MAKESHIFT HUSBAND (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER SEVEN

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Maryam was fast asleep on the sofa but she was dreaming and frowning. In her dream, Kamal's other wife whom she'd never seen before had pushed her into a coffin and was hitting the nails while cackling and someone was shouting her name.

Knock!
Knock!!
Knock!!!

"Maryam!!!"

She yelled and fell off the sofa.

"Oww" she held her elbow lightly as though she wished to cast it aside for as long as the pain of its collision to the floor remained.

"Maryam!"

She instantly recognized her husband's voice.

What does he want again?

Maryam felt he was a little gaga and made a mental note to question her brother about his mental health sometime in the future.

She opened the door and stood aside to let him in, hand still cradling her elbow.

Kamal's gaze stopped on her elbow and he frowned, an even larger guilt seeping into his heart.

"Are you okay?" He asked then realised his voice didn't sound like that of someone who cared hence he cleared his throat and tried again.

"Were you hurt earlier?"

Maryam understood the question now. She inwardly rolled her eyes. At least he has a bit of decency to come check on her after manhandling her earlier.

"I am fine, thank you for asking"

Kamal shamefully nodded and sat on the chair. He looked around the living room, finding himself liking the small yet cozy room.

The scent of incense drifted to his nostrils and with one sniff, he knew he was a goner for whatever flavour she was using.

"Have something to drink"

Maryam dragged a small stool to his front and dropped the tray where a chilled carton chivita and glass cup stood.

She poured him a glass and handed it to him. Kamal accepted it with a small smile intending to take only a sip but found himself unable to peel his lips away until he'd had more than half.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was so thirsty"

She smiled and sat in the chair far opposite him, then she switched on the TV with the remote and lowered the volume a bit after tuning the it to Channels news.

"I am sorry for how I behaved earlier. It won't happen again"

Maryam turned to look at him and saw that he was also looking at her with full intensity. She smiled and nodded but did not take her eyes away and neither did he until his stomach made a large protest of hunger.

Kamal looked away embarrassedly. He hadn't been able to push anything down his throat with hajiya bintu glaring daggers at him and made some excuse of haven eaten at a restaurant.

He also knew very well that with Zainab's tantrums, there was zero chance she would even look at the kitchen talk more of cooking tonight especially since she believed he ate not at the restaurant, but at his new bride's house.

"I will whip up something for you in just a while"

Maryam chuckled and headed to the kitchen. Kamal felt like stopping her but he didn't. He was not a big fan of eating outside and so he leaned back on the chair to watch the news.

But with the cozy peaceful atmosphere, the sweet smelling scent of the incense and the comfortable chair, Kamal fell asleep in a little while and when he opened his eyes again, it was almost time for Maghreb prayers and a blanket of darkening clouds was gently covering the sky, lulling the sun to sleep.

Kamal hastily ate and gave his thanks then rushed home knowing fully well there would be a huge fight from his wife and how well he thought!

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Kamal laid on his back trying to think of something, anything that would get his mind away from the need to see that woman's body one more time.

Not to mention that the need was stretching from just seeing to wanting to touch. The sweet smelling scent of the incense from earlier made him wonder what it would be like to sniff her neck just to check if she smelt the same.

He turned to lay on his side and slowly slipped his hands into his wife's shirt.

"What is the meaning of this?" Zainab sat up immediately, shifting so that there was a gap between the two of them.

"What is the meaning of what Zainab?" Kamal sat up too.

"Why are you touching me in the middle of the night?"

"Ah!" He stared at her with surprise. "If I don't touch you, am I supposed to touch myself abi who do you want me to touch?"

"Let me see" she propped a hand under her chin putting on a farce of a person deep in thought. "How about.."she turned to face him. "You go touch her. You know, your new wife? Or the touching you did earlier when you left ameer and I alone in the house and went to see her wasn't enough?"

So this is what it's all about

Kamal felt a headache coming up  alongside anger.

"Zainab what is wrong with you? I've given you my word and I've told it's only for a little while longer."

"Oh so now I'm Zainab not Zee baby or Sweetie anymore." She glared at him and gave a loud hiss, then buried herself under the blankets and turned her back on him.

Kamal felt like shouting. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Right now, he was the one in need and joining his wife in throwing a tantrum would only be his loss.

Closing his eyes however proved to be an even bigger mistake as the image of that woman's naked framed propped up again in a large frame his brain had conjured and a short movie was playing; an erotic one of him and Maryam, no doubt courtesy of his brain.

Groaning, he opened his eyes immediately although it didn't stop the images from flashing neither did it lessen the depth of his arousal. Kamal headed to the bathroom.

Perhaps he would spend the night under the shower.

A very cold, cold shower to be precise.