A Desert King's Obsession

by Christine Gray

  “Jesus, are you still pissy?”

  “It amazes me that you still think the sun rises and set on what you think.” I scowl.

  “Boy, your entire attitude changed because of what I said,” huffs my Father.

  “Don’t call me boy,” I growl.

  “Oh, shit, you still got a pair, huh?” he taunts.

  “I swear if you keep this bullshit up, Chione won’t be the only one limping.”

  “The girl isn’t worthy.”

  I open my mouth to speak.

  “Because she deems herself unfit,” he continues. “She never saw herself on your level. How do you think she feels now that she’s all fucked up? You can’t spend all your time trying to believe. You have a kingdom, a country to run,” he hisses.

  “So, I should choose country over my life and then come back in thirty-odd years?” I smirk.

  “Don’t overstep,” he grunts.

  “Isn’t that what you’re doing, though? You’ve lived your life, served your duty, had fun living the fantasy, and now, you’re ready for love. Ready to eat the cake too?” I chuckle.

  Oh, yes, I know my father. A fuckin’ fool is what he is. All those years wasted and now, he wants to turn back the hands of time like choosing Ma now can compensate for all the years he rejected her. I’m rooting for him, but I’m not blind. It’s easy to love Ma now that he can jet set and live by his own rules. What about standing up and proving to her that she was more than enough and worth fighting for when it counted the most?

  “And the others?” he throws back.

  “They don’t matter.”

  Father doubles over in laughter.

  “Really?” he asks, clearly doubtful. “I’m not doing this to be mean. I’m being the voice of reason as I always try to be, Shahid. Reason tells me the girl in there is broken and may be more than you can handle or be able to heal. At times, we love the dream and refuse to accept the reality. I agree with you. I was a son of a bitch to Chioma. Her saving grace was she wasn’t completely sold on the dream to the point that she lost touch with reality. It’s the only thing that saved her from me.”

  All right. What do I say to that? Well? It’s out of sheer respect alone that I listened to my father. I hate him at times, but never has he used my love to manulpate me. As I glare at him, I try to find the lie, but there isn’t one. That doesn’t mean I’m ready to let go of my hatred directed at him, directed at the irony of it all, and even towards Chione for being so dumb to put herself in this fuckin’ mess in the first place.

  When I speak, my voice is cold as ice, leveled on the foundation on which I stand with an edge of warning not to defy me.

  “I know what I want. As the sun rises in the East, I shall obtain what I desire.”

  Suddenly, Father stiffens. The corners of his mouth twitch as he threats to give into a smile.

  “Where others have failed, you shall be triumphant, Sheikh Rajput.”

  He mockingly bows his head as he backs out of the open archway to be swallowed up into the darkness. I roll my eyes. He knows the methods of those I employ that seem to spend their days blowing smoke up my ass well.

  “Shahid, are you still out there?”

  “Yeah, I’m coming!” I yell back.

  I take my time finishing my drink before I actually make a move. Back in the bedroom, I remove my shoes. Tossing my clothes over a chair, I change into a wife beater and shorts. I tilt my head to pick up the sloshing of water while I fish in my personal bag for the item I seek.

  “I have something for you,” I announce now that I’m back.

  “What is it?”

  Going to the sink, I fill a glass with water to tap the loose powder into it to dissolve.

  “It’s a sleep aid. I use it for the jet lag.”

  When I turn to look at Chione, I’m struck again with an undeniable hunger for her. Even with dandruff flakes littering her scalp, she’s the sexiest woman I’ve ever met. Her dark face glistens from the steam still lingering in the bathroom. It’s stifling as hell to the point that I have to fit air into my lungs. I know it’s not the heat that has me reacting this way. No, it’s her, but it’s also the fear that I might fail on my mission conquest. The sound of her calling me a fuckin’ friend won’t stop rattling around in my head either. I itch to do something, anything to change the tides in my favor. Shit, I’m desperate here. For over a year all I wanted was a moment like the current one.

  During the entire 30 days spent last year together, every move I tried to make, Chione found a way to halt it. Every time I tried, I tell her what I felt, she would say something to ruin the moment. Never did I press, thinking it would be another time or moment. Dropping my gaze to a spot on the marble tile, I fight a sudden chill at the thought that the crazy motherfucker could have killed her instead of disfiguring her.

