Being with Jasper these last few weeks has meant I’ve not been short in the orgasm department, but there’s something so sexy and liberating about doing it myself. Especially knowing he’ll find out what I’ve been doing when he looks at his phone. I can picture his face now. Those intense chocolate eyes and how they burn with desire and need.
When I come apart, it’s only him that I see, his name I whisper. The water swallows me, as my body coils tight and then releases in bliss. Waves of pleasure ripple through my body, finally leaving me exhausted and ready for bed.
Before I climb out of the tub, I grab my phone and fire off a quick text.
Me: Sorry you missed it. Maybe next time.
Satisfied with the quip, I release the drain and dry off. Smiling, I head back to my bedroom, throw on an oversized sleepshirt and pants, and snuggle beneath the blankets. As I lie there, I imagine the look on his face when he sees my messages. First, the innocent one, then the dirty one.
I know I’ll pay for that later.
At least I hope I do.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jasper
I’m so fucking hard. Sitting in my office, all I can do is stare down at my phone, at the image of Lyndee in the tub. The way her nipples poke out of the water, all covered in suds and begging to be licked, and the faint sight of her fingers buried in her pussy. It’s enough to make me want to lock my door and take care of myself right here and now.
Thank God I didn’t look at my phone while I was still in the kitchen and surrounded by my employees.
I hear someone walking through the kitchen and know it can only be one man.
“Hey,” Numbers says, poking his head around the corner.
Making sure my phone is down so he can’t see the screen, I lean back casually in my chair, careful to conceal my erection. “Hi.”
“Hectic night.”
“Always,” I reply, grabbing a stack of purchase orders and making myself busy. “I’m getting ready to head out.”
“Yeah?” he asks, leaning against the doorjamb. “Hot date?”
My mind flashes to the image on my phone. “Something like that. Oh, hey, I need a favor.”
“Shoot.”
“I want to take Lyndee away next weekend. I’m thinking one of those bed and breakfast places over in the town with all those antique stores.”
“Shipman. They have several to choose from. You need me to look into it for you?”
As tempting as it is, because we all know Isaac is the computer guy, it just doesn’t feel right having him look for a room for me and Lyndee. “No, I can handle that. I was hoping you’d help Ross, if he needs it. He’s not used to working Saturday nights, and well, they’re a lot busier than a Tuesday. Plus, I’ll have to send in our bread order Sunday morning, so I’ll need help with that. I’ll have it ready, you just have to send the email.”
Numbers draws his eyebrows together. “You’re going over a weekend? Like a Saturday night?”
I can already feel myself getting irritated with his line of questioning, because I know exactly where it’s headed. “Yeah.”
He comes into my office and drops down onto a chair. “Wow, never thought I’d see the day.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The day where the great Jasper Kohlmann falls,” he replies, grinning widely.
“Pfft!” I blurt out, rolling my eyes dramatically. “Knock it off. I haven’t fallen for anyone.”
Not true.
Isaac laughs. Actually laughs in my face. “If you say so, buddy. But I do recall Walker being the same way. Denied it until he was blue in the face. You see where he is now, right? Engaged and with a baby on the way,” he counters, grabbing the stress ball on my desk—the one someone gave me for Christmas a few years ago as a joke—and tossing it in the air.
“That’s different.”
“If you say so,” he repeats, pissing me off even more.
“Stop saying that,” I thunder, glaring at him from across my desk. Of course, the asshole only laughs harder.
“Fine. I see we’re back to the whole denial bit. I’d be more than happy to help Ross next weekend so you can take your not-girlfriend to a non-romantic weekend away.”
“Thank you,” I grumble, crossing my arms over my chest and relaxing in my seat. The good news is my erection is truly fucking gone.
“No sweat. I’m sure the kitchen staff will enjoy not getting yelled at too. It’s a win for them as well.”
He’s joking, but there’s a lot of truth in his statement. I’m a bastard in the kitchen. I know it. They know it. You either deal with it or you move on, it’s as simple as that. “You done?”
He chuckles and gets up. “Yep. I’ll stay and help Walker close.”
“No plans with Savannah?”
He shakes his head. “She went out of town with girlfriends.”
I contain my eyeroll, but barely. “All right, well, I’m gonna head out. Have a good night,” I state, grabbing my coat and meeting him at the door. I throw the light switches and head down the back hall, stopping at the employee exit, the soft acoustical sounds of Jameson strumming his guitar filtering down the deserted hallway. “Hey, I appreciate your help. I know you’re not comfortable in the kitchen, so I definitely appreciate your willingness to step in.”
He meets my gaze and straightens his tie. “Actually, I don’t mind helping in the kitchen at all, Jasper. I just hate dealing with your grumpiness, so I stay away. I actually like to cook.”
The corner of my mouth turns up. “Really?”
“Getting yelled at by your moody ass is the reason I stay out of there,” he states with a big grin.
I bark out a laugh. “I’m not moody.”
I’m very moody.
Now it’s his turn to chuckle. “Not nearly as much as you used to be. Yet another reason why Lyndee is good for you.” He slaps me on the back and heads down the hall toward the bar, leaving me standing there alone with my thoughts.
I have been a little easier to get along with in the last month, and I’m sure he’s right. Lyndee has everything to do with it.
I push out the door, making sure it’s secured behind me, and grab my phone. I fire off a quick text, hoping she’s still up to hear it, yet hoping she was able to get to bed at a decent hour. Every time I looked out the window today, I could see her busting her ass in that bakery, helping fill orders and restocking trays of pastries.
She’s got a thriving business, and I’m so fucking proud of her.
When she doesn’t reply, I climb into my Mercedes and start it up. I should definitely go home and let her rest. Even though she’s closed tomorrow, she works just as hard on her day off as she does every other day of the week.
But then I think about that picture, of her in the bathtub, fingering herself, and my car turns in the opposite direction of where I live. As if completely on its own, I head for Lyndee.
To the woman I’m falling for.
***
“Jasper’s taking the weekend off,” Numbers announced to the table as I deliver our new burger selection. The one inspired by Lyndee’s stuffed chicken dish a few weeks ago. I’ve spent weeks perfecting it and prepping it to be added to the menu. We’ll debut it next week, offering the Between the Sheets burger as our featured sandwich of the week.