A Man's Black Heart. Nuria Farai

crashed open the door, bolted it, and then flew up the stairs. She was still in bed, and doing the strangest thing a woman could do after the disaster that had happened an hour ago. She was still naked, her magnificent body gleaming in the night's moon light, and caressing the spot where he had lain before, with great tenderness. He fell on his knees, and started to cry. The dams to his heart and to his soul broke in a huge surge that almost undid him with the intensity of it. She smiled earnestly at him. „I thought it was you who broke the door. We do not tolerate violence in this house, Mr. Black. I will explain to the children that you thought I was in danger.“ „I love you.“ She beamed. „I know. Well, to be honest, I didn’t know for certain until right now, but you show all the signs.“ „The signs“, he repeated weakly, sobbing suppressed. The woman was getting to him. „Yes. Denial, aggression, flight. If you did not love me, you could have just gotten back into bed. You would have had nothing to lose. But you jumped out of bed, out of me, when you said the word love. Have you ever said it before?“ „I don’t think so.“ „It happens, when we speak the highest word, that we are overtaken by our innermost fears“, she said with a mysterious smile. „I thought the highest word is God.“ „It is the same. Love is the most important name of God.“ „I love you“, he repeated, although he loathed to say the same thing twice. But this was something he could get used to doing. Paying reverence to that God. She got out of bed and walked towards him. He could hardly look at her, she was like an archangel. Then she bent on her knees, her breasts almost touching his mouth for a moment. She put her hand gently under his chin, and looked him deep into the eye. „I love you. Can we now please continue? I would like to have my first shared orgasm". He laughed so hard, out of the blue, that he collapsed against her, and they fell to the ground. "Sorry, so sorry, love", he said. She giggled. "You are still not inside of me, Ryker", she said, grinning. He returned her grin, and took off his clothes rapidly. „If I stop until you are completely satisfied, you may proceed with me as you wish." „I will take my pleasure with you, if I have to. But I think you are up to the job." And how he was. It likely was his best performance. For the next hour, all her sounds were of pleasure, in hundreds of variations. He was already addicted to the sounds of her. As he decided to stop for reasons of her health, they cradled closely together and kissed each other gently. „You know I have not cried in twenty years? And I think my last laugh was at least a year ago, too.“ „These are excellent news. I am so proud of you, honey.“ He propped himself up on his elbow and eyed her skeptically. „You speak to me as if I were still a boy. I am a master of the underworld.“ She gave him a naughty look. "Oh yes, I noticed you are a master of my underworld.“ He laughed, again. He could get used to doing that, too. „I know about your dying“, he said then, determined at honesty from the start. She nodded. "I thought so. Well, I am not going anywhere except to church with you. As a bride, not in a coffin, I mean. My illness is not incurable. With love, I can conquer it. I have no doubt.“ He rolled his eyes. „You are a romantic. I will not let you kill me with hope.“ „You would be the first human to suffer that fate, surely. I went to a gypsy fortune-teller, and she said that it is only a man's love that can cure me. I think, the darker he is, the more I shall prosper.“ „Then I will heal you, with my not-so-dark-anymore-heart. Get on your knees, my love.“

