Arriving in the spacious kitchen, I looked for the ingredients I had asked one of the kitchen staff to buy from the store. Once I found everything I needed, I started baking different types of desserts for tomorrow.

I had promised aunt Sofia to take care of the desserts but I didn't have the time during the day since Walid had arrived.

We had both missed dinner earlier because I had ended up sleeping beside Walid and we didn't wake up until an hour ago. Walid then had the staff bring us something to eat and after we were done eating, he started going through his laptop and I took it as an opportunity to sneak out to the kitchen.

And here I was, at midnight trying to bake all types of sweet dishes.

Suddenly, a familiar cologne that I was obsessed with hit the tip of my nose and just a second later, I could feel Walid's arms around my waist.

His arms tightened around me as he hugged me tightly, my back pressed against his chest and his chin resting on my shoulder. 

"Why did you leave me alone?" He sounded offended.

"I need to finish all the dessert for tomorrow." I let out, trying to hide my stress as I put the dough on the surface and kneaded with my hands. His arms around me made my face burn and heart jump with excitement, but I tried to focus on the work in front of me.

"I'll keep you company then." He announced suddenly.

I just nodded and continued working until he wouldn't let go of me and it became impossible to even move properly let alone bake.

"Walid, can you kindly sit on the stool instead of clinging to me? I need to finish all this as soon as possible and you're not making it any easier for me." I tried to make him understand but his arms just tightened even more.

"No, I want to hold you. Can't a man hold his wife for a minute?" He asked innocently.

I rolled my eyes knowing where he was going with it. "You are distracting me." I looked up at him.

"Really? How?" He raised his eyebrows at me, making me want to slap the innocence from his face.

"Y-you....umm...you're holding me tightly I can't even move. Doesn't the wound on your chest hurt?" I questioned, feeling my heart drop like it did every time I remembered he had been stabbed.

"No." He mumbled.

I sighed and wiggled in his grip. "Let go of me I need to work. If you can't help me then don't distract me at least. Let me go." I tried to push him away.

My efforts made him pull me to the side and when the counter in front of us was empty, he pushed me against it.

I gasped in surprise and tried to steady myself with my hands on the counter while he pressed his back against me and his lips close to my ears. "Don't say that again." His lips touched the back of my neck, my hair put in a high and messy bun giving him full access to the areas he loved exploring. "I'll never let you go." He added.

"Were you always this shameless or did you become that after being away from me a month?" I asked, having difficulty with pushing him back since he was towering over me.

I could feel him chuckle against my skin, making it tickle. I tried not to give into the emotions but I couldn't stop the knots from forming in my stomach. He was making me feel all types of way just by being too close to me.

"Walid, I don't have time please." I tried again to push him away from me but failed.

"Just five more minutes." He mumbled against my skin as his lips devoured the sensitive area around my neck and shoulder.

I almost gave into our desires but stopped myself from letting out a almost uncontrollable sound when I realized we were in the kitchen and anyone could walk in any second.

"I think someone is coming." I pretended, making him finally straighten. I took it as my cue and pushed him away.

He looked at the empty door and then back at me, making me smile innocently and shrug as I went back to work.

"Fine, I'll help you with this." It sounded like he had found another way to irritate me as he stood beside me and took the pastry bag with frosting and started squeezing onto the cupcakes.

I gazed at it from the corner of my eye and couldn't help but smile when he put each letter of my name on each cupcake until I could read my name.

"Your name should be spelled Jasmine, so I could remove the Jas and you would be mine."

My smile grew and I shook my head at his playfulness. I had thought at first he had made a spelling mistake, but that wasn't the case.

I left the cake I was working on and stepped closer to him. I took the bag from him and started putting the letter of his name on five cupcakes.

I looked at his name in satisfaction before taking the first cupcake with the W in it and took a bite from it. I cleaned the frosting from the side of my mouth with my finger and put it in my mouth to lick it clean. He stared at me with open and fixed gaze all this time.