  I can feel the weight of her eyes on me. Glancing up, my eyes pin hers.

  “Your hair is dirty as fuck,” I say, breaking the awkward silence.

  Why does my feeling for her make me feel like I’m fresh out of the school room? I gotta do something about that.

  “I’m kinda at a disadvantage.” She smirks, shrugging the shoulder of her dying arm. “The girl I was paying to wash and braid it went MIA on me.”

  Before she can bitch, I grab the shampoo.

  “I have no oils, but I know Chioma has something to put in your hair once it’s clean.”

  Surprisingly, Chione decides to keep her mouth shut for a change to let me unbraid her cornrows. All I’m doing is touching her hair. So, why the hell is my cock jerking and stretching like it’s being stroked. The darkness of the tub hides nothing of her body from my greedy eyes. I’m sure it’s the temperature of the water that has her large, black berry nipples hard, but I wish it was because of me. She’s lost a bit of the firmness in her stomach. Traveling lower, I can’t break away from the hairy patch covering her pussy. My tongue touches the top of my lip as if it’s getting a first taste of the pink slit between her thighs.

  “Are Dr. O and your dad hooking up?”

  I don’t try to hide the thickness in my voice when I speak. “Her boyfriend is staying here too, so there’s no need to be jealous,” I tease.

  Chione sucks her tongue. “That woman’s too old for you.”

  “I don’t know. You know I got a weakness for the dark meat.”

  Cutting her eyes at me, she frowns. “Since when?”

  “Shit, you’re really going to act dumb? I’ve been trying to get you to give me some play for a fuckin’ year.”

  She wiggles a bit, then nervously looks away. “Whatever you say, Shahid.”

  See? She does shit like that to piss me off. I take a little happiness in shoving her under water to wet her hair. Cussing, she breaks the surface to allow me to begin washing her hair. She groans and grumbles about the punishing way I’m massaging her scalp before I dunk her again to wash the soap out.

  “So, what was said behind my back?” she questions.

  I chose to keep my hands in the water instead of backing away. Sitting at her side, I don’t hide the fact that I’m enjoying the site of her body.

  “I think my father didn’t realize I wanted more than just a fuck until he saw me with you,” I answer in a deep voice. My eyes are trained on the rise and fall of her breast. “He warned me to turn back,” I whisper.

  My eyes are burning into her face. I’m reading her. No matter how hard she tries, my sudden honesty is unraveling her. Surprise dances upon her features. Longing flickers in the dark debts of her eyes to be chased away with fear. She licks her full lips.

  “He’s just looking out for you, Shahid. I would tell you the same,” she tries to respond nonchalantly.

  “Do you think I give two shits about what he thinks or what you say is going to stop me? Now, Chione, you know better, right?” I pause to touch her ugly arm. I run my fingertips down the charred flesh. My face bears none of the disgust that she believes I hold. “On a train, in the rain, with an a
rm, or a nub, you are mine, Chione,” I declare firmly.

  7

  CHIONE

  Mouth hanging open, all I can do is stare. What the hell is happening? Who the fuck is this?

  Leaning a bit closer into his face, I search for the distinguishing freckles that pepper the left side of his nose. His twin he pretends to be is freckle free, at least on his face. How can he touch my skin? Hell, I can’t stand to. Yet, here he is smoothing his fingertips over the sores gingerly as if I actually still have living nerve endings to feel.

  Snatching my arm, “Don’t do that,” I order. Pushing up the best I can, I attempt to get the fuck out of the tub. “Move,” I order.

  The growl should have made me do a double take. I guess the need for space was all that was on my mind. Taking me off guard, Shahid’s hand snakes around my neck. I swear to God I go limp, but he doesn’t care. His fingers bite into my neck, scaring the shit out of me as he plasters my back to the tub. Everything is blocked from my view as he brings his nose just inches away from my face.

  “You will respect me, Chione. I’m not your homie. I’m not a boy. I’m a friend.”

