by Eve Rabi
His erection is rock-hard and just perfect. Kicking off my panties, I swing my legs onto his shoulders. With raised hips, I say, “Fuck me, baby.”
His thrusts are strong and deep – exactly what I need, and I can’t get enough of him. He flips me around and takes me from behind, then from the side. He’s in total control tonight and that works for me – I climax first.
Then, it’s his turn. “Megan! Oh, Megan!” he cries as he bursts inside me.
Spent, we hold each other’s sweaty bodies and look into each other’s eyes. We kiss tenderly.
“I love you,” he whispers as he buries his face in my hair. “I love you. I shouldn’t, but I’m sick, I’m nuts – I still love you. God, I love you so much!”
My heart sings at his words.
“I love you, Reed.” I say. “I could never stop loving you. I love you so much.”
***
Christmas day is chaotic but fun, as usual. Time to bring out the presents. I have great fun giving mine to Wyatt. Reed shows him how to rip off the wrappers and he becomes a demon at it. I take photos and videos and laugh the whole time.
Then, I give Reed his gift. A Rolex wristwatch that reminds me of a big tire. Big, ugly stuff that he likes.
“Wow! This is cool,” he says. “You were expecting me?”
I shake my head. “Bought it a while ago and it was in the bag with all the other presents.
“Your turn,” he says and hands me a huge box.
“You bought me a present?”
He nods. “Open it.”
With eyes lit up, I unwrap. Then unwrap, then unwrap, then unwrap, only to find box after box?
“What the hell …?”
“Keep unwrapping,” he says.
I do and when I finally open the last box, I gasp and put my hand to my mouth. “Reed! Oh my God!” It’s a gold heart-shaped locket with a picture of the three of us inside it. Just like in my dream, my fantasy. I get all choked up.
“Hey! Hey! Hey! Stop being such a cry baby,” he says. “It’s supposed to make you joyful and triumphant.”
“It does,” I say and cry into his chest. “You remembered. It was so long ago that I told you my dream and you remembered and you … I love you so much.”
“I, too, bought it a while ago,” he says as he holds me tight. “Wanted to make your dream come true.”
Wyatt sees the two of us holding each other and puts out his arms. Reed scoops him up and the three of us hug.
Suddenly, it dawns on me that my dream for us to spend Christmas as a family has been realized. Despite all the hurdles, all the pain, all the tears we’ve experienced over the last couple of months, we are together at Christmas.
What a beautiful Christmas it is.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Abeeda stands in front of me, arms akimbo, claws unsheathed.
“You slut! You whore! You …”
“Hey, fuck off!” I say, resisting the urge to punch her in the mug. “Don’t you call me that!”
“It’s because of you he’s postponed the wedding! He postponed it!”
“Yeah, well, you’re pregnant …”
“Everyone makes mistakes!” she says. “It wasn’t my fault! Don’t you accuse me of lying! Mistakes happen.”
“What the hell?!” I stare at her. My eyes move to her stomach.
“What did he tell you? Huh? What? What? Tell me. He told you that I lied? That wasn’t true – I didn’t lie! I thought I was pregnant!”
“You’re not pregnant?”
“Anyone can make a mistake like that,” she argues. “What did he tell you? Were you laughing behind my back?”
Stunned by what I’m hearing, I say, “Abeeda, calm down. Reed didn’t tell me any –”
“Reedwan! His name is REEDWAN!” She is so enraged, I literally back away. “Let me tell you something – men like Reedwan don’t marry women like you – they marry women like me. Just you watch and see.”
“Yeah? You confident about that? You don’t seem like it. I mean, look at you. You’re coming apart.”
“You … you think because of your giggling and seductive glances, he’s going to fold? He has more sense than that. You’re dealing with a mature man, not a boy. The wedding will take place. Soon! You’re just a distraction. A temporary one.”
“Yeah, the distraction he gave everything up for – his country, his family, and everything he owns, and risked his life just to be with me. Reed’s in love with me and I love him. Get that into your thick skull.”
