Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jasper had heard everything she said. Everything.
And it was taking every bit of his willpower to keep his hands off her.
“You love me?” he asked.
She took a step back, which he didn’t like. Not at all. Jasper took a step forward, keeping the distance between them the same.
“Do you?” he pushed.
Veronica’s face turned bright red, the blush working its way down her neck and into her chest. “Jasper…”
When she didn’t finish her thought, he took another step forward. She backed up and kept backing up until her back was pressed against the opposite wall.
“Why won’t you answer me?” he asked.
Her eyes darted everywhere but his face. He hooked a finger beneath her chin, tilting it up. “Look at me.”
Blinking rapidly, she did as he demanded.
“My father always told me that I would know the woman who was meant for me when I saw her. He said that within ten minutes of meeting her, he knew my mother was the woman for him. That he would love her for the rest of his life. I have him beat because I knew the moment you looked up at me from behind your computer at Mystical Matchmakers. It was like a kick to the gut, but it didn’t hurt at all.”
Her eyes grew shiny at his words. “Don’t you think it’s too soon?”
“Ten minutes, remember? I’ve known you for six weeks. Almost seven. That seems like a lifetime in comparison. Just tell me how you feel, Veronica.”
She took a shaky breath, her eyes still damp. “I’m falling for you. When I told you about my vision of my own wedding, it was your face I saw.”
He cupped her face, kissing her lightly. “I was ready to cancel my membership last week. Not because I still didn’t want a date, but because I was hoping you’d finally say yes when I asked you out if I was no longer a client.”
“It’s crazy. We barely know each other.”
“It’s not crazy to me. Things are happening exactly like they’re supposed to.”
He kissed her again, deeper and harder this time. His hands went around her waist, pulling her closer. Veronica leaned into him, her hands clutching at his shoulders and back, fingertips digging into his muscles.
When he cupped her ass and lifted her, she moaned against his tongue and twined her legs around his hips. There was a small chaise lounge against the wall to his left. Jasper carried her over there and sat down with her on his lap.
Some of Veronica’s shyness had vanished the night before and even more seemed to be gone tonight. She rocked against him, her fingers fisting his hair and the heat of her pussy pressing against his cock.
His fingers slipped beneath the bottom hem of her dress, pushing the fabric above her hips, baring the tiny, sheer panties she wore. He cupped and rubbed her hips before latching one hand on each globe of her ass. He controlled her movements, rocking her slower and harder.
Her fingers twisted in his hair, making his scalp sting, but Jasper loved it. It meant that Veronica was losing herself in the moment, just like he was.
He released her ass and ran a hand up her bare back to the halter strap that secured the dress behind her neck. With a quick tug, the knot was undone, and the material fell away from her breasts.
She wasn’t wearing a bra beneath the garment and her nipples were flushed and peaked as he looked at them and ran the tip of his tongue over them. Veronica reached down and started slipping the buttons free from his shirt. She shoved the fabric apart and leaned down to run her tongue and lips over his chest and neck. He lifted her off his lap, setting her on her feet in front of him.
Reaching beneath the skirt of her dress, he hooked the straps of her panties with his fingers and pulled them down. Once she was bare, he leaned back and tackled his own belt and pants. As soon as he pulled his cock free, Veronica dropped to her knees in front of him, her eyes locked on his erection.
He hissed out a breath when she leaned forward and opened her mouth. He couldn’t speak as her tongue stroked up one side of his dick before flicking the head. Bit by bit, she slid more of him into her mouth, sucking, licking, and using her hand to stroke him. Jasper’s head fell back, and he groaned as she took him deeper. Careful not to hurt her, he fisted his hands in her hair. He didn’t push or shove her head, just held on for dear life because her mouth felt amazing.
As he got close to the edge, he tightened his hold on her curls. “Hold on, Veronica. Wait.”
She didn’t hear him because she kept going, sucking even harder and nearly making him come in her mouth.
“Stop, Veronica,” he demanded.
She lifted her mouth off his cock, her lips shiny, and swallowed. “Why?”
His answer was to yank her up onto his lap and settle her on top of him. His hands explored her breasts and ass before his right hand moved to her pussy. He groaned again when his index finger trailed over her clit to her slippery entrance.
“Sucking my dick turned you on, didn’t it?” he asked.
She nodded instead of answering out loud, something she still did with him sometimes. Part of it was her innate shyness and the rest was that she was so consumed by the sensations he evoked in her body that she couldn’t speak, much less think clearly enough to form a complete sentence.
