Page 59 of Trial of Deceit

“So, you’d love me?”he asked, and after a brief pause, she nodded slowly.

In another life, maybe… One where he wasn’t a criminal, and she wasn’t an agent.They’d be free of familial obligations, and could be and love whoever they wanted to.

“I’m a very patient man, Ashari,” Jediah added.“So, I’ll accept that for now.”

As a grin broke out on his face, she chuckled.“Why do my feelings matter this much to you?”

“How much time mi tell yu seh yu leff a mark pon me?Plus, you keep playing hard to get.”

“Your file said you love shy women.”

He chuckled.“You really paid attention in class, huh?”

“I did,” Ashari said, and he grinned.“Shut up.”

“Your teachers were wrong,” he said, and her brows furrowed.“The public labels me as a player, so the last thing I want to hear is that I’m putting my dick in just any kind of woman.I won’t taint my family’s reputation that way,” Jediah explained.

Ashari’s brows furrowed.She wondered what else she got wrong about him.

“The truth is everything you do makes me want you more.Especially after how you just—” He chuckled as she put a finger to his lips.

Ashari smiled, loving his chuckle.It was deep.His posture wasn’t as rigid.She liked seeing Jediah this way.She preferred this over when he was brooding, always clutching a cigar as if his life depended on it.

Ashari slowly moved her hand away, and Jediah stepped forward.He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her upward.Ashari sighed before laying her head on his chest.She closed her eyes while listening to his heart beat.

“Mi know we get off to a rocky start, but I want you to love me.I know you can.But… I’m not sure if I can right now.Mi never raise pon love, mi raise pon survival.So, when I do things sometimes… it’s not me trying to say I hate you, it’s me saying I want you in the only way I know how.”

“By taking away everyone else in my life?”

He kissed the top of her head.“Yes.I hate sharing, and I want you to myself.”

Ashari didn’t answer.She leaned off him.“I need to have a shower.”

Jediah nodded.“Okay.I’ll go shower in another room, then I’ll be back.”

“Could you bring me a pill, too?”

He chuckled.“You know you won’t need it.”

Watching him bring his shorts up to his waist before hurrying out of the room, Ashari smiled a bit.She thought he would’ve asked to shower with her.Him not asking made her feel a tinge less bitter toward him.

Removing her other earring, she laid it on the sink before hopping off the counter.A slight throb remained between her thighs as she stepped away from it.The bathtub caught her attention, and she gulped before taking quick strides into the shower.

After she was done, she returned to the room, where Jediah was already waiting.He lifted the blanket, and she crawled beneath it, snuggling close as he pulled her to him by the waist.His comforting warmth made her sigh.

“Why you a sigh so heavy?”Jediah asked.

“I’m thinking,” she answered, trying to ignore his dick pressing against her lower back through their clothing.

“About a while ago?”he asked, then placed a soft kiss on her shoulder.“Do you regret it?”

“No,” she admitted.“I… loved it.”

Jediah held her tighter.Ashari knew he was smiling while he replied, “I know you did, queen.”

She darted up with a scream.Looking around, she realized she was saturated in water.She screamed louder, slapping and kicking while her throat tightened.

Her hearing was muffled.

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