{The untamed}

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If it wasn't for the fact that I'd just tucked Jimena away, I would have surely shrieked at the hand around my waist. It slithered slowly around my anatomy, just like a slithery snake and latched onto my sides.

"You're such a scaredy cat, baby, in need of my protection" announced an amused voice from behind. I wanted to puncture his eye balls, but given the circumstances, I was kind of facing the wrong way.

"You have got to stop scaring me like this, and when the hell do I get out of here! I need to go back to my family!" I gritted in vexation, all the while he seemed the least bit affected. He took a step back, his eyes gazing over my figure.

"I am your family now, my love, hmm?" came his hum, as if wanting me to agree. I'm sure that wasn't the case as he grabbed my wrist and led me towards a room. It looked to be his office, which Georgina told me he'd been occupying since my arrival at the mansion.

Surprisingly it was clean, just like his room which I'd unfortunately had the displeasure of viewing. Physically shaking my head, I sat down on the wheely chair, my posture and stance ready for a confrontation. A confrontation I didn't even know was supposed to happen. The atmosphere just seemed like it. Gosh, he was always going along with the 'Work song'.

I occasionally glanced at Rafael, as he stood before the window, inhaling occasional drags from the cigarette. How he prepared this so fast and when, rattled my brain. I bet his assassination reflex skills came handy every now and then.

I took this time to rove my eyes over his powerful figure. His broad back gave way to muscly arms, straining against the shirt's material. The suit looked rather great on him and in that moment I'd realised I couldn't imagine him ever wearing something so mundane, like joggers or sweatshirts.

I'm sure I've never seen him in anything but a pristine, crisp suit. It was impossible to imagine anything otherwise. It would feel weird, if I dare say, to see him in any other article of clothing.

I watched as he faced my way, taking another drag of the bud until there was just an inch left. His fingers were so well trained for that specific action, as they knew exactly where to rest, against his face.

The sight looked fascinating and I found myself asking why all these behaviours which I seemed to detest before were becoming so bearable now. So enrapturing. Thankfully his voice distracted me from these disturbing thoughts.

"I'll let you leave tomorrow morning, darling. But before that I want to discuss some things about Jimena" his statement had me concerned, and sitting at the edge of my seat, my back straight in alertness.

Before I could voice my concern, he'd already began speaking.

"She's not my biological daughter" he exclaimed, cupping his hands around the cigarette, lighting it on fire. His eyebrows were furrowed in concentration, and I couldn't look away. His eyes gazed around the room, as a few wild strands of his hair decorated his eyes. He made an attempt at moving them back, but of course, his own hair was equally as stubborn as himself. They were determined to stay before his eyes.

"What?" Came my shock induced voice. I was not expecting for this to be revealed to someone like me. Hell, I was not even expecting his answer in the first place!

"Now that you're my wife, it's only understandable to inform you of such" his gaze didn't falter as he stared at me with such ferocity. So much emotion, I'd never seen him in such a light.

"B-but how?" I managed to say, my mind reeling at possible scenarios of how this may have happened. Was she left at his doorstep? Or perhaps she was an orphan, adopted? My mind then delved down many other scenarios. Thankfully Rafael replied back before I could worry myself further.

"Her mother was working as a stripper in Russia. I went to one of my friends underground clubs whilst I was there. Turns out, one of the workers was raped. She was practically living on the streets at this point and stripped at his club to survive after being casted away from her family" he took a long drag of his cigarette, but right now that didn't bother me. He looked to be in pain recalling the memory. I'm sure it was. I glanced at his hands, which were clenched in tight fists. His knuckles were white with rage.

"She could have aborted the baby... But she didn't. She didn't want to end a human life despite how cruel her circumstances were. It was then she'd given birth, or was about to. I rushed her to the hospital and there she gave birth to Jimena. At this point, I was about to leave, but as soon as the doctors announced the death of the mother, I wasted no time in gathering Jimena in my arms and bringing her to Spain with me. No child deserved to be born without a mother. I'd promised myself then I'd become little Jimena's mother and father"

Shocked. Never did I expect for such a thing to happen to poor Jimena. If she finds out her biological mother died giving birth to her, she would be devastated. Despite only being a child, she was sensitive enough already, and bearing such news would only stress her out more. No. I would not do this to her. I couldn't.

And Rafael... He could have simply left the hospital at such news, because what was one strangers death amongst many others he'd killed. But yet he stayed, and took responsibility for the baby himself, even going as far as to become her mother and father. Her world.

