King of Slaves (Jenna's Story) (The Slave Series Book 5) (27 page)

Zurry looked equally shocked and disgusted. “That’s just not right.”

“I know, it’s very bizarre.”

“After we had sex, Alex stood up completely naked and walked right past me to sit on the toilet and take a piss.”

“Holy shit, if Jenna did that I wouldn’t know what to do.”

“Well, there wasn’t much I could do, and when she was done, she didn’t even look embarrassed but just snuggled up against me and met my eyes in the mirror.

“So she must think it’s natural to act that way around a man.”

“I guess… ”

“Or maybe you just made her feel at ease with your amazing easygoing personality.” Kioni grinned.

Zurry snorted and answered Kioni with a raised middle finger.

CHAPTER 23

Goodbye

Zurry

The photo session was almost over, and Andy was glowing with pride as he stood between Jenna and Kioni.
If the man knew that Kioni is trying to convince his daughter to move here permanently, he might not be smiling that widely,
Zurry thought.
But then again, unlike Alex and Jenna, Andy seems like a man drawn to titles and power… having a daughter marrying a king might be something he would appreciate very much.

Alex was quiet and withdrawn no matter how much Zurry tried to talk to her. He had whispered to her, asking her to stay, but she shook her head and told him “no.”

His time was running out and there was nothing he could do. She was leaving.

“Thank you, I think that’s all we need,” Andy exclaimed and clapped his hands together in a satisfied gesture. “Let’s wrap it up.”

“Actually,” Jenna interjected and looked at Alex and Zurry. “I would like a picture of you two.”

Without a word they both moved to stand in front of the palace wall that had made a beautiful backdrop for the photos, and when he placed his arm around her, she didn’t move away. If Alex had been Spirimian it would have been unheard for him to touch her, especially in front of her father. But she wasn’t, and he had spent a whole night making love to this amazing woman. It was almost impossible to keep his hands off her when they were so close. Alex lifted her head and gave him a genuine smile that completely melted his heart and made his stomach feel like he was dropping in freefall. He broke into what had to look like a stupid goofy grin, but honestly, he didn’t fucking care any longer. This would maybe be the last smile he ever got from his little fairy and he would treasure it, always.

“Great, thank you,” Jenna shouted and gave them a thumbs-up.

“Can I talk to you?” Zurry asked Alex, and without waiting for an answer he pulled her to a side.

“Stay, Alex… I mean it,” he said with great sincerity.

She caressed his face. “It wouldn’t lead to anything, Zurry. I could never move abroad, and if I stayed any longer, I would just fall hopelessly in love with you.”

“I don’t want you to go home and find someone else.”

Her eyes welled up. “That’s so sweet of you.”

“No, it’s not sweet. It’s the damn truth, Alex. I want you to be mine. Don’t you understand that?”

The mixture of sadness and joy on her face took his breath away. “You are the most amazing man I’ve ever met, and what you gave me yesterday, and just now, is priceless to me. I’ll always remember you.”

“I don’t want you to remember me from afar, I want you to stay here with me.”

Alex placed a finger on his lips to silence him and leaned forward to kiss him. “If you ever come to Chicago, give me a call, but I think it’s best if we don’t text or call otherwise. It would just make it worse.”

As she pulled away he grabbed her wrist. “Alex… no.” Alex locked eyes with him, and the pained expression in her eyes ripped his heart out. He was one second away from begging when her father interrupted them.

“Coun Zurry, it was nice to meet you.”

Zurry looked up and took Andy’s outstretched hand. “Are you leaving already?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so. Jenna will join me and Alex on a small sightseeing tour of your city before she drops us off at the airport.”

“Would you like me to take you?” he asked and shot Alex a glance, but she shook her head discreetly and Jenna stepped closer.

“That won’t be necessary; Coun Meme already arranged for a car to take us around.”

“Yes,” Andy said.  “We’ll just say our goodbyes now and trust that you will look after Jenna for us.”

“Of course.” Zurry forced himself to look calm. “We’ll treat Jenna as a queen.” He saw her flinch but her father took it as a joke and laughed.

He wished he could hide Alex away in the palace and somehow convince her to stay, but he was powerless when she waved a hand and followed Jenna and her father to a waiting car.

There would be no last kiss, no more smiles, no more red-haired seduction, no more Alex.

CHAPTER 24

What If?

Kioni

Jenna returned to her work, and things quieted down after Alex and Andy went back to Chicago. For Kioni time was precious, and his mission of wooing Jenna was not progressing as quickly as he had hoped.

Today was Thursday and she had slept in his bed only once after they left last Saturday. Since then she had refused to stay for the night and told him he needed to cool down and not rush things. It was easier said than done when he was so determined to make her his.

Patience wasn’t his strongest suit. He had been working out with Zurry every day to get rid of all his frustrations over Jenna’s stubborn resistance.