  No. No. No. Like a deer caught in headlights, I’m determined to not show a lick of interest. Lick? Now, I’m fucked. I know if I close my eyes to the sensations his hand is creating as he caresses my breast, it’s going to be the fantasy of his head between my legs I see.

  “Are you tight, Chione?”

  Jesus, help me please! Not his lips, not that. I can’t control my own parting slightly when he touches mine. He smells of liquor. It’s not a bad combination with his natural scent. He’s smart to keep his hand tight around my neck. Or at least, I can claim that it was his hand keeping me in check.

  “I want it to be tight. I’m a crazy bastard ‘cause I want to make it hurt. I want to bruise your walls with every stroke. Then once your pussy turns red and swollen, I’ll kiss it and lick it just like this.”

  My eyes widen. My lungs empty of air. I know he isn’t kissing me to copy how he plans to eat me. Wait! Is that me moaning? Why can’t I see? This man has made my eyes roll back in my goddamn head. Sweeping around my lips, parting them with a few inches he flicks at my parted mouth. Dipping in, he teases my tongue and then retreats to suck on my bottom lip as his humming vibrates through my body. I can’t control my response to open my mouth wider, begging for him to invade my mouth deeper just as I know I would be doing if he was really eating the coochie.

  When did the teasing, the sick joke become earnest? I’ve kissed guys before, but now, I see they had no skills. The same walls that Shahid was talking about are quacking like a motherfucker. It took nothing for me to let loose. In seconds, I was pouring my everything into kissing him. Never has anyone praised me or gave me feedback on my skills. I guess them returning and hitting me up for another round could mean something. Then again, what guy is gonna pass up pussy. Shit, even if it’s stanking like a crab buffet, there would be a few pulling up to fuck.

  I can’t tell you how strong my heart contracted at the sound of Shahid’s moans. This man, a ruler in every sense of the word, was coming apart over me. The kiss changes to something slower, deeper, and sweeter. I can’t complain or stop the movement of his hands that fondle my breasts to move lower. Just the tip. I swear that’s all it takes. The tip of his finger brushes enough to cut through my hair and pussy lips to touch my clit.

  “Ah,” I groan, going stiff.

  “Fuck, I can’t wait for your cream to cover my tongue. You are going to be so good in bed,” he promises as if he knows something. “If a kiss and a touch got you like this shit.”

  I don’t see the lie anywhere. I wanna say it is ‘cause the shop’s been closed for over two years, but that ain’t the truth. It’s Shahid. I’m just happy that all the hyping it up seems to be everything I’d dreamt of and more. I had no doubt that he would be an amazing fuck. It’s the way he examines me, listens, and the way he touches me like he’s taken the time to study his lovers to have insight of how to please.

  “Don’t think me cold, but I’ve been hard for months, wanting to… Yessss, you’re tight as fuck,” he groans as he closes his eyes in almost pain. Smirking, he says, “Our first time, I’m going to give you all the dick, Chione.” Pausing, he cracks his l eyes. “I’ll make the pain feel so good, baby.”

  My mouth is hanging open, but nothing but hard panting can be heard. He won’t back away to give me a clear shot of what’s going on under the water. Whatever is going on, it feels good as hell. Not one finger, two, three…I know not four pumps in my pussy. I totally forgot about his hand around my neck until he begins to tighten his hold. Twisting his hand, he stretches, rubbing my pink walls with each thrust. How the hell is he doing this? His fingers are fuckin’ me while he’s rubbing my clit at the same time.

  “You’re gonna crave me, Chione. I’ll use your body against you. I’ll cheat, lie, kill, and rewrite my entire world to have you under me, with me.”

  I’m sure all he’s saying is full of shit. It sounds like the bull that guys say to create the mood. It’s working too. The world fades away. A heat is building, coiling like a snake in my center. The sensation is stronger than anything I’ve experienced by myself with a clit tickler. All the men I’ve been with killed the pussy like a jackhammer, but never made me cum. Oh, I screamed, faked that shit to help them speed the hell up. Trust and believe, it was all an act.

  Once again, his hand shifts.

  “No, don’t do… Oh! Oh my God!,” I babble, switching my protest to a dumb-founded response.

