Chapter 167 - Like A Tiger

Benjamin was already in the shower, and I felt like I could hardly breathe.

Would she ever leave us alone?

I hoped that she got the message I just gave her and stop calling Ben. Considering that she just pleaded him to say something, at least verified that Ben did not lie to me when he said that he told her not to call him anymore.

"Habibie, are you coming?" He said with a towel around his waist. Water drops sparkled on his torso and his hair was dripping.

He enchanted me, with that crooked smile of his. I walked up to him and tilted my head up so that I could look at him. 

"Let's not waist another minute of your shower time, without the tubes." He said as he touched mu nose. He picked me up bridal style and took me to the rain shower.

Benjamin put my feet on the ground and the warm water washed over me. "Mhhhh." This is nice." I mused. 

His eyes were sparkling and he took my hand, pulling me close to his chest. Ben kissed the crown of my head and I enjoyed the warm feeling he gave me. "You are indeed incredible." He whispered in my ears. 

My stomach fluttered. 

Benjamin took some soap in his hands and washed my body. He touched me like was the most delicate thing. He then sweetly rinsed my body with water and took a bottle of shampoo in his hands. 

"Let your head back a bit Habib." Benjamin said. I closed my eyes and did as I was told. Benjamin gently washes my hair, massaging the skull of my head. 

When he was done, the alarm that he had set to warn us went off and Benjamin turned off the water.

He sweetly wrapped me into a large and soft towel and dried me off. Benjamin quickly went to the bedroom and came back with my oxygen. "So, that is better." He said as he connected me to the machine.

"Oh… Shoot… I did not asked a maid to get some new clothes for me. Stupid." I frowned. I had become quit depended on my maids, I had never imagined myself to be. 

"I can dress you." Ben said wiggling his eyebrows. "I think you already did what you most like about dressing." I said eying him with a hint of a smile.

Benjamin frowned. He did not know what I meant. "Oh." He finally said, he looked shy. He smiled again, running one hand through his hair. He looked cute as his laughing dimples appeared. 

"I actually meant really dressing you." He said as he walked to my closet. Benjamin always seemed to have a fascination for clothing and fashion. He himself always looked like he came straight out of a magazine. Benjamin put some clothing on the bed.

It was a comfortable suit, which seemed to be only used in a homy setting. It was deep pink and looked really girly, not sexy at all. "Really?!" I eyed him.

"The nights can become chilly." He reminded me. "Okay." I smiled and let him dress me. 

We went upstairs, back on deck and decided what to do. "Maybe Pablo wants to join us." Ben said. "Maybe he does." I said thinking of it. "I will go get him." I offered. "Get back in that wheelchair or else I will tape you to it." He snickered.

Benjamin took out his phone and in no time Pablo was here. Benjamin had also called his assistant and we all sat down playing poker. 

"How does this work?" I asked. 

"Everyone gets two cards, dealt face down. Three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. A fourth card is dealt face up in the middle of the table. A fifth card is dealt face up in the middle of the table." Ben said and acted laying the cards on the table at the same time. 

Saphira

My blood boiled and I could hardly fall asleep. I missed him. I missed his arms around me as he sang me to sleep. I missed the gentle kisses he gave me on my forehead, the long nights we stayed awake, talking and kissing. 

I cried until it was morning. 

I got dressed, and I saw that my eyes were still swollen and blood stained. I contemplated if I should go to the library or not. 

Arabic lessons were a good idea… but I did not think I could honestly want Malik to have control of anything in my life. I knew that I wanted him to go after me, but the more my tactics worked, I git really nervous.

Maybe I should go to the library…. Maybe I shouldn't. I felt so conflicted. Finally I decided that I should go. What did I have to loose anyway? Nothing at all.

I wandered through the halls and finally reached the library. How wealthy was this royal family? The palace was extremely big. I had never really thought about the fact that Benjamin was wealthy at all. 

Now it seemed ridiculous that all that time he was the owner of the house he lived in, in Malibu and as king…. This palace was now his as well.

It was kind of intimidating…. 

I got into the library and was shocked at how large that was as well. Row after row, full of books. I was a light reader, usually just a little fiction to escape reality, that's it. 

I strolled around the room. It was already time and there was still no sign of the teacher.

Suddenly I heard the door open and I sighed. "Why are you here?" I muttered.

"The tutor just has a maybe tonight." Malik apologized "Oh… come on.. just tell the truth already." I mumbled.

"I am telling the truth." He said in all seriousness. "So you are saying there is an actual tutor and it is not just you pretending, so that you could become closer to me?" I stated.

"Are you suggesting that I am lying?" He asked me. "If you would put it that was, then yes!"

"Okay, fine." He said and turned around. "I just came here to tell you that, so I will be heading out. The tutor will be here next week." He said and walked away.

"Malik!" I called after him. Malik slowly turned around. "Yes.." He said skeptically. "I…. I am sorry." I said a little uncomfortable.

"it is alright." He said meaningfully. "Have a good day." He told me. "Malik." I said again as his feet touched the threshold.

I did not want to be alone today…. "Can you maybe tutor me instead." I rushed through the words. "Just for today." I quickly added.

Malik seemed to think and it took longer than I had expected. I was starting to get nervous. "Malik?" I pressed wanting to know what he was thinking. 

"I do not think that it is really a good idea." He told me. "Why not?" I questioned. "Because…" He seemed to think. 

"Whatever." He said and walked towards me. He took a seat across from me and tapped his finger on the wooden desk.

Jasmine

I woke up in my husband's arms. I looked up at him and he was still sleeping. Benjamin's arms was around my waist, so I could not get up. 

"Ben?!" I whispered, wanting to wake him. "Ben…" I said again.

Benjamin opened one of his eyes and looked at me. "I want to get up." I told him. Benjamin held me with his other arms as well. So much for letting me go. I sighed. Benjamin quietly snickered. 

"You are so willing to leave me empty-handed?" He mused. 

"I need to go to the bathroom." I lied. I did not want to hurt his feelings, but I felt trapped in his arms. 

Benjamin let me go and I got out of bed. I stood before the sink, holding on to it for support.

I stared into my own green eyes and slowly breathed in and out. I had a hard time with closeness ever since I was young. Well, ever since my sister married Saeed. 

I needed to stop thinking about that, otherwise my mood would go spiraling down. I got out of the bathroom and stood before my closet.

Benjamin stared at be from the bed. 

"Do you want me to help you again?" He asked. "No… it's just… I am not used to dressing myself anymore." I said frustrated. "My maids know my schedule… and know how I need to be dressed…." I heavily sighed. 

"My offer still stands you know." Benjamin cooed. "How come you are so into fashion?" I asked him as I turned around towards him. "Isn't that only something for… you… know… people like Pablo?" I almost whispered. 

Benjamin seemed stunned by my question.. He got out of the bed, eyeing me, like a tiger who was after his prey.