She was deadly. Like poison.
The poison—God—the poison was in the way she danced. One hip lift echoed in waves like a siren sound, a blessing, and a curse… My little witch didn’t come to bewitch; she came to speak, and listen, I did.
Almost like she had sensed my thoughts—those eyes locked with mine, taking her time with her movements, adding a bit of fervor that increased my need for her. Those beautifulfingers felt up her hips to her waist, a silent message for me as she subtly reminded me how it felt to touch her like that, but her cruelty was a crime I was more than willing to forgive.
My eyes followed her movements, and my fingers ached to touch her; my body burned with need, and my cock hardened with obscene arousal, one I wanted to abolish but, at the same time, sate.
I was buried deep in lust for this woman, and I didn’t care.
My eyes didn’t leave her even after the dance finished, and Kareem, alongside everyone else, clapped like they had just witnessed and experienced the same thing I did.
I watched as Kareem walked over to her, taking her hand as he led her toward me.
The man’s grand laughter over something Zahra might have said had me turning my head away. If I didn’t look away, I might have stabbed him in the neck with a butter knife out of jealousy alone.
My growing rage flared when Zahra sat on his lap… in front of me.
The utter disrespect.
I ground my teeth, holding myself back from the vivid thoughts trying to dig their way into my brain as I proceeded to light a cigar, place it between my lips, and suck in the warm smoke until I felt the heat inside me. I knew I had no reason to feel this way. I knew I put a stop on our agreement to be sexual partners, but it didn’t erase how attached I had grown to her or the jealousy biting at my reserve inconveniently.
I should leave.
But I couldn’t. Not with her still here. Unprotected with different eyes turning our way, intentions clear in their gaze. I knew she could protect herself, but that did not erase the fact that she was the most careless person I’d ever met.
“You flatter me.” At the sound of Kareem’s voice and a movement from the corner of my eye, I turned to see his handsettling on her hip. She made no move indicating the touch unsettled her, and I couldn’t help but look up, finding those eyes already on me, taking in my reaction as I blew out the smoke I had sucked in, detesting every second of my stay here. “What is your name, beautiful?”
“Zahra.” That voice I hadn’t heard for two weeks met my ears in a caress—the urge to grab her off his lap, pull her out of this damn event, and forget why I’d called it quits, tugged at me, but I kept silent.
“Zahra, I must say, you rival my wives. What would it take to wed you so you can dance like that for me every day? I have never seen a performance that spoke directly to my soul.”
Thisconversation was beginning to make my anger evident on my face. Who in their right mind would make a proposal like that? More so to someone they don’t know?
Kareem was careless.
I watched Zahra flatten her hand against his chest, and I had to remind myself that Kareem was old enough to be her father, and I needed him for other business.
But then Zahra responded to his proposal: “It would be most desirable to wed a man as generous as you are and a sin to deny such a proposal, but I already have someone who speaks to my soul, just like the music did.”
I was quickly reminded of how easily she’d had me fooled by her relationship with my brother. I remembered why I broke things off, and I looked away from them, already deciding to leave; her safety wasn’t—
“It is a shame. Your someone is fortunate. They should kiss the ground you walk on. If they don’t, you should leave them.”
She laughed like she was thinking of that someone. “If only that were possible, Kareem. The man in question complements my being; you can’t leave someone like that.”
And then there was a subtle tightness in my chest, remembering how I’d said those exact words to her. I looked toward them again and found her gaze on me, her eyes for the first timeshowing a little bit of vulnerability, a silent plea that showed she was talking about me… but this was the last thing I wanted; everything was going as planned.
This was a distraction; one I couldn’t afford. Not right now.
I looked down, blinking back my focus onto what mattered. It wasn’t my heart; it wasn’t my need. It wasn’t my lust. It wasn’t her smile. It wasn’t her voice. It wasn’t her presence. It wasn’ther.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Marino.”
My focus zeroed in on their conversation, and I realized I had been introduced.
“Hm,” I said, barely lifting my head or reaching her gaze.
“What did you think of the performance, Marino?” Kareem asked.
