The tempo of her movements increased, her head bobbing back and forth toward my pelvis. Our eyes met as she increased the pressure slightly, eliciting another moan from deep within me. Her hand cupped my testicles, and I felt a rush as I spilled into her waiting mouth.

“Goddess,” I said when I had recovered my breath. “Is it my turn now?”

She wiped her mouth and returned to her feet. “There’s no need to return the favor,” she assured me. “I wanted to do it for you. I wanted you to feel wanted, like you deserve to be.”

I stared at her in shock. Anytime I had been on the receiving end, I had been expected to reciprocate—or pay for their services. Sex had always been transactional, and I was just now realizing that April wasn’t like that. She had never had any ill intentions toward me. She had been telling the truth.

Chapter 18 - April

Jasper stared at me in confusion, and I wondered if he hadn’t understood what I had said to him. Perhaps I hadn’t worded myself correctly, and he thought I was rejecting him.

“Are you… okay?” I asked hesitantly.

Had I miscalculated the situation and taken advantage of him? Did he not enjoy it? Was he upset about something?

“I’m fine,” he said. “Great, actually. I… I believe you. I’m just trying to wrap my head around that.”

My heart soared at his words, and I smiled at him in encouragement. “What exactly do you believe me about?” I asked.

“You haven’t been trying to trick me or take advantage of me, have you?” he said, framing the question as a statement.

I shook my head, confirming what he had finally realized.

My simple motion seemed to unleash the floodgates of Jasper’s passion, as he swept me into his arms and kissed me with abandon.

“Come with me,” he murmured against my lips.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“To our cabin.”

It was the first time he had called it ours, and I quite liked the sound of it.

He shifted into his wolf form, but before I had the chance to shift so that I could run with him, he tossed me onto his back. I let out a laugh of surprise and wrapped my hands in his jet-black fur, clutching it tightly as he carried me back to the cabin.

He ran smoothly through the forest, trees whipping past us at an alarming rate. My eyes struggled to focus on our surroundings as we moved faster than my human form was accustomed to. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

The moment we arrived back home, Jasper shifted, hoisted me up into his powerful arms, and carried me across the threshold. He didn’t stop until we reached the bedroom, where he slammed the door shut behind us.

Without a word, Jasper began to kiss my body wherever he could reach, deftly removing my shirt, pants, and underwear. As he released my breasts from the bra that covered them, he looked into my eyes and took a step back.

“Where are you going?” I asked. I didn’t want him to move away from me. My skin felt frozen without his touch, and I yearned for him to return the fire to my body.

“Just getting a better view. I want to look at you,” he said.

He removed his own clothes slowly, continuing to observe my body. It was a strange feeling to suddenly be bare before him. The last time we had sex, he had insisted I keep my clothes on, and now being naked with him felt awkward. It was as if we were seeing each other for the first time.

When he was fully unclothed, he walked back toward me, grabbing one of my hands and placing it on his chest. I could feel his heart beating beneath his skin, which instantly calmed me. He was finally giving himself to me, just like I had hoped for.

Slowly, he walked me backwards until my body made contact with the wall behind me. He reached down and lifted me by my backside, wrapping my legs around his waist as he lined himself up with my entrance.

“Are you sure you want this?” he whispered into my ear.

“I want you, Jasper,” I said, trailing kisses along his neck.

He braced me up against the wall and slowly inserted himself inside me. Waves of passion flowed through me as he drew himself in and out. Steadily, he held me, maintaining eye contact as our bodies became one. Our breath started to come in pants as we exerted ourselves.

“Take me to the bed,” I gasped.