Chapter 29

JASPER

W hen we arrived at the restaurant Harper looked around, surveying her surroundings. Trying not to let my nerves get the best of me, I walked and opened the car door for her. I held out my hand, and to my surprise, she took it without a second thought. I didn't let the gesture go to waste; I laced my fingers in hers as we walked up the walkway into the building.

The moment we walked in and saw the hostess, she greeted us. She was a young blonde woman wearing all black.

"Hello, Mr. Whitlock." She smiled and gave a small nod to Harper.

"Your table is ready. Would you follow me please?" I couldn't recall the young girl's name, but I knew she had seated Max and me, the few times we've hosted business meetings here. Max, of course, always flirted with her, causing her to become all flustered.

She guided us through the busy part of the dining room. I felt Harper tense when we approached a large party of nearly drunk businessmen. I pulled her to my side, and I leaned in whispering,

"Don't worry, Doll, we have a private area reserved, we will be alone, away from the crowd."

Her shoulders fell as she relaxed at the idea.

She felt instantly at ease with the idea of being alone with me. I knew it wasn't the time, nor would it be any time soon, if at all, but the thought of being alone with her in a dimly lit room made my cock twitch.

Stop it you fucknut; this is just dinner.

Unfortunately, my cock hadn't gotten that memo.

As we neared the booth, I stepped aside, gesturing for Harper to go ahead of me. This allowed her to slide in first, positioning her back against the wall, and gave her a clear view of her surroundings.

No, will she feel trapped by my sitting on the end? Should I have let her decide where to sit?

I glanced up from wrestling myself over the seating arrangements to see Harper staring at me.

"You going to sit down?" she asked, with her eyebrows raised, I cleared my throat to shake off the embarrassment from my hesitation and slid in beside her.

Damn it! Why am I all over the place? This girl is fucking with my head and hell if I care.

On the table was the chilled Dom Perignon I requested when I made the reservation. I grabbed the flutes and poured each of us a generous amount. Harper kept an eye on me, her expression giving nothing away.

I handed her one of the flutes and held on to one for myself. Harper accepted it and then gave me a gentle smile.

"Do you like champagne?"

She looked down at her lap and shook her head. I frowned and started to take the glass from her, but she looked up at me before I could.

"I mean, I've never had it. I've always just drank the cheap wine from the grocery store down the street from my apartment, and I don't particularly drink in public. Personal reasons, I guess…" Her voice trailed off, saying the last part almost in a whisper.

Oh, that makes sense, the night in the lounge she only had soda. Smart girl.

I shook my head and placed my flute back on the table.

"You go ahead and try it. I'll skip the alcohol tonight if it makes you feel more comfortable, do you trust me?" I asked, then leaned over to brush my fingers over her cheek. She recoiled, only slightly, but enough for me to notice .

Fuck! Too much. Reel it in Jasper.

After a long pause, she gazed into my eyes and nodded her head,

"Yes." She said it, with so much confidence. I never knew one word could cause so much chaos inside of my black heart, but she did, and it was fucking beautiful chaos.

After a few glances from me to the glass in her hand and a deep breath she nodded and sipped her first taste of champagne. Her eyes lit up as the liquid hit her taste buds. She pulled her glass away from her mouth as her tongue darted out to lick the remnants of the champagne from her perfectly plump lips. It took all of my restraint not to passionately replace her tongue with my own, and take her mouth right there in the booth. The way my tongue would explore hers had me inching closer to her. I had to stop myself.

"Oh my God, that's so good." She said, in shock at her newfound taste for expensive champagne. "I could get into trouble with this stuff," she said with a chuckle. She lifted the glass back to her lips. She seemed to be so comfortable and at ease.

"Well, Doll, I'm here to keep you from doing anything too embarrassing," I smirked, with a wink. She looked at me with humor in her eyes, giggling.

"Oh great, I'm not sure if that's a good thing, you might be the trouble." I laughed at her comment. If she only knew my salacious thoughts and daydreams I had kept to myself for the last five days, well, let's just say, it's a good thing she wasn't a mind reader.

"You aren't wrong for thinking that, however, I promise I'll be on my best behavior tonight." I held two fingers over my chest, "Scout's honor."

