Page 31 of Take

What the hell did he mean by that?

“Come on, sunshine. Let’s get Fiona in the air.” Jasper tapped the wing with his fist twice then grabbed his bag.

The roar of the bike started and I watched as Damien disappeared behind the cover of the trees. “What was that about?”

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

I wasn’t so sure about whether Fiona would go anywhere. Did he know what he was doing? It wasn’t like I was scared of flying or dying, but my choice of deaths wouldn’t be a fiery spinning nose dive into the ground.

“Angel. Ass. Here. Now.”

Jasper was already at the top of the stairs.

I climbed up, following him into the cockpit and squished between the seats. I sat in the seat beside him and fastened my seatbelt. He flicked switches then placed a headset on and began speaking to someone.

The engine spurted and the propellers groaned a few times before they suddenly spun. Jasper grinned. “That’s it, baby.” Slowly the plane jerked forward and I watched the propellers out the side window spinning. I was surprised I didn’t see the rust flicking off into the air.

Jasper put his hand on my thigh and I looked at him. He wore a cocky grin and his eyes twinkled as if he knew something I didn’t. “Not going to ask for my qualifications?”

I shrugged. I suspected Jasper wouldn’t do something as stupid as fly a Cessna without being damn good at it. Actually, Jasper seemed the type to be damn good at everything he put his mind to—including, he claimed, sex.

Jasper chuckled shaking his head. “Think I’m going to like hearing you scream and writhe beneath me.” I stiffened, wondering if he’d read my thoughts. But that was impossible. I’d feel it and my shields around my mind were intact. “Tilting your world on its axis with my cock inside you . . . seeing your eyes fill with desire. Angel, that fake blasé attitude won’t be touching you when I’m inside.”

I crossed my arms, more to keep my heart from leaping through my ribcage than anything else. Just the thought of Jasper inside me was catapulting me through a maze of emotions.

The plane started down the grass field and my emotions were taking flight at the same time as I watched Jasper easily maneuver the plane into the air at a steep angle.

He looked completely at ease, his face relaxed, muscles flexed, but not with tension. No, Jasper exuded so much confidence in his stature I didn’t think he was capable of vulnerability.

Waleron had that same confidence, sure of himself, fearless and stoic, yet he carried it differently. The Taldeburu had a stern intensity about him. I’d experienced it intimately when I’d placed my hands on him to try and calm his Ink. The unyielding power that lay beneath his skin was a powerful turmoil, swirling like an out-of-control hurricane ready to sweep up anyone in its path.

But Jasper, he was different. I had trouble reading him. He had no morals. What did that mean? How far would he go to get what he wanted? Did he kill innocent people? Would he betray a Scar? On the outside, Jasper was arrogant and self-assured with an unbending no-bullshit attitude. But I was yearning to know what was beneath.

What made him an assassin? What made him this way? Because we were all a product of our past; it was just how we lived with what we experienced that shaped us into who we became.

I glanced over at him as he spoke to someone over his headset—and it wasn’t in English. He scowled then said a few sharp words before his hands tightened around the controls. He suddenly moved his mouthpiece away and looked at me.

The heat in my cheeks came to life at being caught staring at him.

He threw off his headset. “See something you like?”

I’d spent years keeping quiet, and I’d learned to appreciate it. The less said the better, but with Jasper, I was having trouble keeping my mouth shut. He pushed my buttons and I wanted to push his back.

“Nothing I haven’t seen before.” I shrugged and peered out the side window. “I live with Xamien remember.” Xamien was one of the most attractive men I’d ever seen—worldly with a casual air about him. I also thought of him more as a father figure than a man I’d ever be interested in. “Nothing unusual in my world.”

“Your world?” Jasper scoffed. “Your world consists of Xamien and his butler guy, Glunk, about one-hundred acres and a manor. You, Miss Sunshine, haven’t even experienced a teacup of the world.”

I tensed, hands gripping into the leather armrests. A teacup? Did he just compare my life to a teacup? “At least in my ‘teacup’ I have morals and can sleep at night.”

“Oh, I sleep just fine.” His voice was low and soft as he said, “Can you, Max?”

My breath hitched and my gaze jerked to his.

“Why do you have to be such an asshole?”

“Because you’re cute when you get riled.” His mouth twitched at the corners.

Bastard.He liked this. He liked getting a rise out of me. He was enjoying seeing me stutter and thrown off balance. Well, I may not have his experience, but I did know what a man liked and what would throw him off.

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