Sweet Obsession (3 page)

I marched into the bathroom and closed the door hard, causing an echoing sound to penetrate throughout the room.
Now what? What do I do now?

And that was when I noticed the keyhole, and I peeked through it just in time to witness Nidal slam his fist into the closet door behind him, creating a hole the size of his fist. I winced, knowing the pain his hand must be feeling. I could tell it was throbbing.

At that moment, a servant knocked on the door, “Master, is everything all right?”

“Everything is fine,” Nidal said gruffly, and he slid down in the chair that was against the wall, and dropped his face into his hands. I do not know if he is angry or just trying to kill the pain on his hand.

He got what he deserved!
I was also in pain. My body ached from wanting him so badly. He made it happen, and then he punished me for it.
I feel so embarrassed. Humiliated!

These feelings coming to life inside me were new to me. I did not know the ways of lovemaking. I was a virgin as well, and I felt as if my body had just betrayed me.

At that moment, the queen burst open the door to our room and marched in. Nidal quickly stood and walked over to her. He adored his mother, the only other woman he had ever loved. She was elegantly dressed in pink from head to toe, very fashionable in her gown. Her hair was swept up in an updo, showing off a beautiful pair of pink diamond earrings that dangled from her ears. She had a slender neck and striking facial features that resembled her son’s. She was clearly an aristocrat and a very beautiful lady, even at her age.

Nidal took her hands in his and kissed them. The queen smiled up at him, “Where’s Loula?’’ she asked, as her gaze swept across the room. Nidal remained silent. She pulled away from him and gracefully walked to the door, and turned around and said sternly, “I hate to tell you I told you so, but I did warn you, Nidal. Anyhow, lunch will be served in half an hour. Do not be late. You know how that irritates your father.”

Nidal’s jaw tensed up for a second, but he quickly ignored the comment and looked toward the bathroom. When the queen left the room, Nidal checked to make sure the door was locked. He walked over to the bathroom and tried to open it but could not because I had locked it. He banged on it a few times, and then he sharply threatened, “Open this door now, Loula, before I break it down!”

Knowing he makes good on his threats, I quickly opened the door, but I was not about to let him off that easy. So I played his game. Nidal’s eyes appraised me from head to toe. He looked so darn sexy. I had to control myself before I did something foolish.

Nidal swallowed nervously and said, “I am going to the dining room. Come immediately. Do not be late!” His tone was cold.

I will not let him rule me. I am not his slave. I will take my time and make them all wait for my arrival.

I was very careful with my appearance, choosing a low-cut gown that revealed a small amount of cleavage. The gown, a soft brown satin, darkened my skin tone, giving the illusion that I was tanned. I let my hair down, and it dropped to my waist. I pinched my cheeks to bring some color to them, and when I glanced in the mirror, the lady who looked back at me appeared very sexy. Satisfied with the results, I slipped my feet into my silk slip-ons and hurriedly flew across the great hall.

I joined them in the dining room a few minutes later. The conversation stopped automatically as the guards opened the double doors and I walked in. The dining room was a beautiful room with elegant tapestries on all four walls, candle chandeliers hanging from the cathedral ceiling, and silk curtains that draped around the French windows. The dining table was a shiny, black cherrywood that could easily seat fifty guests, and its matching chairs were beautifully carved with an elegant flower design. The silverware was sterling silver, and the water goblets were made of fine crystal, as well as the wineglasses. A lavish Oriental carpet covered the marble floor. But then I did not expect anything less from royalty.

Everyone, except for Billal, was looking at me. He looked the opposite way. He sported a black eye. I could tell there was a lot of tension between him and my prince. Every gentleman at the dining table stood, and I walked over to my seat, which was next to Nidal’s. I waited for the servant to push my chair in, and after I sat down, all the men sat too.

Everyone greeted me with a smile and a hello, except for Billal. He did not say one word to me.
How absurd! He isn’t allowed to talk to me, yet he sits at the table with us. I will never understand the customs and traditions of Arabia.

