--Justified.

— bilal

“I suppose I can, given that handsome face and the remembrance of those manners,” came her own playful response, both complimentary and in jest, as she took her folder back and sat with the male. It seemed the curvature of her lips wouldn’t be settling anytime in the near future when he decided to treat the journalist for lunch. “Your charisma tells me it might be impossible for you to fall short, though I suppose —- time will tell, wont it?” She nodded as she set the folder aside, in the spot of the place setting beside her, and then grabbed her chair to scoot in a little further. A sure sign she was there to stay. “Well, Bilal, I did come here to eat in the first place. So you can rest assured I’m not leaving until I get this tummy full,” Linnéa grinned and pointed to the tiny belly in reference. “Sometimes being in the middle of things helps me focus and I’m working on a puzzle basically, attempting to put the pieces together of this story I’m working on.” Plus, she didn’t like staying holed up in her place for too long. Linnéa was social and enjoyed people, good people and friendly conversation, which was much better than being left to her own devices. “They’ve done studies on it, you know? That’s why they have apps now that play sounds of coffeeshops and cafeterias, because they help focus and productivity. What about you? What brings out today?”

Bilal chuckled, his right paw stroking through his beard, his gaze fixed on the beautiful woman whose distinct features had him questioning where she might be from, though having always been taught by the elders it was disrespectful to his queen,  he would never comment on the appearance of woman other than his wife.  “Ah, you flatter me with the compliments. I only wish my charisma was worth its weight in gold, I wouldn’t be in half the trouble I’m in,” he said, alluding to his trouble back home in Turkey.  His lips turned up at the corners watching her get settled in. “Well good then, let’s get that part out of the way,” he said, lifting a hand to get the attention of the waitress. 

“I think I’ll be keeping it simple today, just a club sandwich on rye with fries, and then maybe something to go for my wife. How bout you, what will you have?” He asked then when their orders were set he turned his attention back to the brunette. Bilal’s interest was sparked when she mentioned she’d been working on a story of some kind, her words leading him to believe she was may be a journalist?

“Busted?!” She laughed. “That’s all you have to say for yourself?” Remi shook her head in mock disapproval. “I don’t even think you should call those ‘covert abilities’,” she said, using air quotes to accentuate. “Aww thank you, sweetie. Always nice to hear compliments from my fans,” she joked and winked then scrunched her nose. “I went shopping. The market is amazing and learned how to make tea properly. Went on a few excursions… but I need to go on a romantic trip there with Cole.” The explorer couldn’t help but smile genuinely when he remarked he was jealous of her adventures and she assumed she would’ve been if she were in his shoes. “What’s stopping you or holding you back from getting out there? Take that gorgeous wife of yours and go romp around the world. That’s one of my goals you know? Make love with Cole in as many countries and places as possible…” To her, with everything else that encompassed their lives together she really couldn’t think of any other greater mission. “Well… kayaking in the bay… shouldn’t be too extreme but nice nonetheless. I had no idea you were into extreme kayaking though.” She grinned but her brows soon came together in curiosity. “Why don’t you think she might not say the same? Seriously, she’s stunningly beautiful and you’re ok I guess…” Remi winked at the tease. “Keep having fun! As for Cole and I… I’m not sure yet. We’re planning on stuff but nothing concrete just yet. We wanna do like a sanctuary horse ranch type of thing.”

“You see this is what I like about you, there’s zero risk of my ego getting out of check with you as my friend,” he said, joking as evidenced by the playful lilt in his tone. “Well, now you have me curious, how does one make tea properly? Sounds like an amazing time,” he replied. “You jest but I’m serious...I’ll forever be a fan of anyone who has accomplished what you have, lady.”  He cracked a grin at the tease, glancing down at his forgotten and likely coffee and plated bagel, pushing the plate to the side. “Oh, well..my traveling abilities are limited these day, need to keep a low profile. But one day soon hopefully, I’ll get to take my wife on a proper honeymoon, explore someplace as beautiful and exotic as you describe.” Bilal hadn’t shared the exact details of his troubles with immigration, the reason he’d fled to the US to begin with outside of his wife, but Remi was intuitive, she might have guessed at the vague comments and clues here and there.

 “I am...or I was. Kayaking on the Coruh River back home was one of my favorite things to do. I’ve not done much in the way of extreme sports of any kind in a while, but maybe we can plan something like that for the near future if you and that guy of yours are up for it.” A crease etched in the center of his brow at her honest question, giving him pause for self-instrospect. “I suppose I shouldn’t speak for her but it’s easy to feel inadequate when in the company of someone so beautiful, thoughtful and kind.” He smiled at her comments. “I like your advice..so far our days have been full of smiles, I hope to keep it that way. So tell me more about this horse sanctuary. What prompted that interest? That sounds like a huge undertaking, though I’m sure if it is to be accomplished, the two of you are made for the job.” 

