Page 15

All the men were sitting on a rug and enjoying their wine.

"If I want a woman, i only want her for one night, for pleasure with no strings attached. I don't want to be tied down. Damn you all for marrying so early." Bahman mocked Oman in his heavy voice, trying to mimic him.

Bahman's laugh, low and knowing. A shake of his head. The irony thick in his voice— Bahman was telling his buddies that once Oman used to scoff at the idea of relationships? And now, he is a married man

"That's what you said back then, didn't you? I remember Just a half year ago, even Humaira couldn't tie you down. What made your decision change, brother?" Raising his brow, he asked with a smirking face.

Oman gave him a stern look before gulping down the whole glass of alcohol.

"Everything changed. I am changed." He said peering at the douche of a man.

"Something changed here," he pointed a finger at Oman's heart.

And he continued to tease Oman.

"We clearly know who changed you. I know your needs. it's hard to accept that a little girl could satisfy you," Bahman said, winking.

Bahman wasn't a gentleman. He was one of many men who think women are under them and they have every right to do whatever they want.

"I didn't claim her yet," he said. It came out like he was talking to himself.

Oman remained silent as other men talked about their first night with their wives. Oman wasn't liking that for some reason. If it was the same old him, he would have praised a woman he had spent a night with and told them how amazing it was.

Azadeh brought in a tray with four large bowls of food and another jar of wine. She set the tray down on the table, hands shaking slightly. Oman wondered what Bahman had done to the poor woman to make her fear everything.

He spoke harshly with Azadeh, telling her to bring more food, and Oman surmised he must be an abusive husband who wasn't ashamed to insult his wife in front of his friends. But Oman wasn't in a position to interfere in their personal matters.

He was feeling sick in this place.

Bahman turned to Oman, realising he had been silent the whole time. He leaned a little toward Omar and spoke slowly.

"You are sharing your bed with a girl, and she is still a virgin? Have you become impotent, my brother? What fun is there in that?" He laughed out loud when he said the last sentence.

Oman felt his blood boil. The only sign of emotion was a small twitch as he clenched his jaw.

"Bahman, she is my wife. not a prostitute. I'll consume our marriage when she'll be ready," Oman made his point clear.

No one can tell him what to do with his wife. She was his to do whatever he desired. His feelings started to change recently, and he wasn't sure how to describe them. He only knew one thing: he would never let her go.

Bahman could see Oman was reeking of alcohol and was not in his senses. He didn't want to make him angry.

"I was just saying that you used to be..." Oman abruptly cut him off in between.

"I should go now. She is alone." Oman realised this conversation was swiftly going out of his hand. The best thing to do was damage control considering his anger issues.

He rose from his seat and excused himself.

The floor seemed to shake beneath him as he took his steps toward the guest room, where his wife must be waiting for him.

He knew what had changed in him; even people around him could tell it on his face. His heart, it had changed. Now it beat for Tara. It craves for her-to see her and to feel her.

He wasn't afraid before, but now he was afraid of losing her forever. Even though he knew if he got caught, it would make them both apart.

Oman had a sick feeling in his heart as he tried to imagine what his life would be without Tara. He

pictured the empty mattress that he had shared with her, the empty tent that he had always been eager to enter, and her beautiful, soft body that could tempt him so easily.

For once, he wanted to make sure she would be fine if something happened to him.

As the room came into view, he saw Sujain standing at the entrance, a broad smile on his face as he talked with Tara. He could hear how sweetly Sujain flirted with her.

Not waiting for one second, Omar walked toward them.

"Sujain," he called out, loud enough for both of them to hear.

Sujain jerked his head toward Oman. Sujain's expression changed on his face as he spoke just after that.

"I was asking your wife if she needed anything," Sujain, clearing his throat, said, trying to be bold. Oman clearly understand the interest this young man had in his wife.

"She don't want anything," Oman said in a strict voice.

