25. Jasper

Iwake up with a start the next morning, expecting Reece to be in my bed as my thoughts were filled with him last night to the point I could've sworn he was right next to me, sucking my dick. My boxers are dry but crusty from coming in them, and I've yanked them down at some point during the night as my sheets are also covered in come. I know what that means and it worries me that behaviour–my condition–has caused a night of restlessness that ends in a dirty bed.

Getting up, I kick the crusty boxers aside and grab a clean pair out of my drawers as well as some denim shorts and a black t-shirt. Tugging them on I wince from the pain in my side. It's still stinging from the cut. Thankfully it's not bleeding anymore.

Before heading out the door,I pull on my sneakers and grab my car keys. I need to see Reece–to tell him about my depraved dreams of him–and how the very thought of him gets me hard.

There's only one place I can think he'd be. The pub in Montserrat territory that he took me to. I'm petrified driving there as I hear gunshots in the street and see people behaving indecently in broad daylight as though that's not illegal. This side of Vemore is a world away.

I slide my Aston Martin into a car park right outside the pub, and getting out I press the lock button repeatedly to ensure it's locked before I pocket my keys and head inside.

Glancing around the pub, it doesn't take long to know that Reece is not at the pub. I feel deflated, and upset. I'm about to turn on my heels and leave when I hear my name being called out from across the room, "Jasper!"

It's Malyk, and he sidles up next to me, hip bumping me.

"Oh...ah, hi Malyk," I stammer.

"Hello to you, Jasper. You here for Reece?"

"Ah yeah…is he here?"

"Nah, he"s gone out on a job," Malyk informs me and again I turn away towards the door to leave.

Malyk stops me, gripping my arm and yanking me back towards him so our bodies collide.

"You don't have to leave, sexy."

"I…um…I…Reece," I stammer, completely lost for words. I don"t like this. Don't like the feeling of Malyk's hand on my bare arm, his body against mine. My body doesn't react to him, at all.

I wrench myself from the grip he has on my arm, taking a step back as I request, "Please leave me be, Malyk. I"m not attracted to you. You know what Reece will do if he sees us this close"

Malyk chuckles, annoyingly. "But you"re attracted to Ree?"

My cheeks heat. "Well, yeah," I admit, turning my gaze away from Malyk's. Again he laughs, his tone odd, protective when he asks, "Do you love him?"

"No, I don"t know. I know I feel something for him, yes, but it's not love?" I say more like a question.

Malyk nods. "It may be so," he says with a knowing smile. "He looks at you every time you look away."

I shake my head, not wanting to believe that Malyk's words are truthful. Reece has given me the impression that his best friend harbours feelings for him, so it's odd that he'd be pushing me towards Reece if that were so.

"There is no way Reece loves me," I respond.

Malyk chuckles, his tone teasing when he says, "Don"t be sure about that, lovely."

I push for more, needing to hear him affirm his words in another way with different words. "You think he loves me?"

Malyk nods, winking at me. "I"d almost count on it, Jasper. Reece is different around you," he tells me.

"Different? How so?"

"You"ve fucked him up. In a good way."

I gasp, not sure what to make of that bold statement. "Oh, well despite the sin we"ve committed together, being around him makes me happy," I admit, my cheeks heating again with the confession and acknowledgement of my sins out loud.

"And I"m sure my best friend feels the same about you. The fact you"re enemies be damned."

"Yeah," I agree. "I should go. Please tell him I dropped by when you see him."

Malyk nods, affirming he'll follow through with my request. "Does he have your phone number?" he asks.

I shake my head, taking my phone out of my pocket. "No, we haven"t exchanged numbers."

"Let me put his number in your phone," Malyk suggests.

Hesitantly I hand my phone over and Malyk adds in Reece"s number. "I put it under Lover boy, and shot off a text of an eggplant and a kiss emoji."

Taking my phone back I laugh to hide the nervousness of Reece seeing that message. "Thanks, Malyk."

"No worries, catch ya later, gorgeous." I don't respond to that. It's clear that Malyk calls everyone endearing pet names. I leave, staring at the open message on my phone as I head out the door to see Reece has read the text but hasn"t replied. His lack of response hurts. It shows me Malyk is full of shit in regards to Reece's feelings for me. I should just forget about Reece Montserrat, but that is easier said than done. He's under my skin, in my head and I wish he'd leave me be.