He just lifted his head and kissed me like he couldn't breathe without me. Just like the last time I had seen him, the last time I had said goodbye to him over two years ago, I tasted his tears and his agony. I felt his body straining against mine. And as much as I tried, I couldn't hold myself back.
There, in the middle of all these people who didn't matter, I held him back and kissed the man I loved like it was the last thing on earth I was ever going to do.
****
Chapter Eleven
Jasmine
As emotional as their reunion was, watching these two was starting to turn me on a little. I mean, two hot guys kissing so passionately and clutching at each other like that...
When I had seen Cole approaching, all I had been able to think was that, 'Is this guy going to punch me or something?' I mean, I had been the other woman. The slut who'd slept with his boyfriend and was responsible for their break-up. Who wouldn't want to punch me, right?
But Cole hadn't even noticed me. He'd only had eyes for Jasper. Some people, mostly ladies from Armaan's side of the family, were glancing at them, looking all scandalized and stuff. Humph. Bitches. They probably found it arousing as well but just didn't want to admit it. Cole and Jasper were two people in love who were also very much attracted to each other and following a natural, carnal instinct to grind their bodies together because where else were you supposed to direct all those raging hormones? Why did it have to be treated like some kind of a plague?
I decided to give them some privacy and leave them to it. I still wasn't sure if Cole wouldn't punch me later when their moment was over. I kind of liked my face as it was.
When I walked away, I didn't have any particular destination in mind. Coming to this engagement had just been an excuse to get Jasper to Milan. It was an added bonus that Cole happened to be here as well. I should've known. I mean, when Armaan made friends, it usually lasted forever. He wouldn't turn against Cole or Skye because of what Jasper had done. He wasn't petty like that.
I felt eyes on me as I walked towards the house. So many eyes. Of course they would know who I was. The slutty ex-wife who was a disgrace to her religion and culture. Selfish, career-minded and responsible for breaking their precious prince's heart. Had he invited the whole of Amira here or something? Their judgment seeped into me like poison and I let it. Sometimes, I even got high off it.
When I acted nonchalant and even picked up a chocolate truffle from one of the buffet tables, the murmuring started. I heard my name in shocked tones. I wasn't even dressed appropriately, according to them. Just a short, wine-coloured dress and knee-high boots with my hair down. Compared to what they all wore to the occasion, I looked like a first-class whore.
I smiled and revelled in it. They couldn't touch me anymore. Nobody could. My reputation was already in ruins so what was one more scandal? I'd almost reached the centre of the gathering when someone stopped me in my path.
I regarded her with a stunned expression. It was Zoya, Armaan's sister and my childhood best friend. The girl I'd spent twenty-one years of my life sharing giggles and stories with. The girl who'd convinced her older brother, Hamza, to let me into their home after my parents had died. Sometimes I wished she hadn't shown me that kindness. My life might be so different today. I'd be so different today.
"Hi, Zoya. Aslamwalekum," I said softly and smiled at her. "How are you?"
She narrowed her eyes at me. "What are you doing here, Jasmine?" she asked me in an angry whisper. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to explain but she cut me off. "Please, please leave," she said insistently. "I'm begging you. This is his engagement. My brother is so happy tonight. If he sees you here..." She shook her head at me. "Haven't you done enough? What is wrong with you?"
I swallowed a little and bit my bottom lip. It shouldn't have hurt. But it did coming from her. She was Zoya. Even if she hadn't spoken to me for years, I had always kind of hoped she would be happy to see me. That she'd remember the good times. Remember me as she had known me.
"Zoya-"
"If you don't leave, I swear to Allah I'm going to ask my entire family to escort you out of here. You're already causing people to talk," she snapped at me.
I blinked at her. Wow. When Armaan and I had helped this girl to elope with the boy she had truly loved nearly four years ago, it had caused the biggest scandal of all in Amira. And now she was worried about the scandal I was causing.
I raised my chin and pierced her with a sharp stare. "Get out of my way, Zoya."
She scowled at me. "Jasmine-"
"Get. Out. Of. My. Way," I repeated and it shocked her. She had never heard me use that tone and for a moment, she just stood there unable to respond.
"Zoya, is everything okay?"
It was Armaan's aunt. I didn't even remember her name. Her eyes were large and greedy and I would bet a thousand dollars that this woman wasn't concerned about Zoya at all. She just wanted in on the action so she could go run her mouth to everybody else later.
"Everything's fine," I snapped at her and someone gasped. Oh boy. I rolled my eyes at that.
People were starting to gather around us. "You're causing a scene,"
