Chapter 19 #2
“Exactly,” I said. I’d considered having the brooch made into a pendant, but it was too big. Besides, it would’ve been obvious who had given it to Halle. And I was trying to respect her wishes to be discreet. “I had this made with the stones from one of her necklaces.”
“Jasper,” she gasped. “You…what?”
“I know my gran would’ve loved you and Kai. She’s the one who always told me that beautiful things are meant to be enjoyed. Wear your favorite outfit. Use your fine china. Life is too short not to.”
“Still…” Halle peered up at me. “These stones have to have great sentimental value.”
They did. All of Gran’s jewelry did, and she’d left the most important pieces to me. Her dragonfly brooch. The purple diamond necklace. Her engagement ring.
“That’s why I selected them. That, and I know how much you love the color purple. The stones are natural purple diamonds.”
She ran her finger over the pendant, her expression full of awe. “I didn’t even know purple diamonds existed.”
“They’re very rare,” I said. “Like the color used to be in art.”
She smiled. “You remembered.”
“Of course I did,” I said. Every conversation, every smile, every look from her was emblazoned on my heart.
Including a conversation we’d had last summer about her love for the color purple and its use throughout art in history.
And all the reasons it was rare. I’d found it fascinating.
But that was probably because she completely lit up when she was talking about it.
“They’re beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.” I brushed a curl behind her ear. I love you.
I knew it was too soon to tell her. I didn’t want to scare her off, but I couldn’t help it. I loved her.
“Do you want to try it on?” I asked instead.
She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth then nodded. I twirled my finger in the air, and she spun so she was facing the windows once more.
I removed the necklace from the box, then waited for her to pull her ponytail aside. I draped the necklace over her collarbone, feeling like a man starved. I’d been dying to touch her all day, and the occasional graze or linked fingers hadn’t been enough. Far from it.
As I worked the clasp, I watched her reflection in the windows.
“Many people believe that if you’re lucky enough to have a dragonfly land on you, the universe is sending good fortune your way.
But if that’s the case, then I suppose I should be the one wearing the dragonfly, because I feel nothing but good fortune when I’m with you. ”
Her hand fluttered over the necklace, and when she turned to face me, I admired how the pendant looked against her skin. Like it was made for her.
“Even when we aren’t together,” I continued, “I want you to know that I’m thinking about you. Always.”
“Jasper. I—” She inhaled slowly, and I swiped away a tear before it could make its way down her cheek. “I love it. Thank you.”
I smiled, brushing my lips against hers. “I’m glad.” Because I love you.
She linked our fingers, tugging me along with her toward her bedroom. I followed behind, double-checking that Kai’s door was closed, the hint of his night-light shining beneath.
When we got to her room, she closed the door and locked it. I arched one eyebrow, intrigued. Turned on.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Kai as happy as he was today,” she said, closing the distance between us, sliding her hands over my chest. “Thank you for making his birthday feel special.”
“Thank you for letting me be a part of it.” I kept my hands fisted at my sides.
Between the locked door and the way Halle was looking at me, I was pretty sure I knew where this was going, but I didn’t want her to take that next step until she was ready. I never wanted Halle to feel like she owed me something or that our relationship was somehow transactional.
She frowned down at my hands. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want you to think that I arranged today or gave you the necklace because I expect something in return.”
She laughed. “Thanks for clarifying, but I know that’s not why you did it. And, just so we’re clear, that’s not why I want to have sex with you.”
She slid her hands beneath the hem of my shirt, and I melted from the contact.
“I just…” God, she was making it impossible to concentrate. Especially when she stepped back and pulled her shirt over her head before tossing it aside. “This is about more than sex.”
“I know.” Her smile was so fucking coy. Somehow sweet but sultry. Fuck. She was hot.
Now she was in her denim shorts and a lacy purple bra, the dragonfly on her chest sparkling when it caught the light. Mine.
I was so distracted that when Halle gently shoved me toward the bed, I found myself falling onto the mattress. I watched her with rapt attention as she started unbuttoning those fucking shorts. I loved her confidence. Loved the way she looked. The way she moved.
She’d been confident last summer, but she was even more so now. She looked damn good, and she knew it. And I loved to see it.
I ran a hand over my face. How was this real? How was she even real?
