Djinn in Love (Mystical Matchmakers #4)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Jasper stared up at Veronica’s face. Her thoughts were racing, it was obvious by the distant look in her eyes. But she didn’t look upset. No, she looked as though she were considering his words carefully. It was something he admired about her. She didn’t have kneejerk reactions. She listened. She weighed her thoughts and actions. She was calm and collected.

Those were Veronica’s strengths, and they balanced out his tendency to bulldoze his way to his goals and his quick temper. Her empathy and compassion reminded him to consider the emotions of others. He often developed tunnel vision and didn’t consider that his words or actions might trigger a response in the people around him. It wasn’t intentional. He could admit his tendency to be a selfish asshole, but more often than not, when he fucked up, it was because he was oblivious. Without trying, she reminded him to be aware of how he affected those around him.

“What happens after the weekend is over?” she asked.

“The same thing that happened before we came here—we text, we talk, and we spend time together.”

Her hands cupped his face, thumbs tracing the lines of his cheekbones. “We saw each other nearly every day this week.”

He tugged her closer. “I know. I wanted to see you every day. Is that a problem?”

Relief streamed through him when she shook her head. Her hands slipped down his throat to his shoulders. Veronica pressed him back against the headboard as she lowered her head. He remained still, letting her come to him. It was difficult to do when his instinct was to go after what he wanted. That part of his nature was powered with the same fire that created his magic as a djinn. The same fire that gave him the ability to bend reality if he wanted it badly enough. Or if someone wished for it aloud in his presence.

Veronica’s lips touched his and Jasper groaned at the taste of her. Her hands smoothed down his chest to the bottom hem of his shirt. Her nails lightly scratched his abdomen as her fingers slid beneath the fabric. He inhaled sharply at the contact. Her skin was cooler than his, but he wanted her to touch him anywhere she wanted.

He also wanted to touch her the same way. Jasper let his hands move up her back, beneath her t-shirt. The skin of her back was smooth and soft under his fingertips. She felt like satin beneath his hand.

Veronica surprised him when she straightened and tugged his shirt up until he lifted his arms and let her strip it from him. This time, when her hands moved over his chest, her delicate fingers trailed over his bare skin. Her eyes were locked on the movement of her hands on his body.

Then, she leaned forward and pressed her mouth to his throat. Her lips and tongue moved down his neck to his collarbone. Jasper held himself back, wanting to let her lead, but his hands flexed on her hips. She sighed, lifting her head.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were heavy-lidded as she looked down at him. “Do you want to stop?” she whispered. Her voice was shy, completely at odds with the desire on her face.

“No. Do you?” he asked.

Veronica shook her head, lifting her hand to place it in the center of his chest. “I’m a little nervous though.”

“Why?”

She swallowed hard. “It’s been a long time since I’ve trusted a man enough to…” She stopped talking, her hand flexing against him.

“But you trust me?”

Veronica nodded.

“Do you trust me enough to follow my lead?” he asked.

“Yes.”

Forcing himself to move slowly, Jasper moved his hands up her spine from her hips to between her shoulder blades. She didn’t resist as he pulled her down until he could kiss her. As their mouths meshed and he tangled his tongue with hers, Jasper felt her muscles relax against him. Veronica gave him more of her weight, leaning into him.

He slowly lifted her shirt, giving her time to change her mind or stop him, but Veronica raised her arms above her head, allowing him to remove it. A cotton bra covered her breasts, but he could see her tight nipples beneath the thin fabric.

Jasper smoothed his hands up her ribs, stopping just below her breasts. His thumbs brushed the band of her bra, moving back and forth slowly. He could see her pulse pounding at the base of her throat. Veronica took a shaky breath, her hips shifting. She gasped when her pussy ground against his cock.

He ran his tongue across the top of her breast until he reached her sternum. He pressed a kiss to her breastbone, feeling the way her chest rose and fell with pants. He could hear the catch in her breath when he ran his thumb over her nipple.

