Chapter 83：Morning After -II

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Asahd's POV:

Later that morning, after I'd showered and was buttoning my shirt up in front of the glass in my dressing room, when there was a knock at my door.

"Yes?? Come in." I replied as I stepped into my bedroom. My mother stepped in and I smiled, bowing a little.

"Good morning, mom."

I went to her and kissed her forehead.

"Good morning sweetheart. You sure are in a great mood this morning."

"You have no idea." I chuckled and raised a wrist to her. She helped me button up my sleeve, and then the other. "Thank you."

I went to fix my hair in front of my mirror.

"The storm was terrible yesterday. Awful." she said, taking a seat on my sofa, close by.

"Mmm. It was perfect to me. Made me sleep so well. Better than I'd ever in a very long time." I smiled at my reflection.

'And also because it was of great help while I made love to Saïda.'

"Oh, that's nice."

I went towards my drawers to pick a wristwatch for the day. My mother watched me silently and it amused me.

"What?" I asked.

"You're even more handsome this morning, my dear. Guess that sleep did you good."

"Thank youuuu." I chuckled, "Yes, it did."

"It's still so hard to realise, you know." she mused.

"Let me guess." I chuckled, "Saïda and I?"

"Yes."

"What can I say? The heart wants what it wants. I'll speak to Djafar today." I fixed my watch.

"I just knew something was up. There were so many clues. I just found it hard to believe."

I laughed a little.

"What made you conclude that there was really something going on?" I asked.

"A lot. But I think it was the moment I saw you pull Saïda along and out of Noure's building." she started "You looked angry, yes. But you didn't seem to be angry at her but at someone else who could only be Noure. You were holding her like a jealous lover would, taking her away from someone you didn't want her to be with."

I stared at her with a little smile.

"You're strong." I mused and she laughed a little.

"Plus, as my car drove by, we headed straight for the palace. I expected Saïda and you to show up shortly after but you didn't. I understood that you had taken her elsewhere which happens to be the hill you told me about yesterday. And when you returned all happy, both of you, I finally noticed your wrapped hand and immediately concluded that you had surely gotten into an altercation with Noure."

"And you were absolutely right."

"There were too many hints." she mused, "Remember when I came to look for Saïda, here? I knocked and asked but you only let me in after long seconds. And when I finally entered, Saïda was sitting in a corner with your schedule book. When she approached me, remember I noticed that her cheeks were red and even asked if she was feverish."

"True, true." I chuckled and sat close to her.

"Tell me, Asahd." she started.

"Yes, mother?"

"Have you two, kissed? Have you kissed her, knowing perfectly well that she is still betrothed until further notice?"

I stared at her in amusement.

"Nope." I lied and my mother gave me that, 'You think I'm that dumb?', look and I laughed.

"Asahd, I bet you were kissing that same time I knocked and entered to look for her. No she wasn't feverish and I wondered why she was blushing and seemed a little breathless. You had been kissing, hadn't you?" she raised a knowing brow and my lips twitched in amusement.

"I don't know what you are talking about, mother." I mused and she rolled her eyes.

"Asahd, I know you. I raised you. I watched you grow and I know you more than anybody else in this palace. You'd been kissing her. And you probably still do when you two are alone." she shook her head and I laughed.

"Fine. I've kissed her maybe once or twice." I chuckled and my mother shook her head in amusement.

"Sweetheart, that is wrong."

"Mom, you said you know me very well. If I want to kiss Saïda, I do." I mused.

"Oh Asahd, tell me you've done nothing more with her." she shook her head and I chuckled.

"I haven't, mother. Why would you think that?"

"I know how stubborn you are, dear. You don't care about some of our strict customs and traditions. Tell me you didn't make that innocent girl do something she didn't want to do."

My mouth twitched to the side again.

"Dear mother," I started, still amused. "I will never and have never made Saïda, do what she didn't and doesn't want to do, with me." I smirked and my mother froze a little.

"Yalah..." she muttered and I laughed.

"What is it?"

"Asahd, don't tell me you've slept with her. Have you??" she asked, shocked.

'Yesterdaaaaaay, and I have to again in the next few hours or so!'

