BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA.

Four days later, Fatima is tired of Big Sur but she is adamant on spending the whole week away from her parents just so they could feel worthless for a bit. Had it not been for her curiosity, Fatima would've added more three weeks and fill up a whole month but she is eager to find out her family's story and Ahmad need to go back to his work. He is now fit and healthy, the wound leaving a scar but aching when touched brutally to inflict pain.

"There is nothing more to do and I'm tired of this place already." Fatima fell back on the bed after having their dinner, a Chinese food.

"I have a lot planned in my head if you're willing?" He stood atop her head stirring her cup of green tea while his sat on the table beside the armrest in the room.

But something about the way she stared at him gave him chills. Sudden strong awareness of his own heartbeat, the radiant sensation of being flooded with warmth, his mouth parching that he had to dart his tongue out to wet it, hairs raising all over his arms and that is not because of the cold weather and his tank top, it's an entirely different reason. His body craved for nothing but the feel of her skin against his, and that is the same way Fatima is staring at him. She was off limit the last four days, since the evening they arrived and she bathed just earlier albeit surprised the blood flow is lessening.

Ahmad gulped, Fatima needs him and the damned feeling is mutual. Her parted lips, firm eyes contact, ragged breath as she took him in like a wanton woman, increased swallowing and her flushed face. Even the outfit she is wearing is an invitation which he never took because he wants her to make the first move now. It's not about pride but with more familiarity between them, she will be able to tell him what she's wants and what she doesn't. She is always holding back, that's what he's found out about her and he wants her to be free. Her opinions matters anyway.

A seductive quirked smile made it's way to her face. "Come to me, I missed you." She brazenly whispered, inclining her head to the side in invitation. She's wearing a hot pink chemise shirt that stopped right above her mid thigh and it ridden up farther at the way she sat down, cross legged.

Ahmad slowly kept the mug of her green tea beside his and moved toward the bed with tentative steps. Something is different about this Fatima in front of him. There is something feral and fierce in her eyes that promised so much unknown pleasure. Who's possessed his wife now? He grinned wryly at his own thought because whatever it is that's happened to Fatima related to the bedroom affairs had to do with him. He's corrupted her one way or the other, drat.

The corners of Fatima's mouth curled upward as if she could read his thoughts. She slipped into the covers on the bed and recline to a model-like pose she's seen Kendall Jenner shoot years ago, she did it instinctively though. As she turned the covers back, he sighted her dark gleaming skin radiant with the cream she's used to rub all over her body few hours ago, trying to attract his attention. Ahmad was momentarily surprised by his own response to the sight, the flash of primal possessiveness. Slowly he obeyed her gesture to come to the bed.

He sat on the edge of the mattress, his nerves sizzling as Fatima gathered up the loose folds of her chemise dress. She crawled into his lap with the delicacy and gracefulness of a cat. The scent of sweet female skin filled his nostrils, and her weight settled on his thighs. Linking her slender arms around his neck, she said gravely again. "I missed you."
His palms charted the shape of her body; the tender curves, the slender waist, the firm heart-shaped behind. Holy hell.

Without giving him any chance to whisper back those exact words that are at the tip of his tongue, her mouth pressed against his, absorbing the raw confession. Her lips parted, and he needed no further invitation to kiss her, the gentle ingress of his tongue deepening until he had taken her mouth fully. The soft shapes of her breasts brushed against his chest with every inhalation.

Fatima didn't fall asleep after their lovemaking like she usually does and instead, cuddled against Ahmad as he talked about everything and nothing. She is still full of energy and hyperactive. She wants to do something with this adrenaline rush that's making her restless and besides, they have few more hours until midnight not that that mattered in Big Sur. You do whatever you want at any hour and no one will say a thing or worse, kidnap you like they do in Nigeria.

She sat up so suddenly that she startled Ahmad. Sending him a sheepish smile, she beamed at him and he could see the rush of adrenaline flowing all around her. Her eyes are bright, she is up to something so he waited. "How about we go try that motorbike tour that man suggested? I want to get over my fear for it."

Ahmad's brows flew to his hairlines at the statement. When they were supposed to take the motorbike to tour around Big Sur, Fatima almost went into full blown hysterics that they shouldn't even try that nonsense because of a terrible experience she's had years ago with Raheeb and now she is interested? Is she okay now? "Are you sure? At this hour too?"

Fatima nodded enthusiastically before packing the whole duvet around her and went to the closet to get dressed. She shouldn't fear anything in the entire world, not even a motorbike. She is Fatima Musa Babagana after all. She's done so many adventurous stuff but motorbike is her worst nightmare. Raheeb almost got them killed few years ago when she went to visit them in Minnesota. And that's one experience she never want to go through but she thought, Ahmad might be a different driver from Raheeb since he knows his way with it. And Raheeb was a learner then, she was the daredevil ready to goad him.

