Then Again

Chapter 14 - Sikander

Today was the day that I knew Sahar would fall in love with me. Every time she looked at me I felt her burning. The way she swayed whenever I glanced at her was telling. My poor dove was confused and scared but she was craving every second of me. She was walking lost in a barren desert and I was the only one with a water pitcher. I was desperate to make her mine and mine only. That meant losing all control of her thoughts, her feelings, her sense of self. I was to be the only name she would chant on her rosary beads. I needed to be in her mind no matter what she did. Sahar would be breathing my name every second of her life.

I wanted her to let go of herself the way she did by the lake. I felt her body plea with me as I grabbed onto her waist. Her eyelids were heavy and inebriated from a single touch. Knowing what she was craving thrilled me to my core. I always had a passion for collecting rare items, be it watches, horses, houses, or gems. But Sahar would be the rarest possession. Never in my life have I encountered a woman that I wanted so badly. For the passerby, Sahar may look like an ordinary thing, but to me, she was someone very special. And I had to have her – no matter the cost.

I've spent enough of my time watching her from afar, if my plan worked perfectly she would become the huntress and I the prey. This one thought set my body aflame. The thought of being hunted by little Sahar sent adrenaline rushing through my blood.

Don't get too caught in the chase Sikander. You've already slipped too many times in front of her. The last thing we need is you falling in love with her. Sahar makes for a cheery infatuation, but remember how hard love pains. The way it made you bleed, the way it scored a whole in your heart. Don't forget – all women are the same. Don't you remember?

I did remember. The vile thought crept into my thoughts and destroyed my mood. All women want is a man that spends everything he owns on them. It was true. For the most part, it was. Every woman I ever encountered in this city was no different. It was always the same – get me this, get me that, me, me, me. They would open their legs in an instant knowing who I was.

But I gave Sahar the benefit of the doubt. There was this unwavering feeling that Sahar was different. The last window of hope opened in my heart begging me to give her a chance. If she could openly welcome an unknown stray into her home, how can she not but fix a broken man? She was all I ever wanted, for as long as I could remember, fate would keep her out of my reach. I was done with fate playing tricks on me. If she didn't walk to me with open arms I would snatch her in broad daylight in front of all the world. Maybe even lock her up in a tower just to check off all the clichés.

Speaking of towers, there was another surprise I had tucked away for Sahar. It was lovingly wrapped sitting on a divan in my study. That would be our next stop.

"Where to now?", she was sitting silently looking out the window. I felt the urge she had to look at me but was stopping herself for some reason. I didn't like that at all. I wanted her to stare at me unabashedly. And yet, she had the will to control herself.

Note to self – make her lose control.

The unwavering patience that Sahar held was one of the things that irked me. I had to break that barrier down.

"Hmm", I replied, "I'm sorry I couldn't hear you?". She turned around to face me.

Much better.

"I asked, where are we going?"

"Well... that's a surprise."

"That's not very helpful. For all I know you could be a serial killer, taking me to an undisclosed location to chop me up into itty bitty pieces."

"I'm way too handsome to be a serial killer", I looked over to her, "besides, had that be my intention, you would have been a goner at the lake."

She became silent again, thinking it over and finally nodded.