Page 20 of Death and Desire

“How observant.” She squared her shoulders.

His gaze slid over her bare arms, down the length of the sapphire gown she’d purchased earlier in the day. Violet suppressed a shiver at the intensity of his attention, the way it slowly stripped away the barriers between them. Those dark eyes missed nothing, drinking in the light and life around him.

“Are you following me?”

“Perhaps.”

Violet held her ground as he stepped closer. The scent of heady frankincense, potent jasmine, and rich earth mingled with his heat to create an intoxicating aroma. It had lingered long after their dance the night before, long after he’d vanished into the night.

“What do you want from me?” she asked, her voice wavering.

“Nothing that isn’t freely given.” He reached out, tracing a finger along the inside of her arm. “What brings you to Cairo, little flower?”

“I—” Her mind blurred, distracted by his caress. His presence. Every nerve tingled beneath her skin, ignited and coaxed to life by his innocent touch. Her breaths came faster, her chest heaving with exertion. She sighed and tried to ground herself in the memory of her mother instead ofhisdistracting contact.

“My mother promised to show me...Egypt.” A tear slipped free, unbidden. “She died.”

Khalid inhaled deeply, his eyes closing for a brief moment before opening again. “My condolences.”

“She visited here when I was young.” Violet smiled at the memory as it came fully fledged into her mind. “She promised one day she’d bring me and show me the wonders of Egypt.”

“Did she give you this?” Khalid lifted her hand, allowing the jewel on her wrist to catch the light.

Violet nodded.

“How lovely.” He inspected it carefully, his grip firm but gentle. “Extremely rare.”

“Rare?” Her pulse quickened. “You recognize it?”

“I do.”

Excitement filled her. “Where did it come from?”

His dark eyes met hers, devoid of emotion. “It was stolen.”

Fear gripped her while anger simmered beneath her skin. “What...are you implying?”

“Did you steal it, little flower?”

“No.” She jerked her hand from his. “Neither did my mother.”

“It matters notwhostole it, only that it has been returned.”

Violet’s breath caught. “Returned?”

“To Egypt.”

“Violet, are you out here?” Isaac’s voice echoed in the distance, desperation laced through his words. “Vi!”

She turned toward the sound. “Over here.”

When she spun to face Khalid, he was gone. She pressed a hand to her chest. What was it with this man and his sudden exits? What did he meanreturned to Egypt? Nothing he said made any sense. Why would her mother give her astolengemstone?

If only he would stop vanishing, perhaps she could get some information. Instead, he’d left her with more questions than answers...and a helpless longing to see him again. Even if his lack of manners left her irritated and a bit flushed, she could not deny it. Khalid intrigued her.

She needed more than a quick dance and a few stolen moments in the garden to assuage her curiosity.

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