At the male’s confirmation he was calling her husband right then, Renata soon after followed the forthcoming advice. Lids fluttered shut over hazel hues and she tried to relax her breathing by controlling it with long and steady inhales and exhales. It took a bit of time but it began to work once she was able to clear her thoughts a bit. Her ears perked up and listened to the one sided conversation the kind and helpful man was having with her husband, whom was no doubt alerted remotely by monitor of her heart rate spiking. Taking in another deep breath, her eyes opened and she simply nodded before taking the phone offered to her. “Hola, cariño,” she began shakily and listened to Aidan speak. Then what ensued was a short exchange with her husband before he confirmed he was on his way to get her and really, to comfort her.

When off the phone, Renata handed it back. “Muchas gracias, and yes, I’m sorry I couldn’t convey that he likely wouldn’t be hearing anyone else. He’s not just my husband but also my heart doctor.” She lightly brushed her fingers over the pacemaker under her skin. “He has a remote monitor of this, so he was already likely in a frenzy —- he didn’t want me going out alone and I suppose I just proved him right.” She gently pushed her bag in his direction, and offered a weak smile. “Thank you so much for your help and I apologize for being such a burden, but —- could you help me a little more. My angina meds are in my purse —- could you?”

     Bilal tried to be an unobtrusive as he could as the woman spoke with her husband, but it was hard to miss the strong bond there, warmth and care heard in the man’s voice as well as hers even if her words were few. Bilal was relieved to see that his advice about taking the breaths seemed to be helping, or at least appeared that way. Curious by nature he couldn’t help wonder what the source of such anxiety could be and he was tempted to ask when and if an opportunity presented, though at the same time he didn’t want to annoy the woman when she was already dealing with so much. 

     “You’re welcome” he said, accepting the phone with an easy smile spread across his face. “It’s not a problem, If some random person called and said strange things about my wife, I might have not been so nice, I’d be ready to get to the point too so I get it, I really do.” His eyebrow creased at the mention a remote monitor, then the idinciative motion toward her chest. His curiosity getting the best of him, he didn’t hesitate in speaking up this time. “What is that there...in your chest? What is it that your husband is monitoring?”  The physicist was extremely well read in practically all areas of science and had heard of such advances in the care of the cardiovascular system but he didn’t want to assume this was the case for her. Then at the mention of her angina medication, the pieces all clicked together. “Of course, you’re no burden, happy to help,” he said and reached for the bag, quickly finding the medication. then loosened the cap on the bottle and handed it over along with a glass of untouched water. Bilal averted his gaze while she handled her meds, not wanting to stare. No reason to make her feel any more uncomfortable than need be, he figured. 

“We’re vibing,” she corrected, not one hundred percent sure if she even had it right. Tessa wasn’t exactly in tune with the generations younger than her own, hell —- she was barely in tune with her own. The brunette couldn’t resist smiling at Bilal though, she loved it when he asked and how he tried. It was something she admired since she knew cultural assimilation couldn’t be an easy task, but it had meant a lot to her that he trusted her opinion and judgement. There wasn’t much of that in her life prior to him. Aside from the growing connection between her and her husband, Tessa felt a strong disassociation with the world she lived in. Her few friends were treasures and she was one of the few people who loved what she did for a living, but the social and political progress of her country and her society were difficult to fully tolerate on any given day. The start of it had begun within her own family, and she was sure that was partially, if not mostly, to blame for her negative outlook upon the world outside of her crafted circle.

The software engineer was a mess of contradictions —- she was apart of the creations in modern day technological advancements yet longed for a time like 1920’s; maybe. A time when romance had to have been real, where people still communicated and wrote letters, and reading and literature were still important.

“I can teach you how to make all the breakfast foods,” came her reply, cheek leaning into his touch. Despite so much still unknown between them and the excitement of the mystery, there was no denying basic affection and attraction to a man so incredibly handsome, and one that was doing her just as much a favor as her for him. When his hand dropped hers went out, gently putting her palm to his flesh just above his elbow. Fingers curled around, she caressed as her hand smoothed down his forearm and eventually laced with his own digits. Tessa pulled Bilal a little closer. While intimacy had always been somewhat of a struggle for her, she couldn’t help but try with this man. Her lips curved at the taunt and soon he was close enough for her body to press against his while they stood barefoot in their kitchen, raising up on her toes Tessa’s lips discovered his as her arms wrapped around Bilal’s neck. “Then sate, and we’ll make French toast as a dessert,” the brunette mumbled softly against his lips before kissing him again. The weight of her lean frame shifted from one leg to the other, back and forth slowly —- dancing. Her lips traveled the distance from his mouth to his ear, where her breath was warm and damp as she spoke into Bilal’s ear. “Clutch and grip my body to show me the ways in which you cling to your savior —-” Words poetic and layered were followed by a swipe of her tongue. “Speak your sins against my skin as your mouth caresses my flesh,” Tessa continued, her lips then pressing to the curve of his neck followed by teeth sinking in and grazing as she pulled away and found his lips again. “I wanna know the truths of who you are with your body treating mine as the goddess you’ve always dreamt of —-” The brunette smirked slightly, tongue swiped his lips before she pulled back to lift the hem of his shirt off over his head.