Jasper wanted to strip her naked and put his hands and mouth all over her. He was greedy for the smooth glide of her skin beneath him. But he held back. She was nervous and she’d admitted it had been a long time since her last relationship. He didn’t want to overwhelm her or push her too hard, too fast.

He wanted her with him every step of the way.

Pulling back, he looked up at her face, running a finger down the edge of her bra. “I want this off.”

She surprised him by reaching behind her and releasing the clasp herself. The bra fell from her body into his lap. Jasper swept it aside before he cupped her breasts, lightly running his thumbs over her nipples. Veronica’s hands fisted in his hair when he took one in his mouth, curling his tongue around the tip before sucking lightly.

She rocked against him then, her weight coming down on his cock. He could feel the heat of her pussy through the pajama pants she wore. Releasing her nipple, Jasper held onto her and rolled until Veronica was beneath him.

Her long dark hair spread out over the pillows as she looked up at him, her eyes glazed with need. He wanted to picture her just like this from now on. The aloof demeanor she wore like a cloak was gone. She looked at him like she needed him more than she needed her next breath.

Jasper ran his hands over her abdomen to the waistband of her pajama pants. She didn’t wait for him to ask, just nodded, her hands joining his to shove them down her hips. He stripped the cotton from her and tossed the garment to the floor. She wore only a pair of lavender panties edged with cream lace. He traced the scalloped edge of the waistband, watching as goosebumps erupted on her thighs. He liked that she reacted so strongly to his touch.

His fingers moved down, cupping her between her thighs. Veronica reached for him as she spread her legs, her fingers running over his chest and down his torso. Her hands paused, her nails lightly scratching his stomach when he rubbed a finger over her pussy. The fabric of her panties was damp and hot.

Jasper moved his hand, slipping it beneath the lacy garment until his middle finger encountered the slick, soft skin of her pussy. Veronica gasped as he pressed his palm against her clit and slid that finger inside of her. He thrust another finger inside of her, stroking slow and deep.

“You feel good,” he murmured. “Wet and tight.”

Veronica’s only response was a moan, her head falling back, and her hand slid down his abdomen, leaving four small welts on his skin. He liked the sensation, but even more, he liked that she’d done it without thinking, her body reacting to his touch without thought.

When he moved his hand to strip the panties off of her, Veronica’s eyes shot to his, but she didn’t hesitate to lift her hips, letting him remove them and leave her completely naked.

She sat up, her fingers curling around the elastic waist of his pants. “I want these off, too.”

Her words surprised him again. She’d been hesitant and nervous before, but now she was telling him what she wanted. And she was watching him with intense eyes as he shoved the pants and his boxer briefs off. Her gaze locked on his cock before she looked up at his face.

“I want to touch you.”

“Anywhere you want.”

He nearly jerked when her hands landed on his legs, just above his knees, and her palms slid up his thighs. Veronica squeezed his quads slightly, massaging the tense muscles beneath her grip. Jasper forced himself to remain still as her eyes and hands both focused on his cock.

Veronica licked her lips as her fingers ran down the length of his erection. She curled her fingers around him and stroked, tightening her grip as her hand moved. Jasper let her explore until, gritting his teeth against the sudden need to come, he put his hand over hers.

“Did I hurt you?” she asked, that hesitant expression returning to her face.

Jasper shook his head, gently removing her hand from his cock. “Just the opposite. I’m trying not to embarrass myself.”

Veronica looked at his dick again as though she wanted to see him come. Jasper laced their fingers together, lifting her hand above her head as he came down on top of her. Veronica’s free hand lifted to grip his shoulder as she wrapped her legs around his hips.

At the first touch of his cock against her pussy, her thighs tightened around him, as though she wanted to hold him closer. Jasper rocked his hips, feeling the bud of her clit against his erection. Her fingers dug into his shoulder as she matched his movements.

Jasper could feel how wet she was for him. He reached down, sliding a finger over her clit and down to her entrance, gently pressing inside. She arched her body, lifting her hips to meet his touch.