I glanced sideways at Nidal, and I could tell he was angry at his cousin’s presence in the room. I lowered my gaze to his lap, and I saw Nidal clenching his fists. I just wanted all this to stop. Nidal’s jealousy needed to stop. His actions were embarrassing the palace, and it was putting a strain on the crown. The king had already warned him to check his behavior.

This was not an intimate affair. I thought lunch would be a little less formal than this, but I was wrong. Altogether, twenty-five of us were sitting down for lunch. They all pretended to eat, but I caught the guests stealing glances at the prince and myself. The queen was staring at me too. I knew she disapproved of my presence in the palace. She had never smiled at me. She had never spoken to me, not once. She simply ignored my existence.

I had lost my appetite. I just wanted to get through this, excuse myself, and run to the safety of my room, where no one could see the pain I was feeling in my heart and the tears about to form in my eyes. I could seclude myself there in privacy and not be under the constant scrutiny of these people who already prejudged me unfairly.

The servants were taking their time serving us the six-course meal. The main course was duck served with red wine sauce, and there were roasted potatoes and three different kinds of vegetables. All this food was mouthwatering, and I was famished, having skipped breakfast.

Everyone ate in silence. No one dared say a word. Finally, the queen broke the silence, and asked the man sitting opposite her, “Have you ever visited the gardens? The flowers are in full bloom this time of year,” she said sweetly.

The man just stared at her for a split second. Tiny balls of sweat formed on his balding head, as he was trying to decide if that were a trick question or if she truly favored his response. He decided it was the latter. Relieved, he quickly answered with a fake smile, “No, my queen, I have never seen the garden in all its glory, but would look forward to doing just that after we are finished with lunch.”

Again, there was silence as the guests finished the last of their meal. The servants cleaned up the table and brought out the pastries and tea. The guests chimed in conversations again, and all spoke almost at the same time. The tension was gone, there was laughter and smiles, and everyone was drinking tea and having a good time. Even Nidal’s tone was neutral, but he had a smile that was as dangerous as a cobra waiting to bite. His blue eyes had darkened as he glanced across the table at his cousin Billal.

He stole a side glance at me. His eyes were empty and sad. I looked away quickly. Tension was in the room again. Everyone’s laughter broke off abruptly when all witnessed the look that Nidal had thrown me. It was suddenly very quiet in the room again, and it seemed like a lifetime later when the king quickly muttered something and everyone at the table picked up their conversation where they had left off.

I saw the queen take a deep breath and sigh as she gazed at her son and me with a disapproving glare. I felt so uncomfortable at the way she conducted herself. It was not fair that she judged me so. I felt a wave of sadness, and I wished things could have been different. I wanted to befriend the queen. We both loved Nidal, and it would be to both our benefit if we tried to be civil to each other.

At that moment, Nidal took my hand in his, and I looked up surprised and saw him staring blankly at the guests. He probably wasn’t even aware of what he was doing. The fine lines on his face relaxed now, and he almost looked like he was having a good time. With his fingers, Nidal gently caressed my hand. His light touch felt warm on my skin, and I started wishing that things were different and that he was not a prince with a million responsibilities, but just another man who lived a simple life, a commoner who could come and go as he pleased. People thought the prince was born to a life of privilege, but they did not know that Nidal was a slave to his crown.

I stared at the wineglass that was sitting in front of me. I dared not look up. Billal was sitting almost across from where I sat, and I did not want Nidal to accuse me of glaring at his cousin. Nor did I want Nidal to punch Billal in the face again. So my eyes stayed glued to the crystal glass as I waited patiently for this fiasco to be over with and we could both be excused.

As the minutes ticked away, Nidal continued to playfully caress my hand. A second later, I felt his thigh brush up lightly against my thigh, and his hold on my hand tightened. I looked up and saw him looking down at me. Nidal stared deep into my eyes with passion or, one could say lust. I could feel my body temperature rise just thinking of what Nidal had in mind for me upon our return to our chambers.

It suddenly felt stuffy in the room. I needed some fresh air. Just then, Nidal stood and gently pulled me to my feet. He excused the both of us and pulled me along his side and out into the corridor from the side door. I could still feel the eyes of all the guests on my back as they all tried to guess what was about to happen to me as I disappeared from their view.

