23. Jasper
TWENTY-THREE
JASPER
One moment we’re in a shitty motel in California, questioning every move made as we inched toward Carter’s rescue, and wondering how the hell it’d be possible to pull off the kidnapping of a lifetime, from right under another Don’s nose.
Now, days later, we’re hours ahead and a whole country away, finding solace in each other while we get back to the glory days of what our relationship once was.
Of course, we can never go back to those exact moments, but creating brand new versions of ourselves, while remaining strongly connected to one another, is a victory in itself before we’ve even thought about our celebration.
Everything we’ve been through – separately and together – has led us here, to a place where we can be open about our struggles, work together to fix them, and remember what it meant to be a solid three-person unit that moves as one.
Tyson has dedicated himself to this plan, and this cabin proves the lengths he’s willing to go in order to move Carter safely off the continent of North America.
I’m nothing but his glorified side-kick, willing to do the dirtier jobs, or get my hands bloody, in order to complete the mission we’ve embarked on.
At the same time, there’s always been a softer side to me, one that was only activated by a dark-haired Angel, and belongs solely to her, so when I hear her screams, I immediately jump into action.
I was afraid that the shower exposure therapy was too much too soon, but Ty pushed her in this direction, and my heart cracks in my chest as I listen to her cries from across the cabin.
Racing to the bathroom, I nearly burst through the door, ready to knock Tyson’s teeth in for rushing through her healing, but before I cross the threshold, I hear her laughter, and hushed voices over the spray of the water.
My gut instinct tells me that she’s not in any danger, or suffering in an intense capacity, so I back off, allowing them to have their moment, and instead, picking through the non-perishable groceries Tyson had stocked before we arrived.
There’s not much, but with a jar of salsa, queso, and a bag of tortilla chips, I make quick work of creating an appetizer for us all, knowing that we couldn’t possibly eat gas station snacks one more time.
Next, I crack open the bottle of vodka, mixing two glasses with cranberry on the rocks for me and Tyson, leaving Carter’s exactly how she prefers – straight and warm.
I’ve waited around before while she’s done her hair, but this time feels tortuous, my hands only staying busy because they’re itching to be on her body, the desperation oozing from my pores as I distract myself until I’m barely able to stand on my own two feet.
Finally, after what feels like days, she comes scampering through the kitchen, wearing a black v-neck t-shirt, and a pair of leggings that have lines of see-through lace running down her outer thighs.
I wasn’t expecting to be treated this way so soon, the choice to let her skin show nearly causes me to collapse, but rather than make this moment bigger than it is, I choose to focus on her biggest accomplishment.
“My little temptress of death has graced me with her presence. You look fucking incredible,” I declare dramatically, crossing the floor faster than my feet can move, practically falling into her arms as I admire her shiny curls.
Just like the first time I saw her, I’m completely captivated by her darkness, the raw beauty in this petite girl almost criminal, which in turn, reduces me to nothing but a lucky man, allowed to worship the wonderful creature before me.
“Jasper, you’re too much,” she giggles, wrapping her arms around my neck as I stare down into her ice-blue eyes, the sparkle on full display tonight, proving that the happiness is truly working its way back into her system.
“I’m a mere mortal in the presence of the darkest goddess this universe has ever seen.
Seriously, Principessina, you’re always beautiful, but you know damn well the power you hold over me.
” I press my crotch into her thigh, accentuating my words with an unmistakable gesture, and she smirks, clearly pleased with her work.
“What’s all this?” She asks, lacing her fingers through mine as I lead her toward the dining table that I set for the three of us.
“We can’t exactly go to a Mexican restaurant, so I brought the appetizers to us.” I pull her chair out, waiting until she’s settled before pushing her in, and handing her a perfectly crafted drink.
Tyson follows suit, and just like that, it feels like home again.
Back in Jersey, whether we cooked or ordered out, we always ate together at the dining table, and small moments like this remind me of where our story began, bringing a wave of nostalgia over our newfound place to call home – even if it’s only temporary.
