The Sheikh King's Chosen queen

16. Tattoos and Propositions

Patience was one virtue Chanteel Banks never mastered. And it was going to take more than a frowning Ahsaif to change that.

Unable to settle or attempt to go to bed without a doing the one thing she had returned to do.

Confronting Murat of course.

And getting this weight of her chest. It was getting really heavy.

This need had her leaving the confines of the harem and seeking out the unknown territory of the King.

Chanteel promised herself that she wasn't going to be difficult. She was going to tell him how she felt and hope for the best. In fact she was going to be open minded and put a lot of consideration into everything where Murat was concerned.

What decisions he made was up to him. She had a proposition for him and if he accepts all the better for everyone.

Right! Dilutions are really becoming your thing.

Chanteel ignored the inner taunt.

There was no point in denying how much the man affected her.

Why deny it?

It may be all new to her, this feelings of desire but she couldn't say she didn't feel it or that she disliked it. In fact she wanted to feel more.

Horny b***h!

She scolded herself.

Chanteel sighed heavily biting her lip with nerves as she walked the long silent passage from her suite to his.

Ahasif had tried to discourage her from seeking Murat out. Even told her grimly that it was forbidden to do so without the king's permission. Apparently since his returned from the airport and their last argument and eventual parting Murat had ordered his staff to not disturb him.

What ever that meant.

She didn't care. Murat was licking his wounds no doubt hurt and disappointed that she'd left. And wallowing in his lose.

He hadn't been informed of her return, the i***t had threatened to hang anyone that disturbed him. And according to Palace rules and experiences Murat didn't say something unless he meant it. So no one dared to approach him.

Hence Ahsaif worry.

Chanteel added some pep to her walk as she hurried down the passage. Ahasif before his quick departure had showed her the secret tunnel that lead to the king's apartments.

Now the question was, Why there was a secret passage leading to her room from his?.

She grew more suspicious of Murat's intentions for her in the first place. Clearly placing her in that room hadn't been coincidental.

Had he planed to seduce her into his bed and add her to the long list of women he had bedded and discarded?

What had been his intension by bringing her to Zazaar?. Clearly it had been more than just being Beau's mother.

What ever the reason or his intention she was going to find out.

She wasn't about to play possum where Murat was concerned. She refused to be another notch on his golden post. Because if she gave into him, he was going to chew her up and spit her off so fast she wouldn't know what hit her.

And that was never going to happen.

Murat's apartment were held way off from any other rooms. Separated by several floors and took up the entire West wing. She wasn't certain of its actual size but had heard it was one of the most spectacular rooms on earth. Women would give more than arms and legs to get a chance to grace his infamous rumored "The Golden Pride". His bed.

Lord who came up with these names damn! It was ridiculous. Like being rich also meant 'act a fool'.

Chanteel paused at a wall that Ahsaif had informed her of. She rubbed her hands over the surface and smiled. The marble was warm and rough. She touched, searching for the.....

ahhh". She exclaimed as she found the smooth indent in the wall and palmed it with a push.

At first nothing happened and she cursed Ahsaif and his morals. Why was it so much trouble to just walk through the front door and ask to see the king?. Who gives a s**t whether she was an unmarried woman venturing into the King's quarters?

Apparently it wasn't allowed.

All this secret passage foolish and Ahsaif can kiss her..

Then it groaned like an unused.......

She grinned.

A section of the wall opened and she peeped in flipping on the light switch she had been told she would find.

From the amount of dust and cobwebs she could tell it's been a while since the passage had been used.

She stepped in and it closed behind her leaving her in a small narrow room. There was a door which She used and that brought her up short.

Three men, in black robes stood at different points down another hallway. The moment she stepped in they grew alarmed. She smiled briefly until they moved in to intercept her.

Christ.

" Hello uh. Well... Hey! ". She snapped as they surrounded her and then pushed her towards a double door." No need to manhandle damn! ". Chanteel hissed at them but they paid her little attention just kept steering her though rooms. Not giving her much time to sight see until she jerked to a halt only to be pushed." Wait hold up! s**t is that...?". She could have sworn she just spied a tiger in one of the rooms.

But....na that would be crazy.

Right?

