Chapter 4

Jawaad takes pride in interacting with his citizens. He loves riding round town and seeing the stately affairs. He loves seeing couples together despite their financial condition, kids playing lagori* in the streets, shopkeepers vending their exotic goods. Until he spots telltale  chestnut hair and hears that angel- crafted laugh. Safa looks beautiful ( as always) but she's with another man. Who's not Jawaad. Safa giggling as this kid with brown curls nuzzels at her birthmark and digs his fingers into her hips. Curly gently traces his fingers down Safa's back, over the swell of her ass. Jawaad' snorting and turning away, trying not to let his disappointment show. He'd thought Safa would eventually warm up to the idea of marrying him. Oh Allah; what if she has an affair?  Affairs in a small town like Mysore are unheard of. The Emir bites his lip, furrowing his eyebrows as Safa throws her head back, laughing at some stupid joke curly's made. Curly grins mischievously- shit he has dimples- as his hand wanders yet again. Tentatively traces the swell of Safa's ass, presses his fingertips into the plush skin. Safa startles and flushes, looks up at the tall man through hers lashes and fuck if the Prince's cock dosen't twitch at the though of being on the receiving end of that. Curly grabs Safa (his Safa) by the wrist and drags her off somewhere, their laughter echoing for a few seconds before-

They're gone.

He's gonna have to have a word with Safa

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

'Emir, Safa is here to see you'

Jawaad nods, massaging his temples,  'Send her in'. The servent leaves and Safa enters the room wearing cream silk robes, a rose flush high on her cheeks.

' Emir saahib- you summoned me' Safa says softly, looking worried. She reaches up to touch the lovebite adoring her neck sheepishly before tugging her collar over the exposed skin. Jawaad dosen't like sharing

' Jaaneman,' he muses gently as he pushes himself up from the chair, before stalking towards Safa, gracefull and predatorial

' Don't call me that' Safa weakly snaps, her fingers tightening in her collar. Jawaad bites his lip, stopping dead in his tracks.

' Oh' Jawaad smiles, close-lipped and charming, ' But I'm the Emir, Chaand**, I'll call you what I want'.

And with that, he's lunging forward, pinning Safa up against the glided oakwood doors and kissing her. But Safa shoves him back and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.

Ego bruise.

Jawaad pull her back in again, hands snaking around her waist, fingers dancing over dimples in his back, eyes lingering on lips as he moves in for a kiss again. Safa wriggles in his grip, turns her face away from the Emir with this repulsed look on her  face.

" Stop!"

Inked hands sneak up into Safa's hair and pull her back. Safa's head hits the oak and Jawaad trail wet kisses down her neck, his eyelashes brushing up soft skin every time. Safa's throat vibrates under his touch, silent pleas trapped in her voice box. Jawaad's fingers edge down Safa's back and Safa shivers in his grip, gasps out someting incoherent.

" Please stop!"

Jawaad hums, his teeth grazing over soft skin; leg slotting itself between Safa's

"Why should I, Jaan? After all if you can disregard simple commands," He emphasises his statement with a nip at Safa's coffe birthmark,"Why can't one else?"

Safa shoves him back and her hand goes up to stroke his neck rather sheepishly.

Her's breathing heavily and her face is pretty and flushed and her robes are ruffled and words dance on the tip of Jawaad's tongue like tongues of fire on a wintry night.

"Fuck you" Safa snarls, pushing away from the door, smoothing out her robes.

"Here let me-"

Jawaad starts, reaching for the latter, but Safa bats his hands away with a cold glare.

"Why do you even want to marry me?"

Jawaad freezes, tongue darting out to lick his lips. Safa continues, "aren't there better people out there? More rich, more famous, more attractive-" "but I want you" Safa visibly shudders. The emir leans in yet again, but Safa pushes him away yet again.

" You didn't anwser my question." She points out. Jawaad sighs. " because Safa I loved you since I first saw you." Safa snorts and the Emir smiles knowingly. " you love me to jaaneman, just wait and watch"

* lagori- a traditional children's game

**chaand- moon