     “Ah, well...so I don’t quite have it down yet, it seems. You understood my sentiment and that means more than anything that I could say or express, in any any language.” As much as blending in, acceptance into American society  was an important factor in his present situation, A struggle not uncommon to any immigrant , especially now during such a divisive time in this particular country where oppression was an entirely different beast than that of his own, though he could make close parallels at the same time.  Bilal struggled with maintaining a balance with that and  his own identity constantly.

      The Turk’s gaze lingered on Tessa a bit in appreciation of the smile he felt privileged to wake up to every single day. “Seems I need to spend more time on my studies, yes? How would you suggest I spend my time? I was thinking it might be nice to read something together. Maybe watch a documentary film.  We could have discussions, share thoughts and ideas. What say you wife? Have time for me to annoy you with my inquisitiveness or no?” He asked, a grin etched in his features. 

     “Is that how you truly want to spend your time? You know I hate being a nuisance. I have to be honest though, any opportunity to bask in your presence I’m up for,” he commented, earnestly staring down her obsidian gaze. He simply couldn’t know believe the degree to which his life had changed in the past six months. though the possibility of their plan failing always lingered at the back of his mind. There wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t question if the risk they were taking was worth the potential outcome, for her as much as himself. He could live with the idea of being deported and sent back to Turkey to face whatever punishment for his past social activism, but the idea of Tessa facing imprisonment didn’t sit well with him in the least. More than a few times he’d thought of backing out  but as the months progressed, he’d begun to realize an attachment and feelings for his wife that transcended the reasoning of a rational man.  Even if Bilal could not properly express his appreciation for all that she had done for him, he hoped it could be in every touch, caress, and kiss shared between them, in everything action he took. 

     Bilal’s eye’s fluttered at not only her touch but words spoken so eloquently, marveling at her beauty as she spoke them for him. “That was beautiful,” he murmured against her lips. “You should be careful though, one might mistake their meaning, possibly attract some unwanted attention,” he teased, lips peeling into  a grin across his features as the found the curve of her neck, teeth grazing porcelain like skin. Letting his hands disappear beneath her skirt, his fingers traveled the spanse of the back of her thighs, a cross between a happy sigh and a hum falling from his lips as they settled at the edges of her panties and began to slowly ease them southward, tortuously slow.  Bilal felt his cock, almost twitch, completely and utterly undone by her words. “I believe, you are and always have been my dream, Goddess...” 

“I hope you enjoyed that you little creeper.” Remi took the seat across from Bilal since he’d taken up hers and set the muffin she went to grab on a napkin. “Unintentionally… pffft sure thing… I totally believe you,” she teased as she picked at her snack. “The view was great which is why I chose it but yeah… you can join me but you owe me a smoothie for snooping.” Remi hummed as she popped a bite of the muffin in her mouth and after a moment leveled her gaze with Bilal’s. “So what’d you think?” She nodded her head towards the folder he’d been browsing through full of prints from her last trip to Morocco. A trip she had taken solely for the hot air balloon ride. “I don’t know who’s been filling your head with such lies…” Remi couldn’t resist teasing on his comment of being excellent company. “So what’s up? Wanna go kayaking with me tomorrow?”

He gave a nonchalant shrug. “What can I say...busted?” He joked in a poorly orchestrated attempted at a clever reply. He grinned watching the climber eat the muffin. “Touché, you earned it honest! I really need to brush up on my convert abilities if I’m going to snoop around, yes?” He chuckled, enjoying his friend’s banter and bubbly personality. “They’re amazing, as always. Looks like you had quite the adventure. What else did you get into besides the balloon ride? You know, I’m a little bit jealous of all these fantastic adventures you get to embark upon. What is next for you?” The scientist questioned, enthusiastically sifting through the photos again. His eyes lifted at the offer of the brunette and he offered a smirk. “Of course I do... I should probably clarify if we’re going to do extreme kayaking, or something more low key? Either way,  I’m there! As far as what’s up, getting to know my new wife has been fun. A lot of fun, for me. Not sure if she would say the same but we seem to get along so far. And you? What’s happening in your world these days, outside of work?”

