As
they danced, Jasper rubbed slowly up and down Hana's spine with his
strong, calloused hands. Despite their strength, they held her with a
gentleness she had never experienced. Tiny thrills followed his
fingers as they traveled along her back.
With
a subtle shift of his body, Jasper raised her head, exposing her
throat. His lips brushed her skin, lingering on the curve of her
shoulder. His hot breath tickled, his lips not quite touching her.
His nose touched her earlobe, making her shiver and pull him closer.
Sighing, she tilted her head slightly, giving him full access to her
throat.
Agonizingly
slowly, he pressed his lips against her neck, gradually rising until
he graced her jaw with his lips. The dip below her left ear invited
him to kiss and nibble—which he did. His teeth caught her earlobe,
tugging slightly. His tongue flickered against her, followed by his
teeth rasping against her throat. Hana shivered, her knees going
weak.
Her
mouth hungered for his. Taking his face in her hands, she turned
slightly, so their noses wouldn't collide. He kissed her lingeringly,
deeply, sending thrills down her spine. His lips parted and his
tongue flickered against hers. She opened her mouth to his.
His
kiss was deep, lingering, fulfilling. She couldn't put names to the
feelings and emotions he woke in her with that kiss. She never wanted
it to stop. She wanted his hands touching her everywhere, his body
next to hers. She returned his kiss almost fiercely. Jasper pulled
away slightly, gazing into her eyes. He looked slightly embarrassed
by her ferocity. A question flickered across his face, unspoken.
Instead, he led her slowly off the dance floor and out to the patio
around the pool.
The
door closed behind them as he led her to the far side. They took
seats in the gazebo that overlooked the hot tub. Jasper bit his lower
lip.
"Hana,"
he began, hardly knowing how to proceed. "I like you, a lot.
I've heard your aunt talk about you all these years, seen your
picture and watched you grow up. I feel like I've known you my whole
life. I know that you don't have that same advantage. But—" He
paused again, turning away from her, head bowed. "I don't want
you to think that this is something I do all the time. I don't want
to trash a potential relationship. So please don't take this wrong—"
"Whenever
a sentence starts like that, I know something awful is going to
follow. I think I know what you are going to say. You don't want me
to think this is just a vacation fling. Take the new girl to the barn
for a roll in the hay, fresh meat! Am I close?"
He
chuckled. "You are so like your Aunt Enid, it's almost spooky.
That's exactly what I was thinking. You are very special to your aunt
and that makes you special to me. She doesn't love lightly, yet she
loves you above everyone else in her family. That puts you in a very
unique category."
"As
long as it's not a category that means you'll never touch me again,"
she blurted. "I don't want to be the statue worshiped from afar.
If you like me, then do something about it. Don't make me wait the
way Marnie's waited for Jeff all these years. Just tell me."
His
work hardened hands held her soft ones. "You make things
complicated," he told her. "I've carried a torch for years.
Now that I've met you, my heart is so incredibly full, I can't even
express it. To say I love you, that's ridiculous, we just met. But
when I saw you on the fence today, I felt a piece click into my heart
that I didn't even know was missing. I look at you and I can't think
straight. I touch you and all I want to do is keep on touching you.
I. . .I can't trust myself when I'm around you, but I don't want to
be away from you either. Am I making any sense?"
"No,"
she replied softly, "and yes." Without another word, she
touched his cheek, leaning toward him.
Hana's
lips brushed his. For a moment, she felt a spark between them. Like
static electricity, it jumped from lip to lip. Instead of breaking
their embrace, she pressed her lips more firmly against his, holding
him in an unyielding embrace. Her kiss was long, forceful and
penetrating, and she held him to her for at least two minutes before
she released him. His eyes opened slowly. His gaze met hers,
questioning.
"If
that didn't answer your questions and set your mind at ease, then I
don't know what to do or say."
Jasper
didn't reply in words. He took her in his arms and kissed her. Hana
lost track of time, she didn't care how late it was, all she wanted
to do was stay in Jasper's arms and kiss him.
©
2017 Dellani Oakes
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