"All right," she agreed softly and blew out a long breath. "I'll go. Just for Zoya."
Armaan gave her a reassuring smile. "Thank you," he said to her. "I promise you won't regret it. I'll text you the flight details so we can go together, okay?"
Jasmine nodded, feeling like she was about to make a huge mistake but knowing she owed it to her friend to show up on such an important day after months of silence.
~~~~
"Hey. Are you cold?"
Jasmine snapped out of her reverie and glanced at Armaan who was frowning at her in concern. She realized that she was hugging herself tightly and she loosened the grip, trying to relax. "No. I'm fine."
He did not seem convinced and placed his blanket over her. "Mmm." He snuggled up to her with a charming smile. "This is nice."
She moved away but did not remove the blanket, looking out the window again at the dark skies. They were on the flight to Amira. It was fifteen minutes past two in the morning but the riot of emotions inside her put her so much on edge that she found it hard to fall asleep.
However, there was also a strange excitement brewing in her heart. She was all over the place. What would she find once she reached the mansion? How would Hamza react? Would he be happy to see her? Would she be able to control her emotions?
"Jasmine." That purr again. She regarded her companion with wide, uncertain eyes. His hair fell endearingly over his brow and his sexy scent seduced her yet again along with that drowsy gaze and sensual mouth. He was enjoying this, their proximity in the darkness. But it was not totally dark so she could make out his expression.
"I know I'm in your bad books right now and should probably behave but a part of me is starting to feel extremely naughty," he confessed in a husky voice.
Jasmine rolled her eyes and pressed herself back against the seat. "What's new?" She tried to sound unconcerned but the truth was, she was starting to feel kind of naughty as well. This was cozy and kind of romantic.
She jumped when she felt his hand on her thigh underneath the blanket. "Don't do that," she scolded. "I'm really stressed out, please." She looked back out the window, biting her lips,
"Sex is a great way to release stress," he murmured, bringing his lips to nibble on her ear.
She gasped and pushed him away. "I'm sure you're not suggesting that we start doing it right here in our seats." He looked at her blankly. She frowned at him. "Right?" He did not answer and her expression grew incredulous. "Seriously, Armaan?"
He tongued the inside of his cheek. "What's wrong with that?"
She sighed. "For one thing, I would never agree to it and for another..." She paused and raised a mocking eyebrow at him. "You'll wake up all the passengers."
He snorted. "I'm not that loud," he denied.
"That's not how I remember it," she countered softly, turning away again.
Armaan studied her profile. "Jas...I can't tell you how sorry I am about how you experienced your first time. If you'd been honest with me..." He stopped, took a deep breath and then continued. "Do you remember anything at all?"
The look she gave him was one of amusement. "I remember you screaming. Like you couldn't help yourself."
"No. I mean...you know what I mean."
She contemplated his question. All this time, she hadn't wanted to dwell on it but he was being so good to her, so kind and apologetic so she didn't feel like holding him responsible for all of it.
"I remember you trying to stop me and...um...making me sit on your face." She blushed hard as she thought about that and her thighs clenched together. "And...that you used a condom."
He was starting to look kind of pale. She actually felt sorry for him. A part of her now felt as though he was taking this even harder than her and blaming himself for it. "That's all?" he queried in a low tone. "That's all you remember?"
She let out a sigh. "Yeah. Look, Armaan, I really don't wish to talk about it. It's depressing. Tell me about Alex. He texted me saying something about you trying to use me and that I should stay away from you. What's going on with him?"
Armaan leaned back in his seat and appeared forlorn. "I told him about you," he said quietly. "I didn't want to hide it anymore. Not after..." He cleared his throat and gave her a sad smile. "Needless to say he feels betrayed and has vowed never to speak to me again."
Jasmine scoffed. "How is that going to work out when he's on the same plane with us and on the way to attend your sister's wedding?"
Armaan frowned worriedly. "It'll be fine, Jasmine," he told her. "He'll get over it."
"He also told me to ask you how you got the funds for the hotel and club right after graduating from college."
Armaan blinked at her, looking shocked. "He told you about that?"
"I've known about your business ventures for quite a long time now," she explained. "It doesn't matter to me how you got the money but Alex seemed to think it might help me to see what kind of person you really are."
"Son of a-" He stopped abruptly and closed his eyes, letting his head fall back against the seat.
She waited and thought that he had fallen asleep when he did not speak for a long time.
"There was a woman I met when I was in college," he said slowly. Her eyes were fixed on his tense profile and her mind was completely focused on his words. This seemed
