Emerald St. Clair's POV

"Let me in." Those words send my heart into overdrive. The way he was gazing at me right this moment felt like it left burn marks on my skin. I could not help but shiver at his intense gaze.

I glared at him darkly while peeking into the silent hallway. "What the fuck are you doing here? Are you crazy?! What if someone sees you knocking in my doorway?"

He smiled at me while leisurely admiring my exposed legs. Suddenly, I wanted to pull down the hemline of my nightie to cover myself.

"Get back to your room!" I instructed him with a deathly look. "What if Granddad learns about your late-night visit."

He shrugged indifferently. "I am sure he will not mind. I am your boyfriend, after all." He flashed me a sexy grin. "You can't sleep without me cuddling you, right?"

"FYI, Al-Farsi," I hissed at him. How I wished that looks could kill so I could kill him with my glare. "I was already soundly asleep before you came here knocking. You disturbed my sleep."

He grimaced in my direction. "I just wanted to make sure that Creed did not creep into your room while you were sleeping."

"My God! You have a wild imagination. Go back to your room. I will be fine." I was about to close the door when his palm stopped it from closing. "What the..."

I didn't finish my sentence when his mouth came crashing down on me. A moan escaped me as the sensation of his lips moving against mine was too much to bear. The fire spread through my body instantly. I heard the distinctive sound of my door being closed.

"What are you doing?" I asked a little breathlessly from our kisses.

"Seducing you."

My eyes widened in his direction. His cobalt eyes held unholy light in their depth. "Are you nuts—?"

Before I had the chance to reprimand him, he claimed my mouth again in a heated kiss. I could not do anything but put my hands on his strong shoulder for support. I hate to admit it, but I am getting addicted to his kiss. With every ounce of my strength, I push him away.

"Stop doing that!" I protested, breaking away from our passionate kiss. "You're toasting my brain cells every time you do that."

He smirked naughtily. His hands start to travel to my exposed shoulder. "I feel the same way, ya amar. But my brain cells are a lot worse. I fear they will turn to ash as I kiss you."

"Al-Farsi—" I gasped when he pulled down the thin strap of my nightie off my shoulder. I shivered slightly when my bare breasts were exposed to the cool air. "What the hell?!" I automatically covered my nakedness with my arms. "Are you out of your mind—? What are you doing?"

My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when I saw him start unbuttoning his dark blue long-sleeve shirt.

"I'm here to seduce you, habibti," he gave me a salacious smile while unashamedly flaunting his naked torso right before my eyes.

I couldn't help the sharp intake of breath. Jesus Christ, I groaned inwardly while shutting my eyes and removing the image of his naked body from my mind. But this bastard's body could rival the highest-paid model with his physique.

A well-defined body with muscles in the right places, and of course, let's not forget his mouth-watering six-pack abs with a v-line in his hip area.

Damn it. This devil was tempting me to sin tonight.

"Open your eyes," He gently demanded in a low deep voice. I felt his hand cupped my cheek, forcing me to look at him.

"No!" I replied stubbornly. "I don't want my eyes to be tainted with sin. Get out of the room. Now."

He chuckled deeply, which made me shiver down my spine. Seriously, how can I have this conversation while we're both standing in my room half-naked?

I sucked a deep breath when I felt his lips touch my bare shoulders and heat spread between my thighs.

"Al-Farsi—"

"It's Khalil." He reminded me seductively. His sinful mouth starts to travel on my heated skin, dropping hot little kisses from my shoulder up to my neck.

It seems like my body has a mind of its own when I slightly arch back to give him better access. A groan escaped my lips before I could stop myself.

"Say my name, Emerald. I want to hear from you. Say it," he urged. He grabbed a good amount of my hair with his hand, just enough for me to open my eyes and stare at him without really hurting me.

I gulped when I saw how dark and passionate his eyes were, promising a night of hot and wild sex.

"I want to hear my name and what it sounds like again coming from your lips." There was a predatory intent in the depth of his eyes. I should feel fear, but instead, my body responds to it with excitement.

