Sweat trickled down her face, splashing onto her chest. Her cries bounced around the enclosed space, and I pushed her body faster. God, her body. This ass.
My palm connected with her soft flesh, ripping a gasping cry from her throat. I did it again, hissing as her fingernails dug into my shoulders. “Jasper!” She moaned, breath coming out in quick pants.
“That’s it, Quinn,” I pushed her to the peak, lifting my hips higher, deeper. Her body tightened around me. A tingle began at the base of my spine, and I fisted her hair, licking along her neck and growling against her hot skin.
Quinn went wild, her body jerking. She rode me faster and faster, body moving on its own accord before she stiffened.
My own orgasm slammed into me as she bucked against me. I pumped into her in a frenzy, until our movements gradually came to a halt, both of us gasping for breath as we enjoyed the haze that clouded our brains after our highs.
Quinn
“For a man supposedly on a downhill climb, you certainly are a voracious lover,” I said with a grin. “Where is all that energy coming from?”
Jasper chuckled, trailing his fingers over my leg until his hand landed on my thigh. Desire flared, something churning in the pit of my stomach again already, and I quickly slapped his hand away and sent him a warning look. I had moved back into the driver’s seat, preparing to drive us home since it was getting later. We’d never make it back before nightfall if he didn’t keep his hands to himself–which is why I was smacking it away again not a good ten seconds later.
“Well, I’m making up for almost two years of celibacy, not to mention this sexy body.” Third time’s the charm. I smacked his hand away once again, and he sent me a toe-curling smile, looking smug as he finally rested his hands on his lap.
“Well, I’m happy to be able to help you through this strenuous time.” I shivered, already missing his touch. Sighing, I turned to send him a small smile. “You certainly know how to get a girl out of her feelings.”
“Always a pleasure to help.” I giggled, shaking my head at him. The smile on his face grew smaller as he stared at me a little longer. “I can tell you’re still thinking about what happened with your mother earlier… Do you want to talk about it now?”
I opened my mouth to tell him no, but the words caught in my throat. I felt as if I could tell Jasper anything, and I wanted to. I wanted to open up to him, finally.
Tension wracked my body as I turned to him, clearing my throat. “My mother and I don’t have a relationship. Never have and probably never will. My father passed away when we were about Jamal and Janiyah’s age. After his death, my mother abandoned Cameron and me at our paternal grandmother’s. She popped in to visit whenever she remembered that we existed, but that wasn’t too often,” I mumbled bitterly.“I thought things might change when my brother passed. I thought she might come around more often–you know, ‘cherish the time you have with family before it’s too late’. I’d hoped she’d want to see more of me, or at least, her grandkids. But she didn’t even turn up to the funeral and I doubt the kids even remember her. The last time she came to visit them, they were still in diapers… I can’t wrap my head around her not wanting to be more involved in their lives, but at the same time, I’m somewhat… Relieved. Maybe it’s better if she isn’t coming around whenever she pleases. They need consistency. I don’t want them going through what I did, waiting at the window for our promised trip, then being crushed when she didn’t turn up. They’ve been through enough, and I have too much on my plate as it is.”
Jasper grunted in agreement. “I’m sorry about that, Quinn. You and your brother deserved a loving mom. But you had Gran. She was your constant. Don’t forget.”
I glanced at him quickly. “You’re right. You had to grow up without your parents as well.”
He shrugged. “True, but they didn’t choose to walk away. So maybe the pain I felt isn’t as bad as the one you felt…
“Jasper, both of our suffering and pain are validated, regardless of the circumstances.”
“You’re so smart. And right. I try not to think about how hard it was when they died, but instead of how easy it was when they were around… I remember when I was thirteen years old.” He smiled softly, chuckling. “They sent me off to a nice boarding school. My dad had been resistant, but my mom insisted that all the men from her family had attended the all-male school and she was determined that I should experience it. My dad reluctantly agreed. He always agreed with my mom’s point of view, eventually. I thought it was the worst thing that could ever happen to me. I spent my teen years thinking I had it so bad, but really, I didn’t. I was privileged, not just because of my family’s money and prestige, but because… Well, because Ihada loving family. My parents came to visit me throughout the school year, while other kids barely saw their families or were totally forgotten.” I listened as he talked about his aunt and uncle who’d spoiled him rotten until their own miracle baby had been born. “My cousin and I never got along and the feeling was mutual. It was my view that he stole my place in my aunt’s life and my cousin believed all of his parents’ love and gift giving should be bestowed on him only.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Now, they’re all gone. Bad weather, one plane crash and I became the only member of my family left. I do have a few distant relatives–my maternal grandmother had a brother, and he has kids and grandkids, but I never knew them. The family thatIknew, myimmediatefamily, are all gone… Sometimes I wish I was on that plane with them.”
“Jasper,” I whispered, and he waved me off with a chuckle, sniffling quietly.
“I know. I shouldn’t think like that. I don’t, often. It’s just that sometimes the grief of being without them becomes overwhelming. They were on their way to collect me from boarding school for our family’s annual trip to Aspen. Why did they have to die before I even got on that plane?” he murmured, sighing before he turned to look at me. He blinked away his tears, sending me a small smile as he squeezed my hand. “I’m very thankful to you. I hope you know.”
“What? Oh–For letting you stay in–”
“No,” he murmured. “Well, yes, but that’s not what I meant. I meant that I’m thankful to you for making me feel a little less alone in this world. These last few weeks with you have been some of my best in a long, long time. I haven’t felt this happy in years… And I don’t want to let go of this feeling. Quinn.” He paused for a moment, searching my eyes. “The two of us go well together, and it’s obvious we both want each other. The stolen kisses, the late-night talks, the sex… It all has to mean something, doesn’t it? There’s a spark between us, and I want us to acknowledge it instead of attempting to push it away. Quinn, I want you to be my girlfriend. I already consider you mine, and I just want us to make it official now. You above all else.”
“Jasper,” I gasped, heart thudding wildly. “I-I want that too! But… I don’t know. I don’t know if that’s a good idea. It’s too soon. I mean, what if–”
“I don’t care about the what-ifs,” he whispered, leaning closer. “I want you. I’m yours Quinn.”
All of my protests died on my tongue as he closed the distance between us and pulled me in for a kiss, the feeling of our lips connecting now more than familiar to me. It was a feeling I didn’t want to have to go without again.
∞∞∞
“You’re really looking good these days, Mr. King,” I smirked as I traced a finger up and down his stomach. It was a week later and the two of us were cuddled up together on the bed in the basement. Jasper and I made love nightly, with intense desire and emotion on his part and almost frantic fervency on mine. Each time I allowed him to sink into me, I closed my eyes and soaked it all in, committing his every touch, every whisper to memory.
I drank his essence in through my pores, wanting to hold on to him as long as I could. Because I knew that this bliss we’ve found together was on borrowed time, and that any day, the outside world might barge in.
We snuck down here the second we were sure Gran, and the kids were fast asleep. At some point, we would have to tell them all about our relationship, but right now, it wasn’t a conversation I was ready to have.
“Ihaveput on a little more weight, haven’t I? I’m a lot less lanky than I used to be.” He grinned. “Must be because of all that amazing food you practically force down my throat.”
