Page 19 of Bulletproof Love (Vengeful Hearts #2)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

FALIN

“I think that may have been the best cheeseburger I’ve ever had in my twenty-four years of life.” I sink back in the vinyl booth and lift my mug of steaming coffee to my lips for a sip. “And the best coffee.” Jasper polishes off his last bite of apple pie and before I can second guess myself, I lean across the booth and dab a few stray crumbs from the corner of his lip, then pop my finger into my mouth.

His eyes follow my finger, lingering on my lips. They’re dark and intense, like he can see underneath my skin. He adjusts slightly in the booth, and I clear my throat to break the tension. “Saving those crumbs for later? A little early morning snack?”

“I’d much rather have a different snack.”

I shake my head. I guess I had that coming after what I just did. He reaches over and takes my cup of coffee. “Hey… I’m still drinking that.”

“Just a sip. Sharing is caring.” He gives me another one of those dumb yet adorable grins. Our waitress comes by with the check as he hands me back my mug with nothing but a drip left in it. I scowl at him.

“You two close to home?” our waitress asks as she tidies our empty plates.

“Not too bad,” Jasper answers for us.

“Oh good, it’s really starting to come down now. I’m off at five. Hope I can get out of this dang parking lot.”

We turn at the same time to look out the window into the dark. I can’t see much in their limited lighting.

“It’s snowing out there?” Jasper asks.

“Oh yeah… my husband said we’re looking at around six inches. Might be a couple on the roads already.”

Well, isn’t that just wonderful.

Jasper pays while I use the restroom, and when I head back over to him, he holds out an article of clothing. “What’s this?” I lift it up and laugh. It’s a brown hoodie with a picture of a smiling apple pie. I read the slogan. “Life’s short, eat dessert first.”

“I fully agree with that statement,” he says with a wink. “You need something warmer to wear.”

I slide it over my head, refusing to argue with that logic. It’s cozy and soft on the inside, even if it’s cheesy as hell. “Thank you, that was really nice.”

“Maybe you can bedazzle it when we get back home.” He smirks again and this time I give his arm a light punch.

“Or maybe I’ll bedazzle you some more. I had fun with the glue gun.”

We head outside and I’m immediately assaulted by a blast of snowflakes to the face. It feels like the temperature dropped a few degrees while we sat inside eating. There’s a light layer of snow over Damon’s Chevy, and covering the parking lot from what I can see in the dim lighting.

Jasper wraps his arm around my waist as I almost slide on the slick ground. “Damn heels.”

“I got you.”

He opens the car door for me before hurrying around the front to the driver’s side. I pull the sleeves over my hands and rub them together. “Heat, please.”

Man, I’m really missing California right about now. Jasper starts the engine and turns the dial to blast the heater. I steal a glance at him, warmth spreading through my chest as I picture us cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway. Salty air would whip through the open windows while he drives with one hand on the wheel and the other resting possessively on my thigh, our favorite music blasting through the speakers, louder than the crashing waves.

The little daydream almost warms my frozen limbs. “Can you check the GPS while I dust off the windshields? I know we’re about halfway, but I want to make sure there’s no road closures.”

He uses the back of his shirt sleeve to clear the windows while I check. He’s right, we’re about halfway to the city. Once he’s back in the car, I let him know. “No closures, but I doubt they’ve got the plows out yet.”

The car fishtails as he backs out, making me lunge for the oh shit handle, white-knuckling that thing. His low laugh fills the car at my reaction as he straightens the wheel. Only then does my chest loosen enough to take a breath. “I’ve had enough adrenaline for one night. Wiping out in a snowstorm is so not on my winter bucket list.”

“Don’t worry, Trouble. I can drive in the snow.”

* * *

If only I recorded him twenty minutes ago. “Don’t worry, Trouble. I can drive in the snow.” Right. That’s why I’m staring at a utility pole halfway down a ditch.

“That pole literally has a smiley face spray painted on it,” I say. “How ironic.”

He slides back in the car after assessing the damage. “I’m going to push the car to a safer spot. We should be able to run it for heat, but driving’s out until they plow and salt.” He roughly pulls a hand through his long hair, grimacing. “Fuck, Damon’s going to kick my ass.”

“Should I call him?” I offer, trying to redirect him from his self-loathing.

“Nah, he’s probably still riding.”