Nidal swiftly pulled me along, down the hallway, and into our chamber, where he closed the door behind us and scooped me into his arms, laying a wet kiss on my neck with trembling lips. Fire shot up my breast and down my spine. He had the power to turn me on as quickly as a snake bites its next victim. Only instead of venom, honey poured out of his mouth and sweetened my soul.

Dizzy with passion, I did not resist his lovemaking. Instead, I got drunk from it as he brought me closer to him, and I once again felt his bulge pressing against my womanhood. I knew he was just as much aroused as I was. In that instant, I relaxed my back and arched into total submission. He could do what he wanted to me, and I would allow it. I had no control of my senses. My heart was pounding a thousand times a second, and I thought I would burst into tears of joy.

Somewhere far away, I heard pounding on the door, but I was oblivious to reality as Nidal’s kisses burned my lips. But the pounding on the door got even louder, and Nidal pulled away from me with a groan and asked angrily, “Who is it?”

There was no answer, so he opened the door to see for himself who would dare interrupt us at such a moment. A servant was standing outside and looked scared out of his mind. My heart went out to him as he nervously said, “The king wants you to visit his quarters hastily.”

Nidal pushed the door and closed it in the servant’s face, terrifying the poor soul even more. Nidal looked at me with an apologetic smile. With trembling hands, I ran my fingers through my long black hair and looked down at my toes so he would not notice how disappointed I was.

Nidal softly caressed my face and gently lifted my chin, and our eyes locked. No words were necessary at this moment. It was plain and simple. We both wanted to pick up where we left off, but we knew that was impossible. When the king gave orders, he did not like to wait. My prince whispered his love for me and quickly exited the room. Left all alone, I felt goose bumps all over my trembling body.

I wondered what would have happened if we were not interrupted. I knew I would have allowed Nidal to do what he wanted to me, but would he have done just that? I would never know the answer to that now. I felt cheated from the truth. A feeling of loneliness overcame me, and I tried to keep my emotions in check as I looked around the room for a comfort zone. It was such a huge room, and it was so elegantly decorated with its French couches and lavish Oriental rugs, beautiful silk curtains that trimmed the French windows, and crystal vases and bed linens imported from Italy. It seemed as if this room represented the whole world with all this beauty, but even though all this was breathtakingly beautiful, I could not appreciate anything.
They are just material things. Nidal is all I need to be happy.

I changed into my nightgown and lay in bed with thoughts of Nidal on my mind. I dozed off, and when I next opened my eyes, the room was dark.
How many hours have I slept?

I spread my arm across the bed, only to find that part of the bed empty and cold. I longed for Nidal’s return.
What is so important that the king keeps the prince away from me for so long?
My thoughts went back to the way Nidal had kissed me a few hours ago, and my mind was spinning out of control.

A few moments later, the door opened and closed softly. I heard Nidal’s distinctive light footsteps in the dark. He came to me at last. I pretended to be sleeping as I heard him walk toward the bathroom. Minutes later, he slipped quietly into bed besides me, and gently pulled me close to him. I had never felt more at home than at this transcendent moment. Peace settled in my heart. I knew that I could not live without him. He was my whole world, and I knew without a doubt that the feeling was mutual.

With his arms around me, Nidal snuggled close to me and whispered, “I love you.” That made a hundred and one times that he had said it to me today. I smiled happily and surrendered to every whisper I ever heard from him.
I am so in love with this man. Nidal’s love has affected me to a point where I am addicted, and I cannot survive without him.

I wanted to tell him that I also loved him, but he would not—could not—believe me yet. But as I dozed off, I promised myself that I would make it my life’s mission to do what it took to show Nidal that I too loved him as deeply as he loved me.

When I woke up the next day, my sleeping prince held me tightly. It was my turn to lie in bed and stare at him. All night, I kept waking up as his fingers softly and lightly touched my skin. He knew every inch of my body better than I did. He searched all night trying to find a spot he had not claimed yet. He was marking his territory.