Gathering the wetness from her pussy, he brought it to her clit and circled the little nub. Veronica’s hips moved in time with his touch, pressing down harder into his hand.
“You’re ready for me, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her body moving to ride his hand harder and faster.
Her breath caught in her throat as her muscles spasmed around his fingers. Jasper held her still, keeping his hand exactly where it was as she hovered on the edge of orgasm. The need to come was so strong it hurt, and Veronica released a soft whimper as she fought the urge to move.
Jasper pulled his hand free, grasped her hips, and positioned her over his lap. She reached down and grabbed his dick, moving it exactly where she needed it. Using his grip on her hips, he urged her lower. Veronica’s head fell back as she sank down on him, his cock sliding in deep due to how wet she was.
Her pussy clenched around him as her orgasm threatened to break free. Jasper held her down, keeping himself fully embedded in her body as he guided her hips back and forth, rocking her against him.
“Are you gonna come for me?” he asked, slipping one hand over the crease where her hip met her thigh. His thumb rested over her clit, not moving as she continued rocking against him. When she didn’t answer, he pinched it lightly, tugging her clit with slow, firm pressure. “Answer me, Veronica.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
The pressure of his fingers on her clit made it pulse in time with her movements. Then, he released it, pressed his thumb firmly against it, and rubbed. Within a minute, Veronica’s body bowed, and her legs shook. Jasper increased the speed and intensity of the caress until she stopped moving, trembling all over. With her body positioned on his lap, Jasper took advantage of the position and leaned forward to pull one of her nipples into his mouth, suckling it gently.
Veronica broke with a cry, but he released her hip long enough to grab her hair and tilt her head down so he could kiss her, swallowing down the noises she made as she came all over his cock. Moments later, he stiffened beneath her, his body drawing tight from the force of his own orgasm.
They were both breathing heavy when he finally released her mouth. Veronica rested her forehead against his, shivering on his lap. As their bodies cooled, the sounds of people walking down the hall and talking filtered through the door. No one had tried to enter the bathroom yet, but it was only a matter of time before someone tried to open the door.
Jasper didn’t much give a damn if his family realized he’d fucked his date in the bathroom, but he knew Veronica would be embarrassed. She wanted to make a good impression with his family.
Slowly, he pulled back, brushing her hair away from her face. “You know what Jasmine said is bullshit, right? You do belong here with me. With my family. There isn’t anyone who could be better for me than you.”
Her expression became guarded, and it caused a twisting sensation in his chest. “About that…” She looked down. “Let me get cleaned up and then we’ll talk.”
He wanted to argue, but he could feel his cum slipping out of her and he didn’t want to get it all over his pants. He spied a box of tissues on a table beside the chaise. Jasper grabbed the entire box, pulling a handful of tissues out.
It took a little maneuvering, but he caught most of the mess with the tissues as she climbed off him. Veronica moved to the sink, her dress still rucked up around her hips. She wet a paper towel and cleaned between her legs before she started looking around for her underwear. Jasper saw them on the couch next to his hip. He was tempted to stick them in his pocket, but, again, he knew it would make her uncomfortable to walk around bare beneath her dress with his family around.
Maybe he could work her up to that in the future.
Smirking at the thought, Jasper picked up the filmy thong, letting it dangle from his index finger by the strap on the side. “Looking for these?”
Seeing his smirk, Veronica sighed and walked over to take them. “What’s got that look on your face?” she asked.
“I was just wondering how long we’ll have to be together before you let me carry your panties in my pocket after we sneak off to mess around at my family gatherings.”
She sat next to him, threading the panties over her heeled sandals before standing up to tug them up her legs. He watched in interest as she did a little shimmy to pull the straps over her hips. Her ass had four red dots on the cheek, and he realized his fingertips had left the marks.
“Do these hurt?” he asked, running a finger over them.
Veronica looked down over her shoulder, but she couldn’t see what he was touching. “What is it?”
“You have red marks on you from my fingers. Do they hurt?”
She shook her head.
“Will they bruise?” he asked.
“Probably not.”
Jasper tried to pretend he wasn’t a little disappointed, but she saw right through it and smiled a little. “Sorry, Jas. I don’t bruise easily.”
His eyes lifted to hers when she used his nickname. Then, he smiled. “I like it when you call me that.”
“Jas?”
He nodded, watching as she shimmied again, this time to tug her dress down over her hips and settle it in place. Jasper couldn’t resist running his hand up the back of her leg, marveling at the softness of her skin.
