Chapter 5
Odessa
It’s spring break, and I really should be out with my friends, but I’m not. I couldn’t afford to go on a crazy trip this year, so while Takaya and Renee and Julia are partying it up in Mexico, I’m at Anchored.
And oh, I shouldn’t be.
The minute I step through the doors, my eyes land on Jasper, and I know he sees me, too. For some reason, I thought he’d be gone on spring break. I guess I figured he’d be off with a new girlfriend or doing things with friends since everyone knows Anchored is totally dead the week of spring break, but nope.
As luck would have it, he’s here, and as soon as I step through the doors, he starts walking toward me. He was grouped up with Ryder, Zack, and Anthony, and the men watch as Jasper moves swiftly through the club in my direction.
Run.
I should run.
Everything inside of me is shouting that I should run away from him. I could do it, too. I could turn out, head back to my car, and just drive. I could go anywhere and Jasper wouldn’t be able to find me. He wouldn’t have the first clue as to where to look for me, but I don’t move.
I don’t run.
I just stand still and I wait.
Why am I waiting?
Why don’t I move when he walks toward me?
Why don’t I run when he reaches me?
Why don’t I protest when he puts his hands on my waist?
“You look fucking gorgeous,” he whispers, and then Jasper kisses me in front of the entire fucking club, and I don’t move.
I don’t run.
I don’t protest.
I just kiss him back.
Deeply.
Waves of contentment wash over me because no matter how much I want to fight this thing with Jasper, there’s another part of me that wants it to work out. There’s a part of me that wants everything to be okay. Jasper is handsome and interesting and smart. He’s a good Dom and a good listener. When we were together, he made me come so hard I thought my brain was going to explode, but then he disappeared.
Suddenly, the contentment is gone.
Suddenly, I feel cold, and I push him away.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry,” he says.
“For what, Jasper?” I look up at him like he’s gone crazy. “What are you apologizing for? And why did you just kiss me?”
“I fucked up,” he says. A couple of people standing nearby stop talking, as if to eavesdrop, and I feel myself start to blush.
“Now?” I ask him. “You want to have this conversation now?”
He seems to realize I’m worried about the onlookers, and Jasper doesn’t say anything. He just takes my hand, leads me out of the main room, and guides me down a narrow hallway.
“Where are we going, Jasper?”