Beneath Guarded Hearts - 70

Previously…

Sul6an

He gave me a very serious, dismissing look, and went back to his papers. I clenched my fists and abruptly left the room. I headed to our indoor gym, put on my boxing gloves, and punched the dummy until it looked deformed and trickles of sweat ran down my chest, staining my t-shirt.

Me: “She is okay…”

I hissed out my thoughts as I rested all my body weight on my arm muscles, my elbows crushed to the floor, my head bent low, my breathing heavy.

Me: “That’s all that matters. For now.”

____________

3bdulla

            I gave her a light kiss on her nose and nudged her awake. She shifted a little and groaned. Who would have known my hyped up little Asma loved sleeping so much! I nudged her again and whispered her name repeatedly.

Me: “Asooma… yalla 7bibty goomy…”

Asma: “Mmm… Please bas 5 more minutes…”

            I laughed at her softly. She was probably still half dreaming, talking gibberish to me.

Asma: “W laish agoom… I don’t have uni elyom, our holiday isn’t over yet, w laish lazm nshoof syayeer elyom? I don’t need a new car, I like mine just fine…”

            I decided to continue listening to her until I couldn’t hold myself anymore. I fell back on the bed and burst into hiccups of laughter. She started to break away from her ‘wonderland’ and slowly sat up on the bed, mind me her eyes still closed.

Asma: “Mmm… What’s going on?”

Me: “7bibty, ba6ly 3yoonch w bat3arfeen.”

            I sneaked in another chuckle and sat in front of her, biting my lips to stop myself from laughing again. She looked so cute, her shoulders slumped and her expression half annoyed and half asleep.

Asma: “Nooo, if I open my eyes, then I won’t be able to go back to sleep… Please just let me sleep shwaya, I didn’t find out what will happen next…”

Me: “Happen next in what?”

Asma: “Why, in my dream of course. You see, there was someone chasing me because they found out that I was really a spy, and…”

            She yawned.

Me: “Tbain etkamleen 7elmch?”

            She nodded lazily.

Me: “I’ll give you something better than your dreams… I’ll give you something real.”

            I leaned forward and I kissed her gently, pushing her back onto the bed as I held her face in place. She started to respond, to awaken, and before I knew it she was kissing me back. I broke the kiss and heard her moan.

Me: “9baa7 el ward 7bibty :)”

            She smiled at me, her eyes now fully open and alert. I gave her a kiss on her cheek and got off the bed.

Me: “Yalla goomy, you need to pack.”

            She sat up on the bed and gave me a confused look.

Asma: “7ag sho?”

Me: “Why, for our honeymoon of course!”

            She stared at me for a split second before her eyes widened. I left the bedroom before she could say anything else, letting her take my words in. I waited patiently for her to appear and prattle out questions in excitement, and as expected, she ran into the sitting room and sat on my lap not moments later.

Asma: “Oh my God wain banseer?! Is it Spain? Cause I really want to meet your mother’s side of the family! Or wait! We could go to Paris! Bas la a7is everyone goes there, mmm what about-”

            I placed a finger over her lips and silenced her.

Me: “It’s a surprise. Pack heavy clothes, it’s going to be really cold there.”

            I gave her a wink and saw her pout.

Asma: “But… but you have to tell me! How am I going to pack properly? What if I end up needing something that I forget to bring? And then I freeze to death? It’ll ALL be your fault. And for what? Come on please please pleeeease tell me!”

            I laughed at her. This girl was amazing at arguing when it came to getting what she wanted. She played around with your head and misled you with intricate questions, would even make you feel guilty or doubt yourself if she had to. And the best part about it was that she didn’t even know she was doing it! It was just the way she was. I sighed and shook my head. How much I loved this little creature! I pretended to reconsider my decision, and then looked at her devilishly.

Me: “Nope ;)”

            She slapped my shoulder lightly and frowned.

Asma: “3baady… Tell me!”

            I gave her a stern look.

