Djinn in Love (Mystical Matchmakers #4)

Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Veronica didn’t think she’d been this relaxed in her entire life.

She spent the morning working, ate a light lunch, and then drove the golf cart to the main lodge for her spa treatments. Jasper had left it for her, which she appreciated.

Her spa treatments had been like heaven on Earth. She wasn’t sure how Jasper managed it, but the aesthetician who gave her a facial had been one of the most Zen people she’d ever been around. Her emotions weren’t shielded, but her thoughts were calm and gentle, like soft waves against the shore of a lake.

The massage therapist was completely different. Her mental shields were solid. Not a single stray emotion leaked through. The utter silence of the room and the long, slow sweeps of the therapist’s hands on her skin had put her in a state of deep relaxation. She hadn’t felt so at ease in her skin in years.

The feeling of peace stayed with her on the trip from the main lodge back to the cabin. She didn’t run into anyone else on the short drive. She still had twenty minutes before Jasper was due back from golf, so she took the time to put on a little make-up and fix her hair.

She was just coming out of the bathroom, trying to figure out what she should wear on her first official date with Jasper Bayat, when she heard the door the cabin open. Smiling, she emerged from the bedroom to see how his day had gone but stopped short when she saw him.

“What happened?” she asked, rushing forward.

Jasper limped over to the sofa and plopped down on it. His sweater was ripped at the shoulder, carried streaks of dirt, and bits of grass and crushed leaves. His pants weren’t much better. His left pant leg had one long stripe of mud down the side. His shoes were muddy, too.

“My brother shoved me, and I fell down a hill into a mud puddle,” Jasper groaned, letting his head fall back to rest on the couch.

Veronica’s eyes latched on to the muddy scratch on his throat. It was mostly a raised red welt, but there were a couple of places where the skin had broken and there was blood gathered.

“Milo shoved you?” she asked, anger welling up inside her.

Jasper opened one eye to look at her, a rueful smile on his face. “Well, in his defense, I kinda deserved it. I might have moved his golf ball. More than once.”

Veronica rolled her eyes. She was still irritated, but now with both men rather than just Milo. “Why do you and your brother fight like that?”

He shrugged, closing his eyes again. “Part of our relationship has been fighting like cats and dogs.”

“I never understood that saying,” Veronica said. “I had a cat and a dog growing up and they never fought. They snuggled up together every night.”

Jasper chuckled and lifted his head. “Djinn usually have an affinity for certain elements. In our family, we’re drawn to fire. It influences our personalities. The Bayats tend to be intense, fierce, and short-tempered. We also like to argue and fight. It’s fun to us. Like I told you, family gatherings tend to get loud and confrontational. We’re not usually violent, but none of us back down when someone challenges us.”

“And this explains why you and your brother fight like two pre-teen boys? Because it’s fun ?”

He shrugged again. “Yes?” His answer was a question rather than a statement.

With another eye roll, Veronica moved over to the couch. “Okay, let’s get you into the bathroom so you can clean up.”

There was a bench in the shower. Jasper could wash off in there.

Jasper pushed himself to his feet, keeping his weight off his left foot. Veronica pointed to it. “And what happened there?”

“I twisted my ankle when I fell. It’s not broken, but I’m afraid we won’t be able to go out tonight.”

“That’s fine,” Veronica said. “We’ll order room service again. That was nice last night.”

Veronica sensed his disappointment, but to be honest, she liked the idea of having him to herself tonight.

She grabbed his left arm, lifted it up so it went around her, and shoved her shoulder into his armpit. “Lean on me and I’ll help you to the bathroom.”

Jasper looked down at her. “You look really pretty.”

Veronica tried to fight the blush that rose in her cheeks, but it was a losing battle. The way he looked at her and the things he said to her made her feel as giddy and awkward as a schoolgirl.

She got him into the bathroom and asked him what clothes he wanted for after his shower. He asked her to grab his pajama pants, a pair of underwear, and a t-shirt out of his suitcase. When Veronica came back into the bathroom, Jasper had already stripped out of everything but his black boxer briefs. She wasn’t even taken aback by the sight of him nearly naked because the huge bruise on his left shoulder and the scrape down his spine made her freeze.

“Jasper, your back,” she gasped.

He grunted. “It’s already healing, I promise. I’ll be good as new in a few more hours.”

Grumbling under her breath, Veronica left his clothes on top of the closed toilet, which was only a couple of feet from the shower. She asked if he needed help, but he said no, so she left the bathroom. But she did linger just outside the door, listening as he turned on the shower. She waited until he was finished, and she heard him climb out before she left the bedroom. Veronica was worried that he would fall in the shower, but when she was sure he would be okay, she went into the kitchen. After a little digging, she found a Ziploc baggie, a kitchen towel, and plenty of ice in the freezer.

