“Sure. Sorry for the mess,” I say, meaning the scattered papers on the coffee table. “I had to take a last-minute call before I left for the airport and didn’t have time to clean up.”
“No worries. It just shows that you actually live here,” Jasper says as he scrolls through the takeaway options on his phone. “How about Thai food?”
“Sure, I would like some Pad thai.”
“I’ll order two of those and some starters. Can you type in your address?” He hands the phone to me. I type in my address and clickorderbefore handing it back to Jasper.
“Twenty-two minutes to go,” Jasper says before he gets up and walks over to the bookshelf, running his fingers along the spines of the books. “You have quite the collection.”
“I’ve always loved reading,” I admit, smiling at him while I put the papers back in the folder. “But many books are also from my college and law school years.”
”I can tell,” he says, holding a book about the immigration laws in the US.
As Jasper returns to the couch, I snuggle up against him, feeling a new burst of happiness at being home. It’s been months since I’ve had someone other than Lottie here with me, and I love how Jasper fits so naturally into my home.
“I love having you here,” I tell him honestly.
“And I love being here, at my girlfriend’s place.”
My back straightens, and I glance at him with a mix of surprise and happiness. “Girlfriend?”
He grins at me, eyes brightening with a mischievous glint. “Yes, girlfriend,” he says, his voice low and husky. “Is that okay with you?”
A smile spreads across my face when I consider my answer. “Yeah, it’s more than okay.”
“I know my social media post yesterday said we were dating, but it doesn’t feel enough. So, Vivian Isabel Powers, would you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?” Jasper asks, crossing his fingers over his chest in a hopeful gesture.
I nod, the happy tears filling my eyes. “I would love to be your girlfriend.”
“Good, because I already love being your boyfriend.”
We both laugh softly, the sound filling the room. I watch as he leans in, his hands sliding to my waist. The warmth of his touch sends shivers down my spine, and I lean into him, feeling his breath on my lips.
I close my eyes as our lips meet in a sensual kiss, savoring the moment. His lips brush against mine, gentle at first, then more insistent as the desire between us grows. I respond eagerly, my hands sliding up his back, tangling in his hair.
“I want you, but I need more time than the next eighteen minutes,” Jasper whispers as he breaks the kiss. “So, for now, only kissing until we’ve eaten. But I promise to devour every inch of you later.”
We spend the rest of the evening wrapped up in each other, laughing and talking about everything and nothing. I show him my Spotify playlists in detail, and he shares his top ten favorite movies, surprising me with his number one—The Shawshank Redemption. When I explain the plot ofThe Good Place, the TV show I’m currently watching, he listens intently and asks all the right questions.
As the night wears on, we find ourselves exploring each other’s bodies with a newfound sense of urgency. Jasper runs his hands over my curves, teasing me with his fingers and tongue, and I moan with pleasure as he brings me to the brink of ecstasy more than once.
And finally, when I’m aching for him, begging him to take me, he does. It feels like we’re discovering each other all over again as we make love, spending the night together as an official couple.
* * *
Our sleep is cut short by the ringing of Jasper’s phone. He glances at the screen, worry etched on his face.
“Who’s calling you at this hour?” I ask with a yawn, feeling the effects of jet lag. My entire body aches, and I could sleep for at least ten more hours.
“It’s my agent, Em,” Jasper tells me, getting out of bed. “I guess she wouldn’t call me at 7.32 a.m. if it wasn’t important.”
“What are you waiting for?” I ask as the ringing stops and starts again.
“It’s not that I don’t want to…but I’m worried.”
I leave the warmth of the bed and stand behind him. Wrapping my arms around his middle, I mumble, “Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together.”
“Together,” Jasper repeats, taking a deep breath before pressing accept. “Good morning, Em.”
