“I’m not going to return to LA for some time. Watch my back, buddy. Complete the project. Make up an excuse to the client. I need to sort out my life.”
“You sound devastated, Kyle. Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
“Don’t know where I’m going to start from yet. But I must believe in hope. Will keep you posted.”
Before he rang off, his friend added, “If you need my help with anything, let me know. And, don’t do anything silly.”
He nodded.
I wish you had said that years ago, Dickson. “Thanks pal.”
Five
It had been over a month since Alero relocated to Casablanca. The choice of moving to North Africa was to guarantee her husband’s deep search party never found her. And with her maternal grandparents from next door in Algeria, she felt safe. Although she had never visited them, she had their address, if the need arose.
Alero had bought a rundown relic one-storey building on the outskirts of the main city. She found it as she drove by one hot afternoon. She got help from one local builder, and other artisans to restore the building to its former glory. The workers had finished painting and she was almost done with decorating it to her taste.
Casablanca was a lively city. Arabs poured out from every corner. The black community was small. It suited her very well. A place to get lost, where no one recognized her or knew her past.
A knock sounded on the front door.
Thank God she had locked it. Apart from the workmen, she didn’t know anyone else who would stop by. She strode to the door and looked through the peep hole.
“Oh my, God!” Alero clutched her chest. “No, it couldn’t be.” She checked again. The similarities were striking.
“Who do you want to see?” she asked without opening the door.
“No one in particular.” The voice was his. The cocky, striking young man who drove alongside her in London. She shook her head. Her body trembled.
“I was passing by and I saw this old relic looking grand again. And I wanted to say thank you to the person responsible for giving some love to this historic building.”
She opened the door. Her tongue was completely tied.
His light brown eyes widened with recognition. “You don’t say!” He smiled and his eyes laughed at her. “Once again, hello beautiful! What brings you to my city?” His deliberate jagged tone sent shivers down her spine.
In his grey, tight-fitting top with three front buttons, jeans and a baseball hat turned backwards, he appeared rough and ready.
“I should be asking you the same thing. What are you doing in Casablanca?”
He thrust out his hand. “My name is Zane Abdul. I have lived in this city for the last ten years. It is home. And I’m a renowned car dealer in Casablanca.” He corked his head and added. “Didn’t you read the card I left in your car?”
She smiled. “This is more than a coincidence,” she grumbled. Her toes tingled and so did her stomach. She swallowed and gawked at him. Groomed dark bushy eyebrows, well-trimmed facial hair, and a wicked smile gave him a take-me-to-bed look.
“Are you not going to invite me in to see your masterpiece or I’m I intruding?” He had both eyebrows raised so high, they almost vanished into the baseball cap.
She sighed, stood aside and let him in. No one had seen her new home. It felt good to have somewhere she could call home. Her husband’s mansion in London never felt like home, and he didn’t let her change anything.
“I apologise. My name is Alero.”
“Good to put a name to the lovely face.”
Oh, this young man was a charmer. Very refreshing.
“How long have you been adding your loving touch to this place?” Zane was curious as he walked from room to room.
“For about three weeks and a half. Actually, as soon as I arrived in Casablanca, I saw and fell in love with this place. I bought it and began work.”
“Well done. I love it too. You have done a grand job on it. You should be proud.” His compliments hurt so much. Kyle didn’t stay long enough to find out if she had any achievement worthy of praise.
“Did I say something wrong?” Zane was by her side. He was a fit man, well-built, much like her husband, except he was more sensitive. But aren’t all men sensitive and charming when they want to get in between your legs?
She shook her head. “Oh no, you said nothing wrong. Thank you.”
“About two hundred years ago, this building was a Christian worship centre. Afterwards, it became an out of town shopping place, much like a mini mart. But it got torched several years ago and no one returned here.”
The man who sold the building had mentioned a few details. But she was touched, Zane filled the gap. “Glad you told me the back story, Zane. Do you want a drink?”