“I’m warning you, I will tell him everything! Then you’ll be sorry, cos we’ll be saying goodbye to you. Reedwan – he’s not an idiot. He’s not going to hear all of this and just sit back and wait for something to happen. He’s going to be concerned about Wyatt, himself … so many things. And me – I’m going to be there to help, show him the way, and ease him back into a proper family life. I’ve already made tentative arrangements for us to live in Kuwait. My family is there; they’re expecting me and my husband. Once we’re there, you’ll just be a distant memory and I’ll be his wife, his only family. There’s so many distractions – getting a job, finding a place of our own, getting Wyatt in a good daycare – there’ll really be no time to think of you.”
Her threats send chills down my spine.
“You back off, or I’ll tell him. I mean it.”
I think of Christmas and how Reed held me in his arms and confessed his love for me. I think of all I’ve been through with her and how much I’ve lost out on because of her.
“Tell him,” I say.
She stares at me. Not the response she was expecting.
“This torture stake I’ve been carrying – it’s too much. Tell him.”
Uncertainty flickers in her eyes. “I … he’ll leave America …”
“Tell him, but remember, you’ll be exposed for who you really are. Both of us may emerge the losers here. I’m tired of you and your threats. So, you either tell him, or shut the fuck up.”
“Tell me what?” Reed’s voice booms.
Abeeda and I freeze.
“Reed! How… how long have you been listening?” My voice is shaky.
Reed ignores me and looks at Abeeda. “Tell me what?”
“Eh … I … eh …”Abeeda throws me a pleading look.
“Abeeda, tell me.”
“Tell him, Abeeda. I’m worn out with all of this. I’m so tired of all these … these … lies and blackmail and …” I sigh. “Whatever happens – happens.” I pick up my bag and walk toward the door.
Reed grabs my arm and jerks me back. “Stay!” he growls, then turns to Abeeda. “I’m waiting. Tell me.”
Abeeda takes a deep breath. “I … she … Damien … he found out about your past … Iraq … you and Meg … her … he had surveillance or something on you both, and … and he threatened to send you to prison ...”
Reed’s head jerks to look at me. “What?!” His fingers dig into my flesh.
I dare not meet his gaze, but he nudges me, forcing me to raise my eyes to his. “I don’t believe it! Why didn’t you tell me this, Megan? Huh?”
My heart sinks at his reaction.
“Talk to me, woman!”
“Reed, he was going to leave you alone if I gave you up, and I did … like, for a while. I tried to protect you, so I left and tried to give him everything he wanted, just so … so I could be with you two – well, eventually. I had to agree to the interviews, the book …”
Reed glares at me, then loosens his grip on my arm.
“I confided in Abeeda. She told me that she was going to help with Wyatt – help you guys out to ease the pain. But she helped all right,” I glare at her. “Helped herself to my life!”
Abeeda purses her lips and rolls her eyes.
“She blackmailed me, kept me at bay, by threatening to tell you about Damien’s threats. She said that you and her and Wyatt would leave America and just disappear. Out of my life. I couldn’t let that happen, Reed. It was …” I s
hrug off his arm and sink into a chair.
“I … I waited so long for Wyatt. How was I to let her take you guys away, Reed? You t … tell me? Huh?”
Reed listens without interrupting.
I wipe tears with the back of my hand and sniff loudly. “You’d have done the same thing, Reed. You’d have backed off till you were able to work things out.”
Reed looks at Abeeda, then at me. If only I knew what was running through his mind right now.
“Reed, on one end, I had Damien threatening you and me with imprisonment if I didn’t return, and on the other end, I had Abeeda, my so-called friend, blackmailing me to stay away. What chance did I have? You would have done the same thing as I, Reed. You would have. I know that for sure.”
He blinks rapidly as he listens.
“Damien wasn’t the only one who cashed in on the situation – she did too. She paid for my wedding dress because …”
“What?! Your wedding dress? Why …?”
