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“What?” He’s surprised, but I notice a frown that’s quickly replaced with his usual never-off guard face.
“Is she okay?” he asks, and I see the frown again. Rilwan has always liked Jade, but did I miss something between them? Brian’s words play back in mind, “Maybe something or someone is spooking her.” Could it be Rilwan?
“She’s fine and has children—twins,” I supply.
“Children, how old are they?” Finally, I see a baffled face. It seems Jade can arouse an expression out of Rilwan after all.
“Three years old.” I look away from his eyes because the pain that grips my chest shoots through my whole being. All day I’d kept my mind busy from the thought of Jade’s children, from the thought of another man having sex with her. Now, telling Rilwan, I couldn’t hide from the pain anymore.
She asked for a divorce, a sane and smart person should grant her one considering she left me and had children with another man, but I’ve never been smart or acted logical where Jade is concerned.
No, I’m not letting go or giving her up because my heart tells me differently. Jade’s eyes, the few times they locked with mine, tell me differently. I need to find the puppeteer that’s controlling my wife or figure out how to get past the force standing between us. Whoever or whatever the force may be, they are gravelly underestimating the bond we share and I intend to use that bond to break the force.
Arriving at the palace, I checked in with Mark, my PA, about our move. He’d already coordinated with Josh’s PA, and we should be all set by morning.
I went to see my uncle to discuss a few things. As always, he keeps me longer than planned. I would have found a way to leave had my dad not shown up. My gut instinct is to not mention Jade or my move to LaBelle Fleur and not do anything to make my father question my normal actions.
So, I stay longer and go to dinner with my dad and my uncle, much as I want to return to LaBelle and see Jade. I stay, trusting my gut that this is the right decision. My dad, as always, rubber stamps his quest for me to marry Nadra. Thankfully, my uncle changed the topic away from the marriage train.
It is late by the time I leave for my place. On my way home, my phone rings; it is Chloe.
“Your Highness, what time should the lady arrive this evening?” Of course, I’d forgotten about my transactional sex at the sight of Jade.
“Permanently cancel my services.”
“Why? Your Highness, did the last lady do something wrong? I can fix that; you need not worry, and this next service will be no charge.”
“No, everything was fine the last time. Just cancel my services. Mariam is enough.” I hung up without another word.
I want to see Jade but it’s late and I don’t want to trouble Rilwan into finding her home address. So, off to bed alone I go for a sleepless night.
eleven
Naseer
The next morning, I make it to LaBelle, and my office is set up. Standing by her door, I eavesdrop on her conversation with the children, no doubt she loves them very much, but it fills my heart with jealousy that they are not mine. Before I could make my presence known, I heard it:
“Goodnight my lady and my handsome gent.” She’s calling them by our private endearment. Jealousy wraps with anger then seethes to an electrifying volt in me. I slammed the door, so she knows I heard. She doesn’t say anything as I move closer to where she’s standing by the window. In a black pantsuit and red blouse, the pants are a perfect fit, showing her curves and pinched waist. No wig today but her full loose coil hair is cascading down her back. I itch to touch her and run my hands through her hair.
“How dare you call your children with another man ‘lady and gent.’ It’s our private endearment,” I tersely state. I’m already edgy knowing she's so close yet so fucking far away from me.
“I didn’t realize the word “lady and gent,” she says with an air quote, “is coined and branded to you, Prince Naseer.” Her calm response to my irritation frustrates me even more.
“Why, for the love of God, would you do such a thing? It’s bad enough that I must live with the fact you slept with another man and had his children, you now call them our endearment to each other.” I cannot understand why she would act callously about calling her children with another man “lady and gent.”
“I guess I’ve disappointed you by getting in bed with other men.” She pauses. “It’s logical to file for a divorce based on adultery, rest assured I won’t contest the divorce if you try it,” she snaps.
She has now crossed the invisible line. “Erase any thought you have of getting a divorce from me because it’s not going to happen. I will fight you every step of the way, you are okay to try and test me,” I tersely respond.
“Honestly, Prince Naseer, I think we should move on with our lives and not try to ruin each other in a bitter divorce,” she says in a subtle tone, but I’m way ahead of her. She just doesn’t know it yet.
“Jade, you have no idea how already ruined I am. I do not care how long it takes but I can assure you that you will never marry Knox,” I affirm to her.
“Guess I’ll stay engaged to Knox forever. I’m sure he won’t mind if we do not marry long as we are together.” She shrugs.
I have no idea how quickly I moved and crowded her space. Instinctively, she moves back, her back against the wall and nowhere to go, trapped in the corner, right where I want her to be.
I intend to inflict some pain on her, but I can’t hurt her. The moment she catches her breath our eyes lock, and her lips parted slightly. I could smell her arousal or maybe it was my intense arousal to being this close to her. I kiss her. I half expect her to resist but she kisses me back, and there’s desperation and craving in this kiss. Her back is against the wall as I lean into her. We both can’t stop moaning in each other’s mouths, her hand in my hair. I’m ready to take my wife right here without caring that we are at work.
