Page 32 of Toy No More

Still…it didn’t feel nearly as hard to get a moment to meet before, did it?

When we finally find out that we’re both actually done with work and have some free time in the evening, Jasper is unreachable. His phone is turned off, or he’s in a meeting and by the time he responds to me, agreeing to me going forth with my plans, it’s already too late to do them.

It’s while we both lie naked in bed in the morning and Jasper brushes his fingers against the outline of my spine after fucking me throughout half of the night that I finally let myself accept the ugly truth: he’s doing it on purpose.

Without going back on his word or coming off as insecure, he does it in the exact way that would make it impossible for me to even confront him about it without sounding unreasonable.

Maybe I am.

Maybe me wanting to go out with Kobe, despite it appearing like the entire universe is standing against it, isn’t healthy. Isn’t good for the actual relationship I have. With that thought floating around my head, I look up at Jasper. He stops the movement of his hand and looks away from his phone.

“Another busy day?” I ask attentively before he has a chance to apologize for breaking the rule of no screens during our shared time once again.

He groans. “Mhm. The old man wants me at the cabin for the evening. To bitch and lecture me about what kind of leader I’m supposed to be, no doubt.” Jasper grinds the words through his teeth with venom dripping from them.

Is Kobe going to drive him there?

If there’s another fight, which there always is when he and his father get together recently, Jasper will probably want to cut himself from everyone and run away again for a while.

“I was hoping we could watch that movie that comes out today in the cinema,” I say, giving him the puppy-eye look while resting my chin on his shoulder. A dirty, disingenuous plan already forms in my head as he glances at me.

“You can’t expect me to tell my father no only to see a movie with you, doll,” he says, drawing his brows together as if in disappointment, using that irritating nickname.

I sigh and roll on my back next to him. “Well…I guess I’ll just go with one of the girls then. Make a nice night out of it. I haven’t been out with them in ages,” I say.

Jasper smiles, brushing my hair. He kisses me softly on the cheek. “You do that.” With a strained groan, he gets up and stretches by the bed. “I’m taking a shower before we head out. Come join me,” he says as he’s walking away toward the bathroom.

I shouldn’t let myself do this. Shouldn’t scheme behind his back or lie… And I shouldn’t feel good doing it. But this time, he gave me no choice.

Suppressing a mischievous smile, I reach for my phone and text Kobe.

If Jasper won’t allow this to happen all the while pretending he doesn’t mind to not look like a hypocrite, I’ll have to be resourceful enough to take care of it myself.

Chapter 11

Kobe

Restlesslikesomeinexperiencedteenager, I wait by the statue in the park outside the shopping street, where Apollo’s message told me to. It is a busy spot with plenty of people visiting the many restaurants, shops, and bars in the area.

I check my phone again, making sure I have the right time and place. My fingers tingle. It’s been a while since I went on a date. Still, I don’t recall ever being this nervous.

A date…Is this even a date?

I’m afraid I still don’t quite understand what this thing is. Does Apollo just want to screw around with me? For how long? Are we going to chat first like normal people? Or is his curious interest in me purely physical?

I’m not sure what to think. Arguably, I’m what most of those guys I work with would consider old-fashioned. I’ve had my share of spontaneous one-night stands, but I’d rather get to know someone before engaging in a more intimate way. Apollo and I are basically strangers. Maybe that’s why my mouth is dry and my hands are so shaky.

And yet I agreed to this. Apollo is definitely an…undeniably enticing person. Even I couldn’t refuse his offer.

Still, I’d like to find out a little more about him before doing anything. Besides what he told me in my apartment, I know close to nothing about him. What music does he listen to? What does he do in his free time? Is he scared of spiders? Does he like the sea at night as much as I do?

Most importantly…is Jasperreallyfine with this?

The thought keeps popping up and worsening the knot in my stomach each time it does. I’ve been around Jasper plenty in the weeks since Apollo promised he’d tell him. I suppose there were a few lingering looks, maybe even a little more sharpness from him, but nothing too apparent. It’s hard to say with Jasper’s neurotic moods. Is he simply that good at keeping work and his personal life separate?

Or maybe he’s actually the first secure alpha I’ve ever met who wouldn’t mind others playing with what’shis.

Thinking that might be as prejudiced as Jasper’s view of all omegas seems to be. Maybe I should give it to him and be glad he’s not making my life more difficult.

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