Page 65 of Ruthless Scoundrel
Jasper runs a hand down his face and sighs. When he opens his eyes again, they’re dark and deep, no sign of his lustful magic. I hope mine have faded, too.
Illya can’t come soon enough.
I need to know why Jasper Luvine needs me so desperately.
Chapter nineteen
Jasper
Reina wasalmostmine. It might be better that we were interrupted. Gods, what would I have done to her if she’d given any hint that she wanted it, too? Alejandra would’ve known just how much she means to me, and so would the rest of the town.
I carry the buckets of cold water over to the fire and hoist them up onto the crane. I use the poker to push them in and then just stare, letting my mind wander off into the make-believe place where someone hadn’t knocked on the door. My dick was already hard, but remembering the animalistic groan of her pleasure from that night on the beach, and imagining her making it again, tenfold, under me as I claim her thoroughly—
“Jasper,” Reina says so quietly I think she was hoping I wouldn’t hear her. My name from her lips does weird things to my insides. Twisting them up and wringing them out, leaving me hollow until I hear her say it again, a little louder this time.
I turn to her. “What is it, princess?”
She folds her knees under her and sits up straight. “What does Ohksano’amai mean?”
My pulse jumps in my dick. I’m not sure it could get any harder. I want to tell her. I want her to know what we are to one another and that she pulls me to her just like Nol’Ther drags the sea. Her smile makes me swell like I might burst with emotion I didn’t know I was allowed to feel, and her ire thrills me to push her further. To see a woman so unafraid to fight back, to be brave—even if it’s stupid—take risks, love deeply, try fiercely…
It frustrates me that she’s not already mine, but I’m excited that I get to chase her.
I come to the edge of the bed and kneel so I’m looking up at her. “It’s a very important word in my language, just like Ohksana’amai.”
“You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
I smirk. “Not right now.”
She reaches out and brushes my curly hair off my brow. She’s so casual about it, I forget to be shocked. Her cool fingers slide across my forehead to my ear, sending a thrill down to my bones. She traces the tip of my ear to my lobe, and that little gesture has my heart fighting to escape my chest and jump into her lap, begging for her to take it, to keep it, cherish it.
Stupid thoughts.
I must still be in Heat.
She clucks her tongue and pulls back. “There goes my mutinous body again.”
I capture her hand and place her open palm against my cheek, closing my eyes as I lean into it. I don’t want this moment to be over just yet. Her thumb strokes my jaw. The scratch of her nail dragging along my facial hair, the sound it makes, has my breath stuttering.
“You’re not a bad man, are you?” she asks.
I smirk. “Not a Man.”
“Jasper,” she chastises as she slides her hand over my mouth.
My eyes snap open in a miniature panic.
“Alejandra,” she whispers.
Right.
Fuck.
So, Reina’s going to keep my secret. I half expected her to spout it and beg to be saved from me, but she didn’t. She’s invested in getting to the bottom of this—of what I need her for—even if it’s dangerous for her. It’s just another few R-word reasons I can’t stand to keep my hands off her.
Reckless.
Resolute.
