The Sheikh King's Chosen queen

17. Battle Of The Sexes

Murat liked a good challenge even if it meant him playing dirty. And he was good at it. For one thing he was certain, when it came to the woman standing before him, he always had a reason to play the bad guy.

Hell he liked seeing her all riled up, knuckled raised and those emerald green eyes stabbing staggers at him.

Like they were now.

She was pissed. She wanted blood and as result would drop her defenses. The kind he desperately wanted her to.

"What the f**k! How can you even utter such a thing to me? ". She questioned snapping each word between clenched teeth.

Like he said he liked her like this. A calm Chanteel meant a thinking one. He didn't want her to think. Thinking was bad for him. She knew his weakness and has been using it against him from day one. No matter how often she had said it or accused him, he was no tyrant. And she knew it, testing him, he gorging him to play the villain.

No he wanted her like this.

" Why not? ". He replied casually, with a bored look. He picked up a towel off the nearby bench, felt her eyes following his movement and smiled.

He even heard her take a deep breath.

Having trouble breathing eh Banks?

He thought to himself.

" Let's get something straight". She started again. "There's no way on Earth will I agree to such a proposition. It's insulting that you have would even speak that way to me".

" You know for a woman with your reputation". Murat faced her again holding the towel around his neck. She glanced away.

He knew he affected her in the same way she affected him and has done the moment they met.

Unlike him however Chanteel would never acknowledge it, act on it and frankly he was just plain fed up.

He wanted her, in his bed. And would have her there within the week.

" You're a prude ". He concluded and she gasped. There he had said it.

" At least I don't have the morals of an ally cat ". She bit back hissing like a Viper." And what the hell do you mean by my reputation?"

"Exactly what I meant. As I recall from the file I had gathered on you . In a decade you have dated twelve men. Engaged seven times and never walked down the aisle. You've been playing Mistress long before I came along so please drop the Virgin act ".

Chanteel looked at him in silence. Her face bore no expression or gave away her thoughts. Only her eyes held a fragment of her thoughts and from the chill he spotted in them Murat knew his game had gone too far.

Instead of speaking, which he preferred, Chanteel surprised him by unbuttoning her loose robe-dress.

His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

She removed it and stood in.... Well hell..

Murat stared at her in disbelief. And wonder.

Before him Chanteel wore a netted black number that rode high up her full round high backside. And a tank top.

It was his turn to swallow.

Her body was lithe and tight that of a woman who wasn't afraid to sweat. Yet curved in places his palms itched to trace.

She braided her hair next and he was baffled. " What are you doing?".

" I learned a long time ago". Chanteel said walking over to the bench and picked up the gauze. His eyes slowly took in the lush proportions of her backside. His arousal was inevitable. " That growing up surrounded by men was going to teach me a lot of s**t. Which it did." . He smiled at her skillfully wrapping her hands. " I learned to fight my own battles. My father isn't here right now to kick your ass for what you just said to me". She approached the mat and began to stretch. Murat bit his lip when she dropped into a complete split. "But like I said I learned a lot of things growing up around men. One is to fight my own battles. So listen carefully my magnificent king of Zazaar". She stood like an sss goddess. Tall, beautiful and strong. " I am going to kick your ass."

"Really now? ". Murat found it hilarious. He chuckled at her. It was ridiculous. He wasn't about to fight her. She was a woman...

Her eyes narrowed the instant he thought those words." You're an arrogant chauvinistic pig ". Chanteel snapped and attacked him.

It was so sudden that he was taken by surprised. And then shocked.

The instant her left hooked connected to his jaw and the sound of bone shifting he knew she meant business.

" f**k! ". He hissed ducking another and had to drop when she delivered a perfect double rounded kick aimed for his head.

She dived after him. Tried to locked him but by then he began to recall that small paragraph in her file that hinted of her years of martial arts training.

Murat knew she meant business as she continued to rain blows on him, that pushed him back in defense blocking and ducking to escape.

Her eyes gleamed wildly. Her face was serious. And she hadn't broken a sweat yet.

"Chanteel enough! ". He snapped. He wasn't going to fight her.

" Then apologize! "

" For what? Speaking the truth ". He side stepped a punch that missed his head by inches.

" You know nothing. Compare to you I am a saint ". Chanteel aimed for his face in the next throw.

" I never denied what I was. I don't pretend either. I am not the one going around hating men. "

" I don't hate men. That's ridiculous! ". He caught her fist as she punched again. He yanked her to him causing her to lose her balance and fall into him.

" Tell me the truth. Are you a Lesbian? Cause I don't mind. I am willing to break you in".

And what was shocking was that he dead serious. Chanteel let out a scream of rage and locked her free hand behind his neck. Murat had a second to think and by then he felt her body twist into his, her foot in his gut and he smiled as she used his weight against him sending him over her shoulder onto the mat.

He landed on his back and roared with laughter.

"Get up you son of a b***h! ".

His entire body shooked as he laughed. Tears of merit escaped his eyes as he looked up at her.

Chanteel ignored the three guards that had rushed into the room and was now hovering worriedly at the door.

Murat grinned.

" Okay have it your way". He stood up and she went into attack. They went at it back an forth. Either backed down and frankly Murat was tired of getting his ass handed to him by a girl.

