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“Watch that mouth of yours before I cut that tongue out myself,” I heard Nasrin’s voice through the phone, “Ignore Zayed’s words, Khalid. We always do. Valeria is not a woman to judge a person by what they look like. She loves you for your art, mind, your heart and your soul. She couldn’t care less if you looked ugly or handsome. You of all people should know that beauty is nothing but subjective.”
I pondered over her words, thanking her in a small voice before ending the call and looking over the picture of her painting which I had stored in my phone. It didn’t capture every stroke of paint on the canvas, but the photo was enough to ground me and think of the memories we had shared at the oasis and the palace.
Or the time when Valeria had touched my face and explained how I looked to her, and I didn’t think that Valeria thought of me with such stern face yet so beautiful. It had certainly been enough to kiss her and be my muse.
“You can meet her, Khalid,” Benjamin said when Mabel wiped tears from her face after walking out of the room where Valeria was resting after her surgery.
“Is she okay?” I stood up from the chair.
“Why don’t you see for yourself?” Benjamin smiled, squeezing his wife’s shoulder, allowing me to have some privacy with Valeria.
With a deep breath, I pushed the door open and entered the room, noticing her untangling her hair from a braid.
“Hello,” I said, awkwardly looming near the edge of the hospital bed.
Valeria looked at Khalid, holding her breath. Even though the doctor had warned her about the little fogginess, she could see him. He looked devastatingly handsome. No one had warned her of his beauty. His sun-kissed skin, his dark hair, his cutting cheekbones, his slashing brows, his warm hazel eyes, his sharp jaw peppered with stubble or the lush lips. She had kissed those lips so many times, not knowing that the face it belonged to looked like pure sin.
I stared at her vibrant green eyes as she blinked at me. I froze when she tilted her head. “I’m sorry. Who are you? Where’s Khalid?”
Valeria held back her laughter, seeing the look of horror on his face. His skin going ashy as he gaped at her, as if he truly thought that Valeria didn’t recognize him.
I was going to pass out.
“Valeria,” I said her name like I was pleading. “Itisme! I am Khalid. Khalid Al Latif. The Prince of Azmia.YourPrince.”
She licked her lips, a small smile tugging at the corner. “You don’t look like a Prince.”
I clenched my jaw when she burst into tiny fits of laughter, cupping her mouth and stomach as if she enjoyed tormenting me, scaring me like that.
I sat on the chair beside the bed, shaking my head at her. She must have spent too much time with Zayed. “Had your fun?” I asked.
Valeria sobered up from her laughter, gazing at him. In awe at his beauty. He was dressed in a crisp shirt, a dark navy suit, and slacks. She suddenly felt shy for being in a hospital gown.
“Hi,” she said, her voice shy. It was unbelievable that he was holding her palm in his big hands, the white shirt stretching over his broad shoulders, revealing a hint of tan skin.This was her Khalid, he was hers as much as she was his.
I smiled at her small tone, her eyes raking over my body. “Hello.”
“I can’t believe it,” Valeria said, meeting his eyes and squeezing his hand to know he was real.
“Believe what?”
“That you are…you.” She raised her hand and cupped his cheek, feeling the warmth beneath her skin. She could see it and feel it.
“Is that good?”
“Better. You are so much more than what I had imagined.” She caressed his cheek. “And very tall.”
Khalid chuckled, and Valeria was left speechless yet again. He looked beautiful when he laughed, and knowing that she made him laugh sent flutters to her belly. She wanted to make him laugh more, make him happy.
“Can I kiss you?” She asked, her eyes wide as she looked at his handsome face, her cheeks flushing when his hazel eyes became molten.
“You don’t have to ask, my sweet one.” I leaned closer, my warm breath caressing her pink cheeks. “You own me.”
Her lids fluttered close when she felt the soft press of his lips against hers. Her hands tightening over his shirt, pulling him closer and kissing him harder, parting her lips. They both ignored the sound of her heart rate increasing on the monitor and kissed each other until they were left breathless.
Before I could say anything, my phone started ringing. We both saw the name of Zara, my little sister, flashing on the screen. She would have wanted to know about Valeria’s surgery. But I sent it to voicemail. I needed more time alone with her.
“Thank you, Khalid.”