Page 7 of Bulletproof Love

I break my gaze away from Jasper and turn to Leon. “You don’t even want to know.”

“You’re right. It’s too fucking late for this,” Leon says with a sigh before pushing up from the couch. He steps closer to Jasper, peering down at the kittens. “They’re not staying in our room.”

He holds a black kitten up so it’s eye level with Leon. “Don’t say that. Look at this face.”

“I’m going to bed.” In the dim light, I catch the ghost of a smile on Leon’s face as he heads back to his and Jasper’s room.

Jasper makes himself busy, pulling out a dish from the cabinet. I join him in the kitchen, wondering what the hell he’s planning on feeding two feral kittens at nearly 3 AM. I don’t have to wonder for long as he grabs a can of cat food from his hoodie pocket.

“Are you Mary fucking Poppins?” I ask. “What else do you have in that hoodie?”

“Nothing else in the hoodie, but I have something magical in my pants,” he says without missing a beat. I smack his arm, which only garners a smirk from him. He hands me the can. “Here, can you open this? My hands are full.”

“Yeah.” I guess I’m an accomplice to his cat crimes now. They are pathetically cute. Poor little things.

“One second guys, Mommy’s opening your num-nums,” he says in a baby voice that weirdly does it for me. Goddamn, I need to find a normal guy to fuck in this city.

“Please never say num-nums ever again. I think my ears are bleeding.” I grab a spoon and dish up the cat food onto a small plate while Jasper snickers. “Let’s bring them to my room.”

His brow raises. “I’m finally getting invited in, and all it took was some starving kittens.” He holds them up in one hand so they meet his eyes. “I knew I loved you two.”

“Come on, dummy. Let’s get them fed so I can yell at you for being stupid tonight.” I head toward my room, noticing that Blake and Damon finally seem to have quieted down. Once we’re both inside, I close the door.

In this tiny room, Jasper’s size is overwhelming. His presence seems to swallow up every inch of space, every breath of air. I shimmy around him and bend to put the dish on the floor, being acutely aware of just how teeny my sleep shorts are. Jasper gently places the kittens down in front of the dish and we sit on the edge of my bed, taking a moment to watch them go to town on the gross wet food.

“I think I’m going to name the black one Mayhem. May for short.” He leans back on his forearms, stretching his long legs out in front of him. “And the other one, maybe Chaos. That one’s a hellion, I can tell.”

I ignore the pang in my chest. “What the hell happened tonight?”

He bends at the waist to scratch the kitten on the head. “Or maybe Havoc. Yeah, I like that name.”

“I know what you’re doing,” I say, crossing my arms.

“I should go grab a washcloth. They’re filthy.” He hums to himself and starts to stand.

“Jasper.” I grab his bicep—or try to. The thing is massive.

He releases a long sigh and meets my gaze. His brows draw together and his face sags like it’s weighed down. “What do you want me to say?”

I’m acutely aware of every feeling coursing through him. He thinks he can hide from me, but he can’t. He can’t hide his trembling limbs, or how he worries his lip until it’s raw. I see his restlessness. The way his thoughts drift away when the cravings take hold.

As much as I want to berate him for being stupid, I know that’s not what he needs. “Take off your hoodie and lie back.”

The corner of his lip tips up and he tilts his head to take me in. “Oh, really? I didn’t think we were going there, but yes ma’am.”

I shove his arm playfully. “Shut up and do as I say.”

“Fuck, at least buy me dinner first.” He yanks his mask from the top of his head, tossing it on the floor, before pulling the dirty hoodie off. He’s left wearing nothing but a white cotton undershirt that clings to his pecs like a second skin.

And my mouth is suddenly dry as hell.

“Lie back and close your eyes. I’m going to do some acupressure points on you.”

I cross the room to hit the light switch as he repositions himself, laying his head on my pillow. The kittens have polished off their meal and my mind drifts to the fact that they’ll now have to use their non-existent litter box, but once I see Jasper finally listening to me, I ignore the thought.

His chest rises and falls slower already, a telltale sign that he’s starting to relax. I climb into bed beside him, scooting as close as I can so I don’t fall off the edge. Being this close, his masculine scent overwhelms me. Goddamn, why do I have to be so horny?

“Falin?” he whispers. “Should I sit up?”

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