Page 135 of Shâhzâdeh

“I’m happy you are happy. I’m sorry you and your father don’t get along. I know how that feels and even though the divide is necessary to your happiness, I’m sure it still makes you sad.”

“I vish a great many zhings were different. But not at zhe expense of zhe life I’ve made for myself or the joy I’ve found because of it. My fazer is all about control, much like I’m sure yours was and our personalities do not do well with zhat.” His smile dimmed slightly and it was a shame that a man this sweet had a father like that.

“No, not at all.”

“But I do vant to apologize to you for his actions.” He felt a genuine remorse, which only made me want to console him further.

“You didn’t do it so there’s no reason to apologize.”

“It is your vedding day and having anozer voman here zhat desires your husband has to be uncomfortable.”

I had to laugh because he acted like his son hadn’t gotten that charm and crown from him. Not to mention the face that was a mix of his parents.

“Uncomfortable but not something I’m not used to. I mean look at his parents, there was no way he could be anything less than the man he is. Besides, I know who Xerxes is, more than anything I have eyes and can see how he looks. Much like maman who I’m sure had many battles to face herself on that front, I’m not concerned. If someone can take him away from me, then he’s not really mine.”

Baba’s smile was wide at my compliment. “Judging by zhe vay he is pacing to get back to you, zhat is zhe last zhing you have to vorry about.”

I looked in the direction he nodded and found my husband on the edge of the dance floor like he was battling himself from coming over and cutting in. “He makes it easy to want to be around him. To crave his presence. He has so much already but I still look at him and want to give him whatever his heart desires. Xerxes makes me feel normal in the most extraordinary way. It’s hard to explain but—”

“I understand. I vas a prince vhen I met Babette. One vho vas still holding onto traditions despite how zhose traditions had betrayed me. I’d always been treated as second best, but I vas still a prince, you understand. People vent out of zheir way to be kind to a title, to zhe man. America changed zhat perspective but only slightly because I was rich. But zhen, I met zhis woman. Stunning in her appearance but her personality was complex. Sweet and genteel, but could be as merciless as an assassin.” His face was so filled with love that it was no wonder Xerxes felt no hesitation to express his emotions.

“I love how you extol that as her virtues and not her shortcomings.” I was riveted to the story he was weaving and hadn’t thought about counting steps. We’d been dancing the whole time and I hadn’t felt self-conscious at all.

“You have glimpsed zhis life, Vanya. You know it’s necessary for one to have zhose. And I loved zhe fire zhat I esaw in her. Zhe ozer women zhat had been selected for me or people vanted to match me wiz in zhe mosque were vhat I was used to. But Babette spoke immediately to my soul.”

“That’s so beautiful.”

“I have been more zhan patient,bâbâ. May I dance wiz my wife?” Xerxes was next to us looking completely lost as he waited to have me in his arms again.

“Of course. I need to find yourmaman,anyway. If Ibriham’s eyes rest on her again I will need to apologize for using one of her pearl handled oyster forks to pry his eyes out of his head.” He spoke so calmly about death I knew it was only his current location that kept the violence tucked away. He kissed me on both cheeks before doing the same to Xerxes. He walked to find his wife as Xerxes wept me up in his arms. The voluminous skirt with the soft gold translucent overlay swirled around us and I gigged at the heady feeling that he gave me before he sat me back down on the ground.

“You are going to take my place as favorite child among boz of my parents.”

“I never thought you would be selfish,shohar.” His eyes raised at hearing me call him husband.

“I see you’ve been getting your lessons even while I’m gone.”

“I might have asked for a few lessons so that I could surprise you.”

“A woman after my own heart.”

My mouth tightened before I shook my head. “After it? I thought I already possessed it. I will need to do better.”

Xerxes kissed up the side of my neck before pecking my lips. “You possess it and me. Mind, body and soul.”

“That sounds so much better. I would hate to be here alone with in this place of complete adoration I have for you.”

He rested his head next to mine, the two of us standing in stillness despite all the activity in the room. “Never alone,ziba. Your intensity is a beautiful zhing.”

“I have spent so long hiding behind the past. I want everything that comes with you. The joy, the enemies, hopefully the babies.”

“You are my wife now. Are you ready for zhat?” I knew he was asking me about sex but there was probably something more.

“With all the tension that living with you has built up, I’m more than ready.”

His nose made a trail from the side of my neck along the curve of my jaw before I felt the tip of his tongue on the outer shell of my ear. “Mamanwill kill us boz if we sneak off now but I have to tell you I’m more than tempted to incur her wraz just to taste you.”

Never having experienced oral sex I was more than eager to with Xerxes. “What are we waiting for?” Surely if Jada found a spot we could. Or head up to a suite that was upstairs for us. With barely a deep breath between us, I could feel that he wanted this as much as I did.

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