Normal With You

Chapter 25

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.

But if your love and must needs have desires,

Let these be your desires.

To melt and be like a running brook

That sings its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding of love;

And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

...

She trailed her finger softly over the tiny round indents along his arm. "What are these?"

"It's the past." Riaz replied, not willing to go further than that.

"Oh." Leena sidled closer to him, winding her arm around his bare chest. Her white blonde hair tickled his arm as she rested her head against his shoulder. "He told me he loves me and that he wants to get back together again." She whispered, desperately seeking his approval.

He grazed his hand along the smooth skin of her back, tracing abstract patterns along the smooth curved line of her spine. "Do you believe him?"

"I want to believe him." She sighed, running his words through her mind over and over again.

"So you don't believe him?"

She stayed quiet, mulling over his words.

"He's not good enough for you." He turned to face her as he pulled her closer to him.

"And you are?" She teased, feeling the cotton material of his boxers brush against her legs.

"No."

"I wouldn't get into a relationship with you, anyway." She said, kissing him lightly on his lips. "You're never really with me even when you are."

"Even now?" He heard her sharp intake of breath as his hands ran over the smooth skin of her thighs, knowing how much she loved it when he touched her there.

"Yes, even now."

He couldn't deny her words, choosing instead to lose himself in the taste of her lips.

She leaned back, pressing the pad of her thumb against the rough stubble along his jaw. "Who are you thinking about?"

"She was a friend from back home."

"You look sad whenever you think about her." She said, observing the slight twitch of his mouth as he frowned. "What happened?"

"What had to happen."

"I'm sorry." Leena said, kissing him once again. "Riaz?" She leaned back one more time, looking at him curiously.

"What?"

She shook her head slightly. "Nothing." She kissed him again, enjoying the way his arm wrapped around her as she pushed him slightly to lie down...

Tasneem loved Wednesdays.

She sat down in the sand, barely bothered about the rough grains that scraped against her legs as they clung to the inside of her jeans. It was never empty but it was ever full either. There was always someone in the water or walking along the beach or leading their dogs across the wet sand. It was peaceful enough to be alone but she was never lonely enough to feel afraid. There was just always someone there...