Once A Cheater Read online

  She was silent for a while and then she drew back to look at me. "It's important for me to make a few more public appearances while my new book is still grabbing audiences," she explained. "I just need a couple more days in London."

  I blew out a long, slow breath. "Honey. For ten months, I haven't asked you to accompany me to Amira. I know you hate it there. I know that. But...this is my nephew. The whole family will be there for his birth celebration." I took her face between my hands and gave her a pleading look. "I would never force you. But I need you with me this time. Ammi and Abbu and so many of my other relatives keep asking me why you never visit. Baby, try to remember that we're married."

  Her eyes grew mutinous and she pulled away from me abruptly. "You say you don't want to force me but then, you're not above coercion or manipulation," she accused me.

  I gave her an earnest look. "I'm just asking you for your company. Your support. This is a big deal for me."

  "Why do you even care? You hate Hamza."

  "I don't hate him. I resented him for what he did to you. For not having the sense to leave you alone when you were at your most vulnerable. But he's always going to be my brother. And his son isn't at fault for what Hamza did. We can't just ignore our nephew. He's the first grandchild our family's had."

  "Ugh. Fine." She scrambled out of bed and threw the pillow aside. "I'll go."

  I pursed my lips at her. "Don't do me any favors."

  Jasmine threw up her hands. "Damn it, Armaan. I liked you better when you didn't care about these stupid things. Like religion and culture."

  I narrowed my eyes at her. "It's about family," I stressed and gave her a disappointed look.

  Jasmine just scoffed at me. "Yeah, something I don't have so how could I possibly understand, right?"

  I started to shake my head at her. "Now you're just putting words in my mouth. I don't want to fight with you, baby. Come here."

  I reached out for her but she stepped away and folded her arms.

  "Sorry. Not in the mood," she quipped.

  "Jasmine," I growled. "Get back in bed. Right now."

  She laughed at me. "Bossy much? Go fuck yourself, Armaan Qureshi." She turned to leave but then paused to throw one last shot over her shoulder. "By the way, don't forget that I was manipulated into marrying you as well so I don't owe you shit."

  ****

  Jasmine

  I strutted out the door and into the adjacent bedroom with a self-satisfied smirk on my face. I barely had to wait less than 30 seconds before my phone pinged. Still smirking, I climbed in bed, lying down on my tummy and read the text message.

  -I'm horny -A

  I typed back. -Sorry but you've been a really bad boy, tonight.

  I felt the familiar clenching of my pussy as I saw the bubbles floating which indicated he was typing a reply. It came less than ten seconds later.

  -I know, Princess. I'm sorry. I deserve to be punished for it.

  I sucked in a slow, controlling breath through my teeth when I felt my core becoming moist at the picture he painted. God, he knew exactly what I wanted, needed, in order to be in control.

  -Play with your cock for me, I ordered him via text. But don't make yourself cum. Not until I decide to come to you and you've served me for the night. I want you hard and ready. Do you understand?

  -Yes, Princess, he replied at once.

  Turning over, I settled back against the pillows, closing my eyes for just a few seconds. Married. Sometimes I couldn't believe it.

  I was Mrs. Armaan Qureshi when it had been the last thing I wanted. I had done it for Hamza but Armaan's family had still left me with little choice. And now this boy in a man's body, who was devoted to me, who was loyal, loving, fun and sexy, not to mention supportive and also gave me space when I needed it, was my husband.

  Except that I had been needing my space a lot lately. Too much, in fact, than was proper for a married woman. I still hadn't even agreed to share the same bedroom with him. Biting my lip, I let out a heavy sigh. What was wrong with me? Armaan was everything a girl could dream of. He had been there for me every step of the way. So why did I keep pushing him away?

  And why did the thought of being intimate with another man suddenly seem so fascinating?

  ****

  Armaan

  Present night.

  Amira

  …

  I stepped out of the shower to find my wife sitting on the huge bed in my childhood bedroom with her eyes glued to her laptop screen, wearing just her shorts and camisole. I was about to open my mouth to ask her if she planned on getting dressed for the function but then she smiled and started to speak to someone. Skype call, presumably.

