Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
JASPER
It was Saturday—the only day of the week I allowed myself to sleep in, but I was wide awake. I kept replaying the night before in my head.
The feel of Natalie melting into me and letting her grief pour out.
The vulnerability she had so easily given me, even after seven long years apart.
How much I had wanted to just kiss away her hurt.
I needed to get her out of my head, but the images were still too fresh, and the morning wood wasn't helping.
My cock was aching, straining against my boxer briefs and begging for relief. Not that holding Natalie while she cried her eyes out had been a particularly erotic moment. But thinking back now, remembering the sweet smell of her hair and the feel of her body pressed against mine, was enough to have me gripping myself and tugging .
It had been too damn long since I got laid. That was the only explanation. I kicked off the covers, ripped my briefs down and let my cock spring free.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I willed myself to picture anyone but Natalie. I didn't want to want her. But there, in the privacy of my own head, I could admit it. I did want her. I never stopped.
My brain was grateful to be given permission. It was all too ready to conjure images of what it would look like to be with her again. How it might feel to wake up with her in that bed beside me.
In my fantasy, she was curled up on her side with her long dark hair tied up in a mess on top of her head. Loose strands fluttered with each of my exhales as I lay behind her, arm curled around her waist and palm splayed across her stomach. I rocked my hips, waking her up with my raging erection grinding against her perfect ass. She stirred, pushing back against me even while still half asleep.
Neither of us spoke as I glided my hand up and grabbed one of her perky tits. She moaned softly when I circled a fingertip around her hardened nipple before giving it a pinch. She was full on rubbing herself against me at this point, like she had an itch only I could scratch.
I slid my hand past her navel to the apex of her thighs. She instinctively bent her knee, planting her foot on the bed to give me better access to her pussy. I slid a finger along her slit, and she was fucking soaked for me. My cock jumped at her gasp of surprise and pleasure as I plunged a digit into her core. She was frantic now, bucking against my hand and jerking my shaft between her ass cheeks. I added a second finger, pumping in and out of her, her wetness coating my knuckles. She moaned and writhed, begging me not to stop, but I wanted her to come on my cock. I withdrew my fingers, and she whimpered at the loss, but I quickly lined the head of my dick at her entrance and pressed in. Her pussy was so warm and wet and tight that I groaned as I seated myself fully inside her.
I braced myself on my elbow and held her by the shoulder while my other hand gripped her hip.
And then I let go.
I fucked her hard.
Thrusting until she was screaming my name and milking my cock with the force of her orgasm.
The fantasy was so vivid, I completely lost myself. My hand moved faster, my strokes becoming jerky. Tension built in my balls, the pressure growing with each passing second.
And then I came with a low, guttural moan, my orgasm hitting like a freight train as I spilled myself onto my stomach. The pleasure was so intense it bordered on pain, but the release brought me no satisfaction.
The fantasy didn't even come close to the real thing.
My breathing was still ragged and my mind was still racing when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was early, sometime around six in the morning, so I expected it to be Elliot. When I grabbed it, though, it was Chase.
CHASE
Be my partner for Andy's euchre tourney later?
JASPER
What are you doing awake?
CHASE
Haven't been to sleep yet.
Was over in Ashford with Lisa. Girl sucks cock like a fuckin Hoover.
JASPER
Jesus, you're a douche.
CHASE
No need to be jealous. I'm sure she'd blow you if you asked nicely.
JASPER
Pass.
CHASE
So... euchre?
JASPER
Ask El.
CHASE
I did. He doesn't wanna play. Somethin about only going for a bit to show his face since it's Andy's birthday or some shit. He sucks.
JASPER
Fine, guess I'll play.
CHASE
Don't sound so excited.
JASPER
I won't.
CHASE
Dick.
How was dinner?
JASPER
Awkward as fuck. Thanks a lot.
CHASE
Anytime. Goin to bed. Night.
I reminded myself that I loved my brother and murder was wrong. Then I got up and showered away the evidence of jerking off to my ex-girlfriend.
Wasn't the first time. Wouldn't be the last.
I was fairly certain everyone in Sable Point between the ages of twenty-two and thirty was in Andy and Sarah Clark's backyard.