They ignore her and pointed to a room. Chanteel glared. She huffed and glared some more. They looked bored. She threw up a finger and they just started back unfazed.

It reminded her so much of their ruler.

She sighed heavily and entered the room they showed her. Chanteel paused once in the room.

"Holy s**t".

She gazed around speechless at all the state of the art equipment littering across the massive gym. Some where of elite brands and custom designed, which was expected after all look who they were catering to.

Still she itched to try them out.

There was no sign of Murat anywhere in the room. But there was another entranceway. She poked her head though saw another hallway to the left. It was the right one she took.

And there he was.

Freaking s**t!

Chanteel jumped back as if burned fisting a hand to her mouth. She screamed into it mutely and paced back and forth. Panting hard.

Not good. Not at all.

Breathe Banks! Don't pass out. Just breathe!

Leaving wasn't an option, she couldn't go back not without speaking to him.

" Suck it up Banks he is just a man". She boosted herself knowing very well 'just' didn't begin to describe the man.

Taking a deep breath she threw back her shoulders and put on a cool look of indifference.

Beneath that exterior war was waging in places she never knew it could.

Chanteel eyes took in the man and slowly drank him in.

Murat was kicking and punching the hell out of a punching bag. He paced around, threw a solid right, ducked and went about pummeling his inanimate opponent.

Sweat had formed a glistening sheen over the expanse of his body. Muscles and sinew bulged and tighten as he punched and kicked.

His face was intense in concentration, his eyes cold and hard and his mouth a grim line.

He was pissed.

Punch. Kick. Punch.

Her eyes never left him. Chanteel knew he was ridiculously sexy, a male of unrivaled masculinity but the vision before her was electrocuting. Mouth watering. Jaw dropping hot she was having a semi heart attack.

Murat body was pure cruelty to every woman on earth.

He was hard and golden all over. His broad chest and spectacular abdominals were high, firm and thick with rows of hard defined abs. Contours of steel, powerful love-handles indented leading to lean, lithe hips in a pair of black tights that were cut too high up on thick muscular thighs for sanity.

She licked her lips.

"f**k! ". He snapped and pushed the bag away turning his back to her. That's when she saw it.

The entirety of Murat's back was covered with black ink.

And the jaws of a roaring lion.

She was surprise and then intrigued.

Zazaari-Arabic lettering went across his shoulders in bold brands.

The tattoo was extensive disappearing into his shorts leaving her imagination to wonder and speculate what unmentionables awaited there.

It was beautiful. Detailed. And she knew it wasn't some reckless teenage stunt. There was something primal and barbaric about it and the way he wore it. Like if it was rooted to his core. It didn't appear to be marked into the skin but carved out of it.

Chanteel wanted to touch it. To find out whether his skin was as smooth and warm as it appeared.

Recalling that kiss on the plane and how he'd felt in her arms, unaware of all this had lain beneath her hands, waiting to be explored. It made her breathless. It made her giddy, made her....

"Damn you Chanteel Banks! '. Murat continued to vent.

Chanteel frowned interrupting her wayward houghts, rolling her eyes. Well excuse me. She thought.

Murat combed his fingers though his thick low hair and sighed.

" Looks like there's something you wish to get off your mind". She said making herself known. She would have said chest but it was too distracting seeing it much less thinking about it.

He frozed.

His body tensed.

He slowly turned and stared at her.

Their gazes met and held. Gold and green. Heat and chill.

"Chanteel". He finally said after what seemed like ages.

"Murat".

He swallowed. "You came back". He looked at her with that unreadable expression which she hated. He was surprised and suspicious. "Why?".

"Many things. Mainly because it occurred to me that I was being selfish. That you made me no promises and that I can't blame you for the things you can't give me".

"And now? ".

" I don't know. I was hoping maybe you can help with that but from what I just witnessed you were beating my face in".

"I would never hurt you! "

" Not intentionally "

" Not ever! ". He came closer and she spotted the second marking. A fist was stamped on his chest over his heart. Directly beneath it was words in his language that she couldn't discern.

He looked delicious.

And she wanted to taste him.

" Will you believe this? ". His voice cut through her wayward thoughts reminding her that she'd bigger issues to deal with.

