Page 56 of Third Time’s a Charm

“I want it all, Jasper. I want a successful career. I want to be respected. Seen as a professional.” His face falls a little as I speak. I take a deep breath and leap. “And I want you.”

Chapter Thirty

Jasper

It takes me a moment to register what Louise has said.

“Are you sure?” I hold my breath, waiting.

“Yes.” She nods. “I don’t know how it’ll work, but I trust you. Trust us. To work it out.”

I tamp down the twinge of guilt her words cause. Because she can trust me. Whatever happens, I’ll move heaven and earth to make sure Louise comes out of this shitshow unscathed.

We gaze at each other for a long time, both of us grinning like loons. Then we move as one. Her hands are in my hair, tugging my mouth towards hers. My hands are on her arse, bringing her flush against the erection that needed very little encouragement to appear.

We release each other and step back for a moment, frantically pulling off our clothes, toeing off our shoes. I snatch a thick faux-fur rug off the sofa and throw it on the floor in front of the fireplace. When I turn back to Louise, she’s naked, skin bathed in the golden light of the fire, hair aflame.

“Jesus.” I run a trembling finger along her jaw, down her neck, across her collarbone. “You’re gorgeous.” It’s a reverent whisper.

Between the memory lapses of last night, and the frantic tearing at each other this morning, I haven’t been able to take in the beauty of her body at my leisure. But that’s about to change. We’re going to take our time.

Full, creamy breasts topped with rosy nipples sit above a narrow waist and curved hips. There’s a small strip of red-gold hair at the juncture of her long, slender legs. She’s feminine and lush. All cream and pink and gold.

My cock is swaying between us, begging for attention, precum gathering on the crown and rolling slowly down its length. Until I realise the flaw in our plan.

“We don’t have a condom,” I whisper, a world of disappointment in my voice.

Louise hesitates before answering. “It’s okay. I’m on birth control. And I haven’t been with anyone …” Her words taper off.

“I’ve never had sex without a condom.” The fact that my first time will be with her feels momentous.

With a delighted smile, she reaches out and runs a gentle hand down my arm until her fingers interlace with mine.

“Just say the word if you change your mind.” Christ, I hope she doesn’t. I tug her towards me till we’re almost touching. Till the heat from our bodies is merging.

“I won’t.” She tilts her hips. The smooth flesh of her belly brushes my erection.

“Fuck,” I hiss, sensation shooting through me, hot and sharp.

Every second that ticks by ratchets up the tension in my mind and body. I want to fall on her. Slam into her. Race to release.

But I want to take my time even more. To savour her. To learn her.

The contradiction is exquisite.

I take her hands, guiding her down. Once she’s on her back, spread out like a Renaissance painting on the silvery grey fur, I slide a pillow under her hips and part her legs. She makes no move to hide herself. Or to reach for me. With a deep sigh, she raises her arms to clasp her hands above her head and tips her head back, pushing her breasts up towards me, spread out and open to my eyes and my hands and my mouth as I hover over her body.

I drop my lips to one nipple, rolling my tongue around the tight peak, while my fingers squeeze the other. One hand snakes downwards, ghosting over the delicate skin of her ribcage, her belly, her hips, until my fingers reach the top of her cleft, already slick and sticky with arousal.

My fingers slide through the swollen pink flesh, spreading moisture, drawing more. I slip a finger into her entrance while my thumb finds her clit. Every muscle is quivering, from the tips of her breasts to the ends of her toes.

“Jasper, I need …” she gasps.

I know what she thinks she needs. She thinks she needs to come. But she’s wrong.

“Not yet, you don’t. This time we’re going to take our time.” I mutter around the hard bud of her nipple.

The muscles in her legs stiffen. I know she’s close, so I back off. Slide my fingers out of her heat and up her side, trailing damp as I go.