“What about a tow truck?”

“Not necessary. I got it.”

I huff, clicking my phone off to save battery. “You’re seriously planning to push this massive hunk of metal back onto the road by yourself? I know you’re built, but you’re not exactly The Hulk.”

“All I heard was, I’m built .”

How is it that he can make me go from wanting to kiss him to wanting to throttle him in less than three seconds?

“Jasper, I’m serious. I’m not turning into a human popsicle because you’re too stubborn to admit you need help.”

“A Falin flavored popsicle… I could eat that,” he teases in that low voice. I scowl and cross my arms. “I’m kidding! Alright, I’ll head out there again and if I can’t get it up the hill, you can call a tow.”

Satisfied with that compromise, I nod. “I’ll climb in the driver’s seat and put it in neutral.”

“Mmm, I like a woman who knows her way around a stick shift.”

As he heads back into the storm, I call after him, “Don’t slip on ice and break your neck.”

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I mutter under my breath, “Freaking stubborn ass infuriating man. There’s no way he can actually—What the hell?”

The car rocks beneath me as it lurches backward. My jaw drops. Is he seriously managing to push this entire car by himself? It rocks again, and this time I definitely feel it moving.

What feels like inches at a time, he manages to push the car up the ditch and back onto the road. Once we’re on flat ground, I shift the car into drive and straighten it out as best as I can, moving us to a safe spot along the shoulder.

Jasper comes around the driver’s side and I slide back over. He’s panting, red-faced and hair wet from snow. God, he’s never looked hotter.

“I can’t believe you did that.” There’s genuine shock in my voice.

“Told you,” he says, partially out of breath.

“I stand corrected.” I adjust the vent so that it’s blowing toward him. “So what now? There’s gotta be at least four inches out there.” He chuckles, and I immediately know why. Exasperated, I sigh. “Just say it.”

“Hell of a lot more than four inches in here .”

“You’re a child,” I say, holding back a smile. He rolls up his damp sleeves, showing off his tattooed forearm, so perfectly muscular that I have to look away. “Really though. What now?”

“Heat’s running, we have a mostly full tank of gas. We should try and get some sleep until they clear the roads or the sun’s up, whatever comes first.” Without waiting for my response, he reclines the seat almost fully. So many thoughts run through my mind but mainly how easy it would be for me to straddle him in that position. Also to strangle him. A straddle, strangle combo.

“We should at least text Blake and the guys so they don’t worry,” I say, forcing myself to be logical.

“Go ahead. Check up on Kayla while you’re at it.” My heart lurches at the reminder. Poor thing. I hope she’s okay. I type out a quick message to our group chat and put my phone on the dashboard.

Moonlight shines through the sparse branches overhead, illuminating the falling snow. It’s pretty fucking peaceful now that I’ve slowed down enough to notice. The kind of peaceful that almost makes me forget everything else exists in that moment.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, exhaustion and awe in my voice.

“Yes, it is.” The warmth in his voice has me turn to face him. He’s not looking at the moonlit snow. His eyes are fixed on me.

Heat creeps up my neck, to my face. “You’re supposed to be looking out the window,” I manage, hoping I sound unaffected by his intensity.

“I like this view better,” he says softly.

Suddenly, the car feels too small, too hot. My limbs are heavy with fatigue but my pulse is racing, the charged air between us making it impossible to look away from him. Images from earlier flood my mind—Jasper’s weight hovering over me, the delicious friction as he rocked against me, the wet slide of his hard length through my soaking pussy, how he could barely hold it together, his restraint shattering with each movement.

Knowing his cum is still painted on my skin, like a branding mark, drives me wild. He was so close to pressing into me. And I wanted it, even there, like that in front of all those terrible people. If he sunk inside me, I would have welcomed him with open arms.

He reaches out and drags his knuckles down my cheek, cupping my chin with his calloused fingers. A ragged breath leaves my lips as every ounce of resolve snaps like a broken rubber band. I don’t care what happened months ago. Right now, we’re here, stuck in this car, and I can’t deny what I want.

“Come over here,” he breathes. “Please.”

I shift onto my knees, the leather seat creaking beneath me as I gather my dress higher on my thighs. With one fluid motion, I turn and settle onto his lap, my knees bracketing his hips. My pulse pounds with anticipation as I stare down at his perfect face. I arch my brow and slowly roll my hips, deliberately teasing him. “I’m here. What are you going to do about it?”

