She didn’t have any plans at all, of course. It wasn’t like she’d known how the events of that afternoon and evening would unfold. But he didn’t seem capable of thinking clearly enough to reason that out. She took his hand and started toward the stairs.
“Come on, William,” she said. “I’m putting you to bed.”
“I’ve got a bed somewhere. I should probably go to that one. And my dad’s with Katie. He’s expecting me back.”
“I’ll take care of it. Promise.”
It was enough to stop any further protests. She led him into the bedroom, sending Dido sleeking past them and out the door. After turning on the bedside lamp, she closed the door and reached down to grab the comforter and top sheet to tug them down. She would get some bedding from the hallway linen closet for May to use on the sofa that night and find a way to make it up to her sister later.
With that done, she turned back to him. She reached for the first button of the dark blue short-sleeved collared shirt he wore over a lighter blue T-shirt. A few buttons later, she helped him shrug it off and then reached for the T-shirt, lifting it up and over his head.
Her fingers slid beneath the waistband of his khaki shorts. He drew in a sharp breath. Her eyes lifted to his.
“I’m suddenly not so tired anymore,” he said in a gruff voice.
“So it would seem.”
Her other hand also slid beneath the waistband, moving to the sensitive point just beneath his navel. His breathing grew more ragged.
She slowly unfastened the button, then took her time with the zipper. She allowed the shorts to drop to the floor before she lowered herself to her knees in front of him. The evidence of his arousal was right in front of her as she started untying and removing his shoes and socks and divesting him of those as well as his shorts. The last to go was his boxer briefs, which she eased down his body while looking up at him from her kneeling position.
“Jasmine.”
Knowing what he wanted—what he needed—she grasped the length of him and started stroking. It wasn’t long before he let out a low groan and thrust himself insistently against her palms.
She got to her feet and said, “Onto the bed.”
He hesitated, apparently torn between wanting to touch her and wanting to please her by following her orders. He eventually did as she said.
She also climbed onto the bed, settling herself beside him. He started to reach for her. She captured his hand and moved it back to his side, softening the rebuff by pressing her lips against his.
She indulged him in a couple of deep, languorous kisses as her hand continued to torment him. Then she shifted down, using her lips and tongue along the way. She paused and lifted the pendant he wore. Having already learned how important it was to him, she kissed it like he did before he pitched. They exchanged an intimate, meaningful look before she made her way along the rest of his body until she reached her goal.
By the time he finally fell asleep a short while later, it was with a smile on his face.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Will woke with Jasmine’s scent filling his senses. It conjured the provocative memory of her taking him into her mouth and driving him out of his mind the night before. It also reminded him that he was still in her bed.
His eyes slid open. Morning sunlight bathed the room.
The bed beside him was empty.
He looked around for a clock or his phone. He found both on the nightstand beside him. The clock read seven-thirteen. He’d slept for a solid ten hours.
Spotting a folded sheet of notebook paper tucked under his phone, he picked it up and opened it.
Will, it read, I had to go in for the opening shift this morning and didn’t want to wake you. I called your dad last night so he knew you’d be staying here. He said he and Gareth will take care of Katie until you get home. Good luck at your game tonight. I’ll be watching. XO, Jasmine.
Disappointment rolled through him because he had missed out on the pleasure of waking up next to her. His phone was plugged into a charger, one he assumed belonged to Jasmine or May. He picked it up and removed the cable before calling his dad.