But she was good.

Very good.

Almost as good as he. He however was physically stronger and had more years of training by the best martial arts masters. Yet what she lacked in strength She made up on agility and speed.

What was even more surprising to Murat was her concentration. She predicted his moves and was there to block and counter-act by the time he got there. Which challenged him. Which impressed him and made him hit her harder. She delivered just as strong.

Chanteel landed on the mat on her side and he moved to help her but her sharp emerald eyes stopped him dead in his tracks.

She pushed herself up.

"Enough Chanteel. You've proven your point" Which was what exactly? He couldn't remember.

"Then apologize to me ".

" For the truth? "

" It's not the truth. Not how you implied it ". She threw back.

" And how did I implied it? "

" You said I was a w***e".

"Because I ask you to be my lover?".

" I don't want to be your lover Murat ". She told him limping across the mat.

" We both know that's a lie". He snapped after her. "We both know that the instant we met, there was something between us"

"Yeah hate ". She chorused with sass.

" I don't hate you!". Chanteel continued to walk away much to his aggregation. " In fact what I feel for you runs deeper than anything I have ever felt for another person". He admitted as she paused across the room.

" Yet you ask me to be your mistress".

"I offered you marriage. Twice and both times you turned it down ".

" Marriage?". Chanteel faced him then. " Was that what it was, when you intended to marry me and that girl as well?. What you offered me was nothing. Nothing I want!"

"So be it. I will not insult you with my offer of marriage again. But I want you in my bed Chanteel. I believe it's something we both will enjoy ".

" For how long? Oh let me answer that, until you've had your fill right, then I'm tossed aside for the next lucky candidate? ".

" For as long as we both want it. Of course if either of us has lost interest there's no point continuing the arrangement". He explained as if it was nothing at all. For him it wasn't. He may never had taken a woman to be his mistress before, for he had never considered himself a man held by one woman. However he was willing to make that change for Chanteel.

"You have given this much thought I see". Chanteel observed. "And what will happen when you marry your princess?"

"I don't wish to speak of Talia. She's no concern of yours ".

" But I will be f*****g her husband she may very well have something to say about it "

" I don't belong to Talia".

"And you won't belong to me either right? ". Chanteel smiled at him sadly." Thanks for the offer Murat. I have no doubt that it would've been pleasurable, but I must decline "

" Why? ".

" You don't get it do you? I will not share you. And if I can't have you to myself, then I rather not have you at all".

Murat stared at her and frowned. He'd thought perhaps with all of her worldly experience that she would've been different from all the other women who have wanted him to give them something he can't. They have tried to change him and failed. Tried to claim him and lost.

He wasn't free to give what they wanted. And never will be.

" I can't force you to be with me. It's all I can give you. No more and no less".

"You've not even considered the possibility of giving me more Murat. This is all a game to you one you're determined to win".

"You know nothing! Don't presume to think that you know me. Don't believe for second that if I was able to that I wouldn't give you what you seek ". He snapped at her. " And I know what you seek Chanteel Banks. You and every other woman wants the one thing I am unable to give ".

Chanteel nodded." Then there's is no point is there. I won't be your mistress. And you won't sacrifice... "

" Let's not speak of the sacrifices". He hissed cutting her off. His voice had suddenly changed into something she have yet to witnessed. His eyes which were usually golden, suddenly gleamed a dark silver.

It was like she was seeing a completely different man altogether.

" You don't know what is sacrifice. So don't speak to me about not willing to sacrifice. Haven't I done enough? ".

Chanteel knew then that he wasn't speaking about them right there. And it scared her. Murat glared coldly." What more am I to give? I have already given blood and my life".

" I have nothing else to give or to sacrifice".

"I understand ". She didn't not really but then again how could she when she really didn't know the man standing before her.

He smiled at her and she knew he too knew that she didn't understand.

" Where do we go from here? ". She asked.

" I don't care ".

Chanteel sighed shifting from one foot to the other. She hoped it was just a sprain. But it was worth it. He looked much worse than her.

" I have asked Ahasif to locate a house for me in the city". Murat eyed her hard that she quickly added. "Beau will remain here. I believe it will be safer for him".

"Do what you have to". He carelessly dismissed her. Chanteel bit her cheek to prevent from crying out. It has all gone wrong.

"Are you going to punish me for wanting more? Will you be that childish?". She wanted to slap his damn face. He was behaving like a spoiled child.

Murat simply shrugged.

She glared. " Goddammit"

Screw it!

He was ready this time and blocked her punch. He lifted her up and slammed her against the mat. Knocked the wind out of her. She screamed and kicked as he held her pinned to the floor.

Murat's head snapped up as his guards approached uncertainly.

"Get Out! ". He ordered. Chanteel clawed at his arms but his hold was unmovable.

The door shut and he slowly turned to look at her." I have wondered what I did so wrong to deserve you? You have turned my life into a living hell. And I am sick and tired of it. Of you. And I wished you had left ".

She cried then. Murat released her and stood." But you're right. I finally have found something I need that I can't have. But I can't pay the cost of it".

Chanteel laid there battling her own regrets as he walked away.