Chapter 34
The waiter comes back with our plates, and we eat in silence for a while.
I’m not upset that he cut me off when I asked about his father. Maybe talking about the former duke’s death is painful.
I feel a little uncomfortable. At the same time that I feel intimate with him, especially after what happened at his apartment, I don’t really know anything about Rodrick.
“I don’t like remembering the past,” he says, I think trying to ease the tension between us.
“Everyone has the right to keep secrets.”
“Do you have any?”
“I don’t think so. I’m a simple person, Rodrick. There’s no mystery hidden in me.”
“I disagree.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’ve always dreamed of leaving your country. I doubt you could ever say that out loud to your family.”
“You’re right. If that’s what you classify as a secret, then I do have some.
” I set my fork down on the plate. “Don’t misunderstand me—I don’t hate my country or its customs. I’ve just always felt out of place.
When they taught me that one day, when I got married, I should be obedient to my husband, my question was whether he would be obedient to me too. ”
He laughs out loud. “And what answer did they give you?”
“My mother grounded me. From that moment on, I became known as the rebellious daughter. I think that contributed, in a way, to my dissatisfaction with our customs, which led to fights with my mother. She even went as far as telling me that thinking too much was dangerous.”
He reaches across the table and takes my hand. My first instinct is to pull away because we’re in public, but then I remember that I’m about to marry a Westerner.
“What is it? Are you embarrassed that I’m touching you?”
“No. Maybe at first I’ll find all this freedom strange, but just like you told me you don’t want me to change who I am, I’ll tell you the same. I like this unique mix of kidnapper, control freak, and now, fiancé.”
“No longer a dream killer?”
“I’m counting on the opposite.”
“I’m not a prince, Jazmina. You’ve already had plenty of proof of that.”
“If I wanted to marry a prince, I would’ve accepted lunch with the candidates Kaled chose. And if you’re talking about what happened today at your apartment . . .”
“No. I’m talking about everyday life. I’m blunt. Rude. And my need for control is not going to disappear because we’re getting married.”
“I didn’t expect anything different,” I say, holding back a laugh, but then I remember something that makes my cheeks heat up. “When you say you’re not a prince, is it because of the way you’ll behave when we . . . when we . . .”
He leans forward and whispers so only I can hear.
“When we’re in the bedroom? When your legs are locked around my waist and I’m inside you?
Is that what you want to know, my princess?
Because if it is, then yes, there will be no limits between us in bed.
No nobility or proper titles. Just a man and a woman giving and taking pleasure. ”
“How do you do that? It must be some kind of spell.”
“Do what?”
“Everything you just said . . . It was like I could see the scene . . . like . . .”
“Fuck, Jazmina.”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Distract me.”
“Why?”
“Because you drive me crazy way too easily. I want to leave here and show you, in real life, what for now you only know in your imagination.”
I swallow hard, and he notices.
“Talk about something neutral, Jazmina.” His voice comes out rough, clearly restrained with effort.
“I’m going to call my father tomorrow.”
“Jesus, nothing could cool me off faster than that.”
I laugh.
“Do you want me to call him first? I think it would be appropriate to ask the former sheikh for your hand.”
“We’ve done a lot of inappropriate things since deciding to get married, Rodrick.
If you don’t mind, I’d rather talk to him first, but you should call later, yes.
He’ll be pleased, because my father is attached to tradition.
The authorization Kaled gave me is final.
He’s our sheikh and everyone owes him respect, even my father, but it would be good if our relationship started with everything flowing smoothly between you. ”
“Authorization . . . I don’t like that word,” he says.
“Consent?”
“Reluctant consent. I had to threaten to expose his past.”
“Is it that bad? I mean, you were always together and—”
“I know where your mind is going, Jazmina, and I refuse to talk about the past. I’m no saint, but you demanded fidelity, and I’ll give it to you.”
“What? Are you telling me you’ll only be faithful because I demand it?”
Suddenly, dinner tastes bitter. My appetite disappears in an instant.
Before he can answer, someone approaches.
We’re in a private area of the restaurant. There are only three tables around us, so there’s no way the man made a mistake.
“Already fighting, little brother? You just announced the engagement!”
Rodrick stands up so fast he knocks over his glass of water. A few waiters move to clean it up but then stop. No one dares to say a word.
My fiancé is inches away from the other man’s face, though he’s shorter than Rodrick. You don’t need to be an expert in fighting to understand that if there were a confrontation, the stranger would be at a serious disadvantage.
Then I register what the man said.
Brother?
“You’re not my brother. You’re just a leech, Gilroy,” my fiancé clarifies, as if he can read my thoughts. “A parasite who lived off my father’s money.”
“Rodrick,” I call, but he doesn’t seem to hear me. I fear things are about to turn physical, since it’s clear their hostility is old.
“I expelled you from my lands so I wouldn’t have to see your face. Don’t speak to me. Never address me or my fiancée again.”
I see that behind Rodrick, Lamar and the other bodyguards are approaching.
“Step away from the duke,” the head of security warns, but Rodrick doesn’t move.
“I can handle this, Lamar.”
“Your Grace, please forgive this incident. He was a guest in another salon, and we didn’t see him enter,” the ma?tre d' apologizes.
The duke ignores him as well, and I’m starting to panic, so I decide to intervene.
“Rodrick,” I call again. Nothing. “My fiancé.”
He finally turns to me. It’s like he’s waking from a trance, as if it takes him a moment to understand where he is and who I am. “Jazmina.”
“Yes. I want your company. Help me choose a dessert.”
I watch as the restaurant staff escort the intruder away.
Even though inside I’m shaking, I act as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened. “Can you tell me which desserts here are the best?”
He seems to understand my maneuver now. He leans closer and speaks only to me. “I didn’t promise fidelity because you demanded it,” he says softly. “I promised it because I don’t want any other woman.”