When Life Gives You Lemons (Sun Tower, #1)

by Noor Sasha

If anything, I have come to consider her flaws as flawless. She’s imperfect, but in a way that makes her perfect for me. I may be too proud to admit it, but it’s true.

“I think there’s something about you that’s just . . . impossible to ignore.” His gaze travels from the crown of my head to the tips of my toes. “It’s fucking unfair, Alina, and yet, I can’t even be mad about it.”

I want to surrender to the fire completely. To taste it, savour it, and never extinguish it. I ache for him everywhere, anywhere, in every way. I want to ride out the waves and collapse in his embrace— “Alina.” My eyes pop open, my lips grazing his erratic pulse in a gentle kiss. I falter backward as I notice my lipstick’s mark on his skin.

“Did you use my card?” He tilts his head when he notices the little bob in my throat. “I did.” A smirk. “Good girl.” Oh, god. He called you a “good girl.”

“You are insanely hypnotizing. Do you know that? Do you understand what you’re doing to me, Alina?”

“You are . . .” He trails off, inhaling a deep, strained breath and exhaling painstakingly slowly. “Between the two of us, you are the ocean, Alina. Uncontrollable. Ferocious. Mystic. Wet.” A deep chuckle rumbles from his throat. “Correct me if I’m wrong about the latter.”

“Apologies, Cecilia. My husband doesn’t quite grasp the concept of being gentle.” “Wouldn’t you like to know,” he mumbles, his words meant only for my ears.

Azeer’s hand suddenly interrupts my thoughts, grazing my bare knee before inching up my thigh. A-fucking-gain. My breath stalls in my throat. “What are you doing?” “You asked me on our walk here if I liked what you’re wearing,” he says, slightly frowning as he flicks a shy, almost self-conscious glance my way. “I’m not very great at complimenting, Alina, but for my wife, I promise my actions will speak louder than words.”

“Before I forget,” he whispers, a gentle caress of his thumb across my knee, “you’re so damn soft, Nuisance.”

“I will, Mama,” she says, and my heart melts at the sound of that word. “I want a love story like yours.” Every second, I fall deeper and deeper in love with her.

Alina Azlan-Khan definitely has a thing for me. And shamefully, I have one for her, too.

Instead of retorting to her smart-ass comment, I devour her figure to quench my hunger. I mean, fuck it, right? I can’t deny it any longer. She’s breathtakingly beautiful when angry but simply irresistible when she blushes like a shy schoolgirl. I don’t understand all her complexities, but I’m enchanted by her all the same.

“What? Are you just going to stand there and stare?” “Let me think,” I say, leaning against the doorway with a thoughtful sigh. “Yes, Nuisance. I’d much rather stand here and stare at my wife.” The words may be playful, but the sentiment behind them is true.

Leave it to my wife to always find a way to distract me with her compliments.

I cast a glare at Levi Ackerman’s face stuffed between my wife’s breasts, my frustration mounting. “One of these days, I’m going to burn you,” I mutter. You’re threatening a pillow, Azeer.

“Well, well, well,” Alina says smoothly, “was that jealousy I saw from the two of you?” “It was mostly her.” I point at Zoha. She doesn’t deny it and instead hugs Alina’s legs. “And it’s a general rule for a husband to feel jealous when a strange male approaches his wife.” “So, you admit you were jealous?” “Extremely,” I surrender. I don’t care.

Alina chuckles and shows me her phone screen with a Google image of a specific cotton candy bucket. “I was simply asking if they sold these.” I quickly brand it in my memory bank to buy her every flavour.

“And he wasn’t my type, either.” She brushes off a piece of lint from my shoulder. “You are.” My heart flutters—flutters—and I feel my cheeks warm up. “Let’s keep it that way.” ...

“Oh, yeah? And what is your type?” “Your wife.” I feel a twinge of anger in my gut, a possessive feeling I didn’t expect. “Say that again?” Shahzad claps me on the side of my neck, still grinning. “You’ve changed, meri jaan.” I feel my politeness evaporate. “And you don’t want to know what this new change can do to your bones if you say some shit like that again.”

“I don’t know about you,” I mumble, plucking a fallen lash from her cheek, “but I wouldn’t change anything about this lovely nuisance in my life.” I blow the lash from my finger. “I’m beginning to quite like her.” With a wink, I leave her flushed and flustered—exactly how I like her.

“Anything you desire, everything you crave, smile for me, and it’s yours, Alina jaan.” His words send shivers down my spine, and the heat between my legs grows. “Please?” I smile. “That’s a bold statement, don’t you think?” Azeer leans in, his breath hot against my ear. “Any. Fucking. Thing.”

Each day my wife gives me infinite reasons to be enchanted by her.

Slowly but surely, I’m falling in love with everything she does.

Guess it’s time for me to be honest and open with her, to tell her how I feel and what I want from our future together. Confessing my love for her fills me with excitement and extra anxiety. But the longer I wait, the more I realize my feelings for her will grow stronger.

“Abbu told me to take care of you while he was away. He said I should sleep next to you so that you could hug me instead of your body pillow.”

“I just— I can’t stand the sight of you crying.” I snort. “Let me guess? Because I look ugly?” Azeer’s voice is strained with agony as he speaks. “Because it tore my fucking soul apart, Alina.”

