"Don't joke. I was scared," he admitted.
She walked around to him and settled on his lap. "I was too."
"Hmm." He inhaled deeply and she felt his smile against the back of her neck. "You smell like you," he told her of her jasmine fragrance as she pressed languidly against him.
His hands came up to cup her breasts and she twisted in his lap to kiss him hard on the mouth.
Hamza drew back to look at her. "Somebody's feeling affectionate today," he teased.
She smoothed some of the dark strands of hair back from his forehead. "I'm always affectionate, baby." Then her expression grew sad as she remembered what she had come here to talk to him about. "Hamza, I'll be graduating in a month."
"I know," he quipped. "So will hundreds of other students."
She punched his shoulder. "Please don't mock me. I'm worried."
He sighed. "You have to go out there in the world, Jas. You have to make your mark."
"Suddenly, it doesn't seem all that important," she whispered and buried her head in his chest. "I just want to be with you."
"No tears, please."
She lifted her head and scowled at him. "I'm leaving."
She began to scramble off his lap but he laughed and pulled her back. "You look very sexy this afternoon by the way," he growled.
She folded her arms and looked away. "Not sexy enough, though."
"Come, on, baby," he groaned. "Be happy we're together now. Don't worry about the future. Tell me...what colour are your panties right now?"
"Blue," she huffed.
"Oh, blue, are they?" His fingers were moving under her top to cup her breasts which were covered by her lacy bra. "I like blue. Blue is my favourite color," he whispered. "Mmm. So beautiful." He kept on inhaling her fragrance and pressing hot, wet kisses on her neck and face.
His stubble tickled her and she giggled but then sobered up. "I think I'm ready to have sex with you."
Hamza stopped and stared at her before shaking his head. "No sex, Jas. I'm happy just being with you like this. We do other stuff so it's fine."
"No, it's not," she argued. "You said you didn't want me to feel pressured and I don't feel like that. I want us to make love."
"It would be wrong," he said simply.
She scoffed. "When has wrong or right ever figured in our relationship? What we're doing now is wrong as well. In fact, everything is wrong." She spread one hand out in emphasis. "But we should be together. It's been almost two years! I love you, Hamza."
"I love you, too, my baby and that is why I can't do it. You'll get married one day. I can't take your virginity."
"I want to marry you." She got to her feet and glared at him. "I'm tired of sneaking around like this. Just talk to Alisha. I don't mind being a second wife as long as I get to stay with you properly." She folded her arms again. "And I want all the rights that come with it."
His eyes twinkled and he smirked. "All of them, huh?"
"Yes," she insisted. "We love each other. There's nothing wrong with getting married now that I've finished college."
He scratched his chin and puffed out a breath. "Come here." She refused to budge. "Come here, Jas. Don't torture me like this. We have so little time together."
Her eyes filled with tears and she moved to him at once. "Don't say things like that."
"I have something for you."
Hamza removed a jewellery box from his desk drawer and handed it to her. Nestled inside was a silver bracelet encrusted with tiny diamonds and rubies. It was the first present he had ever given her. And she had a daunting feeling that it would be the last as well.
"I like it," she breathed dreamily but sadness tinged her voice. "Thank you."
"Shall I put in on for you?"
She nodded and then a thought struck her as he fastened the catch. "Hamza. How can you afford this?"
He smiled. "Don't worry. I have my inheritance back now that Abba and I are on speaking terms. He had my accounts frozen years ago."
"Oh. So, you're a rich guy now, hmm?"
"Yup. Filthy rich. Just like you're going to be tomorrow when you turn twenty one." Her trust fund. She had almost forgotten. But she was touched that he remembered her birthday even if she did not like celebrating it after her parents' death. Hamza kissed her wrist where the bracelet sparkled. "Consider this an early birthday present. Don't ever take it off."
She climbed back onto his lap. "I won't, I promise. Now kiss me."
He complied and she snuggled up to him, feeling his erection nudging her thighs through the thin fabric of his cotton trousers. In the previous months, she had always ignored it as per his request but now, she was desperate. She could not get rid of that terrible feeling in her heart that she was going to lose him.
"I love you," she murmured and tightened her arms around him, grinding against his erection.
Hamza let out a groan. "Jas," he gasped and tore his mouth from hers. "Please don't do that," he told her. "I like it too much."
Pulling his head down, Jasmine kissed him again, her tongue entwining with his in a mating dance. She opened the buttons of his shirt and he made a sound of protest but did not pull away. When she ran her hands over his chest, Hamza shuddered with desire, his breathing growing harsher by the minute. He grabbed Jasmine's ass and raised her higher against him to suck her nipple through her clothes causing her to release a sound of pleasure before
