Fiction: Sequel to Pride and Audacity
Crossing the Chasm — Part 7 (Complete)
She needed a savior — but the devil would have to do
NOTICE: Crossing the Chasm is book 2 of the Sheiks of Ahalamin series. While it reads well on its own, it is better appreciated if book one (Pride and Audacity) has been read first. The main characters of Crossing the Chasm first meet in Pride and Audacity and knowing their history will enhance your reading pleasure.
Jessica stretched her legs and adjusted the small pillow supporting her head. She could sense the healing in her body, the rising energy, and clarity of thought. While she’d fought against Califar’s imposed quarantine of her, she knew that these past ten days, free of anyone’s presence but his own, had given her the hiding place she’d unknowingly craved.
She’d not seen much of him during the daytime hours. It seemed he had many duties needing his personal attention, duties that often kept him working late into the evening. However, each night he’d slept by her side. Ignoring her many surly and insolent mood swings, he’d been her vigilant comforter, often pulling her from the horrific nightmares that still plagued her sleep.
He’d asked nothing of her in a physical sense, except that she not resist resting quietly in his arms. The morning sun always found her alone in the bed, the faint scent of sandalwood the only evidence of his presence. As a catalyst, the scent had begun to foster a yearning…
“I hope your deep thoughts are not troublesome.” Califar’s voice came from behind her lounger.
“No, not at all.” Jessica tilted her head back and presented him with a tentative smile. He seemed pleased with her response and returned a rare smile of his own.
“The doctors are very encouraged with the improvements in your general health.” He moved to sit on the lounger next to hers. “It seems from the dampness of your cover that you’ve enjoyed the pool. Is the temperature to your liking?”
She looked down to discover that her swimsuit cover was indeed still damp and clung to her body. Normally, such a thing wouldn’t matter. But the accessing gleam in Califar’s eyes put a whole new spin on lounging by the pool. She tugged on the wispy material until it draped more modestly around her legs.
“The water was perfect. The mosaic tiling creates a beautiful aquamarine color. It’s really the most awesome pool I’ve ever swum in.”
“It pleases me that you find it so.” He placed his hand on her cheek. “By the color in your cheeks, I believe you’ve been exposed to the sun’s heat enough for today.”
Jessica knew the color flushing her face didn’t result from the sun. His unexpected appearance and casual nearness were responsible for her heart’s rapid pace.
“Since you have visitors who are most anxious to see you, I suggest you change your attire. When you’re ready, join us in the sitting room.”
Jessica jumped to her feet. “Who is it?”
Califar rose to his feet and cupped her face with both his hands. “It is good to see the spark of excitement in your eyes. Go and change before you burst with anticipation.”
She watched him walk away. Reaching up with her hands, she cupped her face as he had done, feeling the warmth his hands had left on her skin. He touched her at will, with intimate ease that shocked her. Or, was she more shocked that she allowed it? Brushing the troublesome question from her mind, she hurried to bathe and dress.
Califar sipped on a cup of mint tea and studied his two quests in silence. After a tense introduction and heated exchange, Jessica’s two brothers had opted to wait for their sister without further conversation or the acceptance of the customary refreshments offered to visitors.
He understood their frustration, but they had yet to understand the strength of his will or purpose concerning their sister. Like so many Americans, they assumed their wishes would override all others. Without manners or tact, they presumed to make demands. This was new ground. He’d have to pick his course carefully so as not to distress Jessica more than was necessary.
A squeal from across the room announced his wife’s arrival. She bolted through the door and ran across the room toward her brothers, who’d both jumped to their feet. She managed not to crash into them but stopped just inches in front of them.
“Oh, my gosh! Jake, Sam, you’re both here.”
“Yeah,” Jake said. “Dad sent us. He said you needed retrieval. So what mess have you stuck yourself in this time?”
Califar watched the smile on his wife’s face turn to embarrassment. Neither of her brothers had yet embraced her in a welcoming or comforting gesture. He wanted to rattle their teeth, but held his ground and listened to the exchange.
“I…I, it wasn’t like that. I was kidnapped by a terrorist group. There were eight of them. I…I just couldn’t get away.” The last words trailed off to a whisper.
Her brother Sam jabbed her shoulder. “Look at this getup. Why are you wearing this robe and that scarf on your head?”
“I…I didn’t know who was here.” She yanked the head covering off and slung it on the floor.
“Well, you look ridiculous,” Sam said.