“I’ll accept on one condition.”
Her chest shifted slightly. “Really? I’ll like to hear your condition.”
He grinned as they made their way down the stairs to the front door. “As you’re new in town, I want to invite you to a friend’s party tomorrow night. The venue is the city’s most exclusive nightclub. You’ll have a whale of a time.”
Her eyes swept over his full light pink lips and she wondered how they would feel if she allowed him to kiss her. The knot in her stomach tautened. “I’m not ready for that sort of life.”
Zane moved closer. He touched his forefinger to his lips and placed it on hers. A jolt zipped through her skin and she stepped back.
“You got away once, now you’re on my turf, I’m not going to let you go. Take as much time as you want.”
Hope reared its head. “Every man wants one thing,” she murmured and her voice shook. “I’m not going to bed with you, Zane. I have read all the signals from your handsome physique to your attractive lips.”
He smiled, his eyes sparkled with desire. “You’ve hurt me,” he mocked. “One day, you’re going to tell me about the idiot that broke your heart. I promise to smash his balls!”
Alero giggled at first, unable to believe a young man would still find her pretty enough to keep pursuing her panties.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you, Zane?” She needed to know. There was no chance of a date, much more anything spicier.
“What do you think?”
She shut her eyes as if she needed to think. “Twenty-two or three.”
Laughter, like the sound of rushing water travelled round the house. Her head swung to and fro as the sound set her heart on fire.
“I wish I was that young. You’re so far off the mark, I take it as a huge compliment.”
Alero frowned. “Are you older than twenty-three?”
“So much more. I’ll be thirty-three at the end of the month. August thirty-first to be exact.”
Alero gasped. “Impossible! Take off your baseball cap,” she suggested. His high-top haircut had deceived her into thinking he was so much younger.
He took off the cap without hesitation. His hair cut was even sharper, and higher than she remembered with eye-catching curls.
“What are you thinking, Alero? Say it. I can take it.”
She exhaled. “Phew! I thought if I fell for you, I’ll be playing the role of a cougar. My mind is at peace now.”
Zane wore his cap and flipped it backwards. “I’m so pleased to hear that. You have nothing to worry about. My birth certificate states the date in clear terms. I can bet my little finger, I’m a lot older than you.”
She nodded. Her thoughts were in a jumble. Oh, Zane was so sexy and irresistible. “I turned thirty in March.”
He did a spin on his heels and wolf whistled, she had to plug her ears with two fingers.
At her discomfort, he drew closer.
“I demand an apology.” His gently mocking whisper tickled her senses.
Alero grinned from ear to ear. “When I see your birth certificate, I’ll apologise.”
“Geez! You’re one tough cookie. It would please me to see you grovel when I sh
ove the certificate in your face.”
She enjoyed the banter with this smooth-talking guest. He was so much fun and more.
“I’ll pick you up at half seven tomorrow.”
Alero walked him to the door.
Zane leaned forward and kissed her cheeks.
It was only a slight brush of his lips against her flesh, enough to ignite a small flame in her face and down her neck.
Zane winked at her and shut the door. “Lock it behind me, beautiful.”
Six
There was no time to fret. Alero chewed her little finger when she heard footsteps on her doorstep. Her heart raced.
What am I doing dating Zane? I’m a married woman.
The door knocker sounded.
You’re separated, her head yelled in reply. Is no sex for six months a worthy recipe for married couples? Her heart drawled.
She sprayed perfume on her wrists and cleavage, just before she opened the door.
Zane stood there, looking debonair. “What a stunner you are, Alero! My heart is racing for you.”
Her flowing, clingy dress with a side slit in Aqua blue exposed her waistline. And the see-through lace for the top front and back covering could only be described as sexy.
Alero swallowed. “Thank you, Zane.” She refrained from giving him compliments. Warmth collected around her thighs. In her heart, she knew her relationship with him was centred on sex. The fact her husband hadn’t touched her in half a year, didn’t help.
