He lifts me off the ground and kneels in front of me, unbuckling my belt, pulling my leggings, ripping them off along with my panties.
I kick the high heels into the corner of the bathroom and with shaking fingers, I undo my shirt and my tunic.
He and I are naked, facing each other.
Nahan in a single movement carries me in his arms to the bathroom sink.
Between us there are no words, they are empty before the intoxicating, primitive need of possession, the perfect language of our bodies coming together.
I open my thighs and he kneels between my legs and licks my pussy, anxious, drenched by the need to be filled.
His tongue circles my clit and reaches the right point of my pleasure, I enjoy ... Exhaling myself in fluids on his tongue.
Nahan fits between my legs and brings my hips against his, he opens my vaginal lips with his fingers and slowly inserts the hard-hot stick inside of me, piercing my sex.
His hands caress my sensitive breasts and he rummages around like a lecherous demon, pounding and stocking, pounding and stocking, pumping his penis into the back of my vagina until it makes me crumble all over.
I cling to his shoulders as if that was my last breath of life, Nahan kisses me, making back and forth movements with his tongue as if he fucked my mouth.
Our pleasure is near, very close, he lashes against my sex once more and I shatter in enjoyment, squeezing Nahan's cock that he also enjoys, getting lost in the folds of my sex.
Nahan puts his cold forehead on mine, we're both panting, still lost in the force of that moment.
He hugs me and squeezes me close to him, as if he does not want to let me escape, and sobs ... he cries copiously without resisting, letting the tears purify his body, wash his soul.
And I also cry, I cry for my love’s suffering, surely Nahan today relived all the pain of the loss of his wife and daughter, I kiss his eyes and his mouth more softly because of the cry.
He gives me a sad smile and reciprocates the kisses, catching me on my lap.
-I love you, Bianca, promise you'll never leave me, Ms. Tarif?
-I promise, but only if you never leave me either.
He carries me to the bathtub, gives me his hand to sit down, sits behind me and brings my body close to his.
-Then we have an agreement, Bianca.
Nahan bathes me, cleansing my skin and the fluids of our enjoyment between my legs, and I just allow myself to relax in the water for a few moments, in a comfortable silence, next to my man, who thanks to the skies is here with me, Safe and sound.
We had dinner in a milder atmosphere and before we went to sleep Nahan curled up and said:
- The attack was meant for me, today I understood that the target was never my family but me, it was me they wanted to kill all along. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. This crime was committed because of me, Bianca. Tomorrow I will go back to Manama and end this conspiracy, or I will not call myself Nahan Asi Tarif.
We sleep with the most appeased hearts, grateful to the heavens for being alive and together.
Tomorrow will be a long day, I only ask God to protect my husband from these venomous snakes, because Nahan will not settle down until he gets rid of that scum that has rotted his government.
I woke up with Nahan waking me up early.
- Halawi, get ready soon, we have to go back, I don’t want them to know that we're alive and that we're back, so we'll take a shortcut to Manama.
I did my morning hygiene quickly and arrived in the room, ready to leave.
Nahan talks quickly to the driver and three security guards, explaining the path we will follow.
We arrived in Manama before dusk, and Thurayya was waiting for us in the palace.
As soon as she saw us, she hurried down the stairs and came to hug us, all tearful.
-Don’t ever give me such a fright, ever again, boy, I'm too old for these things. Until Jafar explained to me what was happening, I almost died thinking that you were hit in the blast.
Nahan reassured her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
-We had to stay at Al Raif's house, it's okay, Mom.
Thura smiled gladly to hear him call her mother, snuggling into his chest.
-Thanks to Allah, my son. Come on Bianca, I imagine you have not eaten yet.
-I didn’t Thura, but I know you kept those delicious cakes for me, didn’ you?
-Sure darling, come with me, you must feed my grandson.
I joked with her, provoking her:
-And if it’s a granddaughter, will you not like my baby?
-Of course, I'm going to love her, she’s going to be my little princess.
Nahan asked Thurayya for Jafar.