I moistened my lips. I had a feeling that my throat suddenly went dry. Here I was, trapped in his arms, unable to move. "Khalil—"

"Damn it to hell!" he rumbled like a man feeling the pain of his soul. Without any warning, his lips came crashing down on me.

He has this talent of burning my sane brain cells with his kiss. He invaded my mouth with a lack of inhibition like a man starving all of his life.

His kiss was forceful and sweet one moment and demanding and playful the next. I didn't know how he did it but my body reacted to it.

A low whimper sounded somewhere in my throat when his wandering hands got in contact with my exposed butt cheeks through my lace thongs.

Wildfire spread through my body while he was still kissing me like some hungry animal. I reminded myself that this was Al-Farsi, my arch-nemesis. I need to push him away before this madness can continue.

But before I even had the chance to protest, he slipped his hand inside my undies and found my wet trance.

"Wet for me, habibti?" He asked in a low, seductive voice. His eyes were like a jewel under fire.

"No..." I replied close to a whisper.

"I think you are," he contradicted with a self-satisfied smile on his face.

Before I knew what was happening, he scooped me in his arms and laid me on the bed. A wicked smile fitted his mouth when he unceremoniously pulled down my underwear.

"What do you think you're doing?" I tried to cover my private part from his view. The way he was boldly appreciating my naked body was making me blush from head to toe.

He smirked sexily in my direction. "I am going to eat you, my love. You will permit me, right?"

I tried to open my mouth to protest or say something, but no words came out. I tried one more time, but it was hopeless.

"Good Lord!" I cried when he put his head between my legs and ran his tongue in the most intimate part of me. "Fuck..."

I bit my bottom lips as I felt his mouth start to move and lap me. If he wanted to kill me due to the unexplained sensation, he was doing just fine.

"Oh my God..." I moaned. "Stop that...I'm going to pass out. Oh, Jesus!"

I tried to close my eyes while still biting my lower lip, preventing myself from making a sound because the image of this man between my parted legs was already too much for me.

"Khalil...oh...lord... curse your sinful tongue." I heard him chuckle softly between my thighs, which made me nearly come.

When he was finally satisfied, he lifted his head and stared at me with raw dark hunger in his eyes. "You will let me, right?"

I blinked at him. "What?"

He started to unbuckle his belt and take off his pants. "Tonight, you will let me claim you, right? You will let me make love to you all night?"

Before I could answer, he had already pulled down his last remaining clothes. My breath was knocked out of my lungs when I saw his thing as hard as steel standing proudly right before my very eyes.

Jesus, it was so long and monstrous...

My eyes flew from his manhood to his face. There was a seductive smile on his face. "There's no way in hell that thing will fit in me."

"Trust me. It will fit."

"No. It won't," I contradicted firmly. "It's so big and long. That thing will rip me apart!"

A rumble of laughter escaped him. "Emerald, love," he said between chuckles as he got on top of me. "It will fit. Just give it a try."

I glared at him coldly while he kissed my jawline. "Do you want me to be ruined after having sex with you?"

He chuckled again. The sound of his laugh makes my heart skip a beat. "Of course not. I promise I will be gentle...hmm?"

My brain stopped functioning again when he teased my trance with the head of his arousal.

"Stop doing that," I chided with a disapproving look. "I can't think straight when you're doing that!"

"You don't have to think," he whispered irresistibly. "Just feel it, my love."

With that, he started seducing me again with his addictive kiss and kept rubbing his shaft between my parted legs, making me wet even more. I gasped when I felt him slowly enter me.

"Look at me, my darling love," he demanded as he filled me with his length. "Emerald..."

My eyes abruptly opened while gasping for air. I searched around in the darkroom. What was that? I asked myself silently.

I sat on my bed and turned on the lamp on my bedside table. The soft glow illuminated the whole room. I looked down to see that I was still fully clothed and I was all alone in my room. I looked at the clock. It was three in the morning.

