by L. Wilder
“I don’t know about that. Sinking a truck in a pond doesn’t sound all that basic to me.” I laughed as I thought about how panicked they must’ve felt watching that truck sink deeper and deeper into the water. “Where are your brothers now?”
“Grady owns and manages the Smoking Gun, a bar in Memphis … He’s done really well with it. The place is always packed to the gills, and Levi is a mechanic. He has his own shop downtown … He does custom work, remodels or something. Not really sure, but he does well with it.”
“Do you get to see them very often?”
“It’s been awhile.”
“Oh … I bet that’s hard.”
“Not as hard as you might think,” he scoffed, making me wonder if something had happened between them. “Now, let’s see what we can figure out about this code.”
He reached for his laptop, and we started talking about all the different things the numbers could represent: a safe combination, a specific location, or names of hitmen like Jasper. When he saw that our imaginations were getting the best of us, he tried to get us back on track by asking where the painting originated from.
“I don’t know much about it … just that it came from an estate sale. I can get all the information we need, but I’d have to get into my laptop and search through the gallery’s files.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. If someone sees that you’ve logged in, they can trace the IP address to this location.”
“But who would be watching to see if I logged in?”
“You’ve been gone for several days, Madison. By now, the police are doing everything they can to find you … tracking your phone, your computer, and credit cards—looking for any sign that you might be alive.”
My mind was suddenly flooded with images of the police searching my apartment, my parents anxiously waiting to hear whether I was alive or dead, and how helpless they must feel. Guilt washed over me as I thought of them frantically worrying over me when I was sitting here alive and well. I desperately wanted to let them know I was okay but knew that wasn’t possible—not until we found out who was after me and why. “I hadn’t thought about that.”
“I think I know someone who can help us out. Devin is an old friend of mine who’s good with computers. I’m thinking he can hack into the gallery’s database without anyone knowing.”
“Okay”
He took out his phone and called him. After he told the guy what we needed to know, he assured Jasper that he could recover the information without anyone being the wiser. It would just take him some time to get it all sorted. Once they ended the call, Jasper and I spent the next hour doing more research, but we weren’t making much progress.
Both of us were starting to get frustrated, so Jasper closed his laptop, then got up and said, “Time for a break. I’m going to start the pizza. You want a beer or something?”
“A beer would be great. Thanks.”
“You got it.”
He handed me a bottle, then returned to the kitchen, where I could hear him opening and closing the refrigerator. After a few seconds, he started chopping and shuffling about. I was about to get up and ask if he needed any help when he shouted, “You need another beer?”
“I’m good. Do you need a hand?”
“Nope. I’ve got it. Won’t be much longer.”
Ten minutes later, I heard the oven door open and close, then he appeared in the living room once again carrying two beers. As he offered me another, he sat down next to me and said, “They’ll be ready in about twenty minutes.”
“Do you always cook like this?”
“Not always … maybe a couple of times a week.” He shrugged. “It’s not like I can run by a drive-thru or get delivery all the way up here.”
“This is true. Guess it’s a good thing you’re such a good cook.”
“Don’t think I’d classify myself as a good cook. For all I know, these pizzas will taste like cardboard.”
“I highly doubt that. I’m sure they’ll be great.”
“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
When the timer beeped, Jasper got up and pulled the pizzas out of the oven. He grabbed us both another beer and brought them, along with the pizza and some paper plates into the living room. “You wanna watch a movie or something?”
“Sure.” As I placed a slice on my plate, I smiled and said, “This looks amazing … just like I knew it would.”
“They turned out better than I thought.” Jasper started flipping through the channels and stopped when he got to some crime movie. “But it could still taste like cardboard.”
I took a bite, and it was one of the best I’d ever had. “Nope. Definitely doesn’t taste like cardboard. It’s awesome.”
“Good.” A proud smile crossed his handsome face as he said, “Glad you like it.”
By the time we’d finished off the pizza and beer, we were too stuffed to move. The room had grown dark with only the light of the TV flickering in front of us, and I felt completely content as I laid my head down on his thigh and curled up in a blanket. When the movie ended, neither of us moved. We just watched as the next show started, and it wasn’t long before I dozed off. I had no idea how long I’d been sleeping when I felt myself being lifted off the sofa. Startled, I opened my eyes and found that I was safe and secure in Jasper’s arms. Instinctively, I slipped my arm around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder as he carried me into my bedroom. I loved being this close to him, and when he lowered me down onto the bed, I couldn’t seem to let him go. I wanted him to stay with me, to kiss me like he had before. He started to stand, but I kept my arms around his neck, holding him tight as I whispered, “Jasper.”
His eyes locked on mine with a heated look that sent a chill down my spine. Jasper leaned towards me and I thought he was about to kiss me, but he stopped just inches above my lips. After several seconds, he lowered his mouth to my ear and whispered, “I can’t … You’ve had me going crazy since the moment I laid eyes on you, and if I kiss you right now, I won’t be able to stop.”
“But I don’t want you to stop.”
