"You're the love that came without warning; you had my heart before I could say no."

Having a zero amount of interest in eating with Ajmal, yet I was driving to the restaurant. The way Asmat scared me with dating is a taboo thing that proved wrong in a few days as one of my classmates started dating Asmat's companion in the editorial department. I sure had glared at her.

Dating and me, in Pakistan, in my mother's country, wow.

I never thought dating would be allowed in Pakistan. But being here and seeing the university students dating. Being in relationships was news to me. The velocity at my culture was spreading in the east, surprised me. Girls prioritized western clothes over Pakistani clothes and the traditions too. It felt like all the stories and things I heard about Pakistan were a colossal lie. Here so much was like the west.

Pakistan had a tremendous diversity of skin colors that I had noticed in the university, and also variety in language, clothes, culture, and traditions. Until now, I had met a few Sindhi, Balochi, Pukhtoon, Hazara, and Chinese and Arab Turk students, who were here on an exchange program.

It would be a lie saying that I didn't love my university life. I mean, my BBA in American wasn't as exciting and new the way everything here was. And I wasn't attracted to a narcissist who only loved himself.

Shut up, Aaliyan ain't a narcissist. He's just busy!

My subconscious reasoned. I rolled my eyes.

My phone ringing on the dashboard distracted me. Decreasing the volume of the blaring music, without seeing who was calling, I answered the phone.

"You're not home?" Aaliyan's worried voice filled my right ear. Think of the narcissist!

"No," I frowned. Why this concern now?

"Where are you?"

"I'm going on a date with Ajmal Khan," I said, a devilish smirk lingering to my lips. Not letting him say anything, I hung up. I wished for him to be jealous because the thought of a jealous Aaliyan was pleasing. I smiled, my fingers dancing on the steering wheel as I increased pressure on the exhilarator.

Drowned in my thoughts, I parked my car in the lot and walked inside the restaurant. My irritation was growing as I thought about the call I just had. I was angry at Aaliyan Haider for not giving me the attention I was used to.

A waiter led me to my table. It was in the farthest corner near the railing of the dining area under the sky. The light fog covered the dining area making it more fascinating.

People, family, friends, tourists who seemed Asian and European were seated on the brown wooden chairs. Eating from their plates, they chatted and laughed. Enjoying the weather and the magnificent view of the entire city. The shining yellow and blue lights decorated and enhanced the magnificence of the town much more. The city looked too small from where I was seated, but the beautiful view refreshed my soul. The hills surrounding the restaurant lovingly as a caring mother. It gave me a feeling of kingliness like I could do anything.

I had reserved the table the day I asked Ajmal on a date. I didn't know I'd go on this date in a foul mood, but I couldn't have known I would go on a date with Ajmal at all.

I felt glamorous dressed in a gray gown, my hair curled into a bun and enough make-up without overdoing it. My favorite flower-shaped diamond studs decorated my earlobes, and my feet were squeezed into the silver heels that brought out my skin tone.

I ordered a fruit cocktail while I waited for Ajmal to show up. There was a rumor circulating that Ajmal never arrived at a date on time, but who the hell cared? Fuming at myself mentally for coming here, I secretly prayed that something happened to Ajmal and he wouldn't show up.

A soft song played in the background, taking sips from the cold liquid that left a burning trail in my throat and chest. Not getting a damn thing the female voice sang yet, I listened to the soft music through loud noises of the patrons and the clatters of the restaurant staff.

"Uh-hmm," someone cleared their throat. I turned my attention towards them and was stunned to see Aaliyan standing there. My eyes widened, and my breath hitched.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I was in a rage-filled astonishment, my blood flow increased to my neck and face.

"I'm on a date. Ajmal couldn't make it, so he sent me instead," he grinned, saying like this was a normal thing to happen when your date stood you up.

I glowered at him. "Where is Ajmal?"

"I don't know." He shook his head, an innocent smile decorated on his lips.