“It was so expensive and … I loved it, Reed, so she … she offered to buy it for me, and I was going to pay her for it but … she took it, Reed. For herself. I could only stand and watch her take away dream after dream of mine.”
Reed looks at Abeeda with raised eyebrows.
“But, Reedwan, I love you!” Abeeda cries. “I didn’t want anything happening to you.”
“Abeeda, don’t say that!” Reed snaps. “If you truly loved me, you would have told me.”
I feel a tad better at his words.
“But I was only trying to protect you, Reedwan!” Abeeda begs. “Everything that happened was because of HER! She’s trouble, don’t you get it? You need to get this woman out of your life, Reedwan! Think of Wyatt. It’s not about you anymore. You are responsible for another person now. Think about it.”
With dismay, I watch him nod his agreement. “You’re right, Abeeda. I totally agree with you.”
Abeeda’s shoulders drop with relief and she shoots me a triumphant look.
I want to cry with disappointment. “You know what, Reed – you want me to leave, I’ll leave. But remember why you postponed the wedding. Remember why you drove all the way to see me at Christmas just to give me Wyatt? Remember how you felt that night in my arms?”
“Don’t listen to her, Reedwan! She’s delusional.”
“Remember how you felt when you were buying me the locket. Think of all those things and then if you still want to live your life without me, I’ll vamoose. Just like that.”
He shakes his head. “Megan …”
“I’ve fought for you, not because I can get something out of you, but because I loved you. I gave you up to protect you. I love you enough to be hurt rather than hurt you. The only way we can get over each other Reed, is death. Sounds dramatic, yeah, but … I bet you’re nodding inside.”
He looks away.
“But, I’m tired of fighting, Reed. I’m spent.”
Drained by this drama, I slowly pick up my bag. “Love shouldn’t have to be that hard. It’s been hard on me.” I walk to the door. “So goddamn hard!”
He follows me. I open the door. He puts his hand on mine. I look at him questioningly.
“I don’t want you to go.”
Surprised at his words, I look past him at Abeeda.
“Reedwan, let her go!” Abeeda screeches. “It’s time she left and took all her poison with!”
Reed looks at Abeeda, then at me. For a moment, it looks like he’s considering it.
“Kitt, this is huge. I’m reeling from all I’ve heard. But,” he smiles and nods several times, “I’m stoked to hear you never stopped loving me and that you didn’t chase dollars. This is ... this is huge.”
Encouraged by both his smile and his words, I slowly I release the door. Reed stares at me, every now and then nodding, as if he’s having a conversation with himself.
“Reedwan, what are you thinking?” Abeeda demands.
“I’m thinking … see, I love her, Abeeda. I shouldn’t, but I do.”
Did I hear right?
“Reedwan! How dare you say that?”
“Now that I know the truth, I love her even more, Abeeda. I’m really sorry but –”
“Aaaarggghhh!!” Abeeda throws her hands in the air in exasperation.
“She must have been through hell to protect me,” he says and looks at me. “You’re trouble.”
I bite my bottom lip and nod. For a while he just looks at me with eyes like slits, and I wish to God I knew what is going on in his head. Then, he opens his arms to me. With an anguished cry, I fly into them. He crushes me to him.
“I love you, Reed. I love you so much.”
“This is FUCKING BULLSHIT!” Abeeda screams as she swipes a vase onto the floor and storms out of the apartment.
Both Reed and I look at her startled, never having heard her curse like this before.
“You should have trusted me,” Reed whispers as he hugs me to him. “You should have.”
“Reed, I didn’t dare. You would’ve confronted him and I just couldn’t put your life in that kind of danger, Reed. You don’t know what he’s capable of. Remember Mahmood?”
“Yes …?”
“He killed him!” Briefly, I tell him about Mahmood’s death.
Reed appears shocked. “But he saved my life and yours and he …”
“I know. I kept telling Damien, but he didn’t give a fig.”
“I’m in danger then,” Reed murmurs.
