“Fuck you,” I mumble as he slowly starts to drive again. “I’m not their fucking pool boy.”
“Dude, being the pool boy would be dope.” Rush eases the car to a stop by the front door and throws it in park. “The pool boy always gets to fuck the wife.”
“Life isn’t a porno.” I chuckle as I climb out of the car. Rush pops the trunk and walks around to the back.
“Speak for yourself.” He shakes his head, grabbing one of my bags. “With all the pussy that keeps falling in my lap, my life is a porno.”
“Nah,” I counter. “Your life is a venereal disease waiting to happen.”
Rush laughs as he walks past me with my bags and I grab the last ones. Following him to the front door, we both drop them onto the ground. Grabbing the doorknob, I jiggle it as I try to turn the knob, but it’s locked.
“Want me to pick the lock?” Rush whispers with a wicked grin almost reaching his eyes. Movement behind him catches my eye and I look past him, seeing Jaslyn climbing out of the pool.
Rush narrows his eyes at me and slowly turns around, following my gaze. We have a perfect view of Jaslyn with her bright red bikini hugging her curves as she bends over. She runs her hands through her hair, shaking out the excess water before standing back up. In one swift movement, she whips her head back, letting her long, black hair fall just above her ass as she arches her back.
My cock twitches in my pants and Rush glances at me, eyes wide with his eyebrows raised.
“Duuuude.” He drags the word out in a hushed voice. “You didn’t tell me he has a hot wife.”
“She’s not his wife,” I growl as my fingers curl in and I clench my fists. “They’re engaged, not married.”
Rush throws his hand out dismissively. “Whatever,” he huffs as he rolls his eyes. “The pool boy always gets to fuck the hot wife.”
I cut my eyes at him, feeling the unwarranted anger building. “I told you, she’s not his fucking wife.”
Shaking his head, he walks back to his car. “Fiancée, wife, same difference.” Rush chuckles as he pulls open the door. His lips curl upward into a wicked grin and he winks one of his gleaming eyes at me. “Welcome to your porno, bro.”
Rush slips into his car without another word and quickly pulls away, leaving me by myself with my hands in the air. I let my arms fall to my sides and spin on my heel, not knowing what the fuck I’m supposed to do now.
As I turn around, I catch her eye as she watches me from the pool area. Her brown eyes narrow as they zero in on mine. She stares for a moment, assessing me, before she spins around and jogs away.
The splash of water isn’t loud, but it fills my ears as I picture the way the red bathing suit clings to her wet body as she dives into the pool. A warmth fills my body as my dick grows harder and I’m ready to tear her bikini off.
What the fuck am I doing?
Swallowing hard, I push the thoughts to the back of my mind as I adjust my junk in my basketball shorts. Dragging my hands over my face, I take a deep breath and try to not act like a little fucking schoolboy.
Looking around, I see that I’m still here alone with my bags scattered by the door and Jaslyn, practically naked, in the pool. I can’t get into the apartment and there’s nothing else I can do. My eyes wander back to the fence, but I can’t see Jaslyn from where I’m standing.
I readjust my shorts again and take a deep breath before abandoning my spot by the front door. My feet carry me to the gate by the pool and I slip inside to look temptation in the eye.
She’s engaged to the man who is now my boss, but that doesn’t mean I can’t talk to her to pass the time. It doesn’t mean that I can’t look… it just means that I can’t touch.
Chapter Eight
Jaslyn
I HAD BEEN so caught up in what happened last night that I forgot about him.
Axel.
He happened last night. I was blindsided when he first showed up here about a job with Jasper and then again last night when I watched him beat another man.
I told him he was making a mistake by coming here, by working for Jasper and yet here he is. Swimming into the deep end, I begin to lightly tread water as my feet no longer touch the bottom. With my head just barely above the surface, I watch the foolish man let himself into the gated area.
His eyes are on mine as he softly pushes the gate closed behind him. I float wordlessly in the cool water as he edges closer to the pool and he watches me as I watch him suspiciously.
