Forbidden Dance: Will She Forgo Her Marriage for a Lifetime of Happiness? (4 page)

There was no time to fret. Alero chewed her little finger when she heard footsteps on her doorstep. Her heart raced.

What am I doing dating Zane? I’m a married woman.

The door knocker sounded.

You’re separated,
her head yelled in reply.
Is no sex for six months a worthy recipe for married couples?
Her heart drawled.

She sprayed perfume on her wrists and cleavage, just before she opened the door.

Zane stood there, looking debonair. “What a stunner you are, Alero! My heart is racing for you.”

Her flowing, clingy dress with a side slit in Aqua blue exposed her waistline. And the see-through lace for the top front and back covering could only be described as sexy.

Alero swallowed. “Thank you, Zane.” She refrained from giving him compliments. Warmth collected around her thighs. In her heart, she knew her relationship with him was centred on sex. The fact her husband hadn’t touched her in half a year, didn’t help.

Zane looked smashing in a black shirt, black jeans and a red blazer. This time, his baseball cap was missing. The top of his hair was styled in gentle curls. And oh, he smelled amazing. If she survived this evening without giving in to temptation, she would push the boat out.

“Here, take these. I got them for your friend.” After Zane left yesterday afternoon, she drove down to the shopping mall and bought two bottles of expensive wine.

Zane corked his head and raised an eyebrow.

“How thoughtful and kind. You hold on to it, beautiful. You’ll hand it over to Ahmed when we get there.” Zane offered his hand and she laced her fingers through his as they walked to his car.

Another fast car – a red Ferrari,
her head noted
.

“Your fingers are trembling,” Zane whispered. The cool night air calmed down the fire running through her right arm.

She didn’t trust her mouth to utter an acceptable excuse, so she kept quiet.

He chuckled near her ear, and flung one arm around her shoulders when she stopped by the car.

It was wrong to agree to this date. But she will not continue isolate herself because she was married to a man who treated her like a prized furniture.

The ride must have been a quick one because they were already parked in a busy parking lot.

“Are we here already?” Alero mumbled.

“You switched off during the drive, so I thought it best to let you work things out in your head.” He held her fingers in both hands. “Look, I understand what heartbreak means, Alero. Believe me, the hurt lessens with time.”

She smiled. “I’m relieved you’re not hurting now. Anyway, how would you know?”

The glow in his eyes, his white teeth, and shoulder movements lit fireworks in the well of her stomach.

“I nursed a heartbreak two years ago. I was engaged to be married.”

Her fingers around his hand tensed. “What happened?”

He shrugged. “She returned my ring a few days to the wedding. Musiab found a more suitable, wealthy Arab man. I didn’t compete to win her back. She’s married and lives here in town.”

From his tone, it was obvious he was over Musiab. Alero wished she could get over Kyle in her head. She loved Kyle so much, she gave up who she was to become who he wanted her to be. Still, he betrayed her in the most despicable way.

“I wish I could say the same,” Alero managed on a long sigh.

“Do you still love him?”

“I did. He hurt my feelings so many times, I forgave him. But now, he has betrayed me so far out, in my head, we’re through.”

Zane’s thumb stroked the back of her palms. Electricity flowed to every part of her body.

“I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to trust me. For now, you need to feed on some cold tasting humble pie.” Zane pulled out an A4 sized white paper from the glove compartment. “Here you go, take a good look at the document.”

Realization slowly dawned on her. It was his birth certificate. Zane did not lie about his age. Alero smiled, denial sprang to her lips, but she gulped it down.

“Someone owes me an apology. What are you waiting for? Come on, taste the humble pie.” Within the blink of an eye, he brought out a plate wrapped in foil. There was frozen Moroccan lamb pie in his left hand. He shoved it in her face. She leaned back and put up both hands.

“I was unsure. Okay. I’m sorry. Remind me again, why do I even have to apologize?”

He snickered, pushed the paper into the compartment and twisted the knob. Zane bit a chunk of the pie and dangled it by her lips. “Apology not accepted. Come on, eat some.”

“Hey! I was mistaken. I’m humbled. Happy?”

Zane jeered. “Yes. Geez! What a wonderful feeling. Now, we can go inside.”

Alero giggled and corked her head aside. She wanted to sit and talk with him in the car. He was so easy to chat with and exciting to have around. A missing ingredient in her marriage. Kyle was too business-minded to sit and chat. A year after their wedding, he had become so mobile, she hardly knew him. She had hoped and prayed for a change, for him to see how much she needed him.

Zane’s arms warmed her back and she leaned against him as they stepped into the largest nightclub she had ever seen. Then she whispered in his ear, “I love dancing.”

Zane winked. “Me too.”

It was dim, but there were at least a million coloured lights flickering, and bouncing off glass panelling. No kidding. It was absolutely charming. The DJ was on a mezzanine at the far end of the room. There were at least twenty other couples seated or dancing. She was quickly introduced to the celebrant who turned thirty-five yesterday.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Alero,” Ahmed said, as he kissed the back of her palm.

Zane knocked Ahmed’s lips off her hand. “Cut out the elaborate courtesy, pal. She’s with me.”

Ahmed laughed and they shook hands in the typical male fashion. He didn’t take offence.

“Here, we brought this for you,” Alero said, as she gave him the two bottles of wine.

“Thank you, lovely lady. How gracious.” Ahmed received the gifts and led them towards the centre of the room. Soon other guests dragged him away.

From behind, Zane held her shoulders and kissed her neck. She swirled round and he kissed her lips. Alero melted into his arms and leaned her head against his muscled chest. She nuzzled her lips around his jaw, and inhaled his fragrance. The music was low, perfect for a snug.

