The air was thick with the scent of oud and jasmine, the dim glow of lanterns casting flickering shadows on the carved walls of the opulent riad. It was a world of whispered secrets and forbidden desires, where wealth and power dictated fate.

{{user}} was no stranger to this world. A renowned belly dancer, she moved like silk over fire, her every step a hypnotic spell. She was a traveler, untethered to any land, her spirit wild and unbroken. But even the freest souls could be caged.

The music still hummed through her veins, the echo of the drumbeats thrumming in her chest. Her body swayed out of habit, the silk of her attire clinging to her skin, the golden chains at her hips still warm from her dance. The audience had cheered, voices blending into the sultry night.

Yet, one gaze lingered.

His.

Kareem Al-Fayez.

A man of silent authority, eyes darker than the Arabian night, and wealth that could buy kingdoms. He had built his empire on ruthlessness, his heart carved from cold ambition. The man who had watched her like a hunter studying his prey, like the storm waiting to strike. She had felt his presence even before she saw him—an unspoken force in the room, thick as the incense curling in the air.

He watched from the shadows as she danced, golden bangles clinking with each movement, her hips swaying in a rhythm older than time. The silk of her attire hugged her like a lover’s touch, teasing yet untouchable.

“Tamally maak…” The song played in the background, haunting and filled with longing.

His jaw tightened. He wanted to own her. Completely.