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The winter was a little harsh. Her cheeks were in pain from the cold wind blowing in her face. The coat and fur hat were covering most of her face, but some bits were still showing, otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to see. But at least she wasn’t too cold. She got more or less used to the cold, as long as she was wearing the coat.
Fatima was carrying a closed pitcher with her hands wrapped around it to make sure that the beverage inside would be warm at the very least when she got to the tent. She was trying to walk as fast as it was possible for her to walk against a little wind. Especially since the snow was hitting her right in the face.
Finally, she got to a middle-sized tent. The smoke was going up from the top of the tent, so they should be inside. Hopefully. She just needed to leave the pitcher and go back to Lady Sorghaghtani... But first, if she could, she would warm up a little in the tent. And to make sure she wasn’t really interrupting, she poked her head carefully into the tent.
Inside was a man, sitting on the carpet on the floor in front of a table filled with books. He tried to look firm, but she knew very well that “firm” cannot be used to describe him. And his little student was sitting in his lap, clearly whining about something again. Usually he would be sitting next to him. Why would he sit in the man’s lap all of a sudden? But before she could think about possibilities, her eyes and the boy’s met, and he smiled immediately.
«Fatima! Come in!»
Prince Hulegu was always so happy to see her. He gave her the biggest smile he could manage. And she smiled back at him before walking into the tent. She didn’t take the coat off, but the hat went to lay near the entrance. She just needed to find a place where to put the pitcher...
«Eyes back in the book. You are studying, it’s not your place to invite someone. But yes, my Fatima, come in, please.»
He wasn’t going to get in trouble for this, was he? Muhammad gave a knuckle on the Prince’s head and that quickly made him return his eyes to the book in front of him. Was it a little too much, maybe, in her opinion? No, she knew he deserved it. But she was worried that it could potentially get her husband into trouble.
Though she couldn’t think about it when his head was turned towards her with that charming, loving smile of his. They had been married for some months now, but she would still start blushing whenever he looked at her like that. She wanted to come closer and ruffle his hair slightly when she realised what was in her hands.
«Yes, thank you. Lady Sorghaghtani sent me to bring you something warm to drink. It should be milk tea, if I’m not mistaken. Where can I put the pitcher?»
She took it out from being somewhat hidden inside her coat and held it out, trying to find a place where she could possibly put it. But before she could, her husband was already standing in front of her and took it out of her hands with a smile.
«Thank you. I will pour some for us. Will you sit with us for a bit to get warmed up? You must be cold...»
He was so attentive, wasn’t he? She sat down near where he was sitting and took her hands out of the coat, letting it just hang around her shoulders. She was just getting settled and trying to see what they were working on when the little boy suddenly sat down on her lap.
«It’s too cold to just sit on the floor... You won’t be against me sitting on your lap like your husband is, right, Fatima?»
She could see her husband roll his eyes as he brought two bowls to them and passed one to the Prince and the other to her. But what about him? Was he not going to drink? She wanted to try it as well, but if there wasn’t enough for him, then she would rather let him drink it. But before she could decide anything, he gently brought her hands up and took a sip from the bowl that way. While drinking, his eyes were watching her closely. So closely, she could feel her cheeks on fire. If it wasn’t for the fact that there was a child in the tent with them, she would’ve had her way with him...
«Of course. What are you two studying anyway?»
She patted the boy on the head and took a sip from the bowl herself. It was indeed some sort of milk tea. Whatever it was, it tasted warm and refreshing, so she could only smile to herself a little before she managed to look into the books again. She couldn’t see too well from behind the boy’s hat, but it seemed to be some math.
«Today we are focusing more on ju–»
«It’s boring! Why do you want to listen to him talk anyway, Fatima? It’s just something boring. I won’t need this anyway. I will be just like my dad. I would rather do something else.»
Well, now she knew exactly why her husband was coming back always so irritated and just wanted to cuddle her. She hadn’t been there for that long, and she could feel her head already starting to ache from all the complaints from that boy. He was more of a complainer rather than a student... Far from a diligent student like she and Muhammad used to be. But there was nothing else to expect from a little boy whose father only went to war. She just sighed and slightly shook her head.
«I know what we can do instead! You two are married, but I never see you kiss! At least a little kiss! And what are you two waiting for anyway? At your age, my parents already had two kids, and you still have not even one! I know it’s all your fault, Muhammad.»
That was... An uncomfortable question... They weren’t really waiting for anything, they were just taking things a little slow... They took their sweet time getting to know each other all over again, getting used to living together, getting less embarrassed with each other. Of course, they did it a couple of times... But it wouldn’t be enough for pregnancy. She just turned her head slightly away, hoping that the boy wouldn’t notice a little blush on her cheeks. But he was sitting with his back to her, so there was no way he would be able to.
«It is none of your business, I believe. I will kiss my wife whenever I want. And right now I want for you to study, not to kiss my wife.»
So that’s how it was? He didn’t want to kiss her? There she sat, trying to be all pristine and not trying to tease him together with the Prince. Only for him to say that he wouldn’t like to kiss her. She turned back to him and just pouted, showing off just how mad she was about such outrageous words.
«Of course I want to kiss you! Just not in front of him.»
He was quick to add that. And in Persian too. So he just didn’t want to give the boy the satisfaction, huh? If they would kiss, they would give him exactly what he wanted. It would be like a reward. And there was nothing to reward him for. He was just making her husband’s life harder, how could she let it be like that?
«Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!»
Apparently, she had to. The boy jumped off of her and just walked to the centre of the tent, jumping in place and chanting “Kiss!” loudly and proudly. He couldn’t have been serious. She looked at the boy with a tired look already and then at her husband next to her. He seemed to be thinking of a possible way out of their situation other than just giving the boy what he demanded, but it seemed to be without any luck.
So he turned his face to her. It didn’t look so tired anymore. Not when she reached to his face and cupped his cheek. Not when she got face to face with him. Not when their lips were practically touching. She just kissed them quickly. Let them touch just for a second. She would love to kiss him more, but without an audience. And the audience seemed to be satisfied as he just started laughing.
«Haha! Muhammad is kissing Fatima! He is all red!»
Fatima threw a quick look at the Prince, trying to look as serious as possible, but before she knew it, he was already running out of the tent with his coat on. He just used them kissing to run away from the lesson... At least he was smart enough to do that... They should probably follow him, but... They just got some extra time to spend together.
«I can’t deal with him sometimes...»
It didn’t seem like he was planning on moving anywhere. Instead, he wrapped his hands around her waist and stuffed his face into her chest, just murmuring more complaints into her. But it was only for the better. She let her hands go down his back, and gently scratched it with her nails through the clothes. And it seemed to be satisfactory enough, especially whenever she would let her nails run across his neck.
«Imagine if that was our kid... Wouldn’t you like a better kiss, now that the Prince is gone?»
She just wanted to kiss him more. Just while they finally had some time during the day. And she was going to use it. Fortunately, she wasn’t the only one. It was so easy to grab his attention. He wasn’t sulking anymore. Before she knew it, he let her fall on the ground carefully, using her coat as some sort of warm carpet for her to lay on and pulled her into a kiss, while her legs went to his sides, letting him get closer to her, kiss her deeper, love her more. Without anyone else to see.