“Yes.” What else can I possibly say?
He nods slowly and studies the carpet. After a moment he looks at me. “So, you’ve never slept with …?”
“Never!”
He exhales loudly and places his hands on either side of my face. “We’ll handle this together, okay, baby?”
Thrilled with his words, I place my weary forehead on his chest. At last.
“But go home now, because I need to go after Abeeda.”
With a hurried kiss, I leave the apartment, feeling like I’ve reached the top of Everest with a flag in my hand. Abeeda’s plan to tell all and oust me forever backfired.
But it could have gone the other way.
I’m lucky.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
It’s morning. The sun is shining, my step is light, and I’m humming “I’m Walking On Sunshine.” That’s because my two precious boys are waiting for me at our apartment.
“Hello, my darling boys!” I call out as I breeze in.
When Reed sees me, he lifts up the bed covers. I dive under them and cuddle with him.
“For months, I believed you left because you didn’t love me enough. But now, I feel so sure about you – about things in general. Crazy, eh?”
“Silly boy, how could I stop loving you?”
He scratches his head. “The crap I put you through!”
“The fuck you did. You were such an asshole.”
His grin widens as he kisses me. “You know, Kitt, even though I was mad at you, I just couldn’t get you out of my mind. I thought about you all the time. After the sex on the bedroom floor, I was totally yours. You scrambled my brain and turned me into such a weakling. It came to a stage where I was actually scared to be alone with you, in case you touched me – just your touch ignited so many memories.”
“That can’t be true,” I say and run my hands lightly over his crotch. “You sleep with a banana in your pocket?”
“Okay, you asked for it!” He climbs over me and has his way with me. Not that I mind.
Our romp is interrupted by his ringing phone. Caller ID shows Abeeda.
Reed sighs. “She’s been phoning me all night.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I told her that I was sorry. Look, Megan, I never loved her. She did take advantage of the situation and I guess I just accepted her lead. It’s my fault too, and now I feel really bad. And she’s been really good to Wyatt, treated him like her own.”
“True.”
“Well, now she wants to see
him. Wants to come around to visit him. How can I say no?”
“Well, I kinda understand she misses Wyatt, so I guess I don’t mind her seeing him. It’s just that she’s way too manipulative and that makes me hesitant, scared. I don’t want you changing your mind and giving me the boot now.”
“No, no, no, no,” he says. “You’re stuck with me.”
I smile.
For a while, we lie in silence wondering what to do about Abeeda.
“What happened about her pregnancy, Reed?”
“It was a blighted ovum.”
“Aw, come on!”
“It happens! I guess she mistook it for a pregnancy.”
“Mff. Sounds kinda fishy to me.”
“Close your eyes,” he suddenly says.
I close my eyes.
“Put out your hand ...”
I put out my hand.
“The other hand ... “
I put out my left hand.
“Open your eyes,” he says as he slips something on my finger.
I open my eyes and gasp. “My ring! Oh my God! I didn’t think I’d ever get it back!”
“This must never come off, okay?” he says. “You are now my wife!”
“Oh my God! Oh my God!”
“I had to find this ring. It was very important that I get it back, so I took a flashlight and went searching for it. Searched desperately for two days! When I eventually found it, I could hardly believe my luck. I kept it – I don’t know why. Just did. I’m glad I did now.”
***
Life with my two boys is sweet and we quickly settle into a routine. No Abeeda hovering her sword of blackmail over me. I’m smiling all the time and Reed is relaxed and happy. Right now, nothing can bring us down. Not after all the crap we’ve been through.
As I don’t want to alert Damien, I try my best not to draw attention to my newfound happiness. Or my re-found happiness.
But as the weeks turn to months, Reed wants more of me and he becomes irritable whenever I have to leave in the evenings, or whenever I have to be away on an interview or photo shoot. We argue a lot these days.
“Be patient, honey,” I say. “Everything will work out soon.” I silently cling to hope.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I live in fear of it happening again – you saying goodbye to me, Kitt.”