Page 75

Jasper

Listening takes more than ears.

“I fucking told you,” Jaykob sneers. His heavy, tattooed shoulders strain against my knots. “You really want to keep spending your life begging for scraps, Eden? You really want to waste yourself on fucking assholes who never put you first?”

Livid rage snaps through me as he interrupts, taunting Eden again with ideas that could hurt her— truly hurt her. Making her believe there is any kind of competition here, or that there is any world in which she isn’t as much a priority to me as Lucien.

I suddenly don’t know why I let him stay for this.

I’m not sure what I wanted to achieve. To school him, perhaps.

To prove to him, and myself, that Eden wants me as much as she ever wanted him.

Maybe even to find some sort of middle ground, a truce from which we could both accept this strange position we’ve found ourselves in with her.

But looking at him now, I only feel the same contempt for him that he’s always shown me.

How dare he throw her past in her face?

How dare he question something he knows nothing about?

Worse, his comments appear to land.

Eden’s eyes are suddenly blazing, uncertain and glossed with the wrong kind of tears.

Her cheeks still glow with lusty color as she hesitates, then stammers, “Lucky’s not just yours, Jasper.

He’s not yours first , not always. He’s allowed to touch me.

We were.. . you can’t just stop things between us like?—”

Enough .

I shove two wet fingers into her mouth, cutting her off as I press the taste of her own pleasure over her tongue.

She stares up at me with wide, cock-throbbingly innocent eyes.

Stunned silent, she licks up the tartness on instinct, and I feel the heated graze of her tongue.

I watch with aching, scholarly approval as flashes of pink twist through my fingers, lapping up every last drop.

Lucky makes a raw, deprived sound, and I cut a sharp look his way. His muscles are taut, veined with strain. My lips curl against my teeth as I fight the need to taste him, too.

He looks driven to the brink.

“Do not come, Lucien.”

“Uh-huh, sure thing. No problem.” A glossy drop of precum squeezes from his crown, and he half-strangles a groan as he grasps the base of his dick.

“Just get her to stop talking like that. Maybe stop fingering her mouth?” Tearing his eyes away, his head tips back, and he pulls his glorious length down hard.

“The glasses. Oh, fuck. Why are you both wearing glasses?”

“What do you last, two seconds?” Jayk bursts out incredulously. “Take a cold shower, asshole. You’re pathetic.”

Lucky falls back on the bed, still strangling his dick in a severe grip. “Yep. You keep talking. That helps.”

An impatient sound escapes me, and I look down at Eden with mild rebuke.

My thoughts are ravaged—in uncharacteristic anarchy. They’re fucked by her body and obedience and her eager little rubs against me. Even the embers of hurt starting up in her eyes aren’t enough to douse it.

My gaze drops to the indecent join of her pliant lips around me, and a growl rumbles in my chest. Lucien is carnal, filthy, and his tastes run as violent as mine.

.. but I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone so unpretentiously erotic as she is.

Eden’s glasses are tilted, her hair teasing against me in a thousand coquettish snarls, and the devoted licks of her tongue are making me spiral.

I have a point. We need to talk, to fix this, but I just... I need ...

I adjust my hold, grasping her chin and pressing down on her tongue until saliva drips around my fingers. Gratification curls through me as she squirms.

“In your own time, of course you and Lucien may do whatever you please.” I slip my fingers from her mouth and bring my face close to hers. “But when you’re in my presence, dear girl, you’re mine.”

Smack .

Eden squeals, flinching, but I have her trussed tight. I’m an inch from her mouth. I can see every agonized expression flickering over her face as my hand claps hard against her ass.

“Your body is mine.”

Smack.

“Your pleasure.”

Smack.

“Everything you are . . .”

Smack.

“ Mine .”

“Fuck. Off ,” Jaykob roars, and the bedframe groans, but it only adds to the chaotic cacophony. Just like Lucien’s cursing, and Eden’s relentless, hitching gasps.

I’m so greedy for her body. For the way she wriggles and how she molds against me. She’s little. Her squirming won’t get her anywhere. I could hold her in place and just...

Smack.

Smack.

Smack .

Her mouth falls open on a soundless moan, and I see the moment it comes over her, when the bright, sharp edges begin licking away into sweet, throbbing heat. When adrenaline starts shooting through her in surprised little spurts.

My heart has lost all dignity, pounding in my chest in fervent infatuation, and I groan at the sight of the livid red prints all over her pale flesh. Marks of brutality, and passion.