“You’re not getting what I’m saying here, Madison. I want you too much … so much so that I won’t be able to control myself,” he warned. “I want to touch you, taste you, bury myself inside you … And when I’m done, you’ll blush every time you think about the things I did to you … the way I made you come, the way I made you scream out my name and beg for more.”
His words washed over me like a wave of heated desire, coursing through my veins with a burning need that nearly took my breath away. Every nerve in my body tingled, making it impossible to think. As I lay there staring up at him, breathless and aching for his touch, I finally managed to respond, “I want you too, Jasper.”
“You need to think about this,” he warned. “I’m not a good man. I may have saved your life, but I’ve taken plenty of others. I’ve already told you the things that I’ve done. As much as I’m not proud of it, I’d do it all again if I had to.” He stood up and looked down at me with a fierce expression as he continued, “I’m broken, Madison. I’m not sure if I’ll ever truly be right again. So, listen to me when I say … you need to think this through, because once we start, there’ll be no turning back.”
With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving his sultry words echoing over and over in my mind. They haunted me as I lay there alone in my bed. When I closed my eyes, I could almost feel the heat of his breath prickling against my skin, the rush I felt when he said those words to me, and how eagerly my body longed for him to touch me, even if it was only for a moment. I was completely flustered and desperately wished he’d come back to finish what we’d started, but that didn’t happen. I was stuck there in that bed alone, and as the storm of hunger and need started to fade, I found myself wondering if it was simply lust I was feeling, or if there truly was something more to it.
With an exasperated sigh, I pulled the covers over me and closed my eyes. I tried to
think of all the reasons I shouldn’t act on my feelings for Jasper—he was a hitman with a heartbreaking past, but there was so much more to him than that. As I thought about the time we’d shared together, I had no doubt that he was a good man. He’d proven it time and time again, not only by saving me, but with all the lives he’d saved by putting his own life at risk to kill those awful men. He put others first, sacrificing his own happiness, just like he’d done only a few minutes ago. From the moment we’d met, he showed me nothing but kindness, and I felt safe with him, which only made me want him more. Having no idea what I was doing, I eased out of bed and quietly walked across the hall to his bedroom. With a sense of determination, I inhaled deeply and knocked.
When I heard him coming towards the door, I let out the breath I was holding and tried to prepare myself for what was to come. He opened the door, wearing only a pair of boxer briefs, looking all kinds of sexy with his chiseled abs and defined V. Holy hell, Jasper was hot. It was no wonder my mind went completely blank. A look of concern crossed his face as he asked, “Madison, are you okay? Is something wrong?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to tell you that I thought about it.”
“You did?”
“Um-hmm,” I mumbled. “I did.”
He cocked his head as he asked, “And?”
Unable to form the words, I placed the palms of my hands on his chest and slowly lifted up on my tiptoes, and his eyes locked on mine as I pressed my mouth against his, kissing him softly. I felt his back grow rigid, making me worried that he might resist, but he didn’t. Instead, he slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me in even closer. His hand dove into my hair, and a low, needful groan vibrated through his chest as he delved deeper into my mouth. The kiss quickly became heated, and it was all I could do to keep my footing as my hands clung to his chest. I let my fingers trail along the curves of his ever-so-defined chest and relished in the sensation of having him so close.
Jasper lowered his mouth to my ear and whispered, “You sure about this?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”
With that, he kissed me again, and from the moment his lips touched mine, I knew he was done holding back. Like a man possessed, his hands became rough and impatient as they roamed over my body. Seconds later, I found myself inside his room, pinned against the wall with him towering over me. Every single nerve in my body came alive as he took both my breasts in his hands, caressing each one through the thin fabric of my t-shirt. There was something about his touch that made me feel wanted, so unbelievably desirable.
The warmth of his breath caressed my skin as he spoke in a hushed tone, “I’m going to show you exactly what you do to me.”
My breath quickened as his hand inched its way down my stomach and slipped under the waistband of my lace panties. His fingers continued to drift lower, and my entire body shivered with anticipation as the tips of his fingers slipped between my thighs, slowly inching towards my center. I inhaled a deep, torturous breath and tilted my head back to relish the sensation as he moved his fingers in slow, methodical circles. I was just starting to feel a slight tingling in my abdomen when he stepped away just long enough to grab a condom from his dresser. His eyes burned with hunger as he pulled off his briefs and tossed them to the floor. Jasper was a big man—taller, broader, and much more muscular than your average man—so I shouldn’t have been surprised that the rest of him would be just as big. But I was. In fact, I was completely blown away. My eyes grew wide and a small gasp hissed through my teeth as I stood there staring at Jasper’s deliciously long, thick erection. I watched in awe as he wrapped his hand around his shaft and slowly started stroking himself. His voice was low and raspy as he growled, “You keep looking at me like that, this is gonna be over before it even starts.”