"I wish you were a cupcake, so I could eat all of you."

My reply made him stand in front of me shocked, his eyebrows raising in surprise.

Finally, as if moving out of a trance, he moved towards me. "Don't test me, love." He warned after stopping in front of me. His finger rested under my chin and he pulled it up, making me look into his eyes filled with dark desires and hunger.

"Okay." I said.

My simple reply made him lose his mind even more and he almost grunted out. "F*ck it." He leaned down to press his lips against mine.

However, someone calling out his name made me quickly back away, not giving him the chance to kiss me.

"Walid!" I could hear Isak again and he finally stepped inside the kitchen while looking around until his eyes landed on Walid's back facing him. "There you are. Why aren't you picking up. Come I have to show you something."

"Give me five minutes I'll be there." Walid said, his dark eyes not leaving mine.

Isak turned his attention to me as I nervously and discretely tried to put my hand on my neck to cover the marks Walid had left minutes ago. Even though I hadn't looked in the mirror, I knew there were marks there.

"You can perform your romance later, this is important." Isak continued, giving me a teasing wink before looking at Walid with a serious face.

I felt my face getting even more warm and I lowered my gaze as I went back to work. I heard Walid sigh audible before leaving the kitchen with Isak.

I subconsciously let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and couldn't help the smile forming on my lips as I spent the next few hours making all the sweet dishes and pastries.

The time had turned three in the morning when I was finally done and left the kitchen. I noticed our room empty when I stepped inside and decided to take a quick shower and go to sleep after because I had to wake up early.

When I was done with the shower, I towel dried my hair as much as possible and left it open so I could dry and style it properly in the morning.

I wondered what had been so important for Isak to come and meet Walid personally so late at night. But like always, I could only wonder. They never told me anything anyways...

With the thoughts of Walid and what he could be up to, I slowly drifted off to sleep. An unknown time before sunrise, I felt the warmth of him behind me as he sneaked his arms around my waist and pulled me close to him. I sleepily turned around and rested my arms against his warm and bare chest while I buried my face in his neck.

He held me securely in his arms and I fell asleep in no time, feeling like I had found my home...my happiness and everything in one person.

~

The annoying sound of the door being knocked on loudly disturbed my sleep. I groaned lightly and forced my eyes open. I could feel Walid shift as well and I looked at him to see him glaring at the door.

I moved away from him and closed my eyes, wanting to go back to sleep. I heard Walid get up from the bed and angrily stomp towards the door before opening it.

"Do you have a death wish?" I heard him ask someone before I almost fell asleep again.

"Have you looked at the time? Where's Jasmin? Oh my God! She's sleeping? Jasmin!" I heard Ariana shout my name as she came closer to me.

I sighed and opened my eyes to look at her. I jolted up when I saw her all dressed up and ready. "What time is it?" I asked, the panic clear in my voice as I looked at Walid who was putting on his shirt.

"It's late, very late. You should've been ready by now not sleeping. The Eid prayer is in exactly forty five minutes." She announced. Her eyes suddenly moved down to my neck. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes and she raised her eyebrows teasingly. "I see I see, is that why you're so tired." She started before sitting down on the bed beside me.

"What?" I let out confused. I tried to stand up to get ready but she pushed me back down.

"You're not gonna share the details, I thought we were friends?" She fake pouted, making my confusion grow.

"Ariana, I'm too tired to understand what you're on about. Kindly talk to me clearly." My words made her chuckle.

"Fine, you can go get ready. I won't disturb you more...I'm sure my brother has done enough of that." With that, she rushed out of the room giggling while I sat there thinking either I was dumb or she had been eating or drinking something weird.

When I passed Walid, who was oblivious to our conversation, and entered the large bathroom I realized I was the dumb one. She was talking about the marks on my neck. Of course she would think that...

My face heat up in embarrassment but I didn't have time to be embarrassed. I quickly showered for the morning prayer and left the bathroom with my long robe on.

