A/N:
Hey guys!
So, first of all, I really want to thank each and every one of you guys who have taken the time out to read my story - it's only been 4 days and I've already had over 600 views! I'm not sure if that's even a lot but it certainly has put a smile on my face.
I've dedicated this chapter to a fellow Wattpad user, AmandaMahfood - Happy (extremely early) 40th Birthday, Amanda, this chapter is your early gift! She has been nothing but absolutely lovely and sweet to me and has supported me before I even decided to publish my story. It was actually because of Amanda that I decided to publish pretty quickly instead of in a month's time when I was actually considering to publish it, so THANK YOU SO MUCH! I really hope you'll enjoy this chapter, Amanda!
Without further ado, here is chapter number 22!
Love as always,
Ana
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Chapter 22 - A Stranger On The Streets
"I can't believe we only have a week left here," I said to Jasper as we lay on the bed, watching T.V.
It was around twelve thirty in the afternoon and we were still in bed upon Jasper's insistence.
"Mm, I know," he agreed. "We should just stay here and not go back."
"Jasper," I laughed. "What about your work and staff?"
"Let's fire all of them," he whispered in my ear as I giggled.
"You are so bad, Mr Queen," I grinned at him.
"Only for you, Miss Valentina," he said softly, kissing my forehead as I got out of the bed.
"Now, are we actually going to get out of bed or do you plan to waste the whole day here?" I asked him as he groaned.
"Scarlett, please, can we just stay in bed?" He pleaded as I rolled my eyes.
"You can stay here but I'm going to get some fresh air. And, remember our reservation is for eight o'clock this evening. I won't have you looking like a slob who's just gotten out of bed," I told him, placing my hands on my hips as he smirked lazily, sending my heartbeat on a rampage.
"You are so sexy when you're being all bossy and demanding. It turns me on," he said huskily, pulling me back onto the bed as I yelped.
"Jasper!" I snapped. "Let me go, I need to have a shower!"
"Mm," he said inhaling my body. "You're right, you really do."
My eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
Did I really smell that bad?
"Your face!" He laughed wildly as I scowled at him.
"You are an animal, Queen." I muttered, slapping his chest.
"You are so easy, Scarlett!" He continued laughing before he sobered up. "You smell so sexy that it drives my heart, mind and soul crazy."
"You're forgiven."
"Did I forget to mention your scent also has a tendency to drive my dick insane, too?" He questioned seriously as I felt my face redden considerably.
"You're so gross, Jasper!" I groaned attempting to get off of his muscular chest.
"But you love it," he smirked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, I don't." I muttered. "Now would you please, let me go?"
"No."
He wrapped his arms tighter around my body, the electricity between us humming quietly. He pressed his lips to mine as I placed my hands on his cheeks kissing him back with just as much need. He trailed his lips slowly across my neck, sucking on my sweet spot as I moaned.
"Don't moan like that again otherwise, I swear I will take you right now," he growled in my ear as I shivered.
His finger slowly began to pry my tank top upwards as I jerked away from him.
"Don't do that," I mumbled looking away from him.
"Hey," he murmured. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on, don't ever doubt that, okay?"
"I need time, Jasper," I murmured, looking down at the ground.
"Scarlett." He said loudly as I looked at him. "Have you any idea of what the hell your body does to me? I can't even think straight when you're around me, I lose my absolute fucking mind. You have this hold over me, Scarlett, that no woman in my life has ever had over me and I swear to God, I never want to have it any other way."
"But, Jasper, it's the one thing I can't give to you," I whispered so quietly I wasn't even sure I'd said what I did.
"You are everything I've ever wanted," he replied, caressing my cheek. "You know it as well as I do that you can do it, but you hide under the pretense that you're 'saving yourself for marriage' because you're afraid. I'll wait for all eternity for you until you're ready, but know that I love you and nothing will change that, do you understand?"
I was awe stricken. Absolutely awe stricken. This was usually the part where they would let me know 'this wasn't what I signed up for' - but not Jasper.
He wasn't like them.
"Thank you, Jasper," I murmured, kissing his lips gently as he smiled.
"I'll let you go now," he laughed, releasing me from his grasp.
"About time," I chuckled, picking out an outfit which consisted of a pair of jean shorts with a jumper.
"Mind if I join?" Jasper asked cheekily as I scoffed.
"How about, no?"
"No, you don't mind then?" He asked eagerly. "Well then, let's hop to it!"
