Keeping Her - Jordan Marie Page 0,24

Good people go to jail,” she adds, her voice dropping down. “Good people do bad things for the right reasons too. It doesn’t make them bad.”

I lean up, taking her mouth. I kiss her, while rolling over so she’s on the bottom and I’m above her once we finally break apart. Her eyes are stormy.

“You don’t think I know that, Jasmine?”

“Some people don’t,” she murmurs.

“Then, those people are idiots. What’s going on in that head of yours, Red?”

“I just, I…” she breaks off, as if she’s struggling for words. “I just needed you to know that.”

“I know it. As far as I’m concerned, baby, the past is the past, in case you were wondering. All that matters to me is that I’m your future. If some man was an idiot and let you get away and didn’t appreciate you, then that’s on him. Don’t get me twisted up with them.”

“I could never do that, Luke. You’re a good man. I may not know much, but I know that. You would never use me,” she says, and she has no way of knowing the way those simple words cut straight into my heart.

“Jasmine—”

“I feel safe with you,” she adds, her face clouded with emotion that I can’t begin to name.

“Red, baby—”

“I think I could fall in love with you one day, Luke,” she whispers as if she’s confiding in me. My heart literally fucking squeezes in my chest. “It scares me.”

“Don’t be afraid, Red. I’m not going anywhere. You’re safe with me,” I promise her.

“I think I’m starting to believe you…”

“Good, because I’m not letting you go,” I vow.

I pull the sheet away from her body, my fingers moving between her legs, caressing her pussy as my lips begin sucking on her nipple. Her moan of pleasure is my reward, and the sound is so sweet it wraps around me.

“Luke…”

Her broken cry feeds my soul, and I as work her, stretching her channel to accept me, I vow that whatever I have to do to protect Jasmine, I will. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but fucking hell….

I will find a way.

18

Jasmine

“I’m surprised your watchdog let you stay here alone,” Gabby laughs, as I watch Luke walk away.

I let out a sigh. It’s crazy. He just left and I already miss him.

“He didn’t want to,” I murmur, smiling as I remember our conversation earlier.

“Oh girl. I know that look,” Gabby says, and I look over to find her studying my face.

Shit.

“What look?” I murmur, trying not to sound panicked.

“You’re in love.”

“Don’t be silly. I barely know him,” I respond, looking down at the menu and praying I’m not blushing.

“Girl, please. You’ve been basically living with him for a week now.”

“You mean he’s been holding me hostage for a week,” I lie.

“That kiss goodbye he gave you doesn’t look like you were being held a prisoner,” Gabby says, deceptively mild.

“What kiss goodbye?”

My head jerks up and when I see my mom standing there, I close my eyes, wincing.

This is great.

I stand up, even though I really just want to run away.

“Hi, Mom,” I mutter, hugging her. She puts her arms around me, holding me tight. I close my eyes again, but this time out of gratitude. I take in the scent of Mom’s shampoo, the light perfume of her body spray, and the sweetness that somehow emanates off of her.

My mom is one of those truly good people. She rarely says a bad thing about anyone, she’s sweet and kind and even donates her time at the local nursing home. She’s one hundred and fifty percent love and light.

Between me and my brother, Hawk is definitely more like Mom. Me? I have that taint of darkness that my dad always says he carries. He said Mom’s goodness, her light, always drew him to her. I wish I could have been more like her. I know if I had, my father would have been prouder of me. There’s nothing I can do though. I am who I am—even if it makes my parents want to pull out their hair.

“Don’t you Mom me, just where have you been hiding this past week, Jazz?”

I know it’s strange, but while I’ve been at Luke’s, not one person has called me Jazz and I liked it. It’s weird. That’s been my nickname since before I could talk. It’s still true though. Every time Dad or Mom call me Jazz, I feel like I’m failing to live up to someone they miss daily. I know