I stood up, "You know what? I'm leaving," snapping at him, I grabbed my clutch from the table. I had taken several steps before a hand gripped my shoulder to stop me. I froze in my place and heard Aaliyan take a sharp breath.

What the holy shit?

I jerked his hands and took a step. Moving away didn't stop him. His hands found their way back onto my shoulders again and held me firm on the spot, causing my face to go red with fury.

He came closer, so close that now my back was touching the front of his body. It wasn't blood that circulated in my body; it was burning electricity.

"Aaliyan," I whispered, my heart about to burst. "People are watching," I breathed, my words shaking with rage, and the butterflies went wild in my stomach.

"Yeah," his voice had a smirk, trying hard to irk me, though his hands pulled away.

"Come, Musca, sit," he commanded as he pulled out a chair for me.

I obliged, my breathing still uneven. I glanced at him when he took a seat across the table from me. He looked dashing in the gray suit that fit him perfectly. Showing off his muscles, his hair ruffled and messy from the interminable day he no doubts had. He had black circles under his eyes, and his face was flushed. He looked burned out in a kinda hot way.

"Didn't-" he yelled, startling me, and causing people to turn towards us, hushing Aaliyan promptly.

"Didn't you feel any shame-" he cut himself off and took a sharp breath. "Going out with Ajmal Khan?" He bent a little over the table and whispered dangerously low, "Didn't you think of me?"

I lowered my face. Aaliyan parted his lips to say something more venomous, but the waiter came to my rescue. I cleared my throat and mumbled my order to him. Aaliyan signaled him to shove off, his eyes boring into me.

Swallow me, earth!

"I didn't..." I couldn't talk. My heartbeat was faster than ever, and my stomach was clenching weirdly. I was a little terrorized by his dangerously powerful presence. It wasn't like I broke his rules, but remorse emerged in my heart like a blooming anemone.

"Shut up!" his words coming out louder than he was expecting.

I swallowed. I did nothing wrong. I intended to hang out with a friend of mine who happened to be an attractive male. How could he just... ugh?

My face heated and grew red with anger. "No! You shut up! I was here for dinner with my friend."

"Yeah." He nodded sarcastically. "Don't you have any common sense? He could have taken advantage of you."

"He can't be like that," I gritted my teeth so harshly, a sting went through in the nerves of my teeth.

"Uh-huh?" he hummed, refusing to believe me.

I took a deep breath and looked away, clamping my lips between my teeth. I breathed and turned my face towards him. He was gazing at me the same way.

"How... why are you here? Where is Ajmal?" I questioned, irritated with him who had spoiled my evening. It was not like I was eager to dine with Ajmal. Even if I ate alone, I didn't want him to anger me with his presence after so many days of ignoring me.

He shot me a death glare. The nerve on his jaw pulsed, and his olive skin was flushed from all the fury he was controlling.

The tension between us lingered in the air.

"Just answer me!" I was fed up with his refusals.

"I..." he paused and took a deep breath to reign over his rage. "I threatened him not to appear, or I'd break his legs."

My jaw dropped open. "That's a cheap attempt."

We both fell silent for a while.

"What if he tried to do something to you?" he said, his tone was filled with an angry concern "What if-"

"I'd have broken every bone in his body," I muttered with a firm voice, looking into his angry eyes. "And I believe in my self-defense skills, so plea-"

The waiter arrived with food, interrupting me. I gazed down at my plate, beginning to eat in silence because I was in no mood to argue with him anymore.

He loosened his tie with aggression and dragged my plate to his side. I frowned at him. He dug in my food, enjoying the taste.

He extended the fork towards me. "Eat."

I opened my mouth, taking the chicken piece in my mouth, blazing fire at him with my stare. He gave the favor back with the same feistiness. He kept eating, giving me one bite every time he ate one.

We ate our entire dinner that way. I was to pay the bill when he put his money on the menu card.

"I will pay," I barked, irritation flooding my voice.

"We Pakistanis are not low like Americans." My jaw dropped at his insult to my country. "We never let our woman pay the bill."

