Page 36 of Djinn in Love

“You won’t sleep on the couch,” Jasper stated, his tone downright bossy.

“Then, it’s settled. You’re sleeping in the bed.”

She didn’t give him a chance to argue, just disappeared back down the hallway to the bedroom.

Tilting his head back, Jasper studied the ceiling and wondered exactly how long he might end up in prison after he killed his brother. Because Milo was definitely a dead man walking.

Jasper was going to torture him first though because sleeping in that huge bed with Veronica and keeping his hands to himself was going to be agonizing.

CHAPTER TEN

Veronica woke in stages.She was warm and cozy on the most comfortable bed she’d ever slept on.

Though she was halfway tempted to let herself drift back to sleep, she opened her eyes and blinked several times. Jasper’s face was only a few inches from hers, his eyes closed and his breathing deep and even. He didn’t look younger in sleep. But he did seem much more peaceful. With his eyes closed, she wasn’t distracted by the intense, nearly black color of his irises or the way he looked at her as though he could read her mind.

He was so handsome that her fingers tingled with the need to touch him to see if he was real. As she continued to look at him and listen to him breathe, Veronica could no longer resist. Her fingers trailed over his brow bone and down to his cheek. His skin was so hot, as though fire burned within him.

At her touch, his eyes opened and locked on her face. His gaze was warm and still sleepy as he looked at her. The intensity that usually surrounded him was at rest. Looking at Jasper right now, Veronica was no longer intimidated. He looked like the kind of man she could fall in love with.

The urge to kiss him came out of nowhere. Veronica couldn’t stop herself from looking down at his mouth. A low rumbleemerged from his throat, and she decided to stop holding back. With his words and actions yesterday, Jasper made it clear that this weekend wouldn’t be the last time they saw each other.

Veronica inched forward, her gaze moving from his lips to his eyes. They stared at each other as she closed the distance. She sensed he wanted to let her decide if she would kiss him or not.

When their lips touched, his hand glided up her arm to the base of her neck, slipping beneath her braid to curve his fingers around her nape. It wasn’t until his mouth opened against hers, that Veronica thought about the fact that she had morning breath.

Inhaling sharply, she started to pull away. “Let me brush my?—”

Before she could finish her sentence, he rolled, pulling her on top of him, and his mouth found hers again. Veronica forgot about morning breath, about her insecurities, about the world in general. All her mental shields came crashing down at the sensations. She could feel the pleasure he took from the kiss. The arousal that poured through him. Or maybe that was hers. She couldn’t tell.

Jasper wrapped her braid around his fist, tugging her head back to bare her throat. He kissed just below her ear before his mouth moved to the place where her neck and shoulder met. The light scrape of teeth made her shiver and Veronica rocked against him, her knees parting to dig into the mattress on each side of his hips.

His mouth moved back to hers, his tongue sliding into her mouth. His free hand moved to her ass, pressing her tighter against his body. Veronica felt the hard length of his dick beneath her and her breath caught in her throat. He liked what she was doing, she could feel that.

Jasper released his hold on her braid, his hand moving down her back to the hem of her t-shirt. Hot fingers slipping beneaththe cotton and branding the flesh of her side. She shivered at the rough scrape of his palm against her ribs. When his hand cupped her breast, his thumb brushing over her nipple, Veronica gasped against his lips. Her body shuddered as she panted against his mouth.

Her reaction seemed to break the spell forming over them. Jasper’s lips eased on hers, his kiss becoming lighter and more teasing. His hand returned to her braid, tugging it lightly until she tilted her head back. He pressed another kiss to the side of her throat, wringing another shiver from her.

He released her hair, and Veronica lowered her chin so she could look at him again.

“Good morning,” he murmured, his voice low and rough.

Another shudder ran through her muscles, which made him smirk at her.

“Good morning,” she replied.

They stared at each other in the morning light. He was smiling and relaxed, more than she’d ever seen from him before. She thought that she could stay right here for the rest of the day. But only if he stayed with her. Unfortunately, she knew it wouldn’t be possible.

“What’s on the agenda today?” she asked.

“The groomsmen are playing golf this morning and the bridal party is having a spa day.” He paused. “I made you an appointment for a few treatments when my mother asked me about it. I know you don’t really know Prema or anyone else, so I made sure your treatments would be after theirs. I wanted you to have some privacy, so you wouldn’t be tired before the dinner tonight.”

She continued to stare down at him, taken aback that he’d gone to so much trouble for her.

When she didn’t say anything, he continued, “Or you can come play golf with me and go to the wedding rehearsal afteror just hang out in the room or at the indoor pool. There’s a luncheon today, but most of the wedding party won’t be there. It’s more for the family to have a chance to visit with each other before tomorrow. Do whatever makes you happy.”

Whatever made her happy?

She hadn’t thought about what made her happy in a long time. Veronica started to shift off him, but Jasper’s hands clamped onto her hips, holding her still.

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