When I got closer, he grabbed me by the hand and turned my body so my back was to him. Then he proceeded to caress me from the waist up. As he reached the straps of my gown, he slipped them off ever so slowly, letting my gown slide to the floor. I could feel his strong presence behind me. Then, he turned me to face him. He kissed my neck working his way up to a passionate kiss. He carried me to the bedroom. I guess he had some surprises of his own because I saw the room filled with the soft glow of candles and rose petals.
As he placed me on the bed, he whispered in my ear.
“You are so beautiful. I can’t wait to make love to you all night long.”
“I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life,” I said as I whispered in his ear and nibbled it softly. “You are the only man I want, and I really want you…”
“I’m all yours, today and forever,” he said, catching his breath as he kissed every part of me.
We touched and discovered our bodies all over again. We consumed each other with intensity. No force of nature could stop the deep emotions that had taken over this indescribable moment. We couldn’t believe that everything we had hoped for had finally become a reality. We could love each other freely, with no guilt, no regrets, just looking forward to a future filled with hope and dreams.
“Moments like this should last forever,” Brahim said.
“Moments like this have beautiful consequences.”
As our energy started to deplete, we caressed and held each other with tenderness until we fell asleep.
In the morning, I found what looked like a book on my nightstand. The card read “To my habeebtee with love from ayunnee.” When I looked closely, I realized that it was a journal.
“I want you to read this one day so you can grasp the depth of my love for you. It kept me sane. My most intimate and private thoughts are there for you to read. I opened my heart like I never thought possible. This isn’t the time to dwell on the past. Just know that you never have to doubt my love for you.”
“You could be certain that I will never take your love for granted, ayunnee.”
There was a knock at the door. It was Hasan with his grandparents. It was such a touching sight.
It was difficult to say good-bye but after a few weeks, the three of us moved to the villa in Maremma to start our new life; a life away from the bittersweet memories of Antarah.
Nine months later, we were blessed with the arrival of a girl, Iman, named after my mother.
Although we visited Antarah often to see our family, friends and the site where our love blossomed, we had found peace in our Tuscan retreat.
Thankful for all our blessings, Brahim and I opened a small clinic in Maremma to take care of those less fortunate. Brahim performed pediatric surgery, free of charge, for needy families. This work was very gratifying and fulfilling on a spiritual level.
Everyday we acknowledge our good fortune and pray to Allah to watch over us. When we see our children’s smiles, we can feel His presence and His immeasurable love.
When we walk out to the balcony of our villa and gaze at our Mediterranean sunset, it’s inevitable to remember everything leading to this moment and to fall in love all over again. That is our beautiful gift from Allah.
Years later, Brahim’s mom died. We were very saddened by the news, but thankful that she was able to enjoy her grandchildren. I was touched that in her final moments, she thought of me. Her last wish was for my mother’s bracelet to be returned. She knew how much it meant to me. She was honored I had shared this precious family heirloom with her, and wanted me to pass it along to my own children.
This bracelet was a reminder of my beautiful childhood. It was a reminder of true love overcoming incredible obstacles. When I opened the heart, all the memories, good and bad, came flashing through. This heart had endured pain and suffering that made us stronger and an endless fountain of love that made anything possible.
As days passed, I placed two new pictures over the old ones, one of Hasan and one of Iman. This was my personal reminder to never take for granted the beautiful path Allah had traced for me and my family.
THE END
Yvette Canoura is a romantic suspense writer and Associated Press award-winning journalist. Born in the Bronx and raised in Puerto Rico, she earned a BA in Broadcast Journalism from Loyola University, New Orleans. She is a former newspaper writer, magazine freelancer, television and radio talk show host and member of the Southern Louisiana Chapter of Romance Writers of America.
Her fascination with the Middle East began in 1989 when she met and married her husband. Her love for his family, culture, and people inspired Mediterranean Sunset, the first in a trilogy.
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