02 — Losing my mind

Outside the club, I immediately regret it when the cold breeze touches my skin and shakes my red hair, bringing some sense to my hot head. I swallow hard when I notice that he's getting into a limousine.

A limousine!

I freeze, looking at him startled.

“What are you waiting for? Come on, I know a nice place.” He says, calling me with a seductive tone and a subtle gesture with his hand. Everything about him seems soft and natural, as if charm is part of his nature.

I blink a few times, and cross my arms, trying to protect myself from the cold that takes over my body.

Suddenly, getting into a car with a complete stranger I have just met, and don't even know the name of, doesn't seem like a good idea. He may have saved me from causing a scene, and repeating that traumatic scene, but that doesn't mean that he's a good person.

In fact, I can almost smell danger in this man.

“You know what, I'm feeling better already. I think I'll pass on the drink.”

The man raises his eyebrow, and says with a playful tone, “Better? You just got cheated on by your boyfriend, and you're feeling better?”

The way his tongue unfurls and lightly passes over his lips, added to the debauched tone, causes, again, anger to spread through my body. Inevitably, I assume an angry expression and turn my back on him, stepping heavily with my heels that snap and begin to squeeze my feet.

Damn heels.

“Hey, wait!” He says, but I make no point of turning around or answering him, I just hug my body and continue walking down the sidewalk, who knows where.

A cold breeze hits my face again, and I finally stop, looking around for an empty cab. Then I realize that the stranger has caught up with me quickly and is looking at me with his cocky smile.

“I didn't mean to offend you.”

“No offense taken.” I say dryly, without looking at him, extending my hand to call for the approaching cab… However, it passes straight by.

“It's my fault, I shouldn't have said that at all, and I should start by introducing myself.” He tilts his head slightly, studying my face. I know this because I can feel his gaze burning my skin. “My name is Jasper.”

“Right.” That's all I say, reaching out again for another cab, which passes by quickly, ignoring my existence. God, why doesn't any of it….

“You're not going to say your name?” He asks, still with that cocky tone that makes me snort and finally look at him properly. And gosh… in front of the city lights, he manages to be even more handsome.

“Scarlett.” I whisper my name, slightly bewitched by him. There's something in his eyes… something that seems to draw me in like magnetism.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Scarlett…” He takes a step toward me, and I finally smell him, a refreshing and certainly striking masculine scent that threatens to soak into my skin just by getting closer. “Can I buy you a drink to correct my mistake, and help you forget a litte about your asshole boyfriend?”

I remained silent for a few moments, seriously wondering if I should accept his invitation. And maybe he can read me like an open book because he adds, “You can choose the place.”

Nice of him, except for the part that I'm an extremely dull person, not used to going out, let alone drinking. Putting on my best clothes, makeup and crushing my feet in this uncomfortable heel was something I did to please Bryan, not something I would normally do.

But I'm already here, right?

Besides… I don't want to go home and be alone.

“You said you know a nice place.”

“I do, but I can let you choose.” He utters in a playful, almost smug tone.

I raise an eyebrow, “Fine, I can make this sacrifice this time.”

His laugh is low and melodic, extremely delicious to my ears… so much so that it brings a silly smile to my lips.

Jasper puts his hand on my back, dangerously close to my ass, and I seal my lips so as not to react to his gentle touch. Guiding me back to the limo, he opens the door for me to get in, and in the next moment, I'm actually getting into the car with a guy I just met and know only his name.

“What do you like to drink?” He asks lowly when we're inside the car.

I reply, looking around, “What do you have?”

“How do you feel about wine?”

Whatever, I have never drunk anything you can offer me.

“Great, I love wine.” I force a smile, expressing those lies with extreme ease.

I watch as he leans his body over the small fridge and pulls a bottle of wine from inside. And I finally realize that he's simply big, not only in height. His arms are strong, his back is broad, and his hands…

I bite my lips, afraid of the path my thoughts are taking.

He pours the red liquid into a cup and holds it out towards me. While he's still pouring himself, I swallow the entire drink in a single gulp, feeling the sweet, yet strong taste of alcohol.

“Easy, girl…” He says with a husky laugh and a seductive tone, “Do you want to forget this night that much?”

His words are subjective, and even as he's pouring me more wine, I'm still trying to keep my head clear, as thoughts are torturing me in as many ways as possible this evening.

He finally takes a discreet sip of his own drink, and I simply copy him. It's too late, however… I'm already feeling a strange warmth come over my body, and an equally odd dizziness, which makes me lean toward him.

“I think you drank too fast…” Jasper says low. His voice is soft, like his hands.

I bite my lips and draw his eyes to my mouth's movement.

“You really should have chosen the place… I don't think my choice was the safest.”

“And why is that?” I ask, also landing my eyes on his lips.

“I have plenty of drinks at my place.” A wicked smile rises on his lips as he leans in.

His house? Oh, dear… This should make me terrified, but I'm leaning toward him, closing my eyes as I inhale his scent…. I'm losing my mind.

“Do you want me to drop you off at home? I think this wine is enough…”

I deny with my head, suddenly too close to his lips. My hand is on his shirt, playing with the fabric, running the tips of my fingernails along the buttons, down to meet his pants. I lower my eyes, noticing that I'm dangerously close to touching his thighs.

Jasper is caressing my arms, moving up to my shoulders and finally reaching the back of my neck. A gasp escapes my lips as I feel his fingers tangle in my hair, and he pulls my head back slightly, letting my chin touch his lips.

My body is on fire.

I dare lower my hand to his thigh, so I hear his husky laugh ring out again, as well as his seductive words, “Don't play with fire, girl.”

I know I'm drunk when, even with his warning, I bring my hands to the hard-on in his pants, and bite my lips when I feel that it's really hard and so big that my hand is unable to hold it fully, even over his pants.

So, I hear a hoarse moan, from deep in his throat, coming from between his lips, as he lowers my head to finally take my lips to his.

Our kiss is heavy and passionate. The way he explores my mouth and entwines his tongue with mine is enough to take my breath away. His caresses on my arm, down my hips to my naked thigh through my dress sets my body on fire. And the way he uses his hand to guide my head and deepen the kiss is making me thirsty.

As if losing control of my body to that pleasure, I soon find myself sitting on his lap, kissing him intensely and fervently, feeling his erection against the middle of my legs.

I know I shouldn't…

I know that this is completely out of character for me…

But still… I slept with Jasper.