ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

"It's today!" Fatima beamed as soon as she awoke around seven in the morning. She's murmured how excited she was when she woke up earlier to pray fajr with but now, she is in full excitement mood.

Ahmad smiled at her, a proud one that made her insides turn mushy and her smile to deflate a little, her chest fluttering uneasily. She is finally graduating from college after what seems like decades and also as the valedictorian of the year. Her exams were extremely good since it's either A or A with distinction, that's always been her result with GP high up to the sky. Oh Fatima cannot wait to give her speech and further see what Ahmad is going to surprise her with. With this sort of smile on his face, she'd think he is about to gift her the world.

"Congratulations again. How many times have I said that already?" He drew her closer to him and press a gentle kiss against her forehead, Fatima's lips stretching like elastic. She snuggled into the warmth his body is producing because the weather is just too chilly today making her wonder how they are going to cope with it outside.

They won't be able to do it in the school hall because the people graduating this year are too much hence they are going to use the football field outside the school. Wherever it is the event will take place Fatima won't mind, as long as she will talk and leave the place. Whether or not they are going to permit her to speak like every other valedictorian -she's never been to their graduation to know how things work- she's always planned her way through everything. The emcee himself will call out to her even if he is not asked to, the power of money and good connection.

Fatima stood off the bed and made her way to the bathroom then stopped to holler at Ahmad from the door. "Bring out my outfit here. I want to dress in front of you." She gave him a naughty wink then close the door behind her whistling in her head.

Ahmad did as he was asked and place them leisurely on the bed. From her shoes, bra, underwear, accessories, bag and graduation gown given to them by the school. He cannot wait for the day to begin albeit he is not doing anything too great for her, he wants to see her reaction to being surprised for the first time in her life or is it adulthood? Whatever it is, he wants to see her smile whether she's deeply happy or just acting. He smiled at himself, he's found out she has Adda mama's blood in her when it comes to acting but that's never around him. She expresses her feelings whenever she is around him but with other people, she should be given an award.

He's noticed that she is trying to get out of her shell and be nice to people but it's hard since they won't stop infuriating her with too much probing, curious questions and stupid ones too. She sometimes fake a smile that Ahmad could clearly read as ' if only I can murder you in front of these people' then force herself to calm down and give them befitting answers. They will go back to the side and start wondering whether or not she was being nice of petty, no one can tell with Fatima Musa Babagana.

That reminds him, her parents are here in Nigeria and they are going to be in the crowd during the graduation cheering for her. He got a call day before yesterday in the afternoon while Fatima was away getting all she needs for her graduation while he did the same. They agreed to give each other space so the other won't know about the surprise they are planning. Ahmad raised a brow at her then but then agreed. He was sure he would've still worked, she might even see his chart but won't ever know what he is going to do. That's just him, a police officer.

Back to the phone call. He is used to taking strange and unknown numbers whenever possible so he didn't hesitate to pick that one call too from Musa Babagana. "Hello?"

It was quiet from the other end as if they were not expecting him to answer the call. He pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, few nanoseconds away from hanging up if they don't talk. "Hello, ACP." Ahmad knew instantly that this is Musa Babagana talking.

"Good afternoon, Sir." He is not good at beating around the bush, the man should know that he's recognized him. After hearing all he's done to Fatima, he wanted nothing to do with Musa Babagana. He wanted to cut him off from all their affairs, he shouldn't even be able to watch them from afar.

He didn't sound surprise that Ahmad knew who he was talking to. "Afternoon, ACP. I know you are a busy man so let's cut this phone call short. I need a huge favor from you regarding Fatima."

Ahmad's brow raise in question, fastidiousness and caution. There is no one in this world that is allowed to hurt his wife again, not even her own father. He's vowed to keep him far away from Fatima and he intend to keep that oath even if he will have to pay for it. Musa Babagana doesn't deserve a daughter like Fatima and Fatima deserve far more better than this but that is her trial and she's passed. It's time to keep Musa Babagana at bay, he should know to never mess with an Al-hafiz. One word to his grandfather now and Musa Babagana will be a lost cause, he needs no favor though. He wants to do this for Fatima himself and he shall, no matter the price that comes with it.

Even if that's going to be the last thing he's done for her.

"I'm extremely busy but sure." His voice was curt just like the pinched expression marring his face at that moment. What is it Musa Babagana wants now with Fatima? Force her to give birth to his grandchild so he can have an heir? They don't need no favors from him.

Ahmad didn't expect his next words though. "We are coming back to Nigeria with my wife and Fatima's brother, Rashid for her graduation-"

Blinking twice to make sure he's heard the man right, Ahmad cleared his throat, his brows furrowed and deep in the middle creating a thick dent. "Her brother is alive?"