“You’re gorgeous, love,” I rasped, already so close to losing it. My cock was hard, and I had a feeling if I pulled it out, precome would be dripping from the tip.
She smiled and slid her shorts over her hips. I loved that she was taking control. That she felt safe with me, trusted me, to let me in.
I let out a long, low “Fuuuuck,” as I took in her matching bra and underwear. Fuck me, she was hot.
“Jasper?” she asked, and my eyes flicked to hers. “Clothes off.”
I swallowed. Hard. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
She stepped closer, her scent filling the air around me. Making it impossible to think. Especially when she looked like that, her breasts full and nearly spilling out of the cups of her bra, her curves on display, begging me to touch her.
She crawled onto the bed, over me. “What happened to being all in?”
“I, um—” I let out a shaky exhale. “I’m trying to move at your pace.” I was, but she was making it incredibly difficult. Plus, I didn’t want us to get so distracted by the physical aspects that we neglected the rest of our relationship.
She leaned down so her breasts brushed against my chest, her lips grazing along my jawline. I fisted the sheets in my hands, aching to touch her.
“Jasper.”
“Mm-hmm?” I asked, squeezing my eyes shut, overwhelmed by the sensations, the emotions.
She placed a hand to my cheek. “Look at me. Please.” I opened my eyes, peering up into hers. “Why are you holding back?”
“Because… I want our first time together to be special.” My cock was so hard, it was a wonder I could even speak.
“First time?” She laughed. “I think we’re well past that.”
I grazed my hand along her hip, resisting the urge to bring her even closer still. “I meant our first time as a couple.”
“This is special,” she said. “At least, it is to me. It’s special because we’re together. But if you’re not ready… If you don’t want to have that kind of intimacy yet—”
I rolled us so I was on top, hating that she even had to question where I stood. “I want to be as close to you as possible.” I ground against her, letting her feel my arousal. “I want to be buried so deep inside you that I can no longer tell where I end and you begin.”
She arched up against me, and I thought I might explode. “Then what are you waiting for?”
I’d waited so long for this—for her. And for a while, I’d feared it would never happen.
Unable to resist any longer, I crushed my mouth to hers. We raced to undress the other. My shorts and shirt were gone, followed by my boxers. Her bra and underwear were tossed aside until she was naked except for her dragonfly pendant.
Seeing her in nothing but the necklace I’d given her was one of the hottest things I’d ever witnessed. I was so keyed up, I felt as if I might come on the spot.
Shit. I squeezed my eyes shut.
She paused. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t have a condom.”
“Seriously?” She scoffed. “You have a drawer full of them in your penthouse.”
I’d suspected she’d seen them, but I hadn’t gotten the chance to explain. Not while Kai was there. “They were a promotional thing. A new brand we were trying out for the intimacy kits.”
“‘Trying out’?” She gave me a meaningful look.
I shook my head. “I wasn’t testing them personally.
The only reason I have so many is because the company sent all the executives a thank-you box, and I didn’t know what else to do with them since they already had our logo on them.
It’s not like I was going to use them, but I also didn’t want them just floating around. ”
“Mm-hmm.” Her tone conveyed skepticism, but her mouth twitched with a smile.
I took a breath, wanting her to know how important this conversation—and she—was to me. “As I said before, I haven’t been with anyone but you since last summer.” And you’re it for me.
“Same.” She placed her hands on my chest, and something in me settled at her confession. How could one simple word convey so much? “I have an IUD, and the test results at my annual physical this January came back negative.”
“As did mine.” I took her hand and brought her palm to my lips, pressing a kiss there. “But I don’t want you to feel pressured to do anything you’re not ready for.”
We’d always used a condom in the past, and this wasn’t a decision I took lightly.
“Jasper.” Halle pressed her lips to my jawline, wrapping her legs around my waist. She pulled me down to her. “I meant what I said. I’m all in. I trust you, and I don’t want to use condoms. Unless you do.”
Something eased in my chest at her words, at the look in her eyes. She trusted me. I leaned forward, brushing my mouth against hers, wanting to commit this moment to memory. To remember exactly how she looked—so full of love and trust.
She opened herself to me, and I slid into her, slid home, feeling whole in a way I hadn’t for the past eight months. And the fact that Halle trusted me with her body made me believe that maybe—with time—she’d trust me with her heart as well.