Surprised, Lauren smiled and tucked herself closer into Zafir’s arms. Every day, their bond only deepened. And with a million matters that he managed, Zafir still somehow understood when she needed him.
He kissed her brow, her nose, her cheek and then finally found her mouth. She groaned and pushed herself into his touch, the fire always just there simmering, waiting to be stoked. Waiting to engulf them both.
“I’ve missed you so much,” the words escaped her and then she hid her face in his neck.
He cradled her head with one hand, while the other settled on her hip, and nudged her closer to him. Languorous fire licked through Lauren’s nerves. “No, habeebti. Never feel ashamed for missing me, or for needing me. Never stop loving me. I miss you every day, too, Lauren.”
She flattened her palms on his chest, loving the thud of his heart under it. “So, Your Highness, what do you think we should do with three whole hours?”
He flicked his tongue over her ear, his hands sinking into her shoulders. “The whole night is ours, habeebti. And I’m yours.”
Then his hungry gaze held hers. “I was wondering if you were ready to resume your wifely duties.”
When Lauren remained silent, he tilted his head. “What is it, Lauren?”
Shuddering, Lauren ran her hands over him. The washboard abdomen, the narrow hips, the rock-hard thighs...every inch of him that she missed, that she hadn’t touched in so many weeks. “No, I’ve missed you and... I’m more than ready. It’s just that...”
“Whatever it is, you can tell me, Lauren.”
“I... I look different, Zafir.” He didn’t let her shy her gaze away and Lauren flushed even more. “My body’s different. I guess—”
Without letting her finish, Zafir picked her up and carried her to the bed. “You’ve given me such a beautiful and apparently ferocious son,” he added laughing. “You even somehow forged a bond between me and my father. You’ve created the family that I’d always longed for, Lauren. Have you any idea how precious you are to me?”
With the flick of his hand, he pulled something out of his pocket and held it out for her.
The antique silver glinted in the muted light, a soft tinkle from the charm hanging against it.
It was the bracelet she had haggled over in the bazaar. “How did you know?” Tears filled her eyes. “How did you find it?”
“Ahmed told me how much you had loved it. That vendor traveled on with a tribe and it took me some time to have him tracked.”
He put the bracelet on her hand, and slowly unbuttoned her blouse. Lauren heard the hiss of his breath as he cupped her breasts.
One look at the dark desire in his eyes and Lauren’s doubts melted away. Desperate for him, she brought her hand down to his crotch.
He was hard, ready for her. As she was for him.
The same heat flickering wild between them, Lauren let Zafir take her to dizzying heights again.
And that particular, moonlit night, their forever continued in that room with fireworks and middle-of-the-night feedings and laughter and cuddles.