“See? You even talk like a king.”
“Good thing since I am one, right?” Ghazi leant down for a kiss. He swept the interior of Raven’s mouth with his tongue for several moments before pulling back. “I need you.”
“Yeah, I can feel that.”
Ghazi shook his head. “No. I mean, I need you here with me, beside me. I made a promise to my father to take his place when the time arose, but that promise doesn’t mean as much to me as you do. If you truly cannot live with a king, I’ll hand over the crown to Faris.”
“Faris is too young, and you know it. Besides, you didn’t make the promise to your father, you made it to your people. It’s about time Jurru had a king who looked out for them, and I have no doubt you’ll do that.”
“But will you stay?” Ghazi asked.
“As what? I’ve been here for months and not once have you needed a bodyguard. I need to feel useful.”
“What would you like to do?” Inside, Ghazi was jumping up and down. It sounded like Raven was serious about staying with him on Jurru. Ghazi would give the man the world if he asked for it.
TO BED A KING
Carol Lynne
75
Raven wrapped his legs around Ghazi’s waist. “You’ll need someone trustworthy to run Sanctuary.”
“You don’t think it should be shut down?”
“Not at all. Nalu was willing to prostitute himself for the privilege of living in a home with people who cared about him. Let’s teach those kids what a real home feels like.”
Ghazi nodded. “We’ll have to set it up before the newly elected Prime Minister takes office, but I know both men and there shouldn’t be a problem.” He kissed Raven’s neck, anxious to make love to the man. “Anything else?”
“Just two things, but they can keep ‘til morning.”
“Good.” Ghazi squirted lube onto his fingers before reaching for a condom. “My only request is to do away with these awful things.”
“I’m sure we can work something out.”
* * * *
The following morning, Raven hung up his phone and returned to his seat at the breakfast table. “Bram’ll make the arrangements. He’ll have Amir make the call. We figured since Amir speaks Farsi it’ll be less of a red flag.”
Ghazi nodded. “What time do I need to be ready?”
Raven reached under the table and put a hand on Ghazi’s knee. “You know you don’t have to do this, right? I’ll be at Sanctuary anyway to make sure the kids are safe.”
“I can go with you,” Seb offered.
Ghazi shook his head. “I need to be there. I want to look into Halim’s eyes and ask him why.”
Raven understood Ghazi’s position, but it would make things harder. “Okay. Can you call Fath and set up a meeting for this afternoon? You trust him, right?”
“Definitely,” Ghazi answered.
“Once Fath is enclosed in your office, you can use the escape passage to meet me. We should be at Sanctuary in plenty of time to avoid Halim’s detection.” Raven hoped Ghazi was right to trust his Minister of Finance. “Until then, keep Halim busy so he doesn’t have a chance to slip away and deliver the packet of information to Sanctuary.”
“Do you still want Johara to answer the door?” Nalu asked.
TO BED A KING
Carol Lynne
76
“Yes. Amir will request a young girl with long hair. Johara would be Halim’s best choice.” Raven scratched the side of his head. “Have I forgotten anything?”
“What do you want us to do?” Jackie asked.
“Nothing. Just make sure you’re seen milling around the palace. It’s imperative that Halim doesn’t become suspicious.” Raven popped the last bite of toast into his mouth. He noticed Ghazi had barely touched his breakfast and scowled. “Are you finished?”
Ghazi nodded. “I need to get to my office and call Fath before Halim arrives.”
“Mind if I come?” Raven asked.
“Of course not.” Ghazi stood and regarded the rest of his guests. “I do hope you’ll have a chance to enjoy the pool and the gardens today. If all goes well,
“Good thing since I am one, right?” Ghazi leant down for a kiss. He swept the interior of Raven’s mouth with his tongue for several moments before pulling back. “I need you.”
“Yeah, I can feel that.”
Ghazi shook his head. “No. I mean, I need you here with me, beside me. I made a promise to my father to take his place when the time arose, but that promise doesn’t mean as much to me as you do. If you truly cannot live with a king, I’ll hand over the crown to Faris.”
“Faris is too young, and you know it. Besides, you didn’t make the promise to your father, you made it to your people. It’s about time Jurru had a king who looked out for them, and I have no doubt you’ll do that.”
“But will you stay?” Ghazi asked.
“As what? I’ve been here for months and not once have you needed a bodyguard. I need to feel useful.”
“What would you like to do?” Inside, Ghazi was jumping up and down. It sounded like Raven was serious about staying with him on Jurru. Ghazi would give the man the world if he asked for it.
TO BED A KING
Carol Lynne
75
Raven wrapped his legs around Ghazi’s waist. “You’ll need someone trustworthy to run Sanctuary.”
“You don’t think it should be shut down?”
“Not at all. Nalu was willing to prostitute himself for the privilege of living in a home with people who cared about him. Let’s teach those kids what a real home feels like.”
Ghazi nodded. “We’ll have to set it up before the newly elected Prime Minister takes office, but I know both men and there shouldn’t be a problem.” He kissed Raven’s neck, anxious to make love to the man. “Anything else?”
“Just two things, but they can keep ‘til morning.”
“Good.” Ghazi squirted lube onto his fingers before reaching for a condom. “My only request is to do away with these awful things.”
“I’m sure we can work something out.”
* * * *
The following morning, Raven hung up his phone and returned to his seat at the breakfast table. “Bram’ll make the arrangements. He’ll have Amir make the call. We figured since Amir speaks Farsi it’ll be less of a red flag.”
Ghazi nodded. “What time do I need to be ready?”
Raven reached under the table and put a hand on Ghazi’s knee. “You know you don’t have to do this, right? I’ll be at Sanctuary anyway to make sure the kids are safe.”
“I can go with you,” Seb offered.
Ghazi shook his head. “I need to be there. I want to look into Halim’s eyes and ask him why.”
Raven understood Ghazi’s position, but it would make things harder. “Okay. Can you call Fath and set up a meeting for this afternoon? You trust him, right?”
“Definitely,” Ghazi answered.
“Once Fath is enclosed in your office, you can use the escape passage to meet me. We should be at Sanctuary in plenty of time to avoid Halim’s detection.” Raven hoped Ghazi was right to trust his Minister of Finance. “Until then, keep Halim busy so he doesn’t have a chance to slip away and deliver the packet of information to Sanctuary.”
“Do you still want Johara to answer the door?” Nalu asked.
TO BED A KING
Carol Lynne
76
“Yes. Amir will request a young girl with long hair. Johara would be Halim’s best choice.” Raven scratched the side of his head. “Have I forgotten anything?”
“What do you want us to do?” Jackie asked.
“Nothing. Just make sure you’re seen milling around the palace. It’s imperative that Halim doesn’t become suspicious.” Raven popped the last bite of toast into his mouth. He noticed Ghazi had barely touched his breakfast and scowled. “Are you finished?”
Ghazi nodded. “I need to get to my office and call Fath before Halim arrives.”
“Mind if I come?” Raven asked.
“Of course not.” Ghazi stood and regarded the rest of his guests. “I do hope you’ll have a chance to enjoy the pool and the gardens today. If all goes well,
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