Page 48 of Until Forever

“How come?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. Leaving here without you was hard, and hooking up with someone was the furthest thing from my mind.”

“Why did you leave? I know you said you got scared and that you thought it was for the best, but something tells me there is more to that.”

Jasper sighs and scrubs his hand down his face. “My father got in my head. I was on my way to you, and he’d been drinking and taunting me like always. He said some things, and I tried to ignore them, but I watched you with your parents and listened to them go on about how amazing you are. I guess it got to me—what my dad said, and I believed him.”

“What did he say?”

He looks at me for a moment. “That I’m not good enough for you. That one day you’ll see that I hold you back and leave.”

There’s an awkward pause between us, one that says way more than either of us can say ourselves. Deep down I’ve always known something happened that night, and now I know what. I just wish he would have talked to me.

“You said you’ve been single for a year. How do you get your release?” He breaks the silence.

I don’t answer him right away. Instead, we watch at each other for a minute; the only indication either of us is alive is our audible breathing.

“I’m resourceful.” I shy away.

“And what sort of resources are those?”

I remain quiet. Jasper’s gaze darkens almost immediately, the lust and desire he had for me a few hours ago returning. I don’t realize he’s moved until he’s only inches from me.

“Hm?” he hums and pushes my hair behind my ear.

His eyes meet mine, and he searches my face for a response. Much like earlier, I find myself leaning into him. Jasper watches my mouth and strokes my cheek with his thumb then lightly separates my bottom lip from between my teeth.

Neither of us speaks, and the air seems to go still around us. He lifts himself enough to bring our faces together, but he doesn’t kiss me like I think he will. He lingers over me, staring into me as if my eyes will tell him what he wants to know.

I blink to keep my mind from racing, wanting only to think about us at this very moment. It feels like forever—the way he painfully makes me wait to feel his mouth on mine. I lose the battle with patience and cup his face, raking my gaze over his features.

Jasper inches closer, his eyes on my lips as he closes the space between us. He grabs my hips and lowers me onto his lap, my weight settling against him when he nestles into the sofa.

He strokes my hair out of the way then pulls me down to him by the nape of my neck. His kiss is hard, hot, aggressive, and wild, our limbs flailing as we make out on the couch. I moan into him, my body rocking involuntarily against his hard chest. I touch his face again, and he moves his hands to my ass, squeezing, and kneading me through my jeans.

“You’re so fucking beautiful, baby,” he whispers into my neck while tugging the collar of my shirt down my shoulder, not caring that he’s stretched the material.

Jasper places a kiss along my collarbone, the feeling lingering long past the moment. And when he bites down, nicking my flesh, a wide-mouth gasp pours out of me. He slips his hands under my top, and I flinch from the sudden waft of air on my skin. Warmth covers me, and a tingle travels the length of my spine, following the trail his fingers make on the way up.

I melt into a place of comfort and safety at the feel of his large hands splayed over my back. His palms are rough against my flesh, and his body hot between my thighs.

I grind in his lap, my eyes closing of their own accord as he hardens beneath me.

“I’ve missed this,” he mutters into my mouth and rakes his hands around me until he’s holding me tight. “The way you feel.” He squeezes me. “Your soft skin.” He kisses my shoulder.

“Mm,” I utter.

“Look at me,” he demands but doesn’t give me the chance to do it on my own. “You drive me wild, you know that? All these years later, and my heart still beats for you.”

His finger is hooked under my chin, and he moves my hair behind me with his other hand. Jasper watches me for a beat, and I feel vulnerable under his gaze. The intensity is enough to drive me insane. It’s been a while since a man has looked at me the way he is right now—a long time sincehe’slooked at me.

And it feels amazing.

Knowing that I still make him just a little stir-crazy excites me. A wave of confidence I didn’t have a moment ago takes over, and I go with it. Letting it take control because he does something to me, too. He makes my insides coil, but then he always has. With just the slightest touch I’m putty in his hands.

“I’m going to make you come,” he promises, his voice low and sultry-like.

My core twitches, my arousal building faster than it ever has. “J-JJ-”

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