52. Jasmine

52

JASMINE

" I t already is," Jasmine whispered.

She'd never felt so…at peace?

Fulfilled?

Happy?

The right word eluded her, and perhaps it didn't even exist. The best analogy she could think of was arriving home, with home being a sanctuary of peace, love, and unconditional acceptance.

The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a gentle light across Ell-rom's regal features, highlighting the curve of his cheekbone, the slope of his nose, and the fullness of his lips.

She was mesmerized by this male she'd fallen in love with.

Ell-rom's eyes were filled with adoration as he gazed at her face, and Jasmine reached out, tracing the line of his jaw with her fingertips.

"What are you thinking?" she asked softly.

Ell-rom caught her hand, pressing a gentle kiss to her palm. "I'm thinking about how lucky I am," he murmured. "To have found you in this strange new world."

"I'm the lucky one," she countered. "How many people can say they've fallen in love with a prince from another planet?"

A soft chuckle escaped Ell-rom. "One who wasn't a frog at any time before his arrival or after."

She wondered what animal name the translation had come up for 'a frog.' Did they have frogs on Anumati?

"It still feels like a fairy tale." Jasmine snuggled closer to her prince.

She reveled in the warmth of his body, the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm.

Ell-rom's arm wrapped around her, pulling her closer still. "Tell me what love feels like for you?"

That was a tough question because it was difficult to describe a feeling.

"A kind of a glow that starts in my chest and spreads throughout my entire body. It's the feeling that when I'm with you, I'm home. You are my sanctuary, my safe zone, my comfort."

She paused, gathering her thoughts. "I can be completely myself with you, flaws and all, and know that you'll accept me. It's wanting to share every moment, every thought, every dream with you."

Ell-rom leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "That's beautiful. I feel the same way about you, but I wouldn't have been able to put it into words. Thank you for articulating it for me."

Jasmine felt her heart swell. She'd had relationships before, but nothing could have prepared her for what real love would feel like. "No offense, my love, but that's cheating. I don't want to hear my echo. I want to hear your thoughts and feelings even if you can't find the most precise words."

Ell-rom was quiet for a moment. His brow furrowed in concentration. "It's... overwhelming. It's like my heart is too full and might burst with everything I feel for you." His hand found hers, fingers intertwining. "It's also grounding. You anchor me. In this world that's still so new and strange to me, you're my constant. My home."

Tears pricked at Jasmine's eyes. "That was beautiful." She leaned in, capturing his lips in a kiss that was both tender and passionate.

He responded eagerly, his free hand coming up to cup the back of her head, fingers tangling in her hair.

When they parted, Jasmine smiled. "I love you," she whispered, the words still feeling new and thrilling on her tongue. "I love saying that to you. It seems like these three words were the key that opened the flood of emotions for both of us."

"It feels a little strange," Ell-rom admitted. "To say that I love you, I mean. I don't think I've used those words often or at all. The only one I loved was my sister, and I doubt we said that to each other more than once or twice in our lifetimes."

Jasmine nodded. "I wonder if I told my mother that I loved her when she was still around. I don't remember much of her, and sometimes I'm afraid that I didn't, and I feel guilty."

"Oh, Jasmine." Ell-rom tightened his arms around her, but Jasmine could sense that he was moderating his strength not to squash her.

He'd gotten much stronger over the past two days, which would have been impossible for a human but probably perfectly natural for an immortal.

A god.

Ell-rom was half god.

For a few moments, they lay in each other's arms, comfortable in their silence, as they exchanged soft caresses and gentle kisses.

"Can I ask you something?" Ell-rom said.

Jasmine lifted her face to look into his earnest eyes. "Of course. You can ask me anything."

Ell-rom hesitated for a moment. "Earlier, when you mentioned children, was that something you've thought about before?"

"I have," she admitted. "Not in any concrete way, but I've thought about finding a nice guy and having a bunch of kids with him. I always thought that it would happen later in life after I got my big movie break, but now everything has changed. I have different dreams." She smiled. "I can picture a little boy with your eyes and my smile. Or a girl with your kindness and my stubbornness."

"You are very kind and not stubborn at all."

Jasmine laughed. "You still don't know me very well. I can be as stubborn as a mule."

"Give me one example when you were stubborn."

She thought about it for a moment. "I'm always stubborn. I'm not obnoxious, and I don't make demands, so it doesn't look like I am. I use a lot of charm and flattery to get what I want."

Ell-rom didn't look convinced. "I haven't noticed."

She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead, then the tip of his nose, and finally his lips. "You are blinded by love."

"Is that a bad thing?" he asked.

"No. Not at all." She kissed him again.

Ell-rom responded eagerly, his arms pulling her closer.

As their kiss deepened, Jasmine felt a familiar heat building within her, but she'd promised not to press for more. Pulling away, she smiled and ran her fingers through his hair. "That's what love is, isn't it? Understanding each other's wants and aspirations, fears and hang-ups. Accepting each other's flaws and shortcomings. Supporting each other through anything and everything."

"Is it like this for everyone?" Ell-rom asked. "Love, I mean. Is it always this intense?"

"It is when it's real. When it's right." She met his gaze. "And this feels more right than anything I've ever dreamed of."

"For me, too. Even with my limited memories, I know that what I feel for you is special."

Jasmine snuggled closer to Ell-rom, her head resting on his chest. The steady beat of his heart was a comforting rhythm, lulling her towards slumber.

"Jasmine?" Her name on Ell-rom's lips sounded a little slurred.

"Hmm?" she murmured.

"I love you."

Jasmine pressed a soft kiss to his chest. "I love you too."