my class were keeping me busy, and my colleagues had all been really welcoming. There were a couple of new starters like me, and a little group of us had already been for several nights out, so I was finally starting to get some friends and feel like I was settling into life on the island.

  Nodding to myself I sipped my coffee and decided I felt a little perkier today. Perhaps I would manage to enjoy my time on Somora after my interlude with their handsome prince after all.

  My thoughts were suddenly broken by a sharp rapping at my front door which made me jump so much that I spilt my drink all over my leg.

  Cursing, I brushed at the hot liquid and then went to the door, wondering who it could be; Khalil didn’t know where I lived, and it was way too early for my workmates who I shared a lift with. When I opened the door, I took a shocked step backwards as I found a man almost as tall and broad as the doorway standing on my step. My eyes widened as I looked up at him, and I reminded myself that I really must get into the habit of using the peephole.

  ‘Miss Masters?’ His voice had a strong accent to it, common to all the locals here on the island who spoke some English.

  ‘Y... yes. How can I help you?’

  ‘Your presence has been requested at the Royal Palace, please come with me.’

  The Palace? I gulped down a panicked gasp and took another step backwards. No, no, no. I was not going there again.

  He frowned at my retreat and indicated in the direction of the car park as if I were expected to drop everything and leave with him, but I was too busy having a panic attack to comply. Why on earth would I be summoned to the Palace? Were Khalil’s parents about to have me thrown in prison for cavorting with their son? Horrendous visions of me spending the next ten years rotting away in a sweaty concrete cell filled my mind and I rapidly shook my head.

  ‘I can’t... I... have to be at work.’

  The man mountain crossed his arms over his chest, making him seem even larger and more imposing. Not to mention bloody terrifying. ‘You are turning down a royal invite?’

  ‘Ummm.’ This was probably an even bigger social faux pas than sleeping with the Prince, but I tried to appear confident as I replied, ‘I am.’ Glancing at my watch, I made a desperate attempt to stand my ground. ‘I have to leave in five minutes.’

  Narrowing his eyes, he gave me an unreadable stare and then let out a huffed breath as if people didn’t usual ly say no to him. Given his size and intimidating stare, they probably didn’t. He raised a hand and reached into his jacket pocket and I tensed, wondering if he was going to pull out some handcuffs and drag me away. Instead, his hand came away with a pair of sunglasses. He donned the shades, gave me one final irritated look, and stalked away muttering something under his breath as he went.

  Letting out a relieved breath, I quickly shut the door and then leaned back against it as a rush of dizziness overwhelmed me.

  Blimey. Summoned to the Royal Palace?

  In a daze, I packed my work bag and tried to carry on with my day as usual, but I couldn’t help but worry that I was about to be grabbed and thrown off the island at any moment. My troubled silence was noted by my colleagues on a number of occasions, but I manged to pass it off as a headache and somehow make it to home time. By the time I walked through the door to my beach apartment, and still hadn’t been accosted by anyone, I started to relax. Perhaps I was overthinking things.

  Just as I’d had that thought there was another knock on my door. Dread instantly settled in my stomach, and as much as I was tempted to drop everything and make a break for it out of a back window, I found my legs carrying me to the front door. This time, however, I remembered to check the peephole, and as I did, I drew in a surprised breath before almost ripping the door open.

  ‘Aliya!’

  Aliya might be a staff member at the Palace, but more than that she was my friend. Grinning, she stepped inside and pulled me into a tight embrace. I had missed my friend so much, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. It had been so hard not contacting Khalil since my departure from the Palace, but just as difficult to cut Aliya out of my life. At the time it had seemed easier not to speak to anyone who reminded me of my time with Khalil, but now Aliya was here on my step, I realised just how stupid that had been.

  ‘Sara! It’s so good to see you! ‘

  I ushered Aliya inside and could hardly wipe the smile off my face as we sat down on the small couch.

