Page 86 of Earned Husband

Rami whistled between his teeth when he leaned over to inspect it, even Khaled looking impressed when he joined his brother. Basel’s mouth twitched like he’d finally given up pretending to be stern and Tarek called him out on it without delay.

“Dad smiled,” he announced happily, sending another ripple of laughter through the crowd.

Basel waved them off, but he was laughing with Deja and the others now while my family watched from the screen like they were witnessing something they’d never forget, even if they weren’t sure what to make of it. Frankly, I wasn’t sure what to make of it either.

All I knew was that it’d cost me a ton of money—and that it was almost over now.Thank God.

Deja stepped forward and I lifted the ring out of the box, looking only at her as I brought it to her finger, her skin warmand soft under my own. My heart rate finally calmed now that I was touching her, almost like my body had needed a physical reminder of why I’d put myself through this.

Her golden brown eyes were alive with laughter and happiness, and I smiled back at her, shutting out the rest of the room. I pushed the ring up until it was settled against her knuckle. Once it was on, she took my hand and gave it a soft squeeze.

I definitely would’ve preferred a kiss or even just a hug, but as things were, I let myself bask in the relief that yet another ritual was behind us while she went back to the women, lifting her hand up toward the light as she showed it off to them.

Several “oohs” and squeals rang out. The band started up again, and just like that, we’d entered the engagement party phase of the ceremony. Wearing traditional clothes that I’d let her brothers dress me in earlier, I got pulled into the thick of things by Rami, but I didn’t mind. I’d finally started to feel like less of an outsider.

They’d spent an hour before the ceremony getting me ready, all six Saad boys descending upon my bedroom loaded down with the finest silk garments, shoes, and even a few scarves and watches. They’d made me feel like one of them, which naturally also meant that any notion of privacy had been obliterated, but I’d had a surprisingly good time.

It was sort of like being the newest recruit in a strangely affectionate, but exhausting military unit. They were an extremely close-knit group. They talked nonstop, there was always a snack nearby, and hugging was mandatory.

Even now, while the women surrounded Deja, showering her with hugs and love, I was pulled into the arms of her brothers as the party exploded into a full celebration. People started dancing and Nanna pushed a plate of food into my hands, her eyes twinkling with amusement when I sighed. But I ate.

Children darted between tables and the Saad boys appeared the second I was done eating, insisting I dance with them. The next few hours blurred together, but as soon as I found a way to escape, I took it, excusing myself from an elderly gentleman who’d been speaking to me about the proper way to raise children in broken English for at least fifteen minutes.

I headed out to the gardens, knowing that was my best shot at getting a minute to breathe. The majority of the partygoers who’d been out here earlier were inside now, either on the dance floor or eating at their tables.

Stepping out into the warm night air, I strode down the garden path that offered the most greenery to disappear into, crossing the lawn and zigzagging through shrubs, palm trees, and jacarandas toward the furthest fountain from the house.

Once the music started fading behind me, I let out a relieved sigh, desperately needing just a few minutes to recover after all that. I was clammy with sweat, my muscles aching from how tightly I’d been holding them earlier, and my head swimming with the overload of simply being in that room.

When I stepped into the clearing, I wasn’t surprised to find Deja already there, sitting on the edge of the concrete fountain and running her fingertips through the water in the pool around it.

She looked up when I approached, smiling as she checked an imaginary watch. “We’ve been engaged for approximately three hours and this is the first time we’re actually going to get to talk.”

I slid my hands into my pockets, pausing for a beat just to look at the picture she cut on the edge of that fountain, her dark hair twisted into some elegant do at the back of her head and her features relaxed and open.

“I think we’re improving,” I said as I finally moved again, crossing the path toward her. “It could’ve been three days.”

“Fair enough.” She chuckled, rising as I approached and sliding her arms around my neck when I reached her. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m all good now,” I said quietly, living for the heat of her sealed against my front and the soft curves of her hips under my hands. “How about you?”

“Better now that I can breathe again.”

I smiled, bringing my forehead down to hers and holding her for another moment before I felt her starting to wriggle out of my grip. My eyes opened again to find her reaching for the camera. I hadn’t seen it before since it’d been hidden behind her while she’d been sitting, but she quickly turned it on and lifted it up.

“I want to capture the moment,” she explained, leaning into my side.

My arm automatically slung around her hips and we both smiled when the shutter clicked, then pulled funny faces, then kissed, then smiled again, but a lot more loved-up this time. After one more, she finally lowered the camera and glanced at the screen, holding it between us so I could see too.

“I love these,” she said as she scrolled through them. “We look so happy.”

“We do,” I agreed softly. “I mean, you’re stunning. I look tired, but it still might be my favorite photo anyone has ever taken of me.”

She chuckled, setting the camera back down and turning toward me again. As her eyes lifted to mine, she slid her arms back around my neck and leaned into me. “I think we’re officially allowed to kiss now.”

“I do believe that’s how it works,” I murmured, smiling, and lowered my mouth to hers, claiming her lips for a kiss that set my blood on fire.

Her fingers curled into the front of my jacket and I tightened my grip on her waist, moaning when she gave my lower lip a playful nip. We crashed together again and again, the kiss quickly turning into a make-out session I doubted we were supposed to be having with several hundred people so close by, but neither of us stopped until a throat cleared only a few feet away.