“Oh my God!”
“I’m terrified, Zoe. I don’t want to get married. We don’t love each other. We don’t even know each other, actually. Even if I hadn’t set the end of this weekend as our deadline, which is already longer than I talked to you about before, our relationship wouldn’t last anyway.”
“We’re not in the Middle Ages, Maddie. Sheikh or not, the final decision will always be yours. Nobody can force you into a marriage. I just thought that . . .”
“What?”
“From our previous conversations, I thought you liked Kamal. So the idea of marrying him shouldn’t be so scary.”
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. Now I know why women leave with their hearts broken after only a month. He’s very captivating. Fascinating, actually. Still, that’s not enough for a marriage. We don’t know anything about each other. Kamal isclosed off. He’s never tried to get to know me or talk to me about himself or his family. All we have together is . . .”
“Good sex?”
“Way beyond good. Physical attraction isn’t love, though. It’s not even passion.”
“You’re right. However, until you find out whether you’re pregnant or not, you need to calm down. Let’s try to put things into perspective. The pill may work, and in that case, you’re worrying for nothing. If you’re really expecting a baby, you have me. Everything will be fine, Maddie.”
“Thank you. I’d feel even more lost without you. How long should I wait to get a blood test to be sure if I’m pregnant?”
“Within fifteen days you can get a blood test to be sure. Doctors say it’s seven to twelve days. But to spare yourself from going crazy wondering if it’s a false negative, it’s better to wait two weeks.”
“I’ll be very anxious until then.”
“I will be too, Maddie. Like I said, though, you’re not without options. I’ll always be by your side. Nobody can force you to do or be anything, regardless of what Kamal told you.”
“I love you, cousin. I’m sorry for ruining your Sunday, but I needed to talk to you to keep myself from going crazy.”
“You didn’t ruin it. Let me know when you’re back in London, okay?”
I end the call feeling a bit calmer. However, when I turn around, Kamal is by the bedroom door, watching me.
Did he overhear the call?
I escaped to the guest bedroom, which should have been mine, but I never got a chance to use it.
He’s wearing a black robe and looks more handsome than ever, with his hair tousled from sleep. Despite that, the awareness is evident in his posture. His attentive eyes study my face.
“Good morning,” I say awkwardly.
It’s amazing that even after so much physical intimacy, I still feel out of place waking up in his house wearing nothing but a nightgown.
He doesn’t answer but comes to me. Without saying anything, he pulls me into a kiss.
I close my eyes and lose myself in that warm, experienced, and seductive mouth. Tomorrow, I’ll be back in the real world, but today I can allow myself to enjoy this.
“Why did you come here?” he asks when we part.
“I was talking to my cousin.”
“Christos’s wife?”
“Yes. I, um, told her about our talk yesterday. About the possibility of a baby, I mean.”
“You’re scared.”
“You know I am.”
“What scares you the most, Madeline?”