He wanted to know if Tara was also flirting with him and hoped he should have come earlier. He must have heard if she had been responsive enough toward Sujain and flirted back.

A sudden insecurity kicked in.

Sujain nodded with thin lips. He looked at Tara one last time before walking away.

Oman walked inside, passing Tara at the door.

His footsteps toward the bed were small as he thought of a different way he would enjoy killing them both.

He had been angry when she made eye contact with him that afternoon, and now they both flirted behind his back.

Now he felt able to strangle her pretty neck.

reaching toward the centre of the room. He whirled around to face her, sparks flying from his eyes.

He struggled to keep himself standing, but when he spoke, he commanded her authoritatively.

"Come here," she said obediently, looking into his eyes and silently praying for him not to get angry at her.

He gazed down at her, and his mouth matched the cold glint in his eyes. He rubbed his face before speaking.

"What was he saying to you?" he asked in a calm voice, but still, it sounded scary.

She didn't answer. Her legs shivered at the thought of what he would do to her.

Annoyed by her behavior, he gripped her elbow, pulling her closer to him and making her wince in pain.

"When I ask you to speak, You better speak," she looked at him; her trembling small body expressed how scared she was.

He lowered his lips to her ear, holding her head with one hand and both of her hands with the other.

Tara felt a strange sensation creeping through her body again. She went limp in his arms; the soft feel of his breath on her neck can never be put into words.

"I thought you were so innocent to

know about my feelings. You made me feel like a fool," he said in her ear.

Devastatedly, she pulled her head back, meeting his hard eyes. He clutched both of her hands in a tight grip. She wriggled instinctively, trying to escape his grasp.

He grabbed her jaw with his hand and squeezed harshly, making her mouth sore.

"You are mine, remember that," he said, leaving her jaw and throwing her on the bed, making her scream because of the impact.

Alcohol was fiddling with his brain, and jealousy fueled the fire.

He crawled on top of her. Tara never saw this side of him. He was so sweet to her before.

Unmoving and scared, she lay there on the bed as he came on top of her. hands supporting himself, placed either side of her head.

He kissed her on the cheek, then parted his lips slightly and sucked her cheek, marking her with his salvia.

He touched her lower lip with his thumb, measuring the size of it.

"Now stop pretending; you are no different from the woman out there who seduces men and still tries to look innocent," he whispered in anger.

Her face was covered with a frown, and unshed tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

"I didn't do anything," she meekly told him.

Tara didn't know what he was talking about; she never played innocent in front of anyone.

"You do a lot of things," he grinned. He was well aware of the way Sujain checked her out, and the thought that she also gave him equal attention made him mad.

He crushed her small body by putting his entire weight on her.

"Um, you are heavy," Oman looked at her struggling figure and immediately supported himself on his hands.

She pouted her lips. Soon after, his anger was replaced by amusement.

Oman pecked at her lips as he took her in his embrace. She shivered a little, and he felt her breathing become shallow. He fought back a grin at the thought that she was so sensitive.

"You don't have any idea. How much I want you," he said, taking hold of her hand and kissing the back of it.

He intentionally put his body on her, making their chests attach, and he pushed himself a little more into her to feel her soft body against his hard one.

She hissed when he pressed her hard against the mattress. She placed her hands on his biceps, pushing him away with fragile force.

Oman dipped his head into her neck and inhaled deeply. He didn't know for how much longer he could hold himself back.

He placed his forehead on top of her and sneaked his hand around her waist. Caressing her, he realised how slim she was. He dipped his head, his lips finding hers in a kiss that was both tender and desperate, as if trying to convey all his unspoken fears and desires.

Breaking the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers, breathing heavily.

"Baby, tell me you want me as much as I want you. I can't control myself anymore," he said, her lips quivering slightly.

She thought of the meaning behind his words. Of course she wanted him close to her; there was no doubt in it.

She nodded her head.

Oman felt as though he was on cloud nine. Finally, he could have her with her own consent.