“Nope.” He pops the P then leans in and whispers in my ear, “Can’t help myself.” A full body shiver runs over my body with those three little words. Stepping back he winks, then rounds the kitchen island sitting back on the couch next to Abby.
I roll my eyes and smother a smile at his uncanny ability to make me feel at ease even with the intensity of everything that has happened in the last couple of hours.
I guess he’s always had that going for him—making everyone feel comfortable and cared for, a characteristic that I’ve always been attracted to but would mask in the form of jealousy because I’ve refused to accept that attraction.
I stand, watching the three of them talk about their favorite board games. Abby and Jasper are sitting next to each other on the three person couch, while Major took a seat in the chair opposite the coffee table. Thankfully there’s one more chair next to Major and across from Abby and Jasper so I’ll have the comfort of the coffee table separating us.
My body is too tense to squeeze in between the two of them. I continue to watch and mindlessly sort the food as Abby andJasper sneak glances my way and it’s obvious that Major can’t keep his eyes off Abby.
I grab some crackers, pick up the plate, and take a deep breath. Whatever happens, happens. Taking a page fromJasper’s manual on life,I need to be more open, less rigid, and not so hard on myself aboutallof this.
I already put too much pressure on myself when it comes to Lily and far too much pressure on how I perform at work. Which we should. People rely on us.
But I know that I need to relax a little and not take every passing moment so goddamn serious.
I suck in a deep breath and head over toward the couch, putting the snack platter down on the coffee table with the bowl of popcorn I made. It’s nothing extravagant but it’ll do for board games, I suppose.
“Wade, wow. This looks amazing!” Abby beams as she picks up a sliver of a pear and slides it over her tongue, chews then moans. “So good.”
We all pause a beat, taking in every last soundwave of her delicious moaning.
“No, pumpkin,” Jasper says, leaning closer to Abby, “that moan is what was good.” He reaches past her, picks up an orange slice, then hangs it over her mouth. “Open.”
Abby’s eyes bounce between me and Major as we both sit like statues watching the interaction.
A tight bashful smile crosses her face before her teeth graze over her bottom lip. She breaks out into a full smile then slowly, so sensually opens her mouth and pushes out her tongue.
Jasper sucks in air between his teeth, resulting in some type of animalistic hiss before he places the small juicy wedge on her tongue.
Abby closes her mouth over it, inadvertently getting the tip of Jasper's finger. He lets out a husky growl, before clearing his throat and pulls his hand away, trailing it down her chin.
Jasper’s lustful eyes flutter between her eyes and lips, as he grips the fabric of his pant leg. Grabbing it as if to prevent himself from wrapping his hand around her face and pulling her into him.
I peek over at Major and I don’t know if he’s actually breathing. Like his breath got stuck wherever his thoughts are.
Me? Well, I’m shifting in my seat trying to hide the raging hard on that I shouldn’t have.
“Well, now that we all know the only way Abby is allowed to eat her fruit,” Major shoots a confident wink in Abby’s direction and her cheeks flush an adorable shade of pink, “Shall we start a game?” Major finishes completely composed, like he wasn’t just a frozen gargoyle a moment ago.
“That sounds like a great idea. What game are we playing?” Abby’s cheeks are still flushed as the question leaves her lips, a shy glance bouncing between the three of us.
Jasper’s body is still turned in her direction. His lustful eyes bore into her, the lids of his eyes fluttering between her mouth and eyes. His chest rises and falls heavily as if he’s trying to maintain his oxygen levels.
He seems to be in a bit of a stupor and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him speechless, the man talks to everyone, incessantly actually. So, the fact that he hasn’t said anything in the last sixty seconds says something.
“Scattergories?” I throw out my vote.
But Jasper quickly vetoes that, spitting out, “Truth or Dare.”
CHAPTER 12
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE AN ADULT GAME OF TRUTH OR DARE
JASPER
Please say yes. Please say yes.
I silently plead with the desperate look on my face.
