Chapter 12 Travel Plans
Caspian
I couldn’t get enough of the dusty rose flush painting Juniper’s cheeks as she resolutely looked away from my body. I was tempted to undress completely and dry myself off in front of her, but I wasn’t sure she was ready for that.
Sighing, I paused to kiss her blushing cheek before heading to the hall bathroom to finish drying off and change into fresh clothing.
I couldn’t get back to her fast enough. She came out of the bedroom with her damp hair in a braid down her back and a comfy pajama set that looked way too sexy on her curvy body.
Little clouds covered the blue-gray fabric, and I wanted to trace my fingers over each one until I worked my way to the most sensitive parts of her.
She smiled shyly and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. It was so damn adorable, my hands clenched and unclenched, aching to reach for her.
“Okay, what do we need to get done?” I asked.
“Assembling the totes,” she said, clasping her hands together and shrugging her shoulders. As she walked past me, she gave me a flirty glance through her lashes that had me groaning.
This is going to be torture.
We settled around the coffee table with the stacks of totes and booklets and started to assemble the bags. She tied the luggage tags onto the straps.
“Tell me about your job,” I said, just wanting to hear her voice.
“Oh, it’s nothing interesting.” She set the bag in her hand aside and reached for the next one.
“Everything about you is interesting to me,” I said, giving her a meaningful stare.
She swallowed and looked down at her hands as she tied on the tag.
“Well, it’s marketing essentially. But I don’t feel like I’m actually doing anything worthwhile at the company. I’ve been there for three years, I think?” She sighed. “My ex wanted me to get a normal corporate job. He didn’t like when I was freelancing and home all the time.
“Looking back, I can see all of the red flags. He was controlling and insecure, but I was charmed. I was so stupid.”
“That’s on him, not you,” I growled. “He is the one responsible for how he treated you. And I’m so glad you’re free of him.”
Her cheeks hollowed as she bit the inside of them. Had I gone too far? Everything I said was true, but it was a bit intense. I tried to pull back.
“So if you could do anything for work, what would you want to do?” I asked carefully.
“I liked freelancing. Maybe I’ll do that again.” Her face tipped up, and she gave me a soft, slow smile. She glowed with it.
My full lips curved into a matching grin. “I hope so. You’re too talented to be wasted at a company that doesn’t appreciate you.”
She laughed softly, and my heart soared at the sound. “You don’t know I’m talented. You’ve never seen my work.”
“Want to prove me wrong?” I said, raising an eyebrow. “I’d love to see your work.”
“Maybe later,” she muttered, biting back another laugh. She focused back on the luggage tags. After a moment, her stomach gurgled, and she pressed her lips into a thin line, clearly embarrassed.
“How does leftover Chinese food sound?” I asked, already standing.
Her pinched expression melted into gratitude, and my stomach clenched. It was so obvious she wasn’t used to anyone helping her. I wanted to spoil her every day for the rest of our lives.
A few minutes later, I sat down the steaming takeout containers and silverware. We unceremonially shoved the totes aside and dug into the food.
“So tell me about your family. Two brothers, but do you have any sisters? What about your parents?” she asked between bites.
I nodded, chewing and swallowing the bite of lemon chicken in my mouth. “Just Malik and Adrian. And our parents are in Scotland."
“Oh, why?”
“They’re from there. They moved here before I was born, had us and raised us here, and then they moved back when we were adults.”
Her eyes were wide and doe-like as she listened. So fucking adorable.
“I know they hoped we would follow them back, but our lives are here. And Scotland makes an excellent vacation destination,” I said with a smirk. “I can’t wait to bring you there.”
Her brows furrowed. “Caspian, I don’t think—”
“Don’t spoil my dream,” I said softly.
She paused. “Alright, so you’ll take me to Scotland. Anywhere else we’ll go?”
I didn’t need time to think of my answer. “I’ll take you anywhere and everywhere. We should go to Paris together, and Rome. Have you been there?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never been to Europe.”
“You’ll love it. We can see the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens in Amsterdam and eat stroopwafels. Then we can sleep in a glass igloo and watch the aurora borealis in Finland. Have you ever met a reindeer shifter? There’s several herds of them there and in Sweden. I want to experience everything with you.”
Her lips parted, and her eyes sparkled. I needed that future with her as badly as I needed my next breath of oxygen. She might think it was a silly fantasy, but I had every intention of fulfilling each promise and so much more.
“That sounds nice. Your job lets you travel that much?”
“Well, yeah, I can work from anywhere, and we’re the owners, so we can do whatever we want,” I said wryly.
“Tell me about the business.”
So I did. We stuffed booklets into totes and tied luggage tags as I told her about how it started and what role each of us played in the operations—the way it has grown over the last few years.
She pushed the last tote aside and rolled her shoulders. “I’m so glad that’s done.”
Her shoulders were tight, and tension creased her forehead. “Come here,” I said, taking her hand and pulling her to the sofa.
She turned to sit, and I placed my hands on her hips, guiding her to sit on the floor. I settled behind her with my back against the front of the sofa.
“Caspian, what are you doing?” she murmured.
Instead of answering, I brushed her braid over her shoulder and ran my thumbs down the side of her neck. She slumped, melting into my touch.
My grin grew more smug as I dug my knuckles into the taut muscles around her shoulder blades and smoothed them out, relaxing each part of her back until she was putty.
“What’s worrying you so much?” I asked.
She let out her exhale in a long sigh. “Big groups are hard for me, especially my extended family. They’re loud, and I’ve never really felt like I fit in.”
“Anything else?” I pressed, lightly dragging my nails over her back. She shivered.
“Well, now, it’s also the fact that my ex-husband will be there with my fucking sister.”
I pulled her against me, her back resting against my chest. My hands dragged down her arms, working the muscles of her forearms.
“Do you want me to beat the shit out of him for you? I can get my brothers and make it look like an accident.” It was a joking tone, but I meant every word.
She scoffed. “Like he accidentally ran into your fists?”
“I don’t know,” I said with a shrug. “I’ve never beat up anyone, but I’m sure I can figure it out.”
“Never?” she asked.
“Never needed to. Words are usually enough. But I think Adrian has gotten into a fistfight or two, so he can help.”
A bubbling laugh exploded from her, vibrating through her back into my chest. The sound wrapped around me, filling me with light.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to have to decline.”
“Let me know if that changes,” I murmured, pressing my lips against the side of her neck. She shivered again. “So I was promised a reward if I helped you with the totes.”
A beautiful flush painted her neck where I’d kissed her. It spread up her cheeks and out to the tips of her ears.
Her next inhale was shaky. “How about we go back to the bedroom and make out?”
It was tempting to lay her down on the rug right here, but the thought of a bed made it worth getting up. She stood, and I steadied her with my hands on her hips, enjoying the view of her ass at my face height.
I scrambled up after her and followed her to the bedroom like a baby otter.