He sets his hands on my hips, but the dark emotions don’t fade from his eyes. “I’ll wait as long as you need.” He urges me closer, rolling my hips against his hardening cock. “But some day, I want my ring on your finger, baby girl. I thought I could give it up, but that was before.”
I’m not really opposed to the idea. Once people stop looking at me and seeing weakness because of my gender, marrying Jafar will carry less risk of undermining my position. I wish it wasn’t something I had to consider, wish our happiness didn’t rank lower than the lives of everyone in our territory, but life is full of hard choices. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He turns me around and gives me a little nudge. “You’re going to be late.”
I wish I didn’t have to push pause on this conversation, but showing up late for this meeting isn’t an option. I barely make it to my chair in time to pull up the appropriate link and dial in. Cordelia’s pretty face appears almost instantly, her dark hair pulled back and her expression serious. “Hello, Jasmine.”
“Cordelia.”
We verbally spar for a few moments and then get down to business, but half my mind lingers at how uneasy Jafar looked. It wouldn’t be obvious to someone who didn’t know him well, but I’ve spent a lifetime studying that man’s expressions and I know his face almost as well as my own. Something’s bothering him, and I can’t begin to guess if it’s the lack of marriage or something else entirely.
By the time I finish with the call with Cordelia, neither of us have made much in the way of promises. We’re in an uneasy truce that I don’t trust her to honor any more than she trusts me. I expect there will extra eyes on the border on both sides, but only time will prove if we’re as good as our word. I know I am, but she’s even newer to this. If she’s smart, she’ll focus on transitioning her people’s loyalty to her before she makes any big moves against her neighbors—and hopefully never makes big moves. Peace between factions is profitable for everyone. Most of Carver City’s territory leaders recognize that, but as the two newest ones, Cordelia and I are the ones everyone is watching to see if we’ll rock the boat. I have no intention of doing it. Cordelia claims the same.
We’ll see.
I stand and stretch. Jafar has long since disappeared, and I head out of my study and through the halls. After much arguing, Jafar and I compromised by having men stationed on the main floor in key spots but leaving the second floor to us alone. I see a few of them as I head to the stairs, and nod in acknowledgement. It’s hard to keep yourself regal and distant when your feet are screaming and your back hurts and there’s a headache starting behind one eye. But then, I’ve had months of practice at this point.
I don’t breathe easy until I close the door of our personal suite and lean against it. One of the first things I did upon taking control of this house and this territory was to have one of the spare suites renovated to fit out needs. Staying in my room felt too strange. Moving into my father’s suite? Unthinkable.
I actually moan as I kick off my heels. I love them. I do. But after long days, it’s more of a love-hate relationship.
“Baby girl.”
Just like that, the worst of my exhaustion slides right off me. I push off the door and move further into the suite. “Daddy, I’m home.”
His dark laugh comes from the direction of the bathroom. Curious, I follow the sound and stop just inside the doorway. This bathroom is one of my favorite parts of the house now. It’s all done up in dark slate gray tile, with a massive claw-foot bathtub that is ridiculous and extravagant and I love with all my heart. Right now, it’s filled with steaming water. “What’s all this?”
“You’ve had a long day.”
“Every day is a long day right now. For both of us.”
“Mmm.” Jafar crooks his finger at me. “Come here.”
I couldn’t disobey that quiet command if I wanted to, and I desperately don’t want to. I walk to him and slip my hand into his. He uses that touch to turn me to face away from him, and then unzips my dress. Jafar kisses my neck as he eases the fabric off my body. “Did you eat lunch today?”
“Yes, Daddy.” I smile a little. “Impossible not to when you order the chef to deliver it at noon, regardless of where I am or what I’m doing.” Initially, I’d chafed at that little display of dominance, but it’s simply Jafar taking care of me. If left to my own devices, we both know I’d work through lunch more often than I’d remember to eat it.
“Dinner?”
“Not yet.”
“Thought so.” He twists my hair up on top of my head and fastens it there. “In the bath. You need it.”
I really, really do need it, but I can’t help poking at him a little. “Are you saying I stink?”
“Baby girl, if you want to play the brat, this night is going to go significantly different than I’d planned.”
I almost push him further. I love it when my man snaps, when we play rough. But tonight? I don’t know if I’m up for it. “Yes, Daddy.” I manage to sound suitably meek. I think.
His low chuckle makes my entire body clench. “In.”
I climb into the tub. It’s built big enough for both of us, so I’m practically swimming in it. I lean my head back against the rim and watch him. “What do you have planned for us tonight?”
Jafar leans against the counter. He’s still wearing his black slacks and a pinstriped button-down shirt that looks particularly delicious. But what really gets me is that he’s barefoot. I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to the fact that this man is mine, that he lets down his walls around me and no one else. It’s a shared privilege, but no less novel for it.
Finally, he moves, unbuttoning his shirt with little flicks of his fingers. It comes off and he drapes it over the back of the chair arranged next to the tub. His pants are next, and then he’s naked and moving to climb into the bath and settle behind me. His sigh tells me everything I need to know.
I shift to settle my head against his shoulder and wrap his arms around me. “It’s been a long day for both of us.”
“A long week.”
I smile. “A long month, quarter, year.”
Jafar chuckles. “Yes.” He gives me a squeeze.
Maybe I should leave things at that, but our earlier conversation still lingers. I turn and carefully straddle him. “I do want to marry you, you know.”
Just like that, his expression closes down. “We’ve talked about this. I know your reasons for holding off. They’re good ones.”
“Just because they’re good ones doesn’t mean we should ignore the elephant in the room.” I drape my arms around his neck and sift my fingers through his hair. It’s getting longer; he’ll need a cut soon. “Jafar, you’re the only one for me. Just you. I’ve been more than a little in love with you since long before you ever fucked me in the middle of my father’s hallway.”
His expression stays closed down, but there’s a wicked glint in his eye. “I know.”
“Then what’s this about? You know I’m yours. A ring is just…” I trail off, understanding dawning. “It’s not about us, is it? It’s about everyone else.”