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“You need to change before going back, I can’t see if you have any blood on you or not,” Randall said quietly, leading his client back up to the house. They waited in the shadows and then slipped inside without being seen. “Do you have something else to put on?”

“Yes, I will put my salwar kameez back on, and my hijab. Everyone will think that I just felt uncomfortable in the western dress.”

“That’s a good idea, but a shame - you sure look fantastic in it,” Randall said with a smile. “Don’t take too long, Howie will start to worry.”

Randall stood guard outside the master bedroom. Suheera used a wash cloth to wipe her face and arms, just in case, and then touched up her makeup quickly. With a sigh, she removed all the jewelry except the head piece and ran cold water over them, rinsing any traces of blood from them. She slipped back into the wedding clothes and draped just the lace hijab over her head, flipping the ends over her shoulder to hold it in place.

Less than ten minutes later, Randall led her back to the party. Howie didn’t seem disturbed that she’d been gone so long, knowing that her bodyguard had been with her.

“You changed your outfit,” Howie said, a pretend pout on his face.

“Baby steps,” she said with a smile. “I liked the dress but felt a little…exposed.” She didn’t like to lie to her husband, but she was sure that the circumstances warranted it this time.

“I understand, you wear whatever makes you the most comfortable,” he said with a smile, kissing her cheek. “Brian was just telling us about Baylee’s baseball team and what a great little player his son is.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know much about baseball,” Suheera said, smiling apologetically. “Soccer, yes, I know all about that.”

“Well, he plays that too,” Brian said, launching into another story. Thankfully Saleena came by a few minutes later and rescued her.

“I’m going to steal the bride away to get her ready for tonight,” she said with a smile.

“Don’t take too long,” Howie said, grinning.

“Give me thirty minutes, ok?” She took Suheera by the arm and led her up to the house and into the master bedroom. “Take a shower, but do not get your face or hair wet,” Saleena commanded. Suheera carefully removed the head piece and rinsed it off before placing it on a towel to dry.

When Suheera emerged from the shower, she discovered that her best friend had prepared the room. The bed was turned back; flowers gave the room a nice scent. Candles were lit on the bedside tables and on the dresser; the room glowed softly. Saleena handed her a night gown of the sheerest material, a shimmering gown of white and lace.

“Let me help you,” Saleena said, slipping the garment over her head. She picked up a vial from the dresser and dabbed some liquid in a few strategic places. She then picked up a brush, removed the rubber band from the braid and shook Suheera’s hair free. It immediately curled, making Saleena sigh. “You have the most beautiful hair.” She brushed until the silky locks shone in the soft light.

“I’m nervous, Saleena,” Suheera admitted as her friend finished working on her hair. “What if I disappoint him? I don’t know what to do.”

“Your body will know what to do, and there’s no way you could ever disappoint that man, he loves you so much,” Saleena reassured her. “Wait here, I will bring your husband to you.”

Suheera sat on the edge of the bed, waiting. She still couldn’t believe she was Howie’s wife; they had gone through so much to be together. She looked up at the sound of the door opening. He smiled gently at her as he entered, closing and locking the door behind him.

“Everyone wanted to come and wish us a good wedding night, but I thought that might be too much for you,” he said, sitting down next to her. Saleena had warned him ahead of time that their friends would want to enter the bedroom and sprinkle the bed with flower petals as the couple climbed in.

She blushed slightly, taking his hand. “Thank you, I would have been quite embarrassed.”

“No one will bother us. Randall is standing guard at the end of the hallway, and Saleena is making sure our guests are well taken care of and returned to their hotel at the end of the evening.” He took her face in his hands, cupping it gently. “I’m glad Saleena intervened. I wanted to get away from the crowd to be alone with you.”

“You have waited long enough,” she whispered, seeing the lust fire in his eyes. He leaned over and captured her lips, slowly deepening the kiss until he could slip his tongue into her mouth.

Suheera sighed, amazed at the erotic feelings this roused in her. She felt warmth begin in the pit of her stomach and start to move through her. Too soon he broke off the kiss. “I need to take a quick shower, do you mind?”

“Of course not. I’ll be right here when you get out,” she said, slowly drawing back the comforter and sheets on the bed and slipping in. Suheera waited nervously, her heart pounding as she listened to Howie taking a shower, imagining the water running down his naked body. She shivered, knowing that soon his body would be next to her in bed. She began to have doubts about her ability to be the woman she knew he wanted her to be. Tears crept unbidden to her eyes.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Howie asked, slipping into bed beside her. She could feel the cool silk of his shorts against her thigh.

“I…I don’t want you to be disappointed…” she whispered, unable to look in his eyes. “You’ve waited so patiently and now…”

“Look, sweetheart, if you aren’t ready for this you just say the word. There’s nothing that says we have to make love tonight.” He stroked her cheek with gentle fingertips.