  ‘And you! You caused quite a stir this morning, I’ve never seen Omar so irritated!’ She laughed and my stomach dropped at her mention of my morning visitor.

  ‘Omar? I’m assuming he was the big scary guy who turned up on my doorstep?’

  ‘The very same.’ She nodded. ‘He is not used to people saying no to him. I think he was surprised by your stubbornness!’

  Aliya seemed in good spirits, which was relaxing me, because presumably it meant that Omar hadn’t been here to throw me off Somora as I had first feared. ‘Why was I summoned to the Palace? Do you know what the Sheik wanted? I was so worried he was going to deport me that I’ve felt sick all day.’

  ‘Deport you?’ Aliya paused and stared at me as if I was crazy, and then she lifted a hand to her mouth in an attempt at stifling a laugh. ‘It wasn’t his parents who wanted to see you – it was Khalil!’

  Khalil? That made more sense, I suppose, but wasn’t exactly great news either, given our hopeless situation.

  ‘He couldn’t come here himself. He’s too famous, and he didn’t want to draw unwanted attention to you in case people started hassling you for being connected to him.’

  I gave a vague nod, but I couldn’t seem to concentrate properly because the crippling pain in my chest had returned with a vengeance. I couldn’t see him again; it would only make all my feelings resurface, and I’d be back to square one.

  ‘W... what did he want?’ I whispered, almost scared to hear the answer.

  ‘He wanted to see you, of course! He misses you so much, Sara. Honestly, he’s been so down these past few weeks. I’ve never seen him like this before. He wants me to bring you to the Palace now.’

  A huge sigh slipped from my lips, but I shook my head. ‘I can’t see him, Aliya. It’s pointless. We have no future together. His parents would never allow it.’

  The smile Aliya had been wearing since she arrived slipped and was replaced by a frown. ‘It is difficult for you both, I understand.’

  We sat in silence for several minutes, as if both attempting to find a way out of the mess but both drawing a blank.

  ‘I’ll get in so much trouble if you don’t come back with me. I might even lose my job...’ she whispered morosely, but I could see straight through her ploy to win me over and rolled my eyes before giving her hand a squeeze.

  ‘No, you won’t. We both know Khalil would never punish you for something I did. He’s too kind.’

  Her shoulders dropped and she gave a small cheeky smile. ‘OK, so I won’t lose my job, but please, Sara? Come with me, just for a few minutes?’

  I looked at her pleading face, and as much as I knew I shouldn’t, I found myself nodding against my own better judgement.

  I really was my own worst enemy.

  Chapter Four

  As the car containing Aliya and me pulled up to the estate gates, I saw a man waiting for us and recognised him as Tahir, the stableman who helped take care of Khalil’s horses. His expression was completely unreadable as he nodded politely at me and let us through the gates, before indicating for me to leave the car and follow him in the direction of the stables. From his dour expression I could only assume that he didn’t approve of me being here.

  Aliya gave me a hug and wished me luck before hurrying off towards the house. Luck? I rolled my eyes, I was going to need a hell of a lot more than luck to get me through a visit with Khalil. I still couldn’t believe I’d actually come here;
it surely ranked as one of my most foolish decisions ever.

  Tahir gave a polite bow and left me in the stables where I immediately found myself gravitating to my favourite horse, Zufar, Khalil’s magnificent chestnut stallion. The only reason he was my favourite was because I knew how much Khalil also favoured him, but I pushed that thought aside as the stunning animal saw me and gave a whinny of delight.

  ‘Hello, boy. How are you?’ I stroked his nose and he nuzzled into my touch for more. While I’d stayed here, I’d popped down to see Zufar every day and always snuck him a treat like a sugar lump or carrot. As silly as it might be, I had missed my visits with him. I’d missed his owner a hell of a lot more, though, but that probably wasn’t something I should be thinking about, given where I was currently standing.