  Unbelieving the party going on, I shove at Shahid’s chest. Fear courses through me at the way my body is promising to erupt.

  “No, Chione. No running. No hiding. Let me see the orgasm on your pretty face, baby. Ah, here is comes. That’s it.” For the first time, his hand slips from my neck. Gripping my nipple, he pinches, twisting hard.

  Is this the G-spot I could never find with my own fingers jabbing my pussy? Hell, why the hell am I wasting this heaven locked in my mind? With an exhale goes my fight as I give my body over to Shahid. He wants to give me this moment, and my greedy ass is gonna take it. Fuck, I deserve it for all the fucked-up shit I’ve been going through, right? Opening my legs wider, I pump my hips until I touch…

  “God,” I yell.

  I could have said shit or fuck or called Shahid’s name. But for a blessing this good, I need to praise the Maker for the ability to leave the earth in such a mind-numbing way. Lights flash, breathing stops, and goddamn birds chirp. My ass is gone. Completely boneless, the weight of the release causes me to begin to slide further under the water. I can feel strong hands rescuing me, lifting me up and out of the tub before he places me on the floor to dry me off. My eyes meet Shahid’s predatory profile in the large mirror. It’s an expression I’ve never seen before. Blinding lust and desire are what I see as he scans by body. In speechless awe, I realize it wasn’t just a far-fetched crush that had me seeing things that weren’t there.

  Leaning down, he steals a quick kiss before scooping me up in his arms again to carry me into the bedroom. Placing me in the middle of the bed, he leaves to return with the milk-white sleep stuff. Without a second thought, I toss the drink back. My mind is too busy replaying what just happened and all the signs since last year that should have told me Shahid was serious about taking things further than friends.

  I glance down at my corroded arm. I fight back the tears threatening to flow. Is the universe saying I can actually have this kinda love in spite of everything? Can this man who can have any woman he wants, love me despite my past and damage? I mean even before getting fucked up, I wasn’t worth a second look. It was my mouth and mind that excited him. Yeah, I’ve seen uglier, but come on, ya’ll. Soon, I’ll lose my arm.

  “Instead of you trying to understand, why not just accept it?”

  Snapping my head up, I’m in a trance. Perfection is the only word that springs to my mind at the sight of Shahid standing at the foot of the b
ed as naked as the day he was born. Forgoing everything from the waist up, my shocked eyes fall below. Standing firm from a patch of thick, jet-black curls is a weapon of destruction. Thick, throbbing veins dance along the length to a perfectly shaped mushroom tip.

  “You need to get used to it.”

  I frown, tilting my head with my eyes clued on his pipe.

  “I don’t sleep in clothes at all.” He chuckles as he starts for the side of the bed.

  I watch every movement of the muscles in his thighs and the sway of his cock until the linen covers it from my wide eyes. He repositions my body with no problem to lay in front of his. My ass to his dick, he grinds against me.

  “Sorry,” he mumbles.

  I might have said something funny back, but the sleep mix was taking effect. For the first time in months, I feel my body relax as the loud screams of my own pain are silenced in my mind. For the first time in years, I don’t resist the warmth and comfort that is engulfing me. I don’t know if what Shahid wants is forever. But whatever he wants, I’m starting to want it too.

  SHAHID

  Renewed is what it is. Long before the sun started to make its appearance, I was up. Giving praise to Allah for the gift He has given me, I set my face to the East to pray. Sticking to the main level of the house, I get to business. I didn’t give a fuck that Yas was sleeping. I need Chione’s papers and new identity. Next, I placed calls to the head of staff at my home in London. Rooms needed to be set up. Household members need to be moved to other parts of my Mayfair, London, seven-story home. The master bedroom, which occupies an entire floor, will have certain medical equipment and amenities to make Chione’s recovery better for her. Measurements have been sent ahead to ensure her prosthetic arm will be the top of the line and as natural as possible. Not just a plastic arm, I want Chione to be whole again with an appendage that will give her a full range of motion and feeling.

  Turning my mind towards home, I’m deep in conversation with a close advisor. Sucking my teeth, I don’t hide my anger at the answers he’s giving me. Before I left, I made my decree of my intentions. Like always, the council think they can plan and plot to sway me their way.