MasukKIMBERLY
I had no idea I was someone to ever be attracted to older men and I had never thought about them as any other thing than aging people with kids but this was different.
I did not want to look in his direction but I was already doing that, watching his fluid movement as he greeted his guests and when he laughed at something, my insides curled.
I shook my head, trying to draw my mind to the present and the fact that he was my best friend’s father and probably thrice my age.
I wasn’t going to drool over him but who was I kidding?
I was drooling just by staring at him stride all over the place, making his mark and showing that he was the boss of everyone not like he needed to even do that. He was powerful; he filled the room with his aura and judging by the way the women reacted around him, they definitely felt it too.
“You are staring” Azeena commented, pushing me gently.
“I wasn’t” I told her and painfully drew my eyes away from the man to her
“It is nothing to be embarrassed about. My father has always had most of the attention from the opposite sex and I cannot count how many of my friends have tried to have sex with him one way or the other.” She laughed
If she had told me about this before meeting the said man, I would have called her friends whores and crazy, backstabbing bitches but I could see why they would want to have sex with him.
To feel those hands wrapped around their necks and have it caress their bodies, I would give the world for that.
“He doesn’t encourage them, I hope?” I finally said, after getting the lump out of my throat
“Of course not and he tells me about it immediately. That is why I do not have friends, I can never get them to look past my father and just be my friend” She said, sighing
“I am sorry about that” I told her
I wasn’t going to be that friend; the one that wanted to fuck her father no matter how utterly handsome he looked. I was going to be her friend and look away from the dashing man and even if my eyes strayed to him, I was going to call myself to order.
We remained sitting until it was time to dance which was announced by the clanking of glasses.
“You made no mention of a dance” I said, turning to Azeena who had already been grabbed by her father.
“It is not hard, just follow your dance partner’s movement” She called out to me over the music
I took a deep breath just immediately Hassan approached me. He was dashing but wasn’t anywhere close to how dashing his father was and I hit myself mentally for even making that comparison.
I was supposed to have eyes for boys my age and boys slightly older than me and not one who could birth me.
“Can I have this dance, Kimberly?” Hassan asked upon reaching me, his hands stretched out.
“Yes” I told him and then allowed him lead me to the dance floor.
“To be honest, I do not know how to dance” I told him as he took the beginning bow.
“Just follow my lead, jamila” he murmured softly and then drew me close, aligning our bodies
“What does that mean?” I asked
“Now, what is the fun in telling you” He smirked and then placed on hand on the curve of my back
The breath left my lungs as I let him twirl me around, allowing him full access to my body which was a hot mess of pulsing nerve endings dying to be stroked.
The song soon changed and so did dance partners and soon I was in the arms of the one man I had made a vow to avoid for the rest of the party, my host and Zeena’s dad; Mr Farouq.
“Mr Farouq” I breathed as he drew me closer, placing his hand dangerously near my ass
“Now now, Kimberly… we both agreed that you can call me Asif” he growled as we moved until the song changed and I had to be closer to him
I tried to regulate my breathing as blood rushed to my head, making me lightheaded. I took a deep breath and that was my mistake as I inhaled the masculine flavored scent on him which had me tripping under the weight of such heady sensation.
“Are you okay?” He asked as he used his body to hold me up lest I stumbled and fell, totally embarrassing myself in front of him and the people in the room
“I am fine” I snapped as we continued dancing
“I seem to have angered you” He commented as his dark eyes burrowed into the side of my face while I tried not to look up at him.
“Stop whatever it is you are doing” I whispered furiously.
It was quite obvious that he was seducing me and I was not making myself a hard chase. This was probably how he seduced other friends of Zeena and then told on them when they reciprocated his seductions.
He had to know that it would never work on me and I would sooner speak rudely to him than allow him make a mess of my friendship with Zeena.
“Stop what, Kimberly… we are dancing” He murmured with such innocence
“You know exactly what you are doing and please stop pronouncing my name like that” I snapped
“I like your name; it has a certain pleasing lilt to it. I only imagine how it must sound in the bedroom, during sex” He whispered.
A gasp escaped my throat and coincided with the final note on the music being played which led to it being heard by Azeena who was ending her dance with her brother, Hassan.
“Are you okay?” She said, taking my hand
“I think your friend is quite lightheaded from all the twirling about” Her father responded, staring at me with his eyes sending messages.
“Yes, all that twirling has left me quite tired” I pushed out of my dry mouth
Azeena mumbled an apology and spared a glare at her father before she led me back to my seat while my head ran different scenarios of me on my knees with her father calling me Kimberly over and over again with that accent.
