by Raine Hughes
“It is as you wish, is it not?” Her flashing eyes said she definitely found her new-found freedom of choice to her liking.
He chuckled once more before critically studying his newest costume. It was certainly better than looking like an overgrown cartoon rodent. He reluctantly nodded acceptance. Behind him, he could see Jasmine’s First Mate cap atop her head so he knew she had changed, too.
Before he turned to peruse Jasmine in her costume, she’d donned her snowsuit with another flourish and was ready to go. Her expression was smugly satisfied at having won her bid to go in costume. He acknowledged her triumph with wry grin as he shrugged into his own overcoat and they headed out to the pick-up for the drive.
He couldn’t help but grin as she speculated enthusiastically over what other outfits would be seen at the party. She’d disregarded his previous statement on the subject. She was forever the optimist and he had to admit, that made for a happier personality. He knew he should take her lead, but sometimes he just couldn’t manage it. However, it was becoming easier with Jasmine always giving a good example.
“Come in! Come in!” Helga greeted them when they presented themselves at the door after the cross-country drive. The yard was already filled with vehicles and another pulled in as Noah escorted Jasmine inside. “I see you like to dress warm,” Helga commented on Jasmine body-hugging snowsuit. She accepted Noah’s coat and gave a nod of approval over his Captain’s suit.
“I find it very chilly in your climate,” Jasmine explained, unzipping herself. “My costume is not very warm, though once I begin dancing I will quickly become heated.”
As Helga laughed, Noah found himself uneasily pondering her choice of words. She was wearing a proper First Mate’s outfit, wasn’t she? Possibly she was speculating that they would be twirling away the night in each other’s arms and if that helped her keep warm, he was more than willing. The invitation had, after all, stated that there would be music for their enjoyment.
He watched as Jasmine casually stepped out of her warm quilted nylon snowsuit.
Someone gasped.
He suspected it was himself.
“My mother loved raqs—to dance,” Jasmine said to explain her unusual outfit as she swayed before them, arms moving seductively above her head for a short demonstration. “So do I. In fact, many of my ancestors were dancers. We entertained the kings.”
Noah gaped, speechless, at the costume of dazzling white top and flared bottoms depicting her First Mate’s outfit. Except, the body-hugging sailor’s suit was a two-piece, separated by her bare midriff. Strands of highly colored stones crisscrossed her waist and dipped over the hip scarf. There were more gems on her slim fingers. Even her hair, cascading down from the sailor’s hat, was intertwined with strings of bright green emeralds mixed with rubies, lending high luster to her own hair coloring. Jersey-blond had never looked better.
Lastly was a huge, almost blinding ruby that shone from her bellybutton. She looked like an exotic belly dancer rather than a sailor!
“If I’d known sailors looked like this, I’d have joined the marines!” someone whispered loudly behind him.
Noah expelled a long pent-up breath and finally managed to raise his gaze to meet Jasmine’s. She gave him a sultry look that kept him devoid of speech. He couldn’t have spoken if his life depended on it!
“My, my,” Helga kept repeating beside him, finally adding, “this is better than Mouse Gal.” She turned to Noah and gave him a broad wink of her own. “Much better. I can see why you’ve been keeping her to yourself with her flair for dress.”
Jasmine said, “Noah loves the way I dress.”
Helga dug him in the ribs at Jasmine’s confession on his behalf. “I just bet he does!” Then turning her head to look at Noah at her side, she continued, “And here I always thought you were so staid and…” She quirked her eyebrows naughtily at her innuendo before turning once more to his companion.
“Come, Jasmine. Let me introduce you to everyone. They’re anxious to meet the woman that’s set Noah’s life sailing on a new course.” Helga laughed at her own joke then winked at Noah over her shoulder as she guided Jasmine away from him.
Noah’s feet remained rooted to the floor. He hadn’t expected to exactly enjoy the party and now he knew he was going to hate every minute.
