Willow
My eyes slowly creep open and I wonder why the hell my sheets are fuzzy. Like a cat crawled in here.
But when they open, I gasp. I pop my head up and stare at the warm, tan skin, lightly-furred, that’s slowly rising and falling underneath me.
“Good morning, little sprite. You’re a very pretty shade of pink this morning.”
Closing my eyes, I pray really hard that this is all a dream and I’m not lying here with the sexiest man I’ve ever seen in my life. The man who refused to sleep with me when I begged him to.
“I’m still here.”
Huffing, I sit up straight, running a hand through my hair and grimacing. I bet my curls are a freaking wreck.
Like he can read my mind, he says, “you look beautiful.”
“Must you read my mind. It’s very disconcerting first thing in the morning.”
He chuckles and I look up at him. He’s still dressed in his jeans and t-shirt.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are, sprite?”
“No. But you don’t need to lie to me. I know what I look like.”
He shoots up and the amusement is gone from his lean, weathered face. His hands catch my chin in his iron grip. “Hey, don’t talk about yourself like that, baby. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And I’m not fucking lying. I mean it with every fiber of my being. I wouldn’t lie to you.”
My breath stutters in my heavy chest. My lashes flutter and I try to push all those soft, warm squishy feelings that I get from him down. But they don’t leave.
Instead it’s like they’re building and building until I can’t breathe.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“I think we better get up. My mother said she’d be here early to come get you to take you to Founder’s Festival.”
I’m shaking my head wildly before he even finishes the sentence.
He catches my chin. “Hey. It will be alright. Everybody’s there.
Nobody’s gonna touch you. And then tonight?
” He pauses and my eyes widen when he gives me a soft smile.
“I want to take you out. We could go to the diner and grab something to eat or just take a walk. I don’t care. As long as I’m with you.”
He gently pushes my curls out of my face. His face gets closer and then his lips touch mine so gently, reverently. Soft as a cloud, reverent as a prayer.
“Come with me,” he whispers.
“Okay,” I whisper back, my eyes locked on his soft gray gaze. I’m so close I can see little blue swirls in their depths. See the heat building like a wildfire.
But there’s something else too. Not just desire. Affection.
My chest constricts and I smile shyly. “I’d like that.”
“Good.” He pats the covers and then falls back with a groan when there’s a ping from both of our phones and then a hurried knock at the door.
His eyes open and he smirks. “Time to go have a little fun. I’ll see you later, baby.”
He gets up and my mouth goes a little dry when I see the bulge in his jeans. He winks at me and grabs his boots and hat and then his phone. He leans over and kisses me, hard and deep.
Moaning, I lean into him. But he pulls back and sighs. “Later.”
And then he jogs out the door and I hear him going down the stairs. I hear the door open and he steps outside, talking to a high-pitched voice.
And a quieter one.
I touch my lips lightly and then smile slowly. I can still taste him on my lips. Still feel his heavy heat under me. I had the best sleep I’ve had in a long time.
And it’s all him. He let me tell my story in my own words. He held me when I cried. He didn’t rush me.
Just took his time.
Control.
Except when we touch. Then it’s flammable.
I wince and stand up. I don’t want to think about fire. I want to have some fun. I want to be alive and happy and just enjoy the day.
The door opens downstairs and he hollers, “you better be getting ready, sprite. I’m not sure how long I can hold them off. My mom is dying to see your house. She loves this old place.”
That’s good to know.
“I’m on my way.” I grab the first t-shirt and jeans I come across. I brush my hair and ignore the left side of my body. Ignore the pink scars and the rippled skin.
Do I think that Jasper will say anything, will cringe away from the scars?
I still remember his fingers delicately tracing around my knee and up my thigh. Gentle, tender. Sweet.
No. I don’t think he would. And as long as he doesn’t care, I don’t think I will either.
After all, it doesn’t define me. I do.
I charge down the stairs. “Let’s go, Maggie! I bet Claudia is desperate to find some cotton candy at this thing!”
A cheer greets me as I close and lock the door and Jasper’s eyes trail down my body like a butane torch heating my blood to boiling.
And I like it. A lot.
I smile at him and he tips his hat to me as he leaves to go to work. “I’ll see you later, sprite.”
I wink at him and giggle. He winks back and leaves and then Maggie turns her eyes to me, her own brows lifting. “I think we’ve got a lot to talk about.”
Flushing, I drop into her car seat and watch Claudia grinning at me in the mirror. She leans forward and whispers, “Daddy likes you. And you like him.”
It’s not a question. This eight year old knows exactly what’s going on. I don’t know if she’s precocious or if we’re just not that subtle. But she knows which means Maggie knows.
But when she sits in the car, she just smiles. “We can talk later when the little ears are gone. Another day.”
I suck in a deep breath and smile as she pulls away from my house. The first time in a long time that I’ve left it except when Jasper dragged me out.
And for the first time I don’t feel scared. I feel excited. I smile as Claudia chatters at us. Maggie grins at me and pats my hand where it sits on my lap.
“Let’s go find that cotton candy.”
* * *
I sit down for a second and take a deep breath. Maggie smirks. “It’s a lot, isn’t it?”
I nod my head but I’m smiling. “It is. But it’s so fun.”
Claudia tugs at her hand. “Memaw. I’ve got to go to the bathroom.”
She rolls her eyes and looks over at me. I hold up my hands and sit deeper into the bench. It’s off in a little corner where I can see all the storefronts and the booths set up. See all the people in this little town.
People watch.
“I’m good here. You go ahead and take her to the bathroom. I’ll wait right here.”
Her silver brow lifts and her gray eyes crinkle. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Go ahead and get her there before she has an accident.”
That might seem like a long shot but I laugh at her potty dance. “I think that last lemonade sent her over.”
Maggie rolls her eyes and grabs her hand. “Let’s go, kiddo.”
They wander off and I close my eyes, breathing in the smell of delicious fried food and listen to the people laughing and enjoying the gorgeous day.
It takes me a second to feel it but I stiffen when I hear the footsteps behind me.
But then I relax. I’m out in broad daylight. In this little town. And somewhere out there, Jasper’s taking care of everyone.
And then a cloth comes down over my mouth and I suck in a sharp breath.
And fill my lungs with the stuff on the cloth. My head swims and then I whimper as everything goes black.