Page 71 of Jasper

She didn’t let him finish. She kissed him instead.

And just like before, everything melted away except for him. Her body relaxed, and she stopped fighting with herself. She stopped trying to convince herself she needed more time. Time was something that wasn’t promised. But here and now…she could do that.

“Sloane?”

She heard the question in his voice and smiled. He always made sure she was okay with whatever he did. Maybe he understood she needed that after her ex, or maybe he was simply a man who was that kind. She didn’t care.

“Kiss me, Jasper.”

“You get all feisty on me when I’m tired.”

Her hand cupped his cheek. “Kiss me.”

His eyes searched hers for a heartbeat, and then his lips found hers and she sighed, relief and desire sweeping through her all at once. He made her feel safe, and that meant more to her than almost anything.

His kiss deepened, and she stopped caring. When he pulled away, she reached for him again, but he stopped her.

“Sloane, I’m not sure we should be doing this.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re both tired and running on empty. I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret in the morning.”

“You’re not someone I’ll ever regret, Jasper.”

He studied her, and she resisted the urge to squirm.

“I’m keeping you.”

“What?” That was the oddest thing to ever come out of his mouth.

“I’m keeping you.” He rolled so she was beneath him, but he kept his weight off her. “I didn’t want to tell you until you’d gotten to know me better. I know your ex did a number on you, and I didn’t want to scare you, but if we do this, then you have the right to know my intentions. I’m not letting you get away, pretty girl. You’re mine.”

She swallowed. There was a raw honesty to his words that cut deep, that sliced away her hurt and filled her with a warm feeling she hadn’t known since her mother died. A feeling she welcomed.

“It’s easy to love you, you know that, Jasper?”

His eyes widened, but she continued before he could say anything.

“I’m not saying I love you, though I suspect I’m not far off from that. I told you I had a habit of falling fast and hard, and I told you that you were the right person this time. So, if you decided to keep me, I’m thinking I’m the right person for you, so maybe I’ll keep you too.”

“At least we won’t have to argue about who gets the cats.” His eyes twinkled.

“They’d come with me.”

He shook his head. “Nope, pretty girl, my babies stay with me, but then you’re mine too, so it’s a moot point.”

“Are you going to kiss me, or are you going to keep talking?”

He swooped in and captured her lips. He kissed her like she was the most precious thing in the world. Her fingers slipped into his hair and pulled him closer as his tongue danced with hers. It had been a long time since she’d done this dance, and never with someone who took such care with her.

His mouth found her jawline and trailed kisses down her neck. Her hands left his hair to tug at his t-shirt. “Off,” she demanded, and he sat up long enough to strip the shirt and toss it. His skin was hot to the touch, and his eyes closed when she traced the well-defined muscles of his abdomen. His skin was naturally dark, like he’d spent his entire life in the Florida sun. Her ivory skin was a stark contrast to his.

“You’re beautiful,” she whispered and pushed up, kissing his chest. Her tongue flicked over his nipple, and he groaned. She’d often wondered if a man’s nipple was as sensitive as a woman’s. Jasper answered that question for her when he tugged her away from him.

“I’m not gonna last long if you keep that up, pretty girl.” His fingers found the hem of her shirt and pulled it up. She was wearing the same blue bra she’d been wearing when he walked in on her that day, and his already hard cock turned painful.

His fingers splayed out over her back as he pulled her closer and rolled again, this time scooting up so his back was against the headboard. Her eyes dilated when she felt him pressed against her.

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