It was late when Hatim entered his chamber and found Raiha settled in his King bed. She was not sleeping. She watched him as he got into the dimly lit room, troubled. He had not turned to look at her, and the frown creasing his brow kept her from speaking. Was he thinking how he would tell her that he was no longer interested in her?
"Come and help me with this kaftan, Raiha. I have already dismissed that inept aide of mine."
It's like he had already sensed that she was there, and still awake. The order he had given out, notified her so many things that made her heart at ease. She felt like laughing at herself as she remembered Lady Irfana's words.
―"Is it not obvious, that My Sultan has completely lost interest after having satisfied his sexual curiosity about you."
She thought he had already forgotten her and was to join her in bed. They had not made love to each other for months ever since Hatim married. He did not expect to do so on the night after he had an argument and got dismissed with his wife, Arshi.
He was furious but could not dare to show it. Raiha, of course, had no idea of Hatim's marriage. No one else knew, except Mohammed and the few royal guards who swore with their lives not to leak out that information.
Raiha slithered from the bed. Completely naked, she carried herself proudly, her loose and bumped hair flowing down her back, her amber flirty eyes staring at Hatim.
Hatim scrutinized how she was slowly and seductively approaching him. She noticed the immediate reaction she was having on him.
"Please lower down your head for me, my Sultan," she whispered. "As you can see, I am not tall enough to lift your robe from your shoulders."
Bewildered, Hatim moved to an armrest chair next to his bed. Raiha caught the edge of his kaftan and gently lifted it up, then brought it over his head as he sat down. He had a sweet but pleasant odour. It was his natural scent and Raiha loved it.
"I have not seen you for so long and you did not think of me..." she said pouting. "I think I am right."
He smiled at her as she talked and behaved like a small child in front of him. "I began to think that you had lost interest in me, my Sultan."
Raiha next went for his trousers and before she could do that, Hatim had his arms around her waist. He pulled her closer to him and kissed her belly, slowly lifted his head and reached out for her breast. He began to suck on it aggressively.
"My Sultan…"
Raiha made a small squeal that made him suddenly aroused. His manhood was still throbbing in pain after Arshi had rejected him. He wanted to turn off that fire as quickly as he could and Raiha was the only water he needed at the moment. He could not wait any longer so, he picked his concubine up and carried her to bed.
Hatim fastened his lips over hers. He needed that distraction; he was angry with himself for allowing Arshi to make him feel weak. He was the Sultan and many women wished to serve him in bed yet, she refused. Having Raiha in his bed during that moment, thrusting deeply and watching her taking him whole as she moaned, made him question himself. Was he was wasting too much time on Arshi? What would she be like in bed? an inner voice debated as he tried to control his emotions. He was making love to one of his other women at the same time, thinking of another. As he stroked, he made himself believe that for him it was nothing more than a brief episode of pleasure.
He wanted to pull out immediately, but Arshi's face appeared before him and that led him to release his warm manly juice that left Raiha trembling convulsively while moaning with pleasure. Clenching her nails deeper into Hatim's shoulders as she pants mixing her own release with his until she fainted.
As soon as the coitus was through, Hatim slid from the bed, leaving Raiha, who had already fallen asleep, wrapped in his covers.
***************
"Oh no. we're going to start again from the beginning."
The maids kept arguing amongst themselves outside below Arshi's bedroom window.
"Alright! I see what you mean, there's no need to be rude."
Arshi popped her head out of her window, concerned, "What is going on down there? Is everything okay with the both of you?"
"My lady! We—"
"Rest assured I will not scold you, my dear," Arshi quickly assured them. "I am just concerned. If you are in need of assistance, just let me know, okay? I would be more than willing to offer a hand, girls."
The maids answered politely at her, "We are fine, our mistress. We were just arguing about who was going to remake the recipe dishes you prepared for us last week."
"Without instructions?" Arshi giggled and dimples appeared on her cheeks. "I could just cook again but with you guys around so that you get to know the whole recipe."
"My mistress, that will not be acceptable. We are here to serve you."
"I choose to do it willingly!"
"My mistress…"
"Then that is settled. You can carry on with your other chores." She replied to them with an encouraging smile.
