Pretend It's Ok

Zayn was always the quiet type. He was known for his bad boy mysterious image. His 'always being out at late hours' and many late night festivities, were things Zayn was accustomed to. Zayn wasn't accustomed to being a husband though.

Marriage was a huge adjustment - the biggest besides fatherhood at least. He had no idea how he would manage with it. He had to be home at certain times, but never gave them a second thought or rather he knew that he was past curfew and just didn't care. Zayn needed to be there for Melinda yet never thought of her once while out and about. He needed to spend more time with his wife, because while he stayed out with friends, he slowly pushed her away further and further than he intended on.

In all reasoning, Zayn did deserve time to himself with his friends. Melinda didn't mind it either. She felt as though that she shouldn't hold him back from seeing the boys. Too much time with each other would lead to fights and arguments. For a little it worked and he would miss her more and more (Melinda could see that the separation didn't help either). Zayn took advantage of that few hour time frame. One night a week turned to four days a week which escalated to the full week.

Lonely nights with Melinda only meant lonely nights with Zayn. And Zayn had his own company in mind.

Zayn wasn't the type to cheat. Nor did he ever. He was the sensitive type to women being surrounded by them most of his early childhood. Zayn could look Melinda in the eyes and be proud to say that he never cheated on her. Girls would tempt him when he would attend parties regarding business, but he knew better than to betray Melinda. Even though it didn't show, Zayn loved Melinda tremendously. Zayn became more and more busy at work which only caused his stress levels to increase. Stress was the main reason to his bitterness and how his face had suddenly became more weak.

He ate less, slept more, craved lonesome and avoided everyone. Everyone except Harry.

Harry would be the only one to talk to Zayn and urge him to avoid drinking out his stress and problems with Melinda. Harry secretly understood where Melinda was coming from, but decided against telling Zayn. Harry didn't want to come in between a married couple - as much as it hurt knowing that Melinda was hurting more than anything.

Harry had his own mess to deal with.

The ring tone off Zayn's phone shattered his ear drums. It wasn't really that loud but when drunk, everything was an octave louder than it should be. He lifted his face off the sticky table slowly with an unsatisfied expression. The texture was disgusting under the tips of his fingers. Usually Zayn was careful with his features and at this point, he was too drained to care.

The buzzing of talking and music made the atmosphere more and more distasteful by the seconds. Zayn felt around for his pockets lazily. He hadn't noticed that he was falling asleep on the bar counter. Succeeding in finding his phone, Zayn lifted the screen to his face. His eye sight was blurry for a few seconds. When his vision cleared he noticed the familiar name. Shock was on his face not knowing how to react at such a random caller. Never would this person ever call Zayn. It caught him off guard quite a bit.

Gharram.

"Why is she calling me?", he whispered to himself. He pressed the screen and placed the speaker next to his ear, "Hello?"

"Malik!!", her voice woke him up completely.

Zayn almost launched the phone out of his hands at the piercing loud voice. "Yeah, Sharma.", he winced.

"Where's Harry?", she asked more calmly. Zayn could tell that she was only trying to hold in her anger.

"I don't know!", Zayn rolled his eyes.

Gharram grunted and sighed. "Wait.", she said as if a thought struck her. "Why aren't you at home?"

"Is there a reason why I should be?!", Zayn asked in reply with a nonchalant expression.

"I just thought you'd be home with your wife!", she emphasized the last two words with force causing Zayn to stir a little in his seat.

"Get off my back, yeah?", how heavy-toned accent seeped into her ears.


"Go home, Zayn.", Gharram repeated with irritation building up in her chest.

"I'll go home when I want to.", Zayn hugged with stubbornness.

Zayn clicked the end button while Gharram was screaming unneeded comments and insults. His fingers grasped the shot glass in front of him firmly. Placing the cool glass against his lips, he ceased from taking his last shot of Tequila.

Another ring from his phone sounded and another roll of his eyes conjured. Zayn stopped everything he was doing. He didn't know why, but he stopped. Zayn tilted into his screen to get a better look. He glanced at the screen as it flashed. A beautiful picture of a tan-skinned, light brown-eyed, long black-haired exotic woman appeared on his screen. Zayn stared at the face in awe. He hadn't looked at Melinda this way in months.

Maybe it was because he wasn't drunk yet?

Nonetheless, Zayn was stunned by her beauty. Why wasn't he looking at her this way anymore? Why did she suddenly seem more attractive? Melinda wasn't ugly. No, she was so far from that. Zayn thought she was beautiful. He hadn't taken the time to notice lately, but now... Now his vision was crystal clear.

Without so much as hesitating another second he answered, "Melinda..."

"H-hi.", Melinda answered stunned that he actually answered. "Where are you?"

"I'm coming home.", his voice grew deeper and more danger-filled.

Melinda cleared her throat, "Oh, okay. I thought you were going to stay out late again." She finished off her sentence with an innocence giggle.

"No, not tonight.", Zayn laughed along with her playing with the rim of the glass. "I'm going to spend tonight with you, baby."

