Page 30 of Jasper

I roll my eyes. “You really do have control issues.”

He smirks, that cocky, infuriating twist of his lips. “Hush and be a good girl. I know you can be.”

My stomach flutters at his words. I try not to let it show, but the glint in his eye tells me he sees it. Thankfully, he doesn’t say anything, though.

“Which bar were you at last night?” he asks casually.

“The Rusty Pine,” I answer without thinking. Then I narrow my eyes. “Why?”

He shrugs, cool and unconcerned, like he didn’t just set me up. “I’m curious.”

“I thought lying wasn’t allowed,” I sass.

He smirks and changes the subject again. “Were your foster parents good to you?”

My body tenses. I bite my lip and glance away. “How do you know about them?”

“I’m special ops,” he says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “I can find out anything I want.”

Memories float through my mind, and my eyes start to burn. How do I tell him that yes, they were good to me while I was there, but it felt like I was kicked to the curb the day I became an adult, and it broke my heart?

A breeze kicks up around us, and I shiver involuntarily.

His eyes darken when he notices. “That’s it. Get back in the house.”

“I’m fine. I’ll hang out in my camper.”

He gives me a look that dares me to argue. “Absolutely not. Grab what you need, but you’re not staying in that freezer on wheels. Come on.”

The dangerous look he gives me makes me think better of pushing him any further, so I sigh and let him lead me back to the house.

As we walk, I glance up at him. “Why do you have a main house and separate houses?”

He grunts. “Because if I had to live in the same house as my brothers full-time, I’d probably kill them.”

I giggle before I can stop myself as he waits for me to walk inside first before he follows.

We’re heading down a hallway that I haven’t seen yet. When we pass a side room and something colorful catches my eye, I slow to a stop.

A 3D tree is growing out of the wall with mossy branches and fake forest animals perched in various places. There are twinkle lights all over the room, giving it a starry effect. A big, round, dark green rug covering most of the room reminds me of the forest floor. There are a bunch of stuffed animals scattered across the floor, and Rowie and Ember are in the middle of it all, sitting cross-legged, whispering and giggling to each other.

They stop when they see us.

Rowie beams. “Ariana! Wanna come color with us?”

I blink, stunned. “Uh… I?—”

It looks like a playroom.

But they’re grown women.

I glance between them, unsure.

Ember stands, eyeing both of us. “Are you a Little?” She shifts nervously. “Or were we wrong about that?”

My mouth opens, but no words come out. I look up at Jasper, wide-eyed.

He gazes down at me, and something in his expression shifts. His features soften, and a small, knowing smile pulls at the corners of his lips.

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