echoes of defiance (Rewriting)

chapter 27

I woke up to the sound of the door softly closing behind Zain as he left the room. Fajr had passed, and I hadn’t been woken up for the prayer. My body felt sore, each movement reminding me of the night before. I pushed through the discomfort, slowly making my way to the bathroom. The warm water from the shower helped ease some of the aches, but I still felt heavy, my limbs moving sluggishly as I finished and wrapped myself in a towel.

Limping slightly, I headed to the prayer mat. With quiet determination, I prayed the two rak'ahs of Fajr, whispering the familiar verses, finding solace in the repetition. When I finished, I began reciting my *adhkar*, the soft murmur of the words calming my heart.

Moments later, I heard the door click open again. Zain entered quietly, walking over to me with a concerned expression. He sat down beside me, patiently waiting for me to finish my supplications. His presence was reassuring, a silent support, and as I completed my *adhkar*, I felt the shyness creeping back over me, remembering how the night had ended.

"Good morning, baby," he said gently, his voice soft and filled with affection.

"Good morning," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath, my lips forming a slight pout. I could feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment as I glanced down, avoiding his eyes.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, his concern clear in his tone.

"I feel better," I replied, my voice still small, my shyness deepening. I couldn’t bring myself to look up, too aware of his gaze on me.

Zain reached out, his fingers gently tilting my chin upwards, forcing me to meet his eyes. "Are you still embarrassed?" he asked softly, a teasing glint in his eyes.

I gave a small nod, unable to stop the wave of shyness that washed over me. The memory of the night before was still fresh, making me feel vulnerable in a way I wasn’t used to.

A mischievous smile tugged at his lips as he leaned closer. "Maybe we should keep trying until you're not embarrassed anymore," he teased, his voice playful but laced with warmth.

I glared at him half-heartedly, pouting in mock annoyance before hiding my face against his chest, letting out a soft groan of his name. "Zaiiinnnn."

He chuckled, the sound rich and soothing as it rumbled through his chest. His arms wrapped around me protectively, pulling me closer. "What do we do, baby?" he murmured, his hand gently caressing the back of my head. "We’re supposed to visit the families today, but my queen isn’t feeling her best."

I pouted again, still nestled in his embrace. "Bakaine ba," I muttered, half-joking but with a slight pout in my tone.

"I know, I’m sorry," he said, his voice full of sincerity, his fingers brushing through my hair gently. "I didn’t mean to exhaust you like this."

I pulled back just enough to look at him, the soft smile on his lips easing the remnants of my embarrassment. His tenderness was overwhelming, and though I still felt shy, I couldn’t help but soften under his gaze.

"I’ll make you breakfast," he said, his tone decisive yet tender. "You can eat, and then rest some more. We’ll see about the family visits later."

His words were filled with so much care, and I could feel his love in the way he spoke, the way he looked at me. I nodded, letting him take the lead as I still felt a bit delicate, both physically and emotionally. He helped me settle back onto the bed, placing a kiss on my forehead before heading to the kitchen.

As I lay there, waiting for him to return, I couldn’t help but feel a warmth spread through me. Despite the soreness, despite the lingering embarrassment, I felt loved, cherished. His care, his gentleness, and even his playful teasing made me feel like I was wrapped in a cocoon of warmth and affection.