“Damn, are you a sight for sore eyes.” Aspen steps out of the vehicle, a bag on her shoulder, her skin on full display with the barely-there dress she’s wearing.
“Jasper.” She drops her bag and runs towards me. My arms are out and open, my feet firmly planted on the ground. Her legs hug my hips, her hands already pulling at my hair, and our mouths are fucking fused together. I missed the taste that is all Aspen. She’s a safe harbor in the worst of a tropical storm with winds blowing on end.
Our kiss is anything but soft. There’s no way it could be. Not after being away from each other for so long. I start to walk into the trailer, my only thought of seeing her spread out in my bed, she stops me.
“Honey.” Her voice is soft, whisper-soft even though there’s no one out here, least of all any of the other guys. Most of them are in the bunkhouse; only a handful of us brought our own travel trailers.
“I need you, Aspen.”
“And you can have me, but the grill is lit, I’m starving, and I dropped my bag. Plus, my car door is still open. I’m not saying this place isn’t safe, but I bet an animal would love to tear up the inside.” Fuck, she’s right. I reluctantly let her go.
“Close your door, grab your bag, then get your ass back to me, and stat,” I tell her before turning around and throwing the steaks on the grill. I put the potatoes on earlier knowing they’d take longer to cook.
“Sir, yes, sir,” she smarts off, but I see Aspen doing as I asked. I’m not by myself for long until she comes to stand beside me. My arm goes around her shoulder, and she wraps her arms around my waist. I kiss her head. We stand at the grill, not talking, just basking in each other’s presence.
“I know you have to wake up early tomorrow. I’m probably going to head out when you do. There’s a new designer not far from here, and she wants me to look at a few things. I can come back or head home. I didn’t make any plans in case things changed on the rig.”
“I’ll be here. I’m on days for the time being,” I tell her, greedy for her.
“Then I’ll be here when you get back. I’ll take care of dinner tomorrow. I know we don’t have much time together, and I’ll have to be at the shop the day after tomorrow, but I’ll come back the weekend after next if you’re still on? My sisters and Berkley have finally picked a date for our girls’ weekend.” She rolls her eyes, but I know for a fact she’s happy as a clam.
“That’s good. I know you’re looking forward to that. I hate like hell I won’t be able to meet them, but we’ll get to Virginia on my next stretch off.” I take the steaks off the grill once they’re done. Aspen helps with the door and utensils. If she weren’t starving, I would have said ‘screw the food.’ Aspen can be my food source.
“Don’t look at me like that, Jasper Knight. Food first. Then you can have me.” She sashays into my place, and damn, do I love the way she moves.
I shake my head. I’ll need dinner to keep up with her tonight. Clearly, she’s in a feisty mood, and I can’t wait to see that unfold in my bed.
Nine
Aspen
Last weekend feels like it was years ago. The way Jasper and I tore at each other’s clothes the minute our dinner was done, the way his tongue licked every square inch of my body. This last time, it was me leaving marks on Jasper’s body in the form of me sucking on the hollow of his throat, low enough that no one will give him shit out on the rig, but the way he was pounding into my pussy, I needed something to do with my mouth to keep from screaming so loud when he finally let me come. My body still shivers when I think of the way he would tease me, then back off, only to build me up again.
I can’t say it’s been the easiest thing being away from Jasper days and weeks at a time, but the one bright side of this week is that Peyton, Rowen, and Berkley are coming in for two days of nothing but fun and girl time. I’m hoping to persuade Berkley to stay down here. I have a two-bedroom, and it’s not like she has a job in Virginia. Plus, no joke, our area is crawling with the need for teachers right now. It would be a perfect fit. Our lives are all moving forward, and I won’t lie, I’d like to have a piece of my family closer to me. Even if that is for selfish reasons. I love Jasper, there’s no doubt about that, even if I haven’t told him that yet.
“It’s time to party! The crew is here! Shots?” Berkley hasn’t even made it all the way through the terminal when she’s turning heads with her comment.
I just shake my head and smile, Rowen rolls her eyes, and Peyton looks like she needs a shot more than anyone.
“Hey, party girl. The Jell-O shots are in the fridge, as requested, but listen, lady, no open containers in my car. Something tells me we’d have all the Jennings men down here and Jasper leaving the rig right away if something happened.”
“Fun sucker.” She sticks her tongue out at me. I just laugh. She’s supposed to be the prim and proper one, for goodness sakes.
“Yeah, whatever. Give me a hug, crazy.” All four of us bring it in, our arms looped around each other. It’s something we’ve always done. If our parents or, God forbid, Bridger saw us do this, they knew we were up to no good.
“It’s so good to see you,” Rowen says. I’m actually shocked she was able to unglue herself from Braxton for two days.
“You just saw me, silly, but I love seeing you too. How’s the ball and chain?” I joke.
“Oh, you know, probably tracking Ro on her phone as we speak. How’s that hunk of a man of yours?” Peyton interjects.
“Your time is coming, Pey. Braxton is good, sends his love and is prepared for me to come home with a new suitcase full of clothes.”
“He’s great, one tall drink of water, but getting used to his schedule sucks,” I say honestly. Peyton deflates a bit at that. She knows Jasper’s schedule sucks and the struggles I’ve been going through.
“It’ll all be worth it, and you’re not wrong, Ro, but I’m waiting till the right man comes along. I’m not settling for a dumpster fire of a man.” She snorts.
We are still huddled together. “I have to find a job, or I’m going to pull my hair out. I love my parents, but for the love of all things holy, living with them is hell on earth,” Berkley states.
“I have a two-bedroom apartment, you know, and I hear the elementary school is hiring,” I give her an opening.
“No way. You think I can stay? I mean, even if I don’t get a job, maybe I’ll find something part-time until I do,” she offers.
“Vintage Threads could use some extra help. Stella will soon be off for the holidays, so that leaves just Ruthie and me.”
“Let’s see if I even like Texas this weekend. Are you ready, ladies?” Berkley is the ringleader of our gang. Some would think it was Peyton, but even she can’t compete with all the crazy that is Berkley.
“Yep, it’s a good thing I have a big SUV. You girls sure can pack for only a weekend away.” I snort. Each one of them has a carry-on along with a bag on their shoulder.
“As if you didn’t pack half your closet when you came to Virginia last time. I don’t think Jasper fully grasps what he’s getting into. Tell me, Aspen, how many closets do you have filled with clothes, shoes, and bags?” Peyton arches her eyebrow at me.