His possession

chapter 17

Watching cookery shows had been the one true pleasure for her when she'd been allowed. Opening the book, she went in search of the ingredients. Baking was one thing she'd never done in her
life. The writing had taken control of her. She found some flour, chocolate, eggs, sugar and other confectionary items in the cupboards and fridge. The tins were in a bottom drawer. Much searching and she had every piece of equipment laid down for
her to work with. Preheating the oven, she began creaming the butter and sugar together.
The therapeutic action helped her to relax. Her mind was no longer full of jalal, her mum, or the
danger she was in from falling for Jalal.
While she stirred, folded and prepared cupcakes, she was a woman who baked. Closing her eyes, selena let the calm take over.

*******
"I had a set-back today," Stephen said as he sat down.
"What did you do?" jalal asked as he drank down his coffee. He wouldn't risk drinking alcohol when the rain was pouring down outside."
"I've known Selena for a year, and my heart feels like it will burst
every time I stare at her," he said to Stephen. "The other night you had doubts about the possessive feeling a man can get with his woman."
"What about it?"
"I feel it. Every time another man looks at her, I want to cut his eyes out. She walks past me, and I want to hold her in my arms and never let go. Selena Moore is eighteen years old. She's got her whole life ahead of her, and all I want is to give her the world.
She smiles at me, not often but enough, and I feel alive."
Stephen stared at him, silent.
"Possession is there, inside you. You've just got to wait for the right woman before it threatens to break loose."
"Where are you going?" Stephen asked as jalal stood up.
"I've got a woman at home. Watching them together is fun, but I'd rather be with her."
He shook his friend's hand before leaving the club. Driving home, Jalal thought about Selena. Watching her work in front of his desk had become the highlight of his life. He knew people at work
were talking, and it would only be a matter of time until he had to pull her away.
For all of her timid responses so far, he knew she would put up a fight. Sometimes he saw the fire inside her, which she squashed. He wanted her to fight him, not agree to everything. Pulling up outside his house, he noted no lights were visible from
the front. The moment he entered, he smelled the baking. Anne wouldn't be home. The scent of cupcakes sent him right back to his childhood. His mother had loved to bake. Going to the kitchen, he found selena bent over the oven, pulling out a tray
of dark mounded cakes.
She hadn't seen him. Her tongue touched her top lip as she concentrated on placing the hot buns on the cool rack. Flour
covered a cheek. Her hair escaped the odd ponytail. Her hands were covered with cake mix. The kitchen looked like a bomb had blown up inside the room. With his hands folded, Jalal observed her. She looked happy.
"I take it you've been busy," he said as he took a seat at the counter opposite her.
"jalal? Hi." She pulled away from the cupcakes as if she was doing something wrong.
"Don't worry. They smell like the ones my mom used to make," he said, picking one up and tearing the case off underneath.
"I found a recipe for them in here." She picked up the book. He took a bite. The rich chocolate melted in his mouth. Glancing at the book, he knew it was his mother's recipe. "That's my mother's recipe book. She loved going into the kitchen to bake. There should be some of her all time favourite recipes." He took the book from her and flicked through. "This one, macaroni cheese, took her months to get right. I remember when she brought out the pot. It smelled good. My dad gave me a hopeful look. We'd tried so many bad versions of that dish. She got it right. The pasta tasted great, and the cheese was the right
amount." He thought about the way his mother looked when his dad tasted the food. She always looked so happy when she got it right.
"Tell me more," selena asked, moving to sit beside him.
Flicking through the pages, he told her about some of the recipes.
"The cupcakes were a treat for me on my birthday. She forgot to order a cake and decided to make it herself, but she didn't follow the instructions properly. The cake pretty much exploded in the
oven. When it looked like I wasn't getting a cake, I watched her working, and these came out. The best cupcakes I've ever tasted." Selena took a bite recalling his birthday so long ago.
"Your mother sounded nice."
"She was amazing. My dad loved her."
"What happened to them?"
"A car accident."
She nodded her head. "I know it's not much, but I've experienced loss, too. I mean, my mum died."
Jalal stared at her. "How did she die?"
Silent for a moment, she shook her head. "I'm not ready to tell you that."
He nodded his head. She'd told him something, and that was a move in the right direction. "This dish, leek and potato soup. She burnt it and tried to cover it up by putting golden croutons on top.
It tasted awful that first time. She never burnt it again." For the next hour, jalal went through the recipe book explaining dishes to Selena. Some made him laugh when he remembered the struggle his mother had to concoct some of the food.
"Your mother sounds amazing."
"She was. I think you should have this." He passed the book back to her.
"But this is your mother's work. I couldn't take this."
"No. I think she would want someone who liked to cook to use it. From the taste of the cupcakes, you're a natural. You may come in and use the kitchen at any time. I'll talk to Anne about giving you some lessons if you'd like."
"That would be wonderful."
Jalal smiled, running his finger down her cheek. He glanced round the room. "I don't think Anne would let you near her kitchen if you make this much mess. Come on. I'll help you clean it up before we go upstairs."
While selena loaded up boxes with the iced cupcakes,Jalal rinsed the dishes and equipment she'd used. When everything was put away, he took her by the hand and moved upstairs.
"You're filthy from baking," he said, placing a kiss against the pulse at her throat.
"It's Saturday tomorrow. What are we going to do?" she asked.
"I usually go to the office, but I think we'll stay in. Have a break. Would you like to spend the weekend with me?"
She pulled back staring into his eyes. "You're asking me?"