  "Jeez. Don't show me all that," she said to the other person with a slight giggle. "I'm so jealous of you right now."

  I pulled on a pair of underwear and trousers then selected a navy blue shirt with a black coat for the function.

  It was our second evening in Amira. After we had settled in yesterday night and I had introduced Cole and his partners to my family, without mentioning that they were all in the same relationship because my parents would freak the fuck out, we had just had a long, lovely dinner and gone to bed, tired from the plane ride.

  This morning, I had given them a grand tour while we prepared for my nephew's birth ceremony. To my surprise and amusement, Cole and Skye had seemed too eager to help. Those two appeared to be genuinely fascinated by the culture here, Skye more than anyone. I hadn't seen Jasper much and hadn't bothered to find out what he was up to. His partners could handle him. I had enough drama to deal with as it was.

  A male voice suddenly sounded from the laptop screen and I froze in the act of buttoning up my shirt, my chest tightening uncomfortably. Painfully. Alex.

  "I don't miss being there at all if you ask me," his pleasant voice was saying through the laptop speakers. "And I'm going to pray that you get out of there soon as well."

  Jasmine smiled again. "Yeah. Although I did give your mother the most adorable smile I could muster and said it was from you."

  He laughed. "Just a smile. No hugs?"

  "We're not there yet. I'm not-"

  "A hugger, I know." There was a pause. "Although you have no problems doing it with your husband. Lucky him."

  Another long, awkward pause. Jasmine suddenly looked up and seemed to finally realise I was in the same room as her. Her face paled slightly and she fidgeted.

  "He's there, isn't he?" I heard Alex ask.

  Slowly, she nodded while keeping her eyes on me. "Yes," she whispered. "Do you want to-?"

  "No. I'm good. He got you, didn't he? He doesn't need me. By the way, I video call my mother every week so you really don't have to worry about smiling at her for me although I do appreciate that you did. Talk to you later."

  There was a sound of the call being ended and Jasmine, who still hadn't taken her eyes off me, climbed out of bed and walked over to where I was standing, still and cold. Her arms went around me, like she was trying to spread some of her warmth into me and her hands caressed my back.

  "I'm sorry," she said softly. "He loves you, Aaru. He's going to forgive you one day."

  Letting out a scoff, I stepped out of her embrace and quickly buttoned my shirt. "I seriously couldn't give two fucks," I lied through the pain and shrugged on my coat. "Why aren't you dressed yet? We have less than twenty minutes. Jasmine, you didn't engage in the preparations at all. The least you can do is attend the goddamned ceremony."

  She gave me a pained look and shook her head. "Skye didn't have anything suitable to wear so I gave her my outfit," she murmured, hugging herself and appearing very small and delicate.

  I swallowed, trying not to melt due to her display of vulnerability. God, when she looked like that...

  "You gave her the outfit I bought for you specifically for this occasion?" I questioned through clenched teeth, trying not to lose my temper. She looked at me with those big, dark eyes. No. Don't cry. Don't you dare cry. I couldn't see he
r cry. "Baby, I told you this is important to me and you being there would mean so much for our family. You don't even have to look at Hamza. I'm going to be there beside you the whole time. I'll even hold your hand if you want. But please...just wear something nice and show up. Do it for me."

  She inhaled deeply, her features tight and drawn. I hated doing that to her. Putting that look on her face. But fuck, it's been ten months. How badly could he still affect her? She was with me now.

  "Okay. Just give me half an hour," she said in a small voice, turning towards the wardrobe.

  I glanced at my watch and then at her back. I had to be there before that. Since I was the only uncle this child had and Zoya, my sister, was still banished from Amira for her elopement stunt last year, I had to engage in certain rituals for the ceremony as Hamza's only brother.

  Few months ago, I wouldn't have cared. But when my nephew, Ziad Ahmed Qureshi was born and I had held him in my arms, things had changed. I adored that little guy. He was at no fault regarding what was going on between older members of the family. He deserved to be loved and spoiled as the only grandchild to bless the Qureshi household in years.

