Page 50 of Releasing the Djinn

Sitting up onto one elbow, Nadira looked at him expectantly. "What? What did she see?"

"I asked the same thing, furious but intrigued nonetheless," frustration clear in his voice. "She said happiness waited for me and that if I was patient, happiness would find and free me."

Nadira frowned.

"Yeah, I thought it was some bullshit riddle myself or some shitty proverb. I spent years imagining in great detail how I would kill her until I realized the evil witch was right," he murmured softly. "Happiness did find and free me," he gave her a long searching look that made Nadira's soul warm under it. "I put the spell she gave me on you because the day you disappeared from me and my magic I panicked, I thought another warlock had found you and captured you. I decided then and there that the spells carved into my flesh had to be carved into you as well, so I waited until you were asleep each night and drew them deep under your skin."

Guilt pricked at her heart even as it swelled with overflowing warmth at the meaning of his words. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

"Why didn't you just trust me?" he countered, turning his head towards her and settling a deadpan look at her.

Letting out a strangled sound of frustration, she began poking the djinn in the flank. "That makes no sense and you know it, Idrak."

Unperturbed at her attack, he sat up onto his elbow while reaching another hand around the back of her neck and pulling her close. "Yes, well you're-"

Replicating his move, she wrapped one hand behind his head and pulled him forward into a brief searing kiss, cutting off his words. "I love you."

"I love you too, wife," he growled against her lips before sitting up fully. Placing one hand on either side of her head, he forced her to lay on her back and stare up at him as he put one knee between her thighs. "Now, back to your awaiting punishment. Did you think I would forget your disobedience and the fact this is the second time you tried to run from me? Prepare yourself, my love, I'm going to make this last all night," he warned before bearing his sharp teeth in a malicious grin.

"Idrak!" Nadira shrieked happily, more than ready to accept anything the djinn gave her.

Fin