That may or may not feel like a challenge, and maybe an insult, but I brush it aside. This isn’t about touching Talia, it’s about Jasper wanting to touch her. And apparently not wanting to share. I actually love that.
Jasper is all shy smiles and bouncy anticipation now. He looks at her with his big green eyes, “Tonight?”
She gives him a soft smile that only pulls at half her mouth and says, “If that’s what you want, princess. I’ll get dinner cleaned up, and I’ll come to you.”
Kaleb lifts a hand, “Don’t worry about cleaning up. I’ve got it. You just go with Jasper when you’re both ready.”
She doesn’t argue. She just tips her chin at him and winks at Jasper.
I eat the rest of my dinner, but I don’t really taste it, thinking too much about what’s going to happen after. Jasper finishes and takes his plate to the sink, then leans on the island beside Talia to wait for her to finish.
He’s not excited at all, is he? She tugs his earlobe and takes her last few bites. He waits until she puts down her fork and snatches her plate to put in the sink. That’s my cue, so I gulp down the rest of my water and salute the jealous bastards at the table, then turn to Jasper and Talia and gesture toward the hall, “Shall we?”