"That's why you Pakistani men are so penurious," I said with a smug look on my face. He stood up, shaking his head while giving me a dangerous glare. We walked silently until I stopped.

"What?" he halted and snapped.

"Where were you all these days?" I asked in the same way.

"I had some work from the office."

"The office...yeah, I get it," I said sarcastically and stepped forward. He explained nothing; he just walked beside me to the parking lot with an annoyed face.

"Why did you come here?" I asked as we neared my car.

"I can't tolerate you being with any other man," he said in irritation.

My heart skipped a beat, not at his words, but the way they sounded so genuine. "Why?" I questioned, my voice filled with curiosity.

"Because you're my...mine." he barked, his hands balling at his sides as he imagined me with another man.

"I'm not the only one who's yours." I couldn't comprehend why, but my voice was bursting with anger.

"Oh, look, who's jealous?" He smirked at me sinisterly.

"Your pussy!" I shouted, adrenaline surging through my veins and my jealousy touching the peaks. "But oh, sorry, you don't have one." I saw smoke coming out of his ears and nose. "I wish you had one so I could give a fuck for you, 'cause honestly you deserve one. . ."

"Musca, stop disrespecting me. I am tellin-" As soon as the words tumbled out of his mouth, I smashed my lips against his delicious ones. For a second, I couldn't even believe myself, but I saw his eyes closing. I moved my lips against his, and I didn't know who's soul had gone inside Aaliyan, because he copied my movements. Aaliyan Haider is kissing me!

"Musca. . ." he mumbled against my lips as he yanked himself back which seemed like a brief second.

If I said I was dizzy and couldn't see a thing, it would not be a lie. Because, after what happened, I only saw stars. My mind couldn't summon up how we got into the car, but we eventually did. Aaliyan sat in the driving seat. I was in no condition to drive with my hazy mind.

The first thing I did was grab him by his tie. He pulled away immediately, making me stare into his eyes of gold, watching them grow dark with longing. I grabbed his jaw, intending so much more.

"Musca, why did you do that?" he rumbled, pulling away. "No!"

"Aaliyan!" I answered with the same urgency. "Yes."

"No!" He was shaking his head.

"Yes."

"We should go."

"No..."

"Yes," he said harshly. I was breathing heavily, so was Aaliyan. We kept still for a while until our breathing was even again. "This is your first time kissing someone, right?" I mumbled, dazed, and high.

He nodded, gulping, his face flushed. I couldn't believe this man who had the power to break someone's legs, was acting so shy.

"I don't believe that," I shouted.

"Why?"

"You, my lord, kiss like a Casanova." I had lost control of my pitch.

His low, husky chortle was something to die for.

"I did it on instinct." He blushed, lowering his eyes, comprehending what he said. His beautiful olive skin with a pink blush, eyes lowered, those thick eyelashes. How am I supposed to control myself around this man?

"Why so flushed?" I murmured, smirking.

"Shouldn't I be, when you're so close to me in this confined place?" He raised his eyebrows at me. His every action spoke about his dislike about what happened.

I let out a terse laugh, leaned closer, and pressed my lips on his neck. I could hear him breathe sharply. I snuggled up into his chest, even if it was an uncomfortable position. I was the most comfortable. Closing my eyes, feeling the warmth of his strong body, and listening to his heartbeat. The most peaceful sound! When was the last time I felt like this? Never.

I inhaled, breathing in his invigorating scent. "You smell divine, Aaliyan," I mumbled against his chest.

That was a signal for him to yet again push me away. "You're an evil woman, you know?"

"I intend to please you, my lord."

"Your mischievous intentions will be the death of me, my lady."

I closed my eyes and put my head back on the seat. My eyelashes were too heavy to open my eyes, whether from not sleeping much these past days or his enticing scent surrounding me, I wasn't sure.

The last thing I remembered before drifting off to sleep was something Aaliyan was mumbling in Urdu.

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