Page 65 of Filthy Hot Prince

“I have, my sweet one. I am a monster,” I whispered, knowing I had to tell the truth. “I’m afraid.”

“Of what?”

“The way you’d feel about me or look at me if you knew.”

“I am blind. I will tell you how I feel about you. Tell me.”

I took a deep breath and said, “I killed my own father.”

“What?”

Valeria couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She felt Khalid pull away. She could feel the dread and pain hovering in the room.

“Zain wouldn’t forgive me for telling you, but you need to know this, Valeria. I killed him with his own sword in his room.” Tears formed in my eyes as I thought back to that night. “And the worst part is that I don’t regret murdering my own father.”

Valeria could hear the tremble in his voice and she knew he was crying. She gently stroked his hair, wanting to comfort him. The Khalid she knew would never even think of hurting an ant, let alone kill someone. Especially his father. There must be a reason to why he did that.

“Then why did you do it?” She asked gently, as if she was asking me about my favorite color. As if she wasn’t afraid that she was embracing a murderer.

“Because he was a pathetic person and a terrible father. He hurt our mothers. Hurt Zain, me. He would’ve hurt Zara but I… I stopped him before he could ever touch her.” His voice had gone low and despite that, she could hear and feel the pain in his voice.

He had killed his father to protect his sister. He had taken someone’s life to protect another’s. Valeria didn’t know why, but in her eyes, he was not a monster he thought himself to be. He was still the good, kindhearted Khalid, she knew.

“It’s okay, Khalid. You did it to protect your sister,” she said, her voice soft as she wiped the tears from his wet cheeks.

My eyes widened at her action. “You don’t think I am a monster?”

“No, silly. You are not a monster. Not in my eyes at least, you aren’t.” She said, caressing his cheek with extreme tenderness. Under his hard skin, he held a heart of gold that was pure despite what he thought of himself. “Even though it wasn’t the right thing to do, you must have done it on impulse, right? I don’t think Zara or Zain or any other person see you as a monster, Khalid.”

I took a deep breath, my emotions all over the place after listening to her sincere words. Her gentle touch was a soothing salve to my heart, her scent affecting me on an intimate level. I had never been that raw or vulnerable with anyone.

I had to be a protector to Zara, a brother to Zain, a friend to Zayed and a famous Prince or artist in everyone’s eyes. But with Valeria, I could be just Khalid. I could be vulnerable, be open and have her not judge me to the title I was born into.

I smiled, despite the blurriness of my vision. Cupping her hand, I placed a soft kiss on the inside of her palm. “Thank you for telling me about your past, my sweet one. Thank you for trusting me, I figure it must have been hard for you,” I said, thinking about the times I had asked her to be alone with me for multiple occasions. The dinner. The art gallery. Even being alone in my apartment, trusting me completely. Accepting my invitation to come to Azmia all alone with me.

Her cheeks warmed. “It wasn’t. I trust you completely, Khalid. Thank you for allowing yourself to be vulnerable with me.”

I leaned closer and wiped away any stray tears from her cheeks which were dusted with rosy hue. My eyes dropped to her lips on their own accord. The urge to please her thrummed in my veins. I wanted to show and make her feel everything about the pleasures of sex.

But Valeria beat me to it.

“I want to kiss you, Khalid. I… I want to please you and have sex with you.” She licked her lips, her skin prickling with growing heat.

“Are you sure, my sweet? I do not want to cause you any pain or discomfort.” I tucked her hair behind her ear, her pale face looking up at me with urgency and need and… adoration.

“Yes, I am sure, Khalid. I… I wantthis. I want to have sex with you.” She leaned closer to me, my soft, warm breath fanning over her cheek. “Please.”

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