Chapter Twelve
Jasper
Doha, Qatar
Jasper . . . Jasper . . . Jasper!
I would overcome it, I thought as my hands fisted at my sides again.
The bones in my fingers were close to breaking in my stress.
Well, stress might not be the word. Frustration?
The fucking impossible temptation I was under after hearing Hallie in her shower, getting herself off and screaming my name as she did.
I’d opened the bathroom window to get some fresh air.
Little did I know that Hallie had done the same, giving me the perfect soundtrack to her time in the shower.
I would have given anything to have seen what she was picturing in that moment. I’d heard the running of water, the breathless moans, and then the cry of my name as she came and splintered apart.
I was a strong man. I had resisted her this far, but Jesus fucking Christ, I was only human, and knowing the woman you were obsessing over was finding release to a fantasy of you was more than any man could take.
I wanted to see her in the shower. I wanted to watch her make herself come.
Had she used her hand? A toy? The showerhead?
I didn’t care. I just wanted to fucking see it.
Jumping in the shower myself, I got so hard that I’d barely stroked my hand down my cock once before I spilled against the wall, coming so hard that I had to slam my hand against the tile to stop from losing my footing.
Then I’d seen her at the yard, a yellow Knighton Equestrian base layer and riding tights set hugging her every perfect curve.
Abdul, an old friend, had been showing me all the improvements he’d made this year to the Doha venue, but I could hardly focus.
Hallie’s cheeks were flushed due to the humidity in the air, and I wanted to make her sweat more.
Peel those clothes off her tight, toned body and hear her scream my name in person.
My private car was bringing me to the arena, and I forced myself to calm down so I didn’t get out of the car with a hard-on.
Atticus had informed me everyone was here for the trot up.
I’d had meetings with my apparel buyers all morning, but I didn’t want to miss seeing our horses being shown to the judges.
Making sure my lanyard was around my neck, I got out of the car and walked in the back entrance to the arena.
Abdul understood my need for privacy and ensured I could move about the venue mostly unseen.
I walked through the long corridors to a private section in the stands where I could watch the inspection in person.
When I got to the box that had been reserved for me, Atticus was already inside.
“What are you doing here? Don’t you have to go and get ready with Barnaby?
” I asked, as I moved to the balcony that overlooked the trot up and leaned over the rail as horses from Belgium began their display. They looked good.
“I have time. And Abdul told me you’d be here.” Atticus smiled. “He didn’t think you’d mind me popping in to say hi.”
“He thought wrong,” I said dryly. But Atticus knew I didn’t mean it. I loved the little wanker, despite myself.
Atticus came to stand beside me as I watched more inspections.
It was good to suss out the competition.
“Sooo,” he said, and every part of me stilled.
Just the inflection of Atticus’s voice told me I wasn’t going to like whatever he was going to say.
“There may or may not be a rumor that the great and almighty Jasper Knighton is here to watch over his team and is particularly possessive of one of his riders.”
My hands balled into fists again, and I bit out, “Jake fucking McGowen.”
Atticus nodded. “Jake fucking McGowen.” He gave me a side-eye.
“And Alexis Hobbs.” I froze. Looking at Atticus, I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.
Atticus exhaled. “Apparently, McGowen mentioned your possessive nature over Hallie last night at a brand dinner, and Alexis Hobbs, who was also in attendance, mentioned how she caught you pining over her when she came to Golden Oaks.”
I clenched my jaw so tight I feared my teeth would crack. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath to calm the fuck down. It didn’t help. I knew the minute Alexis Hobbs saw something that day, she would bide her time to use it against me.
Hallie had only just stepped onto the circuit, and there were already rumors about her. Fuck!
I’d fix this. I’d make sure Alexis shut her mouth.
“The rumor will cool down when there’s no fuel given to it,” I said.
“I’m not planning to be social here, so there’ll be no room for gossip.
” I nodded as the next lot of horses were lined up to come in.
Australia. I caught sight of Mila, Horatio, and Chris, Atticus’s groom, checking the board for who was next.
I pointed to indicate to my cousin that he better go down and get prepared soon.