The maids bowed respectfully and left. She turned around and went straight to her bedroom door and as soon as she got out, she met a familiar face.
"Oh, my goodness, Murat," Arshi exclaimed after seeing one of her guards still standing outside her room. "Did you keep watch all through the night? You must be exhausted."
"I am fairing well, my lady. It is my duty to protect you with my life." Murat smiled as he replied respectfully to her.
They were both too engrossed in their talk to notice Hatim's presence. After their previous quarrel, Hatim had told the servants not to announce him whenever he went to see Arshi. He had been covertly observing her whenever he had the opportunity. He didn't mind how far his wife was from him as long as he could see her face and know for himself that she was well.
"How was the food I made last night? Was it to your liking?" Arshi asked as she giggled.
"The food was amazing! My mistress, you are way better at cooking than I thought you would be."
"I am glad that you liked it."
Arshi connected well with all of the servants there, and what irritated Hatim was the fact that she laughed and cheered joyously with the others while ignoring him. He had not yet tried his wife's food, but his subjects had. He was in a bad mood.
Hatim was almost going to explode in a minute if she didn't stop talking with the young guard who was standing outside guarding her house entrance.
The young knight took notice of the Sultan's presence and flinched. "My liege."
Arshi turned round to see Hatim standing in the open doorway. She flinched but did not move.
"I apologize, I came unannounced. Would you care to discuss something important with me? I promise to not take too much of your time."
Arshi stared at him wondering what he had gone there for. She told herself to stay calm. She did not wish for Hatim to see her nervous.
"Shall we go somewhere and sit down?"
"Yes, my Sultan," she agreed glibly heading back to her room as Hatim followed behind.
"Please, sit." Hatim offered politely.
Obediently, Arshi went and sat down.
Hatim looked at her, but she was refusing to look back at him. She had put her curly but beachy hair up in a curled plait. she had no makeup on and still looked like a human doll.
Arshi could not look at him, and she could feel her face starting to burn. A sudden memory of their last encounter popped into her mind. She could still feel the heat of her own desire for him.
"My Sultan—"
"Hatim"
"I—"
"You are my wife and formalities are uncalled for when we are alone." He insisted. "So, try calling my name, my sweet wife."
As if she could forget she was his wife! But unfortunately for her, he was not any other man. He was the Sultan.
So, first things first, and then… She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. "Hathi…I…um…"
"Arshi?" His voice was husky. "Are you still upset with me?"
Arshi flinched. "I would not dare to do such a thing!" she took a deep breath and continued, "When you think of it, I am the one who is at fault here. I overreacted and refused to listen to your explanation. I am your wife and you are my husband…you chose me and I treated you wrongly. These past months, I have learned to know and understand you and I know you will not deceive me anymore…" She hated herself for being so nervous with him.
"Is that so?"
Arshi nodded trying to force a smile.
"If all you have said is true, Arshi, then there is no reason for you to still hate me." He moved closer, stretching his hand to gently caress her cheek. Arshi leaned her face deeper into his palms accepting his touch as she smiles.
"I do not hate you, Hathi. I was just scared…I still am."
"Scared of?" he raised an eyebrow.
"The Sultana mother and the life I will have to be accustomed to in the royal palace," she said frankly. "Perhaps in time…"
Hatim sighed and Arshi felt like a sudden chill striking her body. "We have been married more than three months almost nearing the fourth. I really wish you would be more at ease with our current situation."
She actually had to think before she could answer.
"Even so, you will have more than enough time to adjust," he declared. "You are what I hold dear, my love."
"You sent me away," she replied in a tiny voice that shocked her. "You do not send away what you hold dear. I feel more like a hidden mistress than a wife."
"That was my mistake," he said huskily and began to bring his head towards her. "I was reluctant to force myself on you and do something that I may come to regret in the future. I did not want to hurt you in the slightest." For a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her but he moved his head back and looked at her.
He kept remembering the deed he had done with Raiha while thinking of her. Although what he did was not wrong, Lady Raiha was his favourite concubine and part of his harem. He did not know how to face Arshi. He had promised her happiness but yet, never made her feel it ever since they became husband and wife.
His Sultana tried to smile and failed.