Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“She knows me,” Jasmine murmurs. “She might be the only one who ever has.”
“I’d like to think I belong in that number, Red.”
She gives me a sad smile, but she doesn’t say anything and that bugs the fuck out of me. I let it go, though.
I walk closer, sitting behind her on the concrete. I take a deep breath. The scent of rain in the air and the sweetness of Jasmine intermingle. My eyes close with pleasure, as I pull Jasmine’s body back into me, kissing the side of her neck gently.
We don’t talk for a few minutes. I let her have her silence and I try to figure out the best way to approach the subject so that I can help her.
“Want to tell me what happened, Red?”
Her body relaxes against me and I should feel relief at that, instead it makes me feel like the fight has left her, like she’s given up on something and I don’t like that at all. My Red is a fighter until the very end. It’s one of the things I love about her.
“The same thing that always happens when I’m around my parents. They point out everything I’ve ever done wrong and instead of telling them that they’re wrong, I take it and remain silent.
“If that’s how it goes, then why in the fuck did you give me head just so I’d bring you to Kentucky to have lunch with her?”
A startled laugh bursts from Jasmine’s lips and she pushes her head back against my chest, tilting up to look at me.
“Is that what you really think?”
“Are you going to deny it?” I challenge her.
“I sucked your cock because I enjoy it,” she counters. “You would have taken me to Kentucky to see my mom regardless.”
I kiss her, just a small kiss, barely tasting her lips, but allowing my tongue the pleasure of teasing her just a little. Our foreheads rest against each other. I keep my arms wrapped around her, giving her a gentle squeeze. It’s an admission that she’s right. I’d give Jasmine anything she asked if it were in my power.
“You’re trying to make me fall in love with you, Luke,” she murmurs.
I’d be a damn liar if I denied the shot of pleasure her words shoot through me.
“Is it working?” I ask her.
“Yeah,” she says and fuck, that feels good.
She turns back around, and we sit like that, staring out over the water. It’s getting late. I don’t have a watch and don’t want to yank out my phone to check, but I’d guess it’s around six. I hate that Jasmine spent so much time alone today. I’m not leaving her alone anymore. I didn’t want to today. I did because I didn’t want her parents to see me and start asking questions. She may not be part of the Devil’s Blaze, but they still might know enough to be dangerous to the overall plan.
But, fuck if I know what the plan is anymore.
Jasmine has changed everything.
“It’s beautiful out here,” I murmur, holding her tighter, kissing the top of her head and just trying to be here for her, enjoying having her in my arms and hating that she’s sad—all at the same time.
“I don’t see beauty,” she whispers, her voice so steeped in sadness that I don’t know how to fix it.
“What do you see?” I ask her.
“I see a place where demons live,” she finally answers after several minutes of silence.
“What demons do you have, Jasmine?”
“Plenty,” she replies, giving a self-depreciating laugh that holds no humor. “But mine don’t live here. They belong to someone I love.”
I ignore the jealousy that I feel. This seems more important. Instead, I move my head so that my lips are at her ear.
“The fact that you’re the one here and they’re not leads me to believe they’re yours, Red.”
“Maybe a little of both,” she admits.
“Are you going to tell me about your demons, Jasmine?”
“Not today. Maybe someday.”
“Why not now?” I ask, wishing I could see her face, but content enough with just keeping her close.
“Because I want you to like me first,” she says, shocking the hell out of me.
I could tell her that’s already happened, but in this mood, with whatever is haunting her, I don’t think she’d believe me. So, I remain quiet.
For now.
20
Jasmine
“Shouldn’t we be heading back?” I ask, and for some reason, I’m anxious to get back to Virginia.
“I’m enjoying spending time with my woman, is that so bad?” Luke asks, turning his gaze to look at me.
“You could spend time with me back home,” I mumble, then I kick my own ass, because I referred to Luke’s place as home.
What is going on with me?
I have to just be over-emotional right now. Fighting with my parents does that to me, and Lord knows that every single time we get together anymore, it’s a fight.