I scanned the entrance to the arena and saw Hallie and Sage watching the Australian riders from the tunnel. Today, she was dressed in navy blue, the dark color making her turquoise eyes pop, even from this far away.
There were lots of other riders milling around, sussing out the competition. But my blood instantly spiked to boiling temperatures when I saw Jake McGowen making a beeline for Hallie and Sage.
“Fucking dick,” I said, and went to run toward them when Atticus grabbed my arm.
“Don’t fall for his tricks, Jas. You know he’s only doing this to piss you off.” Atticus’s grip tightened on my biceps as I watched Jake hold out his hand to Hallie and she shook it. She smiled at him, and I wanted to commit murder.
“Arsehole,” Atticus muttered when he next shook Sage’s hand.
Atticus released me and crossed his arms over his chest. “He knows we have better horses than him, and better riders. His stud is still struggling to get quality riders on their horses. No one trusts him one hundred percent yet, and no one wants to risk competing on a drugged-up horse.”
I contemplated what Atticus said, and reluctantly confessed, “I hate him. I truly hate him. But I do think he’s legitimate. I believe he didn’t know what his father was doing, and he’s been clean and professional since he took the helm. I may hate him, but I can respect what he’s trying to do.”
Atticus snorted with laughter after a few seconds. He put his hand on my shoulder and said, “How hard was that to say, Cousin?”
I smirked. “Climbing-Everest difficult,” I said, then boiled some more when Hallie laughed at something he said.
“I fucking loathe him.” That was an understatement.
Jake had tried to best me for years, in and out of the arena.
If I fucked a woman, he would fuck her next.
If I broke a record, he would almost kill himself to try to break mine.
He never could, and that was the crux of it.
Even with a drug-enhanced horse, he still couldn’t beat me and Henry.
Now, he couldn’t compete directly against me, so he was going to try to do it off the field.
I’d stupidly shown my cards when it came to Hallie.
I knew that was a red flag to a bull in his case. Somehow, I had to let it not get to me.
“She’s smart,” Atticus said, referring to Hallie. “She’ll see through his shit.” All talking ceased when Chris, Mila, and Horatio left to get our horses ready.
“Perfect,” Atticus said, and nudged me again. “I have a good feeling about this year.”
“Don’t jinx it,” I said, feeling that pit of fear sink inside of me.
“Believe it,” Atticus said, always the most upbeat out of all of us cousins.
“Sage is insane on Seraphina, and she will be a force of nature when it comes to the jump-offs. Hallie is a natural and one of the most gifted talents I’ve seen in years.
” Atticus waggled his eyebrows. “And we have me. And we know I’m set to be the champion of the entire tour. ”
“If only you had more confidence,” I said sarcastically.
“We can but pray for that,” Atticus said, and turned to leave when he paused at the door to say, “Are you coming to the welcome dinner tonight?”
I raised my eyebrow at him. “Do you think I’ll be at the dinner?”
Atticus held up his hands. “Just saying, Hallie and Sage will be there, all glammed up. As the newbies, all eyes will be on them.” Atticus shrugged. “And I’m sure Jake will be dressed to the nines and making his play.” Atticus sighed. “If you’re not there to watch him . . .”
“Then you will,” I said, through gritted teeth.
Atticus laughed. “Jas, tonight I’ll be getting my dick wet. I can’t compete tomorrow without getting some relief first.” Atticus opened the door, but said, “Black tie as usual. If you decide to shed your reclusiveness and come to protect Hallie’s virtue.”
“And who will watch Sage’s virtue?” I argued, trying to hit my mark this time. Atticus could talk of me and Hallie all he wanted, but he was like a lapdog, following Sage Miller around like a lovestruck idiot.
“That lady can take care of herself,” he said, heat flaring in his eyes. He bit his bottom lip, then said, “She’s fuckably vicious.”
Atticus shut the door, and I looked back out over the balcony to see Hallie and Sage walking away, presumably to get ready for their turn in front of the inspectors.
Jake McGowen watched them go. I ran my hand down my face.
I wasn’t going tonight. Going would mean every single person on the circuit would know I was here and would ask a billion questions that I had no intention of answering.
But just the thought of Jake McGowen chasing after Hallie . . .