“Samar!” She bit the insides of her cheeks so bad it hurt.
“Laugh it out, it will become easier.” He nodded at her mouth.
“I swear you want death at my hands.”
“I also want other things.”
This time she baited back — “And what is that?”
“Your hand, in marriage.”
“Something that is not under eighteen.”
“What’s that?” His smirk deepened. And she stilled.
“Wait a minute… was that a proposal?”
“I did ask you, didn’t I?”
“Was that a question?” She threw up her hands.
“Fine, Amaal.” He grabbed her hand in his and commanded, eyes ahead. “I am going to marry you.”
She took a deep breath, then let it go, still keeping her smile to herself — “That was the most dominating, non-romantic, boring…”
He hit the indicator and parked the car by the shoulder of the highway.
“What are you…” She didn’t get to complete that question as he tugged her wrist and smacked his mouth on hers. His tongue tore through her lips and his fingers gathered her hair tight. He licked her tongue, squeezing her hair and letting his specs press into her skin. He knew what he was doing. Because he instantly pulled back, too.
She was panting, eyes at half mast, mouth open. His hand covered her cheek — “You finally let yourself feel this.”
She tried to hold it in but a giggle burst out. Samar smiled.
“I blame myself for this.” He said softly. “But now that my time is up, and you have come back, I am ready to become all that you ever need me to be, in my good moments and my bad, so marry me.”
She began to open her mouth but he shut her up with another quick kiss.
“It’s not romantic because I did not plan it. If I plan it, it won’t be romantic at all.”
Her chest vibrated.
“But I have some surprises for you. Two are at home, one is for after we get married.”
Her brow went up suggestively.
“Think clean, Amaal,” he kissed her forehead, laughing. “Think clean.”
“Samar.”
“Hmm?” His voice vibrated on her forehead.
“Us, your car with its…” she checked the backseat — empty for a change. “Contraband.” He chuckled. “And an open road, is all that’s needed. If I wanted romance, I would have gone to Khalil…”
He gripped her neck and pulled her head back — “You had to take his name.”
She grinned, nodding.
Samar pushed her neck until her lips were under his mouth and bit into the soft flesh. She winced, and felt it in other places.