Stopping short, Axel turns away from me and drops down onto one of the lounge chairs. His black t-shirt rides up his toned stomach as he leans back and his short sleeves cling to his solid biceps as he puts his hands behind his head. I can feel the heat creep up my neck and into my face as the water doesn’t feel as cool anymore.
A ghost of a smile plays on his lips as he watches how my body betrays me and shamelessly reacts to the mere sight of him. He’s a temporary fixture here and it’s only a matter of time before Jasper grows tired of his new toy.
That doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy the view for now.
I cut my eyes at him in an effort to mask his effect on me. I can’t let it show or we’ll both be in danger.
“If you’re looking for Jasper, he isn’t home yet.” My tone is clipped and distant. He is the last thing that I need thrown into my complicated life.
Axel cocks his head slightly and his brow furrows as he purses his lips. “What if I’m not looking for him?”
My breath gets caught in my throat and my eyes widen involuntarily as my heart pounds in my chest.
What the hell?
Swallowing hard, I quickly narrow my eyes at him as I struggle to tame my heart that beats wildly against my rib cage. “Then you are dumber than I thought you were.”
His body falls still as he gives me a hardened look after a wave of shock passes through his eyes. “Excuse me?”
“You don’t belong here.” I frown. “I told you that you were making a mistake by accepting his offer and yet, here you are.”
Axel narrows his eyes at me as he crosses his arms over his chest. “You think I don’t know that I don’t belong here?” He scoffs. “I don’t want to be here any more than you want me to be.”
Shaking my head, I ignore the bait that he throws at me. I’m not going down that road with some stranger that happens to make my heart race.
“You lied to me.”
Turning my back on him, I wade into the shallow end and slowly walk up, leaving the water.
“What the hell are you talking about?” he demands, sitting upright as I walk to the chair beside him.
Grabbing my towel, I wrap it tightly around my body and wring the water from my hair. “What happened to the job with my company that you came to see Jasper about?”
Axel’s expression falls and the color drains from his face as he rises to his feet. “I didn’t want you to know the truth about me.”
“Why would that even matter to you?” I breathe the question before I can catch myself. “You don’t even know me.”
“I can’t explain it,” he says quietly as his eyes search mine as he stares down at me. “It might not make sense to you, but I want to know you.”
A frown falls upon my lips as he lets reality steal the wind from my sails. Taking a deep breath, I give him a small smile. “That can never happen.”
“What are you afraid of, Jaslyn?” Axel challenges, inching closer to me.
Everything.
“Nothing,” I retort, jerking my chin and standing up straighter. I know that he can see the bruises on my face and arms, but I won’t let him shake me.
Nodding slowly, his expression is unreadable. “Sure,” he says, seeing right through my crumbling strength. “I’m guessing that ‘nothing’ gave you those bruises too, right?”
Anger builds inside, but I mask it as I stare back at him indifferently. He’s out of line and I don’t owe him a damn thing.
“What do you want, Axel?”
Axel stares back at
me for a moment, his eyes a mix of emotions as he assesses me. Finally, he lets out a sigh of defeat, shaking his head. “I don’t have a key to get into the pool house.”
Stifling a harsh laugh, my face remains impassive and I bite my tongue. There’s so much I’m holding back from him. I want to put him in his place and get him to back off, but at the same time, I want to tell him the truth. I want to spill all my secrets and let him help me clean up the mess.
Neither of those are an option, so with a curt nod, I clutch my towel tighter and walk through the yard and into the house. Axel isn’t far behind and he follows me through the door and into the kitchen. His presence fills the room and I can sense him all around me. Ignoring the effect that he has on me and the magnetic pull between the two of us, I keep my back to him as I sift through one of the drawers in the kitchen.
Jasper has a key for everything and each one is labeled accordingly. It doesn’t take long to find the key for the pool house. In a rush, I grab it from the drawer and spin on my heel to face Axel.