Me: “I have an abusive wife.”

            She rolled her eyes and smiled.

Asma: “Pfft, it’s not like it hurts. Your muscles are hard as marble.”

            I smiled at her. See what I mean? She has an answer for everything.

Me: “Yalla 7bibty, go and start packing. I need to go to work, but I’ll be back by around 6.”

Asma: “6?! Laish? You’re not even supposed to have work today. It’s Saturday!”

Me: “I need to finish up some reports and finalize corporate decisions before we leave.”

Asma: “Chaih when are we leaving?”

Me: “Monday.”

            She didn’t even answer me, she only widened her eyes, and I could tell from her expression that she was doing some ‘calculations’ in her head. She dug out her phone and dialed the keys vigorously.

Asma: “Alo?! NOUFYY! We need to go emergency shopping!”

To be continued…

Beneath Guarded Hearts - 69

 Previously…

Asma

He finally surrendered, parting my lips as he conquered them with complete control. I felt an immediate change in the way he touched me. My lips curved into a smile of triumph beneath his dominating lips. He wasn't just soothing me anymore.

______________

Asma

He lowered me to the bed slowly, and I felt chills of excitement. He stroked my hair, whispered endearments into my ears as I felt his hot breath, and I clung on to him tighter and I kissed him eagerly. He was taken aback by my boldness, yet he responded with equal yearning. How I loved the taste of him. How I absolutely loved my 3bady.

3bdulla

Her eagerness banished any sense of reason I had left. We were engrossed in pure passion, no fears, and no regrets. I had never thought that each and every time would be different in a beautiful, enlightening way. I just couldn't get enough of her. She was so addicting, so beautiful in ways she could never see. Not the way I did, at least. But tonight, I saw a completely different side to Asma. We’ve been through so much since the day she summed up the courage and decided to look up into my face, and our eyes met, really met, for the first time. She was so innocent back then, so shy as she forced herself to look at me when I bumped into her. How much we had changed since then, especially after we got married. Especially Asma. She wasn’t holding back anymore. It was like she had been waiting for me her whole life, and I would give her everything and more. 7abeebti Asma, wayed a7bha!

As she dropped next to me and sleep started to creep up on her, I traced the gradual curl of a strand of her hair that fell over her face, and I brushed it back gently. She lay in my arms, her eyes half closed as she breathed against my chest. I was drained myself, but watching her sleep was far too pleasing, too tempting to resist. I wanted to kiss her awake, but her cute, snoozing little face left me motionless, not daring to make a sound that could cause her to wake up. I pulled up the bed sheets over her exposed shoulders and gave her a light kiss on her forehead. I lay my head over the pillow, my arm tucked under it as I stared into the ceiling, drowned into my peaceful thoughts. I glanced at Asma’s sleeping face and smiled.

Me: “Amoot feech asoomty…”

            I whispered the silent words into the air between us as I closed my eyes, falling into a dreamless slumber.

Sul6an

            I came home still expecting to see Asma there, to hear her murmur questions about my day that I didn’t feel like answering, forgetting that she now lived with 3bdulla. I sighed. The house felt so empty without her vibrant spirit dancing everywhere, singing to the still air. I wonder lo bdat et3’any around 3bdulla. Hehe, akeed bati7shireh 3gb mudh. Ya3ni seriously, hal bnaya wayed t3’ani! But still. She might have been irritating at times, but she was, and still is, the best sister I could ever ask for. Who, I thought as I made my way up the stairs, deserved much more than just adding ‘precautions’ on baba’s part.

            I knocked twice on his office door. He bade me to enter with his stony voice. He was always so formal with me, when with Asma he was more funny and easy-going. I think it’s because he thinks I’m irresponsible and that because of it, he has to take me seriously. My father and me never got along anyway, but to be so cold about Asma’s situation? I would normally do anything to avoid getting into an argument with baba, because I didn’t want my temper to rise around him. He was my father after all, and I could never forgive myself if I raised my voice over him. I had so much respect for him, but right now, that respect was slowly fading away. How could he just sit there and do nothing when Asma was going through hell?

