57. Jasmine

57

JASMINE

J asmine sat at the vanity, brushing her hair as she watched Ell-rom getting dressed through the mirror.

The morning sunlight changed the color of his eyes, turning it into a shade of an incredible blue that on anyone else would have looked fake but fit her alien prince perfectly.

His beauty was ethereal.

Last night, following their first declarations of love for each other, had been their first joining, and she wanted to commit to memory every moment of it, save for the end when Ell-rom had turned away, biting the pillow instead of her neck.

Jasmine had experienced a moment of disappointment, but she'd quickly gotten over it. They'd made love twice, but he hadn't bitten her or the pillow the second time around.

She hadn't asked him about it, and she wasn't going to. She'd promised him that she was in no rush and that he shouldn't feel pressured to do anything he wasn't ready for.

Ell-rom approached her from behind and leaned over her shoulder to look at her in the mirror. "You look beautiful, my love."

"You look not so bad yourself." She turned her head and kissed the underside of his jaw. "I love you."

They had overslept this morning, so making love again would have to wait until after Ell-rom's nap. Right now, he was running late for his session with Julian.

"I'm sorry about last night," he murmured.

"Don't you dare." She turned fully and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Last night was perfect, and I don't want you to attach any negative feelings to this cherished memory."

Nodding, he kissed her lips. "You are right. It was perfect, but I need to get over my aversion to blood. I hope Julian's got the synthetic type for me to try."

Jasmine tensed, worried that he wouldn't be able to tolerate even the synthetic version, which would crush his hopes. "You can do it, and you will, but don't get discouraged if you can't the first time. Rome was not built in a day."

When he frowned, she waved a hand. "I keep forgetting that you are not from around here." She snorted. "Talk about an understatement. Anyway, Rome is a great city that was built over many centuries, and it is used as an example to remind people that great accomplishments take time, effort, and patience."

Ell-rom nodded. "I like that one. I hope I remember it." He kissed the tip of her nose and straightened. "I should be going. Will you be here when I return?"

"I will." She was a little uneasy about Ell-rom going alone, but he was not only adamant about going to the session with Julian by himself but also about not taking the walker. "Be careful. Don't try to show off."

"I'm going to be very careful." He headed for the door of their bedroom.

"Hold on." She rose to her feet. "Let me at least escort you to the elevator."

He cast her a reproachful look. "Your friends are waiting for you to join them for coffee."

Frankie and Margo could wait a few more minutes, but this wasn't about them. It was about Ell-rom being sick of her hovering over him and treating him like a child.

"Okay." She let out a breath. "I'll see you when you get back."

When the door closed behind him Jasmine felt a familiar urge to rush after him, to make sure he made it to the clinic safely, but she forced herself to remain in the room, acknowledging that her overprotective instincts, while well-intentioned, were becoming suffocating to him.

The helicopter mom routine would drive anyone crazy, Jasmine acknowledged, but the protective instinct was hard to resist. She needed to at least inform Julian that Ell-rom was on his way and without the walker, so if he didn't make it, the doctor would look for him.

Reaching for her phone, she dialed Julian's number.

He answered right away. "Good morning, Jasmine. What's up?"

"Good morning, Julian. Ell-rom's on his way to you, but he insisted on going without me or his walker. I just want you to be aware that he is coming, so if he doesn't make it, you will know to go look for him or let me know, so I'll do that."

"No problem. I'll text you when he arrives, and if he takes too long, I'll look for him."

"Thank you, Julian. I really appreciate it. Just don't tell him I called. He thinks that I'm mothering him."

Julian laughed. "What's wrong with that? Most men love to be mothered."

Perhaps those who had good mothers who hadn't smothered or neglected them.

"Well, Ell-rom doesn't like it, but I was too worried not to call."

"That's okay. Your secret is safe with me."

"Thank you."