I drive Ethan back to his apartment, and also help him into his house. Ethan might have had the upper hand, but Marcus still gave him a few punches here and there.

I unlock Ethan's door and help him over to the dining table. I sit him down on a seat and walk over to his bathroom, where he says the first aid kit is. I dashed back downstairs and began tending to his wounds.

"Please be careful," Ethan says while I try to clean his wounds.

"Sorry, I can't believe this happened to you, because you were defending me," I say feeling the tears fall from my eyes.

"Please stop crying, and this is not your fault. "If anything, it's that stupid boy's fault," Ethan says, wiping away my tears.

"Please never fight someone over me again. "I don't think I can bear it if what happened today happens again."

"Adina," Ethan says, stopping my hands from cleaning his wound as he gets his eyes to lock with mine. "I will always defend you, any day, anytime," Ethan says with a lot of determination in his eyes. I don't say anything, and just continue cleaning his wounds. I don't even know what to respond to that, and the look his eyes gave me is something I have never seen in his eyes before.

"Do you feel pain around your ribs?" I ask.

"A little"

"Take off your shirt."

"What did you just say," Ethan says smirking

"I know I told you it's Haram for a Muslim woman to see a man's body, but this time is different. I want to clean your wounds; it's not the same as simply admiring your body. "

"Oh, alright," Ethan says as he tries to remove his shirt, but has some difficulty, so I assist him.

"Oh my God, Ethan, look at what he did to you," I am on the verge of crying again.

"It is fine, Adina. Please don't start crying again. You just stopped, and I don't like seeing you cry," Ethan says, and for some odd reason, because he says he does not like it, I try to hold back my tears because of him.

"I won't," I say and start cleaning his wounds around his torso when I noticed something I think I should have seen the two times Ethan was shirtless in front of me. He has tattoos, and I know Islam is against tattoos, but his are beautiful. He has a few around his chest area. Maybe he recently got them.

"Do you like them?" Ethan says noticing me admiring his tattoos

"Yes, I do, and did it hurt when you got them?"

"It did a little. Do you want one?"

"No, I can't. Islam is against it."

"Is there anything this your religion is not against."

"Yes, a lot of things. I doubt you even know anything about Islam except what you see on TV. "

"Unfortunately, that's right, but I don't believe that all of you are terrorists, though."

"Thank you," I say, smiling.

"You are welcome, Bellezza nera," Ethan says, smiling.

Days have gone by, Alhamdulillah I am done with my exams. I am not going back home for the winter break this year. I will be staying in America. I am getting ready to follow Ethan for his family's Christmas dinner. I don't celebrate Christmas, but it does not mean I can't eat what is made for the celebration. I did not want to go, but Ethan's mom begged me to come over, and she is one hard lady to say no to.

I just finished praying Isha, and I am putting on my earrings when the doorbell goes off. I walk over and open the door without looking because I know it's Ethan. I grab my handbag and we drive to his grandparents' house in his car.

Ethan and I had a wonderful time at dinner with his family. I met everyone I met last time, and they were even lovelier than before. Ethan and I are strolling along the beach's edge.His grandparents live not far from the beach.

"So Adina, tell me about yourself," Ethan asks, surprising me with his question.

"Why the sudden interest in knowing about me?" I wonder as I gaze at the stars.

"I feel there is more to you that I don't know and I would like to know more."

"Really, what would you like to know?"

"I don't know, anything... You could even begin by telling me about your family."

"Alright, I am the third born in my family. I have two brothers; you have met one of them, Usman. I have a younger sister who I love, even though she annoys me a lot. I have amazing Nigerian parents. You already know everything I like and dislike. "

"I know some of your likes and dislikes, not all, and I never knew you had such a large family."

"Trust me; you know most of the things I like and dislike. And also, my family is nowhere close to being large. "

"So having four kids is not a large family."

"Of course not."

"Wow, four kids is a big family to me."

"Really, and how many kids do you want to have?"

"One"

"One is too small, at least two."

"Two is also not bad, and are you feeling cold? If you are, we can go back inside. "

"I am fine. I am enjoying watching the stars. They look so magnificent tonight," I say, looking at the beautiful stars in the sky.

"Yes, they look stunning, but not as beautiful as you," Ethan says, staring at me. I turn to face him, and I see adoration in his beautiful grey eyes. It astounds me that he has admiration in his eyes for me.I can't believe he just complimented me. This is the first time Ethan has ever complimented me, and I feel so happy. I can feel myself blushing. I don't know why, but no guy's compliment has ever made me feel happy the way Ethan's praise just did.

"Thank you," I say, smiling so much that I feel my face might fall off.

"You are welcome," Ethan says as he takes slow steps closer to me. I can feel his breath on my face due to how little space there is between us. I gently place my hands on his chest to move him away, but I stop when I feel the fast rhythm of his heart. I wonder why his heart is beating so fast.

"Adina, I am so sorry."

"What are you sorry fo......" I don't get to finish talking because of what happens next.

What happens is something I have only experienced in my dreams. I never imagined it would be as amazing as it is right now. The feeling going through my heart is something I never thought I could feel towards Ethan. Ethan is kissing me. I can't believe it is happening, and my body wants it more than anything right now. What is happening to me? I quickly come to my senses because my body might want what is happening, but Allah won't be happy with me if I don't end this. I try to pull away from Ethan by placing my hands on his chest, but Ethan gets the message wrong and deepens the kiss. He puts his hands on my lower back and pulls me closer to him. He gives my waist a little squeeze, which causes me to open my mouth. My lips take command of their own and return his kiss. Oh my God, how is this happening? I have to stop this before I do something I will regret later on.

I'm perplexed as to why my body is taking so long to stop Ethan, but the truth is I want what is happening. My body has craved Ethan's touch since that day in the hospital. All of me wants to be touched by him, but I know it's Haram to even think of such things.

That is one of the trials of being a Muslim. How you handle situations where your mind, body and soul want to fill into its desires. All depends on how strong or weak you are in your faith, but it does not mean you are a bad Muslim.

Ethan finally pulls away, Alhamdulillah because I don't think I could hold myself any longer. I am not the strongest in faith, but Alhamdulillah I am trying. I also know I have to do a better job of not falling into my desires.

"I know I am not supposed to do that, but I could not resist those lovely lips of yours," Ethan says once he released me from the kiss while trying to catch his breath. I am also trying to find my breath after my first heated kiss while I realise why my heart wanted the kiss. I like Ethan, Subhan Allah, I like Ethan. I am in big trouble.

************

If you wish to read ahead, you can click the link in my bio to find where you can get the completed version. If the link in my bio gives you problems, let me know in the dm, or you can message me on my social. I will help you with it.❤️🙏