Page 43

Valeria
Itried not to tremble when I felt his tall, large body looming over me. I knew Khalid could see how aroused I was, naked in front of him, while he was fully clothed in a room filled with paints and brushes. I clenched and unclenched my fingers in a fist when a cool breeze whispered through the room, roving over my bare body, making my skin prickle.
How will I be able to sit still for hours?
I could feel the tension increasing in my body. My arms and shoulders feeling heavy, as if someone was physically pushing me down. I felt small. Almost afraid. Like the night—
No. Khalid is with me. He is a good person. I am okay. I am safe. I am fine.
The sound of charcoal moving across the canvas made me well aware of his burning gaze. He had already started sketching me. Khalid Al Latif was taking a nude sketch of me.
Should I look at him?
But I could only hear whispers of the charcoal, and it made my body tense with nervousness. I didn’t know what to do, where to look, my eyes had been blanketed with darkness since the accident. That night. Cold and dizzy. Crying. Arms holding me down. Missing underwear. Sticky thighs—
“Valeria.”
I gasped, pulling back when I felt another presence, my eyes blinking. Musky cologne. The woodsy scent of pine. Deep voice.
Khalid.
“Oh, I am not staying still, right? I am sorry, I am just worried about where to look and I don’t—”
“Shh,” he hushed me. I bit my lip from apologizing again. “I can see you panicking, my sweet. Are you sure you are okay? Comfortable? Is something bothering you?”
I shook my head, rubbing my arms and looking away from his direction. I didn’t like the warm feeling glowing in my chest. “I am not panicking. I don’t know where to look.”
Khalid didn’t reply for a few seconds, as if he was assessing me. I wanted to tell him to stop.
“Does being naked with me bother you?” He questioned, as if he was asking if I liked apples or not. “Should I bring in Tamara?”
“No. I am okay, Khalid. I am… I don’t mind being naked and alone with you.” I flushed, saying the words, my head dipping as I twirled my fingers.
I heard him shift and say, “If you ever feel uncomfortable, today or tomorrow or whenever we are together, let me know, okay?”
I nodded, licking my lips.
Was it weird that the concern he had for me turned me on?
I was sure that at the rate we were going, I would orgasm if Khalid breathed over me.
Forcing dirty images out of my head, I focused on his presence as he moved around the studio as if he was looking for something.
“Now I remember telling you about not to worry, or I would make you understand it with other methods. Remember Valeria?” His voice seemed closer, softer, but full with the promise of teasing.
The hair on the back of my neck rose as I dipped my head.
“This is one of my methods,” he whispered, kneeling down across me. I shivered, his warm breath caressing my bare breast. My mouth turned dry. My hands ached to touch him. “Let me know if this feels comfortable.”
I felt the soft satin material being pressed over my eyelids, temple, my hair. His warm skin inches away from me as he tied a knot behind my head, asking me if it was too tight.
Khalid blindfolded me. I could understand his reason. My eyes would stop blinking and flickering around, and I would feel calmer with the blindfold on. Stay still and not panic.
Despite that, it felt extremely erotic and sensual. Lounging naked and blindfolded in Khalid’s art studio.
His fingers were gentle as he fixed my hair, one strand brushing over the pebbled nipple of my breast making me take a shuddering breath. His finger lowered towards it, brushing his knuckles on my breast. I didn’t pull away, leaning closer to his touch.
I gasped when he palmed the flesh, pinching the nipple. He stopped rolling the hard tip with his thumb and forefinger when I held onto his wrist, urging him closer. I would go insane if he stopped touching me.