I ran my hands through my hair and let out a frustrated sigh, closing my eyes in the process. "What the hell is that? Did I just dream of having sex with Khalil Al-Farsi?"

I groaned when I remembered how vivid my dream was. It felt like it was very much real.

I let out a string of curses. Oh my God, don't tell me I am lusting after that brute king? You are certified a crazy person, Emerald St. Clair!

I slid out of bed and peeked behind the heavy curtain to see that it was still dark outside, but thankfully the rain finally stopped. I went back to bed, sliding deep into the covers. I closed my eyes, trying to sleep again.

My brain replayed the scenes from my wet dream. I groaned as I felt the blush on my cheeks. How could I face him again now after such an erotic dream?

This was so embarrassing!

I kept on tossing and turning in my bed, trying to forget my dream while also trying to get a decent sleep, but it was no use. My brain was already awake. So much for my smug belief that I'd sleep like a baby last night.

At four-thirty in the morning, I finally gave up trying to go back to sleep when I tossed my blanket aside and put on my running attire and my training shoes. I decided to jog on Grandad's private beach in the back of the mansion.

I need to forget my embarrassing dream about having sex with Al-Farsi...

I arranged my hair in a tight ponytail before putting on my baseball cap and my headphones as I started the music. I am ready for my run.

The house was still silent when I went down the grand spiral staircase. I didn't want to chat with anyone right now. As I went out of the mansion heading to the beach, I tried to forget my wet dream. I started running. I hoped that by the time the sun rose in the sky and I was back inside the mansion I would have already forgotten about the dream...

I didn't know how many laps I had run in the last hour, but my heart started to pound hard in my ribcage when I saw the familiar figure standing in one corner with his hands tucked in the middle of his chest.

I cursed silently while ignoring his presence. The sun had already bid its morning light, but I kept going because seeing him made me remember the intense dream I had about him. Nope, not a dream, but a nightmare.

If I could just run here forever, I'd do it if that was the only way I had to avoid talking to him ever again.

But even though I pretended not to notice him sitting on the white sand with his legs propped open and his arms resting on the top of his knees while he watched me run on the seashore like an overprotective bodyguard. His watchful blue gaze never left me, not even for a second.

I could already feel tired from my run, and I silently cursed myself when I realized I had left the house without bringing my tumbler with me. Talk about being stupid!

I shot him a glance. I found him still looking at me. Ah! My mind screamed inside my head. I can't look him straight in the eyes without remembering my nightmare. I quickly avoided his gaze. I can't help but remember my nightmare without blushing from head to toe.

I was about to run another lap when he spoke from where he was sitting. "Are you avoiding me?"

I stood still in my place and my heart started hammering in my chest when I saw him move closer in my direction. "Huh?" I pretend not to hear him. Act cool, I reminded myself wordlessly. Forget about your nightmare.

"Don't play dumb, Emerald," he said once he was standing next to me. He pushed a bottle of water into my hand. "I know you are avoiding my gaze. Why?"

"I don't know what you mean," I replied, unable to meet his eyes as I took the offered water. I automatically uncapped it and drank immediately.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing!" I answered, trying to look into his face, but I diverted my eyes swiftly. What's wrong with me? Why can't I just forget about that damn nightmare?

His cobalt eyes narrowed in my direction. "See. You can't look me straight in the eye. Did I do something wrong?"

"No!" I responded straight away. I bit my bottom lip when I saw the confusion on his handsome face. "It's not like that..." I sighed deeply. "Please just don't mind me."

I couldn't do this with him. I ran towards the mansion, fully aware of my heart beating so fast inside my chest, and I knew damned well that this was not because of the several laps I ran on the beach but because of that blue-eyed soon-to-be king of Saqr!

What's wrong with me? I asked myself in frustration. How can we continue this charade if I can't even force myself to look him in the eye? What if Granddad suspects that we're just pretending and makes me marry the man of his choosing? If that happens, I could not blame anyone but myself.

