Page 21 of Djinn in Love

Jasper turned toward her just as she leaned over to kiss his cheek. Her lips landed on his and Veronica jolted with a squeak. Before she could pull away completely, he cupped her cheek in his hand, rubbing his thumb over her bottom lip.

When she took a shaky breath, his eyes lifted to hers. Then, he said what he’d been wanting to say since Monday.

“The only woman I’ve wanted to date since I joined Mystical Matchmakers is you.”

Veronica blinked, staring back up at him in confusion. “What?”

“After you turned me down the third time I asked you on a date, I stopped because I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

A furrow appeared between her brows. “Then, why did you basically blackmail me into coming to the wedding with you?”

Jasper shrugged. “I said I’m the best of my family, not that I’m a good guy. I’m not above exploiting a weakness when necessary if it gets me what I want.”

A flush spread across her cheeks.

“A wedding with my entire crazy family wouldn’t be my choice for a third date, but I’ll take what I can get and ask for more.”

“Ask for more?” she repeated.

His thumb skimmed across her lower lip again. “I want to kiss you. Will you let me?”

The pink on her cheeks deepened. Her eyes grew heavy, and her breathing became unsteady. He heard her swallow before she opened her mouth and answered, “Yes.”

Though she agreed, Jasper took his time. He leaned forward, giving her a chance to change her mind. He kept his eyes locked on hers until their lips touched. Veronica inhaled, a small sound escaping her, before her eyes fluttered shut.

He traced the tip of his tongue over her lip, enjoying the softness of her flesh. Her mouth opened against his, her tongue slipping out to meet his. She tasted like the sangria she drank with lunch and the apple tartlet they’d shared for dessert.

Jasper curved his hand around the back of her neck, sliding his fingers into the hair at her nape. Her mouth opened wider against his and let him inside. Using his hold on her hair, he pulled her closer.

A breathy moan escaped her, vibrating against his tongue. Jasper tried to lean closer, to remove the distance between them. But his elbow hit the steering wheel, and the horn blared, echoing around them.

Veronica jolted, pulling away. Her eyelids were heavy, and her mouth was wet and swollen. She looked dazed and thoroughly kissed.

Jasper leaned forward, intent on kissing her again, when his brother’s ugly face appeared on the other side of the passenger window as he rapped the glass with his knuckles. Veronica yelped, whirling around to see who was knocking on her window.

Biting back a string of foul language, Jasper unbuckled his seatbelt. “Don’t move. I’ll get rid of him and open your door.”

He didn’t wait for her to reply, just hauled his body out of the car and rounded the front end. Jasper didn’t stop moving until his body bumped Milo’s. His brother’s cheeky grin didn’t dim in the least as he backed up.

“What’s up, big bro?” he asked. When he tried to lower his head to take another peek at Veronica, Jasper put his hand flat against his brother’s chest. “Aw, c’mon. I just wanted to say hi.”

Keeping his voice low, Jasper answered him, “Veronica is shy. Her family is small and not that close. She’s not used to people like you or me. Or our family. I want her to be comfortable this weekend and not run away screaming, never to take my calls again. So, tone it the fuck down for now, okay?”

With each word that Jasper spoke, his brother’s eyebrows rose higher and higher until he looked as though his eyes were about to pop out of his head. “Holy shit. You really do like her.”

Jasper released a disgusted sigh. “I thought we already established this.”

“Yeah, but I figured you’d be over the infatuation by today. It’s obvious that you’re in even deeper than before.”

“And this surprises you, why?” Jasper asked. “I told you she was different. That she was the only woman I’ve wanted like this. Ever.”

At his words, Milo took a step back. “Okay. Understood. I’ll watch my step for now and help you keep Mom and Dad in line tonight. But you know she’s going to see us as our true selves before the night is over. With Auntie Samira and Minabeing here for the cocktail party and the rest of our cousins and friends coming in tomorrow, the typical Bayat family craziness will make an appearance sooner rather than later.”

“I know, Milo. I just want to give her a chance to meet you, Prema, and Mom and Dad before I throw her in the deep end.”

The passenger door to his car opened, nudging him in the hip. Jasper stepped back, taking hold of the door handle, and pulling it the rest of the way open. Veronica looked up at him, her cheeks still pink, but her eyes were sparking with irritation.

“If you need to talk to your brother, I can wait inside,” she said.

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