Page 57

HARPER

“ I love you Harper Williams” Jasper whispered in a tone so low I almost didn’t catch it. his voice was shaky but certain. His words warmed my soul, echoing the sentiments I already held in my heart.

I love him too .

I knew it the moment he walked into that basement. When I saw his face, nothing else in that room mattered, but him. I was chained up, and broken. but seeing him come through that door took every ounce of fear from me. The surge of adrenaline that had fueled me, vanished because I knew I was safe . Even with all the uncertainty, and the unanswered questions, I was safe .

I opened my mouth to tell him how I felt, but my words failed me. My heart battled my head like it had done my whole life.

What if he hurts you?

What if he gets tired of you?

Are you good enough?

You’re too broken…

I pushed away all my doubt. There was no room for it. Right then I decided I would let my heart take the lead for once in my life. I might get hurt or even regret it, but I owed it to myself to at least try.

“I.Love.You.Jasper.” I confessed. It didn’t come out as confidently as I wanted it to, but if he truly loved me, he would see through that and see how much it took for me to admit it to myself.

His eyes were glossy, filled with emotion. I took his face into my hands and smashed my lips against his. I needed more, I needed all of him. I was already positioned in his lap my knees on either side of his legs. I needed to feel his body against mine, to show him just how much I loved him. How much I wanted him.

He kissed me back with an intensity that made my head spin. I pressed my body closer, but it just didn’t feel close enough. I felt myself becoming desperate for something I couldn’t explain.

He wrapped his rough hands under my legs, and stood. Walking towards the bedroom, his lips still stuck to mine, as he paced himself down the hall, gently caressing my thighs with the pad of his thumbs along the way. Something about the gesture was comforting, my body heated under his touch.

He placed one hand on the knob and stilled. We kept kissing but soon the kissing started to slow. I pulled back from his bruising hold and wiggled my way down to stand on my own feet. He held my waist keeping me close, refusing to disconnect from me. staring into my eyes, he said nothing. I could see he was deep in thought because he wore a look of concern, with a question in his eyes. Something had him conflicted.

He nervously cleared his throat. With one finger he tilted my chin to meet his gaze. His eyes burned through mine searching.

“Do you want this?” his voice shaky with need.

He gestured toward the closed bedroom door, his jaw twitching in anticipation of my response. I nodded biting my lip, as I felt my face flush.

“Damn it, Doll, you look so sexy when you blush like that for me,” he said, his lips curled into a smirk.

“But I need your words,” he reminded me. “Remember nothing happens in there without your say, you are in control.”

“Yes Jasper, I want this. I want you, all of you.” I answered confidently, throwing myself back into his arms and wrapping my legs around his waist, while we battled for control through a breathtaking kiss.

He burst through the door and kicked it shut behind us. The slamming of the door caused me to jump, and he tensed up, noticing my reaction.

He walked over to the bed. and gently laid me on the soft cloud-like mattress. Standing at the end of the bed, he looked down at me lying in the center, my soft complexion vibrant against the black satin sheets.

I paused for a moment to absorb the view of him. His blond hair was tousled from my fingers running through it, his wrinkled V-neck exposed the tattoos that decorated his chest and forearms, his chiseled abs that hid behind the tightly fitted fabric, and the way his sweatpants hung low on his hips. I felt my face heat again when I noticed him watching me admire his perfect physique. How could this beautiful man with a heart of gold love me?

Me?

He walked over to the side of the bed while my eyes followed his every move. My breathing was unsteady and rigid.

Why am I so nervous, we’ve done this already.

He raised his arms to pull off his t-shirt., tossing it into a heap on the floor. He joined me on the bed, lying next to me caressing my exposed stomach. My skin prickled under his touch.

His gaze was questioning, yet silent. Realizing what he was waiting for, I turned to face him.

“Jasper,” I whispered so low it was a mere breath.

“Hmm,” he hummed, teasing me, his eyes following his fingers as they sketched paths along my skin.

“I want you to make love to me.”