I couldn't take my eyes off of him. The place where his hand touched my hips was burning and yet somehow, I felt cold shudders running through my entire body. After making me sit on the cold slab he came and stood between my legs. I could only gape at him bewitched, whose face was only inches away from mine. Staring unblinking, into his hazel green eyes that had dilated to a dark shade of green, until he blinked to brush away the hair falling on my face.

I could hear my heart thumping in my ears as I grasped at his shoulders. His raspy breath caressed my skin while I heaved for breath; wondering if there would ever be enough oxygen to fill my lungs. Just then, his lips closed the distance to mine, only to halt right that moment. His mouth hovering over mine, as if asking for permission. I hadn't anticipated this and yet, I gulped. My lips drawing apart slightly and even before I could close my eyes, my arms had moved up to snake around his neck while his lips had found mine.

It all happened so fast but neither of us wished to stop. I felt myself trembling with pleasure when he grabbed at my waist, pulling me closer to himself. His tongue plunging deeper into my mouth, exploring in a hurried passion. I couldn't catch a breath but I didn't care to. All I wanted was to move my mouth against his and fill myself with the taste of him.

I felt my breath getting hitched in my throat when his warm hands went under my shirt. However, instead of pulling away, I found myself moaning against his touch. My hand raked it's way up to his hair as he began trailing kisses down my neck, not stopping even whilst pulling off my shirt; leaving me naked and vulnerable. I thought, I would feel more embarrassed by so much exposure but all I cared in that moment was for him to not pull away, even for a fleeting second.

For a breathless moment, I gaped at his chest, panting heavily while trying to grab at the hem of his shirt with trembling hands. He let me work on it for a painfully long moment before putting an end to my misery and quickly pulling it off of his neck. Unconsciously, I inhaled a sharp breath. My eyes set over his chiseled chest as I grazed my fingertips along his skin caressingly. However, my attempts at assault were hampered when I heard a low groan rising from the back of his throat and once again I was pulled against his chest; skin to skin. His lips crashing against mine in a slow torturous kiss. Not breaking contact for even a moment he picked me by my hips, making me wrap my legs around him until we had reached over to the lounge. Dropping me onto the couch, with him on top of me.

Still between my legs, he looked up. His eyes burning with carnal desire. I looked away to run a finger tip across his sharp jaw line, only to crack out a moan when he bent over me again, tracing kisses further down my chest. I couldn't help but arch my back, feeling like my heart would give away any moment, if he didn't stop.

"Rayy—an—" I gasped out through tears stinging the corner of my eyes, my hands still trembling against his neck and my body blazing with his touch.

"—it hurts—" I quacked out with tears streaming down the side of my face and my hands buried in his hair. Immediately, he pulled away, startled.

"What—Where—?" He gaped at me with eyes widening and wandering towards my foot. I could see how hard he was trying to hold off his desire. I sniffed with a shake of head and closed my eyes. Whimpering, I pulled back my hand to touch against my neck.

"Ev—everywhere—I feel—so—" I still couldn't open my eyes and moaned from the pain of my heart thumping painfully against my chest. He said nothing for a few moments but I could hear his laboured breath against my heated skin, before he began to drop soft kisses down my belly, making me moan against him.

"Do you want me to stop, sweetheart?" He inquired without stopping; his voice raspy, laced with hunger. My response came in a groan as I raked a hand through his silky soft hair. It took a few more kisses before he finally pulled away.

"Okay baby?" He checked, pulling away slightly. His eyes glazing with pure lust. I hated that word but not so much from his mouth and before I could reply, he had pulled me into his lap. Holding me there, he rubbed circles on my back caressingly; while tracing the curve of my spine with his finger tips.

"Rayyan—it—hurts—so much—" I whimpered against the hollow of his neck, with my arms tightly wound around his neck. Without saying a single word he lulled me comfortingly in his safe embrace. A few minutes passed like this and after a while my breath began to even out; my heartbeat matching his.

Finally, he picked me up in his arms and carried me to his room. I watched him leave through hooded eyes while sitting on the bed where he had left me. Only moments later, he returned with my shirt in his hand which he helped me put on. Later, he spooned me while we slept.

———————————-

We were on our way to Granny and Grampa's house for the weekend, to celebrate their wedding anniversary. I watched Rayyan from the corner of my eyes and after prolonged contemplation, decided to ask him.

"Rayyan?" I inquired with a gulp, watching him whose one hand was holding the steering wheel and other carried his coffee mug. I always thought English people only drank tea—but seeing Rayyan obviously proves me wrong. His response came in a hum and he only looked at me to shoot me a small smile.

"Were you involved with someone?" I wondered if he might not understand what I meant but seeing how he was coughing up on his drink, gave me my answer.

That's why children, curiosity killed the cat.

