Emerald St. Clair's POV

I groaned. My head hurts like hell it feels like someone was hammering my skull. I turned to my side on the unfamiliar bed.

The bed is soft and nice but there's a masculine scent in it. Just like the weird dream I had last night where I went home with this man who looks like Al-Farsi.

What a weird dream...

My eyes abruptly opened and I realized that I was not in my bedroom because the walls had been painted all black so was the silk bed comforter draped around my body very different from my all-white theme.

Holy hell. Where am I?

I check my body under the silk comforter and I let out a shriek. Why I am naked underneath?!

"Now there's no need to shout."

I looked to my side and my eyes widened when I saw Al-Farsi lay next to me watching me with an unreadable expression on his face. There were dark circles under his eyes.

Why he's also naked?

I groaned, clutching the comforter tightly around my body and closing my eyes to gather my memory from the night before. What happened last night I didn't remember much of it.

I only remember fragments. I opened my eyes again to look at him with accusing eyes. "What are you doing here?"

He smiled at me. "This is my house."

"Then what am I doing here?" The last thing I remember was having fun at the nightclub with Ryker.

"I took you home last night."

"Where's Ryker?"

His eyes turned dark and deadly. "Dead."

"What?!" My eyes widened at his cruel announcement. He's not serious, is he? Unless he killed Ryker himself last night.

His handsome face held a grim smile. "He will be dead once I catch that bastard wherever hellhole he's hiding right now. He should be thankful that I didn't see him last night or he--"

"No. You will not do such a thing. He's a good friend of mine." I looked at him accusingly. "I thought you were going back to Saqr yesterday? Why are you still here?"

His eyes narrowed in my direction. He was almost spitting fire in his mouth. "Do you honestly believe that I would leave New York when I found out that you went to this bar with Creed?"

Oh, shit. I frowned. He was fumingly mad. "How on earth did you know that, by the way?"

"Does it matter?" He asked maddeningly. "What's important now is that you are unharmed from your wild night at the nightclub. Who knows what will happen to you if I don't arrive on time?"

"If you think I will say 'thank you' then you are mistaken," I stated sardonically. "No one tells you to fetch me."

He let out a sigh as anger was visible in his eyes. "I thought you would appreciate the fact that I couldn't stay away from you even if I thought I should be mad at you for turning me down flatly and then come with that so-called fiancé of yours for a night in town."

I cursed myself silently. Why do I feel slightly guilty about it? "What happened to dark circles under your eyes?"

He reached out for something on the nightstand. "Nothing much. I just didn't sleep a wink last night because I had to wrestle with a certain wild vixen on my bed throughout the night. Here take this for your throbbing head."

Was he talking about me?

I could feel the heat spread through my cheeks as I reluctantly took the ibuprofen in his palm along with the glass of water. Once I drink the medicine I place the glass on my nightstand.

"Where are my clothes?" I am uncomfortable talking with him while I am still naked.

I saw the way his lips twitched with a smile. "You left them on my living room floor."

My eyes widened in disbelief. "You got to be kidding me?! Why would I leave them there?"

"I don't know to ask for yourself." He suddenly slid out from the bed with all of his naked glory.

"D-Did...something happened last night?" I asked unsurely. I looked away when his morning erection was on full display.

He cocked an eyebrow in my direction while there was a wicked smile playing on my lips. He was not in a hurry to cover his nakedness, was he? "You don't remember?"

I glared at him vehemently. "If I remember do you think I will even bother to ask you?"

Al-Farsi chuckled deeply. "Why don't you try to remember yourself?" When I was about to retort he added. "I think I am missing the drunk Emerald."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked though I have a feeling that I did something very stupid last night and he was there to witness everything while I made a fool of myself.

He rubbed his stubble jaw as he threw a wicked grin in my direction. "'Spank me, daddy.' Does that shocking statement ring a bell to your brain, habibti?"

I gaped my mouth open while looking at him. What the hell is he babbling about? And then it hit me as I felt my blush spread through my whole body. I wanted to groan in humiliation I remember telling his doppelganger that in my dream. Don't tell me that wasn't a dream.

"I don't know what you are talking about." I lied though I have a feeling that my mind would rather forget it altogether.

I heard him snickered and shook his head in the process. "Unbelievable."

I glared at him vehemently to hide my embarrassment. "Why are you standing completely naked? Will you put some clothes on?"

He looked at his nakedness then slid his scorching gaze back at me. "What's the point? You already see everything I have to offer."

I could feel my blush spread even more from head to toe. I closed my eyes while rubbing my forehead my headache now has nothing to do with my hangover but dealing with this impossible man early in the morning.

"What are you doing here anyway?" I queried, changing the topic and forcing my eyes not to look at his freaking erection. It's too distracting. "Aren't you supposed to be in Saqr right now?"

A pair of cobalt eyes turned icily in my direction. He let out an angry sigh as he wore his discarded boxers on the floor. I don't know if I would feel happy or disappointed. "That's the plan. But how can I fly back to Saqr knowing that my woman went out clubbing with her so-called fiancé."

