Page 58 of Reclaimed Roots

"Let go for me, Jas," I urged, my lips brushing the shell of his ear. "I want to feel you come, want to feel you lose it in your jeans like a horny teenager."

His head tipped back against the couch, corded tendons standing out sharply on his neck. A guttural moan ripped from his chest as he thrust against me one last time then stilled.

I could feel the heat of his release even through the thick fabric of his jeans. I watched spellbound as a damp spot spread over his fly. Something about knowing I could affect him this way was incredibly erotic.

His arms locked around me, and he shuddered through the aftershocks, face buried in the crook of my neck as he fought to catch his breath. I stroked his damp hair soothingly, pressing tender kisses to his stubbled jaw, his temple, any part of him I could reach.

We clung to each other as we slowly drifted back down to earth, our frantic heartbeats slowing, breaths evening out.My limbs felt heavy and sated, my body humming with contentment.

As the post-orgasmic haze started to clear, reality seeped back in around the edges. I burrowed closer to Jasper, tucking my face into the warm curve where his neck met his shoulder. I wanted to stay cocooned in his arms for a little longer and pretend the outside world didn't exist.

"What are we doing, Nat?" Jasper whispered against my hair.

God, whatamI doing?How could I continue keeping secrets from him? I was also avoiding the conversation I knew we needed to have about my life back in the city?

I didn't know what this all meant for us. It felt so good, and I didn't want it to end. But my vacation time had almost run out, and I had a job to return to.

Before I could spiral too far, Jasper's phone rang. He groaned, reaching for it with obvious reluctance.

"It's Elliot," he said, frowning at the screen. "I should probably take this."

I nodded, shifting off his lap so he could answer. As Jasper talked to his brother, I smoothed down my dress and tried to tame my tousled hair. The call was brief, but I could tell from Jasper's tense posture that something was wrong.

"What is it?" I asked as soon as he hung up.

Jasper ran a hand through his hair. "Chase," he said tightly. "He was arrested for indecent exposure."

"What? How?"

"Apparently he got drunk and decided to go skinny dipping in the town fountain." Jasper shook his head. "Thisisn't like him, Nat. I mean, Chase has always been wild, but lately... I'm really worried about him."

I reached out and took his hand. "Do you need to go bail him out?"

"Yeah, Elliot's already on his way to the station. I should meet him there." He hesitated, looking at me apologetically. "I'm sorry to cut our night short. Turn in for the night if you get tired before I get back, yeah?"

"I will. And don't apologize. Your family needs you. Go."

As Jasper got ready to leave, which mostly involved changing his underwear and pants, I watched him in silence, my secret threatening to suffocate me. The fact that Chase seemed to be disappearing down some self-destructive spiral only reinforced my resolve to come clean about the orchard's finances. I couldn't keep this quiet any longer, not when it could impact the entire family.

Tomorrow,I thought to myself as Jasper gave me a quick goodbye kiss.I'll tell him everything tomorrow.

Chapter Twenty-Five

JASPER

I followedElliot into the Sable Point PD. The stench of stale coffee and industrial cleaner enveloped me as we stepped through the door. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting a harsh glow on the dated wood-paneled walls. A few officers milled about. Their hushed conversations and the muted ringing of phones created a low hum of activity.

"Hey, Andy. Thanks for calling," Elliot said, his voice echoing slightly in the cramped entryway.

Andy stood a little straighter, smoothing his immaculately pressed uniform. "That's Officer Clark to you."

Elliot rolled his eyes. "Okay, Officer Dipshit."

Andy's stern facade cracked, and he let out a hearty laugh that bounced off the dingy walls. "I'm just glad it was me who found him. Chief has had it up to here with his shit."

Chase slumped in a chair, his back to us like a sulking child.

"Everton!"Andy barked.

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