Jake
“Inever thought I’d say this, but I’m so tired of reading.” Jasmine slumps forward in her chair, bringing her head to rest on her hands.
For the past three hours, Jasmine has been nonstop reading.
Once she read through her books, she began helping me with mine.
I’m distracted, what can I say? Every few minutes, she’d voice some of her frustrations under her breath.
I’d look up to see her rereading the same few sentences over and over again.
Then she would roll her eyes, shake her head, sigh, and turn the page. Like I said, very distracted.
“Are you not finding anything?”
“Unfortunately, not,” Jasmine says, slumping back in her chair.
“Okay, dead end for both of us. Sooooo, dinner?” I ask.
Jasmine covers her mouth to stifle a yawn. “Yeah, that sounds nice.”
“Go lie down on the bed, and I’ll order dinner.”
She narrows her brows at me after closing her book and sliding it onto the pile with the others.
“You’re tired. This isn’t me making a move on you.”
She hesitates but ultimately gets up and moves to the bed. I call down to the restaurant and order us a few different appetizers to snack on.
“Okay, I ordered us a few things, but I can always get more if you’re still hungry or if there’s something else you’d rather have.”
“Mm, that’s perfect.” She sighs and snuggles further into the bed.
“Why aren’t you in the sheets? It’s warmer, you know?”
Her gaze finds mine, and it’s cute when she gives me the death glare. Jasmine has such a hard exterior that it makes me wonder how soft she is on the inside. If I’m able to crack through some of the layers, what will I find?
She closes her eyes and mumbles, “I’m fine. I’m not cold. Plus, I’m in my outside clothes.”
“Take them off?” I suggest and cross my arms to see how she reacts.
“No, no. I’m okay,” she mumbles, every word quieter than the last.
“I don’t know if you realize, but your eyes are closed, and you look two minutes away from entering a deep sleep.”
“This is a bad idea.”
“I—” My words fail me when Jasmine slides off her dress, leaving on a pair of black underwear and bra. Her outfit ends up on the floor behind her, but she doesn’t care to look when she throws it.
“Just so you know, this was something I was planning to do.”
“Oh, yeah?” I smirk. Our cheeks flush at the same time.
“Mm-hmm. It has nothing to do with your suggestion.”
“Sure it doesn’t.”
“Stop staring at me,” Jasmine says, but she makes no effort to move.
“Get under the covers.”
“Only if you join me.” She smiles and rolls over onto her back.
My breathing deepens as I take in her frame, and I can’t wait for when I’m able to trace every dip and curve.
The knock at the door startles me, yet I’m frozen in place, unable to take my gaze away from Jasmine. It’s only been ten minutes, but my mind already forgot about the food I ordered for us.
“Are you going to get that?” Jasmine asks.
I shake my head and reach down to grab the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head.
“You’re not hungry?” she asks, changing the subject.
“Are you?”
I throw my shirt to the side and turn back to see her gaze taking its time trailing my body. Slowly, her head shakes from left to right.
“We can order more food later.”
“Or tomorrow,” she says, quick to follow up.
Jasmine watches as I unbutton and remove my pants, throwing them in the same direction as my shirt.
“Do you want me to lie down? I can take the pull-out instead?” I ask.
“I didn’t take you as someone who asks for permission.” Jasmine’s heated gaze tears into mine, and I almost wonder if she’s able to see how much I desire her.
“Only once I’ve been given permission to not have to ask, and we haven’t had this discussion yet.”
“This is me giving you permission.”
I nod and move to lie by her, choosing to go under the sheets. Jasmine follows suit.
Rolling over to face her, I take in the evening light streaming through the window, casting a glow around her.
Unable to help myself, I lift my hand, tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, and whisper, “Beautiful.”
Jasmine’s cheeks darken, and she flutters her eyes as my thumb rubs back and forth across her jaw.
“If it’s not obvious, I want you,” I say, wanting to make my intention clear.
“You’re only saying that because of the bond.”
“Is it a bad thing to be influenced by the bond? To be shown the person you’re meant to be with forever?”
Jasmine chuckles. “This is why the barista at the coffee shop was swooning over you.”
“You’re cute when you’re jealous.”
She tries to pout, and I catch her bottom lip with my thumb, dragging my digit down until her lip snaps back.
Her eyes catch on my mouth, a pulse of desire being sent over the bond.
“What are your thoughts about me kissing you?”
Her lips curve into a smile before molding into a slight frown.
“Jake, there’s so much about me you don’t know. And we’ve only known each other since—”
“Yesterday,” I interject, and her eyes widen.
“Yes, yesterday. Jake, this is…I don’t ever do one-night stands.”
“I only do one-night stands,” I say without thinking, then add, “but I, um, don’t want to do that anymore.”
She bites her lip. “You don’t?”
I shake my head.
“Because of me?” she asks.
I nod.
“Okay. But that’s why this is so insane.”
“We don’t have to kiss, Jasmine.” I cup her jaw, running a finger along her cheek. “As long as I’ve made my intentions clear. I want to kiss you. I want you to not only want to kiss me, but be open to entertaining this, even if it feels like too much right now.”
“This?”
I dip my head.
“Oh.” Jasmine purses her lips. “The whole fated mates thing.”
I playfully roll my eyes. “Yes, the whole fated mates thing.”
“I’m sorry, I just—”
“No, you don’t have anything to apologize for. But I need you to tell me when you’re ready. I wasn’t lying when I said I wasn’t going to push you. Okay?”
“Okay…” Jasmine trails off, then adds, “I’m okay to cuddle, though.”
A big grin forms on my face. “Come here.”
She scoots closer to me, and I lift off the bed slightly to allow her left arm to go under my neck.
Being with Jasmine lights my entire being on fire, and there’s something between us every time we touch.
There’s a darkness—something forbidden—and it terrifies me.
That’s a thought I’ll keep to myself, because I know I won’t let anything stop us from being together.
Mates are fated for a reason, and surely, we can overcome whatever life throws our way. Right?