Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
And then he’s there, crouching next to me. “Jasmine, are you okay?” Jafar reaches out, but stops before he makes contact. “Did I hurt you?”
He thinks this reaction is about him.
About what we did earlier.
I might be smarter if I let him keep believing that, but I can’t. I just can’t. “No.” Strangely enough, my stomach settles the second his big hand makes contact with my back. I draw in a shuddering breath. “No, it’s not you. I’m fine. I …” A mistake to play my cards now, to let him know what Ali’s plans are? No, I can’t believe that. If I’m destined to be in a cage, better the one Jafar has crafted around me than anything Ali has to offer. He’s no better than my father. Worse than my father because he wants to fuck me.
“Talk to me.” The quiet command settles me further.
I slump back against the glass of the shower and close my eyes. Easier to speak if I can’t see him. “Ali was here.” I feel him go still, feel the rage rise in a tidal wave that can drown us both, but he waits for me to continue. I clear my throat. “He says he’s decided to save me, but I think we both know that he only wants me because he thinks the power of my father’s territory is tied up with who owns me.”
“Your father’s people need someone larger than life to follow and for all that they’re killers, they have a romantic streak a mile wide. You’re a beautiful counterpoint to any ill will the person at your side might bring to the table. They’ll follow you—will follow whoever you’re married to.”
Married.
I open my eyes. “No one said anything about marriage.”
“No one said anything about marriage.” He nodded, never taking his gaze from my face. “Yet.”
If I concentrate, I can almost feel the trap clamping shut around my leg. It’s not enough to keep me locked up in his penthouse. Or to bring me here like some prized cow to show off before it’s slaughtered.
Do I believe that what Jafar seems to feel for me is real? Yes. He might be a superb liar, but he’s never bothered to with me. Do I think for a second that it will stop him from using me as he sees fit?
No. Absolutely not.
I draw my tattered pride around me as best I can and lift my chin. “I’m not marrying anyone, Jafar. Not him. Not you.”
“We’ll see, won’t we?”
Chapter 13
Jafar
Ali was here.
He could have killed her. Would have if he didn’t still think that he could salvage this coup. The thought of him hurting her makes my entire body go cold. I wasn’t here and I should have been.
I wasn’t fucking here.
He might not have injured her, but Ali did something to upset Jasmine enough that she’s sick. Or she was. Right now, she’s looking at me like she wants to rip my throat out for mentioning marriage. A stupid move on my part, a misstep I wouldn’t have made if I was thinking clearly. But I saw her clinging to the toilet and all I could think of was that I’d broken what little trust we have between us. There’s no coming back from that shit. I know that better than anyone. Jasmine and I already have a mountain of challenges in front of us without letting my cock get in the way of reason.
My cock always seems to get in the way of reason when it comes to this woman.
I want to stand to race out of the room and track down Hades to punch in his smug face for having shitty enough security to allow Ali into this building. It shouldn’t be possible. I can’t even sneak into The Underworld. I tried when I first arrived in Carver City, but the procedures in place are too thorough.
Which means Ali didn’t sneak in.
Hades allowed him entrance.
Yes, the old bastard and I would have a conversation, and soon.
But not right now. Not with Jasmine sitting there, still shaking, her eyes too wide. I hold out my hand. “Come here.” As much as I want to pick her up and just fucking take care of her, it will do more harm than good right now.
“I’m not marrying you.”
I bite back a sigh. “A slip of the tongue, baby girl. It’s not on the table.”
“Not yet, but it will be.”
She’s not wrong. A marriage might not be enough to fully cement things, but it won’t hurt. It also has the benefit of creating a narrative people can root for. No one wants to be ruled by a monster who went back on his word and killed the man he owed allegiance to. But a man in love, desperate to save his woman from an arranged marriage? That’s a whole hell of a lot more romantic. That’s something people can get behind and celebrate.