My love language is written in scarlet.

“Jasper,” she whispers, and it has wondering, teary edges. Her breath is hot on my cheek.

Wrathful affection crushes me. It makes me want to crush her, too, so she can feel it, but instead, I brush my lips against hers—as tender as I want to be violent. I shake with the twin desires, ruthlessly torn, and I’m rewarded with her wet sob against my mouth.

“You’re losing it,” Jaykob bites out.

“Do you want to leave?” I murmur, staring at her lips.

I’m not entirely sure who I’m asking, but there’s something in Jaykob’s voice, an undercurrent that pulls me back just a little.

“Hard pass,” Lucien groans.

My lips purse in heady amusement as I glance at him, still lying on the bed, his cock in hand. To his credit, he has been unusually patient. My darling brat.

His hand flexes around his cock when he catches me watching, and my eyes narrow, but then Eden is tugging at my shirt—a heavy-lidded, throaty distraction. “I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Base, animal pleasure curls through me at her response.

I glance at Jaykob, raising one brow in caustic, taunting question.

Just say it. Safe out.

Let me have her.

His eyes spit vitriol. “Like hell I’m leaving you alone with her.”

Despite myself, offense curls deep in my chest.

I know what I am. Sadists hardly have a glowing reputation, even in the community, but.

.. he knows me. He knows my reputation and the respect I earned.

We saw out Day Death, fought side by side to get dozens of civilians to safety.

We took on the Reapers together, and I supported him then.

I’ve even seen him cry in my chair—moments before he stormed out of our session, but still. Jaykob knows me.

I understand his jealousy.

But does he truly not trust me?

I glower at him, anger and hurt chilling some of my thrill.

“Jasper?” Eden asks, uncertainty threading her tone as she glances between us.

I drag in a steadying breath and look down at her, loathing the hesitation growing in her eyes. I reach up and smooth the line in her brow. When it eases, I cup the side of her face.

“So beautiful,” I murmur, my thumb whispering over her cheekbone. “So filthy.”

Her lips part.

I capture her mouth in a kiss, and she moans into my mouth like it was dragged out of her unwilling. My kiss is a punishment. I punish her for how much Jaykob’s distrust hurts. I kiss her knowing that he’ll detest every second. I kiss her and plan every single way I can fuck her in front of him.

She whimpers as I pull back. Her mouth is wet, and her eyes glow with pretty desperation.

For me .

Without shifting my fascinated gaze, I murmur, “Lucien, make yourself useful. I’ve brought some presents for our girl. How about we give them to her, hm?”

“Forget the stupid games, Eden. Youneed to rest,” Jaykob snaps, but Lucien snorts from the bed.

“Beau was totally fucking with you, Jayk. She’s fine.”

Jaykob glares at him, then lashes against his ropes.

“Get off his lap and you can ride my cock right fucking now,” Jaykob roars, and my heart jerks in my chest in sudden panic.

I give Eden a sharp look.

Her breasts are swollen, and her cunt is squeezing uselessly around nothing.

I can hear Jaykob’s frustration, as tangibly as I can see hers.

Jaykob would fuck her in an instant. She could end this scene—this embarrassing, indulgent display, this mess of a scene that has been entirely railroaded by how much I want her.

She could drop me with a single word and get everything she needs right now.

From him .

“Don’t,” I bite out, watching her, my own jealous need thrumming through my cock.

If she goes to him now, it might break me.

Something shifts in the fog of her eyes, and without asking permission, she turns on my lap, her arms sliding around my neck until her naked breasts press against my silk shirt and her pussy rides the furious line of my cock.

Her hand cups my cheek, and her thumb brushes my lower lip.

Eden’s gaze twines with mine, and the whole world falls away.

“Make me hurt, Jasper.”

Victory roars in my ears. Pure need hazes my vision as she kisses me tenderly, the way I kissed her earlier, and she’s shaking like I did then.

I grip her hip and grind her against my cock, just for a moment, because we’re both too close to the edge for more than one, but I need to give her something—the world, maybe—and for now, all I have is the seconds I can give her.

My cock.

My heart.

My soul.

My Lucien is slipping off the bed, toned and beautiful, his cock aching like mine aches, when Jaykob slams against his ropes again.

“Stay the fuck there,” he snarls, glaring at Lucien. “Touch that bag and I swear to fuck, I’ll tear this whole bed down and you after it.”

“Jayk—” Eden starts, her brow crumpling, but I squeeze her to stop.

This isn’t about her, or even about Lucien.

