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

by Noor Sasha

“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.

“Goodnight, Abbu,” she says softly, then suddenly screams, “Goodnight, Mama!” The pretty pterodactyl screams back, “Goodnight, butterfly!” She hurries over in an oversized cartoon shirt and black tights, and I roll my eyes. Alina attacks Zoha’s face with a flurry of affectionate kisses. “Move, woman.” I push her aside and kiss Zoha’s forehead. “Move, man.” I drop flat on my ass while she cocoons Zoha in a warm embrace, playfully sticking her tongue out at me. “You’re going to pay for that.” “All bark and no bite—”

I sit against the headboard and pull out my reading glasses, ready to dive into late-night email responses. She gasps. “Oh my god! You wear glasses?” Her gaze widens with curiosity.

JUMP HIS BONES NOW BESTIE 👹👹👹👹🛐🛐🛐🛐

Alina spends the next couple of hours on her phone, emailing Nina about the daycare construction schedule, copying down recipes from her mother’s text messages, and catching up on an anime while commenting on each scene to herself. Little does she know I’m listening to every word, intrigued by her theories but terrified by the gory show itself. Seriously. One of the characters slipped running down the stairs and got stabbed in the throat by the sharp end of her umbrella. I think you’ve already established that your wife isn’t normal.

AND SHES THE BEST U LOVE HER STFU 😔😔😭😭❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

I set aside my laptop and remove my glasses, sinking into the comforter that smells like a blend of her floral fabric softener and cocoa butter lotion scent. Ecstasy.

Alina finds my fingers and grips my hand. I’m here.

TEARSSSSS

“Can you hold me, please? Just this once.” Alina doesn’t hesitate, wrapping her arms around me tightly. Her warmth bleeds into my body, easing the tension in my muscles. The gentle trail of her fingertips caresses my spine in a soothing rhythm. I nestle my nose into her hair and try to find solace in her warmth. This woman of mine, she’s a beautiful paradox: powerful yet delicate, fierce yet loving. And soon enough, I’m drifting off to sleep.

I’m not crying I’m dying

I can’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy toward that pillow, wishing it was me she was holding onto.

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.

HES THREATENING LEVI FOR HER ☹️🥹❤️‍🩹

Alina swings her legs out of bed, the sunlight pouring over her curves, casting her in a brilliant, ethereal light. My heart races at the sight of her. “Are you checking me out, Dr. Khan?” A smirk plays on her lips. I try to play it cool, lifting my head to meet her gaze. “What’s there to check out?” I say, but my eyes betray me as they linger on her curvy ass.

“Fool the world, Asseer, but don’t fool yourself.”

“Mama, I didn’t know you had a friend here. Did you, Abbu? Dad. Baba. Father.” I squeeze her hand reassuringly. “No, baby. I did not know my wife had a friend here.” I try to hide my jealousy behind a calm façade. The worker notices our tension and quickly makes an excuse to leave. I feel grateful for my daughter’s protective instincts as he scurries away. “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.

“And he wasn’t my type, either.” She brushes off a piece of lint from my shoulder. “You are.”

You know, as the eldest daughter, I thought I had everything under control, but now, I’m starting to doubt myself.

Shahzad nods, pulling out a fresh cigarette. He offers it to me, but I shake my head. “I’m trying to quit,” I say. Shahzad raises an eyebrow. “Your wife?” “Mostly Zoha, and my health, too.” He nods. “Fair enough.”

I keep a close eye on Alina and Zoha, specifically on my wife, in case she accidentally hurts herself from the overwhelming anxiety of my swarm of relatives.

