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  “I like fighting you,” I respond automatically, but my mind is whirling. I didn’t realize how the walls were starting to feel like they’re closing in until he offers me a reprieve. “You’ve already got this planned out, haven’t you?”

  “We fly out in the morning.”

  I stare. “What would have happened if I made it to the maze entrance and ruined all your plans?”

  His dark laugh has my body clenching despite several delicious orgasms. “You were never making it to the maze entrance and we both know it.”

  I suppose we do.

  We lay like that for a long time, but Jafar finally urges me up. I’m still dreading the naked trek back to the house when he pulls out a bag tucked back behind the space heater and proceeds to dress me in leggings, a thick knitted sweater, socks, and boots. A hat and jacket finish the outfit. I look down at myself and then at him. “What is this?”

  He pulls his own clothes back on quickly and shuts off the space heater. “It’s the winter solstice.”

  “Yes,” I say slowly.

  Jafar gives me a look. Even without much light, I can feel the censor in it. “Come now, Jasmine. You can’t think I’ve forgotten your tradition.”

  I should have known. I should have known he’d notice and catalogue it away in that impressively twisty brain of his. Of course he realized, even before I did, that this was something I needed. “Thank you,” I whisper.

  Jafar tucks my hand into the crook of his arm and we walk together out of the maze. Instead of turning toward the house, we move to the gardens. It’s almost the opposite route of the one I always took with my father, but that feels good and right.

  A new tradition, built on the old, but different.

  Perfect.

  3

  A Proposal

  I am so tired. The kind of exhaustion that settles in my bones to stay. It has nothing to do with the amount of sleep I achieve each night and everything to do with the sheer stress that comes from running a territory. From being a woman running a territory that’s had a man at the helm for decades.

  I rub the bridge of my nose, careful not to touch my eyes and smudge my makeup. I’ve had to make examples of people. To do things that feed my nightmares that same way Ali’s death lingers in that darkest recesses of my soul.

  I feel Jafar before I see him. It’s as if the very air in the room shifts to accommodate his presence. He’s always been like that, but the longer we’ve been together the more attuned to him I become.

  He stops behind me and then his hands are on my shoulders, thumbs digging into the tight muscles there. “We’re done for the day.”

  “I have one more meeting.” A video call with the newest territory head—Cordelia. I feel a foolish sort of kinship with her, another daughter stepping into the larger-than-life shoes of her deceased father. I won’t let that kinship muddy the waters when our territories share a border, but I can’t deny it. “I can’t put it off. It’s Cordelia Belmont.”

  “You’re right. You can’t put it off.” He finds a knot and digs his thumb in hard enough to buckle my knees and make me moan a little. “Do you need me?”

  I smile. “Always.”

  “Baby girl.”

  I turn in his arms and slide my hands up his chest. “After this, I’m going to be too wound up to sleep.”

  His lips curve. “That wasn’t even a subtle hint.”

  “No, it wasn’t.” I press a quick kiss to his lips, barely resisting the urge to sink into it. I don’t have time. There’s never enough time anymore. Someone always needs something from me, and nights are my only relief, the only time I can let down my walls and just be me with Jafar. The moment I walk through the doors of our suite and kick off my heels always feels like taking off a corset after wearing it for hours upon hours.

  He sets me back and strokes his hands down my arms. “You have this under control. Cordelia isn’t in a position to press us, not when she has Ursa biting at her heels on the other side.”

  “Jafar.” I wait for him to look at me. “I know. I have access to the same information you do.”

  He laughs softly. “Sometimes it’s hard taking a backseat in these meetings and negotiations.”

  “I can’t imagine why.” I arch my brows. “You aren’t staging another coup, are you?”

  “When the last one went so well?” He takes my hand, his finger brushing my bare left ring finger. He’s been patient, but in the last month or so, he’s been touching me there more and more often. I suspect he’d want his ring on my finger no matter what, but after the unconventional offering in marriage I got from Abel Paine a few weeks ago, Jafar has been more subtly possessive. “They won’t stop asking, you know.”

  Of course his mind’s gone to the same place mine has. I glance at the clock, but I still have a few minutes. “Jafar, he literally gave me a pick of his six brothers to marry, sight unseen. That’s hardly a tempting offer.” I step to him, pressing myself against his chest. “No one is as tempting as you, Daddy.”

  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.”

  He looks away, the barest movement that’s almost a flinch. “Everyone who matters in Carver City knows that we’re together. It never occurred to me that I’d have to worry about people in other cities looking at you as a tempting fruit to pick.”

  I settle more firmly against him. “Jafar, I’m no one’s fruit. Not even yours.”

  “I know that. They don’t.”

  I lean down and kiss his neck. Even though he stays tense beneath me, his cock hardens. “Would it make you feel better to tattoo your name on my ass?”