Veronica shivered and sidestepped his touch. “Jasper,” she said, his name a clear reprimand.
“What?” he asked as he stood.
“We need to get to the reception. Your family already thinks poorly of me and?—”
“Whoa. Back up. My family thinks poorly of you ? Who told you that?” Whoever it was would regret their words.
Veronica sighed. “This is what I wanted to talk to you about.” She bit her lip. “God, I really need another glass of wine before we talk about this, but I think it’s better if we have privacy when we do.”
His heart gave a quick double thump before it sank in his chest. She looked sad and upset. He didn’t care who it was who put that look on her face, but he would make it very clear that it would never happen again. Even if it was his own mother.
She took a deep breath and released it before she continued, “I was resting in the alcove in the hallway after the ceremony, just getting a little break from the cocktail party. Your aunt, Samira, and her daughter were chatting right outside. They didn’t know I was in there.”
Jasper scowled. “What did they say?”
“Nothing really bad,” Veronica assured him. “But your aunt seemed concerned that I worked for the matchmaker service. She thought it was unprofessional for me to date a client and said she was surprised your mother didn’t think so, too.”
Jasper tried not to react, but she was observant enough to see the subtle change in his expression.
“Did she say something like that?” Veronica asked.
“Yes, but it was because she didn’t understand what really happened. Just like Samira doesn’t understand. If she did, she would know that dating a client was the last thing you wanted to do.”
“She’s not wrong,” Veronica pointed out.
“I don’t care what she thinks,” Jasper stated. “And I don’t want you to care either. The only thing that matters to me is that you’re happy and that I’m happy. Aunt Samira, Mina, even my mother, don’t affect what happens between you and me.”
Veronica’s smile was tremulous. “Well, Samira also seemed concerned that I was an empath. That I would want to keep you away from your family because being around them would overwhelm me.” She cleared her throat. “She said your mother told her, so I’m guessing you told your parents?”
She took a tiny step back when she saw the look on his face.
“I did tell my parents. And my brother. I’m sorry that I didn’t share that with you. I wanted to let you be the one to tell them, but I also wanted them to understand that you were going to be my priority this weekend and why.”
He still looked enraged. Veronica shifted back another step.
“I understand, Jasper,” she whispered. “I’m not upset about that. Your parents and Milo had a right to know about what I am. This is supposed to be a happy family event and, well?—”
“Don’t say anything negative about yourself,” he commanded. “You are exactly who you should be.”
Veronica pressed her lips together and swallowed hard. God, she had no idea how to respond when he said things like that.
After a few tense moments, Jasper sighed and slumped forward.
“This was one hell of a conversation for you to overhear while you were trying to relax in peace,” he muttered, a fierce scowl taking over his face. His black eyes glittered with fury. “It was also one hell of a conversation for them to be having at what should be the happy family event you mentioned.”
Oh, no. This was not what Veronica wanted. She hadn’t wanted to talk about it now because she didn’t want to cause drama at his brother’s wedding. She wasn’t as doubtful about Jasper’s motivations or feelings toward her as she had been earlier, so the conversation no longer seemed like a big issue to her. She crossed the room until she stood in front of him.
Putting a hand on his arm, she said, “Jasper, please don’t get upset and confront your aunt. Nothing she said seemed to come from maliciousness. The only impression I got off her was that she was concerned about you and that she was sincerely worried our relationship might not be good for you.”
Jasper stepped into her, lowering his head as he used both hands to cradle the back of her head beneath her fall of hair. “I am a grown man, Veronica. While I appreciate that my aunt loves me, she doesn’t need to concern herself with my romantic decisions unless I ask for her opinion.”
Veronica bit her bottom lip as she stared up at him. “Her heart was in the right place, Jas,” she said, putting her hands on his chest. “Please don’t make a scene today. It’s about Milo and Prema. Not about you and your aunt.”
Knowing she was right, Jasper sighed. “Fine. I won’t say anything today, but my aunt and I will be having a talk tomorrow or Monday. And I will make it clear that any thoughts she has about you and my relationship should stay in her brain and not come out of her mouth. Or, if she absolutely has to say something, she should talk to me or her daughter in private and not at a crowded event where anyone, especially the woman I care about, can overhear her.” He leaned down and dropped a kiss on her lips. “And don’t think I didn’t notice how you used my nickname to soften me up.”
“Did it work?” she asked.
His only answer was to kiss her again.