🫠❤️‍🩹

“Why are you smiling?” she asks. I grip the tub’s edge, trying to contain the urge to reach out to her. “Nothing,” I say, still smiling. “Just thinking.” “About what?” You, Alina jaan.

my god, Azeer, did you know Nyla’s hot bodyguard is your cousin?” Envy sparks me to sit straight. “Hot—Hot bodyguard?” “Oh, yeah,” Alina breathes out, head shaking. “He is a fine specimen.” Sighing, she rests her cheek on her shoulder and looks at me. “Strange that I still prefer you.” “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“Just— I was just surprised that Azeer’s capable of being a husband.” “You and me both.” I reach to hand him a Sooper biscuit. “Thank you, wife.” Azeer appears, plucks it out of my hand, and pops it in his mouth, barricading himself between us. “Delicious. What are we talking about?” “I was trying to get to know Alina,” Shahzad says calmly. “Don’t bother. She’s a lot to unpack— Oof!”

“I love you too, beta,” he replies, cupping my face and kissing my forehead. “You’re glowing. I’m guessing Azeer’s treating you well?” “It’s because I switched from Nestlé water to Fiji. It’s what rich people like to drink.”

“Let’s just say”—he cups the sides of my neck—“we’re never doing this shit again.” “Ditto.” “Never.” “Ever.” He instructs me to get myself cleaned up, and I hesitate. “But what about the mess?” Azeer waves me off. “I’ll take care of it.” “But—” He chucks my chin up. “Go. Your health is my utmost priority. So, stop being a nuisance and do as you’re told.” “You sure?” “Bed. Now.” “As you wish, Your Highness.” I wave a white flag and begin making my way upstairs. “And try not to wake Zoha with your loud kisses, Nuisance,” he teases from behind. “Shut up, Asseer.” I roll my eyes and check on my little butterfly, who’s sound asleep, before going to my bedroom.

They’re so old married couple 😵‍💫🫠

You’re such a smart girl.” Azeer yanks me back by my shirt. “My smart girl.” I jump and put him in a chokehold, causing him to bend down to my height. “Our smart girl, right, Zoha?”

As we start cleaning up the mess we made, I feel grateful for my little family and the moments of joy we share. Despite the chaos and the occasional paint and food fight, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than right here, with Azeer and Zoha by my side.

😭❤️‍🩹

Funny how a small bribe can easily turn Azeer Khan’s own employees against him. Even they can’t stand that arrogant dickface.” My chin trembles violently as I grip the counter’s edge so tight that my knuckles might rip through my skin. “Call my husband that again, and I’ll put you in a fucking coma.”

when she’s protective 😩🫠 >>>

“Don’t ever call this number again, or I will report you to the authorities.” “You’re such a—” “And by the way,” I hiss into the microphone, “my husband does have a bigger dick than yours.”

OOFF MOMMY 🛐

“Everything alright?” “God!” I bounce back, clutching my chest. “What the fuck, Azeer? You scared me.” He leans against the doorway, a languid smile on his lips, and looks at me from head to toe as he often does when we meet. It’s as if he’s seeing me for the first time, every time. “Is a ghost from your past haunting you, sweetheart?” “No thanks to you.”

“Maybe I can invite him to the hotel under the illusion of an apology dinner.” The tip of his nose skates down the length of my neck. “Settle scores for hurting Iman. For hurting you.” Soft lips brush against my collarbone in a tender kiss. “All the pain you’ve endured for months, years, I can make it disappear in a blink of an eye.” He moves closer, his breath tickling my parted mouth. “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.” His words stir something deep within me, making my heart jump like a child in a bouncy castle. “Then give me the truth,” I whisper, running my fingers through his hair. “Are you actually allergic to cats?”

“I’ve got it covered,” Alina says with a smile, quickly pulling out her card and tapping it on the payment machine before I can object. “Nuisance, I swear to fucking god, if you pull that move one more time—” “Relax, Asseer. Consider it my gift to Zoha for accepting me as her mother and best friend.” Alina tucks her card back into her wallet. Rage isn’t even the correct word to describe what she just did. “You can pay for the supplies. How’s that sound?”

