Page 73 of Jasper
His thumb brushes across my waist, then up to the curve beneath my breast. He leans in and kisses me again, soft, slow, unhurried. My fingers slip into his hair, tugging gently. He groans against my mouth, and it hits me all at once how far we’ve come. From fear and survival to this kind of warmth and safety feels surreal.
“You make me feel…” I start, but the words get tangled in my mind.
His lips find my neck. “Say it.”
I close my eyes and ride out the wave building inside me. “Loved. Even if you won’t say it yet.”
His hands tighten just a little. Then he brings his mouth back to mine and murmurs into the kiss, “I do love you. I’ve loved you since the first fuckin’ time I set eyes on you.”
I feel tears prick my eyes. Everything about this man stirs up my emotions and makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. I just hold on to him, to this moment, to the way our bodies move together.
The pleasure builds between us, slow and deep and thick with emotion. When I fall apart, it’s with his name on my lips and his arms locked around me. He follows soon after, holding me close because he knows I need that.
I stay right there, in his lap, our foreheads pressed together, breath mingling, and run my fingers through the sweat-damp strands at the base of his neck. Jasper doesn’t speak. He just breathes, steady and calm. I love to see him contented and at peace.
I don’t even realize I’m shaking until he brushes his hand down my back and whispers, “Come here, baby.” His voice is softer now, low and quiet.
He shifts beneath me, and then I feel him gather me up. Strong arms slide under my thighs and shoulders. He lifts me like I weigh nothing.
“You don’t have to carry me,” I murmur, “I can walk.”
“I want to,” he insists. “I like the way you feel in my arms.”
He walks us the few steps to the bedroom and lowers me onto the sheets, then climbs in beside me without letting go. Theroom is dark except for the dim hallway light spilling through the cracked door.
He pulls the blanket up over both of us and tucks me into his chest, one arm wrapped around my waist. His breath moves slow and steady against my temple. I press my palm flat against his chest and listen to his heartbeat, steady and strong and mine.
Chapter 26
Tessa
I’ve spent a couple of weeks working side by side with Queenie, getting a feel for how she runs the clubhouse and getting to know everyone. The moment I started walking around in Jasper’s property cut, a whole new world of respect opened up for me. I don’t know how I feel about that. I’ve normally been of the opinion that everyone is supposed to be given a basic level of respect. But being Jasper’s old lady puts me in a position of authority over the other women, especially club girls, because one day soon I’ll be in charge of them.
The clubhouse bar area is crowded tonight, but no liquor is being served. Instead, there are brothers huddled around different tables, cleaning their weapons, filling extra clips with bullets, and making bets on how fast they can kick the Hyenas’ asses.
Jasper already told me to be ready for anything. He believes the Hyenas are on their way to attack the clubhouse. He’s called in reinforcements from two other clubs to ensure the outcome he wants. That’s the absolute limit of what I’m allowed to know as his old lady. And that’s fine. Club business is not my business, after all.
Queenie always says the brotherhood takes pride in being protectors, and our worry hinders their ability to plan and deal with dangerous situations. She’s taught me to quell my anxiety by doing something useful. I’ve grown extremely fond of Jasper’s mother. She’s full of the same kind of wisdom my gran has, though she’s not nearly as old.
The two of us have been on our feet all day, supervising the club girls in the kitchen. Queenie says the brothers need protein to fuel their bodies and liquid to stay hydrated. That makes perfect sense. We want them all to be alert and strong if danger is near.
A dull headache throbs along one temple. It’s either pregnancy hormones or the stress that’s been preying on the back of my mind. Needing a moment away from the noise and tense atmosphere, I give Jasper his refill of sweet tea and head to the restroom. He grabs my hand and pulls me back for a kiss, right in front of all his club brothers. It makes me smile how open he is—he doesn’t give a damn who sees us kiss. I wouldn’t have thought a big biker would be so open with his affection.
When I turn, his club brothers are all looking wistful. That’s the moment I realize not one of them has an old lady yet. Let’s hope Jasper shows them the way, because I’d hate to see them die old and lonely.
Weaving carefully through clusters of club brothers, I head straight for the restroom.
Inside the bathroom, it’s cool and mercifully quiet. The thick, heavy wooden door swings closed behind me, muffling the noise from the bar. I let out a long sigh of relief as I step into the furthest stall, locking the door behind me. Sitting down, I drop my head into my hands, inhaling deeply to steady my nerves. Running the clubhouse is not an easy task. It’s chaotic, but not in a bad way, I suppose. I’m gonna grow into the job—I have to if I want to be with Jasper.
My stomach flutters gently, reminding me once again that his baby is growing inside me. I run my hands over my belly, tickled to feel our child tumbling around and making hispresence known. It’s a reality that’s become my anchor in this unpredictable new world.
I’m just about to stand, wash my face, and head back into the fray when the faint sound of a voice reaches me through the thin wall beside the stall. My body goes perfectly still as I lean closer, my breath catching, my palm pressing against the wall.
A man’s voice, tense and hushed, comes through clearly enough for me to make out the words. He’s listing off numbers. Telling someone how many men are on watch, details about weapons, and specifics about the club’s current readiness. My heart beats wildly in my chest as I realize this isn’t casual gossip or idle chitchat. The words are spoken with a cold, professional detachment.
Panic lances through my chest, and I strain harder to recognize the voice. No matter how hard I try, the voice isn’t strong enough for me to place it. A sick sense of betrayal churns in my gut when I realize that I don’t need to know who it is. Whoever it is, he’s feeding critical information to someone who means harm to Jasper and his club brothers. I can’t let them hurt the man I love—or, heaven forbid, Queenie or Rock.
I quietly come to my feet, my heart working double time as adrenaline surges through my system. My hands tremble slightly, but I push through it, silently opening the stall door. I make sure my steps are light as I cross the tiled floor, intent on reaching Jasper as quickly as possible.
