Travis
TRAVIS
I jumped off the boat, thanking the crew, adrenaline pumping in my veins because it had been an age since I got that deep.
Jasper was waiting for me when I stepped inside the office, his arms crossed over his chest, looking happier than he’d looked, well, since I’d known him.
“Professor.”
“Doctor Jones.”
I walked past him, my lips curling into a half smile. “Are we going all formal with the names today?”
“I’m trying to stay professional because you look hot as hell in that boiler suit.”
I glanced down at the branded black boiler suit that was tied by the arms around my waist, exposing my damp t-shirt, because being 4000 meters underwater in what was effectively a glass bubble with an engine was pretty warm work.
“Thank you, Professor.”
“How was it?”
I stopped, turning to face him. “Amazing. Stunning. Wild.”
“So, you’re not quitting anymore?”
I paused, but I knew my answer. “Are you going to break my heart again or run if things get hard because I don’t think I could ever forgive you if you did?”
The place was quiet, so we didn’t have to watch our words.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ve been running away from my life since I was fifteen. I don’t want to run anymore.”
“What does that mean about work? You’re going back to the UK, and we see each other when we can?”
He let out a sad sigh. “Can we think about that? We’ve got a couple of weeks. Let’s enjoy those, and then we can see how we all feel.”
“All?” Excitement lilted my tone.
“Finn is coming on the boat.”
I wiggled my brows. “I knew we’d persuade him.”
He wrapped his fingers in mine, tugging me close. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Forgiving me. Coming here, even though you hated me. Being patient with me. Showing me a really good time. For Finn.”
I rolled my eyes. “Twinkle is growing on me, but you, Jasper Fischer, were worth waiting for.” I scrunched my nose. “Although, I could have done without the years of blue balls and the heartbreak.”
He leant in, his mouth dusting my ear. “I promise to spend forever making it up to you.”
My heart stopped and my mouth fell open because I was sure I just heard Jasper offer me forever. Before I could melt into a messy puddle of emotions, I wrapped my arms around him, forcing a deep grunt from his chest.
“What are you doing?”
“Hugging you.”
“Gah, you know I hate them.”
“I know, but I can’t kiss you right now because the internet would go into meltdown if anyone found out we were together, so you will accept the hug in the interim.”
“Fine.”
I smiled as he nuzzled into my neck. “Fine, but just know, I’m not enjoying it… much.”