Zane looked smashing in a black shirt, black jeans and a red blazer. This time, his baseball cap was missing. The top of his hair was styled in gentle curls. And oh, he smelled amazing. If she survived this evening without giving in to temptation, she would push the boat out.
“Here, take these. I got them for your friend.” After Zane left yesterday afternoon, she drove down to the shopping mall and bought two bottles of expensive wine.
Zane corked his head and raised an eyebrow.
“How thoughtful and kind. You hold on to it, beautiful. You’ll hand it over to Ahmed when we get there.” Zane offered his hand and she laced her fingers through his as they walked to his car.
Another fast car – a red Ferrari, her head noted.
“Your fingers are trembling,” Zane whispered. The cool night air calmed down the fire running through her right arm.
She didn’t trust her mouth to utter an acceptable excuse, so she kept quiet.
He chuckled near her ear, and flung one arm around her shoulders when she stopped by the car.
It was wrong to agree to this date. But she will not continue isolate herself because she was married to a man who treated her like a prized furniture.
The ride must have been a quick one because they were already parked in a busy parking lot.
“Are we here already?” Alero mumbled.
“You switched off during the drive, so I thought it best to let you work things out in your head.” He held her fingers in both hands. “Look, I understand what heartbreak means, Alero. Believe me, the hurt lessens with time.”
She smiled. “I’m relieved you’re not hurting now. Anyway, how would you know?”
The glow in his eyes, his white teeth, and shoulder movements lit fireworks in the well of her stomach.
“I nursed a heartbreak two years ago. I was engaged to be married.”
Her fingers around his hand tensed. “What happened?”
He shrugged. “She returned my ring a few days to the wedding. Musiab found a more suitable, wealthy Arab man. I didn’t compete to win her back. She’s married and lives here in town.”
From his tone, it was obvious he was over Musiab. Alero wished she could get over Kyle in her head. She loved Kyle so much, she gave up who she was to become who he wanted her to be. Still, he betrayed her in the most despicable way.
“I wish I could say the same,” Alero managed on a long sigh.
“Do you still love him?”
“I did. He hurt my feelings so many times, I forgave him. But now, he has betrayed me so far out, in my head, we’re through.”
Zane’s thumb stroked the back of her palms. Electricity flowed to every part of her body.
“I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to trust me. For now, you need to feed on some cold tasting humble pie.” Zane pulled out an A4 sized white paper from the glove compartment. “Here you go, take a good look at the document.”
Realization slowly dawned on her. It was his birth certificate. Zane did not lie about his age. Alero smiled, denial sprang to her lips, but she gulped it down.
“Someone owes me an apology. What are you waiting for? Come on, taste the humble pie.” Within the blink of an eye, he brought out a plate wrapped in foil. There was frozen Moroccan lamb pie in his left hand. He shoved it in her face. She leaned back and put up both hands.
“I was unsure. Okay. I’m sorry. Remind me again, why do I even have to apologize?”
He snickered, pushed the paper into the compartment and twisted the knob. Zane bit a chunk of the pie and dangled it by her lips. “Apology not accepted. Come on, eat some.”
“Hey! I was mistaken. I’m humbled. Happy?”
Zane jeered. “Yes. Geez! What a wonderful feeling. Now, we can go inside.”
Alero giggled and corked her head aside. She wanted to sit and talk with him in the car. He was so easy to chat with and exciting to have around. A missing ingredient in her marriage. Kyle was too business-minded to sit and chat. A year after their wedding, he had become so mobile, she hardly knew him. She had hoped and prayed for a change, for him to see how much she needed him.
Zane’s arms warmed her back and she leaned against him as they stepped into the largest nightclub she had ever seen. Then she whispered in his ear, “I love dancing.”
Zane winked. “Me too.”
