Chapter 44: Release
*Jasmine*
As the cab headed down the Las Vegas strip, butterflies danced in Jasmine’s stomach in anticipation. “Do you think we should just get one or two rooms tonight?” She felt like an idiot for asking, but this was all so new to her.
“It’s up to you,” he replied, his eyes filled with concern. “But we’re not going to do anything until after we’re married tomorrow.”
She nodded, not sure if she would be able to wait that long for him. She had never wanted anything or anyone so badly in her life as she wanted him in this moment. But then again, she had waited this long, so she could wait a few more hours. “One room will be fine, then.”
He pulled her to his side and kissed the side of her head. “I promise, you’ll be safe with me.”
But a part of her didn’t want to be safe. Not with Zain. She had started taking birth control pills and was ready, but she had made her mother a promise, and she intended to keep it. When the cab came to a stop, Zain paid the driver, and they carried their bags into the spacious hotel lobby as the sounds of slot machines resonated throughout the hotel.
“I didn’t know this was a casino.”
Zain’s head snapped up. “If you don’t want to stay here, we can go somewhere else.”
But she quickly shook her head. “No, this is fine.” She didn’t know what she had expected, but somehow, this wasn’t it. But as long as she was with Zain, that was all that mattered.
“Welcome to Circus Circus Hotel and Casino! Do you have reservations, sir?” the front desk clerk asked, his eyebrows raised as they approached.
“Yes. It’s under Zain Perez.”
The clerk looked over his computer and smiled. “Ah, yes! Here it is.” He looked up between them. “I’ll have you checked in momentarily.”
“Thank you,” Zain replied.
The clerk hit a few more buttons and then laid a sheet of paper on the counter, along with two room keys. “Just sign here, please.” He pointed to a place on the receipt, and Zain quickly scrolled his signature. Then the clerk told them about the nightly shows, the casino, and the all-you-can-eat buffet. He ended with, “Enjoy your stay!”
“Thank you.” Zain took the keys and slipped them into his pocket. Then he placed his hand on Jasmine’s back as butterflies frantically beat their wings against the interior of her stomach. “Let’s check into our room first, then we can get something to eat, if you like.”
“Sounds good.” She gave him a weak smile. Even though she had been waiting all summer for this moment, she was nervous now that it was here.
“Would you like to see a show after dinner?”
Jasmine sensed that Zain was talking to fill the empty space, clearly nervous, too.
She smiled up at him. “Let’s see how it goes.”
He nodded, and the elevator door opened and they stepped inside. The way she felt, she would be jumping his bones as soon as they got into the room, if they were already married. But she could wait a little bit longer.
“Maybe we should have gotten separate rooms....”
He kissed the side of her head as he smiled down at her. “I got separate beds, but if you’d like separate rooms, I’ll go back downstairs—”
“No, this is fine.” She took a deep breath as the elevator door opened on their floor. “Zain, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m so nervous….” But actually, she knew.
“It’s okay.” He smiled as he led her down the hallway toward their room. “I’m nervous, too.” He sighed as they stood outside their room. “Look. Why don’t you take this room, and I’ll go downstairs and get another?”
“No, this is fine.” A small smile lit her lips as she placed her hand on his cheek. “I trust you.”
He nodded, clearing his throat. Then he took the room key out of his pocket. “Are you ready?”
She nodded. “Let’s do it.” Then she realized how it sounded. “I mean—”
Zain laughed. “It’s okay. Let’s take showers, and then we’ll go get something to eat.”
She couldn’t help but laugh, glad she was with Zain and no one else. “Sounds like a plan.”
They walked into a beautifully decorated room with two double beds that seemed to be screaming at her. She rolled her suitcases inside and hung up her clothes. The dress she planned to be married in she kept wrapped in plastic, wanting him to be surprised. Of course, it wasn’t a wedding dress, but she hoped he liked it.
“I’ll take a shower first and will be right out.” Zain smiled as he placed his hands gingerly on her cheeks and gave her a sweet kiss, causing her heart to flutter. “Maybe we should have gotten separate rooms.”
She laughed nervously as she shook her head. “No, I trust you.”
“I’ll be right out.” He let his hands fall and then took a change of clothes with him into the bathroom.
Needing some noise to cut the tension, she turned on the television and slid up the bed closest to the TV and leaned against the headboard as she combed through channels, but she couldn’t focus on anything. Everything seemed to be a romance movie. Finally, she settled on a comedy, needing to laugh.
A little while later, Zain walked out dressed in jeans and a light sweater, looking gorgeous. His dark brown wet hair fell lazily over his forehead, making him look like a supermodel that had just stepped out of a magazine spread.
Forcing herself to look away, she grabbed her things and headed toward the bathroom. “I’ll be right out.”
When the water turned warm, she stepped into the shower, needing a release so badly she thought she would explode. She closed her eyes as she stood under the shower, letting the warm water rush over her, imagining that she was on a deserted island with Zain under a waterfall. She pushed two fingers inside as she rubbed her clit and her nipples as her breath quickened. It didn’t take long, and she exploded in one hell of a good orgasm. Maybe now she’d be able to make it through the night in the same room with Zain, but the jury was still out on that one.
After she finished her shower, she dressed in a sundress, a light sweater, and heels. When she stepped out, Zain did a double take. “Wow... you look fantastic.”
“Thanks.” a slight blush colored her cheeks. “So do you.”
His lips curled into a sexy smile. “Are you ready?”
She nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”