Someone slapped him on the back, his words as hearty as the greeting. “Gee, maybe I could sign up for duty on your boat, Noah.”
“Yeah,” someone else seconded that.
Noah turned and gave the men a dark look, but not enough to quell another comment, this time from a female guest who said, “And here we thought a preacher man led a dull and sheltered life. How wrong we were!” The room erupted with laughter.
Noah managed to relax and give a fair imitation of laughing at himself; it was the only course of action he could take. The community had just received ammunition to revive the speculation that had begun the day he’d taken Jasmine into town for a tour of the sights and sounds. There was no point in reminding anyone that he wasn’t a minister himself, just his son. Several women tittered over the ongoing speculation. He was never going to live this night down!
And, somehow, he just knew it was going to get worse.
“I can’t wait to see her dance,” Helga loudly announced later as she returned Jasmine to Noah’s corner of the room, from where he’d been watching her move from one group to another, engaging them in friendly banter. Jealousy swamped him again, much as it had in the motel dining room with a room full of men, not that long ago. Admittedly, these men’s wives and girlfriends were here and it was they who fawned over Jasmine the most. That was the only thing that saved him from crossing the room and doing something stupid.
“Maybe later,” Noah conceded with a forced grin, relieved to note his voice didn’t sound as strangled as his throat felt. The idea of watching Jasmine dance… No, that wasn’t the problem. Having other males watch Jasmine dance was going to be torture. He reminded himself not to indulge in the sin of jealousy. He tamped it down firmly and belatedly added, “After we eat.” Ignoring good manners, he took Jasmine’s elbow and steered her toward the food.
As if that was a signal, the others moved in on the table, giving him no time to speak privately to Jasmine. What could he have said, anyway? She couldn’t very well change her costume now. If only he’d insisted on seeing it before they left home. If only he’d consented to wearing that blasted mouse outfit. If only…
It was too late now.
After they had filled their plates, he once more discovered that Jasmine was engaged in conversation with first one group of party-goers, then another as she took her plate with her. Belatedly, he hastened to follow, to stay at her side at least.
“I don’t know if I have the right music for you, Jasmine,” Helga said much later. “We’re looking forward to watching your dance, something from your country, I hope.”
Noah gave their hostess a mutinous glare, knowing he couldn’t very well refuse though it was on the tip of his tongue to veto her suggestion as she took charge of Jasmine and made her announcement. In truth, a part of him also wanted to see her dance.
“I brought my own music,” Jasmine said cheerfully, then turned to him, “in his pocket, Noah is keeping it safe.”
Noah managed to turn his surprise into a grin as he reached up and removed the tape that hadn’t been there minutes ago. When had she done that? More importantly, had anyone seen her? He looked around but all he witnessed were expectant looks and a few too many winks aimed his way. Couldn’t Jasmine see that he hated this and everything that was happening here tonight? She seemed oblivious, only concerned with the party.
That was unfair of him. Of course she was thinking of the party. She’d never been to a typical party of the mortals, and he immediately felt contrite for his pettiness in wanting to deny Jasmine. He should know all about it. Carol had shunned local gatherings or anything to do with his friends and neighbors, preferring higher-society gatherings a
imed at self-advancement. She had dragged him off to the big city every chance she had and he’d hated every minute. He wouldn’t spoil Jasmine’s fun.
Even if it kills me!
His face felt stiff and his teeth hurt. Apparently his attempts at smiling hadn’t been that successful. A look in a decorative wall mirror allowed him to unlock his jaw at least.
That said, he prepared himself for the onslaught of emotions that watching Jasmine dance would elicit in him. Only then did he realize that Jasmine’s English grammar had been a little off. Was she nervous or had she picked up on his displeasure?
Noah managed not to leap up and demand that Jasmine stop as she began cavorting about the room in a series of sensuous moves. The music was far too stimulating. He was breathing hard in no time.
