“Perfect,” she says. I still see the worry in her eyes. It takes a lot of self-control to not press her.
“What do you want to do today?” I ask, looking down into her dark blue eyes. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever come across. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better woman for myself. I am a lucky, lucky man.
“Can we just hang out here today?”
I press a kiss to her forehead and easily agree. “Anything you want, babygirl.”
She smiles up at me and raises to her tiptoes and brushes a kiss to my lips. “How about I make some breakfast?”
“I can help,” I offer.
She gives me a fierce little growl. “I’m cooking for us. You go watch TV or something.”
There’s my feisty girl. Maybe I’m reading too much into things and this is just residual worry from last night. I could strangle Sokolov for fucking with my woman. She deserves so much better than that.
I make a vow to myself that nothing will happen to her. I’ll keep her safe no matter the cost.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
Charity
The day flies by.Jasper and I watch TV, play cards—surprisingly, he has a terrible poker face—and eat good food. It was exactly what I wanted.
We turn in early. Finding ourselves cuddled in bed, lost in each other. He kisses me soft and slow. Our touches turn heated, but he keeps the same sultry, slow pace. We don’t fuck; we make love. Slow sweet love that has tears pricking my eyes. Tomorrow I have a decision to make. Do I defy Dima and tell Jasper everything and risk my best friend’s life when she’s just now getting her happily ever after? Or do I show up at the hotel like he wants and sell my soul to the devil?
Laying here in Jasper’s strong arms makes the decision seem impossible. I want to stay here in this moment forever, but I don’t live in a fairytale, my dad made sure of that. No, I have to be realistic, and the reality is, lives are on the line. I can’t be selfish and threaten everyone I hold dear.
I won’t.
Decision made; I now only have to figure out how to escape the ever-watchful eyes of my faithful bodyguard.
I hardly sleep a wink while I formulate my plan. It won’t be easy, but I have to make it work. Somehow. When day breaks, I finally give up on any hope of sleep and get out of bed, leaving a very tempting Jasper asleep.
I take a hot shower, gasping in surprise when the door opens and lets in cool air. I turn quickly, my heart pounding. Fear slides through my body just as surely as the water sluices over it. My muscles tense, ready to do what I don’t know.
“Jesus, you’re white as a ghost,” Jasper says, stepping into the shower and pulling me into his arms.
“You startled me is all.”
“Sorry, little one. I didn’t mean to.”
I shake my head in acknowledgment, then turn to face the stream of water again. I need to get a handle on myself or Jasper will never leave my side. My whole plan hinges on distracting him long enough to make my escape. That’ll never happen if he thinks I’m about to fall to pieces.
I take a few deep breaths and center myself before I turn back to him. I let lust fill my eyes instead of the fear I feel deep in my gut. I soap up my hands, then run them over Jasper’s chest, tracing his muscles as I do.
He lets out a low groan. I keep exploring him. Keep washing his strong body. I soap up my hands again, watching him as he licks his bottom lip in silent approval. My soapy hands encircle his thick erection, and I give him a firm stroke. His head falls back on a curse. I continue to work him with my hands… but I want more.
I want him in my mouth.
I want him to lose himself in me one last time before all of this ends.
I let the water wash away the soap as I get to my knees on the water-warmed but unforgivingly hard tiles. The discomfort a reminder of what’s to come. A slight punishment for the pain I know I’m going to cause Jasper.
My fingers wrap around his length once more, and I suck him into my mouth. Taking him as deep as I can. Jasper’s hands fall to my head, cradling me as I suck him off. It’s as if I’m a fragile little bird, and he might break me. That’s not what I want.
I want him to use me for his pleasure.
To dominate my mouth as he’s so quickly dominated my heart.