"Yes, we just found out too..." And that was how Musa Babagana told him the whole family history and about the things that's happened to them years ago, his ex-girlfriend's stunt and all that. Ahmad was speechless, he couldn't utter a thing the whole time until he was done when he suspire. What is going on in the society? Ruin a whole family because you couldn't get the man you want? Some women are really insane and stupid, acting without knowing the consequences. Now what? She is dead in her grave but a whole family is shattered and all of them will definitely curse her and make her turn in her grave.

Ahmad doesn't know how to break the news to Fatima but he told Musa Babagana not to approach her during the graduation and he should wait until they come back home after the dinner. They shouldn't ruin her day for her and if possible, they should come the next day for that family drama when her excitement has worn out.

Fatima trudged out of the bathroom in her huge fluffy pink towel, tiptoed to where Ahmad is standing with his back facing her and gave him a hug from behind, she felt him stilled for a few seconds then released a breath. Turning around, he gathered her in his arms and gave her a bone crushing hug. She gave a perplexed smile at the sudden tenderness and wrapped her arms around his neck, totally forgetting about the towel around her body is not tightly tucked, who cares? She breathed in his manly cologne, pushed her head deeper into his chest as if to align their body some more. There is no an inch space between them as it is.

Ahmad sat her down on the bed then rounded it to kneel behind her. She felt his fingers smoothed lightly over her upper back, as if he were searching for something. And then he began to knead her back with gentle, sure motions, easing the soreness of her tortured muscles. His artful fingertips probed places of aching tension, causing her to inhale sharply. The pressure of his hands intensified, his palms rolling over her back, his thumbs stroking deeply on either side of her spine in long torturous and emollient massage.

To Fatima's mortification, she found herself arching like a cat. Slowly working his way upward, Ahmad found the knotted muscles at the junctures of her shoulders and neck and concentrated on them, kneading and pressing until she felt a soft moan rise in her throat. Few more attempts to tame it down but it didn't work so she let it out shakily followed by a groan and grunt of satisfaction. Oh, God, she didn't know her muscles were this sour and tired from all her journeys for the past few days. Everything was hectic in school, followed by her surprise then raging emotions striving to come up with a name.

A woman could become a slave to those experienced hands. He touched her with perfect sensuality, drawing acute pleasure from her sore flesh. Leaning most of her weight against his powerful knees, Fatima felt her breathing turn slow and deep. Her back softened, lengthened beneath the coaxing manipulation, and it felt so wonderful that she dreaded the moment when he would stop.

She's still working on that though, crazy things are really happening which reminds her that she's supposed to give him Surah Al-Hajj and Al-Mu'minoon yesterday night but she didn't and he didn't ask her to. She groaned inwardly, why didn't he ask her to pour it out or wake her up. She's fell asleep right after their love-making which was blackmailed from him. He said she was too tired but Fatima wasn't having it, too much aphrodisiacs in her system to bother with rationality.

His hands started halting slowly and she groaned, he shouldn't stop now. "You need to get dressed or be late. It's already eight thirty now and I haven't bathed. I'll continue when we are back and you're more tired." He curved down to kiss her neck then went to the vanity table to take her lotion and rub it all around her.

His eyes glimpsed at her head and he frowned, nothing has happened so far with the hair but Fatima is still trying. He hopes to God this thing works out or Fatima will pour out all her frustrations on him. She shouldn't be disappointed after such devotion for two whole weeks, there should be a change or something. She's definitely too excited to get over her graduation that she didn't take notice of the changeless hair. He smiled at his inner joke, she will find out soon and bite off his head.

Leaving her to her thing, he made his way to the en-suite for a thorough bath too. He played out how he is planning to surprise Fatima later after her speech or is it in the middle of it? It's something a bit too cheeky but that was all they could come up with Raheeb and Adda mama. None of them is romantic, that's what he's found out about them and consoled himself that that's the reason he is still working on a simple surprise. Raheeb actually came up with the idea that it happened in one movie he's watched recently.

Ahmad wasn't keen on the idea at first but there is no other thing after the long run.

By the time he's walked out of the en-suite, Fatima is only wearing a pair of hot pink panty and matching bra definitely from Victoria secret. His mouth hit the floor at the bold move of her turning around in front of him half naked. He won't entertain her, she will be late and then will blame him for the whole day so he gave her an amused smile then made his way to the walk-in closet his heart thudding and blood rushing to unnecessary places. Fatima will be the death of him and that is it! Oh she's said it too herself, countless times.

"Vibe killer!" She yelled after him but he didn't stop, he only flipped her off with the middle finger. If he turns around to take her in again, there will be hell to pay and he won't mind then fighting the whole way to her school because he is going to make sure it is worth it.

