Chapter 47: The Night Before
*Jasmine*
Jasmine laughed, shaking her head, knowing he was only teasing.
“Yeah, right!” She laughed. “I just hope I don’t have a hangover tomorrow for our wedding!”
He laughed. “You won’t.”
The seafood was exquisite with rich, flavorful sauces and was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Every bite was delicious.
“Wow! This is really good.” Jasmine took another bite and moaned, savoring the flavor.
“Keep moaning like that, and I just may have to get another room.” He winked and slurped an oyster off the half-shell, looking sexier than a man had a right to.
“Sweetheart,” she leaned in close, feeling a bit more brazen with the alcohol. “You won’t need another room.”
He started choking and quickly took a sip of his champagne. “It’s a good thing I’m a gentleman.”
When the steaks arrived, they were thick and juicy, cooked just to the right consistency.
Soon, Jasmine sat back, feeling the effects of the champagne and food, fully sated. “Wow! That was really good.”
“Yes, it was.” Zain took another sip of his champagne. “So, what would you like to do? See the sights or a show?”
Jasmine shook her head as she took his hand. “No, let’s stay here. I just want to enjoy being with you.”
“Would you like any dessert?” Sandy asked, discretely setting the check on the table beside Zain.
He placed a hand on his stomach and chuckled. “No, thank you. Nothing for me.”
“I couldn’t eat another bite if I tried.” Jasmine laughed, glad she was sharing this moment with him.
Zain took a credit card from his wallet, laid it on the small tray with two dinner mints, and slid it back to their waitress. “Thank you. Everything was exquisite.”
Sandy smiled as she took the tray. “I’m glad you liked it. I’ll be right back.”
Zain nodded toward a set of sliding glass doors. “Would you like to go to the balcony?”
Jasmine nodded, a smile curling her lips. “You read my mind.”
“Here you go!” Sandy set the tray on the table with Zain’s credit card. “Thanks for coming in, and congratulations on your wedding tomorrow! I wish you both a long life filled with happiness.”
Jasmine’s smile faded, but she quickly recovered herself. She hated the thought of divorcing Zain on Monday, and she was almost tempted to stay married, but he had his life in California, and she would soon have hers in Tennessee. She just hoped their relationship could survive. But she quickly brushed the thought from her mind, not wanting to think about it. Right now, she and Zain were together, and that was all that mattered.
“Are you okay?” Zain asked as they headed onto the balcony, taking in the credible view of Las Vegas before them. The lights of the Strip sparkled in the deep blue night sky, and the twinkling stars above framed the magnificent sight.
“I’m fine.” Jasmine sighed as she leaned against the railing, taking it all in.
Zain placed his hands on either side of her, sending chills over her body as he leaned his head against hers. “I was thinking.”
“About what?” Jasmine held her breath. It would be hard enough to say goodbye to him Monday morning as it was.
He let out a deep breath. “We don’t have to get a divorce Monday.”
“Zain, don’t—”
“Jasmine, hear me out.” He turned her around to gaze into her eyes. “I love you, and I know you love me. So, somehow, we’ll work it out.”
A lump formed in her throat as she touched his cheek. “Zain, I love you, too. But we can keep in touch—”
“Stop. It sounds too final when you say it like that.” He let out a deep breath. “Just promise me on Monday that you’ll say ‘see you tomorrow’ and not ‘goodbye.’” He bit his lower lip and released it. “I couldn’t bear it if it’s the last time I see you.”
“It won’t be.” She tilted her head to the side as she looked into his eyes. “Zain, I was thinking of transferring to USC—”
“No, don’t.” Zain leaned against the railing, looking over the Las Vegas cityscape. “We’ve been through this. If you come with me to USC, I won’t be able to leave you there when I graduate, and I can’t ask you to follow me through the minors—”
“You won’t have to ask.”
“But I want you to get an education, too.” He sighed, completely serious. “I promise I’ll come see you in Tennessee.”
“And I’ll come to California.” Then a smile lit her lips as she gently nudged his shoulder with hers. “But I promise to call first so you can get rid of your girlfriends before I arrive.”
But he wasn’t laughing. “Jasmine, there will never be anyone else for me but you.” He pulled her to him, her breasts pushed against his chest. “Never.” Then he crushed his lips to hers gently at first, then she opened for him, and passion quickly overtook them both as he wrapped his arms around her. He pulled back a moment later, leaving her breathless. “I’ll be glad when tomorrow comes.”
“Just promise me it won’t be the end.” A tear ran down her cheek. “It’ll ruin this if it’s just one weekend.”
“I promise. It won’t be.” A bittersweet smile lit his lips as he gently traced his finger over her cheek. “As you said before, it will never be over between us.”
Then he crushed his lips to hers once more as his cock pressed against her stomach, surprising her with the force of his need and want of her.
She pulled back a moment later, her heart pounding. “I’ll be glad when it’s tomorrow, too.”
Zain wrapped his arm around her, and they looked over the city, admiring the beauty of the Las Vegas landscape below. The night had been extraordinary, and they both knew that the memories they made that evening would last a lifetime. But they had more memories yet to make.
After watching the cityscape for a while, they returned to their hotel room, and tension once again filled the air. “I’ll be right out.” Jasmine took her things into the bathroom and quickly dressed in a beige silk nightgown, not the one she planned to wear after they were married, but it made her feel elegant, sexy, and mature. She slipped on the matching robe overtop.
Zain’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head when she walked out. “God, you look gorgeous. Find something on television—maybe a movie?—and I’ll be right out.” Then he took his things and hurried into the bathroom, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
But instead of finding something on television, she headed onto the balcony to enjoy the cool night air as a breeze blew softly over her skin.
“You look gorgeous,” Zain breathed, his voice husky behind her as butterflies fluttered in her stomach. “Are you hungry? I could order us a pizza—”
“I ate so much earlier, I don’t think I could eat another bite.” She headed toward the bed. “We can lay on the bed together and find a movie, if you like.”
“Baby girl, if I climb into bed with you, more will happen than we both bargained for. I promise you.” He headed to the bed closest to the door and sat on the edge. “I guess we should get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.”