Chapter 76 - Who Are You?

Benjamin

As we drove home one of my palace guards called me.

"They have captured Raina." He said.

I could not swallow. I tried to stay calm and not let Jasmine notice that something was very much wrong.

"Keep me updated." I said and hung up the phone.

"Who was that?" Jasmine asked. "One of my guards." I tried to keep my voice even.

Jasmine

The house Benjamin and his family lived in was very modern compared to the palace. Although luxury-wise it did not lack of anything.

My mother-in-law almost ran to me when we walked in. She held me so close, I almost couldn't breathe. I met his two younger brothers, they looked nothing like him. I was glad that his family spoke Arabic, because although I did speak and understand the English language, it did not come natural to me.

His mom was preparing food for us. "She shouldn't have to fuss so much." I told Benjamin. "I mean, I could cook myself." I said. Benjamin smiled. "She loves to do so. I have hired a cook several times, but she fires them every time." He chuckled.

Benjamin was showing me around their property. "What is your favorite room?" I asked. "I have two. Or maybe now that you are here with me… three." He said flashing me his crooked smile.

I raised one eyebrow. "I'll show you the first." We walked into a music room. There was a grand piano on a platform. "Do you play?" I asked.

"Do I play?!" He acted shocked. "Did you not know?" He pouted his lips. "No…" I said feeling flushed. Was this something I was supposed to know?

"Can you play for me?" I cooed. Benjamin grinned. "Sure." He said. Benjamin sat down on the bench in front of the piano and stretched his fingers. He started to play and I recognized the melody.

"I know this right?" I tried to remember. "I don't know if you should… but I sing this song to you at night when you have nightmares." Benjamin said as he grabbed my waist with one hand and pulled me onto his lap.

I was silent. I always thought I dreamed of him, I had no idea it was real.

I placed my head on his shoulders and closed my eyes. Benjamin kissed the temple of my face. "Let's take you to bed." He said. "We have had a long trip."

Saphira

My phone rang, it was Sierra. "Benjamin is home." Sierra said and hung up the phone.

I ran down the stairs. Looking down at my clothing, I walked up again. I went into my walk in closet and looked at myself in the mirror.

Did I really want to go and see him? Yes, I did. I grabbed a green dress and quickly changed my outfit.

I hurried out of my room. Then looked at my feet and turned back to put some shoes on. I sighed.

I ran so fast down the stair I fell a couple of times. I went straight to the kitchen and grabbed my car keys from the kitchen counter. My heart was racing. My breath quickened and I was hyperventilating while I got in to my car.

I rested my head on the steering wheel gasping for air. I tried to breath normal but I couldn't. I started the engine and without thinking I drove straight to his house.

I just sat in my car for ten minutes, trying to find courage to press the gate button. Then finally I did. I pressed the button and Benjamin's mom answered.

I did not know if she saw me through the camera's, but she actually opened the gate.

When the gate was being opened, tears overwhelmed me. I parked my car in front of their house and his mom was waiting for me at the door. That meant he wasn't home right? Sierra was probably making a fool out of me again.

When I came up closer, I saw that she held her finger to her mouth, gesturing for me to be quiet. I entered their hallway and I immediately understood why. Out of the music room flowed a beautiful wave of music.

His music, he was playing piano. Benjamin was home.

His mom that was always so quiet, gestured her hand to the door he was behind and left me alone in the long hallway. I just stood there listening to him play. It was incredible.

I gently opened the door and he didn't notice me coming in. He looked so weary, like he was without peace. Without saying a word, I just stood behind his piano chair for a while. Following his hands sway on the keys. How could I not love this man.

Then without even giving it a thought, I slowly stroke his cheek with one hand, and kissed his other cheek with my lips.

I gently let my head rest onto the side of his... and wrapped my hands around his body tightly. He kept on playing even though I saw that his hands started to shake now, and I fought back my tears.

I inhaled his sent and kissed the hollow beneath his ear. He tilted his head into my direction without really seeing each other's faces. I felt him settle down into my embrace, but his music was still shaky.

I stroke his arms trying to sooth him and kissed his cheek again. He let his hands drop from the keys of the piano trying to find mine. One hand he held tightly around mine and slowly brought it against his heart. Our other fingers danced around each other. Touching, feeling and stroking.

I wanted to see his face but I knew that I had to wait. As he held my hand, I tilted both of ours, so that I could touch his face with the back of my hand. His cheek was wet, he was crying and so was I.

Then I walked around the chair letting go of one hand, but holding on to the other. I squeezed myself between his piano chair and the grand piano. He was looking down to our hands and he did not look up. With my free hand I tilted up his chin and made him look at me.

Tears were flowing from his cheeks. We just gazed into each other eyes without saying a single word. Somehow this moment said more than a thousand words ever could.

I placed my forehead against his and I closed my eyes, while he stroke my hair and then my face. Each time he touched me, my heart started to skip beats. This was my home, This was the man I love.

My Benjamin.

I touched my nose to his and leaned in.

"NO!" He abruptly said while he yanked me away from him. He held both my arms in an iron grip to my sides and starred at me looking furious.

I just stood there looking into his gorgeous hazel eyes. I couldn't stop smiling at him. Mad or not, he was touching me."

I want you to go." He said with a shaky voice. "No, you don't, I could feel that you longed for me too." I said smugly.

"Saphira that is just lust. Do you even know what love is?" He asked me in a bitter tone. I scrutinized his face.

"I know that I love you..."I slowly said scrutinizing his face. He made a mocking face at me. But I went on.

"And I know for a fact that I am your true love."I said whispering. "You've watched the movie? "He asked almost inaudible. I just nodded. He closed his eyes and then sighed.

"All that is irrelevant now."He said when he opened up his eyes.

"How could you say our love is irrelevant?" I asked. "Didn't you think I would find out that you spend almost every day with Zachary?" He said frustrated. "And didn't you think I knew the two of you went prom shopping and even went to the dance together. Or that you send him pictures of yourself half naked." He said while raising his voice and shaking his head.

"Why would you kiss someone else? Why would you even tell me you never had?" He went speaking even louder. I could not pronounce a single word.

"Or would you lie in my face now? Saying all that wasn't true. Even though I can prove it." I just stared at him. "Prove how?" I questioned narrowing my eyes.

Benjamin took his phone out of his jeans pocket and showed me a picture of Zachary and I at prom. When he had almost kissed me.

"He had never kissed me. I punched him and he had a thick lip for three days." I said whispering. "Lies, lies, lies. And you never send him no naked picture either? "He said angry. "Why would I?" I asked astonished by his accusation.

"Oh." I mouthed. It all came back to me "That explains." I told him. "I wanted to send that picture to you and I thought I hadn't sent it."

Benjamin was silent. We were still close. It was hard for me to read his eyes. What was he thinking?

"Sierra admitted she was just jealous." I tried to explain to him. "Jealous?!" He frowned. "Come on… you are blind if you can't see that she is in love with you." I frowned back at him.

"It was all a big misunderstanding, I have never cheated on you." I said pleadingly.

In the corner of my eye I saw a young woman standing in the door opening of the music room.

"Who are you?" I asked her.. "Well… since you are holding my husband… the real question is; who are you?" She said in a possessive tone.