Ahmad joined her in the closet. "I hope you are in your right state of mind." He grumbled beneath his breath while tugging on a dark hoodie.

"I'm perfectly alright, thank you very much for the insult. It's been long." Came her sassy and sarcastic reply as she pushed her legs through an obsidian skinny jeans, yanked on a high low shirt and a jacket atop.

They went to the rental store and got Ahmad's favorite motorbike, BMW R1200 RT. The touring motorcycle was introduced in the market in 2005. It features an adjustable seat height of 32.1 to 32.3 inches, a weight of 505 pounds, and an ABS brake system. It has an electrically adjustable screen, a five-speed gearbox, and paralever rear suspension. It has been rated as a great motorcycle by customers. It offers riders great control and is suitable for both new and experienced riders.

Fatima was just blinking as the man continue to ramble about the motorbike along with Ahmad, when she got tired, she jabbed his rib and gesture that he takes the damned key so they can get the hell out of there. He did just that, accepting the two matching helmets the man gave him and adjust one around Fatima, then did it for himself. Fatima pouted at the heavy thing on her head but followed Ahmad to the navy blue monstrous looking power-bike. Oh boy, she's forgotten how beastly the thing looks but she didn't back down.

Ahmad climbed on and helped Fatima settle down behind him, wrap her arms tightly around as though she wants to make sure he's stopped breathing. "Ah, release me a bit." He chuckled when she refused to so he started the bike and it roared with a loud cacophony that made Fatima jump. What the hell!

Just three minutes into the ride, Fatima started begging him to stop but he didn't, continue bending and grooving when at last she yelled. "I feel dizzy and I'm going to throw up, you imbecile! Stop the damned monster." And he stopped with a sudden lunge that almost hauled her off her sit but she did it herself as soon as the bike is steady.

Ahmad removed his helmet as well and went to squat in front of her with a look of disappointment. "You are not supposed to cower away from a challenge you've created for yourself. You are not a coward."

Fatima glared at him, gurgled her mouth with the water he's passed to her and breath through her lips. "I can't do it." She shook her head in defeat, this is the only thing Fatima Babagana will forever be afraid of.

"You're not supposed to accept defeat so easily. C'mon, get up!" He aided her to her feet, clear her face with his handkerchief and force her onto the bike again. There is nothing he hates than the sight of a defeated and incapable Fatima. "There is nothing beyond your power. Hold onto me." And she did, lying her head on his back while holding her breath. She's never seen Ahmad so dominant and she wants to please him.

The rest of the ride finished in a blur but she request that they should go around again just so she can be sure she really did it and he didn't do something to manipulate the situation. Ahmad was grinning the whole time. Fatima Babagana and fear shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence, they don't come close. In her enthusiastic mood, she beseeched to try driving it but Ahmad flatly refused. It's an entirely different thing for her to drive and another learning to sit through the journey.

"It offers riders great control and is suitable for both new and experienced riders." Ahmad gave her a bemused gaze at the statement before she rolled her eyes and add. "That was what that man said which is why I want to try."

Ahmad shook his head, Fatima is impossible!

The next morning, Ahmad woke up at the sound of his phone ringing and the caller ID happens to be his grandfather. He answered the call and grumbled greetings to the older man he's slowly but surely getting attached to. The man is trying to coax him into taking over the family's telecommunication company while at the same time building a grandfather and grandson relationship. So far, he's got nothing to complain about his witty grandfather and his young wife.

Oh, he got married few years ago to a woman forty five years younger than he is. His grandfather being seventy four and his wife just twenty nine, Ahmad was shocked to say the least when he heard the news. The man was so much in love with their grandmother or so he heard those days from his father and never wanted to remarry but this young Arabian managed to shackle him. He went to perform Umrah but came back with a wife to Texas, how shocking.

"Since you are just forty minutes away, can't you come to see your grandfather? We might never be able to see each other again as this man here is slowly failing." The man jeered but Ahmad is suddenly filled with yearn. He wants to see the man that's given birth to his father and share some kind of connection with him that he couldn't share with his father.

Besides, he wants to see the old witty Al-hafiz and sassy sarcastic Fatima Musa Babagana sitting together. That should be interesting.

"Where are you?" He asked groggily erasing all traces of sleep from his face.

"Marina. Forty minutes by car and less than in plane. Which one?"

Ahmad look down at Fatima snuggling closer to his body in search of warmth, he arranged her hair lovingly. "A long car ride will be good for my wife and I."

And that's what happened the minute Fatima awoke. She was so excited at the news of going on a long ride from one state to another with Ahmad in a foreign country. She immediately got dressed in punch bell bottom jeans, salt colored shirt that she tucked inside the jeans. Adding a denim jacket atop that stopped just beneath her bottom. Ahmad stood in front of her in casual khakis, polo shirt and sneakers to complete his look. Effortless and he still looks good while she had to go through changing and removing.