  “No one can see a tattoo like that. I won’t serve the same purpose.” Finally, finally, his voice thaws. “Are you offering, baby girl?”

  “Nope.” I nip him and shift, sliding my breasts against his chest. “It was a purely theoretical question.”

  He’s silent for several long moments even as I move against him and his hands slide down to my ass to urge me not to stop. Finally, he says, “It bothered me. That Paine thought he could come in here and you’d let him or one of his brothers in willingly.”

  “Is that what bothered you?” I reach between us and guide his cock into me. It’s not as smooth as normal, not with the water encompassing us, but it’s worth it when he’s finally sheathed to the hilt inside me. I rock my hips a little. “Or is it the fact that he didn’t look at you once the entire time he was here?”

  “Baby girl,” his voice is low. Warning me.

  As if I don’t love provoking him as much as he loves being provoked. I lean back a little and make a show of biting my bottom lip. “Is that why you fucked me on my desk the second he left the grounds? Were you feeling threatened, Daddy?”

  He makes a sound suspiciously like a growl. “You’re mine, Jasmine. And I’m yours. That smug bastard thought I wasn’t even a threat to his plans.”

  “And yet it’s your cock I’m riding right now.”

  “Yes. It is.” He loops an arm around my waist and stands. I have to cling to him as he steps out of the bath and walks us out into the bedroom.

  “Jafar, I’m all wet!”

  “We’ll change the bedding.” He climbs onto the mattress and bears us both down. But he doesn’t start fucking me like I expect. He just looks down at me, at my body, at the spot where we’re joined. “Promise me that someday you’ll say yes.”

  I’m already nodding. “I will. I promise that someday I’ll say yes.”

  He’s still for so long, I almost wonder if he doesn’t believe me. But then it’s like something snaps in him. He presses me into the mattress and starts to fuck me so roughly, I have to slam my hands to the headboard to keep myself in place. It’s like he’s trying to imprint himself on every inch of me.

  This isn’t about me at all. It’s about Jafar.

  And that’s why I release the headboard and wrap myself around him. “I love you. I’m yours, Daddy. Just yours.”

  He finally buries his face in my neck and goes still. For half a second, I think he’s orgasmed, but he slowly starts moving again. “I’m not taking care of you,” he murmurs against my skin.

  “I like everything you do to me. Even when I hate it.”

  His laugh makes me moan. Finally Jafar props himself up on his elbows and looks down at me. “I’ll never admit to insecurity. But if I were a man who’d admit as much, it’s possible that Abel Paine made me feel it… and jealous.”

  I nod solemnly. “I’m shocked to learn that you’re actually human. Very, very shocked.”

  “Brat.”

  “Yes.” I wiggle a little. “I suppose you should do something about that.”

  His expression goes downright forbidding. “I suppose I should.” He pulls out of me and then he’s hauling me up and over his lap and delivering a stinging slap to my ass. “Bad girls get spanked. Isn’t that right, baby girl?”

  “Yes, Daddy! I’m sorry, Daddy!�
�� I apologize even as I arch back to take the next strike.

  This is perfection. This is exactly what I need, what we both need. This is us.

  When Jafar finally stops spanking me, my ass is on fire and I’m practically begging for his cock again. This time, when he drives into me, he’s holding me just as close as I’m holding him. He’s here with me, not driving away the fear of me leaving him.

  When we finally exhaust ourselves, he changes the bedding and tucks us in together. I snuggle up against his chest and hook my leg over his hips. “Jafar, I have a question.”

  “Mmmm?” He sifts his fingers through my hair.

  I lift myself up enough to see his face. “Will you marry me?”

  He goes stock still. “Don’t toy with me, Jasmine.”

  “I mean it.” I let him see the truth on my face. This isn’t a joke, isn’t a bratting thing. It’s earnest. “It’s been over a year. I… I thought I wanted to wait, but you’re right. There’s always going to be some new challenge, someone looking to capitalize on my position. There’s no reason to wait. I love you. I want you to be my husband.”

  Jafar shifts to the side and pulls open the nightstand. He lifts out a square black box. “You know, I had intended to plan something special when you finally said you were ready.”

  “Sorry?”

  “I’m not.” He opens the box and reveals a ring with a massive ruby framed by diamonds. “It made me think of you.”

  “It’s perfect,” I breathe.

  He slides it onto my finger and, of course, it fits just as perfectly. Jafar rolls me onto my back and kisses me. “Jasmine. Baby girl. Wife.” Another kiss. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” I dig my hands into his hair and tow him back to my mouth. “Forever, Jafar.”

  “Forever.”

  This short originally appeared as the May 2020 short for my Patreon. Each month, patrons nominate their favorite couples and characters, vote on one, and I write a brand new short featuring the winner. For more bonus stories, please consider joining my Patreon.