-Where is Jafar, Thura?
-He's in the office, having a meeting with Karim.
I opened the door to the office, Jafar and Dad jumped up, coming to hug me nervously.
-What a scare, Nahan, your mother and I almost died of fright, what was that?
I told them how the explosion happened, and the news I had from Youssef, Jafar handed me the dossier that Youssef sent by email and after reading all the details, Jafar called the office and learned through Semira, my Secretary, that in a half hour there will be a private meeting in my office.
Curses, surely this meeting must be to conspire against Jafar, my prime minister, and to commemorate my "death."
-Jafar, are you ready?
- Yes! We'll go to the office: You, me, and three other men of my confidence, we'll take him by surprise.
I went up to my room and took a quick shower, put on another bath, and followed Jafar and Dad to the Bahrain Palace, the government’s headquarters.
I met Semira at the reception desk and after her initial shock, because she also thought I was dead, I asked her not to splurge and take us to my antechamber. My office was already closed, Semira said frightened:
-He said not to be interrupted by anyone, or he'll kick me out of here.
-I'm going to get this unhappy man out of my chair, thank you, Semira.
We entered the antechamber, silent and as soon as the door closed, I could hear them commemorating my death.
-You were a genius to tell him to go in a separate car, by this time the foreign slut must have cried rivers of tears over the death of her wretched king. Many thanks Sayd, for pointing me as the prime minister again, I will not betray your confidence.
-I hope you will not betray me, Mohammed, for I am not merciful like Nahan, the fool. If you think of betraying me, I'll blast you to pieces, just like I did with the Tarif family. Now this country will return to the tracks, the Harmeds will have the power, as it should have been for years. Send Semira to bring more champagne, even being out of customs, today I will afford to drink to celebrate, today is a historic day for our country, for the first time Bahrain will have a ruler to his height. Send posters with my face and spread all over Bahrain, write down the words and go to our marketing service: Sheikh Sayd Harmed, a new time for Bahrain.
The rage takes me rampantly, I open the door of the antechamber and I find Sayd sitting in my chair, with his legs on the table, drinking a glass of champagne, next to Mohamed.
He jumps to his feet and stutters, trying to find the words.
-Nahan, did you survive this terrible attack? What a happiness, Allah protected you, my friend.
Jafar, Dad and a security guard come into the room and I have them lock the door.
-You bastard, damn you, you killed my family just to take power, I'll have the pleasure of watching your blood pour into the public square, you're going to be stoned Sayd, but before that, I've got things to settle with you.
I grab the coward by the collar and he moans in pain as he receives a punch in the middle of his chin, then another and another.
Sayd pushes me with a kick and takes a dagger out of his toe pocket.
He leaves furiously on top of me, giving a demonic scream.
-Die your wretch.
&nbs
p; The crack of a dry shot echoes through the room, a single shot, Sayd staggers holding his bleeding chest and falls to the ground kneeling.
My father, sheikh Karim, approaches Sayd with the pistol in his hand and pushes him with a kick.
-You die, damn you, stay away from my children.
Mohamed tries to open the door and Jafar grabs him with a wrench, shouting at the security guard:
-Handcuff him and get this shit out of here, the maggot will never see the light of day again.
Mohamed left the room, begging for mercy.
- Nahan, byaallah, I can explain, he forced me to do all this, Nahan, Nahan, please, I can’t be arrested.
I threw my body into my chair, still not feeling my legs, the palace security, was dragging Sayd's inert body from my living room.
Jafar approaches me and I get up, hugging him tightly.
My father looks at us without knowing how to act, Jafar and I go towards him and embrace him for the first time as father and children.
Karim gave me life twice, if it were not for him to defend me, Sayd would have stabbed me.
Dad cries, hugging me and Jafar and I kiss his wrinkled forehead affectionately.
- Thanks Dad.
Dad kisses Jafar's face and mine, saying,
-No problem, as long as I'm alive, no one messes with my children.