" I will try". She said trying hard not to look at the incredibly large bulge in his shorts.

Magnificent!

She bit inside her cheek to stop from blushing.

Murat paused before her without a care in the world, the arrogant bastard he was, slowly unwrapping the gauze from his hands. His eyes intense and locked on her.

" Has Beau settled in well? ". He asked. She nodded eyeing his abs and thick slab of muscle that was chest. His skin was flawless and smooth, all golden bronzed. And her fingers itched to feel the texture of him. Would it be smooth as silk? Hot like lava?.

" I am surprised that you came back ". Murat studied her with an intensity that made her skin grew hot." You don't strike me as a woman who gives second chances".

"Maybe not, but figured it's the least I can do". Chanteel licked her dry lips. "Considering the mess you're in".

" Really? ". He smiled flashing his pearly whites." And what mess is this you speak of?".

"You have a possible war on your hands from what I hear". She told him watching his reaction closely.

"War? ". He grinned mischievously." I assure you Ms. Banks no war will ever come to Zazaar". He didn't speak boastful. He believed it and said so. And so it shall be.

" I believe that you will do everything within your power to prevent it ".

Murat c****d his head as he studied her. Chanteel met and held his gaze.

" What do you want? "

His question caught her off guard.

" Excuse me? ".

Murat folded his arms across his chest. She followed the movement and swallowed.

" I don't believe you came back out of the generosity of your heart. There's something you want. What is it!". His tone had taken a turn for the worse. She'd known him long enough to know when he was pissed.

"I want nothing".

"You lie! "

" How dare you. You don't know me.... ".

" But I do know you Chanteel "

Murat interrupted her. She knew that this wasn't turning out as she had planned.

" You're the same woman that boldly told me to f**k off several hours ago. And yet here you are".

She looked away unable to look into his eyes afraid that he would see the truth.

" So I ask what is it you want". He was somehow closer than before. She hadn't realized he had moved.

Chanteel looked at him squarely. "I want to live here. I want my son to know his heritage."

Murat stared.

Then he laughed.

He threw back his head and roared with laughter that his huge frame shooked.

Chanteel stiffened eyeing him in disbelief.

He was laughing at her.

Murat turned away and shooked his head. "Heritage? Was this the same heritage that you near robbed him off hours ago?".

"As I said before I realize that I was being selfish".

"Oh yes we can both agree with that". She looked at him sadly.

Clearly he didn't feel anything for her. And he never would. "Now that you are here, let's lay out the rules". Once again he was close, inches from her and intent on one thing and one thing alone. To make her powerless. Weak. Desperate.

"My son remains in Zazaar, whether you leave or not. You will not take him away ever again". She wasn't planning on it. She made a promise that she meant to keep, no matter the outcome.

" As for you". Murat leaned closer "Your place will be in my bed". His words she heard but it failed to register. She was too busy trying not to hyperventilate with him so close. He smelled so intoxicating. Of sweat, masculinity and cologne. Something sexy.

"I want you in my bed. Spread out for me. Eager and wet ".

Chanteel saw his mouth coming closer. Felt the heat of his breathe against her skin.

She shooked her head trying to clear the fog." What?". She stepped away needing space. Murat smiled slowly haven already witnessed what he did to her.

" What did you just say to me?"

She demanded, voice quivering slightly.

Get your self together, dammit Chanteel!.

"Which part?. About wanting you in my bed? Or how I wanted you in my bed ".

" Is this a joke to you? Is this some sort of pay back for me leaving? "

" Joke? I assure you I don't joke about these things. I want you and you want me. What better way of getting what we both want? ". He was coming closer again. Chanteel was backed up against the door with no where to run.

" I am not going to be another notch on your post Murat. Not one of those women you carelessly discard when you're through using them ".

" Of course not". He informed. His golden eyes sparked with some thing that worried her. Something that told her no good would come of this. Told her to run.

"They meant nothing to me. You however are much more. That's why you'll be my mistress "

To say she was shocked was an understatement. Chanteel was speechless. For a second.

" Your what? ". She snapped outraged.

Murat smiled." Ma iyya". He said slowly. Chanteel fisted her hands.

"I will not be your w***e!".