It was not hard to notice his love for her. He adored her beyond anything. It was only Jimena whom was able to break those icy layers of his. Before, he seemed cold and mysterious, but the man sitting before me was, was...broken. Broken over someone whom wasn't related to him in any way, shape or form.

I didn't know when, but tears quickly accumulated in my eyes and after what felt like a lifetime, but was only a few seconds, the tearworks began. Poor Jimena. No wonder she was so attached to me. She'd grown up without a mother figure, despite how hard Rafael worked to fulfil that role.

How could I leave her now. Now that I was also responsible for her. She trusted me without knowing who I really was. The poor girl was in need of a mother, and who was I to refuse her such a right.

"What about the man that raped Jimena's mother? Did he not get caught?" I inquired, sniffing as I did so, hoping he was locked up in jail, rotting away.

A low, husky chuckle escaped his lips, despite the situation, as he dragged another puff of the cigarette.

"Oh, justice was served alright" he laughed humourlessly, seemingly reading my thoughts. "In the most satisfactory ways possible. He forcefully created life upon an innocent women, so it was only fair to purposefully take his. I didn't leave Russia until that fucker was dead along with a vow I made myself the very second Jimena was in my arms. I would protect her like my own. She was now family, blood related or not. " he seethed, his hazel eyes staring deep into my own, yet at the same time, they seemed distant. It appeared as if he was reliving the memories again. I can only imagine how anybody would feel in that moment.

Scared. Frightened. On edge. I should have felt all this, but I didn't. My mind and body refused to. For the first time, I was in agreement with what Rafael did. In Islam, a rapists consequence was death. Justice truly was served to the poor women, in the most heroic ways possible. May god rest her soul in peace.

At this notion, my tears could no longer be held back, as I sat there on the chair, my hands covering my face. I could feel what the women must have been going through. Ostracised by her own family. Having to survive through pregnancy, alone. Having to strip as a means for life. Nothing came easy for anyone in this life, especially not Jimena's biological mother.

My shoulders shook with such ferocity, as I attempted to bite back a sob. Poor Jimena. Poor child indeed. I could only imagine how it must have felt for her to grow without a mother. I left mine in England for only four and a half months, healthy and most likely safe, yet here this champ was, never even seen one. Never felt the love of one. How could I be so selfish!

I must have been too much of an emotional wreck to notice Rafael next to me. He leaned down, moving my hands away from my face. In an instant, I was immediately lifted from the chair, landing on the desk before me. I couldn't do anything but cry. Like the weak little girl I was.

His hand clasped around my waist, holding me in place as his other wiped away at the tears. In an attempt to not seem so weak infront of him, I bit my lip, wanting to hold back any more cries. His hazel eyes, showing concern, traced the perimeter of my lips. His thumb forcefully gripped my chin, causing me to release them from the tight grip.

At this notion, I was no longer a mess, but occasionally, hiccups erupted from within and so did the tears.

"Shh" he whispered, looking down at me. "I hate to see you cry" came the dulcet tone of his, in an attempt to ease me. It seemed as his words weren't working, as at the next notion, he pulled me in for a fierce hug. My face was placed against his rapidly beating chest,y breath hitched. I could feel the pounding of his heart under my hands. Surprisingly, this seemed to ease me, as for some odd reason, my own heart beat decreased, beating alongside his own.

His hand stroked at my hijab clad head, gently, as his voice whispered sweet nothings.

"Don't cry, baby. Calm down, respiración, breath my love, Just like that. I'm sure, if Jimena was here, she would hate to see her mother cry, if not for me then at least for her, calm down" I couldn't help but close my eyes in bliss at his soothing words. The tearworks almost immediately halted as my mind was bought back to the present.

"B-but, what about Jimena. How can we-we keep such information from her" came my hiccup, as I listened intensely to the sound of his heartbeat. It soothed me, more than it should have. More than I wanted.

"Don't worry about that, my love. I've got it all covered so don't worry that pretty little head of yours, hm?" Came his hum, to which I subconsciously nodded.

I made motion to let go, but much to my shock, he instead picked me up from my waist, wrapping my legs around his waist. His hands rested under my thighs, my own clasped behind his head, as I stared down at him with shock. He motioned his head forward, giving me a light butterfly kiss on the nose.

"Lets go to bed, bueno. I don't want to hear anything else, si ?" I nodded in shock, still not getting over how gentle he was with me. This was not like him at all. My brain was unable to fathom the change in his attitude. Usually, he would be smirking at my misery, but something changed. What was this shift in his behaviour towards me, Ya Allah?

