Chapter 10 #2
The guard bows and leads her three injured men inside. A young woman approaches them and asks them to follow her to their rooms, while other servants gather their luggage and stable-boys tend to their horses and carriage.
She had enjoyed her time here before. More than she expected to, if she was being honest. Malik and Zain were kind in a way that didn’t feel forced, easy to be around without demanding anything from her. They made things simple. Comfortable.
But even with that, she couldn’t imagine wanting more from them.
Not in the way that mattered. Not like that.
Which is why she was still meeting suitors.
She guessed that if it really came down to it, she could beg her father, but Aza did want the best she could provide for her kingdom.
Aza wasn’t sure if the bandit attack was a mere coincidence or a warning. She guessed she’d find out eventually.
They finally made it to their rooms. Aza, of course, got the large, grand guest room as she had previously, and her guards got the few rooms down the hall.
“If there is anything you require, Princess Amiaza, please do not hesitate to ask. Additional guards will be up momentarily.” The girl bows as Aza offers her a thank you and a goodbye.
Aza asks Jahar and Bennu to stay with her, while her remaining guards go to their rooms to rest.
“I will wait out here for the Basharian guards if you wish to help Princess Aza settle in.” Bennu offers.
She’s pretty sure she wasn’t meant to notice Jahar give Bennu a stern raised eyebrow, nor see Bennu give Jahar a teasing smile back. Aza enjoys seeing their friendship, though she feels it is far closer to that of brothers than to just being friends.
Aza still didn’t know for sure what happened with the bandits, but if she were to guess, she would think that Bennu was in mortal danger, and that was who he had left to go after.
She wasn’t angry or upset with him in the slightest, whatever it had been.
She was sure the decision tore him apart; that’s why she couldn’t wait to speak to him, to ease whatever was going on in his mind.
It should have shaken her more, that she should be having more emotions, but given all the terrible nightmares, visions, voices, and everything in between, maybe it wasn’t hitting as hard as it should, or it would cripple her later. She was unsure.
Aza gestured for Jahar to enter her room. He seemed far too hesitant, but she insisted. When they were tucked inside behind the closed door, she pulled him into a tight embrace.
“Whatever is running through your head, let it go. Everything is okay. I’m fine, and although there were some injuries, we’re all alive. No doubt a huge thanks to you.” Aza assured him, burying herself into him.
“A minute’s difference and all of that could have changed.” He said, anguish in his voice, as he continues to stand frozen, not returning her hug.
“But it didn’t. Anything can change in any minute of any day. We cannot dwell on what could have or may have happened. It is over, and the worst did not happen.” She tries to reassure him again, looking up at him through her lashes and moving her hands along his back.
“I left you. I left the Princess. My sole purpose is to protect you.” His voice is laced with sorrow.
“You cannot protect me if you don’t first protect yourself, and you couldn’t have been expected to hold off all of those bandits without the help of your fellow guards.
You did what you believed was right. I know you, and I know that decision is eating you up inside, but trust your decision.
You were a vision today, in all your righteous fury.
Don’t be mad or take this the wrong way, but…
” Aza realizes she definitely shouldn’t be revealing herself this way, but she’s desperate to get him out of this self-loathing, so she tells him, “You were incredibly hot today, slicing down bandits, brandishing your sword, and not to mention these.” She brings her hand to his front and runs a finger over his shirt where his muscles rest underneath.
She can feel him shiver slightly, and she can swear she sees a heat pooling in his eyes as he takes her in.
“I don’t know when you have time to keep up with your obviously rigorous exercises, considering you’re with me nearly all your waking hours, but it pays off, I must say, my friend,” Aza says, chuckling and blushing.
Jahar can’t help the smile that is forcing its way out.
“You’re going to be the death of me, Princess, one way or another.”
“Oh, Jahar, don’t say that. I nearly thought I was today. I was more scared for your well-being than my own.”
“I’m sorry, my dear Princess, I merely meant it as a tease since you love to tease me. I could think of nothing but your well-being, especially when I had to make decisions I feared were wrong.” He explains as he begins to wrap his arms around her waist.
There’s silence between them for a moment as they just stare at each other.
Jahar breaks it with a sharp intake as he mutters, “Oh fuck it.”
He reaches his hands down her legs, grabbing bunches of her dress as he hoists her up by her thighs and wraps them around his waist. She quickly repositions her hands around the back of his neck in surprise.