“We’ve wasted enough time, Jessica.” Jake cut into the exchange. “It’s been five days since we got here. We’re ready to take you home, but this guy says that’s not going to happen and that you’ve married him. What’s up with that?”
Califar walked up behind his wife and, grasping both her shoulders, drew her in the direction of a nearby chair.
“It would be well if you took some refreshment while visiting with your brothers. Do you wish your customary orange cooler?” He gently pushed her into the chair and signaled for the attending maid to bring her drink.
He returned his attention to the two men who still stood a few feet away.
“As I have previously informed you, your sister is not a servant or a slave in this household. She is my wife, and as such, you will accord her due respect.”
The brother named Jake gave a short derisive laugh.
“Respect? That’ll be the day. She’s been nothing but a wimp since the day she was born. But, if you really did marry her, that means she’s now your responsibility. It takes her off our hands and we can get back to our own business. Dad won’t like that she married a foreigner, but he probably won’t care unless you try and toss her back at a later date.”
“That’s not funny, Jake!” Jessica yelled her rebuttal, easily reverting to the only means she’d ever had of being heard by the men in her family.
Califar clasped her upper arm and drew her gently to her feet. As he did so, he pushed the small button positioned discreetly under the table’s edge that sat next to her chair.
Jessica attempted to move from his side. He tightened his hold on her arm and turned toward her two brothers.
“Your visitation with my wife is at an end.”
Jake snarled. “What do you mean, at an end? We just got to see her.”
“You will now be escorted out of the palace. Do not attempt to return without an expressed invitation from me. To do so will result in your detainment for an indeterminable amount of time.”
“What are you doing,” Jessica screeched as she twisted to free herself from her husband’s hold.
Califar ignored her attempt to peel his fingers from her arm. Instead, he glared at Jake and tilted his head toward the door. “You may leave.” The rapier edge of his tone brooked no refusal.
“And if we don’t?” Jake taunted.
“Then the men behind you will assist you.”
Jake and Sam gawked at the six men who’d silently entered the room behind them, all of them armed and battle-ready.
“Like I said. She’s not worth the trouble.” Jake’s disgusted sneer said more than his words.
Jessica watched mutely as the six palace guards escorted her brothers from the room. Her heart crumpled. Even though her older brothers had seldom shown her anything but contempt, they were her last hope, her last road back to a world she controlled.
Despair filled her with loathing for the man who manipulated her life to his choosing. She jerked free of his hold and whirled to face him, her eyes clouded with rage.
“How dare you treat my brother’s like unwanted vermin. If they’re leaving, then so am I.” She moved forward and beat on his chest with fisted hands. “I demand you send me home. Send me home!”
She pounded on his chest until there was no strength left in her arms. Like flaming darts, she hurled threats and insults. Weeks of suppressed rage broke free. She held nothing back. Every hated and terror-filled memory spilled from her wounded mind. She battered them all against the chest of the man who stood motionless and accepting.
Though he’d been told by Jessica’s physician to expect an emotional breakthrough, Califar wasn’t prepared for the sudden onslaught of her explosive release. First, the frenzied beating against his chest, and then, the dramatic change. Her hands clutched his robe, his shoulders, the back of his head. Shock waves ripped through his torso as she pulled his head down to meet the demand of her lips. He tried pushing her away, knowing that what she initiated in mental anguish might cause her more pain later.
She fought back, grinding her mouth against his. He pushed harder, successfully forcing a separation of their lips. She flung her head back and stared at him through pain-glazed eyes that silently begged for deliverance.
His heart rhythm faltered. He couldn’t leave her this way. But what did he do? Then her voice cut straight to his heart.
“Please — make it go away.” The words, barely whispered, echoed in the room. “Please, please…”
Slowly his hands slipped from her shoulders to skim along the side of her body, coming to rest on her hips. Passion pounded a frantic beat through his head and almost fracturing his chest as she pressed her hips to his.
“Please, Cali.”
Her entreaty made his heart bleed. He wanted in the worst way to give her what she wanted. The passion she craved would, for a few hours, sear away the hurtful memories, giving an affirmation of life that might restore her peace. But in the truth-revealing light of dawn, it could also destroy the tenuous threads of their new relationship. In her present hell, she couldn’t see the precipice on which she stood or the chasm below. In the end, she would give away far more of herself than she now realized — with no way to recover the loss.
To a better man, all that would matter. Truth was, he didn’t want to be a better man. He wanted to be her man.
