“I do when the situation calls for it.” Under his stare, she wilts the tiniest bit. It lasts for a single breath, too short for me to have noticed if I wasn’t watching so closely. Then she lifts her chin, once again standing on solid ground. “I’m here to apologize.”
“You’re not forgiven,” Jafar says.
I fold my arms over my chest and glare. “I can speak for myself, at least in this.”
“Would you like me to detail all the harm that could have befallen you in Ali’s tender care? I’m more than capable of it, Jasmine. You didn’t see the worst he had to offer, and it’s a fucking miracle that you are responsible for. They couldn’t have known you would be able to protect yourself.” He flings a hand in Meg’s direction.
“He’s right,” she says. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness, and I don’t expect it, but I’m apologizing all the same.”
I’m not ready to forgive.
That’s the truth of it. Even if Hades holds Meg’s leash, literally or otherwise, she still made a choice to betray me, and it’s not something I’ll get over anytime soon. And yet… I walk around my desk and lean against it, putting us all on more equal footing. “I’ll think about it.”
“Thank you.” She actually seems like she means it, which is more than I expected. I know better than to trust this contriteness, though. People are more than capable of lying with both their words and their bodies. I’m more than capable of it. Meg walks forward and sinks gracefully to her knees in front of me. She gives me a surprisingly sweet smile. “I had fun with you, Jasmine.”
My throat suddenly feels too dry. “I had fun with you, too.” All too easy to imagine her inching closer and pushing my skirt up and… I give myself a mental shake. She’s not here for that, no matter what position she holds at the moment.
Jafar stalks over and leans again the desk next to me. He doesn’t quite touch me, but he doesn’t have to. His presence grounds me, allowing me to draw in a full breath. He looks down at Meg. “Interesting way of delivery.”
“What can I say? I’m a showman at heart.” She pulls a large square black velvet box out of her purse and holds up in with both hands. “Your surprise, Jasmine.” She opens it and my heart stops.
It’s a diamond necklace.
Its design is deceptively simple, a single row of diamonds that meet in the middle with a tail that drapes down to a large ruby at the end of it. It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.
“Do you like it?”
I turn to look at Jafar, frowning at the strange note in his voice. No nerves show on his face, but that earlier tension is back. It’s almost as if he’s…holding his breath. I focus back on the necklace and the truth rolls over me. It’s not a necklace. It’s a collar.
Not quite a ring, no, but something akin to it. A claim of permanent long-term ownership. Everyone in the Underworld knows that Jafar owns me, that I belong to him and him alone. This is different. People come together and part in the Underworld and then move back into the world without strings attached.
This marks me as Jafar’s for people like us, people who will know what it means, outside the club. In public.
“Would you like to put it on?” So careful, my love. Watching me so closely. There are times when he’s all too happy to steamroll me—when I’m all too happy to be steamrolled—but this doesn’t number among them. This is a step, a serious step, one to be made with eyes wide open.
I should probably make him wait, but I can’t quite manage to play that game. “Yes, Daddy.”
He picks it up, his gaze not straying from my face, and settles it over my head. The necklace is on a slip knot type thing, and once he adjusts it, he pauses, holding the tail. The ruby shines in his palm and then he releases it to allow it to rest between my breasts. Even though I know it’s actually room temperature, I can’t help feeling like I’ve been branded by this necklace. By his touch.
“Get out, Meg.”
She rises gracefully to her feet. “Enjoy.”
I don’t take my eyes from Jafar as Meg leaves the room and closes the door softly behind her. He uses two fingers to lift my chin and drags his thumb over my bottom lip. “You like it.”
“I love it.” I nip his thumb and am rewarded by heat flaring in his dark eyes. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“I want to see you in nothing but the collar.”
Another day, I’d push him, mouth off, make him force me. I don’t want to play that game today. I step back and unbutton my shirt. My skirt, bra, and panties follow it to the floor in quick succession, until I stand before him naked but for the collar. I’ve never felt more powerful than in that moment when his breath catches the tiniest bit. He’s just as affected as I am by this. Day or night, we’re equals now in a way we never quite managed before.