Zayn could tell that Melinda was grinning like a child in a candy store. He didn't want to break that. They had been arguing a lot lately and he decided that it'd be best if he just try to mend it from his end.

Zayn walked out the bar feeling the warm New York breeze hitting his face. He inhaled the smells of various food stands and could hear the traffic from every corner of the city. He was use to this life. Being in London was so familiar to NYC. He placed his hands in his jean pockets and headed towards the opposite direction of the bar he was in. Zayn walked towards the corner of the street waving and whistling for a taxi.

Picking up a dozen white roses, chocolates from Godiva and a pack of spearmint gum, Zayn finally made it to the hotel. He half walked and half ran towards the elevator to surprise Melinda with the gifts he had bought her. He smiled casually at the awing workers. The female employees smirked and commented how cute he had been for buying her these items unexpectedly. Zayn blushed seeing as he wasn't the type seen in public in this manner.

His heartbeat increased as he watched each number of the floors raise. Why was he nervous? Why was his palms sweating? Why was he even shaking?

Zayn couldn't register anything around him. He didn't know what je was doing or carrying for that matter. He gulped what felt like rocks. Whistling an old Bollywood song (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai), he rocked back and forth to calm his nerves. He tapped the melody on the box of chocolates he bought. The ding finally sounded and the nerves he thought had settled returned with full force.

Zayn took the first step out the elevator and took deep breaths. He continued walking towards his suite the bouquet rattling in his hands.

Zayn reached into his pocket searching for the key card. He struggled in his investigation only to be interrupted by a woman clearing bus throat. Zayn's face leveled with the woman.

In front of him stood Melinda with the door hanging open. Her arm rested on the wood and the other was placed on her hip. She had on nothing but a silk black robe and satin smooth skin - at least from what Zayn could tell. Melinda snapped her fingers to break Zayn out of his trance. He shook his head and entered the suite handing Melinda the gifts. A smile brightened her face causing Zayn to feel a rush of triumph.

Melinda walked up to him and kissed him on the shoulder letting her lips linger a few seconds longer. "Thank you, Zayn.", she whispered in his ear.

Zayn felt a shiver go down his spine. He watched her long tan legs walk towards the bedroom to place the gifts next to her luggage. Zayn followed her and was now behind her. Melinda was bent over and as soon as she lifted herself upwards, a pang of excitement filled het chest.

Zayn slid his arms on her waist and moved them towards the silk wraps of the robe. He kissed her neck lightly sending surges of lust up her spine. Melinda closed her eyes in acceptance taking in the feel of her husband. Zayn continued kissing and sucking on her skin lightly. He pulled the string of the robe opening his package to gain access. Zayn slid his hand down her abdomen over pink lace panties. He felt the fabric on the tips of his fingers. He circled around lower making her gasp.

He then glided his hand down her undergarment and rubbed on her clit. Melinda gasped Zayn's name and tilted her head back on his shoulder. He could feel her weaken by his touch. The moisture that produced from Melinda made his erection unbareable. He turned her around and smashed his lips against her's. His tongue demanded entrance and it wouldn't take no for an answer.

Zayn carried her to the bed and began stripping Melinda of her clothing. His hands gripped her breasts as his lips moved lower down her neck and to her torso. His thumb rubbed against her clit making her gasps louder and louder.
Zayn loved the feeling. It was a surge of empowerment.

Without hesitation, his lips met her second ones. Melinda's back arched off the mattress as soon as she felt his cold wet tongue. Zayn flicked his tongue back and forth against it. He sucked on each lip mercilessly. He hadn't known what gotten into him and he didn't care at the moment. All he knew was he wanted Melinda and he wanted her badly.

He continued sucking on her clit forcefully making her scream his name many times. Melinda placed her hand on either side of his face and pulled him up towards her. Zayn's mouth hung open as he was staring into two lustful honey eyes. Her lips were plump and swollen - both pairs. Zayn found them more attractive this way. He couldn't help but look at every inch of her face

Zayn lifted his hand to her face lightly running along her cheekbone. Melinda's hands fell from his skin and Zayn felt cold air replace the feeling of his wife.

The moonlight beaming from the blinds of the room revealed this beauty from Melinda that had Zayn frozen. Melinda's cheeks turned a bright red color. A smirk curved upwards on Zayn's lips, "Why are you so beautiful?"

Melinda froze as well. How was she supposed to respond to that? She stared away from him feeling her cheeks heat up and grin forming. "Stop...", she whispered coyly.

"Melinda...", his hand was under her chin. He pulled her face closer to his with their lips inches apart, "You're so beautiful and you're all mine."

Melinda's eyes teared out of pure happiness. Zayn kissed away the tear that fell from her eye. His actions made her chest swell up. She then pulled Zayn in - one hand on each cheek - for a more passionate kiss. Zayn pulled the covers over them and started making sweet love to his wife.

Zayn knew he had been wrong for a while. He hadn't admitted to it seeing as his pride was in the way. He promised that day that he would cut out the immaturity and stay focused on what really mattered.

Melinda.

Little did any of them know that things were about to get a little bit more hectic.

Notes