I'm in so much trouble.

Nicholas swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling the sweat beads at the back of his neck. His body felt flushed, heated underneath the shining lights of their hotel room, blood pulsing in anticipation for what was to come.

He specifically requested this room, finding the small specks of fairy lights to be scintillating in their brilliance, illuminating the simplicity of beige and white drapes and sheets decorating their bed. They wrapped around the edges and curves of the ceiling, coiling around the lamps as the glowing string danced along the bed and around the room. 

He thought about dropping rose petals, but he didn't want Dina to feel pressured into anything tonight. Leather couches lined up against the wall, a balcony adjacent to the heavy curtains of privacy. He coveted a view of the city, a view of the bustling lives of ordinary people, a view of the thousands of lights that lit a canvas of darkness deep into the night. Their room was small in comparison to what affluent wealth would guarantee him.

Nicholas sat on the mattress, sinking into the cushion as if he was on a cloud, his wedding attire still cladded against his body. Sighing, he glanced at the bathroom door with an elevated beat to his heart rate. 

Dina was in there, humming to herself some tune he remembered from a Disney movie. He could almost imagine her dancing in the mirror as she stripped herself of the heavy garments of their Nikkah. Her voice sang the melody that lulled him deeper into her personality, into her irresistible charm.

Was she really his after all this time? It felt too surreal. 

"Dina, you can't spend forever in there," he chided playfully. 

"Shush, Nemo. You're interrupting my moment," she joked initially before erupting into small laughs. "I'll be out in a bit."

Nicholas loosened his tie, gently separating it from his body. I might as well change here, he thought. Dina's going to take forever anyway. Next, he tossed his blazer, followed by the untucking and unbuttoning of his dress shirt, which crinkled as the night went on.

He caught his reflection on a wall mirror, circular with gold embroidery decorating the edges, a piece so simple that elegance reigned from its intricate design. Nicholas almost chuckled at his unkempt appearance. 

His hair was disheveled into a mass of waves and curls like a wind ruffled through blonde strands, shirt completely unbuttoned and trousers still attached by a thick, leather belt. Nicholas's workouts with Humaid actually paid off, lean muscle formed around his abdomen, not enough to be considered a six-pack, but enough to be recognized as toned. The sleeves of his attire constricted the movement of his arms, a sign that his biceps grew in the past few months. 

Bright blue eyes stared back at him, covered by his glasses. Small hairs covered his jaw and chin now, tamed and visible. His facial hair was darker than the blonde of his head. 

Somehow, Humaid made the nerd in Nicholas look like a ruggard, intelligent businessman. 

Would Dina find him more attractive like this? Or am I too stereotypical now? He didn't look too different than before, not really. Same eyes, same jaw, same hair. Nicholas began to feel self-conscious, hating the mirror for its existence. His confidence slipped through the cracks of his insecurities, crippling him with anxiety.  

The door creaked open, and Nicholas swiftly turned on his heel. At the first sight of his wife, everything disappeared, her beauty more radiant, mesmerizing his senses till he was defenseless against the breathtaking smile of her lips.

Her hair, silky and black, long and flowing in waves behind her, the length ending at her waist. Side bangs partially covered her right eye, concealing the shyness that etched brown orbs of innocence. He melted under her gaze, warm with delight, nervous with anticipation. 

Nicholas's eyes hungrily savored her appearance. "You..." he trailed off, breathless. 

She wore a flimsy sweatshirt, gray and loose, yet hugging the curve of her hips with ease. Her casual sweatpants traced from her hips down to her slim legs. He clenched his hand into fists, finding it hard to control his hormones in her presence. Nicholas was losing his mind even though she was only wearing what she usually did. 

In his observations, he failed to notice how she also seemed entranced by his appearance. "Nick," she said softly, "your shirt."

He glanced down, chuckling. "Sorry, sweetheart. I was in the middle of changing."

Her brown eyes gleamed with jest. "Did I distract you?" she asked, walking towards him.

Nicholas took a step back. "I mean... yeah. Your hair... I just..." he stumbled for words as she continued stalking towards him; he felt like a prey. 

Khol still lined her eyes, dark, seductive, and mysterious, a perfect blend to rile lewd thoughts in him. They were hooded with confidence, hooded with the yearning to be with him, and Nicholas was far from prepared. Although it was unusual for the average American male to be untouched, he had never done more than just kiss a girl in his life. That was freshman year of high school and because of a dare. 

Suddenly, Dina's hands gripped his dress shirt. "If you were taking it off, then you might as well finish the job," she whispered, pushing it off his shoulders. "There you go."

He froze under her touch, not trusting himself. His control was hanging by a thread, one that was threatened by her heavenly scent of roses and vanilla. With the close proximity of his wife, he found it hard to think rationally. He couldn't breathe. 

Fuck you, anxiety. 

Dina noticed the tension in his neck, concern quickly gripping her as she held onto his arms. "Nick, what's wrong?" she asked, searching his eyes for an answer. "Did I do something wrong? I'm so-"

He shook his head, wrapping his arms around her waist till she was pressed against him. Dina yelped in surprise, a cute, red blush painting the gold of her cheeks, her sun-kissed skin burning under his touch, under his loving gaze. There she was, worrying about him like she always did, taking care of Nicholas when he didn't realize.

His head dipped to her ear, voice husky. "You did nothing wrong," he murmured. "I'm just not used to seeing you like this."

She pushed at his chest, pouting up at him. "But you've seen me in sweats before."

He chuckled, the knots in his stomach tightening at their playfulness. "Yeah, but not like this," he emphasized, gesturing to her hair.

Dina bit her lip, not realizing she was tempting him more. Her eyes dropped to his shirtless body, widening as she did her own exploring over every lean muscle in his body. He couldn't stand her wavering eyes, couldn't stand the temptation between them, couldn't fathom the need to hold her impossibly close to him. 

His finger tilted her chin upward, and Dina's eyes only widened, doe-like and surprised. "Stop looking at me like that," he warned pointedly. 

A smirk played at her lips. "You're my husband," she stated proudly. "I can stare at you however I want."

He raised a brow. "Is that so?" he played along. 

"One hundred percent."

Nicholas's heart hammered against his chest, his grip tightening around her waist. The soft feel of her body flushed against him, the pink, alluring gleam of her lips, the small gasps of surprise echoing in his ears ignited his body with desire. He wanted to pleasure her in ways she never thought to be possible, show her that he would be the only man to see her like that.

But his hesitation held him back.

That was until Dina's small hand found its way to his belt. 

----

LOL I'M HORRIBLE FOR THIS XD

I felt bad for keeping y'all hanging for two weeks. My exams are done, so weekly updates return (In Shaa Allah).

Also, the fiction awards are a thing, so if you guys wanted to nominate this book or any of my other books, you definitely should :) Go to thefictionawards 2019 book.

I usually go into more detail, but I'm tired and in a car right now. Message me or comment here if you need help.

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