I can’t claim much from fate, I have won life again and she beckons me with a future of happiness, I have at my side everything I need to be really happy: a loving mother, a protective father, my beloved wife, my worshiped child and two dear brothers. What more could I want? Just to thank Allah for this blessing.
EPILOGUE
SIX MONTHS LATER
THURAYYA ABDUL
I find it curious how life leads us to such unexpected ways, I am 65 years old, I have seen and experienced so many moments, so many pains and joys, but still I am surprised by the turns that the world takes. When I went to that Christmas party in Qatar, still a girl, certain that everything in life was beautiful and perfect, I could never imagine that I would meet the great love of my life. Karim showed up in that ballroom like an appearance, thin, awkward, but with an imposing, a man's own grace, in the skin of a boy.
Our gazes met at the sound of the piano and I could not deflect, defend myself, he approached me and invited me to walk in the garden, I knew it was wrong to accept his invitation, a virtuous woman should not be alone with a man, but touch of desire contaminated me and I went ... I took the risk. We danced in the gardens, having the stars as a witness. And between comings and goings, more than thirty years have passed and I find myself here again, enchanted, drunk, by the same man.
Bianca finishes my makeup and Sapphira puts on the diamonds and pearls necklace, that I got as a gift from my love. Bianca approaches with my veil and covers my head and my face, wiping the tears, I rebuke her, kissing her hands.
- Don’t cry Malika Bianca, it will erase your makeup too.
She replies me spoiled:
- Ah! Let me cry your old grumpy. You look beautiful Thurayya, guess who came to see you?
I turn toward the door and Queen Antonia enters my room. She comes up to me and looks at me admiringly, takes a handkerchief from her purse and wipes her eyes, then makes an ugly face at Bianca.
-Bianca, how can you be so long in Bahrain, and not know how to put on a precious veil? As my Manusha used to say, you are a very awkward Westerner.
We all laughed and I remember with fondness of Queen Anusha La Mar Hassan, a strong woman, ahead of her time, an example of mother and queen for me. Antonia arranges my veil, folding it carefully, beckons me to take a turn and clap my hands, cheerful as a child.
-Perfect, your sari is perfect. Let's go, because that old man is anxious to marry you.
I walk downstairs with my girls behind me, Karim talks to Raj sheikh in the makeshift pulpit of our living room. As soon as I get down, silence takes over the environment, Nahan comes to me and kisses my hand, disguising the emotion.
-Thura, my Thura, you look beautiful, Mother.
Jafar clasps my other arm and kisses my forehead, telling me how beautiful I look. Hafiq walks with Karim and then greets Nahan and Jafar with a strong hug.
Karim and I shake hands, listening carefully to the excerpt from the holy book, read by the officiant of our marriage, he talks about the importance of true love, forgiveness and faith.
Faith in God, faith in self, in the other, faith in life.
The blessing is swift and when the wedding ceremony ends, Karim kisses my forehead and our wedding ring.
Fatimah and Nair ask Bianca if they can serve dinner and Bianca nods. A table full of delights was put outdoors. Before I head for the garden, Sheikh Hafiq comes to greet me, next to Nahan and Jafar.
-Thurayya, I'm glad to see you happy next to my father, that you can be very happy, finally.
Nahan plays with Hafiq, full of romps.
-Hafiq you said it right, didn’t you find Jafar? I want to see him have all that resourcefulness on the back of a horse.
Hafiq raised his eyebrow, speaking with irony:
-Are you proposing a challenge? You think you can beat me, Nahan Zayn?
Jafar intruded, teasing Nahan and Hafiq.
- If Nahan can’t, I can, I've already made Nahan eat dust, more than once, so Hafiq, I can defeat you without having to sweat my shirt.
Hafiq replied, accepting the challenge.
-You're betting, tomorrow, before the sun goes down, you'll see what the little boy here can do.
Hafiq hugs me and smiles awkwardly.
-I lost my mother very early, Thurayya, I would be very happy if I could have you as my friend.
I stroked his cheek, glad to get more of this gift.
-It will be my pleasure, Hafiq, in my heart there is always place for one more child.
