Devour Me

Love Me, Please Ch. 5

Kenna

I was flirting up a storm with Henry, and he was eating out of the palm of my hand. I kept glancing over to where my brother and Jasper were talking. It looked heated, but what should I care?

“What are you doing after this?” Henry asked as the others in the group continued to talk.

“Not really sure,” I admitted. Because I as sure as heck wasn’t going anywhere with him. He was cute in a boyish way but definitely arrogant. Deep down, I knew I was trying to get a reaction from Jasper. To see if he really was jealous and was lying through those perfectly straight, white teeth of his.

“If you’re up to it, we could go-”

“She’s not going anywhere with you.” Jasper’s deep honeyed voice interrupted Henry. I found that he was quickly eating the distance between us and my eyes widened at the dark look of anger marring his handsome face.

“I don’t think that’s really up to you,” Henry spat. Jasper’s eyes slid to mine, and they seemed to dare me to deny him. Oh, how I wanted to. It was at the tip of my tongue. But then I noticed Zachary slowly sauntering up behind him with a satisfied smirk on his face. I knew then, he had goaded Jasper in some way.

Slowly, I let go of Henry’s arm. “I apologize, Henry, it seems like an emergency has come up. Jasper’s dog wasn’t feeling too good and I promised I would help if things got worse.” The lie came easily, but it seemed to do the trick. Henry’s gaze softened.

“Not a problem. If you still have time tonight, call me.” I smiled politely and then turned to walk out the front door with Jasper on my heels. As soon as we were down the walkway and away from prying ears, I turned around and faced him.

“I’m really having a hard time following your constant mood swings, Jasper,” I huffed. He took a step closer to me, forcing me to lift my chin higher to maintain eye contact.

“You have two choices, Kenna,” he said softly. “One, you get in that car and I take you back to my place. Or two, I pick you up, put you in that car, and I take you to my place.” I gaped like a fish at him.

“W-w-what do you mean?” I sputtered when I could finally form a coherent thought.

“My patience is wearing thin. I’m going to give you to the count of three to decide.” His eyes glittered with something different. Something…primal.

“One,” he purred. My heart rate spiked.

“Ja-” I started.

“Two.” One step closer. My eyes widened and I turned to run.

“Three.” A low, dark chuckle sounded as I took off. What the heck was going on?! I had barely got past my parent’s fence when strong arms grabbed me from behind.

“Gotcha,” he whispered into my ear and I nearly melted at the seductive lilt of his voice. He turned me around and hoisted me over his shoulder, effectively knocking the breath from my body. And in the span of the next 10 seconds, he had the passenger side door of his car opened and was depositing me in the seat. I went to open my mouth to say something, to demand what he was thinking, but he beat me to it.

“Don’t you dare open that pretty little mouth of yours, sweetheart. I’m barely hanging on by a thread and if you push me I won’t be responsible for the consequences.” His words were making my brain malfunction. I couldn’t speak any longer even if I wanted to.

“Good girl,” he rumbled before buckling me in and closing the door. He quickly got into his seat and started the engine. As he drove he spoke.

“I’m taking you back to my place. I’ve had about enough of watching other men look at you, imagining what’s beneath your clothes, how your skin will feel, if you’ll make sweet moans while you’re eaten. I’ve had enough of sleepless nights thinking of those very same things. Wondering. Imagining. Wanting.” My breathing hitched, and I could feel myself trying to catch my breath.

“For years I’ve watched you. I always thought my feelings for you were annoyance, dislike, and a whole other slew of emotions. I hated that you made me feel anything at all. I hated that you got under my skin with your radiant smiles, optimistic attitude, and everything else that made you you. Many times I wondered what it would be like if you just weren’t around….until it actually happened. I didn’t realize how miserable I would be without you here to make me feel like I was something more than a failure, more than just a disappointment. I realized you made me feel seen and heard even if I didn’t see it at the time.” I could tell he was trying really hard to articulate his feelings the best way he knew how…through sarcasm, cruel taunts, and off-putting retorts. He was doing it now, but it didn’t hold any of the sting. No…it held genuine confusion, hurt, pain, and….desire.

“When you returned….I hated that you didn’t seem to be as affected as I had with your absence…you still had that radiant smile. This time I couldn’t say it was because of me…because I had teased you to the point you would try to kill me with kindness and whatever other sunshine crap you threw my way. Then I started to wonder if maybe another man had teased those smiles out of you…that maybe you-” I glanced at him as he paused. It was silent for a moment as he pulled up by the Waterfront and then pulled into a set of condos. I furrowed my brows. Did he live here?…And then it dawned on me. His suggestion as to where I lived…he had wanted me close to him.