Page 72 of Trust Me

My girls awaken, stretching and sauntering over to me. After giving them some love, I place the dress over the back of the couch and walk over to Jasmine, who’s still sleeping.

I crouch down, putting a strand of dark hair behind her ear as I press my lips to her forehead. Jasmine stirs, her lashes fluttering before her mocha eyes meet mine.

“Hi,” I whisper.

“Hi,” she croaks, her voice gravelly from sleep.

“Why are you wearing my jersey?” I inquire, my voice soft.

“Call it curiosity.”

“About?” I ask her, smoothing the hair away from her face.

“How you’d react to me in it.”

“I fucking love it. Makes me want to throw you over my shoulder.” I smirk as the possessive beast inside pumps its chest.

It’s then that I smell apples, a sweet, sugary scent following after it.

“Did you make me an apple crumble?” I ask.

She shrugs, a pink hue on her cheeks. “I wanted to do something for you, since I can’t buy you anything. It’s random and probably weird.”

“Dolcezza, it’s not weird. You’re showing me affection by doing something for me. It’s normal and appreciated. I’ll try some later.”

“Later?” She crinkles her nose at me.

“Yeah.” I stand, walking over to grab the dress bag off the couch. “I want to show you something first.”

Jasmine cocks an eyebrow, tilting her head as she leans up on her elbow. “Elio, what did you do?”

I unzip the bag, my eyes never leaving hers. “You wanted something, so I got it.”

The burnt orange dress peeks through the opened zipper, eliciting a gasp from Jasmine, who is now rushing over to me. “How did you do this?” she marvels, running her fingers over the material of the dress. “Did you pay them to ship it here?”

I shake my head at her, placing the dress carefully on the couch. “I may have lied about what I was doing today and I apologize for that, but I knew you’d give me hell for going.”

“Going? Elio, tell me you didn’t,” she breathes, looking incredulous.

“I did. I flew there this morning, got the dress, and flew back. Oh, and your shoes should be here by tomorrow. I think they complement the dress really well, or at least, that’s what my sister told me.”

Jasmine folds her lips together, her eyes bouncing between mine as she struggles to hold onto her annoyance with me doing this for her. Her eyes shift to the dress on the couch, causing her hold to break, a wide grin spreading across her face.

She closes the space between us, standing on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around my neck. “Thank you, babe. I love it, even if it’s a little much that you did all of this for me.”

I wrap my arms around her waist, tugging her to my chest as I crane my neck down to look at her. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

As the last word leaves my mouth, her lips crash onto mine. She kisses me fiercely, pouring all of her appreciation into it with a hint of hunger for more. I cradle her head with one hand, the other gripping her ass, and I explore her mouth with my tongue.

Breathless, she pulls back, staring up at me with the utmost trust in her eyes. “I’m ready.”

“What?”

“I’m yours, and I want to feel close to you. I’m ready. Please,” she states, nothing but a firm confidence in her tone.

I cup her chin, studying her for a beat. “Are you sure, dolcezza?”

“I’m sure. We can eat the apple crumble later to celebrate,” she teases, her eyes glittering with an eagerness I’ve yet to see from her.

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