“But you’ve already waited so long,” she cried.

“I would wait forever,” he whispered into her ear, then pressed a light kiss to her neck.

Suheera shuddered, the touch of his lips on her skin made her gasp. She didn’t know why she was hesitating. Wasn’t this what she wanted from the very beginning? “You are too kind to me,” she whispered back. She reached out a hesitant hand to touch his face, running her fingers along his jawline. He’d shaved, his cheeks smooth and soft now.

“I can never repay you for what you did for me, you saved my life – and the lives of my brothers,” he added. “You are the most beautiful and courageous woman I’ve ever met, and I’d wait a lifetime for you to be mine.” He pulled her close, snuggling her body to his as he pulled the sheet over their bodies.

Suheera laid her head on his chest, the slow drum of his heartbeat reassuring. She felt herself finally relax as he stroked her back, all the tensions of the day draining away. The wedding had gone off without a hitch – except for Fareed. She sat up suddently, the sheet falling away. “Howie, I need to tell you something…”

“What is it, darling? You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.”

“It’s about Fareed,” her voice trailed off as she saw the look that came across Howie’s face.

“He will never hurt you again, I swear,” he said, pulling her back into his arms. “The district attorney assured me Fareed will have plenty of jail time. And Randall will always have your back, you don’t have to worry.”

Suheera started to protest but then decided against it. Perhaps it would be better if Howie didn’t know just what had happened this evening. “You’re right, I don’t have anything to worry about.” She tilted her face up to him. “Will you kiss me?” she asked softly.

“My pleasure, wife,” he said with a smile, capturing her luscious lips. When he finally released her she was breathless, the blood pounding in her veins. The hesitation from earlier was gone, replaced with a good healthy dose of lust.

“What are you waiting for, husband? Make love to me, ravish me…”

Howie was happy to oblige and soon Suheera’s sheer nightgown lay on the floor with his shorts. She lay naked before him, the moonlight streaming in the window illuminating his wife’s generous curves. “I can’t tell you how many nights I lay in bed, dreaming of this moment,” he said.

“Me too,” she admitted. “After our night in Baghdad, I knew just one night was never going to be enough.”

“A million nights won’t be enough,” he growled, capturing her lips, his hand trailing down her stomach to the dark triangle of hair. Suheera sucked in her breath as his fingers invaded her, stroking until she spread her legs for him.

She reached down for him, shyly seeking his manhood hiding beneath the sheet. When she brushed against it, Howie shuddered. With a wicked smile, she grasped him gently and a low moan escaped from his lips.

“Sweet Jesus,” he exclaimed as she ran her hand up and down. After several minutes he could take no more and rolled himself on top of her. “I can’t wait any longer,” he whispered.

Suheera could feel him pressing against her, she arched her hips to allow him to slide inside. The feeling was so exquisite she sighed, then tightened around him.

Howie buried his face in her hair, breathing in the exotic scent of it as he struggled for control. He didn’t want this to be over in mere seconds, he wanted this to be special for Suheera as well. “Be still for a second, sweetheart, ok?”

“I’m sorry, am I doing something wrong?” she queried, suddenly afraid.

“No, of course not, but if you keep squeezing me like that I’ll be apologizing to you for the world’s shortest wedding night.” He laughed when Suheera finally understood the meaning of his words. She instantly relaxed her muscles and Howie began to breathe again. A few moments later he regained control and began to slowly move in and out, building the tension between them.

“You like?” he asked, kissing her eyelids.

“Very much,” she replied, moving in time with his thrusts. Her breath started to come in pants as he increased the tempo, arching up against him. “Whatever you do, do not stop for any reason.”

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to, and I certainly don’t want to stop,” he replied, almost overcome with the sensation of her warm flesh enveloping him.

“Oh my!” she cried out. “I love you so much, Howie,” she whispered in his ear as the waves of passion crashed over her. Feeling her shudder beneath him pushed Howie over the edge as well. He collapsed on top of her, his breath ragged. When he started to move away from her, she stopped him.

“I must be squishing you,” he protested, not wanting to lay his entire weight on top of her.

“I don’t want this moment to end,” she whispered, looking up into his eyes.

“Neither do I, but I can’t lay on top of you for the rest of the night,” he teased. “But you can lay on top of me.” With a quick twist, Suheera found herself nestled on top of her husband, his arms tight around her.

“Hmm, I like this too,” she said with a smile. “And I can tell you do too,” she added a few moments later when she felt his member begin to stiffen again.

“You bring out the best in me,” Howie said with a chuckle. Before long, they were making love again, Howie showing Suheera the advantages of being on top. She didn’t mind at all, bringing them both to climax again.

Exhausted, they lay in each other’s arms. “This has been the best day of my life,” Suheera murmured sleepily.

“The best day of my life is the day I met you,” Howie said, kissing her forehead as he fell asleep.