Page 50 of Death and Desire

“Would you rather I leave you to wander the garden alone?”

Goosebumps prickled her arms at the soft but gruff tone of his voice. Try as she might, she couldn’t deny she craved his company. “No.”

“Would you rather havehimby your side?” Khalid asked.

“Who?” Confusion furrowed her brow. “James?” Violet laughed, hiding horror behind the forced humor. “Absolutely not.”

“He finds you quite attractive.”

Her face warmed at his statement. “And you know this how?”

“The way he looks at you. And I told you, desire has a specific scent.” Khalid regarded her for a long moment. “You do not feel the same for him.”

“Of course not.” Violet stammered, unable to find the words. “I mean...he’s handsome and charming, but there’s just...something about him that makes me uncomfortable.”

“DoImake you uncomfortable?”

Violet committed his face to memory in this moment, bathed in moonlight and glowing electric light beneath the Egyptian sky, shrouded in a garden alcove. The sharp angles of his face. The black waves framing his strong jaw. The stern set of his full lips. Were they as soft as they looked? Would they taste like the wine from dinner? Or the chocolate cake he ate for dessert?

“No.” The word finally spilled free.

“How do I make you feel, Violet?”

“I...I don’t know. It’s complicated.” She licked her lips. “Why me?”

“Because you possess somethingspecial.”

A derisive snort escaped her. “What an evasive answer.”

“How long have you dreamed of Egypt?”

The question stunned her for a moment. “Since I was a girl.”

“Since your mother gave you this.” He reached out and wrapped his fingers around her wrist, encasing the bracelet in his palm. Warmth radiated through her at his touch.

She nodded. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath caught at the intimacy of the contact, at the way his eyes held hers. She couldn’t blink. Couldn’t breathe. Violet stood rooted to the spot, unable to break free or turn away.

“This belongs to me, Violet.” His words surrounded her, tempting and soothing.

Something didn’t make sense. None of this made sense.

“I don’t understand.”

“I cannot make you understand.” Khalid took a measured breath. “This gem belonged to me. It was stolen. Ripped from Egypt and placed in your care.”

Violet stiffened. “But I—”

“You did not steal it, no, but it found its way to you regardless.” He smoothed his thumb over the pulse point beneath the bracelet, and her body thrummed with need. “It forged a bond between us. One I have tried to ignore.”

“You called to me. In my dreams.”

“I did.” He drew closer.

Beyond a row of palm trees and greenery, a couple walked past. Violet held her breath, praying they would move on quickly.

“They cannot hear us,” he said softly. “Nor can they see us.”

“How?”

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