Each word that came out of his mouth was laced with acids. But something caught my attention. "Your woman?" I asked indecorously. "Since when?"

"Since I became your boyfriend."

I looked at him dryly. "Pretend boyfriend. Are you forgetting that we're just pretending here?"

He smiled pleasantly as he sat on the matters. I automatically clutched the comforter around my shoulder. He would not do anything, right?

This arrogant king looked at me amusedly. "Scared? Relax, I won't do anything to you after what you did to me last night."

"Shut up!" I still don't know what's real and what's not from the event last night making flashbacks in my brain.

"You woman needs to learn your lesson." I detected the dangerous tone in his voice.

I shot him a glance. "Excuse me?"

He gave me a stern look. I couldn't look away from his powerful gaze. "You aren't permitted to drink like that."

I blinked at him, unable to believe my ears. "Excuse me again? Who do you think you are to forbid me to do the things that I like to do?"

Anger flared in his eyes as he stared at me. He stood from the bed and looked at me as every inch of the powerful king he thought he was. "I am your future husband, Emerald."

I scoffed at his brass announcement. "You're dreaming, Your Highness. That will never be going to happen."

He surprised me when his face suddenly broke into a self-satisfied grin. "Oh, I beg to disagree. I think that is going to happen very, very soon."

I snorted looking at him straight in the eyes. "I think you're the one who has a hangover here."

"But I am not the one who confessed last night."

"Say what?!" I could feel the blood draining on my face. Oh, God. What kind of stupidity I did do last night? The worst part is I don't remember much of it.

He crossed his arms in the middle of his chest. "You know what they about a person being drunk? He or she is the most honest during that period."

"That's nonsense." I shook my head in disagreement. "Besides, I don't remember confessing to you."

"But I do."

"I did not confess to you." I insisted firmly.

"Yes, you did."

"No."

"Yes."

"No," I repeated tightly. "I will not do such a thing."

He took a deep breath. "I guess I need to fish out another love confession from you when you are one hundred percent sober."

I barked a laugh. "That will not be going to happen in this lifetime."

He surprised me when he abruptly jumped into the bed. He held my chin with his finger forcing me to look at him in the eye. "Oh, I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, my love. You don't know how my heart beats erratically when you whisper 'I love you' in my ear."

I squealed, covering my face from the comforter. "I did not say such a thing! Intoxicated or not I will not do that."

"I beg to disagree."

Oh, God! Kill me now. When I saw the seriousness in his face. Maybe I shouldn't wake up at all this morning.

"It doesn't matter," I told him hotly, trying to salvage my pride and all. "Just forget everything that I stupidly said or did last night. Some evil spirits have taken over my body last night."

His sexy mouth curved with a smile while running his gaze appreciatively on my body. "Oh really?"

"Yes."

He ran his thumb sensually on my underlip. "I see. I guess that evil spirit is a lusty demon."

Despite the fire starting to ignite in my belly because of the way he slowly seduced me with his irresistible touch. I managed to let out my reply without stuttering. "A what?"

"A lusty demon." He repeated with a playful smile playing on his lips. "Oh, you don't know what kind of lascivious things she did to me last night. I feel thoroughly violated."

I nearly choke my saliva. "What the fuck?"

With a sinful smile playing on his lips. He leaned forward and whispered something in my ear. "You see, last night you gave me a head and then joined me in the shower asking me to spank you like a naughty little girl.

My blood ran cold as my clouded brain fragmentally remembered some of it.

I closed my eyes and reverently prayed. Oh, Lord. Please forgive me I have sinned. Please don't let this information reach Daniel's ears. I'm begging you.

"Let's just forget the whole thing, okay?" I was about to put some distance between us when I remembered I was naked underneath this blanket. "Will you get my clothes in the living room? I want to go home."

"Don't want to." Deviltry flashed in his eyes before I could react he pulled away from the cover in my body tossing it to the other side of the room. "You strip on your own accord in my living room so you should also need to learn how to get your clothes on your own."

I glared at him furiously. "You bastard! Give that cover back to me."

"Why don't you get it if you want it?" I shrunk on my place when he flattened his hand on each of my sides in the mattress. "I rather enjoy seeing you like this."

"Al-Farsi?"

"Yes, my queen?"

I gave a big fake smile on my face. "Fuck you."

I was expecting him to feel insulted I was sorely mistaken because he instantaneously. "Yes, beloved. Will do just that once you are completely healed, believe me, it's going to be another sleepless night."

I cover my nakedness with the large pillows. "The nerve of you to think I will sleep with you again."

"Oh, you will." He announced arrogantly. "From what I saw last night I can attest that you want me as much as you want to deny when you are sober."

I rubbed my forehead warily. I would not be going to get drunk like that in the future. "I told you, I am not myself last night."

