by Marian Tee
Keanne’s head twisted towards him. “Gabriel!” What the hell had gotten into him?
When she turned to look at Jason, his face was cold, making her gulp. “Jason, you know---”
“---I’m about to thump that bastard, so step away from him.”
She shook her head.
He said in a dangerously silent voice, “Remember your promise.”
“But---”
He only looked at her, challenging her to prove that she indeed mean it.
Slowly, she stepped away, knowing that Jason would not forgive her if she disobeyed him so flagrantly now. But if he thought that was it, then he was in for a surprise. Before he could take a step towards Gabriel, who was still the very picture of arrogance – how perverse he was, the jerk! – she said Jason’s name softly.
Jason’s head jerked towards her.
“For me, too, Jason. Surely you know me better than think I’d love anyone but you?”
The words were completely unexpected, and even Gabriel was stunned. The expressions on their faces were so similar it was comical. Maybe, she mused, maybe it wasn’t she and Gabriel who were the same. Maybe it was Jason and Gabriel, both of them so proud that they would rather act selfless than fight for what they truly wanted. Because if they fought and lost – then that would hurt more.
Jason said half-bitterly, “You do not fight fair, ma petite.”
“So do you, mon bebe.”
His lips twisted. “Touche.”
She inclined her head towards Gabriel. “Don’t be jealous of him. He has his own love problem to worry about.”
Jason raised a brow. “Is that so?”
Looking at Jason, she decided that she was indeed wrong. It wasn’t her and Gabriel who were alike. It was Jason and Gabriel, and some of their bad habits just happened to rub off on her.
She smiled at him when their eyes met. “You made it.”
Jason forgot everything about Gabriel at the sight of that smile. He forgot all about his trouble with Davos and his conflicting feelings for Lilac. All he saw then was Keanne, and…
Her love for him.
She really did love him.
How it happened, Jason doubted she even knew. He could see in her gaze that her love was no new thing, that it was a feeling that had matured over the years, rooted in friendship before becoming something so powerful that it colored every aspect of her life.
Was that what true love was?
So powerful it was everywhere you see?
If it was, then that had not been how he felt with Lilac.
The darkening expression on Jason’s face worried Keanne and she asked, “Is there a problem?”
He touched his heart.
Ah.
Her lips trembled, and her voice wobbled as she said without taking her gaze off Jason, “I think you have to go now, Gabriel.”
“Of course.” Gabriel’s voice was kind, as if he instinctively understood that Keanne had just been gifted with something so precious he would have been the most insensitive brute to provoke Jason into another jealous rage.
Jason offered his hand.
She took it.
And then he was kissing her, both of them sinking to the blanket. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Gabriel walking away.
“People might see---” she gasped against his lips.
“My guards are around patrolling. They would not dare look, and they certainly won’t fucking let anyone see us.”
She smiled mischievously up at him. “In that case…” Keanne hauled him back down to her, kissing him with all her pent up desire, and that desire grew by leaps and bounds each day they became closer.
“We have to stop,” he muttered against her lips, trying to stop her hands from unbuttoning his jeans. “This is not how I want your first time to be.”
“This is exactly how I want our first time to be.”
The words surprised him enough to make Jason yank his head away from her tight hold. “What do you mean?”
She smiled shakily at him, and shyness made her voice just as shaky as she told him, “I’m in love with you because you’re you, Jason. So don’t think I need something fancy for our first time.” She touched his face. “This…with the sun starting to rise…” She lifted her head to reach out and kiss his lips gently. “This is how I want to it be. It’s perfect for us.”
And she meant it. She meant every word.
With Lilac, there had always been a strange pressure in the back of his mind, urging him to be better, to be sweeter, to be more understanding…
Never had he felt safe enough to be just himself with Lilac even though she was one of the nicest people he had ever had the fortune to meet.
But with Keanne…
With the way she was looking at him…
“You’re the one who’s perfect,” he whispered rawly before taking her lips in a sweet kiss. This time, he did not stop her from rushing to take off his clothes. He was just as impatient to have her naked against him, and he groaned when she was finally free of all her clothes and squirming against him.
“You’re so fucking sexy,” he rasped.
She quickly covered his mouth. “Don’t be noisy,” she pleaded. “Your guards might hear. Or the other students---”
He licked her palm so she would let him go, and when she did, he told her, “I don’t give a fuck who hears us. They can just envy us – that’s all they’re going to be able to do. They won’t be as lucky as I am and see your beautiful body and know it’s only going to be mine.”
He kissed her again, his tongue delving into her sweet hot mouth. His hands reclaimed her body, caressing every inch he could reach and because he was so much bigger than her and she was so much smaller, he could reach practically everything.
He worshipped her breasts, suckling and biting her nipples until she was unable to stop herself from crying out.
“Yes,” he hissed. “I want to hear you cry out with pleasure. I want everyone to know that it’s only me who can please you.”