“Cheers to this new chapter,” Carter says, a devilish smirk painted across her face, and we all clink our cups together, toasting to what feels like the start of something truly beautiful.
Carter chugs her vodka in one gulp, slamming her cup into my chest in a complete deja vu of the night we met, and rather than checking in with Tyson, I snatch the bottle of vodka and refill my girl’s drink.
Since the moment that red solo cup touched my body, she was fucking mine, and as long as I live, I’ll never forget that moment our eyes locked, so when my girl asks for something she gets it.
“Will both of you drink with me? I just … want to feel normal, only for a few minutes,” Carter pleads, her eyes shifting between the two of us, and I’m instantly trapped under her spell, hoping Ty can let loose, for at least one minute.
“Cheers, baby girl,” he smiles, clinking his cup against hers, and we finish our drinks in one gulp, but the tension is thick in the air, like something is hanging between the two of them.
One look at Carter tells me all I need to know, her flushed cheeks and sultry eyes a dead giveaway to the fact that she’s riled up, but there’s a piece missing, a big red flag that I’m attempting to decipher.
Usually, when Carter is satisfied, she’s over-tired, but giddy, a meaningful yet lazy smile painted on her face that’s almost impossible to remove, but tonight, it’s nowhere in sight.
Not only that, but if she’d had an orgasm, a certain glow would be radiating off her face, blinding anyone in her orbit, but right now, she looks perfectly content.
Rather than question it, wonder what philanthropic shit Tyson put in her head, or make her feel any less beautiful than she is at this exact moment, I take matters into my own hands.
Trailing my hand along her thigh, I dig my nails into the fabric, listening as a soft moan leaves her chest, the kind that proves my theories correct, and ignites a fire from my head to my toes.
If Tyson wants to spend two hours leaving her unsatisfied, that’s his problem, because when my woman is this worked up, there’s no way I won’t do everything in my power to drag her into the depths of euphoria.
“What happened, Principessina?” I press my lips to her neck, whispering just under her ear while she squirms around my hand, clenching her thighs just enough while a soft groan escapes her chest.
“He kissed me,” she whispers, her nails digging into my arm while I spread her legs apart, trailing my fingers toward her center at a slow, torturous pace.
“That’s it?” My eyes shift to Tyson’s, a blank stare painted across his face, but he stays put on the other side of the table, not speaking a word.
“He doesn’t want to hurt me,” she groans as I tease one finger along the hem of her leggings, putting light pressure against her clit while snaking my free hand around her throat.
“Am I hurting you, Carter?” I ask, feeling her swallow around my palm, cutting off her air supply while she struggles to speak around my grasp.
“No. More,” she chokes out, and I don’t dare deny a request like that, breaching the fabric between us, making quick work of sliding her panties to the side.
The second my fingers brush against her clit, she spasms against the chair, my body levitating to new heights as a stark reminder of her sensitivity – and the sheer power this woman holds over me – comes crashing down all at once.
“Massi!” Tyson barks, my focus solely on Carter as I hum in response, ready to lock him in a closet if he even tries to stop the beautiful mess I’m about to make of our girl.
“Tyson, tell us what to do. Please?” Carter pleads, luring him into our delicious web of pleasure, even as my grip on her throat hasn’t lessened in the slightest.
“That’s my little ice princess,” I praise, dropping out of my chair and onto my knees, staring up at her with a fierce hunger in my eyes, one that is speaking directly into her soul without using words.
Our connection was severed and sliced at the stem, but if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s how resilient Carter and I are.
Our bond is slowly regaining its strength, and a split second is all it takes for me to read her mind, her lust-filled irises meeting mine, paired with a lethal smirk that snatches the breath straight from my lungs.
“Take it all off,” Tyson instructs, and Carter immediately nods, both of us smiling as I reach for her waist, tearing the leggings off her body.
Now that we’ve got the beast exactly where we want him, there’s no telling how sinister this game is going to get, but I’m kneeling at the altar, finally returning to my only place of worship.