I entered the dressing room and noticed Walid already there, looking through his collection of watches. He glanced at me and I felt my my cheeks heat up for no reason. I silently went over to my side and pulled out my heels and dress. I put everything I needed to the side and decided to do my hair and makeup before getting dressed.

As I was leaving the room, he blocked my way by standing in front of the door. "You forgot something." He noted.

I looked up at him confused, the lack of space between us making my heart beat race. "What?" I asked, trying to think of what I had supposedly forgotten about.

When his strong arms wrapped around my waist, I realized what he was talking about. Before I could warn him about teasing me when I was already stressed enough, he leaned down and smashed his lips against mine.

The force made me almost stumble back but his hand rushed behind my head and his fingers clasped my hair. I felt my heart almost drop with excitement and my whole body shivered as he continued his assault on my lips.

My lips started moving in sync with his. I didn't know what I was doing. But it felt right. The intimate moments I was sharing with him were very new for me. I had never submitted myself to anyone the way I had done to him. I had only heard about moments like this, never experienced them. Which was why, most of the time I didn't know what to do so I just let him take the lead so I could follow his lead and not make a fool out of myself.

"Walid..." I breathed when he slightly pulled away. "We need to get ready." I reminded.

"We will." He nodded, making me walk backwards until my back hit the side of the closet. He ran his fingers through my messy hair before cupping my face. He stared deep into my soul, making me feel weak and shaky. "Let me just have my breakfast first." His words made me almost look away from him shyly, my expression making the side of his lip lift in satisfaction.

"If you continue like this, I'll have to start considering the fact that you're obsessed with me." I teased, feeling his other hand move behind my waist as he pulled me closer to him.

"I am obsessed with you. Every part of you, every moment I spend with you." His honesty surprised me and I felt like my body was on fire when he left small kisses from my cheek down to my neck.

"We'll have to find a cure for your obsession then. It's a bad thing to be obsessed." I managed to say playfully.

I cried out in surprise when he bit on my earlobe, the slight pain making me hold his shoulders for comfort.

"There is no cure. You're just gonna have to take my obsession like a good girl." He said slowly just by my ear, making my skin tingle and whole body shiver.

The words that left his mouth made me go crazy and tried to move away from him but he trapped me by pinning me against the closet.

"Walid." I tried to sound stern but it came more out as a plead. "I-I have to go...please." My fingers were shaking and I couldn't look up at him, afraid I might lose my balance looking into those lustful eyes.

"Did you miss me?" It was like he was living just to tease me to the point I end up becoming a hot mess.

I could only imagine how I was looking right now. My face flushed, hair messy and marks left by the spoiled brat on full display...

I gathered the courage and looked up at him. I felt weak in a exciting way looking into those dark eyes.

His eyebrows raised, the small smile on his lips made me wonder what he was up to again. I didn't have to think about that for long before his fingers reached the tied knot on my waist and he started playing with it.

"I asked you a question?" His voice almost repeated itself in my mind since I was so focused on his fingers on the knots. If he pulled it, I would honestly faint because of the nervousness.

"I-Y-yes..." It was like my soul had already surrendered to him because I didn't even think twice before admitting. "A lot." I added.

"Good." He nodded, one of his hand reached mine and he pulled it up before leaving a feather like kiss on the back of it. "You wanted this day to be special for us, I'll make your wish come true. I'm all yours today."

Even though I knew he was just teasing me, his words made me blush even harder. I wanted to tell him he was mine every day, every second of our lives but I was too nervous to speak more than necessary.

"Do you need help with your dress?" He continued, panic rising in me me while his fingers continued playing with the cotton belt of my robe.

"N-no...." I was quick to say, my voice shaking and my heart pulsing with unfamiliar excitement yet nervousness.

"Now you're being a bad girl." His voice turned hoarse and it felt like the ground had been swept from under my feet. "If someone offers you sincere help, you don't say no." With that, he pulled one of the straps.

"Jasmin!"

The loud voice of Asiya coming from the bedroom outside made me come back to reality. Walid cursed under his breath before moving away from me and I quickly tied the belt again.