With his eyes locked on mine, he reached for my lace panties and eased them down my legs. Once they were gone, he slipped on the condom, then reached down and lifted me up. He pressed my back against the wall, grazing his cock against my center as I wrapped my legs around his waist. The heat between us was palpable, driving us both to the point of utter madness. Unable to wait a moment longer, Jasper positioned himself at my entrance and thrust every glorious inch deep inside of me. After giving me a minute to adjust, he placed his hands on my hips and started to move, slow and meticulous. Consumed with lust and emotion, I arched my back against the wall and held on to his strong shoulders, rolling my hips against him as he took my breasts in his hands and squeezed them as he trailed kisses along the curve of my neck. I could feel the heat of his breath on my skin as he whispered, “You feel so damn good.”
While still planted deep inside of me, Jasper carried me over to the bed and lowered me onto the mattress. He reached for the hem of my t-shirt and pulled it over my head. His eyes slowly roamed all over my body, and the heat of his stare caused goosebumps to prickle against my skin. Then he lowered his mouth to my shoulder and trailed kisses past my collarbone down to my breasts. Heavy breaths and low moans filled the room as he took my nipple into his mouth. While he continued to nip and suck along the curves of my breast, he moved inside of me with slow, shallow thrusts. It felt incredible to be there in his arms, to have his body so close to mine, but I needed more. Sensing my struggle, he pulled back and plunged into me.
“Yes!” I pleaded as he drove into me again and again, dominating my body in the most primal way. It didn’t take him long to find that spot which made every nerve in my body tingle. I dug my fingers into his back as he continued to drive into me with the relentless rhythm he’d set, and with each shift of his hips, I could feel my climax building, burning through my veins.
“Don’t stop!” I cried as I tightened around him. Knowing I was getting close, he slid his hands underneath me, lifting me higher as he angled his position. His movements suddenly became rough and demanding as he took me deeper and harder, plunging into me again and again. A deep groan resonated through his chest as my orgasm crashed over me, causing my entire body to tense around him. He thrust into me one last time, finally giving in to his own release.
After several moments, he slowly eased off me and tossed the condom in the trash before pulling me over to him. I rested my head on his chest as I listened to the sounds of our ragged breaths echo throughout the room. After several minutes, the room grew silent, and Jasper looked down at me with emotion-filled eyes. “When I brought you here, I thought I was saving you, but it might be you who ends up saving me.”
“Maybe we can save each other.”
“I’d like to think that we can, but it won’t be easy.”
“Nothing worth doing ever is.”
I raised up and kissed him lightly on the cheek, then rested my head back on his chest, closing my eyes as I listened to the soothing sound of his heartbeat. It wasn’t long before we both drifted off to sleep. When I woke up the next morning, I was disappointed to see that I was in the bed alone. I lay there a few minutes, stretching my aching muscles, then got up and searched for my clothes. After I found them, I slipped on my t-shirt and ambled across the hall. When I got to my room, I gathered some clean clothes and took a shower. As I was getting dressed, I could hear Jasper talking to Nanook as they moved about in the living room. I had no idea what he was saying, but the kindness in his voice tugged at my heart.
After I fixed my hair, I went into the living room and found Jasper sitting on the sofa. As soon as he saw me, a tender smile crossed his face. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Morning.” I smiled as I walked with a slight hobble over to him and sat down. I’d barely gotten settled when Nanook came bounding over to me and laid his head in my lap. As I scratched behind his ears, I told him, “And good morning to you too.”
“Coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
Jasper got up and disappeared into the kitchen for a brief moment, then returned carrying my cup of coffee. As he sat it down on the table, he glanced down at Nanook and said, “I think
the old boy’s taken a liking to you.”
“Well, I’ve taken a liking to him too.” I ran my hand over his head. “You’re not so bad for a wolf-dog.”
“Hmm,” Jasper scoffed. “Your ankle seems to be getting better.”
“It is, actually.”
“See … I was right. Staying off of it helped it heal faster.” As he started towards the front door, he said, “I’ll be right back. I’ve gotta make a call.”
Before I had a chance to respond, he opened the door, and he and Nanook headed outside. After several minutes, I got up and walked over to the window, watching as Jasper talked to someone on his cellphone. While I stood there staring at his handsome face, a warmth rushed over me—not the kind of warmth you might feel in the throes of passion, but the kind when you’re with someone who means something to you. There was no doubt that I was attracted to Jasper, I had been from the start. But over the past few days since I’d gotten to know him, I’d seen how kind and compassionate he was, and the attraction I felt for him had grown stronger because of it.
9
Jasper
“Why is knowing where this old painting came from so important to you anyway?” Devin asked.
I could’ve told him about the code. Hell, he probably could’ve figured the damn thing out in a matter of minutes, but I didn’t want to get him involved—not unless I had to. I was still waiting to hear back from Charlie and hoped that he’d be able to give us the lead we needed. “It’s complicated, and I doubt you’d believe me if I told you.”
“Does it involve some chick?”
“Possibly.”
He chuckled as he replied, “Enough said.”
“So, what did you find out?”
“Well, that estate sale was for a man named Bill Clement. He died in 2015, and the family sold off everything … the house, the furniture, and everything else the guy owned. Gail Taleborne, one of the owners from Endless Arts, purchased the piece and put it in her gallery where it has been sitting … until last week when it was sold to a man named Richard Cummings.”