Tomorrow was the naming ceremony, and even though Hajia made it clear to all of them that the ceremony will be very light and only families were invited, Nadia didn't know who made all those gifts or who they were to be given to. She had been turned into a glutton by Baby H, and tonight, as she turned and tossed on her bed, thinking of Hassan and the life that awaited her if she went back home, she felt that she was starving and went to the kitchen in their chamber for some food.

It had been long since when she cooked there, Nadia could even count the times she had cooked there and they were all at midnight when she couldn't ask the maid to make something for her. She blew some supplications on Baby H as she walked out, practically tip-toeing to the kitchen. As she scanned the cupboards, she found the only thing she could easily make was a custard and she put the heater on.

She sat down on the kitchen island, smiling highly as she looked around the kitchen. In a week to come, Mufeeda would be the one living here and not her. She didn't know how that felt in her heart but whatever feeling it was igniting there, she wasn't ready to accept it. Hajia was so busy that she had forgotten to ask her about Hussain's wedding but Sohila confirmed to her that he indeed got married. Or in better words that might actually soothe her heart, Hajia got him married without him knowing.

When the water was done, she started making the custard as she hummed a soft sad song to her hearing. It was a lonely night for a heart that ached like hers. She wanted something she would talk to, someone she would call hers, at least to have that sense of belonging. As she cut the berries she would use and other fruits, she felt strong and warm hands around her waist as someone hugged her from behind.

Nadia gasped, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest. He slowly rested his head on her shoulder, relaxed from the physical touch as he sighed out of whatever it is he was feeling, but Nadia knew it had to be relief. It sounded like it. "It's me, Singleton." He whispered into her ear and she could feel the way her skin pores rose as she squirmed uncomfortably.

"What are you doing, Hussain? Let go of me?" Hussain watched the way her hand was shaking as she tried to keep on with what she was doing as though she wasn't affected by his touch. He chuckled, it was funny to watch her act that way. Softly, trying to force her to admit to what he was certain she had felt, Hussain kissed her bare neck and she abruptly dropped the knife and turned to look at him; which had her pinned to him, their chests nearly meshed into one as he had his hands bringing her even more closer while he stared into her eyes.

"What was that?" She asked with a frown, wriggling out of his hold. "Let go of me, what has gotten over you, Hussain?" He was just staring at her with a dreamy look that made it impossible for Nadia to take her eyes off him. He looked like her husband, or even better. Because even though Hassan had always been passionate, he had never stared at her with so much desire that she could see it prominently from his eyes. He looked as though he was starving, and the only thing that could satiate his hunger was her.

"Your thoughts." He answered, or in better words, whispered that she felt the beat of her heart rising. "That's what has gotten over me, Nadia. It's you."

She closed her eyes to get a hold of her thoughts and know how to act right. She knew this wasn't him, they had lived in this chamber together for so long but he had never tried to do something like this. Today was different, and he wasn't even ashamed or afraid that she might call someone on him. "Let me go, for the last time, Hussain." She said through gritted teeth and watched as a cocky smile graced his lips.

"How's the baby? Is he asleep already? Are we entirely to ourselves?" He slurred, almost sleepily. But Nadia knew he wasn't sleepy, it was just his body acting to whatever stupid emotion he felt. Was he drunk? But she had never found him doing anything of some sort.

"What if he was or wasn't?" She asked, her voice slightly shivering. She hated how close they were, it was as if they were two bodies fused into one, her chest was entirely on his and with his eyes on hers, she didn't know what she was supposed to feel and the one she was supposed to suppress. "It's either you let me go or I'll call Hajia and tell her tell. What's wrong with you? Are you into drugs now?" She asked, her eyes slightly turning to red. Partially because she was furious but then he was stirring something in her which she thought had died along with Hassan.

She hated to believe that he had found solace in drugs after his brother's death, because there was nothing in this world which grief didn't make people do. But as he stared at her earnestly, not even trying to hide what he was feeling from his eyes, she doubted if that wasn't the case. "I'm not drunk or whatever crazy thing you're thinking of. I'm just..." He let go of his words, closing his eyes softly to control himself. He didn't know what got over him. "I'm in need of a wife. And you're one, so..." She cut him off, her whole body felt like a tunnel and his words were echoing ever so loudly that she felt so felt, but she had to speak.