It felt like my heart would burst any second and I felt grateful for Asiya for unintentionally interrupting us and saving me from feeling this unfamiliar feelings.

"Where are you?" I heard Asiya shout and I looked up at Walid. He was glaring at the door.

"She's in here, come on in it's an open house." Walid sarcastically muttered, opening the door to the dressing room.

I patted my hair in place before Asiya appeared at the entry. "Whatever that means." Asiya told Walid and then turned to me. "I can't find the hair oil we bought, I looked everywhere." She complained to me.

"You left it in Ariana's room." I reminded.

"Are you sure?" She furrowed her eyebrow, trying to remember.

"Yes, we went there first when we came home from shopping." My eyes turned to Walid as I spoke, and I saw him walking towards his suits and pulling the brand new one out.

"You're right." She smiled excitedly before turning on her heels. She stopped suddenly and turned around. "Why are both of you still not dressed or ready yet?" Her question made my cheeks heat up.

"If you leave our room maybe we can start getting ready?" Walid suggested.

"Why are you so bitter? I'm not snatching your wife from you she's all yours." Asiya replied playfully, winking at me.

First Isak, then Ariana and now her...they are going to tease and annoy me so much about this.

"Wait, is that Harry Winston?" Asiya said excitedly, picking up the jewelry box from Walid's side of closet. I looked curiously at the box she picked up since I hadn't noticed it before. "Did you get this for Jasmin?" She asked Walid adoringly.

"No, I got it for voodoo grandma." He replied sarcastically, glancing at us.

Asiya was obviously clueless to who he was talking about but I couldn't help but laugh at the name he had given little grandma.

"Again, whatever that means." Asiya said and Walid suddenly snatched the box from her.

"If I remember correctly you have an hair oil that's missing, go and look for it." He ordered in a nice way. "And I didn't forget your Eid present. It's probably delivered to your room by now."

Her eyes lit up and she hugged him with excitement. "You're the best. Thank you!" With that, she rushed out and probably straight to her room, forgetting about the hair oil.

I smiled and turned to Walid who approached me. "Here." He held out the box for me, making me raise my eyebrows.

"Here? No romantic speech about how grateful you are for having me in your life. How beautiful I'm going to look wearing it or how much thought you put behind this gift?" I crossed my arms playfully.

"No. Just take the damn thing and wear it today." He demanded, making me roll my eyes but smile as I took the box from him.

I was quick to open it and my eyes were met with the most beautiful brilliant riviere diamond necklace, a pair of diamond studs and matching tennis bracelet. He had gifted me the most beautiful set and I felt my heart warm up. It was the first gift I had received from him and I knew I would cherish and keep it with me forever.

"Wow." Was all I could say looking at the simplicity yet screaming luxury set. I had wanted a tennis bracelet lately, and it made me wonder how he had found out. But like always, he was Walid and he always knew everything. "Thank you...it's beautiful." I finally said, smiling up at him.

"Not more beautiful than you." His flirtatious words made me blush. "Hurry up and get ready, it's getting late." He reminded.

"Now it's getting late? It wasn't getting late when you were-" I cut myself off, not knowing how to put words for the moments we had a small while ago.

"When I was what?" He purposely asked, suddenly coming closer.

His hand raised and reached to my hair. He pulled my hair strands behind my ear but I was quick to bend down and escape from under his arm.

"We don't have time, remember?" I said to him before turning around and rushing out of the room. I stepped into the bedroom and couldn't help but smile as I put the box on the dressing table.

My eyes suddenly landed on the clock and I panicked. I started with covering my neck with make up to hide everything he had caused. Walid was showering and getting ready as well.

When I was done with my natural base, I put some eyeliner on my eyelids and mascara on my lashes. I added some blush and a bold red lipstick. When I was happy with the look, I started styling my long ash brown hair.

I heard Walid inform me about him going to the mosque with the boys and he would be back once they had prayed. I just shouted an okay and I continued getting ready as he left in a hurry.