We sat at the table for lunch, laughing at Nahan, Jafar, and Hafiq. Karim pointed to the three of them talking happily and said excitedly:
-Today you make me the happiest man in the world, Zahrati, I love you, Thurayya Hassan.
-I love you too, Karim.
Bianca got up after lunch and told me all cheerful.
-Thura, guess what I did?
- What Bianca?
-Halawi, Fatimah taught me how to do it. Wait a minute, I'll get you some.
Bianca went to the kitchen to pick up the sweets platter. I find Bianca's delay strange and I ask Nahan:
-Has Bianca come yet from the kitchen? She's taking so long.
Nahan apologizes to everyone and gets up from the table.
-I'm going after her to see what's going on.
A few minutes later, Nahan stumbles down the stairs and pulls me by the arm, speaking like a maritaca:
-I arrived in the kitchen and she was standing still, unable to move, her dress wet, a stain of blood on her dress.
- Ah! Allah, what a blessing, it's the baby coming, Nahan, come quickly, we need to call Dr. Zahra.
The wedding lunch ended quickly, we all got in a rush, Nahan went to the kitchen and supported Bianca, helping her to sit in the living room. Dr. Zahra advised us to take her immediately to the Central Hospital in Manama, because in case of any complication during childbirth, a hospital unit is more appropriate to accomodate a pregnant woman.
I helped Bianca into the car carefully and Nahan followed her to the hospital. The rest of the family was just behind us, when we got to the hospital, Nahan took us to a reserved wing, where we would stay until the baby's birth. Nahan sat next to me in a pile of nerves.
- Bianca didn’t want me to go in with her, she told me in my face that I make her nervous, can you Thura?
-Well, she's right, take a good look at you, you're almost making a hole in the floor from going up and down. Easy, Nahan! Will be all right.
-This woman is everything in my life, Bianca is the love of my life, Mother. This delivery must go smoothly, if something happens to her or my baby, I can’t bear it.
Time d
ragged on, every minute like torture, Antonia and Brenda brought me water and coffee, Sapphira stayed all the time by my side and Karim was further away talking to the boys. The door opened and Dr. Zahra took off her mask and hospital cap, coming to us all smiling.
- Congratulations, my king, they were born.
- Were they born?
-Your babies were born. You are a very blessed man, the second echo I heard on the last ultrasound, was the heart of your other baby, which was covered by the brother.
Nahan sat down like an old bundle in the chair, speechless.
-Two, do you mean two babies were born? Did Bianca give me two children?
-Yes, two boys, strong and very healthy, King Nahan.
Nahan clung to my waist, crying like a child.
- Allah! I was blessed with two children, my wife gave me two children, did you hear that, mother?
-I heard dear, and they will be brave men just like you and your brothers.
Jafar and Hafiq came to embrace Nahan, who wiped his face, unable to speak a word.
- Congratulations, my brother, then we will go home, to smoke that cigar.
Karim hugged them, touched by the news.
- I am a grandfather again and now two boys, wow, what happiness!
As soon as Bianca returned home, carrying Jamal and Nasser in her arms, Nahan commemorated the birth of his children with three days of celebration.
QUEEN BIANCA TARIF
Today is the third day that the palace is in celebration, Jamal and Nasser now sleep, Jamal was born first, he is greedy, he breastfeeds so much, there is no milk left for Nasser. Nasser is clingier, he likes to sleep with the heat of my body, as soon as I take him away from my lap he starts to scream. Nahan pampers me like I'm a glass object, he has such care and affection that it's hard not to love him. I look from the balcony of our room and see Nahan singing and dancing with the brothers and the staff in a joy that comes to shake. My husband went through so much pain in this life and now he and I are blessed with our two treasures, our boys, Jamal and Nasser. Brenda and Antonia have come here in my room several times to find out if I need anything. Sapphira is lying in the bedroom, since earlier she has a back pain that she can barely walk. I think it's the weight of her belly, which is already huge. The boys are finished nursing when Thurayya knocks on the door, I'll let her in.
Lovely Concubine Page 31