I burst out laughing, causing my tea to slosh over the rim of my cup and burn my hand. Quickly, I place it on the table and reach for a napkin. “Ouch.”
“Are you okay?” he asks, jumping up and grabbing the hand towel from the counter.
“I’m fine,” I insist, pulling my hand back as he reaches for it.
“You burned your hand.”
I have no choice but to follow as he takes my hand and pulls me toward the sink. Jasper turns on the cold faucet and moves it under the running water. It’s uncomfortable, but not horrible. It’s not even really a bad burn. I’ve had worse, usually grazing a knuckle or a fingertip against a rack in the oven.
“Hold still.”
“I’m…fine. It’s just a little burn. Happens all the time,” I insist, giving my hand one more tug. But Jasper’s Herculean strength is no match for my slight physique. He carefully holds my hand under the cold water for a full minute before he gently pulls it back.
Jasper examines my hand, taking in the slight pink coloring on my thumb and index finger. Those don’t hurt. What does sting a little is the tender skin between them. It’s a touch redder, the burn more sensitive. He runs his thumb over the angry flesh. “You should put something on this.” He continues to hold my hand, his fingers soothing the burned skin.
My heart hitches in my chest. “I have some ointment in the bathroom.”
“I’ll get it,” he quickly states, releasing his hold on me and heading for the short hallway. I should go with him, to assist him in finding the burn ointment, but I’m so stunned by the tenderness he displayed, I can’t seem to force my feet to catch up. “Here.” Jasper returns just a few seconds later with the small jar of ointment.
I reach for the container, but he shakes his head.
I watch in wild fascination as Jasper gently grasps my wrist and brings my hand to his mouth. He softly blows on the burn, making sure it’s dry. Why he’s not using the hand towel is beyond me, but I’m not about to complain. His warm breath is intoxicating, his touch mesmerizing, and I find myself not wanting it to end.
Once he’s certain the flesh is dry, Jasper reaches for the jar of cream and spreads a generous amount on the reddened area. His steady fingers are gentle as he makes sure to apply the medicine to all affected areas, his eyes concentrating on the task at hand. I know this because I’m watching him. My eyes are fixed on him, taking in the way his dark eyes study my skin and makes sure to spread an even coat. Even when he’s doing something as mundane as applying ointment to a burn, he’s simply stunning.
He glances up, meeting my gaze. There’s a moment where time stops. Where the sounds of us breathing together in such a close space makes everything else just fade away. Where the burn doesn’t hurt and all I can feel is his hand wrapped around mine, softly caressing my skin. Where all I see is deep chocolate eyes and the slight stubble on his jaw from the day.
I bet that would burn against my cheek…
And other places…
It’s as if he knows exactly where my mind wandered. I see the desire pooling in his eyes, followed by hints of resignation, as if he knows he can’t fight whatever happens next.
Jasper takes a step forward, our bodies a whisper away, and his gaze drops to my lips. A hushed gasp spills from mine as I inhale, anticipation and excitement coursing through my veins.
He’s going to kiss me. I can feel it.
Our eyes remain locked as his mouth slowly moves toward mine. My eyelids flutter closed just as his lips press firmly against mine. This isn’t a sweet kiss. Not the kind one would expect for a first kiss. There’s something so…possessive about the way he plies my mouth open with his tongue and takes what he wants. All I can do is hang on and enjoy the ride.
I press my body against his, reveling in the head-to-toe hardness, the slight discomfort of my hand a distant memory. All I can think about—all I can feel—is him.
His tongue dances with mine, his expert lips taking me for a ride to Ecstasy Land. The hand not holding my own comes up and cradles my jaw, his thumb stroking my neck and sending shock waves of lust through my extremities. We rock together. I’m not sure who moves first, but I can feel the very hard, very large length of him pressing against my stomach. A moan of pleasure fills the space. Did it come from him? Me?
Probably both.
This kiss is everything that’s always been missing from kisses in the past. It’s passionate, it’s powerful, it’s all-consuming.
It’s infinite.
I’m mere seconds away from climbing up his lean, muscular body as if he were a tree, when a throat clears behind me. I jump back, ripping my lips from Jasper’s and trying to put as much distance between us as possible. Unfortunately, all I do is connect with a wall, bumping my head.
Jasper’s eyes dance with shock and a touch of humor before he glances toward the doorway. “Hey, Dustin.”
“Jasper, hi. Wasn’t expecting to find you in the kitchen,” he says, grinning widely.
“Lyndee invited me in for tea,” Jasper replies, still standing directly in front of me.
“Yeah, tea. We were having tea!” I blurt out, causing two sets of eyes to land on me.
Dustin smirks. “Why are you being so weird?” he asks, moving to the cabinet by the sink. My brother retrieves a glass before heading for the fridge and pouring a glass of orange juice. After taking a sip he adds, “You act like I’ve never seen you making out with a guy before.”
A gasp spills from my lips. “What? I’ve never…when?” I ask, my voice shaky.
Dustin just laughs. “Right after you moved home after college. You were dating that guy with the bad bowl cut. What was his name? Gary?”
“Jerry,” I correct, clearing my throat. “I, uh, didn’t realize you saw us.”
“Mom did too,” he replies with a shrug. “You were on the front porch after a date, and we were coming back from a walk. I remember Mom commenting on him trying to swallow your face.”
I can feel my face bursting into flames, and it only gets worse when Jasper starts chuckling. “He tried swallowing her face?”
I recall the kiss my brother is referring to. It was…bad. Jerry was very scholarly, but not so knowledgeable about kissing. It was horribly sloppy with too much tongue, and I remember being a tad grossed out by the kiss. So much so that I declined his request for another date a few days later.
“Oh yeah,” Dustin confirms, taking another sip of his juice. “I think he didn’t realize his tongue was supposed to go in her mouth.”
My brother and Jasper laugh hard, at my expense, nonetheless. “Why are we talking about this?”
“Because I just walked in and caught you sucking face with Jasper,” my brother points out.
“He was helping me with my burn!” I insist.
He looks at me skeptically. “You burned your tongue?”
I sigh dramatically. “No, my hand.” I hold it up to prove my point. “But it’s fine. It’s only a little burn.”
“Good thing Jasper was here to help you,” Dustin says, nodding toward the man standing with me. “I mean, at least you know your tonsils are good.”
Jasper barks out a laugh and shakes his head. “I should head out. You have to get up early in the morning,” he says, finally stepping out of my personal space. The only problem is I miss him there the moment he’s gone.