I decided to do a middle part wavy high ponytail. I did it quickly and felt relieved when I was finally done. I rubbed my lotion on my body and sprayed the hair and body mist that I wear every day. I sprayed some perfume as well before putting on my sade green satin midi dress and wore the jewelry Walid had gotten me. They went perfectly with the dress.

My smile was unstoppable as I looked at me wearing his gift again and again in the mirror. That was until I remembered I didn't have time to be goofy and I hurried to get ready.

I was ready just in time and almost rushed to the gathering downstairs. I greeted some women who were relatives of Walid and all of us started praying together. The men had left for the mosque so it was only us women at home.

Once the prayer was done, everyone started wishing each other. Some of the women left and some other guest arrived to wish us. I sat there a while with everyone and chatted away before going to the smaller living room with Asiya and Ariana.

"I'm already tired." Asiya complained.

"This is just the beginning." I reminded, leaning back in my seat. I knew we had a long day ahead of us but I was looking forward to it. There was always something special about Eid.

"I love the present he got you by the way. My brother sure has good taste." Asiya teased.

"Yeahhhh, about that...." Ariana added, giving me a mischievous look.

So they went on and on, teasing me about everything they had seen in the morning. I just blushed with embarrassment and denied everything that they had formed in their mind.

~

"Eid Mubarak, love." The sudden warmth fanning against the back of my neck made me jump and turn around.

"Eid Mubarak..." I wished him back, biting my lower lip as I looked at him from top to toe. He was dressed in a beige suit and white button up shirt. It was the first time I had seen him wear a light color suit and I couldn't help but admire him.

His taper fade looked fresh and amazing. His full yet short beard was trimmed to perfection. The dark and straight eyebrows made his dark eyes look even more fierce yet mysterious. His perfect lips looked alluring and his slightly tanned skin was glowing. Nothing about him looked innocent, even though he was dressed in a lighter color and not his usual black. Everything about him was just screaming intense, dark, and tempting.

He was looking beyond handsome. To the point where I almost felt jealousy thinking about how many women were out there looking at him and admiring him the way I was doing.

Was it even normal to feel that way?

When I looked back up at him I noticed he was doing the same, scanning every part of me. "How do I look?" I asked unexpectedly.

"Okay." He nodded, coming back from his small trance.

"Okay?" I huffed, crossing my arms.

"Yeah, okay. In fact, you look just like you do every other day. Your lips are just red today. Very red." His eyes fixed on my lips and I realized I found another one of his weaknesses. Me wearing red lipstick.

"Your eyes says something else." I announced, feeling his hungry gaze on me.

"My eyes are deceiving your mind." He proudly said, annoying me further.

"Fine, go away and look at someone else then and don't bother me." I turned away angrily, putting the remaining cups on the tray.

"I should do just that. It's good for me to change some environment. See other varieties. It gets boring looking at the same face all the time." I heard him say behind me and my teeth subconsciously gritted with anger.

I turned to him swiftly and held his hand in mine. I angrily forced his finger into the water that was boiling in the pot.

I let go of him and took a step back. He didn't even react as he took his finger out. "Ouch." His casual tone made my anger grow. "So small yet so much anger. Where do you store all that rage of yours?" He asked, the amusement clear on his face. 

Picking up the tray, I decided to ignore him and leave. I hadn't even taken a few steps away from him when I felt a pull on the lengths of my hair.

The cups shook in the tray and I tried my best to steady it but him pulling my head back made it difficult.

"If I tell you how I think you look, you will start blushing...shaking..." He paused, pulling me slightly by my hair so I was facing him now. "We can save all that for later."

A satisfied look plastered on his face when he saw my reaction to his words.

Since he came back from that trip of his, it felt like his inner beast was coming out. He was making me feel all kind of ways and I didn't know how to stay in control and not lose my sanity.

It was exciting yet scary...

"Let go of my hair." I ordered, making him smile.

