Page 57 of Crossroads
“You don’t know him.”
“I don’t,” I say, but that doesn’t change anything. No one could hate Jasper. He’s impossible to hate. I tried. “But he doesn’t hate you. He likely hates this whole situation, but he doesn’t hate you.”
“You didn’t hear him. You didn’t see his eyes.”
“Jasper,” I say, desperately wanting to make it better and not having a clue how to do it. He sits up and wipes at his eyes furiously, and I sit up too, wrapping my arms around him and holding him tight.
I don’t say anything else because what can I say?
I can’t make the pain go away for him. As luck would have it, just then, the sky opens up and starts pouring down on us. The sky is black, and there’s a crack of lightning that briefly brightens it before it goes dark again.
“Come on,” I say, pulling him up. He struggles, but I eventually get him to his truck and shove him inside, climbing in behind him.
“Rain in July. Fucking fantastic,” he grumbles. He’s soaking wet, and so am I. The rain is pelting the windshield, and it’s almost peaceful how loud it is, hitting the metal on top.
We’re in our own little cocoon.
“Rain is good for crops, I hear,” I say with a slight smile.
His eyes roll, but there’s a little hint of a smile on his face. I’ll take it. “You’re ridiculous.”
“True,” I say and then grasp his face in my hands, both of us shivering from the cold. “I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m any less sorry you have to go through this. You’re the strongest person I know, Jasper. Most would have run far away, but you don’t. Even if you think that’s what you did. You didn’t. You stay. You’re there.”
He shakes his head, my hands holding onto him. “I miss him.”
I nod my head, brushing away what I think is probably a tear from his cheek and not just water from the sky. “I know you do, baby. But you’ll get him back.”
“Why can’t I just fix it?” He sounds so broken. So tired. And I hate this for him, but it’s also just another reason why I love him.
The thought is surreal. I love him. There’s no denying it anymore. I love him for exactly who he is. This strong, stubborn man who takes everything on himself. He silently lives with his own pain while he’s busy being strong for everyone else.
But I want to be his strength. I want to give him that.
I kiss him softly, tasting a hint of vodka on his tongue when he hungrily pushes it into my mouth. He doesn’t want to talk anymore, and I’m okay with that.
We can talk later. I want him to take everything he needs from me. I realize we were meant to find each other. I’ve spent my whole life being selfish, and he’s done the opposite, being selfless. It’s time for me to give back.
We kiss like starving men, the rain forming a wall against the outside world as it pelts his truck in thick sheets. I remove his soaked shirt, and he does the same for me. I’m thankful his old rusty truck has bench seats when we both remove our jeans andthen underwear, and I straddle his thick thighs, kissing the hell out of his sweet mouth.
“I want you inside me.”
His hands are on my naked hips, his head pulling back the small amount allowed by the cramped cab of the truck. “What?”
“You heard me. I’m ready for this. You don’t want it?”
I watch him swallow thickly, his tongue poking out and licking his dry lips. “You know I do, but I don’t need a pity fuck.”
I pinch his side, and he swats me away. “That’s bullshit, and you know it. I don’t pity you, Jasper. I’m in awe of you.”
His big hand sweeps up to my jaw, cupping it as he looks at me intensely. “I don’t want your first time to be in a truck. All cramped and shit.”
I grin at him. “It’s hardly my first time.”
His hand that is resting on my hip moves to my ass and swats it hard, only serving to make my dick harder. “Brat.”