Baba: “Ohh Sul6an, tfa9’al.”

            I moved towards his desk and slouched into a chair in front of him, betraying my purpose of coming to him. But my father wasn’t a fool.

Baba: “Gabl la tibda, la tinsa iny obook w oboo e5tek. Ana ely a3rf sho he ma9la7atkm.”

Sul6an: “Ya3ni yom 5alait el 7a8eer ahmad y5aleeha 3indeh yom inteh knt troom tgoom w tridha el bait w tit5ala9 mn el salfa, ha kan 7ag ma9la7at-ha?”

            My voice was petrifyingly calm.

Baba: “7asib. Inteh mat3arf ay shay 3an el salfa. W kilh ele estwaa fel a9il 3shanik inteh.”

            I blinked in confusion.

Me: “Sho?”

            He sighed.

Baba: “Bat3rf yom el wagt bayee. 7ag a7eena, latfaker feeha. A7eena gooly, kaif bnt ahmad?”

            My body tensed in resentment at the mention of her.

Me: “Baba, ALLAH y5aleek, lat5aleeni abda weyaha.”

            He raised a brow at me.

Baba: “Ma 3eybatk?”

            I looked at him skeptically. He knew way more than he was letting on. But he’d deny everything and tell me that I was accusing him of lying or something if I asked him about it. I sighed.

Me: “La2. A7eena 3an ele estwa eb Asma-”

Baba: “Bass. La tirmis 3an salfat Asma, mada5alk fel mo6’oo3. Rayyi7 balik w insa 3an ele stwaa.”

            He gave me a very serious, dismissing look, and went back to his papers. I clenched my fists and abruptly left the room. I headed to our indoor gym, put on my boxing gloves, and punched the dummy until it looked deformed.

Me: “She is okay…”

I hissed out my thoughts as I rested my whole body weight on my arm muscles, my elbows crushed to the floor, my head bent low, my breathing heavy.

Me: “That’s all that matters. For now.”

To be continued…

Message

Dear Readers,

No, it's not a technical problem. I have deleted post 69 for now. I might rewrite it, I'll see. Please don't be mad, I have my own personal reasons. Someone's emphasized a point that has always been in the back of my mind. Please be understanding, it's a matter of morals, ethics and responsibility. I shall say no more on the topic, but don't worry, I won't stop writing. Just expect a different post :)

xx

Beneath Guarded Hearts - 68

Previously...

Asma

The thing was, 3bdulla told me that I was safe, that baba had already made certain ‘arrangements’ to make sure this never happened again. So what was left for sul6an to negotiate with 3alia and her father?

_________

3bdulla

She was fast asleep even though she was still on her nerves. I think her garrulous little brain couldn't handle taking in so much at once, especially when she was in shock. I think that, in these situations, my little smurf just runs away in her sleep like a little girl and forgets about the whole world. I sighed deeply. I just wished I was the one she would run to.

Asma

I had a short, dreamless nap, thank God. I wasn't in the mood for my muddled up dreams just yet. I felt a soft nudging as the car slowed down into a stop.

3bdulla: "Goomy Asooma, we're here."

I opened my eyes and looked at him. Was that worry that hung on his face? I smiled. I leaned forward and gave him a light kiss on his cheek.

Me: "3bady, I'm fine."

I grabbed my bag and stepped out of the car. I was exhausted. I just wanted a very hot shower and my warm bed with his arms around me. I don't know why, but I felt safe in his embrace. It sometimes scared me. What would I do if I lost him? I hated being dependent on others simply because no one ever truly stayed in life. People would come and go. But 3bady? I honestly couldn't help but completely surrender myself to him. I gave him my soul; I was his and only his. The thought was strangely pleasing, that I belonged to him and he to me. It was indescribable. And love? Well, love was a vague, simple word that couldn’t compare to what I was feeling. I couldn’t phrase it, couldn’t describe it; I could only feel it. But I wondered sometimes… did he really feel the same way about me?

