Page 104 of Love, Magic and Misfortune
“Yes.”
Jasper unfolded one arm and rubbed his palm against his forehead. “You answered me too quickly.”
Violet laughed. “You told me before that you don’t want to have sex.”
“It’s not that I don’twantto. It’s more so… I can’t. Or, I shouldn’t. I have to be the last person with this curse, Violet. I don’t want there to be any chance of my bringing another person into this world and they have to deal with this for another generation. Does that make sense? I would never forgive myself for burdening someone that way. Can you imagine?” He turned, sincerity in his eyes.
“I understand. But Jasper, people can have sex in all different kinds of ways. It doesn’thaveto be someone sticking something inside someone else. And even if that’s the case, there are contraceptives.”
“But those aren’t a guarantee.”
“You’re right. And so, there are other things we could do.”
“Like what?”
“Well…” Violet shifted, crawling across the couch to meet him. His giant eyes grew even wider when she pressed her fingertips to his chest and urged him to lie on his back. He hesitated, but slowly fell backward. She climbed up and straddled his hips, then leaned over him with one hand resting beside his head. “We explore. We take some time and focus on each other, discovering what feels good—how we can give and share in each other’s pleasure.”
Violet moved her free hand underneath the hem of Jasper’s sweater. When she reached his warm flesh, she slid her palm up his naked belly. He sucked in a breath, his stomach clenching beneath her fingertips.
She grinned. “For instance, I already know that your tummy is very sensitive, and you already know that I like it when you kiss my neck. So we do those things to each other, but we also go further, little by little, and learn more.” She slid her fingers down the center of his stomach and he writhed underneath her, gasping and closing his eyes. Violet settled harder against him, gloriously feeling his body respond to her for the first time. Without question.
She shifted her hips, reveling in the undeniable firmness of him as she leaned down closer to his rosy face and parted lips. Violet kept her hand on his belly between them, slowly dragging it up and down. “And we communicate,” she whispered. “We don’t need to pretend like we’re experts who know everything there is to know about sex. We talk to each other. Does this feel good to you?” She slid her knuckles below his navel, teasing him at the waist of his slacks.
He opened his eyes, breathing labored. “Mm—yes, but… Are-Are you enjoying this?”
“I am.”
“Vi, I’m sorry if I’m not thinking about you enough… I feel like I never stop thinking about you—like I’ve been thinking about you since the day I met you.”
She leaned down, catching his open mouth and stealing a delectable kiss. He breathed a quiet little moan when her tongue met his. She smiled when she pulled away. “That’s not what I meant. What I want, is for you to internalize that you are attractive. You are sexy and you excite me. When you touch and kiss me, it makes me want you even more than I already do.”
He closed his eyes again, grinning. “That… sounds so bizarre to me—”
“Do you thinkI’mbizarre?”
His eyes flashed open. “No. I would never. I just—I don’t see myself that way… As someone capable of making another person feel that way. What am I even doing?”
Violet pulled her hand from between their bodies, flattening herself against his chest, warm and tight. “You’re being you and it’s enough. Like it’s always been. Always will be. I want you naked and in bed, Jasper. Can we do that? Will you play with me?”
He surprised Violet when he lifted his head and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Yes,” he said. “I want to. I will, but… I have a question.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want children? Is that important to you?”
Violet shrugged. “Meh. I was not one of those little girls that grew up fantasizing about having babies someday. That topic is a non-issue, my sweet friend.”
Jasper frowned as if something distasteful hit his palate. “Another question. If I’m going to be naked and in bed with you, can I be more than your friend?”
Violet bit her lip, grinning. “Mmhm. What do you want to be?”
He relaxed underneath her, shifting his eyes to the side. “I want… to be the only one. If I can, I want to help and give you whatever you need.”
“I won’t depend on you for everything, Jas. That’s not who I am, and I don’t think it’s healthy at all.”
“I know. But… I want to always be there, and for us to walk through life together—trying things, like you said. And I want to support you the way you’ve helped me.”
She leaned down, her heart warm as she kissed his nose, then his cheek. “Jasper Oliver Laurent, are you telling me that I need to put a ring on your finger before I’m allowed to devour your naked body?”