I playfully smack his cheek. “Narcissist.” “Nuisance.” “Ass.” “Mine.” Without waiting for my response, he pulls me close to his chest, claiming me whole. “All. Mine.”

She looks like some kind of dangerous and desirable fairy-tale villain. So unbelievably real. Rare. Transcending time and space with her existence. It’s a miracle I can even form a coherent thought in her presence. Scratch that; she’s stolen all the oxygen my brain needs. Can you believe this marvellous woman is your wife?

“How . . . easy is it to take off?” I finally manage to ask, my voice a little husky. “It’s got a zip—” she says, but then stops and looks at me suspiciously. “Why do you care?” I take a deep breath and look her in the eyes. “Because I want to take it off of you. Why else?”

“Every sound you make is like music to my ears. Do you know that? It’s like you’re singing just for me, and it’s so fucking beautiful, Alina jaan.”

My lips betray me as the words escape my mouth. “Take off the dress and sit on the counter.” “What?” “Dress off. Ass on the counter. Now, Alina.” I pause, adding a wavering, impatient, “Please.”

“I need you to know, Alina jaan.” Rough, large hands explore my body with tender touches, distracting me from the pain of my memories. “I need you to know you’re safe with me,”

My head slowly cranes back to find the box full of my erotica ripped open. Oh, fuck. “Did a little textbook research on it,” he confesses, stroking my thighs. My eyes widen with surprise. “You read my books?” Azeer chuckles low in his throat. “I wouldn’t call those books, Alina jaan. It’s pure debauchery written in size-eleven Times New Roman.” He places his hand on my stomach and guides me back onto the cold countertop, his gaze burning with desire. “Now, Alina jaan, may I have your permission to experiment with what I’ve gathered from your interesting books?” “Yes. A hundred times yes.”

“Fuck, Alina jaan,” he groans. God, his groan sends a delicious shiver through me. “You are so responsive to me, sweetheart. Every time I touch you, you become so wet, so ready for me.”

“I’m so close, meri jaan,” I mumble, our lips locked in a violent kiss. He grunts in response, tearing his mouth away. “Say it again.” “Say what?” “Meri jaan.” My lips perk. Adorable. “Meri jaan, Azeer jaan.”

“You have ruined me, sweetheart.”

“I want my pussy to know who she belongs to. I want her to come only on my fingers, on my tongue, on my cock. Is that clear?” “I swear I’ve read those words somewhere before—” “Don’t question it.”

“Carry me to the bath—” “Do it yourself.” He throws the towel at my head. “Jesus, Azeer!” I hop off the wet counter to kick his ass. “Woah!” My legs give out in a second, and then I’m swept up in his arms. “That’s quite flattering,” he comments with a victorious smile.

“I’d like a bit of context, sweetheart.” “Did you or did you not donate ten million dollars to the Epilepsy Foundation, Azeer Khan?” she asks, her tone serious. My lips shrug down in response to Alina’s questioning. “What a remarkable philanthropist.” She takes my hand and says my name with a hint of reproach. “Azeer.” “Alina,” I respond in the same tone, and she melts into a smile. “Why didn’t you discuss it with me?” “Because it’s my inheritance money.”

“Does that satisfy your curiosity, my sweet Nuisance?”

“Okay, meri jaan. We need to get Zoha to bed.” God, I love it when she calls me that. “Before I forget, what’s your favourite number again? I need to set a new passcode for my safe.” She raises a brow. Fall for it, fall for it, fall for it— “Twenty-three.” “Twenty-three,” I repeat, trying to decipher why it’s her favourite—Oh. We’re born on the twenty-third of July. Of course, there’s a sentimental value behind her favourite number.

“Do you think we should try for a baby soon?”

“Of course, we should.” An amused smirk plays on my lips. “Are you just saying that to get your dick wet?” “I have your hands and mouth for that, but I wouldn’t mind other channels, yes.”

“We’re in this together, Alina jaan. If any risks arise, I’ll be there. Zoha will be there. We’ll make sure nothing happens to you. Once we discuss everything with professionals, once you’re ready, we’ll make the best decision for our family. Okay?”

My wife was my first kiss. And when I gaze at her, I see the delight and astonishment in her sparkling brown eyes. It’s unreal. It’s fucking unreal.

If the word “exquisite” had a face, it would be my wife’s.

Alina taps my mouth. “Talk to me, meri—” “I love you, Alina jaan.”

He said it. He finally said it. I feel stupidly proud of my husband, knowing that he has been practicing his confession to me for days. I heard him rehearsing in the closet, in the pantry, and even in the shower. It was cute how nervous he was about it.

I lean over and poke his back. “Azeer?” As he stirs awake and turns, his voice becomes groggy and disoriented. “What’s wrong?” He checks the time, and when he sees that I’m wide awake and smiling, he groans and falls back onto his pillows. “Why aren’t you sleeping, Nuisance?” “Because I wanted to talk to you, Asseer,

“Do you actually love me?” “I knew your ass was going to pester me about this.” “It’s just a question.” He closes his eyes in response to my curiosity. I know I might be bugging him, but I need reassurance. “Yes, Alina. I love you. Always have, always will.” He looks at me with a half-lidded gaze, then adds, “Now, can I please go back to sleep so I can love you in my dreams, too?”