Fatima giggled at the sight of her husband sheafing and protecting his self-control. Shaking her head in glee, she yanked the magenta sheath gown from the bed and wrestled inside. She ordered it few weeks ago from Mango brand when she saw it and couldn't take her eyes off it. Ahmad gave her two thumbs up amid his meeting so she purchased it without delay, the amount not withering her fast fingers from typing down her order. With its regular long sleeves and square shaped neckline, it's all perfect along with the color. Her obsession with pink is just leveling up.

Her rosewood Stuart Weitzman heels was clasped next around her ankle before she wobbled to the vanity table for makeup then remembered that this is not her room and her makeup in Ahmad's room is inside his walk-in closet. She made her way there, walking around the rug so he won't hear the sounds her heels are making. She entered inside only to find him fully dressed, she made a face before eying him from head to toe. Damnation, she wants to hide him and at the same time show those little bitches crushing on the transferred American police officer who he belongs to.

Her heart seemed to have stopped beating for awhile before it pounds harder than ever before, blood rushing to her ears to seize any sound from entering. The tingling started from her toes -curling it- up to her belly then settled restlessly in her chest. Her breath stalled and adrenaline spiked like she's ran a marathon and she is not that good runner to begin with. She felt giddy, a bit disoriented and unable to find the right words to say to him.

He is clasped in a rosewood William Westmancott Ultimate Bespoke suit that emphasized his lean large and big boned frame. Beneath it is a white button up shirt, a rosewood necktie tied to perfection around his neck. Matching rosewood pants down to sable Kenneth Cole leather derby shoes. Fatima place two fingers inside her mouth and made a loud whistle, her smile stretched into a beam. Oh em gee, her husband is a hottie and with this sense of fashion, he could pass up as the most high paid male model in the world. Lean, tall, attention-seeking presence, intimidating, rich and dark aura.

She's never seen him dressed in anything other than casual outfits, not even a kaftan. He is usually in his uniforms, sweats, jeans, khakis, shirts, hoodies, jackets, shirts and so on but never in a suit. Her eyes would've blinked with hearts had she been an emoji. Because right now, words are evading her with utter vigor as she gazed, inspected, check out, speechless.

With a smile etched across his face, Ahmad chuckled at her antics. "Don't fall off in those little demons," he gestured to her heels, walking over to her with that gait she's failed to notice recently. "Now..." his hand swiftly yanked her to his chest, looked down at her. "Rain me with praises."

Fatima continue to beam at him not hiding the fact that she is speechless, she sucked in a quick breath because suddenly, his voice earn goosebumps. "I-I'm speechless to be honest. I don't know what to say." She raise her hands up to his chest, touching the texture of his expensive suit then his neck tie. Her eyes are bright and filled with admiration, amazement and other bunch of emotions.

"Are you?" He chortled when she gave a curt nod, eyes holding his in place. He leaned closer, his brows raised because he just realized that he is also speechless. She looks absolutely breathtaking but he cannot just word out the real words. The breathtaking cannot begin to justify how she looks, mystical and enigmatic.

For the first time even though they've been together and in this sort of bubble billion times, there's a change in them as if they both know that something is going to happen and it'll change their lives. His heart is racing in his rib cage, his myocardium doing a little bad job at holding the chambers in place. Breathing shortened, his knees for the first time in his life understanding how it feels to have them weak, a bit wobbly. Isn't that a girly feeling? Why is it happening to him? He cursed, he is overwhelmed, feeling as though the room is closing in and suffocating them.

She inclined her head, sucked her lower lips in her mouth to moisten it then answered. "I am. Just know that you look exquisite."

His arm tightened around Fatima's narrow frame, and his free hand compulsively sought her hips, exerting gentle but steady pressure to bring her closer against him. The scent of her invaded his nose repeatedly, in luxurious drifts that roused a fresh wave of unrealistically melodramatic urges within his body. His head bowed and he sought out her recently moistened lips with his own, searching and owning possessively. Fatima reverted with same insane urge, feeling the change surrounding them in a whole. It can't be only him, she's felt it too.

Full make out session later, they drew back panting. "W-we should leave or things won't work out the way you planned it." Fatima nodded, her head on his shoulder as she panted restlessly.

She did her makeup, taking her time to apply mascara and eyeliner to perfection. Everything done, she did her new turban, she's scrolled through it on her Instagram just yesterday. Her silver accessories settled themselves around her ears, fingers, neck and ankle. With her Kate Spade purse in hand few minutes later, she is done and ready to go. Many pictures later in the mirror, she left the closet and went downstairs to meet Ahmad. He's finished making pancakes for them and a cup of coffee, she ate slowly so as to not ruin her makeup.

She forced him into taking pictures, something he's confessed to taking only once or twice his entire life. She was appalled. "How could you only take pictures once or twice your entire life? What the heck were you doing?"

He gave a shrug and pointed at the camera that she should take the picture so they can be on their way.