Page 54 of His Custody

June

Death threats ought to have been effective when a person could beat the crap out of someone twice her size. But somehow, Jasper seemed to know when to take her seriously, and when to bend the rules even when she herself wasn’t always sure.

She’d threatened him with death if he did anything special for her graduation. He’d agreed he wouldn’t, went as far as to pinky swear at her behest. And then... Well, one could make the argument inviting Leisl to the ceremony and out to dinner afterward wasn’treallyspecial. Jasper had, in fact, been urging her to spend more time with Leisl, more time with her friends, even though all she wanted to do was spend time in bed with him.

Or not even in bed. They still went to the gym every weekend, they still worked side by side in the evenings. She wanted every second she could have with him because even his proximity made her happy. Jasper being nearby made her feel like there was the possibility of being whole again. Or at least of having learned to function enough to pretend to be whole.

She turned around in the white lawn chair to find Jasper’s craggy face in the audience. It was easy because Leisl still had her lace parasol open above her head. And oh, boy was she getting stares for that. As was Jasper. Of course everyone probably thought he was dating Leisl. And that was fine. If she had to pick someone for Jasper to date—that wasn’t her—she’d pick Leisl. Leisl wasn’t his usual type, but that was probably a good thing. Leisl was fun, and Jasper needed more fun in his life. She’d make sure he got it.

Keyne waved, and both Jasper and Leisl waved back. Jasper was stone-faced and dignified, and to other people he might not look like he was enjoying himself. She knew better; this was an act because he was so god-awful terrified of what would happen if someone found out about them. Leisl was far more enthusiastic, bouncing in her seat and almost beaning someone’s grandma with her parasol.

Though her heart was heavy because she could feel the loss of her family and Gavin more sharply than usual, she was also buoyed by the love coming from her cheering section. Plus, Alice had given her a present at her lesson a few days ago: a Tinker Bell figurine who was wearing boxing gloves. She had no idea where Alice had found it, but she’d been so delighted, she hadn’t cared. Especially when Alice had punched her arm—not lightly—and said, “You know who to call if any of those fresh-ass preppy boys in New Haven bother you.”

Yes, she did. She might’ve lost her family by blood, but there were people who cared about her, who wanted to see her succeed and were proud when she did. She was so busy looking back and smiling at Jasper and Leisl, she almost missed when the headmistress called her name.

“Tallulah Keyne O’Connell.”

She stood and made her way to the stage, her white gown billowing in the breeze, but her cap pinned securely in her hair, thanks to Ada. It was silly to be so pleased when she got that piece of rolled-up parchment into her hands, but as she accepted it with one hand and shook the hand of her headmistress with the other, she let herself be happy, feel accomplished and capable.

And she let herself wave at Jasper while she clutched the diploma to her chest. Yes, Leisl was right beside him, and they’d both stood so she could see them clearly, but she only had eyes for Jasper, and he for her. Sometimes his stony features could mask his feelings but not today. The pride and the gratification and the... yeah, she’d call that love on his face were almost too much to bear.

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur, her classmates’ names read out, speeches made, gales of polite applause. Then it was over, and she could file out with the rest of her classmates to the part of the playing field where family pictures would be taken, flowers handed over. They could all keep those things. There was only one thing her heart desired, and he was coming right for her, single-mindedly weaving through the crowd to get to her.

Though he was cautious about touching her in public, they could safely indulge today and she would take every advantage of it. Jasper circled his big strong arms around her and nearly lifted her off the ground. And just when she thought she couldn’t get any happier, he whispered in her ear, “I’m so proud of you, Tinker Bell. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, and I love you.” Followed by a kiss on her cheek with his sandpaper stubble grazing against her, she could’ve swooned. Instead, she hugged him back, tight as she could, and tried not to cry.

***

Hours later, he kissed down her stomach, traced her navel with his tongue. Hell would have its doors wide open for him when he died, but at this second, he didn’t give a fuck. She was too damn delicious.

“Jasper?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

His murmur was buried in the hollow her hipbone created, and he nipped the crest before soothing the bite with a lick and a suck.

Keyne ran her hands over his hair—it was too short and thick for her to get her fingers through it, although he might have to grow it out, if only to feel her touches against his scalp. She was so gentle, soft... loving. “Can I ask you for something?”

“You said you didn’t want a graduation present.”

Her midsection contracted with a laugh as he continued to tease her skin with the movements of his mouth.

“I didn’t want athing. I want something else.”

“I would be hard-pressed to say no.” She’d finished up with high honors after a rocky start to the year and she was headed to Yale for god’s sake. What more could a person ask for, never mind she’d still been wading through grief for most of this year?

“You’re going to think it’s weird.”

Heaven help him, his ears perked up. When Keyne wasn’t busting her ass on her finals, she’d been reading up on kink and took it as seriously as any of her classes. She was voracious, and wanted to try everything. Well, not everything, but enough things that it made him dizzy with the possibilities. “Or I’m going to think it’s awesome.”

The latter was far more likely. He’d done his utmost to let her lead the way, telling him things she wanted to try, encouraging her to ask any and all questions. Sometimes they ended up not trying a thing at all, but just talking about it. Then again, sometimes Keyne ended up in a fireman’s carry over his shoulder on their way to his bedroom.

“Would it be okay if I...” She took a breath so deep it swelled her belly under his lips. “Could I...”

Jasper stopped his nuzzling and looked up at her. She’d never been so reluctant to ask for what she wanted, and he’d done his best to never discourage her from anything, even if at the end of the day he said no. What on earth had her so nervous?

“I know we talked about how there were different things people could call each other, and sometimes it tells you what kind of, I don’t know, level their relationship is? But sometimes it’s more of a nickname, or, you know, a way to let your partner know the scene is starting, or...”

She fumbled for a few minutes, reciting things she’d learned from the books and the websites she’d been using for research, and he let her. It might’ve been condescending of him and Keyne would punch him if she ever knew, but he loved to hear his little kink encyclopedia rattle off facts and theories. And if it took her some meandering in a place she was comfortable with like book knowledge instead of her own feelings, so be it. She’d find her way to what she wanted to say and he’d give her the space to do it.

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