"Nope." He disagreed lightly. "I think that's the other side of you." His cobalt gaze narrowed like slits. "And that's the side of you that I don't like other people to see. That wild side of you should only be seen by me."

"Just who do you think you are? I will not let you control me like this." I informed him incandescently. "I am a strong and independent woman who doesn't need men in her life."

"Darling love," he replied sanguinely. "You don't need several men in your life. You only need one and that happens to be me. I am the one for you."

I gave him a sarcastic look. "Since when?"

He shrugged casually as if what he was about to say was already common knowledge. "Since I branded you as mine a long time ago."

I glowered at him darkly. "Listen to me, Mister. I am not some sort of thing that can be owned. I am Emerald St. Clair and no one can own me even if you are a king."

Al-Farsi took a deep breath, shaking his eyes. He stood from the bed and vanished from the walk-in closet. A few moments later he was back with a fresh white cotton t-shirt he helped me wear it.

"Arguing with you while seeing your creamy skin is too distracting for me." He answered my questioning look.

I felt my lips twitching with a smile. Do my heart warm at the gentlemanly gesture he just did? But I would not admit that to him. "You just hate losing to an argument."

His face broke into a self-mocking smile. "Yes. I guess so. That reminds me, my housekeeper, already prepared breakfast if you want to eat go ahead. I will just take a shower before our flight."

"Our flight?" I echoed. "What flight is that?"

He was about to reach the door of his bathroom when he turned his head slightly in my direction throwing a wicked smile in the process. "Yes. Our flight to Saqr. You see, it's your fault that my flight back to my country was postponed and I realized last night that I could not bear to be away from you even for a few hours only. So I am taking you with me."

I stared at him in disbelief. This guy was unbelievable. "You're nuts if you think I will agree to come with you back to your homeland." I went to where he was standing and poked my index finger in his chest a few times. "Listen to me, Your Royal Ass-ness. I am not luggage that you can transport everywhere whenever you want."

"Of course not." He agreed maddeningly, there was laughter lurking in his mesmerizing eyes. "You are far more beautiful to be compared to a luggage. Besides, luggage can't make my heart go crazy with worry when I learn they're missing."

I hate the way my ridiculous heart gets so affected by his words. I should not feel this way when it comes to him. Lately, I am having a hard time seeing him as the annoying Prince Khalil Al-Farsi and I feel that I am entering dangerous territory.

"I am not coming with you," I said to the stark silence. "I don't have business coming to Saqr."

A shriek escaped me when I found myself backed to the wall with his deliciously hot body pressing on me. My arms were imprisoned over my head while he parted my naked legs with his powerful thigh. "I will not leave New York without you."

"Khalil..." My breath was caught when the thin fabric of my oversized t-shirt went upward making his leg got contact with my bare femininity.

"You are coming in Saqr with me, right?" He whispered hotly on my neck, placing a series of little intoxicating kisses on my skin.

I cannot think straight when he's doing something like this. "Please don't."

"Don't what, my love?" He asked, his kisses were moving upward until they reached the side of my mouth.

"Oh, God...stop..." I let out a moan when his other hand slipped inside my oversized t-shirt closing my eyes to fight off the impact. He ran his palm in my naked body tantalizingly slow. Each touch he made in my body felt like burning.

I know he's torturing my mind, body, and soul.

"Do you want me to stop, habibti?"

"No. I mean, yes." I tried to make my brain work because it's not functioning at the moment.

He laughed softly, kissing every inch of my face except for my lips and it started to drive me crazy. "I think you are not very firm with your answer."

"I am."

"Then come with me to Saqr."

I opened my eyes and stared at him deep in the eyes. "Why? Why do you keep on insisting that I should come with you?"

He smiled tenderly, his face was filled with emotions that I was not ready yet to name. "Because I want you to be with me always." He grinned wickedly. "One more thing, I give you the punishment you deserve."

"Punishment? What are you talking about?" My eyebrows furrowed.

His eyes lit like molten lava. "I still need to teach you a sweet lesson for behaving like a naughty girl last night?" He tucked some of the wayward strands of my hair at the back of my ear. "The things I will do to you..." His words were promising a red-hot seduction. "...you will never think of misbehaving again after I am done with you."

I could feel the heat starting between my legs. Why does my body seem to be getting excited about it? No. That's not true. My lungs stopped from taking oxygen when his mouth was only inches away from mine. "T-Then... more the reason I should not come with you. I will far be safer here in New York."

"It seems that you don't understand me, my lovely Emerald." He whispered against my mouth. "I am only giving you a chance to come willingly with me but either way you will go to Saqr even if I have to resort to kidnapping you again."

I scowled at him heatedly. "No. Thank you."

"I am done negotiating with you." He suddenly released me from his hold. I let out a squeal when he put me back over his shoulder and started to march in the bathroom's direction. "Come, let's shower together before we eat our breakfast we have a long day ahead of us."

God, somebody help me from this tyrant king! That was my last thought before I found myself naked under the shower with him.