Page 12 of His Christmas Gift

“I’d like that,” she said, and he smiled boldly as his lips covered hers in a slow, teasing kiss that made her pulse race. Her body was on fire, and she knew it was dangerous, very dangerous to give into it, especially with him not knowing the rest of the truth about her, who she was.

Her father would flip if he knew this was happening. He’d never said anything, but she was certain he hoped to pair her off with one of the men he knew, sons of friends and business colleagues that he knew would do right by her. She doubted any of them could make her feel a tenth of what Jasper did though and that made her settle into the kiss further, letting it wrap around her completely as the clock ticked past one and edged closer to two.

Jasper felt his body rebel against the slowness of his actions. If she were any other woman he’d felt this pulse pounding desire for, he’d have her laid out across the couch naked already.

Instinctually he knew that wouldn’t work with Melissa. He wanted their first time together to be everything it should be and that certainly wouldn’t be on the couch.

He pulled back, giving her a last feathery soft kiss as her lips followed his, and rested his forehead against hers. “I don’t want you to turn into a pumpkin, so perhaps I should see you home now?”

“A pumpkin?” she mused with a grin lifting her face to meet his gaze.

“Never mind.” He shook his head making her laugh as he guided her up from the couch. “I’ll see you home unless you’d like to stay the night. As you can tell, I have more than enough space for it.”

“As nice as a short walk to bed sounds, I think perhaps it’d be better for tonight for me to go back to my place.” Melissa hoped Jasper understood. She needed some time and a little space to get her thoughts processed.

“Too fast,” he said seeing it in her eyes. “I’ll see how the caterers are doing while you get your things. Would you like to have lunch with me tomorrow? We can explore part of the city you likely haven’t had a chance to see yet.”

“I’d love to.” She couldn’t stop the smile as he led her to the stairs. Although she did her best to hold back the blush threatening her as Jenny and Zack’s gazes turned to her from the sitting room as they gathered the last of the plates and glasses.

“There you are Missy, did you need a ride home?” Jenny asked shooting her a wink behind Jasper’s back. “We have everything just about ready for the company to come pick up the place settings tomorrow. Mrs. Nelson said she’d be here to see to them.”

“I’ll see that Melissa gets home safely,” Jasper stated ushering her towards the stairs for her things. “Jenny, thank you for your amazing work tonight, everyone was immensely pleased and impressed with it.”

“You’re welcome and thank you for agreeing to let me cater it, even if you did do it just to try to sleep with Missy,” Jenny countered once she was out of sight and hearing. “Don’t bother denying it. Zack told me about the fight earlier and you can’t hide the ravages done to her just now. So, tell me, what exactly do you plan to do with my friend because I’m not about to let some rich playboy hurt her for a bit of amusement.”

“I have no intension of hurting or playing her, I assure you,” Jasper said easily knowing the woman was simply being protective of her friend and he liked her for it. “I’m not about to let my brother say anything negative about her or let anyone hurt her. From the moment we met, all I wanted was to protect her, and that is what I plan to do now.”

“Good, beware of her father though, I think any man wanting his little girl is going to be put through the wringer and back before he’d even give permission to date her. Let alone what is likely to occur if you’re serious about Missy,” Jenny stated making Jasper smile with a nod.

He was well aware of how protective some fathers could be of their daughters. Especially protective when they were only children let alone adding in his loss of his wife.

“I’m up for the fight, I’m up for anything when it comes to Melissa,” he said moving up to meet her at the top of the stairs, hearing her heels on the tile heading their way.

“Night Missy, have fun going home,” Jenny said hugging her when she reached them. “Call me in the morning—actually why don’t you text me to let me know when you get there?”

“Goodnight Mom,” Melissa teased before following Jasper out to the car where Keith took her things to stow in the rear. She settled in with Jasper, a smile on her lips as he watched her, the light playing over their features through the moon roof.

“You didn’t have to come with me,” she stated as ten minutes passed with him simply watching her. His hand held onto hers gently, his thumb sliding against her wrist making her shiver at the touch.

“If I hadn’t then I’d have been worse than your friend. I would have called you the moment the car was out of sight and not let you off until you were safely locked in your apartment. I hate that building you live in, which is why I’m coming with you, especially dressed like this,” he said letting his gaze slide over the dress again. “Keith made the right choice taking you to Saks. This is what you should be wearing all the time.”

“I think a formal evening gown is a little much to go to the grocery store or pharmacy in, Jasper.” She let out a soft laugh pulling a moan from his lips. “What?”

“The way you say my name…I never want to hear Mr. Thomas from you again,” he stated and she grinned feeling bold as she leaned towards him, barely brushing her lips against his.

“Never? Not even if I said I love the way you kiss me, Mr. Thomas?” she said as he caught her up against his chest, holding her to him.

“Perhaps in that context I’ll allow it and even in another, but I think it might make you blush if I said it right now.” He lowered his lips to her neck making her shiver.

She could read the answer to what he meant in his eyes, and she felt the heat attacking her cheeks as images of it flew through her mind. It was a good thing they were in the back of his car and not at his house any longer. Had they still been there she may have done something extremely rash, especially with the way her body reacted to his every touch.

She’d had boyfriends. She’d kissed plenty of boys during high school and college. She’d fooled around with a few. Never had she allowed them to touch her intimately and never went beyond a few caresses to them before it felt wrong and pulled back.

This was completely new to her. As much as she wanted to explore it, she knew it was better to take it slowly, to not rush straight into a heady exploration of those feelings.

Yes, he’d indicated he wanted a life with her, a family with her. She simply needed to know it wasn’t just words meant to lull her into comfort in order to get her into bed with him. She wanted to know more about him before that happened.

She knew it was going to happen, just not perhaps when.

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