Page 83 of Ensnared

There’sno way he brought me into his private room onhis dayjust to play a board game.Right?

Myeyes stray to the very large, very inviting-looking bed on the far side of the room.

Iclear my throat and snap my eyes back toJasper. “Youdon’t sound like you believe the philosophy.”

“No?”Hestirs steaming ripples in his cup, andI’mmesmerized by the graceful curve of his wrist. “No,IsupposeIdon’t.Atleast, not with regard to myself.Ihave flawsI’mnot so proud of,Eden.I’vebroken in ways that shame me.Ihaven’t yet found a way to turn them into somethingIcan find beautiful.”

Istare at him, taken aback by the raw honesty in his tone.Crypticas ever, yes... but it feels like a confession.

“Ithink you’re beautiful,”Iwhisper, beforeIcan think better of it.

Witha startled blink,Jasperlooks up at me, face softening, and my cheeks begin to burn. “Darlinggirl,” he murmurs.

Ashiver skates down my spine, then erupts over my skin.

Thosedark eyes move over me like a caress, and he steps in, cupping the back of my neck with his free hand.He’stall, standing above me, but he doesn’t crowd me, doesn’t loom like some of the others.Subtlepressure eases me forward, andIsigh a breath as he directs me to an armchair.

There’ssomething erotic about the press of his fingertips on the sides of my neck, in the confident lack of force by which he moves me.Bythe timeI’mat the chair, my knees feel weak, and my teacup trembles on its saucer.

“Sit,Eden.”

Myknees drop out.

Ithink about taking another sip to ease my parched throat, but then think better of it.Ineed a bucket of ice, not to raise my temperature any further.

Jaspertakes a seat across from me, on the opposite side of the chessboard, and sets his saucer down on the side table.Sittingback in his armchair, he crosses one leg over the other.Thetiny teacup seems unbearably delicate in his elegant fingers.

Iset my saucer down too and examine the board.Apparently, we really are playing chess. “Howdo we play?”

Jaspershakes his head neatly. “Chessisn’t a game so much as it is a battle of minds.”

Comforting.

“Okay.”Iclasp my hands together on my lap. “Let’sspar.”

Chapter22

Eden

Survivaltip #281

Don’tenter a battle if you don’t know the lay of the land.

You’lllose.

Atthe word “spar,”Jasper’seyes narrow on me, andIgive him a demure smile, remembering the wayIwatchedBeauknock him to the ground again and again yesterday morning.

“Didyou—?”

Itake a sip of my tea asIgrin, and pink rolls intoJasper’scheeks.

Witha grimace,Jasperexplains the rules to me, and he was right—the orderliness and the strategy concept are appealing.Helets me choose a color, and his slight smile whenIchoose black tells me instantly thatIpicked wrong.

Bitingmy lip,Iduck my head again and survey the grid—numbers down one side, letters down the other—andImove my black pawn toE5.Jaspermoves his knight toF3, putting my newly moved pawn under threat.Scanningthe board again,Imove my pawn toD6to protect it.

WhenIglance up through my lashes again,Jaspergives me a slight nod, and a smidge of my anxiety eases.He’soverwhelming, sitting back like an indolent prince, and playing a game of wits against him seems like an unwinnable exercise.

Isthis really how he wants to spend his day with me?Oris this just the warm-up?Somethingto lull me into a sense of safety before he pounces?

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