Page 53 of Enemies with Benefits

‘It’s fine. He’s no longer in my life. And I may be many things now but weak I’m definitely not.’ The harsh proclamation sent a cold shiver over me.

No, Jasper Mortimer wasn’t weak. I knew that first-hand.

And when he dragged his lips over my jaw and unerringly claimed my mouth again in a ruthless kiss, I wondered whether there was a warning in there for me, too.

CHAPTER TEN

‘MORNING,SLEEPYHEAD.’

The miniature roller coaster that had taken residence inside me over the last three days since our arrival in Marrakesh performed a deep spiral at the sound of the sexy voice in my ear. Despite the sensation, I grinned, rolling over to find Jasper perched on the side of the bed, completely naked and looking gloriously virile in the morning light.

‘Sleep well?’

I nodded, sighing at the memory of what felt like the best three days and nights of my life. Days filled with work that didn’t feel like work at all and nights of transcendental sex.

‘Good.’

Hoping I’d get a good-morning kiss, I silently grumbled when he turned away and reached for something on the bedside table. ‘Pick one.’

I glanced down at the two envelopes stamped with the Mortimer logo in one corner. The wicked gleam in his eyes made me glance suspiciously at the mysterious offering. ‘I don’t think...’

‘Do you trust me?’ he murmured.

The right answer was...no. Perhaps love and affection were conditional but I’d discovered that even after jumping through hoops the way I’d done for my family for most of my life, they’d still let me down. And while cloud nine felt like pure heaven, my instincts shrieked for me to beware. Or, at the very least, take it down a notch the way I’d been utterly unable to since we arrived.

‘Don’t overthink this, Wren,’ he said, his voice a low rumble. ‘It’s all good, I promise.’

Stupid tears clogging my throat, I plucked the nearest envelope and tore it open to distract myself before I blubbered in front of this man. Again. The words blurred for a minute. When I blinked and they came into focus, my stomach dropped to my toes.

‘No way. I want the other one.’ I lunged for it.

He held it out of reach, his hazel eyes dancing with humour. ‘No, you picked that one, so we’re doing that. Unless you’re afraid of heights?’

‘I never agreed to abide by your rules. And no, I’m not.’

A glimpse of steely ruthlessness surfaced in his eyes. ‘So are you going to back out or are you going to trust me?’

Like before, I felt as if he was testing me, weighing me up for something more profound than...sweet heaven...paraglidingin the desert. Again, the urge to say no pummelled me. Again, I held it at bay. Then I responded with a compulsion pulled from deep within me. ‘Okay, fine. I’m going to trust you. This once,’ I added, drawn by a desperate need to protect myself, emotionally and otherwise, despite the growing suspicion that it might already be too late.

An hour later, after a succulent Moroccan breakfast of yoghurt, dates, rich coffee and muesli, we left the resort.

I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived at the adventure camp set several hundred metres high up in the High Atlas Mountains. The makeshift camp I’d expected turned out to be a first-class, well-run outfit, with different groups for different levels that put me slightly at ease. The safety lesson further eased my nerves, enough to spark excitement. But not enough to fly solo when given the option.

The smouldering looks Jasper sent me as we suited up said he was pleased I’d chosen to double up with him; the intimacy of being strapped in tight against him only underlined that fact.

Regardless of all of that, my nerves nearly gave out as we stepped closer to the cliff edge.

‘Jasper...wait, I don’t think I want to do this—’

‘One small step, Wren. That’s all it takes,’ he whispered in my ear. ‘One small step and the belief that you’re not alone. That I won’t let anything happen to you.’

Dear God, what was he doing to me? I glanced back at him, saw the unshakeable promise in his eyes, and just like last night I wanted to open myself up and fill my soul with it. For however long it lasted.

With that assurance cloaking me, I swallowed, stepped forward into nothingness and felt my belly drop away from my body.

For the first five seconds, sheer terror gripped me, my scream searing my throat. But over the strong rush of air, Jasper spoke again. ‘Sweetheart, open your eyes. See what your bravery has earned you.’

Reluctantly obeying, my jaw dropped as the beauty of my surroundings slowly engulfed me.

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