They had eight three-foot card tables spread out across the yard, each with four chairs tucked underneath. On the back deck, there was a big ass dry erase board with the tournament bracket perfectly drawn in colorful marker.
Perks of marrying a kindergarten teacher, I guess.
Andy and Sarah had a similar story to Natalie and me, except Sarah hadn't left and broken Andy's heart. Instead, they had graduated high school the same year as Elliot and Chase, moved in together, got engaged, got married, bought a house, had a baby, and lived happily ever after.
Some days, I couldn't stand them. They were so fucking happy.
But today was not one of those days. Today was Andy's thirtieth birthday, so I could choke down my envy and be happy for my friend.
"Thanks for coming, man," Andy said, pulling me into a big bro hug.
"Wouldn't miss it."
"Beer's in the cooler. Tournament starts in about twenty."
He immediately saw someone over my shoulder and took off to greet them. I made a beeline for the coolers along the side of the garage. I spotted Chase near the makeshift bar on the deck, doing a shot with a couple other guys from his graduating class.
I was hanging on the outskirts of the party, taking in the scene when a pair of slender hands snaked around my waist from behind. My mind immediately jumped to Natalie, but my heart dropped when a familiar, syrupy voice floated to my ears.
"Hey, baby," Sammy drawled.
I gripped her wrist and gently pried her hands off me. Failing to take the hint, she simply came around to my front and wrapped her arms around me again.
I fucking hated it.
"What are you doing? "
"I miss you, Jas. Thought maybe we could spend the night together."
"Not interested."
"That's not what you said a few weeks ago."
"We're not together, Sammy. We've never been together. It was one drunken night that shouldn't have happened."
Her smile faltered, hurt flashed over her face, quickly replaced by a harder edge. "Come on, Jasper. We both know there's always been something between us. Why fight it?"
I breathed in slowly and mentally counted to ten. How do I make her understand without completely losing it? "Sammy, listen to me carefully. There is nothing between us. There never has been, and there never will be. What happened that night was a mistake, and I'm sorry if I ever gave you the impression it was anything more."
Sammy's eyes narrowed and two spots of color rose on her cheeks. "You don't mean that. You're just confused because Natalie's back in town." Her voice dripped with derision. "Once she leaves again, you'll see?—"
"No." I cut her off, my voice firm. "I won't 'see' anything. Natalie being here has nothing to do with this. You and I are not happening, Sammy."
Speaking of Natalie... It was at that moment that she walked into the backyard.
Fuck. I didn't expect her to be here. Honestly, I didn't expect her to stay in town as long as she had.
Sammy was still prattling on, but I wasn't listening. My brain was scrambled from goggling at Natalie. She looked fuckin' beautiful in a short white dress with thin straps. The string lights hanging in Andy's backyard glinted off the long, dark strands of her hair.
As if she could feel me staring, she turned and her eyes met mine. But her gaze quickly shifted to the woman with arms wrapped around my waist, and a flash of pained anger crossed her face. She forced a smile when Elliot tapped her on the shoulder and said something I couldn't make out.
I hastily extricated myself from Sammy's grip.
"Where are you going?" she whimpered.
"Anywhere else."
I cut across the backyard, weaving my way between the still-empty euchre tables, and sidled up next to Elliot. He was mid-conversation with Andy, but he side-eyed me. I guessed he saw Sammy wrapped around me.
"... but the kid thought he could outrun a cop car, I guess. On his bike. Little idiot."
Our attention was diverted from Andy's tale when Chase let out a loud whoop from the deck. I looked up just in time to see Natalie down a shot. He threw an arm over her shoulders and steered her toward our group.
"Sorry, Jas, but I'm making a trade. Nat's gonna be my partner."
"Okay." My eyes darted between them. I was looking for any sign Natalie didn't want to play with him, but she just lifted her chin.
It felt like a dare. To do what, I wasn't sure.
I didn't have a chance to decide before the bane of my existence made an untimely return. Sammy slid her arms around my waist and forced herself under my arm .
"That's fine. I'll be Jasper's partner. We make the perfect team."
Natalie's saccharine smile looked all kinds of wrong on her perfect face. "I'm sure you do," she said. "Come on, Chaser. I need another shot."