My hurt ices over.

“Turn around, Eden. Now.”

After a quick, searching look, she turns over in my lap, shifting until her ass is seated over my cock, and her head falls into the crook of my shoulder. With deliberate care, I spread her legs wide, and they fall on either side of mine.

Her cunt glistens in the silver moonlight, on full display.

Jaykob’s curses split the air.

“Eden clearly enjoys her time with you, Jaykob, but it’s not all she needs.

” My hand curves over her pussy, my fingertips brushing over her exposed clit, and she shudders everywhere.

Rage bunches Jaykob’s chest, and dark, spiteful enjoyment licks through me.

“She loves this—even you have to see that. Perhaps she doesn’t crave extreme pain, not like Lucien, but in her own way. .. she wants to hurt.”

He won’t admit it, but he does know it, as well as I do.

Because no matter how much he scowls—he’s still hard for her under that pretty red throw blanket.

Eden’s arousal demands a response.

I tap her clit, and she flinches, right on the brink. I breathe her in, listening to her ragged breaths, feeling her fight for control—and I fight for my own. My poor girl needs to come.

“Tell him, my dear Eden. Tell him how much you want it.”

She sinks back against me, her breasts wobbling. Her disobedient hips tilt toward my hand. “I— I want it. I want them. I need— Please. God, I need it so much, Jayk. Please let me... let them .. .”

“ Fuck .” Jayk’s head snaps back against the post as furious air punches out of him.

His breathing quickens, the ropes straining, and when he looks at her again, his expression is wild.

Frantic. “You want him to hurt you? He’s going to do it, Eden.

You know that, right? Not swat your fucking pussy.

Have you seen the things he does to people? You don’t want it.”

Eden begins to shake, in need or in fear, I’m not sure, but something in his voice snags me again. I blink, fighting my lust, and I study him more closely.

There’s a harsh downturn to his mouth.

A frenetic energy under his snarling rage.

“I have seen it, and I do.. . I do want it,” Eden whispers, and Lucien makes a coarse sound. Kneeling beside us now, his pupils are blown dark.

Jaykob’s head tips back against the post again, confused resignation in every line of his shoulders.

He’s worried for her.

“Would you like to use your safeword?” I ask him, more carefully this time. My thoughts are a dizzy mess, but I’m watching him now... and I don’t like what I see.

Jaykob’s jaw flexes, and my throat turns dry.

He’s worried about Eden.

He’s worried about Eden because he loves her.

He’s worried , and under my care, and rather than hearing his concerns... I’m showing him I’m exactly what he fears. Callous and cruel to a fault.

“Jasper?”

At Eden’s tentative question, I draw a deep, defeated breath in through my nose. Suddenly, Lucien’s words from earlier are ringing in my ears— you’re a sadist... you know where not to hit.

I’m . . . every kind of fool.

Jaykob’s throat works, and Eden shifts uncomfortably, and I want to slap myself. I’ve approached this wrong. Calamitously so.

Because I’ve spent far too much time on hate.

I came here out of spite and anger. I came here, telling myself every reason why Jaykob is my enemy. Every reason I have to loathe him, and to think he’s wrong for Eden.

But he’s not.

If I’m truthful, if I can truly set my own insecurities aside... then I can admit it.

I love him for her.

I love that Eden’s shoulders stand straighter after seeing him. I love that she’s no longer afraid to bite at me. I love that he protects her with bared teeth, with all the skills at his disposal, skills that I don’t have... even if it means he also considers me an enemy.

I love how he softens for her, too.

Jaykob isn’t the same man he was when I met him, avoiding connection and responsibility like a wild animal. He’s grown. With her, with the civilians, he’s a different man, one I glimpsed in our sessions but was rarely able to reach.

I run a hand over my jaw, my eyes locked on him, as serious and sincere as I’m able.

“You don’t trust me, Jaykob, but you can. You always could.”

Jaykob swallows, his face tightening as he stares at the ceiling... but he’s listening.

Slowly, his rage drains away too. The sneering, crude bravado he likes to stab out with is gone. Anger is his defense, and he’s lowered it.

We’re both peeled back.

When Jaykob doesn’t respond, I soften. “I have her, I promise you. I have you all.”

Finally, he looks at me, and his gaze holds me to that promise. More serious than I think I’ve ever seen him.

Just once, he nods.

Something new, fragile and unexpected, lightens the space between us.

Hm. Perhaps we’ll get our truce after all.

“Lucien, open the bag.”