  ‘I don’t have any sugar lumps today, sorry.’ My voice was tight with emotion as I spoke, and I had to close my eyes for a few seconds as the feel of his silky mane caused a rush of memories to flood my mind. This horse was the very reason I’d first laid eyes on Khalil. I’d heard the pounding of his hooves on the beach, but when I had innocently looked up to locate the horse, I had of course set eyes on Khalil as well.

  It had been the start of my crush on him, and the very reason why I was standing in the Royal Stables wondering what the hell I was going to say to him.

  Just as I started to think the sensible thing to do would be to make a run for it, I was disturbed by a voice behind me.

  ‘He likes you.’ Khalil’s smooth, deep voice felt like it was pouring down over me, and my skin erupted in a covering of goose pimples. ‘You’re very privileged. He doesn’t take to many people.’

  His words echoed around me, but panic erupted in my system, because I just wasn’t ready to face him yet. I dug my fingers into Zufar’s mane as I struggled to ground myself, but the horse seemed to like my harder stroke and pushed his soft muzzle into the side of my head affectionately.

  ‘I’m a little jealous right now because my horse seems to be getting all of your attention,’ Khalil joked softly. There was a pause where I heard him step closer, and I swear every hair on my body stood up to attention at his proximity.

  ‘Look at me, Sara.’ The coaxing tone to his voice made me want to obey him and turn immediately but, using some supreme self-control, I took a moment to steady myself. Pulling in a breath, I tried to prepare for facing him, and then, slowly turned on the spot.

  We were over five metres apart, but the sight of him was like a physical hit to my chest and the breath in my lungs instantly seemed to evaporate. God, he was so amazingly handsome. My memories of him hadn’t done his looks justice. At all. He was casually dressed today, wearing a pair of navy jeans and a white polo shirt which clung to the muscles in his arms and chest to perfection. His usual covering of stubble was still in place, and his hair was a touch longer, so a chunk fell across his forehead.

  It was his gaze that got me, though. His green eyes had always looked stunning against his tanned skin, and today was no exception. Especially seeing as he was currently staring at me with the intensity of a man on a mission.

  Uh-oh.

  Before I could even utter one word, he lurched forwards, and against all my better judgment I found my own feet moving, too, as the two of us dashed together as if magnetised. We united in a lustful bundle of clutching hands, our bodies smashing together as our lips sought each other’s and then tongues twined. A low moan rose up my throat, prompting Khalil to pull me against him even harder.

  We shouldn’t be doing this. I knew it was wrong, and I knew it would only cause me more pain in the future, but in his arms, I felt like I was home, and my common sense went out of the window as I slid my hands up his back and burrowed in the hair at his nape.

  Khalil continued to kiss me breathless, while also manoeuvring us until my back bumped against one of the wooden stable partitions. Now I was pinned, Khalil let go of my hips and his hands began to roam across my body, caressing and arousing me with a skill I had missed so badly.

  I was just as lost in the moment as him, and one of my hands left his hair and dropped to the belt on his jeans. I tugged and wrestled until they were undone, and slid my hand inside, greedily gripping his hot length in my hand.

  Khalil groaned and reflected my move by pressing a hand straight inside my waistband and burrowing down until his fingers brushed across my clit. ‘I need you, Sara, so much...’

  I needed him, too. Needed him everywhere. Kissing me, caressing me, pushing into me... As the thought crossed my mind, he succeeded in loosening my jeans with his spare hand and the fingers on my clit were suddenly free to slide lower, before he pressed one inside me.

  A lusty gasp tore up my throat as I widened my stance, and gave him the space to increase the single finger to two. He worked both my clit and my G-spot with such skill that it took barely seconds for me to feel a climax building low in my belly.

  The feel of my muscles tightening and skin heating seemed to bring home to me exactly what we were doing. Instead of throwing my head back and letting him make me come, I tensed and then started to freak out and try to push him away.

  This was wrong! My common sense crawled back into my skull and yelled at me to put an end to this madness. We weren’t together any more, and neither could we be.