He placed one hand to the back of her head and pushed her cheek against his chest. He stroked her ear with the tip of his finger. “Your safe, Jessica. I’ll make the pain go away.” He caressed her hip with his other hand, pressing her even tighter against his body. Bending his head, he kissed her forehead, the tip of her nose, and finally her lips. When he lifted his head, she moaned softly, less frantic.
“You belong to me, my wife. No one will ever hurt you again.” He let his hands begin an arousing exploration of her soft curves and was rewarded by her unresisting acceptance of his touch. He felt her shudder as he lifted her in his arms. With unhurried steps, he carried her to their bedroom and sat her on the edge of the bed.
“Who am I, Jessica?”
“Cali,” she responded quickly. Her tear-drenched gaze followed his movements as he knelt before her on one knee.
“And what else, my wife?”
“My — my husband.” Her voice faltered and lowered, along with her eyes.
“Don’t lower your eyes.” He kept his voice soft, but with an edge of command.
Her lashes fluttered and then lifted, revealing green eyes flashing with a dazzling brilliance derived from both passion and a tinge of rebellion, which for once, he welcomed.
“Tell me what it is you desire from me.”
“I — I. You must know,” she stuttered and turned her head to the side.
“If you avoid my eyes or evade my questions, I will leave you here alone.” His cold voice matched the uncompromising tightening of his lips.
By the intensity of her gaze, he knew his words grabbed her attention with the sting of a whip. Though she was still an enigma in many ways, he knew that to alter her mindset, he’d have to own her completely, at least for this night. Her independent and strong-willed nature would demand that she resist him, even while begging him for release.
“Tell me what you want.” He rose to his feet, forcing her to look up.
“I want you to make me whole again,” she blurted and pressed a fist to her chest. “I don’t want to be a victim any longer. I want to be myself. You’re the only man who has ever shaken my mind. Can’t you help me feel alive and not dead inside.”
“I can do more than shake your mind, I can turn you inside-out. But I won’t do that unless you’re ready to accept me.”
Jessica squinted her eyes, narrowing her focus on the man who could rattle her confidence with just a few words. “What do you mean?”
He crossed his arms and rested his weight on one leg. “Accept me for who and what I am. Know that what happens tonight will bond us permanently. I, along with my home, my country, and my people will be yours, not just for tonight, but for the rest of your life.
He clenched his teeth and waited for her reaction. As brave as his words were, he didn’t want to force her acceptance. He wanted her willing heart.
To her credit, she didn’t flinch. Her cautious eyes studied him, measuring his intent — the truthfulness of his words.
His gaze touched her mouth as she moistened her bottom lip with her tongue, then lingered on her breasts as they rose and fell under her quick, short breaths. She appeared unable to respond, lost in her own thoughts. But his patience was exhausted.
“Since you seem to be at a loss for an answer, I’ll help you.” He stepped closer until his legs pressed against her knees, forcing them to open. “Lay back on the bed.”
He watched as shock and curiosity scrolled across her face. The latter stayed in place as a new emotion began to animate her expression.
He smiled. The uncertainty now brightening her eyes had nothing to do with terror, and everything to do with a virgin’s reaction to a man who boldly assessed her.
“What? Ah — ah, can’t we just talk, or maybe you can hold me like you always do?” She tried to scoot away from him. but with his legs spreading her knees even further, that evasive tactic didn’t work.
“I intend to hold you — and more.” He stroked a finger down her cheek, letting her contemplate what he meant by — more.
She leaned back, supporting herself on her elbows. Placing one of his knees on the edge of the bed, he bent toward her, eliminating the last vestiges of space between them.
Jessica held her breath as Califar slowly lowered his body to hers, his considerable weight pushing her into the soft mattress, his strong chest molding to hers. His face nuzzled the side of her neck and pressed against her cheek. Soft words of loving adoration opened the door to a long-denied reality. He was her destiny, her future, her beginning…
“Breathe, Jessica. I don’t want you passing out before we’ve even begun.” He followed his teasing words with soft kisses along her hairline.
She sucked in air like a siphon. Califar’s smug chuckle annoyed her sensitive pride. “If you’d get off me, breathing wouldn’t be a problem.”
“My dear wife, you stopped breathing when I told you to lay down, long before I touched you.” He lifted his upper body so that she could see his face. “Be secure, my wife. In our love, our hearts are equally given, equally owned, equally submissive. I freely give you mine. Until it beats for the last time, you are the only woman who will ever possess it.”