"No, mother!" I exclaimed, acting all serious. "Why would you think that? I can't go that far with Saïda. I might have kissed her but I still have some respect for her relationship with Noure, as long as it's still holding."

'Liiieees. He can still suck a dick!'

"Promise me, Asahd. I find it hard to believe you because I know how bad of a seducer you are. Be honest please." she was still very worried and I tried not to chuckle.

Maintaining a serious expression, I held her hands in mine.

"I did not make her sleep with me."

'We simply agreed to sleep with each other. There's a difference. Well, I kind of made her come to me in a gradual manner. But still!'

"And plus, you know how serious Saïda is." I used my secret weapon. "She's like her father. She will never cross that type of boundary. If I hadn't insisted a little, she would've never even kissed me in the first place."

"True. She's a very serious girl." my mother nodded. "You're right. She's strict in her ways."

'Fact. That is, until I come around and she automatically loses all resistance. Noure could never.'

"There. You see? Believe me now?"

"Yes, yes. You're right." my mother gave up to my sweet relief.

She stood and I with her.

"Anyway, breakfast is ready. Let's go downstairs."

"Right behind you."

*

Writer's POV:

"You look particularly gorgeous this morning, Saïda." one of the female cooks told Saïda that morning as she, Salma and Aisha had entered to get the baked bread for the breakfast of the royals.

"Oh, thank you." Saïda smiled, blushing a little.

"We told her the same thing this morning. She's quite bright and prettier." Salma told the cooking women who agreed.

"Seems you had your beauty sleep. Even with that awful storm, yesterday night." a maid said.

"Yeah. I slept quite well." Saïda replied and quickly left the kitchen. The two others followed her, taking the fruits and salad bowl along.

About six people had commented Saïda that morning on her bright appearance. It'd made the girl wonder if it was that evident that she felt so good in her skin? She too felt more confident than usual. Was it all due to Asahd's love making? She smiled to herself at the sweet thought.

-

They got to the dining room and put the food they had, down on the table with the others.

She and her friends were setting the cutlery, teacups and salad bowls when they heard the voices of the sultan and Queen, approaching for breakfast.

When Saïda heard Asahd's voice, her heart skipped a beat.

'Keep calm, girl. Act as normal as possible.'

Soon, the royals appeared and the girls curtsied. Asahd's eyes wasted no time to fall on his love. His heart skipped a beat and he smiled a little.

Saïda avoided his eyes and had her head bowed, yet, she was already blushing like crazy.

'Gosh, my body betrays me always.'

They greeted and the sultan and Queen replied in general. Asahd on the other hand, replied individually.

"Yes, Good morning Salma, Good morning Aisha." his eyes fell on Saïda. "And Good morning, Saïda."

She finally looked up at him, trying hard to act as normal as possible. But immediately she did, her cheeks burned. The moment their eyes met, it was a mutual feeling as their hearts started to race.

'Damn, she's so beautiful. Even more beautiful this morning.'

Asahd swallowed. Saïda fought with her own self in order not to bit her lip at him. He was even sexier and attractive that morning.

'I swear I could jump on him right now, if we'd been alone.'

"Thank you, Prince Asahd." her voice came out rather normally, relief washing over her.

The Queen had been watching the whole thing from the corner of her eye, being the only one to understand the tension between them. She tried hard not to smile, being amused.

-

The royals then gained their seats. As expected, Asahd wanted Saïda to serve him. As she stood close to his chair, she inhaled his sweet perfume. It immediately gave her goosebumps as she remembered leaving his room earlier that morning with that same sweet smell of his, all over her body. It immediately drew her thoughts back to the previous night.

'Gosh, he smells so good. I'm actually feeling dizzy right now.'

She kept her eyes on the teacup in which she was pouring some tea. His perfume had been enough to make her knees weak again. She was even afraid of maybe falling or so.

'Oh my son, what have you done to her?'

The Queen thought in amusement.

-

The girls finished and left. Asahd watched Saïda leave while his parents focused on their meals.

At a point she turned a little and looked at him. He discreetly kissed her in the air and she blushed, smiling a little. She pouted shyly and sent him a kiss in return, before disappearing.

Asahd smiled to himself.

'Let me eat real quick and then go after you, sweetheart.'