Page 51 of Modern Romance November 2024 5-8

Sahir closed his eyes for a moment and arched his neck to one side as Kumu read through the messages that had piled up in his brief absence.He thought of Violet’s smile when he told her tonight over dinner that they would be spending the week together. And then his mind drifted to how he’d left her, sitting in his bed, her lips and fingers sticky with jam, and it was not his taste buds that needed satisfying...

The kiss he’d been forced to deny her this morning would be delivered. More, if the house he was returning to was empty. He wanted to be messaging Violet now, warning her of his desirous approach. And he knew she would be there to greet him. Were it just the two of them, he doubted they’d make it up the stairs...

‘Your Highness?’ Kumu said. ‘The council is being convened.’

Yes, Sahir thought. Now he’d taken a week off, suddenly they wanted to discuss his project.

They were pulling up at his residence. Maaz’s unmarked car was blocking the entrance to the basement garage, but Sahir barely noticed it as he stepped onto the street.

‘Your Highness,’ Faisal greeted him. ‘Is it possible...?’

‘Later,’ Sahir said.

He didn’t want to discuss menus or such things now.

‘Your Highness, forgive me...’ Faisal persisted.

But Sahir was already opening the door to the principal bedroom.

‘Violet?’

He frowned at the wall of silence that met him as he stepped in.The bed was made, her shoes and gown were gone, and he walked into the bathroom and saw it had been serviced.

‘Where’s my guest?’ he asked, his voice bewildered as Faisal came to the door.

Layla was just behind him, her face pale. ‘I just heard...’ she said to Faisal, then addressed Sahir. ‘Unfortunately, those images were seen.’

‘I don’t care about that now.’ He turned to Faisal. ‘Was my guest asked to leave? I specifically told Pria to be tactful.’

It was Faisal who spoke then. ‘Aadil spoke with Miss Lewis before Pria arrived. It would seem the King had discussed matters with the elders and together with Aadil they all agreed...’

‘Agreed to what?’

‘That any further conversation should take place back in Janana.’

‘And in due time it shall. Right now, I would like to speak with my guest...’

His patience was fast running out. The thought of Violet being bundled out of his home by Aadil incensed him. Violet deserved better than that.

‘I need her address...’

He frowned at the intrusion as Maaz came bounding up the stairs. He nodded to Layla, as if confirming something, then cleared his throat.

‘Sir, I have some information.’

‘And?’

‘The King felt that the situation was too volatile to leave your guest here...’

‘I can see that.’

The room was empty, not even a trace of her perfume was in the air, and though he appeared outwardly unmoved he was cursing himself for not getting her number, or even her address.

‘You have her details...’ He looked to Layla. ‘She would have been vetted.’

‘Sir.’ It was poor Faisal who told him at last. ‘Your guest has been taken to Janana...’

‘Taken?’ Sahir checked, unsure he’d heard right, for his pulse was pounding in his ears.

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