Mouth agape and breathing strained, Renata turned further into the table and towards the male that responded to her. She slow blinked a little and reached for a business card she kept handy in her purse with a shaky hand. “The cell,” Renata pointed out on the card once she slid it over. She then winced and squeezed her eyes shut as she nodded her head rapidly over the glass of water. “My hus-husband, pl—ease —-”

“Okay, understood, calling now, try not to worry. I suggest you close your eyes and take a few deep breaths if you can.” Bilal was no stranger to anxiety and had recognized the behavior of the distraight woman, but rather than speak on his assumptions he yielded to her request and dialed up the number right away. Once he had the voice of a male on the other end of the phone he relayed the information as she had asked, had a brief interaction with the gentlemen who insisted speaking with the lady, even though Bilal had tried to express she more than likely couldn’t speak. He did manage to share his opinion about the possibility of a panic attack of some kind though. 

“He wants to speak with you, sorry...I explained as best I could,” he said, and offered her the phone, then flagged down the waitress and asked for some tepid water which she brought back right away.  It was clear something was wrong. Whether a presumed anxiety attack or something more, Bilal was feeling beyond useless as he waited. 

Not wanting to be rude among fellow diners at the bistro Wynonna had stepped outside to take a phone call and what she hadn’t expected was someone taking her seat upon her return. She smiled and nodded, “yes, that’s mine and I hope you left everything in order and perfectly intact?” It was a proposal she had been working on for a new client who was looking to do a major overhaul to remodeling their home. “Actually I can blame you. View or not, this is rather poor manners wouldn’t you say? Did you sip my iced tea and munch on my bread too?” Wyn of course was still smiling and mostly just giving the strange man a hard time. It was all a little odd though. “That’s an interesting name. I take it you’re not American and stealing places is okay where you’re from? I’m Wynonna.”

“There might be smudges of caramel sauce  here and there, but other than that, I think we’re good,” he teased, immediately handing back the folder. “You’re not wrong, was rather presumptuous of me, I concede,” he offered, getting up to return the pretty ladies chair.  “I was just teasing by the way, there wasn’t enough time to do any real damage. Can I order you some fresh tea, I might have breathed in its general direction,” he said, unable to help the grin on his face. “I’m from Turkey, and if we were there and you wanted to make a fuss, I suppose i might not like the results,” he said, though a knowing chuckle. “Wynonna, pleasure to meet you! So does that smile on your face mean I’m invited to stay?”

“Well lookie here, not only do we have ourselves a seat thief but a very nosy boy,” came her reply in a mostly teasing voice. While she didn’t like someone looking through her things, Linn was aware that there was nothing sensitive in the folder he was so nonchalantly perusing through. It was in fact the only reason she would leave anything behind for even a moment. “Excuse me, Sir, I don’t have to do any such thing to your offense,” the journalist retorted softly with a grin curving her lips. “I didn’t think I had been in the bathroom that long for all of this to transpire in my absence but I suppose I could settle with some good looking company. And well, honestly —- your real saving grace here is that you’re charming.” Linnéa took the seat opposite the male and offered a hand in a friendly greeting as it seemed to be the American way. “Linnéa, but most people call me Linn. So go on then, please start dazzling me with your company.”

Upon entering the kitchen, Tessa had to fight the smile wanting to appear on her lips. Bilal was animated and enthused with his dinner proposal, and the brunette was having difficulty deciphering what she most most endeared over when it came to watching him. “Fun fact, breakfast at any time of day is always a great choice in my book. It’s especially best in the middle of the night —-” The brunette’s feet carried her closer to the man that had been her husband a few months now, something done as a mutual favor to one another but he had been easy to be friends with. Even easier to go to bed with when it came to that magnetic personality, handsome face, and attractive body. But what she had difficulty with was the intimacy and that was only due to him still feeling a bit like a stranger. “You know what I think?” The inquiry was rhetorical as she stood right before him, smirk so badly hiding at the corner of her pillowy lips. “—we should make French toast. Sweet, and sticky —-”

“You know, I think I’m going to enjoy this arrangement of ours, even more so. We’re on the same vibe as the young people here say,” he said, then paused, locking onto her gaze. “Did I get that right?” He asked of the phrase he’d picked up on some American sitcom he couldn’t remember the name of at the moment, though as the beautiful brunette began to claim the space between them, he was starting to get the idea that more than breakfast was on her mind at the moment, which was more than alright with him. The more time they spent getting to know one another, he felt like he was on the winning end of this mutual arrangement they had made.