His words turned her on so much that it was impossible to be sensible. Letting go completely, she began to exist only for his touch, her body surrendering to his command.
“Jason.” She moaned his name loudly as his lips moved, nibbling his way across her skin. He kissed her legs, his hands caressing her sensitive knees. When she writhed more impatiently against him, he went back up so he could again taste the sweetness between her legs.
This time, her fingers dug into his scalp, the first time she was consciously urging him to kiss her there.
“Beg for it,” he growled.
“Please…”
“Please what?”
“Please take me with your mouth.”
And he did, because she loved him so much he wanted to give all of himself to her.
As he nibbled on her clit, he sank two fingers into her wetness. Her body jerked powerfully against his hardness before her inner muscles squeezed his fingers tightly. He began to fuck her with his mouth and fingers, doing what he could to arouse her to the very pinnacle of her desire. He wanted her hot and wild, to the point that she would never ever think of any man but him. She could be with that boy Gabriel and never would she feel a spark of desire because she would remember this night, remember how he fucked her so beautifully hard and it was only his touch she would crave.
His fingers thrust in and out of her, harder and faster, the strength of those driving thrusts making her senses reel. “Jason, Jason, Jason…” She sang his name with each thrust, wanting more even though now he had sunk all four fingers into her. It was still not enough.
“Jason, please, Jason…”
His fingers withdrew completely, and she moaned helplessly, hating the emptiness that he left her with.
And then he was rising above her, his face dark against the rising sun and oh, oh, merde. At that moment, it really did feel like she was making love to the sun god. Her sun god. Hers and hers alone.
His cock thrust int
o her, breaking past her barriers and she sobbed in pain and pleasure, welcoming every sensation that came with his absolute ownership of her body.
He owned her.
In that moment, she was his and she could not remember being happier.
“You are…all right?” he asked hoarsely, his voice thickened by his Greek accent.
“Oui.” She could no longer think in English.
It was all he needed to hear before he was driving in and out of her, his cock withdrawing halfway before sinking back down at a steady pace. He kept himself under rigid control, needing her to get used to his possession before he let himself go completely.
Her nails dug into his buttocks. “Jason, please. Don’t hold back.” Her dazed eyes begged for the same thing.
Ah, shit.
She would get what she wanted. With her looking at him like that, begging him to fuck her in the way he had dreamt of, there was no way he could hold back now.
He reared above her, positioning himself.
“Jason---aaaah!”
He sank into her without warning, so deeply she could have sworn the head of his cock had reached the walls of her womb. Oh, oh, oh. Merde. He was pounding into her ruthlessly, with such force that her body was bent like a crescent moon in an effort to take in his forceful thrusts.
He threw her legs up in the air, and the new angle allowed him to pound into her more deeply.
She screamed and she moaned, she made all kinds of sounds, half of which she couldn’t remember because Jason had taken command of every part of her. His cock was her world. His touch was her life.
“Jaaaaaaason….”
The way she called out his name made Jason shudder, and he knew he was near. His hand inserted itself between their bodies and as he lifted himself up, his fingers found her throbbing clit.
When he thrust back into her, he pulled on her clit hard.
“Jason!” The double impact of his fingers and cock, simultaneously hitting her body with lightning bolts of pleasure, triggered her release, and she sobbed his name over and over as she came. Over her, Keanne heard Jason growling his own pleasure out as his hips did not stop working furiously over her body, his every thrust coinciding with the release of her own wetness, mixing with his seed.
When he finally settled over her body, she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. “I love you,” she whispered.
His cock stirred, and he pushed his cock further into her body, making Keanne gasp.
Her eyes flew to him in incredulity, unable to believe that he was ready to do it again. Surely that wasn’t possible?
A smile curved on his lips at the look on Keanne’s face. “I want you again, but I’ll let you rest.”
“That’s not possible,” she told him.
“It is and you know – you feel it is true.” He withdrew and thrust back into her just so she would experience how hard he was again.
She was dazed. “That’s really not possible.”
He only grinned and did it again, but this time grinding his cock as deeply as he could into her, enough to elicit a whimper out of her.
“Jason!” She didn’t know if she was begging him to stop or do it again.
“We didn’t use protection.”
The meaning behind his words came to her a second too late, but when she looked at him in horror, he only withdrew and thrust back into her again.
“J-Jason!”
“I feel like it’s destined if we make a baby tonight, Keanne.” His voice was hoarse with emotion.
The way he looked at her made Keanne want to weep, and when he started moving again inside her, she knew she was choosing to think like him and let nature take its course. She wrapped her arms around him and thrust back against him, making him groan and pound into her harder.
When it was over, she found herself crying in his arms and he let her, rolling them over so she would be on top of him, his semi-erect cock still inside her. He stroked her hair as she sobbed.
She didn’t tell him why she was crying, but he had a feeling he knew. When her tears subsided, he said softly, “I can’t tell you I love you yet. I don’t know why, but something is holding me back. Something I need to know that I’m not getting…”
“Lilac?” she whispered, terrified that he would say yes.
