Chapter 20
Chapter twenty
Sleigh My Name
Miranda
Iwake to warmth. Not the sort that comes from duvets or central heating, but the kind that comes from being wrapped entirely in someone else.
Jasper’s arm is heavy across my waist. His chest is pressed to my back. One of his legs has somehow managed to trap both of mine. I’m essentially burritoed in a six-foot-something sleepy man, and I’m not mad about it.
The room smells like him—clean, warm, something faintly woody—and there’s a quiet hum of morning outside, car noises softened by expensive double glazing.
The world is already turning, though it’s still dim beyond the windows, the kind of cold, grey light that says November’s not even pretending to try.
I hold my breath as I slide one arm free and begin the delicate operation of unspooling myself from his limbs.
I almost make it.
One foot hits the floor, then the other—
And then a groggy voice rumbles behind me.
“Oi.”
A hand loops around my waist and I’m pulled back into bed like a very confused mermaid being netted by a fisherman.
“Jasper,” I say, laughing despite myself.
“Nope,” he mumbles, nuzzling into my neck. “You can’t leave. Hostage rules.”
“I have to feed the kittens.”
“They’ll survive.”
“Twinklesocks will eat the curtains.”
He groans dramatically and flips onto his back, dragging me with him until I’m sprawled half across his chest. His eyes are still closed, but his mouth finds mine easily, kissing me deep and slow and with enough heat to make me question every responsible decision I’ve ever made.
“Let me go,” I whisper against his lips, “and I promise to return. Bearing pastries.”
One eye cracks open. “You swear?”
“On the life of my fluffy bathrobe.”
He releases me with a theatrical sigh, running a hand through his chaos of morning hair.
“Fine,” he says. “But I’m timing you. Take the keys from the bowl next to the front door.”
I slip on my dress and pause in the doorway, stealing one last look at him… tousled and naked, duvet low on his hips, eyes heavy with sleep and something softer.
I try not to melt. I really do.
But it’s hard when he looks at me like that, all rumpled and drowsy and devastating.
Still, I manage to peel myself away and make the quick dash next door. Twinklesocks is at the cat gate waiting like she’s filed a formal complaint, and Thor lets out a long, mournful meow as if I’ve been gone a week and not just one night.
“Alright, alright,” I mutter, flicking on the kitchen light and heading straight for the food cupboard. “I’m a monster. A terrible, neglectful parent.”
They forgive me the second the bowls hit the floor. Naturally.
While they devour their breakfast like starving Dickensian orphans, I get changed into some comfortable clothes, slap together some toast, make two strong mugs of tea, and try not to overthink the fact that I’m carrying breakfast for a man I definitely didn’t plan to sleep with—and am now about to crawl back into bed with.
When I return, Jasper is, unsurprisingly, asleep again.
Sprawled across the bed like a man who knows he has nowhere to be and isn’t sorry about it.
One arm flung above his head, the other resting on his chest. A bit of duvet, a lot of bare skin.
And hair that looks like it’s been in negotiations with a pillow for eight hours straight.
I set the tray down, slip onto the bed, and kiss him softly.
He stirs with a groan and a crooked smile. “Mmm. That’s a very good way to wake up.”
“I come bearing toast,” I say, brushing a kiss to his jaw.
“You might actually be perfect.”
“Don’t ruin it. Eat before it gets cold.”
He tugs me gently until I’m sitting next to him, one arm wrapping around my waist as I settle in. We share the toast between sips of tea, warm limbs tangled, crumbs everywhere, and not a single care given.
Then, somewhere between the last bite and the next kiss, he murmurs against my cheek, “Spend the day with me.”
I pull back just enough to see his face. “The whole day?”
He nods, thumb brushing along the hem of my T-shirt. “SJ’s not back till tomorrow, right?”
“Nope.”
“Then stay. We’ll do whatever you like. Go for a walk. Watch a terrible film. Eat more toast. Or not leave this bed at all. I’m flexible.”
I snort. “Clearly.”
But something in his tone is tender. Hopeful. And it sinks in—the idea that maybe this doesn’t have to be just one night. That maybe this could stretch into something with edges and shape and softness.
“Alright,” I say, voice light. “I’m all yours.”
“Good,” he says, pulling me closer. “Because I was going to bribe you with the last bite of my toast if necessary.”
I’m sprawled across the bed as Jasper’s hands move lazily over my back.
The room is bathed in the warm glow of late afternoon sunlight, filtering through the curtains and casting a golden hue over everything.
We’ve spent the entire day here, in this cocoon of comfort, talking, laughing, and simply enjoying each other’s company.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt this at ease with someone, and I can’t help but marvel at the deep sense of connection with Jasper.