The sincerity in his words tore down the barriers denying him access to her heart and allowed her own yearning to pour from her eyes and spill from the tips of the fingers she stroked down his cheek. The gentle play of his lips against hers, the sweet exploring heat of his hands, transported her into a world filled with only him.
Jessica rolled over in her sleeping husband’s arms and nestled her head on his shoulder. Drowsily, he wrapped one arm tightly around her back. His other hand lifted her leg to lay across his abdomen, then rested on her thigh.
She smiled in genuine adoration for the man whom she’d come to know as insanely seductive whether awake or asleep. His fingers, even now, made little caressing circles on her skin. If she were not living the dream, she would never have known that behind his male chauvinist exterior lay a heart made of cotton candy, so sweet — and so easily melted.
He turned toward her, pulling her tighter against his warm body. She peeked up at him, not seeing much but the broad line of his jaw now darkened with an overnight growth of beard.
She let her gaze wander over his shoulder to follow the dawn’s magenta light as it slipped through the tent’s flap opening. Remembering Califar’s haste as he’d carried her through that opening the night before explained why it had not been closed properly.
They’d spent the last ten days secluded by a beautiful oasis. He’d introduced her to the beauty of the desert through hours spent horseback riding through the dunes and long lazy naps by the Moon Pool. And he’d made her a woman by the ecstasy of his lovemaking. She’d come to understand that his love for her had many facets. It encompassed a possessive hunger gentled by an extravagant generosity, a conquering arrogance sweetened with humility, and a commanding purpose with the taste of forever on his lips.
True to his words, he had turned her inside-out, altering her life in ways she’d never imagined. In truth, thoughts of the future and the uncertainties it held made her shiver at times, but envisioning a future in which he wasn’t beside her scared her senseless.
“Where are your thoughts?” Califar nuzzled the top of her head and kissed a profusion of copper ringlets that lay near his lips.
“I was wondering when my lazy husband was going to awaken.” She returned his caress by placing a kiss on his neck, just on the spot where she knew he was ticklish.
“Are you sure you want to arouse my desire to explore your more ticklish areas?” He chuckled as she jerked to a sitting position. “I guess not…”
The smile he gave her spun her heart in loops. It still took her breath away when he looked at her with so much love. Though she knew that their lives would not always be so harmonious, his present state of admiration was a clear improvement to the constant disapproval she’d invoked over the past year.
“Do we really have to return to the palace today?” She shaped her lips into a pouty frown and traced a heart on his bare chest with her finger. She didn’t know if her coquettish gesture would get her the extra private time she so wanted, but it wouldn’t hurt to experiment for future reference.
His raised brow and knowing expression gave her an answer. While he’d given her ownership of his heart, she would not rule the man. The role of Master had been etched on his every synapse at birth.
She smiled. With time and the proper training, perhaps she could encourage a few new neural pathways in this man she loved.
He pulled her back down to lay in his arms. “I promise to bring you here again soon. But I’ve been away from my duties for too long. Besides, I have a surprise for you that can only be enjoyed if we return home.”
Jessica sat up again, energized by her husband’s words. “What surprise? Is it big — little — or middle-sized? What color is it? What…?
“Slow down or you’ll choke on your excitement.” Califar sat up and shook his wife’s shoulders in a playful manner. Sometimes, you are more a precocious child than a grown woman.”
Since his rebuke was paired with a teasing grin, Jessica decided to let it slide. Besides, there were more important things to do, like getting back to the palace as quickly as possible.
“Okay, I’m ready. Let’s get dressed, eat, and leave.” Breathless, she scooted toward the edge of their sleep pallet.
“There is no need to hurry. We can still enjoy the day here. Your surprise won’t arrive until dinner, giving us plenty of time.”
“Pleeeeease, Cali, tell me what it is. I won’t be able to relax until you do.” She could tell by the slant of his brow that begging wasn’t going to move him.
She pouted as he rose from the bed and approached her. Angered by the fact that she hadn’t been quick enough to avoid the kiss he placed on her cheek, she let her tongue engage in a spiteful response. “If you’re going to tease me, you can spend the day alone. And you can give your kisses to your horse!” She spun on her heels, intent on a regal exit.
One step is as far as her feet progressed before Califar spun her around and onto the bed. She struggled but his hands forced hers over her head as he stared at her in silence. Then he took her mouth as swiftly as the desert falcon scooped up its prey. Even when she ceased to resist, he plundered until her body quivered in passion. Her released hands, now willing accomplices, gripped his back, urging him even closer.