As she hooks her legs and feet behind his back, his hands and arms snake up her back and crush her in a hug.
He places his face in the crook of her neck as she runs a hand through his hair.
“I’m so relieved you’re okay. I’m so sorry.” He whispers against her neck.
Aza can’t help the incredible heat pooling low in her stomach and between her legs, feeling them wrapped around each other, and the warmth of his breath and the tickle of his beard against her neck.
How does this man never fail to do this to me, but I’ve never felt such a sensation for any other man?
“It’s alright. Nothing that happened today was your fault.” Aza tries to reassure him.
“I should have sliced that awful excuse of a man’s prick off before I killed him, but I couldn’t risk anything further happening to you.”
Aza can’t help a small chuckle and eye roll at this.
“You did well. How did you learn to wield a dagger like that?”
“A lot of training. I had the most precious thing in the world going to be under my personal protection.” Aza couldn’t help but smile at this, and her heart soared.
“Jahar,” Aza pauses, not wanting to interrupt this moment but desperate to ask, then moves her head so that she is making eye contact with him, “Will you train me? I realized today that I am useless when it comes to defending myself. I take for granted the protection I am offered, but I also need to learn how to better protect myself, in more ways than one.”
“It would be my great honor, Aza.” Jahar agrees with pride in his tone.
As if snapped back into reality, Jahar clears his throat and begins trying to set Aza back down on her own feet.
“Wait!” Aza stops him, wrapping her legs and arms tighter around him, and begs, “Please, just hold me for another minute.”
Jahar nods his head. Instead of continuing to stand, he carries her towards her bed.
Aza found herself unable to stop the wicked thoughts that flooded her head at the thought of the two of them in a bed together.
Oh, how she longed to feel Jahar’s lips against hers or to feel him pressed inside her.
She can feel herself blushing and tries to hide in the crook of Jahar’s neck.
“Don’t let your thoughts drift too far, oh sweet Princess, I am merely sitting down.”
Aza tries to bury herself deeper into him in embarrassment. But all it does is make more of his scent drift into her nose, and more of her skin ignites against his. The growing tension in her belly is now a raging fire.
Jahar sits down on the edge of the bed, placing Aza on her knees on either side of him, thighs pressed against his.
Despite having no experience whatsoever, it was unmistakable that there was something very large and hard nestled underneath her, between her legs, protruding from Jahar.
On instinct, she shifts slightly, and a groan passes through Jahar’s lips.
“I’m… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Aza stutters frantically.
“Oh, Princess, that wasn’t the sound of pain,” Jahar says almost breathlessly, hunger filling his eyes before slight shock takes over his features.
No part of Aza’s right mind could stop her from changing her position ever so slightly again at Jahar’s confession.
This time, his groan sounds far more like a clipped moan, but it is short-lived as he begins to lift her off of him.
“Princess, this was a bad idea,” he breathes through clenched teeth.
“No, please! I’m sorry. I’ll stop, I’ll sit still.” She promises.
Jahar lets out a heavy breath before gently settling her back down.
“Either way, Princess. This isn’t right, even after an experience such as today’s.”
“I… I know. But it’s you. And considering a vile man was going to try to take me in the most awful, unwanted way today, I would very much like to stay wrapped up like this with someone I trust with all my heart a few moments more.”
Aza knew it was a little bit of a low blow, and Jahar won’t be able to tell her no after it, but she’s desperate to continue to feel this level of safety, of want.
So, she wraps her arms around his neck tighter and lays her head on his shoulder.
Aza can feel him give in as his arms spread around her back once more.
Despite fighting for more of this moment, it is still interrupted by a knock on the door. Jahar stands in a flash and puts Aza back on the ground, fixing her dress. He had fought many foes today, but she could swear she saw more fear in his eyes now than when he was fighting bandits.
Aza quickly readjusts her dress and hair as she calls out, “Who is it?”
“Prince Malik and Prince Zain have requested to see you, my lady, if and when you are ready,” Bennu calls from the other side of the door.
“Alright. I would like to change, and then I can meet with them.”
“Very well, Your Highness.”
Before she can say anything, Jahar rushes out the door and closes it behind him before saying to Bennu, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
She releases an exaggerated sigh. She let everything that had happened today sink in for a minute before she got ready.