Page 27 of Bulletproof Love

“Fal,” Blake pleads. “What is it?”

“It’s nothing, Bee. You rest. I’ll just be a minute.”

Whatever was in her mind couldn’t be nothing. I know her voice, the way her husky tone drops low, turning hollow with unspoken thoughts. I’m so caught up in my head, I don’t think to move away from the door. Or maybe subconsciously I don’t want to. Either way, as Falin leaves the room, she stops with barely an inch between us.

“Jesus Christ! Jasper, you scared me. Why the hell are you creeping outside Blake’s door?” My eyes follow the path of her palm as she rests it over her chest. The swell of her breasts rises and falls rapidly as she gets her bearings. Fuck, I’d love to pin that palm over her head and bury my face in her chest. “Hello? Did you need something?”

I blink and realize she’s talking to me.Whoops.I can’t help myself from daydreaming about her incredible body. Especially when she’s this goddamn close to me.

“I need a lot of things. Thanks for asking.” I force myself to meet her gaze. Sharp narrowed eyes. Of course. I can’t help but smirk.

“Like a few extra brain cells?” She brings her arms across her chest, pushing her tits up, testing every ounce of restraint I possess.

I step closer, crowding her against the wall. My heart pounds and senses feel alive for the first time since I last used. It’s her… my trouble maker. She makes the blood roar through my veins. Makes my vision clear. Hell, she’s the only one who makes me feel anything strong enough to stop the cravings.

“Jasper?” Her voice catches in her throat and I love it. I love that I’m rattling her as much as she rattles me.

“Yes, Trouble?” I say, my voice dropping low as I drink her in. Those smokey eyes that match the rasp of her voice. The scattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Those perfect fucking lips. Each second with her this close pulls at something primal within me, makes me want to abandon everything and take what I want. Before I can think better of it, I lean in slightly, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. My gaze drops to her lips, lingering there with clear intent. Then her palms come up to my chest, the heat of her skin searing through my shirt. I freeze, unsure if I should step back or lean into her touch. She’s not pushing me away, but she’s notnotpushing me away.

“Hey, I was thinking burgers for dinner,” Damon says from the kitchen. He’s coming toward us from the sound of his footsteps, but I don’t move. Falin’s chest heaves and she shoves me backwards just as Damon rounds the corner in the hallway. He stops and his gaze darts between us. “You guys good with burgers later?”

Falin nods and I let out a low “Yeah.” Damon doesn’t question what we were doing in the hall, but I can see that knowing look in his eye.

“Did you talk to her about the party?” Damon asks, gesturing toward Falin.

“Party? You mean the gala?” she asks, turning from me to Damon.

“Guess not,” Damon says, looking mildly uncomfortable. He cranes his neck to peek at Blake, and quiets his voice. “Jasper can fill you in, but we have a plan. I just—I don’t think Blake will like being left out, but she needs to be kept safe. We have no idea what we’re walking into.”

Just then, Havoc scampers down the hallway and into Blake’s room with the other kitten close behind. Falin keeps her attention on Damon. “Can’t you tell me now? What plan?”

Damon hesitates, but I have no reason to. She needs to know. “You’re my date for New Year’s Eve. Excited?”

The annoyed look she gives me makes me instantly hard, not that I wasn’t there already. “What is he talking about?” she asks Damon.

“The gala, we need you to go with Jasper. Now that Blake’s been flashed all over the media, we can’t risk her leaving. I didn’t want her to in the first place, but we all know how she fought that. We need a Mr.,” he points to me and then to Falin, “andMrs.Brennan Whitaker, if we’re going to pull this off.”

My lips curve upward without realizing. But I guess I’m not surprised. No part of me is dreading this gala with Falin. I’m almost hoping some shit goes down so I have an excuse to get out some aggression. As long as Falin’s safe, of course, but I’d never let anything happen to her. I just need this—the social energy, the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

Falin presses her lips together and shrugs. “I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of this myself.” Her eyes meet mine, gaze fixed. “I’m in.”

CHAPTERELEVEN

FALIN

Every wordof caution that I’ve heard from Blake and the guys plays on a loop through my mind as we pull up the winding drive toward the massive stone mansion owned by the Fairfax’s. It has to be the most opulent home I’ve ever seen, yet it looms ahead through the gently falling snow like a monster lying in wait.

We pass a circular fountain, ice-covered and dusted white. The statue’s vacant eyes seem to follow mine, a warning in them to stay put. I can’t do that, even if I wanted to.

I keep my eyes trained ahead at the warm light spilling from the tall windows, and the smoke drifting from one of the chimneys blending into the darkening winter sky. As we approach the main entrance, I see the other cars ahead—all black luxury vehicles, making Damon’s 1970 muscle car stand out like a sore thumb.

“Are you ready?” Jasper asks, his voice lower than normal. He seems to have soaked up some of the anxiety that’s been radiating off of me since this afternoon, when all of this became real.

I’d shopped for the gown and mask. I’d gone over the details of the plan with the guys. I’d even voiced all my concerns to Blake in private, except for those nagging personal thoughts about a night alone with Jasper, pretending to be his wife. Those were living rent free in my head—little images of Jasper in a black tux and mask, offering me his arm like my own personal dark knight. I know it’s ridiculous, but the thoughts persist, no matter how many times I try to shove them away.

I’ve never done anything like this before. Dangerous activities that were actually quite safe, sure—like skydiving, or cliff jumping, or even picking up random guys in bars. But nothing like walking into a lion’s den with a gun strapped to my thigh and my trusty switchblade hidden in my cleavage.

I’ve been behind a desk, where I have complete control over my surroundings. Where the scariest thing that’s happened to me was my hard drive crashing. I breathe in a large gulp of air, letting Jasper’s fresh scent calm my nerves. “Yeah, I’m ready. Are you? You’ve been quiet for the last twenty minutes.”

---