I stared at the wineglass that was sitting in front of me. I dared not look up. Billal was sitting almost across from where I sat, and I did not want Nidal to accuse me of glaring at his cousin. Nor did I want Nidal to punch Billal in the face again. So my eyes stayed glued to the crystal glass as I waited patiently for this fiasco to be over with and we could both be excused.
As the minutes ticked away, Nidal continued to playfully caress my hand. A second later, I felt his thigh brush up lightly against my thigh, and his hold on my hand tightened. I looked up and saw him looking down at me. Nidal stared deep into my eyes with passion or, one could say lust. I could feel my body temperature rise just thinking of what Nidal had in mind for me upon our return to our chambers.
It suddenly felt stuffy in the room. I needed some fresh air. Just then, Nidal stood and gently pulled me to my feet. He excused the both of us and pulled me along his side and out into the corridor from the side door. I could still feel the eyes of all the guests on my back as they all tried to guess what was about to happen to me as I disappeared from their view.
Nidal swiftly pulled me along, down the hallway, and into our chamber, where he closed the door behind us and scooped me into his arms, laying a wet kiss on my neck with trembling lips. Fire shot up my breast and down my spine. He had the power to turn me on as quickly as a snake bites his next victim. Only instead of venom, honey poured out of his mouth and sweetened my soul.
Dizzy with passion, I did not resist his lovemaking. Instead, I got drunk from it as he brought me closer to him, and I once again felt his bulge pressing against my womanhood. I knew he was just as much aroused as I was. In that instant, I relaxed my back and arched into total submission. He could do what he wanted to me, and I would allow it. I had no control of my senses. My heart was pounding a thousand times a second, and I thought I would burst into tears of joy.
Somewhere far away, I heard pounding on the door, but I was oblivious to reality as Nidal's kisses burned my lips. But the pounding on the door got even louder, and Nidal pulled away from me with a groan and asked angrily, "Who is it?"
There was no answer, so he opened the door to see for himself who would dare interrupt us at such a moment. A servant was standing outside and looked scared out of his mind. My heart went out to him as he nervously said, "The king wants you to visit his quarters hastily."
Nidal pushed the door and closed it in the servant's face, terrifying the poor soul even more. Nidal looked at me with an apologetic smile. With trembling hands, I ran my fingers through my long black hair and looked down at my toes so he would not notice how disappointed I was.
Nidal softly caressed my face and gently lifted my chin, and our eyes locked. No words were necessary at this moment. It was plain and simple. We both wanted to pick up where we left off, but we knew that was impossible. When the king gave orders, he did not like to wait. My prince whispered his love for me and quickly left the room. Left all alone, I felt goose bumps all over my trembling body.
I wondered what would have happened if we were not interrupted. I knew I would have allowed Nidal to do what he wanted to me, but would he have done just that? I would never know the answer to that now. I felt cheated from the truth. A feeling of loneliness overcame me, and I tried to keep my emotions in check as I looked around the room for a comfort zone. It was such a huge room, and it was so elegantly decorated with its French couches and lavish Oriental rugs, beautiful silk curtains that trimmed the French windows, and crystal vases and bed linens imported from Italy. It seemed as if this room represented the whole world with all this beauty, but even though all this was breathtakingly beautiful, I could not appreciate anything. They are just material things. Nidal is all I need to be happy.
I changed into my nightgown and lay in bed with thoughts of Nidal on my mind. I dozed off, and when I next opened my eyes, the room was dark. How many hours have I slept?
I spread my arm across the bed, only to find that part of the bed empty and cold. I longed for Nidal's return. What is so important that the king keeps the prince away from me for so long? My thoughts went back to the way Nidal had kissed me a few hours ago, and my mind was spinning out of control.
A few moments later, the door opened and closed softly. I heard Nidals distinctive light footsteps in the dark. He came to me at last. I pretended to be sleeping as I heard him walk toward the bathroom. Minutes later, he slipped quietly into bed besides me, and gently pulled me close to him. I never felt more at home than at this transcendent moment. Peace settled in my heart. I knew that I could not live without him. He was my whole world, and I knew without a doubt that the feeling was mutual.
With his arms around me, Nidal snuggled close to me and whispered, "I love you." That made a hundred and one times that he had said it to me today. I smiled happily and surrendered to every whisper I ever heard from him. I am so in love with this man. Nidal's love has affected me to a point where I am addicted, and I cannot survive without him.
I wanted to tell him that I also loved him, but he would not-could not-believe me yet. But as I dozed off, I promised myself that I would make it my life's mission to do what it took to show Nidal that I too loved him as deeply as he loved me.
