Chapter Sixteen
Hallie
“What’s up your ass?” Sage said as the people carrier drove her, me, and Atticus to the private hangar at the airport. Our destination: Mexico City. We were taking the private plane again. It seemed this was the Knighton treatment, one I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to.
I stared out the window and tried my hardest to not feel the fact that my chest had caved in and sadness was dragging me down. “Nothing,” I said. “I’m just tired. I . . . I didn’t sleep.” That was a lie. I had never slept better than I did with Jasper holding me to his chest.
“You can take the bed on the plane, Hals,” Atticus said. “I’m wired. I had a late night last night too, but I’m still on a high.”
Sage rolled her eyes but stopped herself from saying whatever barb was on the tip of her tongue. I was proud of my best friend. She’d been doing well at keeping her jabs to Atticus at a minimum.
Atticus looked disappointed that Sage had kept to the ceasefire.
Sometimes I wondered whether he really slept around as much as he said he did, or whether he just said it to get a rise out of Sage.
If that was the case, he’d have to find another way to rile her up.
She was being a true professional these days and keeping her mouth closed.
When silence fell in the car, Jasper’s handsome face immediately filled my head. Followed by the ache in my heart from finding my bed empty this morning.
I’d asked him to stay, begged him. He had slept beside me, held me, cherished me, but when I woke this morning to my alarm, he was gone. I had gone to his suite to see housekeeping already cleaning it out for the next guest.
I’d asked him to give us a chance if we kept things private.
He’d agreed to think on it, and I was sure his leaving without even a goodbye was my answer.
I understood his reasoning, I did. I heard the racking pain in his voice last night when he told me about the person who was trying to hurt his family, what he believed about his father’s crash.
But I still wished things could be different for us.
I meant what I said—I was falling for him.
And not in a superficial way. I was falling for him in a way I had never fallen for anyone before.
The way my heart swelled when he was near .
. . the way my pulse raced . . . and the way we made love, fast and hard and him in total control.
It set me on fire, gave me something I didn’t even know I needed.
“Hallie!” Sage’s shrill voice cut through my heavy thoughts.
“What?” I snapped.
Her eyes filled with confusion. “I’ve been calling your name for the last minute.” She pointed to the open door of the minivan and the Gulfstream jet that was waiting for us to board. “We’re here.”
Sage eyed me strangely but let me off without a grilling.
I was sure it’d come soon. I gathered my hand luggage and followed her up the airstairs with leaden feet.
At the top of the stairs, Atticus spoke to Emma, the lead air hostess, before ducking inside.
Sage kissed Emma on her cheek, and I followed, wanly greeting Emma as I stepped into the cabin.
Then everything in my body froze. Sitting in his usual back seat was Jasper.
My heart kicked into a sprint and the caved-in hole in my chest was instantly filled with light.
Jasper lifted his head, and his midnight eyes met with mine.
They softened, and I could read everything he wanted to say to me.
He wanted this.
He wanted us.
He was giving us a chance.
“I can’t believe you’re coming to Mexico!” Atticus said to Jasper and kissed him on his cheek. But Jasper didn’t take his eyes off me.
“Hallie?” Emma said. “Can I please ask you to take your seat for takeoff? And turn your phone to airplane mode.”
“S-sorry, of course,” I stuttered, then moved to the seat beside Sage. My body suddenly felt wired, buzzing with happiness. He wanted us. We . . . we were together? I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Sage narrowed her eyes on me, then looked back to Jasper.
When she looked at me, she said, “And just like that, you’re out of your mood.”
“Sage . . .” I warned under my breath.
She batted her hand at me. “Shut up, Hals. You know I won’t say shit to anyone.” She leaned in close. “But maybe work harder at covering your love bites and the teeth marks all over your neck and chest next time you have a secret fuckfest with the boss, huh?”
I blanched and yanked my compact out of my bag. I quickly powdered the red marks Sage was referring to, then picked up my cell. I went to turn it off, when a new message sat in the center of the screen.
Jasper: I Want to Try. I Want You.
As soon as those words stared up at me, I fought the need to jump from my seat and run into his arms. Instead, I ran my thumb over the words of the message and let my heart thud loudly.
I hadn’t had Jasper’s number before, and I assumed he’d programmed it into my cell last night while I slept. Turning back to see him, he was already watching me. Waiting, I realized. I smiled at him and nodded.
