His eyes fluttered open, expression morphing into a frown. “What for?”
I gripped the steering wheel tight. “I should’ve put salt or something on the fucking path. I knew it iced over and I ignored it, and now—”
“Hey.” Jasper’s no no-nonsense tone took me by surprise. “It wasn’t your fault. I wore stupid shoes with no grip. I’d already slipped once tonight, I should’ve been more careful.”
“I know but—”
“But nothing, Finn.” He stared at me, expression hard to read in the dim light of the car. I couldn’t look away though, drawn to him like a magnet. Like I had been ever since Wednesday night.
I knew if I leant in and kissed him, he’d kiss me back. He might have said he didn’t want anything more after our one-nighter, but I was coming to suspect that was for my benefit.
I felt myself moving closer, a little awkward with the handbrake in the way. My gaze caught on his sling and I immediately straightened.
Fuck’s sake, Finn. Not in the car when he’s got a bloody broken wrist.
I sat back, cheeks heating at what I’d almost done, because he had to know what I was angling for. I chanced a glance at him, only to find him resolutely staring out the window, a tense set to his shoulders which had to be uncomfortable. “Jasper?”
“Can you help me with the car door?” He didn’t look at me as he spoke, and something in his tone caught my attention.
He’d definitely got the wrong impression about my almost kiss. Hurrying out of my seat and around to the passenger side, careful not to slip, I opened the car door for him and offered him my hand.
“Thanks,” he grumbled, sounding so far from grateful I almost laughed.
But then I remembered he’d had a shit night, was probably in a lot of pain, and I’d topped that off nicely with a spot of rejection.
Go me.
I helped him out of the car, mindful of his wrist, but I kept hold of his hand even after he was out. He glanced down at our hands, then up at me, eyebrow raised.
I swallowed back my nerves and misgivings. The reasons for not getting involved with Jasper were still valid, but I pushed them to the back of my mind to deal with later. Listening to his mum bring up an old flame who might still be interested had sparked my jealousy, but tonight at the hospital when the nurse had assumed we were partners... it made me realise how much I wanted to be that person for Jasper. Wanted to be the one who took care of him when he was ill, the person he turned to when he needed support, emotional or otherwise.
I had an idea he felt the same and I owed it to myself to find out. Who knew how many chances you got like this? I’d be a fool to waste it. Wouldn’t I?
I took a step closer, heart racing as his breath caught. “I was going to kiss you in the car,” I whispered, breath foggy in the night air.
“But you didn’t.” His voice had a defensive edge to it, a challenge in the jut of his chin. It made me smile.
“Not because I didn’t want to.” I reached up to cup his jaw, careful to avoid his sling. “I always want to.” He licked his lips and I closed my eyes with a groan. “Such a fucking tease, Jasper.”
His huff of laughter made me smile.
I met his gaze again, the heat in his eyes a welcome yet torturous sight. We were doing nothing of that sort tonight. Or the next few nights according to the doctor. “I stopped because you have a massive sling on your broken wrist and I was suddenly terrified of hurting you.”
“Oh.” He looked down at his wrist as if only now remembering it was there. And grimaced.
I nodded. “Yep.” Dropping my hand, I moved to his left side and rested it on the small of his back instead. “Let’s get you inside.” I took his left hand in mine, ignoring his protests. “Humour me. I don’t want you to fall again.”
“Fine. But only because I’m too tired to argue.”
He leaned into me, gripping my hand hard when he slipped a little and almost gave me heart failure. The path had never seemed so bloody long before. Finally we reached the door and I let us in with a sigh of relief.
“Thank fuck.” I closed the door behind us and leant against it.
“You can say that again.” He looked at me as I kicked off my shoes, then glanced down at his feet. “Um... I can’t untie my laces.”
Right.
Dropping to my knees in front of him seemed like a good idea until I looked up. My gaze was level with his crotch. His jeans were tight enough that, this close, I got a nice outline of his dick. It would be the easiest thing in the world to pull down his zipper and...
