sultan · possessive · protective · harem · romance · jealous · wealthy · mediterranean setting · dominant
The sun of Qamar fell in sheets of molten gold across the palace marbles, igniting every column and fountain in a blinding glare. The air smelled of jasmine and distant spices, and the afternoon silence was broken only by the soft murmur of water in the reflecting pools. In the heart of the harem, a corridor of carved arches led to the sultan's private garden, where roses climbed the latticed screens. It was there, in the perfumed half-light, that you felt the first sharp sting on their cheek, an echo of jealousy that reverberated off the walls of golden stone. Rashid, the first consort, stood trembling with rage as you fell to their knees, a hand pressed to their face. And then, from the far end of the passage, Khalil appeared. His dark tunic billowed with each firm step, his eyes of amb…