Jasper smothered his returning smile with a hand, then looked out the window as we taxied to the runway. I inhaled and felt like since I’d woken up this morning, it was the first full breath I’d taken.
As the plane took off, I felt a lightness pass throughout me. Jasper hadn’t left. He was coming to Mexico City with me—for me. And we were going to try. In secret, we were going to try.
I didn’t think it was possible for more of my dreams to come true. Apparently, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Mexico City, Mexico
“I have to go,” I said against Jasper’s mouth. The minute we’d arrived at the hotel last night, Jasper had knocked on my door and proceeded to make love to me until we’d passed out, exhausted in the early-morning light.
I pulled on my riding tights and straightened the collar of my base layer. Today we were practicing, getting the horses warmed up and ready for the competition tomorrow. Jasper’s arms came around my waist, and he pulled me back against his chest. “Stay with me,” he said, and kissed down my neck.
I laughed, and though I should have pulled away, I offered more of my neck for him to kiss. “Mr. Knighton! You are the owner of the stud and brand that I ride for, and you’re encouraging me to miss a vital practice for the Grand Prix this weekend?”
I turned in his arms and became breathless at the smile that took up Jasper’s handsome face. “Exactly,” he said, and pulled my chest to his. He kissed my lips, then slipped his tongue into my mouth.
“Mmm . . .” I moaned, then broke away. “No! No, I must go!”
Jasper smiled again. “I’m the boss, Angel, so I decide if you can skip the practice or not. I’ll tell Leon you’re spending the day in bed with me, being tied up so I can lick your cunt so hard you pass out from the many orgasms I’ll give you.” I squeezed my legs together at the thought of that.
“I’m sure he’d love that,” I said breathlessly. “And our trainer may be employed by you, Jasper, but even you can’t tell him what to do.”
“Eh,” Jasper said, dismissively. “Leon’s bark is worse than his bite.” I playfully slapped his hand away from me.
“To you, maybe, but to us mere mortals who actually need his coaching, he’s a hard-ass—in the best way possible, of course.”
“Fine,” Jasper said, and let me go. While I braided my hair, he pulled on his slacks and shirt.
Walking to him, I moved his hands away and began fastening his buttons, inhaling his sandalwood and mint scent.
I could feel Jasper’s gaze on me, and I felt so light and happy I worried I could float away.
Jasper’s hands landed on my hips. When I’d fastened the final button of his shirt, I said, “There.” Jasper had been staring at me with pure adoration on his face, and I felt my heart melt in my chest. I was concerned about my ability to ride today, as my legs felt weak under this much affection.
Since we’d gotten off the plane yesterday and checked into our hotel, Jasper hadn’t left my side. We had a five-star-hotel floor to ourselves, like we’d had in Doha, and just like in Doha, my room was right next to his.
A knock suddenly sounded at my door. “Ssh,” I said to Jasper as I threw on my boots, bouncing on the spot as I tried to zip them up. I quickly grabbed my riding hat. “That’ll be Sage,” I said.
I found my purse and my cell thrown on the floor and gave Jasper a quick kiss.
He held on too long, and I hoped this playful side of Jasper would never fade.
It was as though he had opened the gates of his heart up to me and, along with it, let in some light.
“Get to your meetings. You have businesses to run, Mr. I-run-the-entire-equestrian-world-CEO.”
“Fine,” Jasper said, face stern. “But after the competition, you’re mine again, and I’m going to fuck you so hard you won’t be able to walk for days.”
I rolled my eyes but was immediately on countdown for that time. I loved riding; I never wanted competitions or practices to end. But right now, I was ready to forgo the practice. This was a first for me.
“Hallie!” Sage’s frustrated voice came through the door again. I kissed Jasper one more time, then ran for the door. I opened it and slipped through the small crack I’d created before shutting it behind me. Sage stared at me strangely, and said, “Ready?”
“Yes.” I nodded and quickly moved to the elevator.
Once we were inside, Sage said, “So you’re together now or what? Like, in a relationship?”
Blood drained from my face. I went to open my mouth, to maybe deny it, but I never lied to Sage, and I couldn’t find my voice to do so now. I never kept anything from her.
Sage held up her hand. “Do not even think about lying to me, Ms. Oakley,” she warned.
My shoulders sagged, and I said to her, “Please don’t tell anyone,” I begged. Sage’s pissed-off scowl turned into one of concern. “Please . . . We need to keep this quiet.”