Bewitched

Azim tucked Khari’s arm in his as they strolled to her room in a stately fashion. Soft laughter pealed from their lips as they rehashed the evening’s events. When they stopped outside her door, he released her arm and looked down at her with sincere admiration. “How are you feeling?” he asked.

A wide, triumphant smile stretched across her face, and tears began to form in the corners of her eyes. “Liberated,” she said in a hushed whisper. “I was freed from Wren and my father in the span of two days,” she said, her voice strong with pride. She looked up at him with gratitude, “It’s all thanks to you.”

He opened the door to her bedroom, the hinges creaking softly in the near silence. As they filed in, he closed the door with a gentle click and turned to her, his face softening into a smile. “Well, I’d say Wren did help us out there at the end,” he said.

She looked away, unable to meet his gaze, and swallowed hard. “He did, but…” she said, her voice trailing off as she forced herself to stay silent.

Azim touched her shoulder, his dark eyes conveying sympathy. “I know. He has a lot of work to do to earn your forgiveness,” he said gently.

“It’s a good start,” She said, nodding in agreement as her eyes darted to a spot beyond his shoulder. A frown tugged at her lips, and with an exasperated, “Ugh,” she marched to the garment bag.

“What’s that?” Azim asked curiously.

“The lingerie I was supposed to wear when…you know,” she said, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment as she unzipped the black bag. Her fingers lingered on the red fabric of the lacy teddy, a reminder of the night that was supposed to be.

“Unfortunately, I do,” Azim let out a soft, amused laugh. His eyebrows rose in surprise when he saw the skimpy lingerie. “That’s...wow,” a smirk appeared on his face, and his eyes sparkled with mischief. “You ever going to wear it?” he asked, one corner of his mouth twitching with the effort to keep from breaking out into a full-on grin.

“Why would I wear it?” she said, her face scrunching up in revulsion. She couldn’t take her eyes off the overly revealing piece of clothing. She shook her head and laughed nervously, “I’d look ridiculous!”

Azim took a slow, comprehensive sweep of her, his dark eyes lingering on the curves of her figure. “Ridiculous is not the word I would use,” he said.

Khari’s cheeks flushed, and her stomach fluttered as she felt the weight of his gaze on her. She nervously fiddled with the bag hanging from the hook, her fingers shaking and her breathing shallow. “Really? Okay. Wait here,” she murmured before disappearing behind a tall dressing screen. Time seemed to slow as she changed into the delicate red lingerie, and when she finally finished, her voice was stern. “I told you,” she said.

Azim shifted his body on her mattress, propping his head up on one arm, as he peered across the room. He caught sight of her silhouette behind the screen against the moonlight, curves like a ballerina. He could almost hear the music that guided her movements. “I can’t see from here,” he said in a smooth voice.

Khari stepped out from behind the screen, a black silk robe cinched tightly at her waist. Her cheeks flushed as she ran her hands down the fabric. It was a strange experience to see herself in something so luxurious and revealing. She glanced at him, a little embarrassed and obviously uncomfortable, “I’m not used to seeing myself at all, let alone with something like this on.”

Azim slowly rose from the bed and moved towards her, “Let me see,” he said softly as he reached out and began to untie the knot of her robe. He gently pulled on the string, his eyes never once leaving hers. “I’ll be the judge of that,” he said with one final tug, and the robe released and cascaded from her curvy frame, leaving her exposed. Azim’s eyes widened as they swept over her body, taking in every detail with a slow and appraising glance. His fingers lightly grazed her shoulder as he trailed his hand along her pale skin, sending a shiver through her.

As Khari felt the fabric of the robe slide from her shoulders, every nerve in her body stood on edge as she was suddenly exposed. She felt a flush of embarrassment rise to her cheeks, and she quickly crossed her arms over her chest reflexively, hunching slightly and giving a nervous laugh. “See?” she said, trying to make light of the situation, “Ridiculous.”

Azim’s gaze roamed her body slowly and hungrily, his eyes hooded in pleasure. The crimson lingerie was a perfect fit and highlighted her curves, emphasizing the hourglass shape of her body. He took in the sight of her in the beautiful lingerie, his throat tightening with desire. He spoke huskily, his voice thick with passion, “At any time, if you want, you stop me.”