  Jasmine glanced at me over her shoulder and waved a hand in dismissal. "You go ahead. I'll be there," she stated as though I was the help or something to be sent away after my purpose had been served.

  My pants felt a little tight around my crotch at the thought. Dammit, Armaan. Now is not the time to indulge in your kinky sex fantasies.

  I cleared my throat and stepped closer to her so she could feel my body heat and she stiffened.

  "Tell you what, baby," I whispered seductively in her ear. "You do this one thing for me...and I'll let you do whatever you want to me after we get back upstairs. Treat me however you want. Punish me for making you do this. Okay?"

  I could tell she was getting excited by the rapid rise and fall of her chest but she merely nodded. I smiled a little and turned on my heels, exiting the room quickly before I lost my head and begged her to do it to me right there and to hell with the ceremony.

  God. I wondered what my family would say if they ever came to know the role I mostly played in the bedroom with my wife. That thought was enough to halt my growing erection as I descended the stairs and made my way to the function hall.

  ****

  Chapter Four

  Jasmine

  I didn't go. I couldn't attend the ceremony. Even if I had let Armaan believe it just so he would leave me alone. He was definitely going to be pissed. I didn't want to deal with that either.

  This place was so big, it always gave me the impression of a palace. Which was suitable because the Qureshi family was nothing short of royalty in Amira. But tonight, I appreciated the huge residence only because it gave me a place to hide when I wanted to be alone. There was a door just at the end of the uppermost hall which led into a small, unused office. And its sole window opened up to a tiny balcony overlooking the desert backyard. The last time I was here, I had discovered that place and kept it in mind in case hiding away ever became necessary.

  Hoisting myself up to the large window, I dropped down outside on the dark balcony and almost screamed when I realised there was a figure already standing there, in the light of the full moon. It was too late for me to climb back in now because his head turned towards me as I stood there almost paralysed and he seemed just as shocked to see me there.

  Hmm. Jasper Wells.

  Interesting.

  My heartbeats slowed down considerably when I realised I was quite safe and I gave him a nod before leaning against the balcony railing and fishing inside my leather jacket for my joint and lighter. A few months ago during a writers' convention, an author friend of mine in Milan had introduced me to smoking weed and since then, it had become the biggest stress reliever for me.

  Jasper watched me quietly as I lit my joint and took a drag, feeling the smoke fill up my head and lungs. Ahhh...bliss. We didn't speak for a long time, standing there as the cold desert breeze blew around us while I smoked and he took occasional sips from a small bottle he held in his hand. It smelled like alcohol.

  "How'd you smuggle that in?" I asked him as I took another hit. Alcohol was strictly forbidden in Amira. You could find it illegally but only if you knew where to look. And nobody ever drank in the Qureshi household. Armaan used to but he quit last year and even if he hadn't, he would never come home reeking of alcohol out of respect for his family.

  "Same way you smuggled that in, I suppose," Jasper murmured, gesturing at my joint.

  I shrugged. I didn't care. It used to matter to me. All the rules of the Islamic culture. I used to be somewhat religious. But these past ten months, I had found myself losing touch with that part of me. All that spiritual enlightenment seemed to have transferred over to my husband.

  The weed was actually part of Armaan's old secret stash here which he kept in a hidden compartment of his wardrobe. He no longer had use for it so I made sure I searched it the minute I landed in Amira yesterday.

  "Seriously, though. Where did you get the alcohol?" I asked out of curiosity.

  "Your husband gave us some last night after we settled in. He said to hide it and only drink when no servants were around. He wasn't even listening when Cole kept insisting we didn't need it."

  I raised my eyebrows. So my husband snuck in alcohol for his friends but when I need a drink, he discourages me? Wow. I eyed the bottle in Jasper's hand with a small frown, something he said niggling in the back of my brain.

  "Cole kept insisting you guys didn't need it?" I mused. "Why not? You clearly do."