Zurry had needed the workout too. He was quiet and withdrawn, and even though Kioni knew Zurry was thinking about Alex, he couldn’t get his friend to talk about her.

Yesterday Kioni had arranged a romantic dinner for himself and Jenna on the terrace of his private chambers. They had enjoyed the beautiful view of lights from the city below them and the stars above them.

Mensau was nothing like Chicago. There were no skyscrapers or modern-architecture buildings. But when the lights were out and the quietness fell upon the city it held a comforting peace that he enjoyed.

They had spoken about her childhood and his dreams for his country. The conversation had flowed easily and unforced. He had even made her laugh and felt sure she would choose to stay with him for the night, but he had been wrong. It had been three long days since he had the privilege of making love to her, and he was getting impatient.

Yesterday he had gone to see the pleasers to learn if Zurry had been with any of them since Alex left, but the girls had made remarks about being bored. None of them had seen Zurry, and when Kioni declined their offers of sex they weren’t happy.

There was only one place he wanted to satisfy his sexual needs and that was with Jenna. The pleasers didn’t tempt him in the slightest, which meant it was time to find them suitable husbands and send them on their way. 

Checking his phone, Kioni was disappointed to see that Jenna hadn’t answered his text from last night. Maybe she was still sleeping, but that wouldn’t stop him from calling her. She had given him limited time and he sure as hell wasn’t going to waste it.

“Good morning, Kio.”

“Good morning, did you sleep well?” he asked.

“Yes. Thank you for a lovely night last night.”

“You’re welcome. Just wait until you see what I have planned for us tonight.”

“Okay…” She sounded distracted. “Listen, I don’t want to brush you off, but I need to run… I have a meeting with the German engineers. But I’ll see you tonight at seven, all right?”

“Dress casually,” he said. “We’re going out.”

“Kio.”

“Yes?”

“I got my period.”

He closed his eyes and sucked in air.

“Kio, are you there?”

“Yes. I heard you.”

“It’s a good thing, right?”

He was silent for a few seconds, swallowing his irrational disappointment; he should have been a dad ten years ago. He was so ready to hold a child in his arms and he wanted more than anything for Jenna to be the mother. For weeks the possibility that his child was growing inside her had made him excited. In his mind there had been no doubt that a pregnancy would convince Jenna that they belonged together; now that hope was gone.

“I’ll see you tonight,” he said softly.

Jenna

Jenna put the phone down and took a minute to let go of the sadness she felt. Kioni was disappointed – it had emanated from the phone – and she felt compelled to go to him and offer her comfort.

Only she couldn’t; she had a job to do, and people depended on her to show up.
Kioni is a big boy and I’ll see him tonight. Besides, it really is for the best, as a pregnancy would have created a problem between us.
If Kioni was eager to have her marry him now, he would be relentless if she was pregnant with his child. Jenna didn’t want a child to be the reason for their marriage, if it came to that.

For someone who had given up her dreams of husband and children a long time ago, Jenna felt overwhelmed with Kioni’s fast pace and constant pressure. He spoke of an heir, and if she chose to commit to him and become his wife, he would want a short engagement so they could get to the wedding and make a child right away. He didn’t say it, but it was implied.

What if I can’t have children? What if I don’t get pregnant right away? Or ever? Will he still love me?

What if I die of cancer when I’m still young, like my mother did? She was only thirty-four when she died.

It scared Jenna, and she considered marching to Kioni’s chambers and telling him that she could never marry him, and that he should just go ahead and marry one of the marionette dolls he had lined up in case she fell through.

She looked at her watch. The Germans would be expecting her soon, but Eric would be there; and right now the thing she needed the most was to talk to Alex. It was only three in the morning in Chicago… but Alex would answer – so would Jenna if the situation was reversed.

Jenna threw herself on the bed and pushed her pumps off her feet while listening to her phone calling up Alex.

“Hello,” Alex’s drowsy voice responded.

“Alex, it’s me. I’m so sorry for waking you up but I need to talk.”

“Okay… sure… what is it? Did something happen.”

“I got my period.”

“Oh, all right… but that’s good, isn’t it?” Alex sounded confused.

“What if I can’t get pregnant? What if he marries me and then I can’t give him an heir? What if we do have a child and then I die in two years like Mom did?”

“Wow… slow down… one question at a time.”

“Mom was thirty-four when she died of breast cancer. Did you ever consider that it’s hereditary?” Jenna asked.

Alex spoke in a yawn. “I have my breasts checked regularly and they’re fine.”

“Yeah, me too, but still… what if there’s something wrong with me and I can’t get pregnant?”

“Why would you say that?”

“I’m thirty-two, not twenty-two, and Kio and I had unprotected sex but nothing happened.”

“You’re rambling, Jenna… it’s normal to try for months before you get pregnant, that whole thing about getting pregnant from one time of unprotected sex… well, I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but lots of people have had unprotected sex without getting knocked up. It doesn’t mean you can’t have children, sweetie.”

