NURA

Chapter 21

Nura

Mar. 2014, New York

Nate's lips spread into a gigantic smile at the words, making him look more beautiful than Nura had ever seen him, and her heart started beating faster.

She was terrified at that moment, feeling exposed and raw, which made her want to turn around and run, but the way Nate looked at her like Nura had just gifted him the world, glued her to the ground.

Nura had done that; she had put that happiness on Nate's face with just a few words, and she suddenly realized that she would endure the fear and possible heartbreak in the future just to be able to see that look on Nate's face over and over again.

"Habibi," Nate whispered, his lips trailing over Nura's as she closed her eyes and sighed happily.

"Kiss me, Nate. Kiss me like you mean it," she murmured, making him growl lowly, and in the next moment, she was in the air with her legs wrapped around his waist as the man pinned her to the wall and all but devoured her.

His hands were everywhere, caressing and squeezing, as they tried to divest her of her clothing while she held on for dear life.

"You have no idea what you do to me, Nura.", Nate said, his lips moving down her jaw, kissing and biting and making her moan quietly. She felt Nate moving away from the wall through the haze of lust and pleasure until her back connected with the soft sheets, and she realized in the back of her mind that they were in her bedroom.

Then everything stopped, and she opened her eyes to see Nate standing at the edge of the bed, running his hands down her naked chest while his eyes followed their movement. He looked at her with so much desire at that moment that it took her breath away. No one had ever looked at her that way.

Logically, she knew that Nate found her desirable, but seeing it so out in the open, so clearly written across the man's face, was extraordinary. She was a person who always tried to act confident and like she couldn't care less about other people's opinions of her, but it was just like the word said: an act.

For many years now, she had wanted to have someone, just one person, to see her for who she was and not want to run away kicking and screaming. And now, as she watched the man that she was already half in love with, seeing that he did see her and wanted her was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.

"You are so gorgeous, Habibi," Nate whispered and leaned over her, his lips following the same path his fingers did just a moment ago, making goosebumps erupt across Nura's skin. He slowly removed the rest of their clothes before lying beside her.

They kissed for a long time, tasting and exploring each other slowly, and Nura realized right then that this was what love looked like. Everything seemed slow and yet passionate; every touch, kiss, and soft caress had a meaning and purpose.

She wrapped her legs around Nate's waist as the man entered her, her vision going white for a moment before pleasure took over, and she felt lost.

They moved slowly, holding each other so close that Nura could feel Nate's frantic heartbeats echoing hers.

And when they fell over the edge, almost at the same time, it was slow and quiet but, at the same time, the most beautiful moment of Nura's life.

~

April 2014, New York

"He just told me to pack for rainy weather, and that was all. I mean, what does that even mean? New York is rainy right now. For all I know, he is taking me downtown!" Nura complained to Aria while the other looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

"Does it even matter?" Aria asked, and it startled her for a moment. She was so used to talking at her without Aria saying anything back that now that she was finally starting to acknowledge Nura's existence, she could not get used to it.

"What?"

"Does it even matter where he is taking you? Because if I were you, I would be happy he is taking me. I wouldn't care where or when; just the thought that someone likes me enough to want to take me somewhere would be enough. Of course, I would be curious, but in the end, even if it is just downtown, it is still an effort and more than I could ask for." she said quietly, and Nura couldn't help but agree, feeling appropriately chastised for whining about it instead of enjoying it.

"You are absolutely right, Ari," she said and sat beside her, her arm wrapping around Aria's shoulders. If she noticed her flinching at the contact, she didn't comment, feeling happy that Aria trusted her enough to even let her touch her.

"See, that's why I need you, Ari. You keep me grounded." she continued as the quiet girl huffed and shook her head in exasperation but for a small quirk on her lips that told Nura that she was pleased.

"God help me with crazy African drama queens!" she whispered, making Nura laugh out loud before kissing her cheek.

"Pff... just imagine how boring your life would be without this African drama queen." she said and rolled her eyes as Aria mouthed 'I wish,' but her hand gently squeezing Nura's told her another story, and she smiled a little.

Nura stood up after that, returning to her locker to finish packing. She was again working at the club and felt happy to be back. She had been apprehensive initially, the memory of her last night there still fresh in her mind, but after Meg's constant reassurances that no one was even going to look at her the wrong way, Nura had relented and returned.

Meg ended up being right, of course; everyone was friendly and respectful towards her, and even if someone thought about doing or saying something, Nate's constant presence behind her quickly stopped them in their tracks. It felt like having her own personal bodyguard, and she loved it.

Nate would spend his free nights following her around and glaring at everyone who dared to even look at her, and it was so funny and sweet that Nura couldn't help but fall in love with him just a bit more.

"Well, I am off. Wish me luck?" she said, turning around to see Aria smiling.

"Good luck, you weirdo, even though I know you won't need it," she said as Nura hugged her once again before leaving the club.

Nate was already there, waiting for her, leaning against his car and looking ridiculously handsome, which made her smile as soon as she saw him.

She was still curious about where Nate was taking her since, as she had said to Aria, the man only told her that it would probably rain and that they were spending the whole week there, but she decided to just go with the flow as her best friend had advised her.

"Ready, Habibi?" Nate asked as soon as Nura was close enough to hear him, and she simply nodded and stepped closer, her hands wrapping around Nate's neck as his wrapped around her waist.

"Ready, Habib albi."