"Jasper, if you get out of that bed, I will castrate you," I stated seriously as he sunk back onto the bed slowly.
"Damn, woman. And just a minute ago she was dragging me out of here." He muttered to himself as I laughed, stepping into the shower.
About an hour later, after showering and changing, I went back into the bedroom to find Jasper fast asleep. Edging closer towards him, I smiled at how peaceful and at ease he looked, his dark hair wild and dangerous, his lips pressed firmly shut, his breathing soft and barely audible. I planted a small kiss on his cheek before scrawling out a quick note for him.
Going out for some fresh air, I'll be back in a short while.
Love, Scarlett x
Taping the note to the bedside table, I grabbed my bag and left the beach house.
I walked around the neighborhood for a while, taking in its stunning view and chatting with the locals.
I don't think I could ever tire of this, I thought to myself as I sat down on a park bench sighing in content.
Everything was perfect. Well, almost perfect. I still couldn't find it in me to accept that I had Jasper's love and trust which I knew was going to damage our relationship at some point. I really wanted to tell him how much I loved him and that I did want him to make love to me but, again, it was my own cowardice that was stopping me from being able to make Jasper truly happy and satisfied.
Half an hour later, I decided to pick up some lunch for Jasper and I, before I headed back to the beach house. As I walked along the street, I suddenly felt someone's hand clamp around my mouth as I was being pulled into the alleyway of a street corner.
"I'm going to move my hand now. If you so much as utter a single word, I'll take you to the one who ordered this and you won't like what they're going to do to you, got it?" A rough male voice threatened as I nodded meekly.
Slowly, he released his hand and spun me around by my shoulders so I was looking at him.
He was easily a man of over six feet, he was bald and had small beady eyes, a large nose and thin lips which were pressed into a scowl.
"Well, if it isn't the girlfriend of Jasper Queen herself!" He jeered nastily as I tried to remain composed. "Boss wasn't lying then. It really is you."
"Who the hell are you?" I snapped glaring at the man.
"I'm your worst fucking nightmare, sweetheart."
I had to force myself not to laugh at that.
Who even said that anymore?
"Going to have to do a little better than that I'm afraid." I shrugged as he wrapped one hand around my neck tightening his grip ever so slightly as I winced.
"Boss never said you had quite a mouth on you." He sneered. "So, I suggest you watch it."
God, if you're up there, do you mind telling me what atrocities I committed in my past life? Will I ever be able to catch a break?
"How the hell do you know who I am?"
"Scarlett Valentina, who doesn't know you? Daddy issues and billionaire boyfriend ring a bell? See, sweetheart, I was sent here to do a job and I intend to finish it."
"What do you want from me?" I questioned, afraid my fear would betray me.
"You are going to comply with everything and anything that I say otherwise you're going to find that your billionaire hotshot boyfriend is going to land himself in an uncompromising situation." He told me simply as an unsettling feeling swirled through my stomach.
Not Jasper. Please, not Jasper.
"Leave him out of this! He's done nothing to you!" I screamed angrily, tears streaming down my cheeks.
"What the fuck did I tell you about raising your voice? Stupid bitch!" He snarled, pushing me against the wall.
"Please, leave him out of -"
"So, Miss Valentina, do we have ourselves a deal?" He asked, a sadistic smirk spreading across his lips.
The thought of losing Jasper was unbearable and I certainly wasn't going to put him in such a situation, he meant too much to me. I would do anything to keep him safe, I decided.
"Yes." I snapped as the man smirked in triumph.
"And Boss said you were a stupid girl," he looked down on me as I stood there, confused.
"Who?"
"All in due time, Miss Valentina." He shrugged as he began to leave. "You'd also do well to keep your mouth shut otherwise... Well, you know what'll happen now, right?"
Before I could even answer, he was gone.
I stood frozen in that same position unable to fathom what had just happened. Who was that man and who was the one who ordered this?
I slowly made my way back to the beach house, a million thoughts racing through my mind as I desperately tried to work out what the hell I was going to do.
Telling Jasper would be a terrible idea because I knew that he would take every single precaution there was, which would only piss whoever was out for him off even more. The thought of Jasper being hurt was gnawing at my insides and was making me feel nauseous.
As soon as I'd found the one thing that had made me truly happy, I was back to square one and close to having it snatched from me. But, for as long as I lived, I wasn't going to let that happen, Jasper meant more to me than anyone else in the world.
In these last two months, that man had become my family and I was not about to have him taken away from me.