“I’m just so confused.”

“Okay… let me just sit up for a second and turn on some light.” There was an interval. “Are you still there?”

“Yes.”

“Answer this… how do you feel about Kioni?”

“I don’t know.”

“I call bullshit.” She yawned. “You
do
know. I don’t want to hear the version that you tell yourself because you’re too afraid to admit how you really feel. Be brave for a second, take a deep breath, and spit it out… one, two, three, Kioni is…?

Jenna took a deep breath and said. “Amazing.”

Alex went on. “Kioni is amazing because…”

“Because he’s fearless.”

“And,” Alex said.

“Funny.”

“And.”

“Sexy.”

“And.”

“Kind.”

“Go on,” Alex encouraged her.

Jenna closed her eyes and smiled. “Kio is dominant and arrogant, but he’s also considerate and he wants to know everything about me. I can talk to him all night and when I’m not with him, I think of him constantly. Even when I should be focused on my work. Like right now I should be in a meeting but I’m here talking to you about him.”

“Do you love him?” Alex asked softly.

Jenna felt tears prickling behind her closed eyelids and heard herself sniffle. “I don’t know, Alex. I’m so afraid to let myself love him. What if he does what Dylan did?”

“Cheat on you and break your heart?”

Jenna couldn’t stop herself from crying now. “Yes. He wants perfection. He told me so, and I’m so imperfect that it’s not even funny. He has this image of me as something I’m not. I don’t even understand why he wants to marry me when I’m nothing like he described what his wife should be like.”

“Jenna… sweetie.”

“No, it’s true, sometimes I look in the mirror and I see pale skin and dark circles under my eyes. I’ve got cellulite and a soft belly. I argue with him and don’t know the social norms of this country, and if he really did make me his queen, his mom would hate me, and I would surely embarrass him in public when I didn’t just bow my head or something… I just wish…” She sniffled and dried her running nose.

“Yes?” Alex whispered.

“I just wish he was a regular Joe with a normal day job and without his need for that ridiculous perfection, and without his urgency to produce an heir. I want to be with him, Alex, but I’m so scared that he’s going to open his eyes and realize he made a huge mistake, choosing an
old
American gal who can’t give him children and won’t obey his every order.” Jenna couldn’t speak… she was crying too hard.

“Sweetie… breathe, just breathe for a second.”

Jenna tried to take deep breaths as Alex had instructed, and found a tissue to blow her nose.

“First of all, you’re not old. You’re four years younger than him. And secondly, have you talked to him about your fears?”

Jenna sighed. “I can’t. He’s so determined to make me marry him that it’s like it has become his sole focus to get my ‘yes.’”

“Well, he is a man used to getting his way.”

“I know. But in this case I’m afraid getting his way won’t be the best thing for him.”

“Aww, sweetie, don’t sell yourself short. I understand why he’s crazy about you and I think you’re being way too harsh on yourself. Of course he fell in love with you, how could he not?”

Jenna sniffled loudly. “Have you seen the women he has access to?”

Alex snorted. “I saw the Jasmine clones at the concert, remember. There is no doubt they’re beautiful, but you have an exotic beauty that they don’t have.”

“Ha! There’s nothing exotic about me. If anything, I’m plain.”

“You’ve never been plain. And don’t forget that you compare yourself to everyone here in Chicago where there are thousands of blond girls with blue eyes and a good figure, but I’ve been to Spirima and didn’t see a single one except you. Besides… I think talking to a woman as smart and knowledgeable as you might be a first for him. Did you ever consider that being challenged intellectually could be a turn-on for him that he won’t find with local women in Spirima? After a dose of your sharp wit he’s probably bored with other women.”

Jenna smiled and wiped her eyes. “Alex, do you know how much I love you? Who else can I call up in the middle of the night to give me a self-esteem boost?”

“I love you too, sweetie, and I read somewhere that we should never let fear stop us but let ourselves be guided by love.”

“Who said that, Oprah?”

“Hmm… I don’t know, but it sounds pretty wise to me.”

“Uh-huh… then tell me again why you ran as fast as you could when Zurry knocked you on your ass.”

Alex sighed. “Don’t mention him, please.”

“Is it that bad?” Jenna frowned.

“I promised I wouldn’t complain and moan to you, and I won’t.”

“How bad is it, Alex?”

“Bad… so bad.”

“Are you eating?” Jenna asked in concern.

“A little.”

“What did you eat today?”

“Some B and J.”

Jenna took a deep breath. “Shoot… you can’t live on Ben and Jerry’s… ice cream isn’t food, honey.”

“I know… and I did have a carrot yesterday… or at least two bites of a carrot.”

“Alex.” Jenna used her parental tone.

“I know…” Alex moaned. “But it hurts so bad… I just want to hide in my bed and sleep to get away from how much I miss him.”

“Then why did you leave? He asked you to stay.”