He's packed their clothes because they are leaving Big Sur and from Mariana they are flying back to Nigeria to see how her parents are coping. Fatima is actually testing them to see whether they will stay and wait for her or just up and leave like they've always done, she won't be surprised but angry at Ahmad for allowing them in their home.

"Will you ever wear natives again?" He questioned, one of his foot propped behind him on the wall as he leaned his whole weight on one and crossed his arms.

Fatima shrugged her shoulders in answer, she is not sure whether she'll wear those clothes ever again in her life if not to attend a wedding. And there are only few people in the whole world that she will attend their wedding which result to her wearing them four to five times again in future. "I'm not sure. I wasn't very comfortable in them the last time so... I don't know." She added when she realized that he wants her to wear them more often and his reaction to her in them. She blushed remembering what's happened in the hospital.

He tsked. "You should wear them more often because you looked incredibly breathtaking the last time you wore it. Or was that the first too?" She nodded and he shook his head. If only she could see herself through his lenses in those clothes.

They arrive at Mariana at exactly eleven in the morning, fifty minutes drive. His grandfather sent him the address of the hotel he is staying at, Sky Beach Aparthotel. With garden views, Sky Beach Aparthotel is situated in Marina and has a restaurant, room service, bar, garden, seasonal outdoor pool and sun terrace. The aparthotel features both WiFi and private parking free of charge. It offers a seating area with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with bathrobes, slippers and bidet. Some units also have a kitchen equipped with a dishwasher, a microwave, and a fridge.

The accommodation offers a continental or buffet breakfast, that's what Fatima was looking for anyway.

Sky Beach Aparthotel also has a spa and wellness centre, where guests can make the most of facilities like a hot tub and a sauna. She sure as hell is going to visit that spa before they leave in two days. They can also go shipping, enjoy the hot tub jacuzzi and so much more. She sullenly thought, why didn't they come to Marina since to enjoy their fancy stuff then again, Big Sur was amazing too.

His grandfather asked him to join them at the restaurant in the hotel for breakfast and Fatima jumped into that opportunity. They were accompanied to the restaurant, a nice cozy place with just few people scattered here and there. Ahmad instantly pick out his grandfather whose back is facing them as they walked. His head filled with grey hairs all around, his back still standing straight and not bent like most geriatrics's. The woman sitting in front of him looks awfully young and beautiful, he could swear she is younger than twenty five.

They reached the table in no time, he greeted his grandfather before drawing a chair back for Fatima who scrutinized both the grandfather and the wife then blurted out. "You didn't tell me your father had a younger sister."

Ahmad's eyes widened in embarrassment, yeah, he is the one embarrassed instead of his grandfather and the man only let out a full blown guffaw. Ahmad sat down close to Fatima and whispered close to her ear while watching his grandfather's wife giggling with her husband and it is not at all fake. "She is his wife. I forgot to tell you about this piece of information."

Fatima bit her tongue as she grimaced. Wow, she should've done that sooner. "You should've told me. How I'm I supposed to know she is not even your younger sister? You're such an asshole for making me look like an idiot. Ugh..." She grumbled in his ear too before turning her half apologetic face to Al-hafiz and his young wife Birrah.

"I'm half sorry for that. He didn't tell me about it and I thought she was his younger sister." Ahmad was close to face palming himself. She had to blurt out she thought she was his younger sister but that didn't deflate Birrah's amused smile.

Ahmad could doubt the times he's seen his grandfather smiled but he is laughing now? Maybe he was just bitter without a wife, Ahmad thought humorously.

Their eyes meet, same blue eyes like his own clashing with his, he's removed the lenses since their arrival at Big Sur but will remove it as soon as they land in Nigeria. "I like her." He whispered to him so he could read his lips and Ahmad beamed, a smile filled with pride before looking down at Fatima talking animatedly to Birrah.

"...like Arabian accent but you're making it sound like lullaby." Fatima complimented thoughtfully, not because she wants to be on the woman's good books.

"She's such a straightforward person and have more Al-hafiz blood than you do." Al-hafiz commented as he gaze at Fatima and his wife talking like good friends. "There is this fire and fierceness that we have and she has it too. When should we expect the good news? Because if we manage to get a boy, there's no doubt he will take over such fierce attitude and that's how the generation should continue."

Ahmad pursed his lips. "There is no good new so far, unfortunately because we are going to take our time."

Al-hafiz nodded, washing his food with black coffee with intent eyes on Fatima. How he wished his grandson had met her sooner, he would love to see what they will sire before his days end. He is thinking about moving to Nigeria but he cannot do that with his health failing bit by bit. He will stay in Texas and admire his family from afar. He's made so many mistakes years ago but not anymore, he shall repent.