“Here,” I say, shoving the key against his chest. I’ve seen him shirtless before, but I have yet to actually feel him; to feel the tautness of his body. My hand lingers longer than it should, and I can feel his heart as it pounds rapidly against his rib cage.
Shit.
Dropping my hand as if it’s on fire, I quickly take a step back, moving further away from him. His expression is unreadable as he stares at me for a moment before glancing down at the key in his hand.
Eyeing him warily, I look past him to the back door. “I’ll let Jasper know that you’re here.” My voice is quiet, but the harsh undertone is evident as I dismiss him in a rush.
Clutching the key in his hand, Axel’s knuckles pale in color as he clenches his jaw. Narrowing his eyes, his lips part slightly, but he stalls and slams them shut without uttering a single word. He questions me with his eyes, but he doesn’t fish for answers that we both know I can’t give him.
With a curt nod, Axel turns on his heel and shows himself out. Standing in place, I fight against the urge to go after him, to take the key from him and tell him that it’s not too late.
He doesn’t have to be here; he can leave now and never look back.
Axel can do the one thing that I’m afraid I might never be able to do.
Chapter Nine
Axel
Well, that didn’t go as expected.
Actually… I don’t know how I expected that to go, but I didn’t anticipate walking into Jaslyn’s solid shield like a blind man without his cane.
The attraction between us was obvious and I know that she felt it vibrating in the air as strongly as I did. Her reaction to me gave her away and her body spoke the words that she held in and swallowed like a bitter pill.
A need inside me demands to know her and my body craves her like a starving man. None of that is possible and Jaslyn made it clear. My mind is my moral compass and the logical part that keeps me in check. I know that I can’t have her but fuck me if I don’t want her.
Jasper’s hold on her is like a vise grip and Jaslyn doesn’t know how to break free. She’s afraid of him and it shows through her façade of perfection.
I’ve seen how Jasper treats her, but that wasn’t behind closed doors.
I’ve seen the bruises peppered across her tanned skin and circling her eyes.
She’s not afraid of what he’s capable of… she’s afraid of how much longer she has before he takes it too far.
Jasper is a dangerous man, but I’m fucking lethal. He doesn’t know the breed of monster that he welcomed into his home. After the life I’ve lived, I refuse to simply sit back and watch Jaslyn be his human punching bag. There’s nothing more deadly than a man seeking retribution and I don’t need any more proof to be out for blood.
I know how the game is played and my solid poker face gives me an advantage over Jasper. All I need is a little time and a concrete plan before I can make a move. I can’t anticipate any of his actions because he’s an unpredictable psychopath. He acts without calculating his moves and if I’m going to get Jaslyn away from him, I need to be prepared for anything from him.
Things aren’t always as they seem, and Jasper will soon see that his future is simply a mirage.
♦♦♦
After my strange encounter with Jaslyn, I lie low for the rest of the morning and don’t bother leaving the pool house. My bags are scattered on the bedroom floor and left untouched as I sink into the expensive, plush leather couch.
I settle on a random show on ESPN after mindlessly flipping through the channels on the TV. Blocking out my thoughts of Jaslyn, my eyelids eventually grow heavy as I zone out. It isn’t long before my eyes fall shut and long black hair and deep brown eyes dance in my dreams.
Sleep leaves me as quickly as it found me as I’m jolted awake by a loud pounding sound coming from the door. Jumping up from the couch, I’m on my feet within the blink of an eye, ready for whatever is on the other side of the door. Being on guard is in my nature and where I’m from, you never know who or what may be coming for you.
Glancing at the doorknob, I notice it’s unlocked as it begins to turn. Locking the door was an instinct that slipped my preoccupied mind after seeing her again.
In one fluid motion, the door is shoved open and Jasper strolls in like he owns the place.
He does own the place… and he owns me now too.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I stand firm and stare at him as he stops by the couch.