“Come dance, girls.” Jasmine beckoned to the ladies, whispering in an aside that allowed the men to hear, “I will show you how you can make your man look like mine!”
Self-consciously, Noah dragged his hand across his face to remove the awed expression he knew to be there. As the women in the room checked him out, heat flooded his face. He saw that every last male looked bright-eyed with the heightened color of sexual interest.
Jealously speared him anew. If this kept up, he’d be full of holes!
“Come, come,” Jasmine coaxed, and the ladies joined her. She began telling them to move their hips, just so, how to use hand and arm movements, and to let the music guide their feet. Soon they were all writhing about the room to the exotic Arabian music. None, however, came close to being as enchanting as Jasmine. Actually, some were laughable, but Noah didn’t allow himself to be amused.
Much later he became aware of those around him. Amidst giggles from the women and snickers from the men, Jasmine invited the women for lessons at their place. It was obvious she was enjoying her newly found popularity.
Noah wasn’t. He liked having her all to himself. His home could be invaded and he didn’t like it. He knew that was jealousy, too, but he didn’t care at this point, which was possibly why he caught Jasmine under a sprig of leftover Christmas mistletoe and swung her into his embrace with a primal growl in his throat.
She tasted tangy, like the hot salsa she’d spread over her crackers earlier. He held her close, pulled literally flush against him and ravaged her mouth.
“Guess that means we won’t get a chance under the mistletoe, huh?” someone quipped.
Noah jerked free of the embrace, shame flooding through him at her hurt look. She hadn’t been returning his fervor with equal enthusiasm. Belatedly he realized his brutal embrace was more like retribution for bringing him to this.
“I’d say not,” someone else snickered.
Great! He’d just spiced up the gossip that was sure to heat the local grapevine! Well, at least there would be no doubt as to whom she belonged. Still, there had been no need to punish Jasmine for just being herself: warm, happy and fun-loving. After all, that was exactly what drew him to her.
Without turning to ascertain which male guests had offered the comments, Noah pulled Jasmine along to the door while thanking their hostess for the evening. They quickly dressed and he ushered her out into the crisp air that he desperately needed to breathe.
He gulped huge breaths in but the burning in his chest didn’t ease. He kept seeing Jasmine’s eyes on him. Now he realized she had kept her gaze locked with him the whole time she’d been dancing. She had danced for him and only him.
And he’d punished her for it.
Chapter 16
“Cruel! Thoughtless! Idiot!” Noah punctuated the air in front of him with his hands as he stomped along, well out in front. “How could I be so stupid so many times in one night?”
Jasmine panted along behind him. He wrenched his door open and climbed inside, uncharacteristically leaving her to dash around to get in the other side. The truck started with a roar before she even pulled the door shut. Once inside, she shivered, but it was not the temperature that caused the tremor. Noah was angry and she did not know why.
The tires spun then they were bouncing down the icy rutted drive at a frenzied pace. Jasmine clutched the armrest for the terrifying ride.
The evening had been fabulous, or at least it had started out that way. Noah’s easy mood had changed after their arrival, when her costume had been revealed. Had she mistaken displeasure for amazed delight?
Everyone else had been casually attired, and as Noah had predicted, few wore costumes. While she enjoyed embellishing herself with jewels, no one else had worn any adornment. Customs here were different. But there had to be more to his displeasure than her costume.
She was used to dancing for gawking strangers and glinty-eyed men. She had been so pleased to have this opportunity to do a special dance for Noah, that she had not thought of how he might view it. While she easily dismissed ogling strangers, she now knew Noah had been keenly aware of them. And she was certain that her dancing had provoked him into doing what later humiliated him. She very much doubted that he would have kissed her so intimately and aggressively in front of witnesses if her actions had not prompted him to act.
She must set this to rights immediately. She would beg for forgiveness, plead with him if she had to, to let her stay for he just might be so angry that he wished her gone!