“No.” He kissed her hair. “There’s no Lilac anymore. But even if I can’t say the words yet, I know you’re the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.” He touched her womb, the heat and possessiveness of his touch making her gasp.
“And I know that it’s in your womb I want to have my son or daughter grow.” His lips twisted. “Even if I know everyone will think I’ve robbed the cradle---”
“Not the people who know the truth.”
“What is the truth?”
She lifted her head up so he could look into her eyes. “That I’ve been waiting for you since I was fourteen to love me back.”
****
When Keanne woke up, it was dark outside the tent, startling her. For a moment, she remained in Jason’s arms as she let the memories wash over her. They had enjoyed an early breakfast, skinny-dipped in the lake, and joined the rest of the first-year students after. Everyone had been staring at them when they walked back into camp, but no one had dared say a word, not with Jason looking so imposing even though he was again dressed only in a shirt and jeans.
They had gamely joined the activities prepared by the faculty, but by noon she couldn’t stop herself from yawning, making Jason sweep her into his arms over her protests and take her back to her luxurious tent.
And then she must have fallen asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, she decided.
She fumbled for her phone in the dark, but when her fingers encountered the familiar shape of an iPhone, it turned out to be Jason’s and not hers. She unlocked it, needing to use its torch light function.
Instead of pulling the screen up to reveal the icon tray hidden at the bottom, Keanne accidentally clicked on the Photos icon---
A soundless cry broke out of her.
Why did he have a photo of Lilac on his phone?
With trembling fingers, she flicked through the rest of his photos and all of them were…Lilac’s and none of her.
No. Please, no. It didn’t mean anything. This was just a leftover of his past…infatuation with Lilac. She clicked on the call icon, needing to know that he had told her the truth before when she had asked about how frequently he was in contact with Lilac.
The phone fell from her fingers.
He had called her almost every day.
And today, he had probably been late --- today he had probably forgotten about his promise to be with her because he had been busy talking to Lilac for hours.
Chapter Fourteen
Jason was looking for her.
Keanne ended the call and tossed the phone into the backseat of her car before climbing down. Her guards immediately flanked her as she made her way to the front doors of Reid Chalkias’ fortress-like home. Her guards had been reluctant to give up their arms, but in the end they had no choice.
Reid did not allow visitors with weapons, and they had been strictly instructed by Amie Summers never to allow Keanne out of their presence.
Jason’s friend personally welcomed her, bowing slightly as he greeted her good evening. “Your visit is unexpected. Does Jason know you’re coming?”
“No.”
“Ah. I seem destined to ask this again and again, but I take it there’s trouble in paradise?”
“Yes.”
And there was the difference between this young girl and Lilac York, Reid considered. Lilac was selfless and proud, just like Jason Christakos. While this girl – this girl was like Nick Christakos. Expressive where it mattered, fighters the both of them, and almost selfish in the way they zealously cherished the people they loved.
“What is your reason for coming here then? If I can help, I will.”
“I’m really glad you said that. And I ho
pe you mean it because I’m not leaving until I find answers.” She inhaled sharply. “I…I don’t want you to think I’m being a spoiled bitch or anything, but…I love Jason and it’s because I love him that I need to know those answers.”
He said slowly, “You know Beatrice Crichton is here.”
She flinched at the name but she managed a nod. “Yes.”
“And you want to talk to her? Why?”
“I have my reasons.”
“She’s not completely…well,” Reid said carefully. “She’s suffered a breakdown of sorts after she was almost beaten to death by Davos’ men.”
“I understand. I don’t want to cause her pain---”
“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Reid said flatly. “I’m worried it’s the other way around and you’ll find out things you’re better off not knowing.”
She smiled without humor, and at that moment she looked so much older beyond her years. “If I…if I tried to hide away from the truth, then what I feel for Jason wouldn’t be true either.”
****
“Ms. Crichton,” the young woman accompanying her said in a gentle voice. “You have a visitor.”
Keanne gasped in shock when Beatrice wheeled her chair around to face her. Scars crisscrossed her once beautiful face, and the way she stared at Keanne made her realize that her vision was badly impaired.
Beatrice squinted. “Who is it?”
“Jason---”
The woman howled in rage, the name working like some kind of trigger for a breakdown. Keanne stumbled back as Beatrice hurtled herself towards her, her hands outstretched as she tried to scratch Keanne’s face.
The burly uniformed attendants standing in the corner immediately moved, one of them pulling Beatrice away while the other helped Keanne up.
“You! Did you come here to gloat?”
“She thinks you are a woman named Lilac,” the attendant told her quietly. “We apologize for failing to inform you that Mr. Christakos’ name often spurs her into a fit.”
“I hope Davos finds you. I hope he doesn’t just scar you for life. I hope he kills you so Jason will suffer forever! It’s not fair that both twins love you when you’re nothing – nothing!”
“Ms. Crichton---”
