Taming of the beast - Completed.

Chapter Twenty-One

Callie woke, finding herself wrapped tightly in Riyad's arms, sighing she snuggled in closer into him. Separate beds, stupid idea. She had gotten used to him in a brief time. Perhaps it was going from a different bed to another, from one place to another. As far as she could remember, she slept in the same bed, the same room, until now.

She always felt safe with Riyad. Especially in his arms, wiggling in closer, buried into his chest, so warm, velvety yet rock hard, also was wide awake now, tingling as his scent wrapped around her.

Closing her eyes, she savoured him, reliving every moment since she had met him. In his 'who the hell are you?!' Good question. A simple girl, who was falling in love with her beast. He had no idea how he had changed her life, opened it to so many things. Like that lovely glass rosebud, she had left in her room at the mansion, not wanting it damaged in travelling with all her other treasures.

She never got around to finding a glass box to keep it safe and allowed viewing. Did you dare ask, they could return to the outside markets? Lost in memories, she stroked his chest. If she got the chance, she would love to take some gifts back for others.

Riyad suddenly rolled away, removing an arm, covering her hand with his own as he rested onto his back. "We need to get up, we have a big day," without looking at her, he removed his arm from under his head. Eased her off into the pillows and tossed back the sheets, out of bed, and disappeared into the adjoining bathroom, back rigid.

Chewing on her bottom lip, Callie eased up, raking hands through her hair. The dream shattered again. She had to stop thinking this was an actual marriage. Easing out from under the covers, she charged out and back towards her room, where she stripped down, stepped under the shower. Eyes closing as the tears fell, wishing she hadn't agreed to this.

Back at the mansion, there were rules, boundaries, ones now blurred. Okay, not the smartest thing to do, giving him permission to kiss her. She wanted so much more. They would head back towards his homeland, back to the same situation without anything changing.

It was harder and harder not to reach out and touch him. Even here, once more falling into an illusion that could never happen. So easily she fell into that lie. As for today, dress fitting, then back to the palace. She could throw herself into the hospital, spend her day with the children, and would leave Riyad free to do what he had to do and not worry about her.

Pleased with her decision, Callie quickly washed, dried, and changed, then joined Riyad in the magnificent dining room that was fit for royalty and far too many chairs for the two of them. "Do you think we can dine in the other area in front of the views?" she asked.

"We can eat anywhere you want," he said with a smile. Relieved she smiled back, maybe she was overreacting. She had probably upset his work schedule by slipping into his bed. Even at the palace, he worked at a desk, well into the night.

Settled at a table with views of the beach below and the PalmIsland that was man-made like the island the hotel sat on. Using the sand to their advantage, the clever little things, as Riyad explained how the island was constructed and added a reef to stop the sand being stolen back by the gulf's water, as they shared breakfast.

"So when is the fitting?" she asked, all about the business. "And when do you plan to leave?"

He glanced across, arching a brow. She chewed on her bottom lip. He read her far too well. "Out with it," he prompted.

"Only if we have time, I mean it Riyad, I know how you go out of your way for me, but I would love to go back to the market. The outside one," she got out in a rush, and then held her breath, clasping her hands together under the table on her lap.