“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’tmisunderstand 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.