Chapter 124 - Culture And Things

Jasmine

"Ben." I said trying to distract him from going to Saphira. "Honey." I said a little louder. 

Benjamin cocked his head to me and flashed me his set of white teeth. I gestured for him to come to me and he turned his head back to Saphira and then back to me again. Making his way over to my side of the pool. 

I quickly looked at Saphira and she did not look happy with me. "I don't like you wearing anything like this outside our bedroom." Benjamin said as he placed his hands on the small of my back. Our noses were inches away. 

"I know your majesty." I said seductively. "I think you should teach me a lesson when we get back to our bedroom then." I said and bit my lip. "Mhh…" He said and frowned. There was a smile on the edge of his lips. "So tell me…" He said and bit my neck playfully. 

"What is the meaning of this woman?" He said and looked into my eyes. My heart skipped a beat. "I thought it would be fun to do something active with our friends to close off the night." I said emphasizing on the word 'our'. "Is that so huh…" Benjamin said as he stroke through my hair. 

"What kind of other motives should I have then?" I asked him in my most innocent voice. "I could of said that I was tired and kept you all to myself tonight and take a hot bath with you instead." I said raising my eyebrows twice.

Benjamin shook his head. "You are something." He said. "I am something…" I said as I wrapped my arms around him. "Is that it?" I said as I leaned in. My lower lips touched his and Benjamin's mouth opened, inviting me in. 

We both laughed. He gave me a quick kiss and turned towards Saphira. "How could this pool be so quiet?" Zachary asked. "What do you mean?" Ben said frowning.

"There are no other guests." Zach said waving at the completely empty pool area. "I know it's late, but it is not that late now is it." Zach shrugged.

"Mhh… mhh…" Benjamin said thoughtfully. "I am the sultan of Saudi-Arabia, I don't like the extra eyes." He spoke carefully. "Awhh okay, I thought it was because you wanted to shield Your wife, because you became more religious or something."

I laughed out loud. "I don't think you are far off mark." I snicked way too loud. "Although Ben is hardly religious."

"Nawhh… Really?" Zach said shocked. "I have known you for years…. And yes kinda the jealous type, but not wanting your wife to be seen by other men?"  Zachary said in disbelieve. "Really?!" Zach said again.

"My wife comes from a family where she was kept in Burka's and where she was made to wear an eye-veil. So I think I am hardly being strict with her." He muttered.

"What do you mean by you are hardly being strict on her. Isn't she her own woman, deciding for herself?" He asked incredulous.

"Zach!" Saphira said in a loud voice to make her boyfriend stop talking. 

"It's okay Saphira." Ben said "I don't expect you to understand really…" Ben offered.

"Don't tell me it's a cultural thing." Zach said disapprovingly.

"You know it is, isn't it little pea?" Ben said looking at me. I raised both my hands, I was not going to mingle in this conversation. I did not foresee an outcome, that would be beneficial for me in any way. 

Zachary kept staring at me, pushing me to speak. 

"You are both right." I said raising both my hands in surrender. 

"It is indeed a way of life, in which most Saudi woman are trapped. It is in our culture." I said. This was definitely not something Ben liked to hear, but it was the truth.

Benjamin's eyes were blazing. "Trapped." Benjamin said in disgust. "You know what I mean… you are aren't changing some rules just because you were bored. I mean like the law you passes for girls to go to school and leave the house without a male guardian."

"Whatt!! Woman need a male to leave the house? So they are like prisoners inside their home?" Zach's green eyes were almost popping out.

"But isn't that so because your land is more veil than modern countries and woman need to be protected more…" Saphira said trying to be smart.

"If so… Who do those woman need protection from?" I said trying to make a point.

She probably didn't get my point, because she was answering my question. "I heard woman have much more chance to get killed or raped when they go out alone then woman do in the USA." She went on.

"Uh… fair enough, but who do they get raped by then?" I said and rolled my eyes at her. Was she that stupid?

"Oh…" She said grasping my point. "And for that matter, when a woman gets raped, she is being sentenced for life." I said feeling sick by the idea. What if it happened to me and I was obligated to marry Saeed? That would be the end if my life. 

"What do you mean?" Zach asked. "When a woman gets raped, the judge will rule she has to marry that man, because no other man will have her." I said looking outside the window.

"Is that true…" Zach asked to Ben. Benjamin just nodded. He did not seem too proud of that concept of culture. 

"That's barbaric." Zach said shaking his head. I climbed on the edge of the pool. It was stupid, but this conversation made me think about all that happened. 

"So you guys make a victim of rape, spend her life with a rapist?!" Saphira said scrambling for words. "It is something that I will amend." Benjamin said trying to get out of this conversation. 

"I am considering to give rapist a sentence to life." He probably made up as he went, because he never spoke about anything like it. 

"I am getting cold….." I said. "Can we go back to our suites?"