Chapter 22: Elation

~o0o~

Jorah knew he should be paying attention in case his Princess needed him – but his mind kept wandering off. He stood off to the side and tried his best to re-focus on Daenerys, who was fielding questions about what it was like to be a Princess from 12-year-olds in a classroom in Angola. Missandei was helpfully translating back and forth in Portuguese.

"What is your favorite part about being a Princess?"

"I like that I am able to travel and meet all of you – to learn more about you. And something I would really like to learn is what you want to be when you grow up?" Daenerys asked the younger girl and she smiled at the attention. Jorah beamed. She wasn't throwing out a charitable line simply because she was being filmed. She was really engaging with the students and his mind couldn't help but associate her kindness and ease with them to what she would be like as a mother one day.

"I want to be a Princess, like you..."

"I promise you that being a Princess is not all that exciting. You have the world at your fingertips..." Daenerys prompted her, and the other students were squirming in their seats for a chance to answer the question as well.

"A nurse!" the girl finally replied, and Daenerys nodded and smiled, motioning for others to answer.

"An astronaut!"

"I want to cure cancer..."

"A veterinarian!"

Jorah thought that for a moment he saw sadness in the Princesses' eyes as Missandei repeated all of the dreams of the students before her. The school they were visiting was in serious need of more funding and although the students were bright and talented, some were at a disadvantage and they all knew it. So far on the Tour, Daenerys had kept a detailed journal of every place they visited, every promise she made, and everything she intended to do to help. He knew she would make good on every word of it – even if it meant giving away her sizable Royal allowance to make the donations necessary.

As the students kept on with their questions, Jorah retreated back into the mess of thoughts that had been plaguing him for days as they continued the Tour.

He hadn't said a word about the ring or Petyr's text to anyone. He desperately wanted to tell Jaime but couldn't bring himself to admit out loud that he and Daenerys couldn't realistically work. They had two more weeks – precious time he wanted to spend being himself with her, instead of worrying about the inevitable.

Another part of him fantasized about everything actually working out. He had even made a mental game plan in case of the unlikely event that it did. They would return from the Tour and Jorah would hand in his resignation to King Aerys and ask that Jaime take his place. He would lay it out for anyone that asked – Aerys, Petyr, his family, the British people – that he loved her more than anything or anyone else every could and intended to be by her side, protect her, and support her for the rest of his life.

Jorah lowered his head at the seriousness of his thoughts– for the rest of his life.

He was too far gone for her. The last few days had been a dream after their makeshift 'date'. They spent every morning and every night in her room, talking and kissing – sometimes more of the latter. The more he got to know her, the more he thought back to the note that Rhaegar left him. They were so similar and yet so different. She challenged him and he tempered her. She brought out his playfulness and he gave her a space to be vulnerable. How Rhaegar knew this was remarkable – or maybe it was all just luck. He couldn't care less – just that he was lucky enough to know her.

But Jorah's life had had its twists and turns, and he couldn't help but think it had all worked out that way for her.

And things were moving fast between them – not only emotionally, but physically as well. Just that morning, Daenerys had tried to coax him into going further with her by climbing on top of him and pushing him down on her bed. And oh Gods her hands felt so good sliding underneath his shirt and it had taken all of his willpower to move them from unbuttoning his slacks. She had sulked in disappointment and he ached to tell her how hard it was for him to stop. He wanted her just as badly.

Jorah had told her many times that he wanted to take it slow. That that would have to wait until after their first proper date together.

But now, it was more than just doing things right and trying to show her the respect and care she deserved. She was going to be engaged to another man – and Jorah felt guilty about that.

Daenerys' feelings for him were strong – he knew that. But when it came down to it, despite their incredible connection – would she turn against her family and the expectations of her country for him? When she could so easily live a decent life with Robb and do her duty?

It hurt too much to consider and he forced himself once again back into the present, to look at the woman his heart now belonged to, still absorbed with the students, laughing with them, and looking like an angel with her moon-kissed hair and white sundress.

It was an image he would keep in his heart forever, no matter how things worked out.

~o0o~

"Daenerys, breathe...why are you so nervous? It's just Jorah..." Missy put her hands on her best friends' shoulders and her chin on her platinum head, looking into the mirror in front of them as the Princess sat at her dressing table.

"That's the thing. It's not 'just Jorah' anymore. It's never been 'just Jorah'" she blushed, and Missy went back to braiding Daenerys' hair.