  Dragging my lips away from his, I tried to word a protest, but even to my ears it sounded unconvincing. ‘Wait... Khalil...’

  He growled something against my neck and then tried to capture my lips again, but this time I pushed against him and shook my head.

  ‘Stop... we need to stop...’

  Finally listening to me, Khalil lifted his head and gazed down at me with flushed cheeks and a half smile on his face that made my heart want to break in two. Goddamn it, I should never have come here.

  ‘This can’t happen, Khalil.’

  Frowning, he seemed to wake from the same trance I had succumbed to, and then gently pulled his fingers from within me with a regretful look.

  My eyes fluttered shut at the loss, but even with the pain I was feeling in my heart, I knew I was doing the right thing.

  He raised a hand and grabbed my shoulder, holding me captive. ‘We can still see each other, Sara; we’ll just have to be careful that no one sees us.’

  ‘No. I got carried away just then. I need to leave.’ I shook my head and righted my clothing, trying to persuade myself as much as him. ‘I don’t want to be your mistress.’

  Khalil took a staggered step backwards, looking utterly horrified by my words and then shoved his tackle back inside his jeans with apparent difficulty. ‘You wouldn’t be my mistress! I would never disrespect you like that.’ He tried to reach for me, but I couldn’t let his magnetic touch wrap around me again, and so I stepped back. He dropped his shoulders with dejection, arms falling to his sides. ‘I’m not with anyone else, Sara.’

  ‘Not yet,’ I added sadly. ‘But you will be soon, won’t you?’ In response Khalil threw his hands up and dug them into his hair. He looked desperate.

  ‘I... I’m just... I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to lose you, little one.’

  Little one. I had no idea why I was so fond of his odd nickname for me, but I was. I didn’t want to lose him either, but he was intended for someone else, and destined to be the Sheik of this entire island one day, too. It was, and had always, been a hopeless situation.

  ‘I told you the first night we spent together that you would be mine if we slept together, Sara. You stayed... That means you’re mine.’ His eyes were determined, and as much as his statement thrilled me, I knew that no matter how much he wanted me it could never happen.

  ‘As much as I would love that to be true, we both live in the real world, Khalil. Let’s be sensible; nothing can come of our time together.’

  Khalil began pacing, his large legs taking him off along the stable floor, and I couldn’t help but recall the first day I had spent here and how he’d lifted me from the horse and sent lust spinning in my system
as he’d dragged me down the front of his firm body. He paused, nodding his head, as if he’d come to some silent conclusion, and turned back in my direction with a purposeful expression on his handsome face.

  He reached my side, and then, quick as a flash, his hand came out to grab mine. I wasn’t fast enough to dodge his touch this time, and found my hand encased within his and gripped tightly by his familiar warmth.

  He lifted my hand to his lips, kissed the back of my knuckles, and then stared deeply in my eyes. ‘Marry me, Sara.’

  His words floated around in the air, reverberating inside my skull until I could have sworn that he had just proposed to me.

  A tug on my hand caused me to blink and look up at him in confusion.

  ‘Did you hear me, little one? I asked if you would marry me.’

  He really had proposed. Marry Khalil? I couldn’t think of anything I would rather do, I had fallen for this man hook, line and sinker, but as much as it pained me, there was no way I could ever marry him. I let out a sad, humourless laugh and shook my head.

  ‘We both know your family would never let you marry me, Khalil.’

  His face dropped until he looked pained, as if he knew my words were true but didn’t want to believe them or accept them. ‘Admittedly, this wouldn’t be the most traditional of matches, but they might agree to it if I spoke to them again. There could be a way. There must be a way.’

  I knew the culture here on the island was for a man to have several wives, and I wondered if his father would suggest that as a compromise. ‘I’m honoured that you feel so strongly, honestly I am, but I can’t see how this can work. Your father wouldn’t allow me to be your first wife, and I’m not prepared to be your second wife either. If I had to share you it would kill me.’