I could only think throughout the journey to his room. He shut the door behind him, locking it. My cheeks were red, as I was still in his arms. I was conscious of my weight, and how much of a hassle it was for him to carry me for so long.

"Y-you can let me go now" I announced lowly, not being able to meet his eyes.

"What did I say about looking at me when you speak to me" he growled, applying pressure on my thighs. I winced at the temporary pain, replying as I did so.

"I-i said, you can l-let me go now" all of a sudden, shyness took over me, my hands now coming to rest on his broad shoulders.

"And why would I do that, hm?"

"Because..because" my voice decreased both in confidence and tone. "because y-you must be tired" my eyes averted everywhere, avoiding his piercing eyes. I could feel them resting on my face, looking at me with palpable intensity.

"Oh baby" came his chuckle, reverberating around the room, seemingly cutting away at any of my embarrassment. "You're as light as a feather, and even if that was not the case, I'd always be able to carry your weight, happily might I add" came his amused voice, as his eyes crinkled at the sides. He was grinning, much to my astonishment.

He looked enthralling. So handsome. I had to look away.

"And talking about being tired, there's only one way that would ever occur" I faced him once again, perplexed by his words, but the way he bit his lip to the way he stared at me, I immediately knew what he was alluding to.

Once again, I looked away, overcome by sudden shyness and slight embarrassment. For some godforsaken reason, the devil was quick in making me feel feelings I'd never felt before. Such as the butterflies tumbling about in my stomach.

He chuckled, looking at me with fondness in his eyes. An emotion I was all too unfamiliar with. A blush rose to my cheeks and without thinking, I leaned into him, hugging him as I did so. Now that I'm concealed from him, he could no longer see the rising colour on my face. He lifted me up once again from the thighs, resting his hands strangely close to my bum.

I squirmed about, not used to being touched like so. It felt weird, strange. He walked towards the bed, and in an instant, my back collided with the mattress, as he lay on top of me. There was nothing separating us but our clothing, and I was thankful. I didn't want anything more to happen.

For the first time within these months, I got to glimpse into a piece of Rafael's life. I got to see him as shining under the light as a human being. He cared for his family. He cared for me. Albeit he had a lousy way of showing it, but his words, his comforting words set fire to an emotion I'd locked away. Who knew his good side was the key to this lock. Certainly not me.

"Hmm" he hummed, eyes closed in bliss. I could feel his nose working overtime, tracing at my neck. "Take this off baby, no need to hide from me any longer. You're mine now" before I could protest, his hands worked around my hijab, taking it off with lightening speed. His eyes roamed over my hair wildly, his hands reached forward to feel the lock of strands between his fingers.

"So beautiful" he exclaimed, his entire visage in awe. I blushed, my eyelashes fanning my cheeks, and my mouth contorted into a shy smile. He made motion to position the hair behind my ear, as I still looked at him through wide, uncertain eyes.

"Tus ojos de cierva van a ser mi muerte, nena" he mumbled lowly, his eyes tracing where his fingertips left a tantalising touch, roving around my face and finally stopping at my chin.

I didn't understand what he just said, but whatever it was, succeeded in giving me butterflies. Why was I feeling like this?! I couldn't help but search within my mind. Was it because perhaps Rafael was slowly changing?

"What did you say?" I responded, looking up at him with glimmering eyes. My curiosity could not sit so still, especially with the way he was looking at me, so intensely whilst whispering those words.

"Nothing baby, let's go to sleep, si?" He looked down at me expectantly as his thumb rubbed lazy circles along my back. I nodded, smiling from ear to ear, turning my back towards him. Within that second, he wrapped his arm around my waist, snuggling me against his warm, hard chest.

"Sleep right, my love" came him whisper into my ear, as I shut my eyes in complete peace. For once, we were on the same page, and in that moment, I sent a prayer to God, for my husband to forever remain like this. Alongside with me.

I was somewhere between dream land and reality, as I could feel the movement of his chin on top my head. Simultaneously, his hands roved around my belly as he mumbled

In a dulcet timbre, soothing me further into, what I could feel, a fantastical dream.

"One day, my love, one day, este vientre se hinchará con mis hijas" he finished, kissing my cheek before returning his position on top my head. We slept soundlessly that night, both our heart beats beating together, as one, I would have mistaken. Emotions in synch. For once we were like Husband and Wife.

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