Suddenly, her lips were free as he raised his head and smiled. “A husband who cannot handle his wife is not worthy of the title.” He kissed the tip of her nose and gave her a blatant wink as he rose to his feet, leaving her thoroughly subdued. “And since you’re in such a hurry to return home, I’ll grant you that wish without further delay.”
Just as the noonday sun rose fully overhead, they arrived at the palace and walked hand-in-hand through the private grounds surrounding Califar’s residence. They showered and napped, then dressed for dinner. All the while, Jessica’s nerves tingled from suppressing the urge to push Califar for an answer about her surprise.
“Are you ready?” The warm voice behind her accompanied a gentle hand on her shoulder.
She turned toward him as his arms slipped naturally around her waist. “You know I love you to distraction, don’t you? Please don’t ever tire of my quirky ways. I don’t mean to be hurtful or uncooperative.” Not the best apology she’d ever given, but giving in completely was still a new experience. Wanting to submit to this man was a feeling both impelling and scary.
“My wife, everything about you is precious to me. I don’t want you to worry. We will learn over time to accommodate our differences, to respect the boundaries, and to trust each other completely.” The kiss he placed on her forehead felt like a seal, one of eternal commitment and honor.
“Now, by the laughter I hear, I’m sure your surprise has arrived. Are you ready to go see?”
The laughter he spoke of finally penetrated her thoughts. A deep longing denied her for weeks, rushed in to fill her heart with joy. “You’re letting me have visitors?”
He nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry I denied you the company of your friend, but I had to protect our privacy and give you time to heal. However, Princess Victoria is no longer talking to me and Prince Rashid threatened to behead me if I didn’t let his wife see you soon. I believe she’s threatened his very Kingdom if he didn’t order me to give her access to you.” His chuckle said more than words. “The Princess cares for you very much. And the children, as you can hear, are very excited by the prospect of seeing their Aunt Jessica.”
Jessica walked beside her husband as they made their way to greet their guests. She remembered the promise Califar had pronounced with vehemence on the night the Prince had kidnapped his bride. “You are forbidden to follow the Princess. If you challenge me and step foot in my country, I will accept the challenge and you will not like the consequences.”
Things had not worked out exactly like that, but she was living with the consequences of entering his domain. Consequences she’d cherish for the rest of her life, the same way she’d cherish the man beside her. With his love, she’d become completely whole, a woman who could bask in the weaknesses and strengths of her femininity with dignity. The Chasm she’d crossed had been deep and treacherous, but she’d not crossed it alone.
She glanced upward to see her husband’s reassuring smile and knew he was thinking the same. Together…they were complete.
The End
From the Author
Thank you for reading my story. I hope it will linger in your heart for a very long time. In appreciation, I wanted to leave you with something you might enjoy on days when a little warmth and comfort are needed.
In PRIDE AND AUDACITY and CROSSING THE CHASM, we find that two of Califar’s favorite things are mint tea and date cakes. Why not try your hand at making these for yourself.
Mint Tea
Rinse the tea leaves. Place the green tea in a teapot and add one cup of boiling water. …Steep the tea. Add four cups of boiling water to the teapot and steep the tea for two minutes. Add sugar and mint. Steep for an additional four minutes, or to taste, and serve.
Date Cake
2 eggs
½ Cup tahini
⅝ Cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
Toasted sesame seeds for decoration
*Depending on the softness of your dates, see step 3
**The softer the dates, typically the sweeter, so adjust your sugar to your liking.
Instructions: Preheat your oven to 160°C (320°F), and prepare your cake pan by generously greasing it with butter. I recommend using a springform pan, especially if you’d like to decorate it with sesame seeds.
First, make your date paste. Start by soaking your dates in hot water for 5 minutes or longer and then mashing them. The softer the dates the less water needed to make the paste. Also, this is where you can adjust the texture to your liking. Want chunks of dates in your cake? Use less water and mash them a little. Want a smoother paste? Allow them to soak for longer and then mash them until they are smooth.
Once you’ve finished the date paste, set aside. Sift your flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and the set-aside. With a mixer beat your butter and sugar until creamy, then add the eggs. Continue to beat until smooth. Fold in the tahini and date paste and thoroughly combine. Then fold your dry mixture into the wet a 1/3 at a time until fully combined.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and coat the top generously with toasted sesame seeds. Bake for about 35–45 minutes or until the center springs back when touched. The cake will be very dark, so don’t gauge by color too much!
- Credit — Recipe found at Culture Stories — https://culturestories.co/date-tahini-cake/
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