By the time Jasper made his way out of the bathroom and settled onto the bed, a pillow crammed behind his back, she’d returned with the ice pack. His brows raised when he saw what she’d brought.

“I’m healing fast, Veronica,” Jasper argued. “I don’t need an ice pack.”

She totally ignored him, grabbing one of the extra pillows from the head of the bed and propping his foot up with it. With a sigh and a faint smile, Jasper didn’t try to stop her as she laid the towel over his swollen left ankle and then arranged the baggie of ice on it.

“There. We’ll leave this for ten or fifteen minutes. It may be healing fast, but this will still help the process along,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. She noticed the scratch on his forehead. “Did you disinfect that cut?”

He shook his head. “I washed my face in the shower. That should be enough.”

Veronica went into the bathroom and dug the mini first aid kit out of her toiletry bag. When she came back into the bedroom with it, Jasper winced.

“That’s not necessary,” he stated. “I washed it out well when I took a shower. And I’m a djinn. We heal fast. And don’t get infections…much.”

She gave him a dry look. “Don’t be a baby. It needs to be cleaned out or it’ll scar. Even if it doesn’t get infected.”

“Scars are sexy,” he said, leaning away when she sat down on the bed beside him.

Veronica held back a laugh. “It’ll only sting for a second. I promise.”

With a put-out sigh, he sat up and let her dab the cut with an alcohol pad. He hissed at the sting, and she leaned forward to blow on it.

“You know you’re just blowing germs into that, don’t you?” he murmured. He leaned a little closer, his nose almost touching her throat. “You smell good.”

She ignored his statement about germs, dabbing the cut again, but shivered when he leaned even closer, and his lips brushed her neck. “Thanks. It’s probably the massage oil the therapist used.”

“Hmmm.”

Goosebumps broke out over her arms and legs as the low hum he let loose vibrated against her skin.

“Are you hungry?” she asked, her voice little more than a whisper.

“Starving.”

“What do you want for dinner?”

His arms came around her, one wrapped around her shoulders and the other low on her back, just above her hips. “Are you on the menu? You smell good enough to eat.”

Veronica couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her because his lips moved against her throat as he spoke, and it tickled.

“I suppose that was a cheesy line,” Jasper admitted, releasing her, and leaning back against the headboard.

“Maybe just a little,” she agreed. “But your lips tickled when you were talking.”

His answering smile was warm and a little tired. “Honestly, I’d love some pasta.”

“That sounds good,” Veronica agreed. “There’re two different kinds on the menu. Wanna order both and share?”

“Sounds good.” Before she could get up, Jasper caught her with a hand around the back of her neck, pulling her in for a kiss. “Thanks for taking care of me.”

“Anytime.”

After Veronica tossed the alcohol pad in the bathroom trash, she picked up the phone in the kitchen and ordered their dinner. She also requested a bottle of wine, salad, and dessert. Just because they couldn’t go out for their date didn’t mean they couldn’t have a date in the cabin. She would pay for the room service meal before they checked out since she added so much food to it.

As with breakfast, the meal was delivered almost preternaturally fast. Veronica had no idea how the restaurant here at the resort was able to make and deliver the meals so quickly, but she wasn’t going to complain.

She carried the baskets containing their food and the bottle of wine into the bedroom and found that Jasper had gotten up and ditched the ice pack into the bathroom sink.

“You weren’t supposed to get up yet,” she said.

“My ankle is much better. It’ll be healed by the time we’re done eating and watching a movie. I promise.” He started to get up. “Let me help?—”

“I’ve got it,” she insisted, carrying everything over to the nightstand. “I ordered salad and wine, too. I’ll pay you back for that.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Jasper—”

“No, you won’t,” he repeated, his tone firm.

With a sigh, Veronica unpacked the food, pleased to see that there was a foil package containing garlic bread. Before she could talk him out of it, Jasper was on his feet, the bottle of wine in his hand.

“There’s a corkscrew in the kitchen. I’m going to open this and grab some glasses.”

Resigned, Veronica watched as he limped out of the bedroom. By the time he returned, she had the containers opened and sitting on the rolling tray she found in the closet.

He insisted that she pick the movie since he rarely had time to watch television or follow the releases. When she paused on a romcom that she’d been wanting to watch, he told her to go ahead and pick whatever. The trailer began playing automatically and he watched it while he sipped wine.

“Are you sure?” she asked. “It’s what most men would consider a chick flick.”

Jasper shrugged. “It looks funny. Let’s do it.”

They sat on the end of the bed and ate dinner off the tray while they watched the movie. When they were done with their food, they pushed the rolling tray to the side and scooted back on the bed, sitting side-by-side with their backs against the headboard. After a few minutes, Jasper shifted, putting an arm around her shoulders.