Something flashed in her eyes that lasted only a moment. Then, she smiled, the biggest smile I have ever seen her wear, a smile so bright it could have lit up the entire room, and it was fucking gorgeous. I wanted to possess her lips and swallow her tongue right then, but I knew that wasn't the way I would get Harper to respond. I had to be patient and let her come to me. I did not doubt that she would eventually, but the wait was going to fucking kill me. Every second I'm with her makes my itch to be closer to her more unbearable.

I've never felt about anyone, the way I do about Harper. Somehow, over the last few weeks since we first met, my soul just knew it belonged to her. I've never been the type to believe in soul mates, destiny or fate, or any other bullshit like that; there is genuinely no other way to explain this otherworldly gravitational pull she has on my heart.

I've never been able to tolerate a woman's company for too long and usually, there's a goal when I spend any prolonged amount of time with anyone. In the time I have spent enjoying Harper, though it's so vastly different. I could never grow tired of her laugh, her smile, the shade of pink that flushes her cheeks when she gets embarrassed.

Little sparks of firecracker have slipped through her guarded demeanor, giving me a tiny glimpse of who she really is beneath her fortified emotional walls.

I didn't know what was happening, but I knew one thing, without a shadow of a doubt: I would do anything for her. The fact that she has so much pain in her heart makes me want to find whoever hurt her in the past and make them suffer tenfold.

My thoughts were interrupted by the server approaching our first courses. When I made the reservation, I ordered our food ahead to simplify and control our environment and minimize interactions with anyone other than each other.

"Here we are, Beef tartare, served with Homemade Brioche Toast Points and Local Heirloom Tomato Salad." The server placed a plate in front of Harper then myself, proper etiquette as ladies first.

"Thanks," Harper said, gazing at the feast in front of her. Our server quickly left us alone, following my clear instructions not to disturb us unless necessary. The fewer distractions Harper has to make her feel overwhelmed the better. Protecting her felt like second nature to me.

I checked over my plate and then reached over for my silverware. I glanced at Harper, who remained motionless, her plate untouched in front of her. She met my gaze with an apologetic smile.

"I'm so sorry, but I don't think I can eat that," she said with a look of disgust hidden behind her soft smile and squinted eyes. I struggled to keep from laughing at her attempts to conceal her true opinion; truthfully, I wasn't sure what I ordered. When I spoke with the owner, he recommended this dish, claiming it was one of the chef's specialties.

"It looks like raw hamburger meat," she said picking up her fork to move it around her plate. "I don't want to seem ungrateful, and normally I'd at least try it, but I just can't, Jasper," she whispered, only loud enough for me to hear it. Her face flushed a deeper red than was already flushed across her face, I assumed from the champagne.

"I'm not sure what I'm even looking at, Doll. Why don't we switch it out?" I asked, hoping my bad meal choice wouldn't ruin the night. "Maybe some cheeseburgers and fries?"

"God, yes that sounds amazing," she said with excitement.

I couldn't help but laugh at her expression of relief. I looked up, making eye contact with our server from across the room, signaling her to come over.

"Yes, sir?"

"Would you take these plates back and have the chef fix us up some cheeseburgers and fries?" I handed both plates to the server and gave her a nod.

"Yes sir, was there anything wrong with the tartare?" She asked curiously.

"No. Not at all and I'm happy to pay for them, we'd prefer a different style tonight."

She nodded an acknowledgment and hurried off.

I saw Harper's glass was almost empty. I leaned over to refill it, and as my hand grazed over hers, I felt a shocking zap. Her reaction to the connection told me she noticed it too. Her eyes met mine, and for an instant, I thought maybe she would take the lead and lean into the obvious need, instead, she turned her head to the approaching server who had two new plates in her hands full of fresh thick-cut french fries next to two massive cheeseburgers with all the fixings, nestled between two buttery buns.

Damn, these fuckers are fast.

Harper's eyes said it all. This was more her speed, and I was happy to oblige, even if it meant pissing off the chef by sending back eighty-dollar entrees untouched.

Two empty plates, and five glasses of champagne later, I was easing out of the booth to allow Harper up to use the restroom. She seemed fine until she stood up and immediately swayed back against me. I grabbed her by the waist to steady her.

"Easy, Doll, I should have warned you. The champagne is stronger than the wine you're accustomed to—it goes right to the head." I started to lead her towards the restroom refusing to let go of her waist.

"I'm okay now. I can walk." She insisted, but I wasn't convinced. I walked her right up to the door where I leaned against the wall and waited for her.

After we settled our bill and shook hands with the owner, I walked Harper to the car. She was quiet as she leaned into my side wearing my jacket over her shoulders. I opened the passenger door and helped her in.