It was a rare free evening for all of them. Jaime was in his room, having a Skype date with Brienne and Gilly was doing the same with Sam. Grey was in the kitchen cooking for Missy and Daenerys and Jorah were going out on a real date. Out into the world as two adults who fancied the hell out of one another.

She had on a dark blue gown, one of the few pieces of formal-wear she had brought on the Tour, but she wanted to look amazing for him. Missy was braiding her hair intricately down her back and she looked stunning.

"It's going to be so romantic," Missy smiled and before Daenerys could reply, there was a knock on her door and Jorah stepped inside.

Missy took a step back, wanting to blend into the wall as the two of them took one another in, especially when Daenerys stood up and he was able to take all of her in. Missy was sure that even if there had been a dozen people around them – they would have only seen each other.

"I hope you both have a nice time," Missy offered and Jorah cleared his throat – knowing he had been caught staring.

"Same to you and Grey. I'm driving us there and back and I have Grey's spare..." Jorah flashed open his suit jacket to reveal a handgun. Daenerys knew this was breaking so many protocols but felt entirely safe with Jorah. She also knew any and all of them could lose their jobs letting her go out without proper security – and they were doing it all to make her happy.

Jorah offered Daenerys his arm and led her outside to the car, helping her in before getting in himself. They drove to Luanda Bay, on the coast of Angola, and down a two-lane highway on a narrow peninsula that snaked out to the water. At the very end of the peninsula, they reached their destination – a romantic little restaurant called Café del Mar, that they had all to themselves.

The two of them were shown into the restaurant, completely empty, but lit up with candles and all of the wait staff at their service. Daenerys greeted everyone, including the chefs, who were all clearly eager to meet her, before they were sat at a cozy table overlooking the bay and the setting sun.

Jorah had found the best restaurant in the area and managed to secure it last minute with his Royal credentials – but it still came at a substantial cost – one that he paid for personally, not only because it was important that he do so, but to keep it a secret.

"This is gorgeous, Jorah. It really is..." she smiled, looking around.

"I'm sorry it couldn't be more personal, but it's all I could find that was so private..." he apologized, and she reached across the table to touch his hand.

"It's perfect, because it's just us." She reassured him, "Thank you."

After that initial moment of nervousness, they fell into the same easy rhythm they had been establishing in the last few days – a back and forth full of smiles and flirtation and lowered gazes and pink-tinged cheeks.

They shared some sangria and he ordered fish and she a seafood pasta. They marveled at the way the ocean glittered with light before the sun fully sank below the horizon and the sky started to show them the stars. He told her funny stories about Rhaegar that made her laugh so hard her cheeks hurt. She regaled him with stories about her and Missy at Uni, and how they used to drive Grey up the walls. He told her about Lyanna and how he wanted Daenerys to meet her. She told him about her mother and how she wished Jorah could have met her.

After dinner, the restaurant owner showed them a small, private path down towards the beach. Daenerys took off her heels and Jorah held her hand as they made their way down a rocky slope to the edge of the water. He watched as she ventured forward and let the cool water run over her feet and ankles and she looked back at him, beautifully lit from behind by the glow of the moon.

"Jorah...come join me!" she motioned for him to come closer, but he shook his head. He was perfectly content watching her. That was until he saw her bend down and scoop her hand into the water to splash him. As soon as the sandy water hit him, he took off towards her, suddenly not caring that his dress shoes were going to be soaked through as he picked her up, spun her around once, held her close to him, and kissed her.

~o0o~

"I should go to bed, Daenerys," Jorah told her as he laid on the edge of her bed in flannel pyjama bottoms and a white undershirt, head resting on his bent left arm as he looked up at her. It was the third time he had said it to her – almost more for himself, than anything, as it was nearing one in the morning.

After they came back from the restaurant, drunk on nothing but love and infatuation for one another, they snuck past Grey and Missy, who were asleep in each other's arms on the couch. Jorah took a moment to change out of his wet dress pants and shoes and had joined Daenerys in her room.

And even though Jorah's pyjamas were modest, Daenerys' weren't. When he left her alone to change, she put on a short, silky powder blue nightdress that she had chosen very much on purpose. It had been worth it to see the way Jorah's eyes widened when he slipped into her bedroom and closed the door behind him.

Yet despite the fact that they were alone and on her bed, they had spent the last few hours continuing their conversation from their date.

"Don't go..." Daenerys pouted.

