Page 92 of Broken Pact

44

CORALINE

The morning after is always a gamble. Though I’m not sure it’s still called the morning after if you have sex that morning.

Either way, it could be awkward or weird. A minefield of unspoken questions and potential regrets. But as Jasper and I get dressed and head out, there’s a surprising lack of tension. Maybe it’s the morning light filtering through the trees or the lake lapping at the rocky beachfront. Or maybe it’s just him.

Regardless, I feel good. Content.

Jasper hands me a helmet as we step out into the garage, the humidity already warming the air. I take it, my fingers brushing against his, and a spark of electricity passes between us. Our eyes meet, and a small, secret smile plays on his lips.

"Ready?" he asks, his voice low and intimate, meant only for me.

I nod, slipping the helmet over my head. "Ready."

We climb onto his motorcycle, the powerful machine rumbling to life beneath us. I wrap my arms around his waist, pressing myself against his back. The vibrations rumble against my core, reminding me that she’s crossed that finish line several times in the past twenty-four hours. It’s the delicious kind of ache.

The ride back into town is exhilarating, the wind whipping past us as we weave through the forested roads. Jasper's body is solid and warm against mine, and I can't help but tighten my grip, pressing myself closer. The memories of our morning together play through my mind like a movie reel, and I feel a flush creep up my neck that has nothing to do with the summer heat.

As we enter the outskirts of town, a strange feeling settles over me. It’s like we’re crossing an invisible boundary, leaving behind the freedom and intimacy of the lake house and reentering the real world.

A world where Jasper and I are fake dating. Where we’re not exploring the connection between us for real.

Jasper pulls into the Reaper compound, parking his bike next to my car behind the clubhouse, and cutting the engine. The sudden silence feels heavy, laden with things unsaid. I climb off the bike, my legs a little unsteady as I hand the helmet back to him, our fingers brushing again as he takes it.

I half-expect to feel embarrassed, like I’m doing the walk of shame, but the clubhouse is quiet. The only person we passed was the Reaper manning the security guard house, and he barely glanced our way. The lack of reaction is oddly reassuring, like what Jasper and I did last night is our secret, tucked away in the quiet corners of this place.

There's a charged silence between us, not uncomfortable but heavy with the weight of unspoken words.

“Before you go,” he murmurs, getting off his bike and stepping closer, “one more thing.”

He takes me by surprise, slipping an arm around my waist and pulling me close. Before I can react, he dips me in a dramatic sweep, his other hand cradling my neck. The world tilts, and for a split second, I feel like I’m floating. Then his lips are on mine, warm and insistent, and I melt into the kiss.

It’s a public display of affection that feels both bold and perfectly right. His mouth moves against mine, tender and possessive, and I lose myself in the moment, forgetting where we are, forgetting everything but the feel of him.

When he finally sets me back on my feet, I’m breathless and a little dizzy, a giddy smile spreading across my face. His lips curl upward in a self-satisfied grin.

"What was that for?" I ask, my voice coming out breathier than I intended.

His grin widens, and he tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my skin. “Just reminding you that this thing between us? It’s real, baby. Don’t forget it.”

My heart skips a beat at his words, at the conviction in his voice. Part of me wants to melt into him, to stay in this moment forever. But the rational side of my brain kicks in, reminding me that we're standing in the middle of the Reaper compound.

And we’re both playing parts.

I take a step back, my smile softening. “I won’t forget,” I promise. And I mean it.

“Drive safe,” he says, brushing his fingertips over my neck. “I’ll see you later?”

I nod, still caught up in the haze of our kiss. "Yeah, later."

He gives me one last look, something soft and unreadable in his eyes, before stepping back. I climb into my car, my fingers tingling from where he touched me, and start the engine. As I pull away, I glance in the rearview mirror, watching him walk toward the garage. The sight sends a flutter through my chest, a mix of anticipation and something deeper, something I'm not quite ready to name.

The drive to the bakery is uneventful, the familiar streets blurring past. But before I get there, my phone starts ringing. I glance at the screen and see Evie’s name and gorgeous photo.

“Hello, my gorgeous cousin,” I answer.

“You want to tell me why I just heard from my husband that my cousin was spotted making out with a Reaper in the courtyard of the compound. And not just any Reaper, but the very same man who, and I quote, was a big-dicked asshole.”

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