Ah, the tender sweetness of her lips. Ghassan couldn’t draw himself away from them. It was risky, kissing Alexandra this way in the streets of Aberdeen, but he just couldn’t stop. He had missed her so much – this beautiful woman who had become his entire life. And now she had just agreed to be his wife. Apart from the obvious hurdles they still had to leap, they had, indeed, come so far. And now he felt a sudden burst of emotion, and a wave of relief simultaneously. As he pulled her in even closer to him, a vision of the snowy evening at the Gaststätte in Stuttgart, where he first saw her, flashed through his mind. Back then she had seemed so fragile, so dainty and, on the surface, she still appeared so. Even the grace and intelligence that glistened in her eyes that night masked the depth of her strength and tenacity which he found later and had come to know so well. He now realized that he not only loved her, but admired her.
Time seemed to stand still as their bodies reconnected through the passionate embrace and kiss. Aberdeen seemed a million miles away – any place did. As Ghassan closed his eyes, all of the sounds around him melded into a distant murmur. Alexandra was the only thing that was real. Suddenly a burning desire rose in the pit of his stomach and as he kissed her, he found that, although they held each other tightly, their bodies merged, he just could not bring her close enough. In his mind, he knew that he should contain himself, but his body spoke of hunger and his kisses became more fervent beyond his control. In his mind, he half expected Alexandra to stop him, to push him away, but, to his surprise, she seemed equally starved for him and unconcerned about the consequences of them being seen together.
Ghassan was so engrossed in Alexandra, in fact, that he had not felt the tap on his shoulder. Before he knew what was happening, a surly, pale and freckly face practically inserted itself between Ghassan and Alexandra.
“What are you doing with my girl?” the face said indignantly, watery blue eyes glaring at him.
“David!” Alexandra uttered sternly. “I am not your girl!”
David MacEwan was shorter than Ghassan but much more stocky like one might expect of a rugby player. Ghassan knew immediately who he was and immediately he could feel his blood boil. He and Alexandra were about to finally move on with their lives and he would be damned if he would let this pawn of Professor Cochrane’s interfere now.
“This is your Arab then, Alexandra?” David said calculatedly.
“David. Don’t start…” Alexandra warned.
“So what of it?” Ghassan hissed, his dark eyes trained on the intruder. He had already clenched his fists, his body taut with adrenalin. “As far as I can see, you have no business here.”
“I think the good Professor would disagree.” David looked to Alexandra and smirked. “Are you planning on running away?”
“I said, you have no business here.” Ghassan took a step toward David and carefully moved Alexandra behind him with his arm.
“Ghassan…” Alexandra started but then fell quiet.
“What are you planning on doing, Arab? You want to strike me?” David goaded.
“Don’t flatter yourself. I wouldn’t waste my energy on you.” Ghassan retorted coldly but he remained tense.
“You might change your mind about that.” David snapped. “I think I’ll go have a word with Dr. Cochrane.”
Ghassan’s lips curled into a dry smile. “You wouldn’t want to keep him waiting then.”
David nodded sarcastically to Ghassan, and removed his cap to Alexandra, as he went on his way, clearly pleased with himself.
“Ghassan!” Alexandra uttered astonished when David was gone. “He will go to my father!”
“Good.” Ghassan replied curtly. “Let the snitch get it out of his system. Neither he nor your father will interfere with us – not any more!”
“But Ghassan…!” Alexandra was close to tears.
Ghassan saw the fear in her eyes. He knew she worried that her plan would crumble now that David had found them out. But the fear told him something else – that she didn’t have the confidence in him or herself to resolve the matter.
“Look in my eyes, Alexandra. Do you see the kind of man who will be diminished in this way without ever putting an end to it? Am I the kind of man who would allow my future wife to live in fear and uncertainty? I have been patient and held back because I was reluctant to tear apart your family. But as you said yourself, it is not we who are tearing the family apart but your parents in their unwillingness to let you be free to choose for yourself. Unless you ask me to stop, I will fight for us. We will not run any more. I will marry you and you will join me in my life in Syria – if that is what you truly want.”
Ghassan watched Alexandra’s face closely. He saw a look of genuine realization pass over it, the solid determination and sparkle return to her eyes.
“Its you and me, Ghassan. We’ll make a family of our own, together, in Syria.” A gentle smile passed over her lips.
Tenderly he stroked her cheek, the blush of excitement still lingering there. He marveled how her colours all worked together to create a most brilliant canvas. The red of her hair, the pale pink of her lips and cheeks, and the milky white of her skin all enhanced her already dazzling sea-blue eyes. A rare beauty, an even rarer woman – one who’s life he could no longer leave to chance or under the thumb of her oppressive father.
“Let’s go and get our tickets to Stuttgart.” Ghassan smiled and placed his lips upon hers again in succession of soft kisses before taking her hand so she could lead them in the initial step to starting their life together.
Professor John Cochrane was a formidable figure, tall, steely-eyed, and rarely smiling. Even when he did smile, it held the shape of irony – nearly a smirk. At the University he was an esteemed professor. He was very knowledgeable in his field and a fair grader. One look at him and the student knew to take his course seriously or to leave. He was well respected by his colleagues, outspoken in debate and a well-spring of facts and information. At home he was very much the patriarch – strict and overbearing. He was a good provider – neither his wife nor his daughter wanted for anything, except perhaps for some affection.
Mariyah
abufares
