Ember shook her head. "Not at all. The whole palace knows Sheikh Ilyas is just demonic, 24/7."
Prue choked back a giggle. "Aren't you scared of what he'd do if he finds out..."
"He knows exactly what I think of him." Ember had to stifle her own smile at the nearly-comical expression of incredulity on the younger girl's face.
"And you're still alive?"
"The thing is, all four of them surprisingly prefer honesty over flattery...most of the time."
"Oh." Prue mentally filed this bit of information for future reference. "Have you been working for the royal family for long?"
"About fourteen months?"
Prue couldn't help squirming a bit. "I've only known Khadem for days..."
Ember was starting to understand why Sheikh Khadem adored his fiancée so much. The younger girl was just so unbelievably adorable and nice.
"It's the same with Seven," Ember reminded Prue, "so don't worry about it. I think it's just a Huznan thing. They tend to be, um, exceptionally efficient in the romance department."
Prue couldn't help smiling. Khadem told her earlier that his older brother used to go through a dozen secretaries every month until Ember came along. Ember was the only one who had been able to meet Sheikh Ilyas' standards, and Prue was beginning to see why.
Ember had such a way with words that she was able to be candid about the royal family without being disrespectful. She was also very intuitive, with the way she was able to say the exact things Prue needed to hear to feel more comfortable around her future in-laws.
"I wish you were there at the party last night," Prue confessed. "I was just so nervous the whole time, especially when I had to deal with the guests alone."
Ember could've pinched Prue's cheeks for being too cute. "You're so sweet. No wonder Sheikh Khadem is so possessive about you."
Prue's cheeks turned pink. "Oh, um, he's not really..."
"The entire hotel heard Sheikh Khadem warning you earlier not to say hi to your ex," Ember said dryly.
Prue nearly choked. Oh my God. Since Ember's revelation had her wanting to die in embarrassment, Prue hurriedly changed the subject and asked why the other girl hadn't been able to attend last night's party.
"The Crown Prince asked if I could help with some last-minute paperwork for Seven's change of citizenship," Ember explained, "but it also turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Long story short, Sheikh Ilyas found a kitten on his way back to the office—-"
And then I got to give him a blow job, Ember thought.
Prue looked at Ember with wide eyes. "What about the kitten?"
"Um..." Ember hastily yanked her mind out of the gutter. "I helped him take care of it."
"I see." Prue tried to keep her thoughts from showing on her face. She and Seven had a chat with the royal fortune teller last night, and hadn't Johanna specifically mentioned about a kitten changing the course of Sheikh Ilyas' life?
"The little thing was so scared—-"
"It sank its claws on the sheikh?"
Ember was stunned. "How did you know that?"
Prue smiled weakly. "Lucky guess." She did her best to listen to the rest of Ember's words, but all she could think about was what role Ember played in Sheikh Ilyas' future. Was Johanna really just talking about a literal kitten or was it a figure of speech, and it was Ember the old woman had seen in her visions?
Ember noticed Prue looking at her oddly. "Is something wrong?"
Prue shook her head. "I was just wondering..."
"About?"
"Have you ever found Sheikh Ilyas attractive?"
Ember nearly choked. "Excuse me?"
"I'm just...curious," Prue said lamely.
A series of images flashed in Ember's mind.
The sheikh's cock entering her mouth.
His finger entering her pussy.
And then the sheikh walking away, without ever looking back.
Prue held her breath. "Have you then?"
Ember forced herself to make a face just as she uttered the world's biggest lie. "Never."
Chapter Four
Ember let out a gasp and hurriedly crossed her arms over her bare tits when she realized what Ilyas was staring at. "Sheikh!"
"Why did you never tell me you have such a fucking hot body?" Ilyas growled.
Ember tried to back away, but Ilyas had already reached her in moments, and he forced her arms down.
"Let me go!"
Ilyas couldn't stop staring at the engorged buds of Ember's breasts. "Your nipples..."
"Stop it!"
"They're crying out for my attention," Ilyas rasped out.
Ember struggled to pull away. "S-Stop talking nonsense—-"
"Don't play dumb," Ilyas snarled. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
Ember shook her head wildly. "You're scaring me—-"
"No, little chick," he purred. "What you're scared of is how I'm making you feel. You're scared of how I'm turning you on—-"
She tried to break free of him, and this time Ilyas pretended to loosen his hold, just to fool his captive into thinking she was free...so he could destroy her hopes anew as he spun her back to him with one forceful yank.