Page 59 of Enemies with Benefits

Her gaze dropped to the document I held out. ‘What is that?’

‘A solution I’d love for you to consider when we’re done taking care of what’s more important. I love you, Wren,’ I reiterated. Because I needed her to hear it. To know that the powerful emotion that had taken root inside me when I wasn’t looking and fused itself to my very soul wasn’t going away. ‘I think I fell in love with you five years ago, at the intern’s seminar.’

Green eyes grew shiny and I dared to go closer, to hope for an echo of what I felt. ‘I don’t... I can’t...’

‘Sweetheart, be brave. One last time. Let’s defy the odds and shove our happiness in the faces of our doubters.’

A shocked gasp left her lips. ‘Perry said something just like that.’

‘And I’d kick his arse for stealing my thunder if I didn’t wish with every fibre in my being that you would consider it.’ Unable to bear being apart from her, I stepped closer, cupped her chin and nudged her gaze to mine. ‘Please, Wren. You mean everything to me. I want to build a life with you. I want to see that smile every day, wait with bated breath for you to blow me away with your brilliant mind. And, sweet heaven, I want the privilege of fucking you every chance I get, even if some of those include you and a certain trench coat I’ve decided can stay. For now.’

Her laugh was music to my ears and manna to my soul. Too soon, it died away. ‘Are you sure, Jasper? This upheaval...it feels like a lot.’

I nodded. ‘I get it, and there will probably be a few more to come. But would you rather face it alone or with a seriously handsome dude who worships you?’

Again that smile threatened to make an appearance.

‘Take the step,’ I pleaded.

Her breath caught and her hand rose as if to touch me. I held my own breath until she did. Then I tugged her into my arms, groaning as my lips found hers. But far too soon, she pulled away.

‘Wait. Tell me you didn’t know what was happening when you left Morocco.’

I grimaced. ‘All Gemma would tell me was that I was needed at the board meeting. I think she suspected I wouldn’t attend if she told me Hugh was the one behind it. I didn’t know, sweetheart. It killed me the way you found out. But hopefully, I can make it up to you.’

She glanced at the document, then her gaze returned to mine. ‘I was terrified you’d betrayed me, Jasper.’

‘Never. For as long as I live, I’ll never let you down that way. Or in any other way. You’re mine. I fight for what’s mine. And you are right at the top of that list.’

Tears filled her eyes and neither of us cared when they drenched her cheeks. Because she was smiling through them, her arms encircling my neck. After another long, soul-stirring kiss, she whispered in my ear, ‘Do you want to know when I fell in love with you?’

The electric shock that went through me held me rigid. Then, pure happiness blazing through me, I said, ‘Yes, I do.’

‘When you took me into the sky with the promise to be the wind beneath my wings and laid the world at my feet.’

A knot in my throat hoarsened my words. ‘You have my promise that I will do that for you every day, Wren.’

Fresh tears filled her eyes but she looked more beautiful than ever. ‘Only if you let me do the same for you.’

‘Deal.’

We kissed, long and deep and soul-sealing. ‘I love you, Jasper.’

‘My heart and soul and trust and body are yours. And if you can squeeze in a wedding before the launch, I swear to you that I’ll find another fraction of love for you.’

Her laughter branded my soul and I vowed to wear it with pride. Because I was Wren’s and she was mine.

‘Challenge accepted.’

EPILOGUE

THEREWEREMOMENTSin the past three months when I was a little bit ashamed of the precious time I’d wasted fighting this feeling even though I recognised things had played out the way they were supposed to.

That pain and desolation made this all-encompassing bliss suffusing me now even more precious.

‘You’re smiling again, Wren. I swear if you don’t get your act together, you’ll blow this for me.’

‘Sorry.’ I laughed at my almost sister-in-law’s mournful voice. ‘I can’t help it.’

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