I wanted to be close to her…as fucking close as she would allow me to be, to feel her near to me, safe in my arms.

On the drive home, she still hadn't said much.

"I hope you enjoyed yourself tonight, Harper." I glanced to see her staring at me.

"I did. So much. I probably shouldn't have drunk though." She giggled and leaned back in her seat. Her cheeks remained flushed that lovely shade of pink that beckoned me, enticing my aching need to embrace her naked body into mine.

"It's not safe to get drunk in plublic…plublic …" she giggled again and swiped her hand through the air. "You know what I mean." She finished letting out a full-on laugh.

I liked seeing her let loose and enjoying herself. I probably should have stopped her after three glasses, but I didn't think it would affect her so much. Besides, she deserved to unwind. I won't let anything happen to her, she's safe with me.

"You are really hot. Did you know that?" She slurred her words as they rolled off of her tongue. So. Damn. Cute.

"Oh yeah? I appreciate that." I said entertaining her.

"Yeah, yeah, but you already knew that. You are a smart man, you have mirrors too," she slurred her words. "Plus, every girl seems to fall all over themselves when you are around," she said with an eye roll, her head back against the seat. I didn't stop her, I wanted to see where this conversation was going.

"But not me though, I'm too broken to care about things like that. I can't let my guard down, not ever. I can't go through that again," she said exasperated. I frowned at her statement, knowing she was speaking the truth. I hated that she saw herself as broken; she's not broken, she's the strongest woman I've ever met.

She's not broken.

I wanted to see if she would tell me what happened to her, but it felt wrong to push when she wasn't in the right mental state to guard herself if she needed to emotionally. I wanted her to share that part of her life with me because she wanted to because she felt she trusted me. Not because she was drunk.

* * *

Walking into the elevator with Harper, I held her by the waist, keeping her from falling on her face.

She was vulnerable, unguarded, and abso-fucking-lutley gorgeous.

Her skin flushed, her dark curls fallen, framing her rosy cheeks. Her drunken eyes were glossy, making the emerald color more vibrant. I looked down and noticed her low-cut neckline had slipped out of place, exposing her breasts and slipping dangerously towards her perky nipples that were easily seen under the thin layer of silk covering her bare curves.

I couldn't stop my eyes from wandering. I reached up and pulled the jacket covering her up.

The elevator doors slid open, and Harper turned and wrapped her hand around my tie looking up at me from under her lashes.

"Thank you for tonight, Mr. Whitlock," she said seductively with a grin. I reached up and pushed the hair from her face, grazing my knuckles down her cheek. She closed her eyes and sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. My body immediately started to react.

Before I could respond, she grabbed my hand, walked through the foyer, and turned down the hall pulling me behind her. I thought she was leading me towards the room she had been using but she passed the door and continued towards my room. My palms started to sweat.

She stopped in front of the door and turned back to me, giving me the ‘ fuck me eyes. '

She spun back around and placed her hand on the doorknob.

Time stopped, as I watched her walk towards the bed. She let go of my hand and turned slowly while biting her bottom lip. She looked into my eyes as if she could see straight into my soul, making me feel like I was completely at her mercy.

She reached up with her left hand and raised it to her right shoulder, bunching up the fabric to push it down, which would reveal her naked body to me.

Fuck me, if I didn't want to see that goddess undressed and at my disposal…But not like this.

I stepped towards her quickly and grabbed the duvet from the bed behind her and covered her body with it, as her dress slipped down toward her feet.

She attempted to stop me from covering her as she pouted her lip and lowered her head.

"You don't want me?"

Yes. Yes, I do more than anything. I want to rip that dress from your sexy body, bend you over my bed, and make love to you until your voice is hoarse from screaming my name.

I wrapped my arms around her cocooned form and leaned in, whispering:

"Baby, I need you more than you know. But I won't take you in this state. I want you sober when I make love to you."

Her breath hitched, and I took a step forward until her body was flushed with mine, then I wrapped my arms around her waist and guided her back towards the bed. She sat down and looked up at me.

I put one knee on the mattress beside her hip and leaned in forcing her to lay back, I moved forward a little bit more. I raised my other knee to straddle her covered body. I hovered over her lips, so close I could taste her breath. I wanted to kiss those perfect lips of hers. I tilted my head, pressed my lips to her forehead, and kissed it gently.

Her eyes closed .