“You’re going to ruin me, Trouble,” he whispers hoarsely. I hear the plea in his voice, the desperate need. “No doubt in my mind.” He cradles my face gently, his hooded eyes begging me to break down every wall he’s ever built.

“We shouldn’t,” I say, as my fingers trail down his shirt, working his buttons open one at a time. His chest heaves beneath my palm when I finally reach his warm skin. “But I need you too much.”

He pulls the side lever, angling the seat up so we’re chest to chest, inches between our lips. I raise my arms, and he pulls the hoodie up and over my head, leaving me in just my sleeveless dress. His hands scorch my skin, sliding over me, down the slope of my neck, over my arms, and back up burying into my hair. It’s like he’s trying to memorize the feel of my skin beneath his palms. He pulls me closer, ghosting his lips over mine, but freezes as I close the distance.

I pull back and look at him.

“Don’t kiss me again unless this is real,” he says, breathless. I blink, my head foggy with want and need. I breathe out and lean against his neck, sucking his warm skin between my lips until he hisses.

I work to open his shirt, and he pushes up, helping me. In seconds, his shirt and my dress are off. Our hands are all over each other, ripping off my bra, undoing his pants. I don’t kiss his lips. I can’t promise him what he needs. He’s not ready for that and neither am I.

He cups my tits, rubbing his thumb over my peaked nipples. “Fucking hell, these tits are a work of art.”

I’m so needy, I grab his head, arch my back and shove my tit into his face. “Suck them. Please… I need—oh God.” The warm heat of his mouth envelops my nipple, sucking and nibbling until I cry out. I wrap my fingers into his hair and hold him in place, greedily grinding my pussy against his fabric-covered length. “That feels so good.”

He lifts me slightly, not breaking his hold on my tit, and slides my thong to the side. As soon as his fingers glide between my lips, he breaks away from my tit with a pop . “Goddamn, baby. You’re soaking wet for me.”

“Yes,” I breathe. “You like that?”

“Do I like that?” We groan as he slips a thick finger inside me. “Sweetheart, like doesn’t begin to cover what you do to me.”

He works his finger in and out while teasing my clit, driving me to the brink of coming. When I can’t take another second, I run my nails down his tattooed chest, until I reach the waistband of his boxers. “Please tell me you have a condom.”

He’s sucking my neck, my collarbone, my tit. So busy driving me to the edge, I almost wonder if he didn’t hear me. When I adjust myself and pull his cock out, he finally groans a response. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” I repeat, each word punctuated by a moan as he goes back to sucking my neck.

I slide my fist up and down his length, spreading his dripping pre-cum. He’s so big and thick, I’m not even sure he could fit inside me.

“Shit, baby… I’m gonna come if you do that.” He’s desperate and breathless, exactly how I like him. “Check the glove box for a condom… please.”

I slide off his lap and scoot toward the glove box. Before I can open it, he leans over me, kissing my stomach, holding me in place. My heart races to the point of dizziness as his stubbled chin grazes the top of my pussy. “God, Jasper.”

“The things I’d do to this pussy if we had more space.” He leans in as far as he can but he’s just too big for the front seat.

I check the glove box, finding nothing but a gun and some paperwork. Fucking perfect. “No condom.”

“That’s okay. Get in the backseat.” He slides the driver’s seat up all the way and climbs back there. It would be almost comical to watch, if I wasn’t too busy eyeing his cock like my next meal. Whatever he has in mind, I’m one hundred percent there for it.

As gracefully as I can, I climb over the seat, but he doesn’t wait until I get situated before his palms slide against my ass. I fall onto the seat on my back, laughing at the absurdity of this. Scrambling to a sitting position, I reach for his cock again, but he grabs my hand, pinning it above me. “Move back and wrap your leg around me.”

I scoot as far back as I can, my back pressing against the side panel. Jasper kneels on the floor of the car, his chest leaning against the edge of the seat. He spreads my thighs wide enough to squeeze his body in, one leg over the front seat and the other wrapped around him. “Please.”

“Please, what?” he asks, ghosting his lips over my pussy.

Arching toward him, I grab his head and guide him where I want him, my answer a moan as he sucks my clit between his lips. “Oh fuck, yes.”