Page 42 of Djinn in Love

Veronica knew she should be upset, that what he’d done was manipulative and underhanded. But she knew that he was right.She never would have given him a chance if he hadn’t pushed her into a corner by insisting that she attend the wedding with him.

And she would have missed out.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Jasper staredup at Veronica’s face. Her thoughts were racing, it was obvious by the distant look in her eyes. But she didn’t look upset. No, she looked as though she were considering his words carefully. It was something he admired about her. She didn’t have kneejerk reactions. She listened. She weighed her thoughts and actions. She was calm and collected.

Those were Veronica’s strengths, and they balanced out his tendency to bulldoze his way to his goals and his quick temper. Her empathy and compassion reminded him to consider the emotions of others. He often developed tunnel vision and didn’t consider that his words or actions might trigger a response in the people around him. It wasn’t intentional. He could admit his tendency to be a selfish asshole, but more often than not, when he fucked up, it was because he was oblivious. Without trying, she reminded him to be aware of how he affected those around him.

“What happens after the weekend is over?” she asked.

“The same thing that happened before we came here—we text, we talk, and we spend time together.”

Her hands cupped his face, thumbs tracing the lines of his cheekbones. “We saw each other nearly every day this week.”

He tugged her closer. “I know. I wanted to see you every day. Is that a problem?”

Relief streamed through him when she shook her head. Her hands slipped down his throat to his shoulders. Veronica pressed him back against the headboard as she lowered her head. He remained still, letting her come to him. It was difficult to do when his instinct was to go after what he wanted. That part of his nature was powered with the same fire that created his magic as a djinn. The same fire that gave him the ability to bend reality if he wanted it badly enough. Or if someone wished for it aloud in his presence.

Veronica’s lips touched his and Jasper groaned at the taste of her. Her hands smoothed down his chest to the bottom hem of his shirt. Her nails lightly scratched his abdomen as her fingers slid beneath the fabric. He inhaled sharply at the contact. Her skin was cooler than his, but he wanted her to touch him anywhere she wanted.

He also wanted to touch her the same way. Jasper let his hands move up her back, beneath her t-shirt. The skin of her back was smooth and soft under his fingertips. She felt like satin beneath his hand.

Veronica surprised him when she straightened and tugged his shirt up until he lifted his arms and let her strip it from him. This time, when her hands moved over his chest, her delicate fingers trailed over his bare skin. Her eyes were locked on the movement of her hands on his body.

Then, she leaned forward and pressed her mouth to his throat. Her lips and tongue moved down his neck to his collarbone. Jasper held himself back, wanting to let her lead, but his hands flexed on her hips. She sighed, lifting her head.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were heavy-lidded as she looked down at him. “Do you want to stop?” she whispered.Her voice was shy, completely at odds with the desire on her face.

“No. Do you?” he asked.

Veronica shook her head, lifting her hand to place it in the center of his chest. “I’m a little nervous though.”

“Why?”

She swallowed hard. “It’s been a long time since I’ve trusted a man enough to…” She stopped talking, her hand flexing against him.

“But you trust me?”

Veronica nodded.

“Do you trust me enough to follow my lead?” he asked.

“Yes.”

Forcing himself to move slowly, Jasper moved his hands up her spine from her hips to between her shoulder blades. She didn’t resist as he pulled her down until he could kiss her. As their mouths meshed and he tangled his tongue with hers, Jasper felt her muscles relax against him. Veronica gave him more of her weight, leaning into him.

He slowly lifted her shirt, giving her time to change her mind or stop him, but Veronica raised her arms above her head, allowing him to remove it. A cotton bra covered her breasts, but he could see her tight nipples beneath the thin fabric.

Jasper smoothed his hands up her ribs, stopping just below her breasts. His thumbs brushed the band of her bra, moving back and forth slowly. He could see her pulse pounding at the base of her throat. Veronica took a shaky breath, her hips shifting. She gasped when her pussy ground against his cock.

He ran his tongue across the top of her breast until he reached her sternum. He pressed a kiss to her breastbone, feeling the way her chest rose and fell with pants. He could hear the catch in her breath when he ran his thumb over her nipple.

Jasper wanted to strip her naked and put his hands and mouth all over her. He was greedy for the smooth glide of her skin beneath him. But he held back. She was nervous and she’d admitted it had been a long time since her last relationship. He didn’t want to overwhelm her or push her too hard, too fast.

He wanted her with him every step of the way.

Pulling back, he looked up at her face, running a finger down the edge of her bra. “I want this off.”

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