Instead of listening, he did the opposite. He pulled me forward, making the tray hit his chest. He took the tray from my hands and put it back on the counter, pulling me even closer. He didn't let go of my hair and with his other hand, he reached my neck. His fingers traced the area.

"Why did you cover them? You should proudly show the world my marked territory."

"As far as I know, only animals mark their territory." I retorted, making him raise his eyebrows at me as his eyes glinted with mischievousness.

"Well, you should also know animals may also mark just to communicate anxiety or frustration. Which one of them do you think I have?" I could almost hear my loud heart beats when he uttered those words.

"Walid. Behave. We're in the kitchen. Someone might come, again." I warned, but his eyes just darkened as he rested his arms on my shoulders in a playful manner and towered over me. I had to look up to meet his gaze.

"You on the other hand, seem very frustrated." He observed.

"No I'm not." I defended, my eyebrows furrowing in annoyance. "You are the frustrated one." I corrected him.

"If you know I'm frustrated, then you should let me kiss you." He presented all of a sudden, making me send him a warning through my eyes.

"You can go find someone else to kiss. Change some environment. I don't want to bore you." I spoke angrily, pushing on the non wounded area on his chest in a way to tell him to let go of me but his hand raised and his fingers wrapped around my throat instead. The other hand trailed down to my waist.

My eyes widened at his hold on me and he smirked slyly. "I can do that tomorrow." He suggested innocently, making my anger grow. "But right now, I want to kiss what belongs to me." He leaned closer.

I glanced at his beautiful lips and almost gave in, but I was too stubborn to let him mess with me. "Nothing here belongs to you." I purposely said.

His fingers tightened around my throat. "You sure about that?" The look he was giving me, the deep emotions in his eyes made my knees weak.

"Y-yes." I managed to let out.

He stared at me for a moment before flashing me a devilish smile. His other hand moved from my waist to my bare arms. He traced my arms with his finger, making my whole body shiver. I felt tingles on the skin he touched and I had to remind myself over and over again to control my emotions. He was just trying to prove his point of how much he affected me and how I 'belong' to him.

However, it wasn't easy to control and keep my emotions hidden. My face was flushed, my body trembled and my knees felt weak. I'm sure he already knew how much he affected me...

"Just one kiss?" He abruptly said, letting go of my throat and reaching his arms around my waist. I tried to hide my smile at his eagerness.

"No. We're in the kitchen." I said sternly.

"Let's go to the room then." He argued, making my eyes almost widen at his bold reply.

"Walid, enough. Let's go everyone's waiting for us." I hastily spoke, trying to get away from him.

He sighed and let go of me. "Fine, I liked you better in my imagination." His words confused me.

"Imagination?" I raised my eyebrows at him while picking up the tray from the counter.

"Yeah, I used to have very beautiful dreams about you for the past month." He shrugged, making my heart melt.

He had dreams about me...

Walid watched me as my expression went from awe to shocked when I realized what he actually meant. He suppressed a laugh and I glared at him.

"You're disgusting." I said, feeling my heart racing when he stepped closer.

"I'm not, your mind is." He said his usual remark and I rolled my eyes.

"Let's go, we don't have time." It felt like I had been repeating the same sentence today a hundred times but he finally listened and walked beside me.

The whole family was going to have breakfast outside in the backyard. There had been a beautiful arrangement with flowers and a long table for everyone to fit. They had even invited my family for breakfast and they would arrive any second.

It was a beautiful and sunny day, everyone had smiles on their faces and I felt happy. But there was a feeling deep in my heart. A fear of the future. Fear of what would happen if this peace was disturbed.

I decided to stay positive and put all the negative thoughts away. If something happened, we would deal with it then. For now, we had to let lose and enjoy ourselves.

"If I was a cupcake, would you really eat all of me?" Walid's sudden question made me come back to reality and I looked up at him as we walked together.

"Stop it Walid!" I warned as we neared the table. He just gave me a dashing smile while I shook my head with amusement.

This man was going to be the end of me...