“Master Noah—”
He started visibly, gaped at her like he hadn’t even known she was there in the cab with him. His words, when they did come, were filled with pain.
“What I did was totally crass and unforgivable, Jasmine. I don’t know what came over me. It was like some crazy person overrode my better judgment. I hurt you. I humiliated you… and myself.” His head swung side to side. “I was just so… so out of my mind!”
“It is I who must apologize, Master. Thee is in charge. It is a Djinni’s duty to follow orders and serve—”
“No!” Noah barked and continued to shake his head emphatically. He momentarily took his gaze off the rutted road. “You did exactly what the typical woman here does; you felt free to express yourself, to be your own person.”
“But thee is angry.”
He bobbed his head vigorously. “Yes. At myself! For… for attacking you! That’s exactly what I did, made sure everyone knows who you belong to—even though, of course, you don’t belong to anyone. I behaved abominably because I’m jealous even though I know such feelings are unjustified. I… I don’t know how you can ever forgive my behavior, Jasmine. I…” he fell silent, except for his breathing which was rapid and heavy, loud in the confined space.
“It is I who seeks forgiveness, Master. I clothed myself unsuitably. I danced with such impru… imprudence, in front of your friends. No matter that I danced for thee, Noah. I did not realize my moves were like a love spell on you; I would never do this!” Her voice automatically dropped with dejection. “For this, it is me that must apologize.”
Noah cast her a brief look through the dimness inside the truck and the vehicle slowed its headlong rush through the icy darkness. His breathing became less labored. Belonging to someone in this country was so different than in hers, voluntarily choosing to stay with someone because they wanted to, rather than being treated like property with no say in such.
Noah’s short bark of laughter startled her. “They were green with envy!” He sounded almost gleeful, totally unlike the various moods he had been in for the entire evening.
“The men or the women?” she ventured.
He gave another bark of what sounded like bitter laughter. “Both. I’ve never felt so, so… gratified, not a noble quality to be sure, but now when they talk behind my back, I know they’ll be saying something I’d love to hear, punishment for my jealous behavior.”
Not everything would be to his liking, she was sure. She too had heard the comments suggesting he had strayed from his Christian morals, and no wonder, given the way she had dressed in contrast to his people! An older, pious woman had spoken the damning words. Noah must have heard the other whispered commen
ts, too, although he had given no indication of doing so.
Besides, what could he say in his own defense? His hands were tied, or rather his mouth was sealed, because of what she was. Disregarding that, these mortals saw dress and behavior as a serious matter and judging from what she already knew, her bare midriff was not appropriate, other than in the privacy of home, even though Noah had just finished saying that everyone was free to express themselves, to be their own person.
“My sailing suit—I should not have worn it tonight, and it will not be suitable for the ark, either.”
“Wrong, Jasmine, on both counts. Besides matching mine in representation, all you did was express your individuality—just like you should—by being yourself and showing the others your culture through your actions and your dress. You know I love everything you wear. I won’t try to change that. But apparently I do need to address my feelings because right now I seem to be saying one thing but thinking another. No one is more surprised by that than myself. That makes me a hypocrite and that’s not a nice quality in anyone.” By the dim light from the dash, she saw him drag a hand down the length of his face.
When they pulled to a stop in front of the house, Noah sat quietly, just breathing with slow steady breaths like he was concentrating on the effort. She opened her door a crack so that the interior cab light came on. He turned to stare at her while a multitude of changing expressions crossed his face: anger, regret, disgust. Finally he drew a deep breath.
“It was a costume party, something fun to do. What you wore was perfectly suitable, jewels included. As I said, they just served to show your different culture.” He snorted. “It was a whole lot better than those darned cartoon mice. Forgive me, Jasmine. I behaved like a jealous, besotted fool.”
His steady gaze said he meant every word. Of course she forgave him. “Yes,” she said, her hand automatically going to his forearm.