His hands moved slowly, his fingers slightly trembling as his thumbs caressed her cheeks. The scent of whiskey and his musk filled her senses. With his mouth only inches from hers, she could feel his warm breath rush over her. She felt her heart beating inside her chest, and her hands started to tremble with anticipation. She was nervous, but the thrill of the moment was almost too much to resist.

“Stop you from what...” Khari’s eyes widened in surprise as Azim’s lips pressed against hers. His tongue feathered across the seam of her mouth, coaxing her to respond. She opened up to him, allowing his tongue to explore her eagerly. His hands slipped down to her waist and tugged her closer as his mouth moved with hers, tasting every corner and making her gasp in pleasure.

Khari closed her eyes as she wrapped her arms around Azim’s neck, feeling every inch of him against her. His broad shoulders and toned arms strained against the fabric of his shirt as he gripped her thighs with firm hands, lifting her off the ground. His intoxicating scent filled her senses, sending a heat wave through her body. She felt the warmth of his breath on her face, the intensity of his embrace, and the passion in their kiss that deepened with every second. He placed her on the bed, the sheets cool and crisp, and looked deep into her eyes with a smoldering intensity. His fingertips ran slowly down her body, raising the tiniest of hairs with his delicate feather-light touches. He savored every inch of her curves as he slid her lingerie straps off her shoulders. His mouth followed the path of his fingers, leaving behind a small swarm of aroused butterflies as he caressed and kissed every inch of her body.

Khari’s skin burned with heat as Azim’s hands roamed her body, sending electric shocks through her veins. She had never experienced such intense pleasure and felt her knees begin to buckle. Azim’s lips moved to her neck, and she couldn’t help but moan. Almost ready to give in, she mustered up the courage to stop him. “Azim...” she said, barely above a whisper.

Azim shuddered as he heard her voice, a whisper in the night, utter his name. He looked into her eyes and saw a raw, deep desire and a blush that had tinged her cheeks. Her chest rose and fell with each rapid breath, and her lips were swollen from his kisses. He longed to continue, to savor the moment, but he knew he had to tread lightly. He knew he had to respect her boundaries. With a gentle touch, he brushed his lips against her forehead before resting beside her. She sighed as she released the tension in her grip on the sheets. “I’m sorry, Azim... I’m not ready for this yet.”

“Khari, you never have to apologize.” Azim’s arms were strong and warm around her waist as his thumb made small circles on her side. His gaze was kind and steady as he looked down at her, conveying a sense of patience and understanding. “We can go as fast or as slow as you want. I’m in no rush.” He wanted her to feel safe at all times, to know that she could take whatever time she needed with him, and he would not rush or judge her.

Khari felt her body loosen as his strong fingers moved across her supple skin. Her eyes closed as warmth enveloped her, and she breathed in his scent. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked up at him with a small smile. “Thank you,” she murmured.

Azim couldn’t take his eyes off of Khari, lingering on the curve of her hips, the shape of her lips, and the twinkle in her eyes. His voice was gentle and sweet, like honey dripping off a spoon. “I’ll admit it. I got carried away. But you must believe me when I say the last thing you look is ridiculous, Khari. You look stunningly beautiful. You don’t know how sexy and captivating you really are.” His expression was open and vulnerable as a small smile played on his lips. He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes, “But as I said, I don’t want to make you my mistress. I want you as my Queen, so there won’t be anything further between us until we are married.” His voice was thick with want, and she could feel the sincerity radiating from him. His eyes were full of love and tenderness, and his touch was electric.

“Okay,” she said. Her tight jaw relaxed, her flushed cheeks began to cool, and her sweaty palms stopped trembling. The tension that had coursed through her body melted away.

He pushed himself up with a groan, his legs shaking as he stood. With a look of regret, he said, “I should go. We don’t want rumors going around that I’ve seduced the Atea.” He ran his hands through his disheveled hair and sighed before making his way to the door.

“Would that really be the rumor?” she asked as she slipped off the bed and moved toward him. Her bare feet padded softly on the floor as she trailed him to the door.

He turned around and leaned in, kissing her on the lips. “You’re right,” he whispered, “We both know it is you that have bewitched me.” He kissed her forehead and then released her from his embrace, “Good night, Khari,” he said with a soft smile before leaving the room.

She ran her fingers over her lips, feeling a phantom warmth from where his had been just moments ago. “Good night,” she whispered to the now-empty room.