“How about ‘Lemon’?” Zoha suggests petting the cat’s soft fur through the carrier slats. “His fur looks like the frosting on Iman phupo’s cake.” “Absolutely not,” I state. “If I hear the word ‘lemon’ again, I will veer us all off a cliff.” Alina slaps my arm. “What the hell?” she mouths. I shrug in defence. “Just saying.”

I approach Alina in the kitchen, where she’s nose-deep in an Ethiopian cookbook. She’s taken the task of teaching Zoha about her birth country’s culture, starting with learning the cuisine. Each day my wife gives me infinite reasons to be enchanted by her. “Nuisance.” “Busy, Asseer.”

“You are a dickhead, yes.” I pause for a moment. “But?” “No buts. I’m proud that you’re self-aware.” My lips twist into a lopsided smile. “Nuisance.”

“I promise I’ll keep her safe while you’re away. I’ll spend time with them tonight and send you pictures and videos. Don’t forget to call us whenever you get a chance.” “I promise.” And our eyes lock in an intense indescribable gaze. My breath hitches. Every passing second draws us closer as the heat of our breaths thickens the tension between us. Alina’s eyes flicker to my lips, and my heart is ready to tear out of my chest and into her soft, small hands. I want nothing more than to close the gap and kiss her with all the power building inside me. But for now, we just hold each other through our eyes. “You should finish packing,”

UGHDHSHS 😭👹👹👹👹

“Sorry that I couldn’t eat with you and Vee.” “Is something bothering you?” The lack of Azeer’s irritating, irresistible presence. “Just my brain.” “Will you be okay?” “Now that you’re in my arms? Absolutely.” Zoha snuggles in even closer and gives me another kiss, eliciting my smile. “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.” “Your abbu has a weird grudge against my body pillow,”

🥹🥹🫶🏼🫶🏼

“You know, I think your dad is really cute, too.” That’s just a subtle way of saying he’s the finest, most attractive man, with a delicious, deep voice and soft lips that I crave to feel on mine and leave marks all over my body while his fingers explore the ache between my legs.

“Alina, please just focus on me, sweetheart. Can you hear me?”

“Mama,” I choke out. “Ba—” But to my disoriented surprise, it isn’t my parents by my side, but Azeer—who was supposed to be on an important business trip in New York. I find him sleeping beside me in his business attire, holding my hands tightly. Oh my god, am I hallucinating? “Azeer,” I whisper weakly, poking his cheek. Nope. “You’re real.” In an instant, he wakes up and cups my cheek, looking at me with raw tenderness and exhaustion. Having him here, physical and so real, brings hot tears to my eyes, and I feel the last remnants of my sanity shatter. “Alina jaan,” he says softly.

yeah I’m dead 😍🔫

“Hey, hey, hey. Stop that. What are you doing?” Azeer gently grabs my hands. “The skin around your eyes is the most sensitive area on your face. You can’t rub it like sandpaper.” He takes his thumbs and carefully wipes the dried tears off my lashes. A heavy, heavy sigh. “God, Alina.” “What?” He licks his lower lip, perfect black brows knitted. “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.” He pauses and locks his flickering eyes with mine. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t cry at all, but please, please, don’t do it because you feel guilty. Don’t do it while you’re apologizing for something that’s out of your control. Especially when that someone is me.” There is a gentle, almost tender quality to how his knuckles skate across my cheeks. I curve into the touch. “Now, smile.” My chin trembles as I feel another wave of tears welling up. “Smile for me, Alina jaan.”

A LOT OF TEARS NO ONE TAKK TO ME ☹️☹️☹️☹️❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

Azeer steals a kiss on my forehead, whispering, “Beautiful.” He then falls back on his side and starts studying the ceiling, allowing me to memorize his side profile. The tips of my fingers graze over his dark stubble. Prickly and well-trimmed. I feel a flutter in my stomach, followed by endless somersaults, as I admire the sharp angles of his jawline and the straight line of his nose. “So handsome.” Azeer arches an eyebrow and gives me a playful side glance. “I am aware,” he says, a hint of amusement in his voice. 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.”

IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE I WONT SURVIVE 🥹🫠🫠🫠🫠

He gives my arm a reassuring squeeze, but at the moment, I only want to be with my wife, daughter, and even that damn cat that’s snuck his way into my heart.

But when Alina steps out in the black gown, I nearly squeeze Lemon to death. “So? Is it presentable?” she asks nervously. Presentable? It’s as if the word has lost all definition in the face of my wife’s stunning beauty. Her curves are accentuated perfectly by the silky gown, hypnotizing and magnetic. Every fibre of my being is engulfed by the urge to touch her, taste her, take her in my arms, and never let go. 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? “Azeer? Is it bad?” I remain motionless, my gaze fixating on her firm, round ass when she turns to check herself out in the vanity. The thought of being near her is enough to make my body react in ways that are impossible to ignore. “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?”

YESJSIWISHESJWJW 🫠🫠😭😭😭😭

“Just lower the zipper and get out,” Alina grumbles, crossing her arms over her chest. She’s adorable when she’s grumpy. She’s adorable all the time. I step closer to her, a smirk playing on my lips. “Oh, Nuisance, but your body language tells me otherwise.” I gather her hair in my hands and tug at it. Her elbow drives into my torso, causing me to buck over slightly. “Don’t pull my hair, Asseer! I already shed like Lemon.” It’s true. Whenever she combs her hair, the floor is covered in a sea of black-and-white strands. I always have to remind her to clean up after herself. Sighing, I gently set Her Highness’ hair to one side.

“What’s this?” I run my fingers across a faded scar right where her vertebrae ends. “What happened here?” Alina’s breaths go shallow. She grips the edge of our accessory counters, head sinking. My eyes narrow with concern as I notice the sudden spike in her anxiety. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” I say, my voice gentle and reassuring. “I just want you to know I’m here for you, no matter what.” I kiss the top of her head to ease her worries. To let her know I’ve got her back, literally and figuratively. “It’s— Uh— It’s a long story, Azeer.” “I’m listening, sweetheart.” I pull her toward me, keeping my arm firmly around her waist, feeling the warmth of her back against my chest. A silent promise that I won’t leave. “Whatever you’re carrying inside, whatever burden or painful reminder from your past, I want you to share it with me, okay?” As my lips trail down the curve of her shoulder, I inhale the sweet scent of her skin against my cheek. “Make me feel what you’re feeling, Alina jaan.”

MY BABIES 🥹🥹🥹🥹🫶🫶🫶🫶

“You sing?” “Not good.” “That’s not possible.” I massage her breasts, savouring the melody of her delicate moans. “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 graze the skin behind her earlobe, forcing the soft dust of hair on the nape of her neck to rise. “Keep singing for me, sweetheart. Let me hear every pretty note.”

“Keep talking, sweetheart. You’re doing so well.”

🛐🛐

She’s all mine.

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.” Alina nods eagerly, shedding the dress and tossing it carelessly to the side. Her movements are clumsy as she tries to cover her breasts from my gaze, but the sight of her bare skin is too intoxicating for me to look away. “How do I—?” I lift her by the hips, feeling her warmth against my body as she wraps her legs around me. She grips my shoulders for support, her breath catching in her throat. “Can I kiss you here?” I let my fingertips dance across every inch of her front, tracing over the arcs of her body with a feather-light touch. She nods. “Words, sweetheart.” “Yes. Please.”

“It’s unbelievable that someone so perfect is my wife,”

His hot lips trail down my neck, leaving a path of kisses. “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,” he adds, his voice low and soothing.

Unexpectedly, he presses a gentle kiss on my cheekbone. “What was that for?” I ask, my voice faint and raspy. “Do I need a reason to kiss my wife?” His touch is slow and deliberate as he trails his lips down the length of my collarbones.

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.”