Disclaimer: I do not own Aladdin or any of the character's they belong to Disney and co. Please R&R as the feedback is greatly appreciated.
His senses were playing tricks on him again, or so he thought when he opened his eye's the next morning to find his heart curled up next to him in sleep. Soft tresses of slightly mused hair tickled his bare chest as it rose and fell with each breath he took. He brushed the crown of her hair with a kiss and pulled her even nearer, burying his face in her neck. He took in a deep breath, inhaling her scent and the warmth and sweetness of her skin.
In her sleep Jasmine felt warm tears in the hollow of her shoulder and the heat of his breath. She sensed him shiver, and sleepily turned on her side and slid her arms around his neck, drawing his head against the bare skin of her shoulder and breast, shielding him like a child from whatever nightmares were causing him to wake.
But he was not sad; his were tears of gratitude that this time the dream he had been holding in his arms was real, and was still there when he awoke.
Her eyes fluttered open and at the sight of him she felt a tug at her heart, a melancholy that at first she didn't recognize, though she had felt it before. It had been with her a long time, and she realized she had felt it on each occasion that she had thought about Mozenrath over the past few months. It was not until now that she recognized it for what it was, because it had been so long since she had felt anything like it.
Whatever he was, for good or ill, he had her heart, the heart she hadn't realized was still there. There really was no turning back, now that they had both realized the truth.
Jasmine rose then to greet the rising sun, reluctant though she was to leave the warmth of the bed and the body that she had come to know almost as well as her own. She extracted herself from the sleeping Lord, a feat she accomplished only because he had felt more than generous in letting her glimpse a shred of his humanity, he'd shown her more than most, more than anyone and she knew not to take that admission for granted.
Thus she went about filling the bathtub in the other room with warm, clear water from the pump, tossing in a handful of spiced rose petals. She was standing before the glass brushing the few tangles out of her hair, when the door opened and Mozenrath came in, dressed in a heavy black robe.
Jasmine's eyes sparkled with excitement, but her expression remained neutral, "I thought you were otherwise engaged in sleeping the whole morning."
"I am but then I felt it only prudent to help you wash your back, you must be more than a bit sore from last night." he replied with a smirk, removing his robe, he came closer then ambling through the hot mist.
She smiled softly, reaching into one of the glass apothecary jars on the table below the towel rack and extracted more dried rose petals mixed with sweet-smelling spices; the soothing aromas of cinnamon, rosemary, and vanilla melded with the perfume blend joining the clouds of mist wafting through the air, filling the bathroom with a heavenly aroma. She walked unself-consciously to the tub and tossed the spicy mixture in. The potpourri hissed as the heat released more of the aromatic oils, and the water swirled with a shimmery film.
She stepped slowly into the tub, enjoying the warmth of the waves. The water closed around her as she sat down and stretched out, luxuriating in its torridity, and slipped beneath its surface up to her neck. Her body relaxed and her mind began to follow.
Mozenrath stepped into the tub, he leaned forward and gently kissed her. She returned the kiss warmly, running her hands up his arms, feeling their strength. As her tongue flickered into his mouth she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer. He slipped his hand behind her and eased next to her in the wide tub, pulling her into his arms. She snuggled against his chest and sighed softly, feeling content.
He let loose a deep sigh of pleasure, he was amazed at the depths of desire she stirred in him, and the intensity of longing her touch brought forth. The sight of her reminded him of the legends he had heard long ago when sailing with mages, of merrows and mermaids, and sea nymphs, whose song and beauty could enchant a man into losing his heart forever. He thought for a moment that perhaps that was what she was.
Jasmine parted her legs and wrapped them around her lover, she drew him within her; when her warmth closed around him he clung to her. They rolled briefly beneath the surface of the water, when they surfaced she lay astride and above him. He watched her face in awe, the feelings she was experiencing showing openly, changing from moment to moment, transforming her beautiful countenance into something indescribable. She was lost in the joy of a man who loved her.
With each caress, each motion, each wave felt them moving towards a dual ecstasy, one that would wildly satisfy their physical needs while, in a deeper, more profound way, comfort their wounded souls with the healing salve of trusting love that neither had believed in for many years.
In that moment, as he made love to her with his body, and his soul, she lost forever the fear of that part of his nature that was alien to her, the strange darkness part, and the power it held over everything. It was just another piece of him to be cherished, along with the rest.
Jasmine closed her eyes as the waters of the tub surged around them, caressing her back. She could feel a tingling warmth that started in her fingers and toes begin to move inward, building in intensity; she knew when it reached her center there would be an explosion. She clung to him, who was in the midst of his own battle for dominion over the moment; he was losing.
She opened her eyes and studied his face. It was enthralled but pensive, in the struggle to maintain control. "You're holding back," she scolded gently between breaths. "Let go" He closed his eyes in response, and shook his head slightly.
Jasmine was at the edge of a realm she had no desire to enter alone. She slowed the delicious rocking slightly, and he gripped her waist tighter. "Please, I'm not going without you. Let go." she whispered.
He did. The waves began to churn with vibrancy like a raging river, rapids tumbling over themselves as the rhythm of their movements increased. The water roared white with the force of their passion, sloshing over the edges of the tub and flooding the floor. The currents in the tub, responding to his rapture, crashed over Jasmine like waves against rocks on a shoreline. Even the air of the Citadel took on an electric hum, and in the distance she was vaguely aware that the fire on the hearth in the next room leapt and roared in response.
She had no idea how long the pleasure actually lasted, but it seemed almost long enough to erase a lifetime of sorrow. Finally fire and darkness melded in ecstatic release, and they cried out together as the waves broke over them, submerging them in froth.
After, they lay in the tub for a long time without speaking until the water grew tepid. Mozenrath kissed her forehead and looked down at her, a tender look in his eyes. "You alright? Didn't breathe in any water, did you?"A long sigh escaped her, and she turned to look at him, smiling. Her eyes shone up at him like starlight reflected on the water.
He smiled softly, "I love you, my flower." the words spoken were almost inaudible and more than a hint of fear had crept into the confession, fear of being rejected by the only thing he had found happiness in. Her eyes sparkled and just as softly she replied, "I love you to, Mozenrath."
The element within her that was fire found its way into the dark places of his being that had felt no warmth since the night his soul was torn open, until at last it touched his wounded heart. The flames filled in the empty parts of his soul and he felt it heal, if only for a while.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was more to show that Mozenrath does still have a human side and can care for something other than himself. I tried very hard to show that even with his dark nature there is still hope for him. I promise I will get to what has happened to Aladdin, just give me time. Thank you to my reviewers, your feedback is greatly appreciated!