“You’re ready for me” he stated. Then, he remembered. “Condom. We need?—”

“I have an IUD.,” she murmured. Full-blooded supernaturals couldn’t carry diseases, something they were both aware of.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his body tensing over hers.

She nodded. A gasp escaped her mouth when he gripped his cock and lined it up with her pussy, slowly pushing inside her. When her body resisted, he pulled back and pressed in again. Little by little, he worked his length into her body until he was completely buried inside her. Her muscles clenched around him, her pussy growing wetter as he moved inside her, his pace slow.

Jasper released her hand and rested his weight on his elbows as he lowered his head to hers. Their lips met and she sucked his tongue into her mouth. He groaned as her hands tangled in his hair, tugging the strands.

He shoved an arm beneath her, cupping the back of her neck, and thrust into her harder. Jasper released her mouth, using his tongue to trace a line down the side of her throat before he nipped the side of her neck with his teeth.

Her panting breaths came faster as he angled his hips, his cock sliding against her clit with each stroke. Veronica moved with him, her pussy gripping him tighter and tighter. He wasn’t going to last much longer. She felt too good. But he’d be damned if he came before she did.

Jasper raised his head, looking down at her. “Touch your clit for me,” he demanded.

A bright flush worked its way from her throat to her cheeks, but Veronica did as he commanded, her hand leaving his hair to slip between their bodies. The tips of her fingers brushed his cock as she circled her clit.

Her body clamped down on his cock and he ground his teeth together. A bead of sweat dripped down his spine as he fought the urge to explode.

“Come for me, baby,” he murmured, lowering his head and sucking her nipple hard.

Her fingers moved faster, but Jasper had to slow his thrusts. He paused, his dick buried deep inside her and groaned as he felt her muscles twitching around him.

“You’re so close, aren’t you?”

Veronica made a sound low in her throat, a cross between a whimper and a moan, and her pussy grew tighter and wetter. Jasper withdrew until he was barely inside her before he slid home again, going as deep as he could.

He kept his thrusts measured and used his mouth to tease her nipples, licking and sucking as she writhed beneath him.

Suddenly, her body went rigid, and she yelped. Her pussy clenched him so tightly that he had to fight the urge to move inside of her, the rippling of her muscles pushing him over the edge.

With a deep groan, Jasper kissed her, thrusting his cock into her faster and harder, riding her through her orgasm even as he came so hard that it nearly hurt. Their tongues tangled as the pleasure crested and began to recede.

Finally, Veronica’s body relaxed beneath his, trembling every few moments from the aftershocks of her climax. The kiss grew gentler, softer, as Jasper stilled, letting his weight pin her to the mattress. She didn’t complain. Her muscles seemed to melt into the bed beneath them.

He drew back, brushing her hair away from her face as he looked down at her. For the first time, Veronica’s expression was completely unguarded as she met his gaze. She looked relaxed and languid.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, pressing kisses to her jaw and her eyelids when they fluttered shut.

“I was thinking the same thing about you,” she whispered.

He grunted, which made her smile.

“I’ll get up in a second,” he said. “I’m not sure my legs will work yet.”

A soft laugh escaped her. “Don’t rush on my account. I like where I am.”

“So do I,” he agreed. “I always do when I’m with you.”

Her eyes opened to study his face.

“What?” he asked.

“It always surprises me when you say things like that. Especially since you really mean them.”

“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it,” he countered.

Her hands smoothed down his back, as though she sensed that her words upset him, and she wanted to soothe him. “I’m beginning to understand that about you. I like that you say exactly what’s on your mind. There’s no conflict between the things you say to me and the emotions you feel. That’s part of the reason I feel so peaceful around you.”

The tension in his body faded at her words. “I like that I bring you peace. I want you to be happy.”

Her dark eyes peered up at him, something vulnerable in her gaze. “I’m happy here with you.”

As he dropped his mouth to hers, Jasper vowed to himself that he would do everything in his power to always make her feel that way.