      Jade

      Chapter 1

      Just another night of depression and guilt. Jade rubbed her face energetically to clear her heavy thoughts. Years of sorrow clung to her. She would never be happy with him. No matter how much she wished for it, he never wavered. He was ever her loving and caring best friend, her self-appointed brother. Yet he was nothing like a brother to her, except for the feeling of deep trust she had in him. But what did it matter, since he would never desire her. Since the day they had been to the zoo, she was in love with him. Tariq, her best friend. He was a Pakistani economist and kick-boxer with eye-catching exotic looks and dashing green eyes. Her girlfriends mouth-watered over him, all except Taylor, who knew about Jade’s feelings. That love was the cause of all her pain. In three years of close and continuous friendship, he had never let down his guard. Not once. He was a heterosexual man, after all, not shy with girls, neither in a relationship nor in love with another woman. Yet, even when savagely drunk, he would not touch her. Sure, he would cuddle her more often, draw her into his arms, but it was like a mother hen gathering her offspring under her wings. She was not a baby chicken. She was attractive to men with her long, blonde locks and a slim, yet distinctly feminine body. Sensual, as Taylor said. How could a man with a functioning member not once want her in three years? He had seen her in a bathing suit, in an evening gown, in a pajama, and even naked with only a small towel wrapped around her skin. But his harness had never slipped. He was so damned controlled. As a friend, he could lose his temper. When she dated guys, he checked on her dates and demanded she write him regularly text messages to make sure she was alright. She always had to write in a certain way to ensure she was doing this with her free will. He was a smart guy. When she returned, he would wait in front of her flat, muscular arms crossed in front of his wide chest, glaring at her date. He mustered her like a pimp, ensuring his ware was undamaged, as she often complained. Not that she ever had sex. At least, only oral sex. It was all her boyfriends could get from her. She only wanted Tariq, and had never had a real sexual appetite before meeting him.

      But Tariq was ice.

      Yet, Tariq was fire. He had wanted Jade since the very first time he had met her. That was three years ago. His heart still clenched in agony at the memory. It did every time. When he saw the dashing blonde with long, well-trained legs and a curvy shape, the sweetest smile on her full lips, with loving eyes and a sharp wit, he was a goner. When she started telling silly jokes, he knew she was for life. When she bent down to pat a puppy and stuck out her delicious, muscular butt, he knew not how to react. He then ran to the men’s restroom to jerk off, much to his shame. It was shockingly humiliating. He tried to check his chances with her, but her sweetness was a powerful cover for her disappointment in men, her distrust in family and relationships. He felt her sadness and pain, and with great regret he decided he would be her close friend, if she let him, but never more. Until she could let love enter her world again, love and trust. Two years later, they had gained a strong relationship. Three years later, a strong friendship and strong pain and a distinct feeling of hopelessness. Yes, he felt despair. Every time he held her, when she was crying, or happy, or just glad to be with him, he felt wary. Wary of playing games, of denying his gigantic urge to kiss her mindless before shagging her to the Hindukush Mountain ranges, and then to the moon and back.

      Tonight Jade was invited at his place to have dinner. On top of his other accomplishments, Tariq was a gifted cook. He enjoyed cooking her favorite meals for her. She put on her prettiest dress and matching high heels. Underneath she wore a black lace bra with matching slip. You never knew. Not that she expected the unlikely. Still. It made her feel attractive, even if he treated her like a child when it came to her sexuality. When she arrived at his door, she swore to relax and to act as she always did. After tonight, it was time to reach to a decision. Either she gathered up her courage and told him she wanted to be with him, or she ran far, far away. If he turned her down, she would equally run. She could always find a job in a remote country or add another Master to hers. He flung the door open and beamed at her. His hair was ruffled, around his slim hips he wore an apron with a silly cartoon design and a black t-shirt that accentuated his broad chest and biceps. He looked smoking hot, his beautiful lips so kissable, the bright eyes shining with tenderness. „You have just arrived in time! The damn roast is not tender at all, it’s dry, and I cannot understand why. What to do with it?“ She kissed him fleetingly on the cheek and then pushed past him to take a look at the unruly meat. It was a bit dry. She thought for a moment, and finally they decided to cut it up and add a vinegar-mustard sauce to it. She loved cooking with him. They stood in perfect harmony side by side, chopping onions and mixing the sauce. Tariq glanced at her sideways. She looked beautiful, the red dress showing off her glorious hair and fine figure. A very feminine figure with round breasts and curvy hips. He so longed to kiss her, to make her his. She had withdrawn slightly from him in the last weeks. Had refused more than one invitation to spend time together. She did not tell him all her concerns anymore. When he asked how things were going, it was mostly „Fine, and at your end?“ It hurt him, but he thought she needed time to reflect about an issue that had her mind occupied. Or was she dating someone and did not want his interference? He