"I should. You need your rest for another long day tomorrow." He sat up from his comfortable position and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

"Jorah...stay. You can sleep here. With me." She bit her lip nervously as she asked, and he seemed to consider it for a moment before he sighed and shook his head.

"It wouldn't be fair to everyone else to be seen taking such liberties with you. I know that everyone in this house is aware of what is going on between us, but if Gilly were to come in here tomorrow morning and see me in your bed, then what type of example am I setting as your equerry? I would never expect her to wait on me as she does you..."

"But you aren't going to be my equerry for much longer. When we get home, I'm going to tell my father that I want to be with you. And he certainly won't let you keep your job..." Daenerys frowned when she said the words aloud, realizing how self-centered they sounded. "I'm so sorry – I should have asked you before I started planning things in my head. Would you want that? Or do you want to stay my equerry? I know how hard you worked for the position."

"Daenerys, I worked hard for the position with your brother, but I fell into the position with you under the worst of circumstances. I want more than anything to be with you and I won't hesitate to give up my position for your family if it means we could make this work," Jorah said honestly. He was touched that she had been thinking along the same lines as he, even if he conveniently ignored the fact that there would be another man waiting on the tarmac for them in Scotland ready to propose to her.

"We are going to make this work." She told him, determination and love in her eyes as she reached for his hand and pulled him fully back onto the bed, "Jorah – I want you."

"Daenerys..." he whispered as he pressed his forehead against hers, "We should..."

"Don't tell me that we should take it slow. I know you are trying to protect me. To protect this. But I know what I am doing and I know you want this too," she told him and he palmed her cheek and kissed her fiercely, finally letting the dam break on the physical need he had pent up for her and laid her gently down on the bed underneath him.

Daenerys ran her hands through his hair and pressed her hips up to try and find the friction that she so desperately needed, but one of his strong hands grabbed her hip and pushed her back down into the mattress, urging her to just enjoy the moment before her.

Jorah took his time and kissed down the delicate curve of her neck and the marble-cut line of her collar bone before slipping down the thin straps of her nightgown and continuing his journey between the swell of her breasts. His hands ghosted over them, just enough to make her nipples peak against his palms, before gliding them over the curves of her hips, bringing the fabric down slowly as well.

He groaned appreciatively as he kissed the feminine swell of her belly and finally revealed the soft patch of blonde hair and pink lips. He gently ran a finger down her slit and the wetness made him even stiffer. He looked up at her, wantonly laid out on the bed, hair splayed around her, watching him, before lowering his head to kiss her mound and the inside of her sensitive thighs, and finally, her center.

From the moment he started working for her, he promised to be at her service in any way she needed him – and right now all he wanted was to give her the pleasure she deserved.

The more he tasted her, the more he couldn't get enough, and it only increased his arousal tenfold to explore her in that way, with her soft mewling and twisting of the bedsheets in her hands. She was so sensitive, and clearly new to this type of indulgence, that even a few gentle licks against her clit sent into a frenzy loud enough to wake the entire house. A few more minutes of him worshipping her, his thumb gently rubbing circles around her clit as he kissed her sopping wet folds and she came undone beautifully for him. He held her hips as she bucked and shook from her orgasm and he enjoyed the sweet nectar she gave him.

Jorah kissed back up her body and gently caressed her cheek, happy with how sated she looked and perfectly content to stop things there, but Daenerys' eyes told him that she wasn't done and she soon had him just as naked as she and underneath her.

He couldn't believe how beautiful she looked hovering above him, kissing him, her breasts pressed against his chest and her hands wrapped around his cock.

"Oh Gods...Daenerys," he groaned gruffly when she lowered herself onto him and he saw the pleasure overcome her as well.

It was as If their bodies were in tune with one another's' on a different level. Each movement brought them closer and him deeper inside of her. Their kisses turned sloppy and needy as she rode him. Her nails scratched down his strong shoulders and found purchase there when she finally lost control again and shuddered as another incredible orgasm overcame her, nearly just as Jorah rolled his hips up into her a few more times lost himself as well.

He held her tightly in his arms as they came down from their shared high. He had been married and made love to many women in his lifetime...but nothing had ever come close to the near spiritual experience he felt with her. The intense feeling both scared and elated him. Jorah knew that even if he couldn't keep her – that his heart would belong to her until his dying day.

"I love you, Jorah." Daenerys whispered against his neck.

"I love you, too."