***

Sul6an: "You've ruined my life, Asma. I did all of this for you, w 3shan sho?"

I stared at him with chilled bones.

Me: "I never asked you to do anything for me."

Sul6an: "La? I think you know that I had to do it as your brother."

Me: "You're not really my brother. You're only my half brother. You're not obligated to do anything for me."

He widened his eyes at me in anger. In bafflement.

Sul6an: "If that's the way you feel, then I'm not your brother anymore."

Me: "Laaaa2!"

I woke up gasping for air, my heart racing. I shifted under the cocoon of my duvet and searched for 3bdulla, but I found his side of the bed empty. I opened my moist eyes slowly and half sat on the bed, a confused expression on my face. My hair was a mess, draping over my shoulders in curls that were still a little damp from my shower.

Me: "3bdulla?"

I squeaked out his name into the quiet darkness. I felt a shift of movement and in mere seconds, I found a body right next to me and I was back in his arms.

3bdulla: "Balach 7beebty?"

Me: "Mmm mashay.. just a bad dream."

He was silent for a long time as he held me.

Me: "Inteh laish wa3y?"

3bdulla: "Couldn't sleep."

Me: "Laish?"

He hesitated.

3bdulla: "Just a bad dream."

I looked into his eyes, and even in the darkness, I felt shivers. My senses were awakened as he soothed me, and my nightmare was long forgotten.

Me: "Maybe I can help…"

I moved slowly as he waited for me patiently without a word. I curled my fingers into the thick layers of his hair, and I leaned towards him. Our faces were so close that the tips of our noses almost touched. He looked right into me. I could read the guarded desire in his eyes. I lowered my face and kissed his neck. I didn’t know why, but tonight, I wanted to delight him in every way possible. I was very bold, and I had no idea where it came from. I continued to kiss him as I moved up his neck. When I reached the hard lines of his jaw, I broke away long enough to steal a peak at him. His eyes were shut and his chest rose and fell gently. I started to kiss him again, teasing the edge of his lips until he was too tempted to resist. He finally surrendered, parting my lips as he conquered them with complete control. I felt an immediate change in the way he touched me. My lips curved into a smile of triumph beneath his dominating lips. He wasn't just soothing me anymore.

To be continued...

Beneath Guarded Hearts - 67

Previously...

3bdulla

I honked at Sul6an's car as I neared up, and it went faster. I got a little confused and pushed at the gas, taking the right lane to make sure I had a view of him.

Only, when I started to wave at the driver's seat, it wasn't sul6an who was sitting there.

It was 3alia.

Me: “Oh shit. This can't be good.”

__________

Asma

What in the world was ALIA doing in Sul6an's car?!!!!!! I didn't' even know what I was screaming at 3bdulla as I dialed Sul6an's number.

Me: "That bitch is in your car, did you know that?! Start speaking now wila wallah el 3a6'eem-"

3bdulla snatched the phone from my hands as he kept pace with her.

Me: "Aaaih!!! Give it back! 3bdulla! GIVE IT BACK!"

He hesitated as he took in a tone I had never used in his presence before. Sul6an knew it very well, since he always pushed me to my limits, but he knew when he really did it if I used this tone, and he'd back off immediately. And, as expected, 3bdulla did the same.

Me: "SUL6AN!"

Sul6an: "Asma. Calm down ! I know 3alia's in my car, and no she didn't steal it. She's just pissed okaay 5alha et6ale3 7reyat-ha and back off inzain?"

What the hell? Et6ale3 7reyat-ha? In his LOVELY panamera? La w ba3ad back off? Who was this person I was talking to?

Me: "Back off?! You never even let me take your car to get something mn el ma7a6a, w 7ag hai el zaga tgooly back off w 5alha et6ale3 7reyat-ha? Laaa? Since WHEN ya sul6an did you even give a shit about her? HAA?!"