“This okay?” he asked.

“Yes,” she murmured, resting her head on his chest.

He tugged her closer until she let her weight rest against his side. Veronica soaked up the contact. It had been a long time since she’d been held like this. Yes, he’d climbed into bed with her the night before, but they hadn’t been touching when she woke up.

This was different. She was aware of the firm muscled length of his body, the heat of his skin soaking through her pajamas, and the slow, steady beat of his heart against her cheek. Though she was still relaxed from the spa treatments, a low hum of arousal began in her blood. It had been so long since anyone had touched her with more than platonic affection that just cuddling with Jasper affected her more than she expected.

“Thank you again for scheduling the spa treatments for me,” she murmured. “The ladies wouldn’t even let me tip them. They said it was taken care of.”

“You don’t have to keep thanking me,” he replied, his fingers gently running through the ends of her hair. The movement tugged at her scalp and tingles spread from her head to down to her neck. “Did it help you relax?”

“I’m more relaxed than I’ve ever been.”

She could hear the smile in his voice when he said, “Good.”

Hesitant, Veronica lifted her hand, pausing for a moment before she finally placed it on the center of his chest, just next to her cheek. Immediately, Jasper’s free hand came up to cover hers, pressing it closer. She tilted her head back, pulling away slightly.

He looked down at her, his dark eyes soft as they met hers. She loved the way he was looking at her. As though there was nowhere else he would rather be. Without thinking, she moved her hand, cupping his cheek. As she lifted her chin, Veronica pulled him toward her.

His lips were hot and felt like a brand against hers. That heat spread throughout her entire body. It was only their second day here and none of this felt fake anymore. The way he looked at her, the way he treated her, it reflected his true emotions. He liked her. He wanted her.

And the way he made her feel wasn’t false either. She was falling for him. It was too fast, too frightening, but she wasn’t sure she could stop it even if she wanted to.

Veronica opened her mouth when his lips parted over hers and a low hum escaped her at the touch of his tongue against hers. Jasper deepened the kiss by degrees, taking his time as though he would have been satisfied just to kiss her all night long.

But that wasn’t enough for her. Not tonight. Veronica shifted, turning her body further into his. Jasper cradled her against him, but she wanted to be closer. She brought her leg around, placing a knee on each side of his hips, straddling his lap.

Jasper tangled his hands in her hair, holding her closer. His lips moved from hers, over her jaw and down to brand the side of her throat. She rocked against him, feeling the hard length of his erection beneath her.

The mental shields he’d built around his mind cracked, letting some of his emotions leak through. Veronica’s breath caught in her throat. They were like a gossamer thread, so thin that it shouldn’t have affected her. But they did, because as tiny as the leak in his shields was, it had the same strength and honed edge as a scalpel. It stole her thoughts and her control.

He wanted her with an intensity that matched her own. He ached with it, just as she ached. He took pleasure in her touch and in touching her in return. His own desire fed hers. It was unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. Veronica was swept along the wave of his emotions, her muscles winding tighter as though her entire body was hot and on the verge of melting.

Jasper’s hands clasped her hips, holding her still, and his mouth left the skin of her neck. “Veronica, I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret.”

“I won’t.”

His dark eyes remained locked on hers, as though he were trying to read her mind. Or at least determine her level of honesty with herself. His hands gripped her hips tighter, bringing her closer. “I need you to be sure because this will change things.”

“How?”

“You’ll have to be open to the idea that this isn’t pretend. That you’re dating me. That we’re in a relationship.”

She leaned back a little so she could see his face clearly. “I know it’s not fake anymore. I believe what you said before. About wanting to be with me.”

“I have a confession to make,” he said.

Veronica froze as she felt a thread of worry worm through his mental walls. “What?”

“It was never fake for me.”

She blinked at him. Once. Twice. Three times. “I’m sorry. What?”

“I never wanted for you to pretend to date me. I wanted you to actually date me,” he admitted. “But every time I asked you out at Mystical Matchmakers, you shot me down and held me at a distance. None of the matches you found me worked out because they weren’t the woman I wanted. They weren’t you.”

She didn’t know what to say to that.

“It probably makes me an asshole, but I used the situation to my advantage, hoping that you would open up to the idea once we spent some time together. If it hadn’t, I wouldn’t keep pushing because I do understand the word no. I just felt like you were seeing me as a client and not a man and I wanted a chance to change that.”

“It was never fake for you?” she asked. “Truly?”

He shook his head. Veronica could sense that he was worried she would be angry. But that he also didn’t feel guilty about it at all.

Veronica knew she should be upset, that what he’d done was manipulative and underhanded. But she knew that he was right. She never would have given him a chance if he hadn’t pushed her into a corner by insisting that she attend the wedding with him.

And she would have missed out.