“I’m honoured you came,” Zane murmured, as his hands caressed her back. “I’m going to get us a drink, come with me.”

She lifted her head and gazed into his eyes. “You go and get the drinks. I’ll sit here and wait.”

Zane shook his head. “Not on your life. There are too many men in search of a beautiful woman. It took me two years to find you, I’m not going to let you get away so easily.”

Alero pushed the implication of his words aside. She was here to have fun.

“If you insist,” she said and followed him. They grabbed two drinks from the bar and returned to their seats. Zane introduced her to two couples. They all chatted briefly and hit the dance floor when the tempo of the music heightened.

The volume of the music and the choice of pop song hit a note in her body, and Alero jumped to her feet.

“Dance with me, Zane.” She held out her hand.

Zane was on his feet. Laughter mingled with admiration shone in his eyes. He allowed her lead him to the large dancing area.

Alero slid her body along Zane’s muscular figure, like a pole dancer with her pole. Her flowing dark hair splayed over his chest as she swayed her hips, and twerked in a way she hadn’t danced since she was in her early twenties. She had learnt erotic dance in University nightclubs. But it was often frowned upon if you were a married woman. In this club, no one knew who she was.

Zane pressed her body flush against his, almost merging them into one. Her nipples grazed his chest, peaked, and beads of electricity shot to her honey pot. Several times, he spun her around, baited her, grabbed her waist and ground his crotch across her butt. Heat seared her thighs and she lifted one leg high and straddled his hips.

They were so intimate, they didn’t realize the dance floor was empty. When the music stopped, the people were on their feet. They applauded their erotic dance.

In Nigeria, she would be forbidden from dancing such a sensuous routine with a man who was not her husband.

With the sexy way Zane danced, he just found the key to her heart.

Alero hid her sweaty forehead on Zane’s chest. And he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

“I loved your erotic dance, beautiful. You have danced your way into my heart.”

Alero shivered in his arms. “I had a good time, Zane. Thank you.”

He led her back to their table. Ahmed brought them two glasses of chilled water. “I bet you need this, man. Thank you for lighting up my party.”

Zane accepted the glasses. “Alero’s a great dancer. Love her moves.”

She laughed off their comments.

A waiter placed assorted drinks on their table, and disappeared with minimum fuss.

They drank and ate meatballs, chicken tagine and shared a large platter of
Kofte
– fish, with tomato sauce. Zane had his arms around her shoulders, and fed her the whole time. In turn, she stretched her legs over his thighs. They did not care who watched their love party.

“So, do you live alone?” Alero asked after they were done with the food and drinks.

“Yes. I have lived on my own for as long as I can remember.”

She nodded. “And your parents? Where are they?”

“They live here in Casablanca. I see them once or twice a month. They can’t get their heads round the fact I haven’t brought home a good girl.” He winked at her.

Why haven’t you, Zane? You’re one naughty boy.”

He grinned.

“You have serious misconceptions about me. First you think I’m still in diapers, now you say, I’m naughty. I have been waiting for one good girl to stop on my track.”

Her thoughts drifted to her marriage.

“Where’s your family?” Zane touched her chin to get her attention.

Alero was quickly pulled out of her trance. “Oh. They live in Warri, in Nigeria. I have three brothers. Two of them live in Lagos, and my younger brother still lives with my parents.”

“And do you live alone here in Casablanca?”

Alero sighed. “Uh.”

“Is that a yes?” He wanted clarification.

Before she replied, she glanced around the club. It was great they had a moment to chat in the midst of the chaos. More people had flowed in and the dance floor was jammed again.

“I live alone. Didn’t I mention that little detail yesterday?”

Zane twisted his lips as if deep in thought. “No, you didn’t. I didn’t want to presume.” The fact she lived alone worked in their favour.

“So what kind of woman would you usually date?” A man like him on African soil could have as many women as he wanted.

“I want to talk about you, not about the women I have dated. They’re history. Unimportant.”

She felt suitably chastised. The point is, she didn’t want him to build his hope around her. Even if she got divorced, she doubted she wanted to settle for a man of Moroccan descent. What would her parents say? They would probably chew and spit her out.

“What do you do, Alero?”

She almost said,
I’m a sit-at-home
wife
, but she stopped herself in time. “I’m a former glamour model.” His eyes widened like a child with a huge cone of ice cream. “And a beautician. I have bought a place a few miles from my home here in Casablanca, where I want to start a nail and beauty salon. I’m still training my staff.”

“I knew you had to be a model. Your glowing golden brown skin is so beautiful, it reminds me of refreshing baby autumn leaves. I could stare at you all day.” In a heartbeat, he took out his phone and clicked his camera a few times. She struck a few poses to his delight. It was as if they were alone in the world. Zane gave her his full attention and she wallowed in it.

“What do you do, Zane? I know you said you were a car dealer. Were you serious?”

“I sell fast and expensive cars. The Arabs love fast cars. Cars are like babies. They need to be pampered and looked after.”

“More like women,” she added.

“Women, are a different breed. I want to take care of you, Alero. Please allow me.”

She stared into his eyes. But she didn’t respond.

“Will you think about it?”

Alero shook her head. “I’m married.”

Zane shrugged. “Hey! You’re pulling my leg. Fine, I won’t push you. But, I’m not going away anytime soon. I want to dance with you on my bed.”

The thought of dancing naked with Zane on his bed left her breathless. Alero gulped in air. When she calmed down, she sighed. At least she mentioned she was married. If he did not believe her, she had no plans to make him do so.