It was dim, but there were at least a million coloured lights flickering, and bouncing off glass panelling. No kidding. It was absolutely charming. The DJ was on a mezzanine at the far end of the room. There were at least twenty other couples seated or dancing. She was quickly introduced to the celebrant who turned thirty-five yesterday.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Alero,” Ahmed said, as he kissed the back of her palm.
Zane knocked Ahmed’s lips off her hand. “Cut out the elaborate courtesy, pal. She’s with me.”
Ahmed laughed and they shook hands in the typical male fashion. He didn’t take offence.
“Here, we brought this for you,” Alero said, as she gave him the two bottles of wine.
“Thank you, lovely lady. How gracious.” Ahmed received the gifts and led them towards the centre of the room. Soon other guests dragged him away.
From behind, Zane held her shoulders and kissed her neck. She swirled round and he kissed her lips. Alero melted into his arms and leaned her head against his muscled chest. She nuzzled her lips around his jaw, and inhaled his fragrance. The music was low, perfect for a snug.
“I’m honoured you came,” Zane murmured, as his hands caressed her back. “I’m going to get us a drink, come with me.”
She lifted her head and gazed into his eyes. “You go and get the drinks. I’ll sit here and wait.”
Zane shook his head. “Not on your life. There are too many men in search of a beautiful woman. It took me two years to find you, I’m not going to let you get away so easily.”
Alero pushed the implication of his words aside. She was here to have fun.
“If you insist,” she said and followed him. They grabbed two drinks from the bar and returned to their seats. Zane introduced her to two couples. They all chatted briefly and hit the dance floor when the tempo of the music heightened.
The volume of the music and the choice of pop song hit a note in her body, and Alero jumped to her feet.
“Dance with me, Zane.” She held out her hand.
Zane was on his feet. Laughter mingled with admiration shone in his eyes. He allowed her lead him to the large dancing area.
Alero slid
her body along Zane’s muscular figure, like a pole dancer with her pole. Her flowing dark hair splayed over his chest as she swayed her hips, and twerked in a way she hadn’t danced since she was in her early twenties. She had learnt erotic dance in University nightclubs. But it was often frowned upon if you were a married woman. In this club, no one knew who she was.
Zane pressed her body flush against his, almost merging them into one. Her nipples grazed his chest, peaked, and beads of electricity shot to her honey pot. Several times, he spun her around, baited her, grabbed her waist and ground his crotch across her butt. Heat seared her thighs and she lifted one leg high and straddled his hips.
They were so intimate, they didn’t realize the dance floor was empty. When the music stopped, the people were on their feet. They applauded their erotic dance.
In Nigeria, she would be forbidden from dancing such a sensuous routine with a man who was not her husband.
With the sexy way Zane danced, he just found the key to her heart.
Alero hid her sweaty forehead on Zane’s chest. And he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
“I loved your erotic dance, beautiful. You have danced your way into my heart.”
Alero shivered in his arms. “I had a good time, Zane. Thank you.”
He led her back to their table. Ahmed brought them two glasses of chilled water. “I bet you need this, man. Thank you for lighting up my party.”
Zane accepted the glasses. “Alero’s a great dancer. Love her moves.”
She laughed off their comments.
A waiter placed assorted drinks on their table, and disappeared with minimum fuss.
They drank and ate meatballs, chicken tagine and shared a large platter of Kofte – fish, with tomato sauce. Zane had his arms around her shoulders, and fed her the whole time. In turn, she stretched her legs over his thighs. They did not care who watched their love party.
“So, do you live alone?” Alero asked after they were done with the food and drinks.
“Yes. I have lived on my own for as long as I can remember.”
She nodded. “And your parents? Where are they?”
“They live here in Casablanca. I see them once or twice a month. They can’t get their heads round the fact I haven’t brought home a good girl.” He winked at her.
Forbidden Dance: Will She Forgo Her Marriage for a Lifetime of Happiness? Page 3