            I heard him take in a deep sigh.

Sul6an: "3a6eeni 3bdulla."

Me: "3BDULLA? Laa2 I'm sorry but you're talking to ME. I'm not giving the phone to-"

3bdulla grabbed the phone out of my hands and quickly mumbled a few words  before he closed it.

I stared at him in utter outrage.

Me: "What the hell?"

He groaned.

3bdulla: "I'm guessing you won't shut up until I give you an explanation, right?"

Me: "You damn well guessed it right. Now SPILL, and don't you even think about leaving any details."

He sighed again, this time in annoyance. But I saw him sneak in a smile before he turned to me.

3bdulla: "I thought you'd say something like that."

I eyed him skeptically.

Me: "What are you smiling about? There's nothing amusing about this!"

3bdulla: "There is."

Now he was stretching a wide grin. I suddenly noticed that there was no car in front of us.

Me: "Aaaih! Wain 3alia?!"

He gave me an innocent shrug.

3bdulla: “Shdarany, I lost her because you kept on distracting me.”

Me: “Bullshit 3bdulla! Sho hai el m9a5a walla mb wagteh, that maniac stole his car!”

3bdulla: “She didn’t steal it. My God, lazm tshoofen shaklech.”

            He laughed lightly as he stole a peak at me. I couldn’t even answer him at that point. He was teasing me when I was ranting in full rage. Was I the only one who cared about anything anymore? I punched him on his shoulders and he glared at me.

3bdulla: "I was going to say how adorable you look when you're angry, but never mind."

He faced the empty highway and completely ignored my presence, and he knew I couldn't stand it when he did that. Ugggghhh... I attempted a softer tone when I spoke again. Attempted.

Me: "Ufff I'm sorry inzain, now will you please explain everything to me?"

He looked at me out of the corner of his eye.

3bdulla: "5ala9, 6ala3ty 7reyatch? Are you done PMS'ing about everything?"

I frowned at him and hissed the words out.

Me: "YES. Now stop this nonsense and tell me."

He shook his head.

3bdulla: "I married a mad woman."

He laughed, and even in my anger, I couldn't help but smile at his beautiful voice. I was truly lucky to have someone like him, who loved me even if I went a little crazy sometimes. Other people would usually just stare at me in shock, or give me some other similar reaction.

Me: "And she's the luckiest woman in the world."

I smiled at him, and he finally leaned back in his seat, slowed down even more in his relaxed position and started telling me all about Rashid's story, and how 3wash knew him all along and helped plan his ‘engagement’ to me. Everything. I was in complete shock. I couldn't believe that Rashid knew everything all along, all the things that we 'awanh' planned against him, all the things he had committed to to make sure I was out of Ahmad's reach. I suddenly felt a sisterly love towards him; I couldn't believe he even agreed to all of this. W ana 7a6'raty kaif radait 3alaih? I ranted at him and embarrassed him the whole time. Well, in my defense, he didn't have to take advantage of the situation either. Such a flirt walla :p

Me: "So, what is Sul6an's plan now?"

3bdulla: "Ma3rf. I honestly don't know. Ma ri9’a y5aber ay 7ad."

I frowned in frustration. What was going on with my brother?

3bdulla: "Latfakreen 3anh wayed. He knows what he's doing."

Me: "Does he?"

He paused.

3bdulla: "Sul6an may be reckless sometimes, bas he's not stupid. Especially when it comes to matters like this. And-"

Me: "He's probably done all his homework, I know."

And he was right. I was just overthinking the whole thing, but it eased me a little to know about Rashid's involvement and Ahmad's story with baba. Well, at least OUR side of it, not Ahmad's completely twisted version. Now the whole matter rested in Sul6an’s hands. The thing was, 3bdulla told me that I was safe, that baba had already made certain ‘arrangements’ to make sure this never happened again. So what was left for sul6an to negotiate with 3alia and her father?

To be continued…