“Jaslyn let me know you were here.” His face is impassive, but the annoyance in his tone is blatant. “Did she give you any trouble?”
Clenching my jaw, I narrow my eyes at him and shake my head. “She gave me the key so I could get in.”
“If she’s ever a problem, you let me know and I’ll take care of it,” he assures me. A smile creeps onto his lips and he shakes his head slightly. “Occasionally she steps out of line and needs a friendly reminder of her place.”
Biting my tongue, I taste the blood and my teeth cut in as I fight to hold back my rage. A friendly reminder from Jasper equals bruised and broken bones. He’s the one who needs the reminder and I’m not as friendly as he is.
“You don’t need to worry about her,” I grind out.
Jasper narrows his eyes at me, slowly raking his gaze over me. “Do I need to worry about you?”
Yes.
“No,” I answer firmly, without any hesitation. The last thing I need is for him to be on to me already. I’ve barely been here for a day and he’s already eyeing me with suspicion. “I don’t mix business with pleasure.”
“Ah.” Jasper nods slowly as he continues to stare at me. “But she isn’t your employer.”
A harsh laugh escapes my lips before my mind has the chance to stop it. “Do you think I’m that stupid?”
Because I am…
“I don’t shit where I eat.”
An uncomfortable moment passes under his scrutinizing gaze before he visibly relaxes. “Good.” He smiles. “I’d hate to have you terminated.”
With a strained smile, I give him a curt nod at his cryptic threat.
“Dinner’s being prepared now, so I’ll show you around before we eat.”
Turning back to the door, Jasper strides out the exact way he came in except this time I’m following behind him. I walked into this knowing damn well that it was a mistake, but I could still walk away. I might walk away with a target on my back, but at least I have a way out.
If only it were that simple, but it’s already too late. I’m in too far and I can’t leave knowing that Jaslyn’s life is constantly in jeopardy.
I’ll never be safe here and I’m willing to gamble my life to save a girl that I’ll never be able to know.
♦♦♦
Jasper shows me around the property that is beginning to look more like a fucking compound. Everything’s secure and locked up tight within his fortress. There’s too much space outside, but it’s an illusion of unatt
ainable freedom.
He leads me through their palace, stopping only to show me the gym that I have access to. Everything that I need to train and stay in shape is kept in there and available for me to use
We pass by the theater room and the other closed doors, as they’re obsolete to me. Everything that I need is in my new apartment or in the gym. The only other area that I’m free to use is the kitchen and the dining area. I prefer making my own food, but Jasper insists that I eat the meals prepared by their housekeeper.
As we walk to the kitchen, Jaslyn’s laughter fills the air as it floats down the hall. Jasper’s stride lengthens at the sound of her voice and he stomps down the hallway angrily. Oblivious to me, he doesn’t notice as I fall in line behind him.
Jasper doesn’t stop moving as he marches into the room and halts in the middle of the industrial style kitchen and crosses his arms. My eyes follow his and I stop in the doorway as they land on Jaslyn.
She tips her head back with laughter as she helps a small Hispanic woman over the stove. Neither of the women notice us as we watch them, and I can’t tear my eyes away from her.
Her hair is pulled back in a high ponytail and the ends rest in the middle of her bare back. Her tanned skin glows in contrast against the light green dress that hugs her curves, falling just above her knees.
I drink her in from afar as Jasper glares at her with her carefree demeanor. It’s a side of her that she keeps locked away from him. And because of him, she’ll keep it hidden from me too.
Jasper clears his throat loudly and Jaslyn jumps as their housekeeper’s body falls still. Jaslyn quickly straightens her dress and turns around to face him. He stares at her with a cold glare and ignores me as I walk into the room. Jaslyn’s eyes are wide and fearful as she gives me a fleeting glance.
“What are you doing in here, Jaslyn?” Jasper demands as he stares down at her.
Jaslyn swallows and tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I came down to see if Nina needed any help,” she answers quietly.
Mirage: Veiled Love Duet: Book One Page 5