KIMBERLY“Happy Birthday”I stared at Hassan’s Instagram message one more time before I turned off my phone and slipped it into my pocket.It had been two weeks since my mother died and her body was cremated per her wishes.Aunt Catherina had been so helpful with the details of everything while I just floated in a haze of self loathing and anger.After my mother’s farewell, we packed up and left to Italy.I was yet to meet my father’s family. Aunt Catherina had mentioned they were excited to me and were only getting things in order but the truth is, I did not think they wanted to.From what I had been able to gather from sneaking around and eavesdropping on her phone conversation, they hated me. In fact she was the only one who thought it was a great idea to bring the unacknowledged daughter of Matteo Massimo to Italy.Today however, she did mention I would meet my grandfather.Surprisingly, we shared a birthday and he was hosting a party so I was going with her as a plus one. I had a
KIMBERLYMy palms were pressed against one another, clammy and twisting in my lap.The doctor was watching me, his eyes soft in a way I hated. I did not want his pity and who the hell was the woman anyways.“Kimberly,” he said “How are you doing?”How am I doing?I almost laughed. A bitter sound caught in my throat, but no air came out. How could he ask me that when my world had been split apart only minutes ago?“I…” My throat burned, and I shook my head quickly. “I don’t know. I just…” My words caught in my throat. “Where is my mother? I would like to see her.”“That can be arranged,” he said gently. “And I am so very sorry for your loss, Kimberly.”I swallowed hard, my eyes stinging. “You said… that can be arranged?” I repeated. “So she is here? Where is she?”“Yes.” The doctor nodded, but then his gaze flicked to the woman seated in the corner, the one I had not wanted to acknowledge. “That is why she is here as well.”“What do you mean?”The doctor folded his hands on the desk.“
HASSAN“What did you say?” I askedAzeena stared me down, her lips curling in disgust.“You heard me, brother,” she spat. “While you were up here in your little cave, fucking my best friend, her mother was dying in the hospital while the doctor rung her up.”I could feel my body run cold. This was not happening… this had to be some sort of bad dream.I turned to Kimberly, who was still frozen in place, her face pale as death. Her lips were parted but no sound came from them. She looked like she was stuck between horror, disbelief and grief and she wasn’t sure where to begin.Azeena’s gaze snapped to her next.“I hope whatever this is with my brother was worth it,” she said “Because Kimberly, you are dead to me.”With that she spun around and stormed out, the slam of the door shaking the walls.There was silence in that nanosecond as Kimberly’s ragged breathing filled the air.I rushed forward attempting to touch her but when I did, she jerked back violently, her eyes wild.“Kim…”“Don
KIMBERLYI asked myself what the hell I was doing for the umpteenth time that day as I kissed Hassan right back.His lips were so demanding, hungry and full of a need that both terrified and thrilled me. I should have pulled away, I should have thought about Azeena and Asif… even my mother. I should have considered everything this could unravel but instead, I let him reach for the corset ropes of my dress and loosen them, my breath hitching as his fingers trailed down my spine.The fabric gave way easily, sliding from my shoulders like it had been waiting for this moment.“God, Kimberly…” he whispered against my mouth, his forehead pressing to mine as his hands rested at the small of my back. “Do you have any idea what you are doing to me?”I swallowed, my throat dry.“What am I doing?” I croaked.His laugh was low and laced with disbelief.“Everything” He said as he kissed me again, deeper this time, as though he was trying to consume me, to make me forget every thought but him and f
KIMBERLYAnd dance I did… with Hassan whom by the way was an interesting dance partner.He knew how well I struggled with dances and he took his time to twirl me around, making sure I did not trip on my shoes or his.I did not think Hassan had one gentlemanly bone in his body but he surprised me and soon enough I had almost forgotten Asif with that woman… almost.The dance ended and we headed to our seat when Asif cornered Hassan and I.“I would like to introduce my son, Hassan and my daughter’s best friend, Kimberly” He said to the woman in red.Her smile widened as she took us in and my fingers itched to drag itself across that pearly white perfect skin. She was beautiful… stunningly beautiful and it wasn’t helping my broken heart.“It is a pleasure to meet you, Hassan. Your father has always spoken with great pride about you” She brought out a hand to Hassan who took it reluctantly, his smile tight.“And you, Kimberly… I must commend how beautiful you look. I see you have Italian b
KIMBERLYI tried so hard not to cry but my tear gland refused to cooperate with me.I was glad there was no one there to witness my breakdown and when the morning came… the morning of Azeena’s birthday, I lied to her that my eyes were swollen because I had thought about my mother and cried.She comforted me and then rounded it up with an invite to her birthday party. I had to be there and I had to let go of my sadness because in her words, it wasn’t my fault that my mother was ill and I was allowed to be sad about it but not guilty.Hassan knocked on the door that morning to wish his sister a happy birthday and present her of course with his gift for her.He did not look at meHe pretended like I was not in the room as he teased her on turning 21 and then rolled his eyes when she asked him if he would show up for her party.“I don’t think I will, Zeena”“You have to. I do not want to hear it. What the hell is up with you, Hassan?”He cast her a smile and then his eyes met mine across