  Jasper remained silent as he stared out into the night, his profile stark.

  Slowly, my lips curved into a mischievous smile. "You're not supposed to be drinking, are you?" I guessed.

  He didn't answer me but he didn't have to. That need I sometimes had to hide away and do something forbidden...I could now sense it in Jasper as well.

  Silently, I held out my joint to him. Here's to more corruption.

  Jasper looked at it for a few seconds and I thought he wouldn't take it but he did, then took a tiny hit. After he held it in for some time and exhaled, his posture relaxed against the balcony. He said, "Well, fuck, it's been a while since I did that. This place is driving me crazy."

  I grimaced as he handed me back my joint. "I know, right?" I murmured in agreement, feeling the familiar suffocation start to creep in. I couldn't wait for this holiday to be over so I could go back to Italy.

  He watched me take another hit and then held out the bottle. Longing erupted inside me. I needed a drink as well but...

  I shook my head, albeit regrettably. "He'll smell it on me. I don't want any drama." The occasional weed was fine but Armaan didn't want me drinking in this house. I swallowed the familiar, bitter feeling that arose in me when I realised that what he wanted or not was now supposed to matter to me because I was his wife.

  Jasper smirked a little. "Just do what I do. Shower and use perfume. Gum helps too."

  I regarded him curiously again. "I feel for you, Jasper. I really do. But my religion forbids it. What's your excuse?"

  He sighed and gulped down the rest of the alcohol. Placing it down on the balcony, he turned to me. "It's a long story. I gotta go before they get back upstairs."

  He made to leave, then turned to me and inclined his head to look me up and down. I didn't even care that I was in my pyjamas with just a leather jacket on top, my hair in a messy bun. I knew I still looked good.

  "I didn't go downstairs because I'm not too keen on all the restrictions and ritualistic extravagance of the Islamic culture," he told me frankly. "What's your excuse?"

  I smiled at him openly, studying him as he stood there in a sweater and jeans, unable to deny my attraction to this man, especially under cover of the night and in such close proximity.

  "Maybe I was bored and saw you making your way here and decided to follow you," I boldly stated, not wanting to get into my long story either.

  He
frowned at me, clearly unnerved by my boldness but I noticed he did not step back. As though he didn't want to admit I had unsettled him.

  "You know what? I'm going to give you an easy out and we'll agree that's just the weed talking," he said to me, folding his arms. "Are there any good places around here where I can get some great shots? I need to get out of the house tomorrow. Preferably without your husband giving my partners a merry tour of his homeland."

  I laughed a little. Oh I liked this guy. He didn't pull his punches. "Sure. I can take you. But we need to sneak off really early. Like before anyone else wakes up. Sound good?"

  Jasper took a moment to consider. And in that moment, I found myself holding my breath and wishing he would not say no to me.

  Finally he nodded. "I'll meet you out front at six," he said and moved to leave, then paused and looked over his shoulder. "We're not going to take the limo, are we?"

  I laughed at that too because he sounded genuinely concerned.

  "No. I promise," I murmured reassuringly and watched as he climbed inside the office and left. Suddenly, even though I knew I was going to have to deal with a pissed off husband later tonight, I found myself feeling lighter. And happier.

  Maybe it was Jasper. Or maybe it was the weed. But tomorrow was starting to look a whole lot better.

  ****

  Chapter Five

  Jasper

  I was seated on the wide front steps leading inside the Qureshi residence, breathing in the brisk, cool morning air when I heard footsteps on the concrete behind me. I turned to see a pair of midnight blue sneakers and somebody dressed head to toe in black wearing huge, dark sunglasses.

  I frowned at her. "What exactly are you trying to do?" I asked her slowly as she reached me.

  "Hide," she replied. "There are eyes everywhere in this place. Come on."

  Shaking my head and picking up my camera and other supplies, I followed her as she led me to a corner of the palace where a Land Rover was waiting. Jasmine threw me the keys and I caught it deftly with three of my fingers while still clutching the equipment to my chest.