I immediately run into my bedroom to take a quick shower before breakfast. I need to pull my shit together before facing my family over breakfast. I hope by the time I am done with my shower that my self-consciousness will be long forgotten.

I wore my best outfit since I intended to leave the Hamptons after breakfast. I had a busy week ahead of me.

I went out of my room to join my family for breakfast when a firm grip pulled me into the secluded corner. I was about to shout when Al-Farsi's hand covered my mouth.

"Are you crazy?!" I asked indignantly. "You nearly gave me a heart attack with your stunt! What's wrong with you?"

"I just want a moment with you before we join your family for breakfast," he said with a deep breath. "Why are you avoiding me?"

I looked away from his intense gaze. "I am not avoiding you."

"See, you can't even look me in the eyes." He remarked with sadness in his voice. My heart was constricted with pain.

"You are not making any sense," I informed him casually, still avoiding his gaze.

"I told you," he gently guided my face to meet his eyes. "When you are talking to me, I want you to look at me in the face," he asked softly as I forced myself to look at him. "Now tell me, what's bothering you? Is it that guy?"

I shook my head and whispered almost wordlessly. "No."

"Then what is it?"

I stared at him for a moment while my throat suddenly went dry. "I'd rather not tell you."

"I will kiss you senselessly here until you tell me," He threatened darkly. "I am warning you, my love. I will not be liable for what happens next."

I gasped at him. Now that he mentioned it, I couldn't help but remember my dream. "It's nothing," I said brightly with my million-dollar smile. "Let's go and eat our breakfast. I am already famished."

I was about to leave when he practically trapped me with his strong arms. He flattened them on each side of my waist like he did when he first kissed me at Max's welcome party in Italy. "I'm warning you, Emerald."

I glared at him frostily. "Why are you being a pain in the ass this early in the morning?"

"Because you are hiding something from me," he replied with a hard tone. "And it makes me scared that something is wrong."

"Goodness!" I exclaimed. "It's nothing. Can we stop this nonsense now?"

"No."

I threw him my darkest look. "Stop being an ass, will you?"

"Tell me or I'll attack you."

I raised an eyebrow in his direction as if challenging him. With the determination I saw in his eyes, I watched him lean down to claim my mouth, but when his lips were only inches away from mine, I gave up.

"All right, fine!" I said heatedly. "I am avoiding you because I dreamed of you last night."

His thick eyebrows drew together. "And...?"

I took a deep breath, feeling my cheeks burning again. "You visited me in my room."

"So?" confusion was still on his face and I gave him a speaking glance. It took him a moment before he understood everything and his face broke into a mischievous grin. He whistled softly, "I knew you had it hot for me, habibti. I never thought you would have that kind of dream about me."

"Shut up!"

My deathly glare did not affect him. He was still grinning like an idiot. "What a lusty girlfriend that you are, my love. I should feel violated about your wild dreams about me."

I gave him a venomous look. "Shut the hell up if you know what's good for you!"

He clicked his tongue, his eyes filled with wickedness. "So, how's my performance? Did I perform well?"

"Don't ask me that," I snarled at him, silently praying that his soul would roast in hell right now. "I woke up soon after."

"Ah, what a pity," he gave me a meaningful glance. "Maybe we should continue where we left off in your dream."

"Fuck you," I hissed at him. "I don't have time to play games with you. I have a flight to catch today. I have a very busy week ahead of me."

The smile dissolved in his eyes. "Flight? Where to?"

"I have a scheduled photo shoot in Italy the day after tomorrow."

"Which clothing brand is it?"

I shook my head. "It's not a clothing brand but a wine company. I will be doing a campaign ad shoot for Orsini Wines."

"I will come with you."

I blinked at him, unable to believe my ears. "Wait. What?"

He gave me a serene smile. "You heard me. As your boyfriend, I need to accompany you on your trips abroad."

I looked at him sardonically. "You mean, you'll be like one of those jealous boyfriends and guard me from men?"

"Exactly," he replied without a hint of shame in his voice which made me only shake my head in resignation.