Page 56 of Ensnared

Histhumb drags over my lip harder, smearing it.Owningit.

“Don’tsleep with her.”

Thewords are halfway between a plea and an order.Theyhang in the air for too long.

“Whywould you...askthat?”Mystomach is in knots.Ican’t tell ifI’mthrilled or horrified.IthinkI’mboth.Itry to move my head back soIcan think—soIcanbreathe—but he holds me tight. “Youof all people shouldn’t be asking me that.”

“Iknow.”

“Years,Jasper.It’sbeenyears.Andshe likes me.Iwon’t have to be—Damnit!You’redoing thisnow?”

No.Okay.IthinkI’vegot a handle on this.I’mdefinitely pissed.

Ipush him off me and get some distance even though my heart tries to carve its way through my chest and leap back into his arms.Stupidthing is a masochist.

Okay, all of me is a masochist.It’sno excuse!

“Lucky,Iknow,” he repeats.

Theuse of my nickname pulls me up short.I’venever heard him use it.Notonce.

“Areyou going to promise the same thing?”Idemand.

Ilook back at him and the delicate line of his throat works.Hesighs, looking at the floor, which, really, is answer enough.But...

But.

He’sachingly beautiful in this moment.Rumpledand vulnerable and raw.Iwonder how many people have ever seen him like this.

Jasperhas unspooled me before, andI’vecurled up at his feet and thanked him, butInever thoughtI’dsee him unravel.

“Iknow it’s cruel.Iknow it’s unfair.But...I’masking anyway.”Jasperswallows, and his voice is unsteady as he adds, “Please.”

Please.

Fuck.

Drawingin a tremulous breath,Ihave to ask, “Why?”

Myvoice is too hoarse.Myerection has long since deflated—but this isn’t about that.

Heshakes his head once, andIlaugh, a little surprised at how strangled it sounds. “No.Youcan’t ask something like that and not even give me an answer.EvenI’mnot that much of a pushover.”

“You’renot a pushover,” he snaps, dark eyes flashing like lightning in the night. “Beingsubmissive with me is not the same thing.”

Andmy stupid masochistic heart knocks out a few ribs at his instant defense.

Hispale jaw clenches, and his black hair is discomposed.Haltingly, he says, “Ineed to work through a few things.Ifear...Ifear thatIneed to make some decisions.”

Asthough that explains anything.

“Decisions,”Iecho, heart sinking.Hefears.Thatdoesn’t sound like a man ready to make a wild declaration of love. “Aboutme?”

Jasperfalters, but there’s a hint of shame in his slight grimace.

“Right,”Ibreathe.Everythinginside me is shredding to pieces.I’vebeen shot and it hurt less than this conversation.Hottears prick the back of my eyes, andIrub the back of my neck, hoping it might somehow knock the hot lump out of my throat as well. “SoIshould blow my chance withEdenand just... wait until you decide whetherI’mworth it?”

Jaspersteps forward again.Iretreat but find myself up against a cabinet.DidIthink this kitchen was big?It’sa matchbox, and he’s the lit match, sucking down all my oxygen.

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