"It's natural to feel that way, Hussain. But can you let go of me, please? I'm not your wife and even if I am; which is never going to be possible, I just gave birth barely a week ago and we both know I'll be on my period for at least a month." She felt as he started loosening his hold on her, her heart beating erratically in its ribcage. "But I think you mistook me for someone and I'm sorry to have came out in the middle of the night without a proper clothing." He completely let go of her and that was when she remembered her clothing. It was the nightgown Hassan loved so much. And because she was feeling lonely tonight, she wore it for herself and only wrapped her head because she came out.

She watched as he palmed his face, breathing heavily before he slumped on one of the chairs. She had to make sure her breathing was back to normal before she turned and continued with what she was doing, all the while aware of his eyes on her back. She made two mugs for them and sat down at the far end of the kitchen island as she looked at him.

"I'm sorry," he spoke in a hoarse voice that was still filled with desire and she nearly laughed, if not for the emotions he had stirred in her. She had always thought of him as someone that never felt this way, as though he were a rock that had no emotions but then he proved her otherwise.

She took her time eating before she looked up at him after he was more calm, "This is why I can't live here, Hussain. I know there's no use for saying this since I'll be leaving in a few days, but then I have to. It's you today, someday it will be me thinking you're Hassan or knowingly just attracted to you in a way we both can't stop ourselves and before we get a hold of the situation, we might've already done something unforgivable."

Okay, she had never had a conversation like this with anyone in her entire life. There were times that she would scream acting all innocent to Hassan whenever he spoke something naughty to her. But here she was, seated in only her nightgown with a man in the middle of the night as she spoke maturely to him.

He had a few spoons of the custard before he looked at her, "But I've never done this to you, did I? And no, I wasn't mistaking you for anyone. It has, and will always be you, Nadia."

She nearly choked on her custard but kept a poker face, "This isn't what we're talking about. You're supposed to be apologizing, I bet it wouldn't be funny if Hajia heard this even though I have no intention of telling her. And islamically, this is a great sin, you can't just act like that with a woman that isn't your wife, Hussain." He was just staring at her, as his Adam's apple kept bubbling up and down as though he was trying to stop himself from doing or saying something.

"I mean, if you're in need of a wife why haven't you married since? If this is how you wildly act when you're..." She let go of her words as she found that there were no right words she could use for his current situation, "You're in this situation, how do you live all alone in Los Angeles? That's not my problem." She hated the fact that he kept on staring at her and not even trying to talk or justify his action whatsoever.

"I'll talk to Hajia, maybe we can arrange how Mufeeda could be brought here in two days, or you can even visit her there, it works that way too." She was furious, at both him and her. She stood, feeling full even though she hadn't even taken more than ten spoons. She slowly walked by his side to leave the kitchen when he pulled her with her wrist and she fell on his laps.

He had his hands on her waist and no matter how Nadia wanted to get out of his hold, she couldn't. "Huss-" she began, furiously, but what he did next stopped her mid-sentence and had her heart leaping to her feet.

He slowly, yet tenderly hugged her. He placed his head on top of her bosom and nuzzled his face deeper into her cleavage that Nadia wanted to vanish. What the hell was wrong with Hussain? She cursed herself for wearing this nightgown! "What the..." He cut her off, his voice muffled with her chest.

"I need to calm myself, Nadia. Please, just five minutes will do." The way he spoke, he way he held her and how his entirely was slowly shaking, Nadia had no choice but to let him be. She wanted to argue, her whole brain was telling her how bad this was, how not right what they're doing was, but then she wanted to give him the five minutes he begged for.

She was sure five minutes had passed but there was no sign of Hussain trying to move and she whispered, weakened by his body, his voice, his words and actions. "Are you asleep?"

He shook his head, and that made a buzzing sound to her heart, making him even lay more comfortably on her chest. "Can I get five more minutes, please?"

"But Hussain..." He lift his face up and she watched how pathetic he looked, how sick his eyes were and when he slurred, "Please, Singleton." She had no choice but to let him do what he wanted. He reclaimed his position and without wanting to, Nadia found herself wrapping her hands around his neck as she softly massaged his head while he nuzzled even more deeper into her chest.

She wanted to stop this, to yell at him, scream or even threaten to call Hajia this night, but a part of her heart wanted him to have some peace because as it looked, he was in peace now. If she wouldn't lie to herself either, she needed this, the touch, the look, and the words that came from him, they all were eccentric and new to her. She enjoyed everything.

*Grinsssss😁😻🤩❤️*