I turn to look at Jafar, frowning at the strange note in his voice. No nerves show on his face, but that earlier tension is back. It’s almost as if he’s…holding his breath. I focus back on the necklace and the truth rolls over me. It’s not a necklace. It’s a collar.
Not quite a ring, no, but something akin to it. A claim of permanent long-term ownership. Everyone in the Underworld knows that Jafar owns me, that I belong to him and him alone. This is different. People come together and part in the Underworld and then move back into the world without strings attached.
This marks me as Jafar’s for people like us, people who will know what it means, outside the club. In public.
“Would you like to put it on?” So careful, my love. Watching me so closely. There are times when he’s all too happy to steamroll me—when I’m all too happy to be steamrolled—but this doesn’t number among them. This is a step, a serious step, one to be made with eyes wide open.
I should probably make him wait, but I can’t quite manage to play that game. “Yes, Daddy.”
He picks it up, his gaze not straying from my face, and settles it over my head. The necklace is on a slip knot type thing, and once he adjusts it, he pauses, holding the tail. The ruby shines in his palm and then he releases it to allow it to rest between my breasts. Even though I know it’s actually room temperature, I can’t help feeling like I’ve been branded by this necklace. By his touch.
“Get out, Meg.”
She rises gracefully to her feet. “Enjoy.”
I don’t take my eyes from Jafar as Meg leaves the room and closes the door softly behind her. He uses two fingers to lift my chin and drags his thumb over my bottom lip. “You like it.”
“I love it.” I nip his thumb and am rewarded by heat flaring in his dark eyes. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“I want to see you in nothing but the collar.”
Another day, I’d push him, mouth off, make him force me. I don’t want to play that game today. I step back and unbutton my shirt. My skirt, bra, and panties follow it to the floor in quick succession, until I stand before him naked but for the collar. I’ve never felt more powerful than in that moment when his breath catches the tiniest bit. He’s just as affected as I am by this. Day or night, we’re equals now in a way we never quite managed before.
We have a future now.
I hold his gaze as I sink to my knees, a silent acknowledgement that I choose this again and again. That I will continue to do so. That I choose him.
Jafar regards me for a long moment, the silence filled with countless possibilities. I can see the exact moment he settles on one. He bends down and catches me under my arms, hauling me to my feet. “You should let Meg make it up to you.”
“I’ll forgive her when I’m ready,” I snap. He can dictate so many things in our private lives, but not this. “And I don’t know why you’re bothering to advocate on her behalf. You’re even more furious at her than I am.”
“Yes, I am.” He considers me for a long moment. “Don’t move.”
“Jafar—” It’s too late. He’s gone, disappearing through the door and leaving me standing in my study wearing nothing but my collar. I want to storm after him, to tell him that I don’t need him controlling this the same way he controls so much else. But part of me wants to know what his plans are.
He doesn’t make me wait long. Two minutes later, he walks back into the room with Meg on his heels. Jafar snaps his fingers at her. “Kneel.”
I expect her to snap back. The only other time we did this, Meg was definitely in a dominant position, despite Jafar holding the reins. She doesn’t, though. She simply obeys. Only then does Jafar move to the chaise lounge chair I have positioned in front of the large windows overlooking the terrace garden. It’s one of my favorite features of this study. He sinks onto the chaise and crooks his fingers at me. “Come here, baby girl.”
I skirt around Meg and walk to him. He positions me next to him and drapes an arm over the back of the chaise, giving all the appearance of being at ease. “You have penance to enact, Megaera.”
“Yes.” She doesn’t lift her eyes.
For the first time, I wonder if she’s truly as sorry as she said she was. If maybe she’s just as caught up in this mess as everyone else is. Is she innocent? Not by a long shot. But we all operate in cages, whether they’re of our own making or someone else’s. Perhaps she really did feel the same connection I did. Something more than friendship, but significantly less than what I feel for Jafar.
He twines a lock of my hair around his finger. “You know how to make it up to her.”
“I do.” She crawls to me. It’s not like last time, where she was all power and predatory lines. Meg crawls to me like a true submissive. Graceful, yes, but it’s not the same at all. I don’t know how to feel about this.
Jafar doesn’t give me a chance to consider it. He hitches one of my legs over his lap, opening me for her. “Make it good, Meg. This is the first of many. You can’t earn her forgiveness, but you can certainly weigh the balance in your favor.”
I shoot him a sharp look. “You can’t negotiate that on my behalf.”
“No, I can’t.” He brings one of my hands to his mouth and kisses my knuckles, devastatingly gentle. “But if I want to see you come on Meg’s face, that’s exactly what you’re going to do, baby girl.”
“I—” The first drag of Meg’s tongue steals my words. I melt back against Jafar, letting his strength steady me as Meg grips my thighs and licks my pussy as if she can find the penance she’s looking for there. As if she truly can earn it.
Jafar shifts, sliding one arm behind my back so he can hold me. He pinches my nipple, the sharp pain making me gasp. “You’re teasing her, Meg.” The censor in his tone makes me shake in the most delicious way possible. Jafar reaches down with his free hand and laces his fingers through her mass of dark hair. “Lick her here.” He guides her up to my clit. “Stop fucking around.”
Meg stops fucking around. She sucks my clit hard and pushes two fingers into me. I try to resist, to hold out, but it’s too much. My back bows and I cry out as my orgasm rolls over me. I slump back against Jafar, dazed and yet wanting more.
I always want more.
He uses his grip on Meg’s hair to lift her head. “That’s a start.”
She licks her lips and gives a faint smile. “It’s a long path to redemption. At least this one is pleasurable.” She reaches up and cups my chin briefly. “I truly am sorry, Jasmine.” She rises and walks out of the room, and this time she doesn’t come back.
I crawl into Jafar’s lap and he obliges me by holding me close. “I’ll forgive her eventually.”
“I know.”
“Does that make me weak?” She betrayed me. I should be ready to go after her with everything I can bring to the fore. Instead, I’m just tired. There are plenty of fights left in my future. If I can let this go…
I will. Not today. But eventually.
I lift my face and kiss Jafar. “Thank you.”
“I’ll always give you what you need, baby girl. Always.”