With a click of tongue and a roll of eyes, I turned away to grab a napkin from the dashboard to hand him. He took it gratefully without meeting my eyes.

"—what—what do you mean—" A sharp glare from the corner of my eyes shut him right up.

"Do you mean, a girl?" His voice came unsure moments later and I felt my face flush; immediately beginning to regret my decision. Stupid, idiot Zaira.

"Ye-s—" I managed to quack out and turned slightly to catch a playful grin on his face. He was enjoying my torture. This jerk—!

"Why? Would that make you feel jealous, sweetheart?" I gulped impatiently at his words.

"—what even—" I turned to glare at him through narrowed eyes and a face burning with embarrassment.

He, on the other hand had put away his drink to caress soft circles on the inside of my thigh. The action was so unexpected and so delicious that I almost let out a moan but stopped myself just in time and thwarted his hand away with a light slap and menacing eyes.

"Ow." He pulled away with a face of betrayal and a puckering lower lip. Hmph. Serves him right. I thought turning my gaze back to the window.

"To answer your question....yes, I do have—Sorry.....Does this make you hate me?" He spoke in a small voice. Even though I knew, yet, him admitting it somehow made it worse. Turning to him, I mustered a small smile and shook my head.

"I can't judge you for your past mistakes—Not after you've reflected on them anyways—" My voice trailed off towards the end and I retuned my gaze back to the window.

"It happened after I came to the Haveli, for the last time—and when I—" He continued moments later and stopped with a sigh. I knew what he wanted to say.

"For a few months, I mixed with the wrong crowd and did a lot of wrong things—" He was saying when I cut him off.

"It's alright Rayyan—You don't owe me an explanation—" I attempted to say and caught a surprised look on his face.

"I may not—but I think, I want to." He remarked slowly, turning his gaze back to the road.

"It was around that time when Gramps took seriously ill. And I might've been the reason behind it. At that time, I got so scared that I might lose the only family I had. After seeing Mom and Dad die, I was horrified to lose them too. So, I promised Allah that I would mend my ways and begged Him to not to take them away from me—Alhumdulillah, Allah didn't shun me—" He ended with a small smile and I looked away, unable to see him carry on.

We both had our own scars to hide. It wasn't easy for either of us. We both had come this far after fighting veiled battles and yet to date, we still got judged by our mistakes. Maybe, because we both were similar in so many ways that we couldn't help but resonate with eachother. I still had long ways to go, before I could completely heal my broken heart and trust him fully. But maybe this could be a start.

With that thought, I took his free hand in mine and gave it a light squeeze before letting go.

—————————————-

"Oh!! I wanna hear it—!" After lunch we had sat down for some tea. I was enveloped in his embrace on the couch when Grampa began to tell his story of how he met Granny.

"Well, let's see. I was 16, I think? I grew up in a foster home—never knew my parents. I was a wild, unruly ruffian—always being thrown from one home to the other. Not until I met your Nanna—It was fate. Wasn't it, sweets?" Grampa cooed, taking Granny's shriveled hands and kissing the top of it. Granny turned away with a shy smile and placed her other hand atop his.

'They are so adorable, MashaAllah—' I thought and felt Rayyan press a kiss against my hair. I leaned against his chest, whose arms were wrapped around me with my hands in his grasp.

"One day, I got into a terrible fight—It was the worst. You sweet dearie, don't need to hear the gory details—" He continued unfazed and I almost chuckled out loud.

"—and that's when Baba found me. He took me to his house where I saw the most beautiful girl, I had ever laid eyes on—" Wasn't it similar for me? I thought, turning to glimpse at him who was watching them with an adorable smile on his face, while he traced light circles on the inside of my palm.

"At first, I was very angry at this pushy foreigner, who later I found, was an immigrant from Turkey. But since I was a grown man who had fallen in love at first sight—I decided to put in the toil. Years passed while, I worked at his restaurant. Baba Mehmet gave me love, honour and respect that I never even dreamt of possessing. I didn't know when, but I had slowly become part of this beautiful family. I still loved your Nanna a lot—but I didn't dare to glance up at her if she ever came in front of me. And before I knew it, I had taken shahadah—I was blessed beyond words. Allah o Akbar. Soon, I had gotten married to the love of my life—my Ayeshe. After Baba passed away, May Allah swt bless his beautiful soul—I took over the business and with Ayeshe's naseeb, we prospered beyond imagination. SubhanAllah—" Grampa was still going on, but I couldn't help but erase this itch that I didn't deserve this much happiness. I was scared that if I became any happier than this—

Just then, I felt his arms tightening around me.

"I don't have the words to thank Allah for making you a part of my life. I feel so blessed, Zaira." He murmured softly, brushing a kiss against my temple and alongwith it, taking away all my anxieties.

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