“How about another massage?” I murmur, my voice soft and laced with a hint of invitation. His hands pause for a moment, and I feel his gaze on me before he nods, his fingers resuming their slow, rhythmic strokes.
“Of course,” he replies, his deep, soothing voice sending a shiver down my spine. “Anything for you, Miranda.”
I close my eyes, letting the warmth of his touch seep into my muscles.
Jasper’s hands are strong yet gentle, his movements deliberate and practiced.
He starts at my shoulders, kneading the tension away with firm pressure, his thumbs digging into the knots that have formed from months of stress.
I let out a soft sigh, my body relaxing into the mattress as he works his way down my spine.
His hands glide lower, tracing the curve of my waist before moving to my hips.
I feel his fingers press into the soft flesh, his touch firm but tender.
There’s something intimate about this, something that goes beyond the physical.
It’s as if he’s not just massaging my body but also soothing my soul.
“Turn over,” he says softly, his voice a low rumble that sends a flutter through my chest. I do as he asks, rolling onto my back and propping myself up on my elbows.
Jasper’s eyes meet mine, his gaze intense and filled with a warmth that makes my heart skip a beat.
He’s handsome, with his dark hair and strong features, but it’s the kindness in his eyes that truly captivates me.
He begins again, his hands moving to my shoulders and then down my arms, his touch light and teasing.
I feel a tingle run through me as his fingers brush over my skin, his movements slow and deliberate.
There’s something different about this massage, something more charged, more intimate.
I can feel the air between us thicken, the tension building in a way that’s both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.
“Jasper,” I breathe, my voice barely above a whisper. His hands pause, and he looks at me, his expression unreadable.
“What is it?” he asks, his voice gentle.
I bite my lip, unsure how to put my thoughts into words. “This feels… different,” I admit, my cheeks flushing as I meet his gaze. He smiles, a slow, knowing curve of his lips, and my heart races.
“Does it?” he asks, his tone playful. His hands move again, this time to my thighs, his fingers tracing the curve of my legs with a deliberate slowness that makes my breath catch. I feel a warmth spread through me and a heat that pools low in my belly.
“Oh my,” I say with a shaky voice. He leans closer, his breath ghosting over my skin as he speaks.
“Do you want me to stop?” he asks, his voice low and husky.
I shake my head, my eyes fluttering closed as his hands continue their slow, teasing exploration.
His hands move higher, his fingers skimming the hem of my loose shirt before slipping underneath. I shiver as his touch meets my bare skin, his palms warm against my stomach. He takes his time, his movements unhurried as he traces the contours of my body, his touch both gentle and firm.
I feel my breath quicken, my body responding to his fingers in a way that’s both familiar and entirely new.
There’s a hunger building inside me, a need that’s been simmering just beneath the surface all day.
Jasper’s hands seem to know exactly where to go, his fingers mapping the sensitive spots that make me arch into his touch.
“You’re ruining me,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against my collarbone. I close my eyes, letting the words wash over me.
His hands move higher, cupping my breasts with a tenderness that makes my heart ache. I feel his thumbs brush over my nipples, and I breathe out sharply, my body tightening as pleasure spikes through me. He takes his time, teasing and edging me, his touch deliberate and unhurried.
“Oh fuck,” I moan, my voice thick with need. “Please.”
He smiles against my skin, his lips trailing down my chest. “Patience,” he whispers, his breath hot against me. “I want to take my time with you.”
I nod, though I’m not sure I have the strength to form words. His hands continue their slow exploration, his fingers tracing patterns on my skin that leave me trembling. I feel the tension building, a coil of pleasure tightening inside me, and I know I’m on the edge of something incredible.
But Jasper doesn’t let me go over. He pulls back, his hands moving to my hips as he holds me in place. I whimper in frustration, my body arching toward him, desperate for more.
“Not yet,” he says, his voice firm yet gentle. “I want to savour this.”
I open my eyes, meeting his gaze as he leans back on his heels. He’s watching me, his expression intense and filled with a desire that mirrors my own. I feel a flush creep up my cheeks, but I don’t look away. There’s something powerful in this moment, something raw and honest.
“What do you want, Princess?” he asks, his voice low and steady.
I take a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. “You,” I reply, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “I want you.”
He smiles, a slow, satisfied curve of his lips. “Then take me,” he says, his voice a challenge.
I hesitate for a moment, my mind racing with the possibilities. But as our lips meet, as his hands move to my body with a newfound urgency, I realise that this is just the beginning. The possibilities stretch out before us, endless and tantalising. And I can’t wait to see where they lead.