The Broken Parts Of Us (16 page)

“I don’t want to talk right now, Der. I don’t even know what the fuck to say.” 

I tilt my head to the side to study his face as his eyes drop to his feet. I take his chin between my thumb and forefinger, lifting his face, so I can look in his blue depths. “Don’t say anything. Get some rest. It’s just me, Jasp. I’ve waited this long, so take all the time you need to realise it’s okay to feel what you’re feeling.”

His brow furrows. “Is it?”

I slip my hand around the nape of his neck and bring him forward. I gently press my lips to his, then pull back. “Does it feel okay?”

His eyes have closed and I need to walk away or I won’t be able to stop what happens.

“Night, Der,” he calls out as I walk to my room. I stop in the doorway and glimpse back at him briefly before shutting the door.

* * * * *

I wake to the smell of coffee and the sun streaming through my blinds like a laser beam, making me squint. I had lain awake most of the night replaying everything that happened; the feel of his smooth cock as it slid down my throat, his slightly bitter, but divine taste on my tongue, firing off on my taste buds. I wanted to devour him; I wanted every inch under my tongue.

I look at the bedside clock. 9:15.
Shit!
I overslept, or under slept, considering I only got around three hours in total. I notice the coffee mug steaming with a note next to it.

I made coffee as you weren’t up, and if you had a restless night like me, you needed the lie-in.

 J

The cup is hot; he’s only just been in here. I sip the coffee and try not to gag. Jasper just can’t brew coffee. I’m used to the tar at the office, though, so I manage to get it down. The fact that he hadn’t just left without a word is a big positive. I feel lighter today. I finally released something from the steel trap inside me and it feels good, really good. 

I have a quick workout before showering and heading out. I stop off at the studio to check in on the girls and find Jasper there, talking in hushed tones with River. My head swims with the possibility of him actually telling her about what happened. 

She spots me coming towards them, her eyes flaring fleetingly before muttering to Jasper, who looks over his shoulder and shifts away from her.

“Yeah, so that’s what Sammy said. I’ll catch you later,” he tells her, his voice a little higher than it should be. He turns to me. “Oh, hey. I didn’t see you come in. I’m just leaving.”

I put his weird behaviour down to the fact that he’s still struggling with what went down, or rather, who. I smirk at my inner thoughts and watch his footing stumble. It feels good to have such an effect on him. Jasper is beyond good- looking. He’s molded from the highest quality God had to offer. Even his hair is perfect—soft and shiny—and his eyes are crystallised sky blue orbs. He works hard to maintain his trim perfect physique.

“Guys, what’s with the glaring?”

I pull my eyes from his to River’s; her brows are nearly in her hairline.

“Nothing, he ruined coffee this morning,” I stutter, flinching at my lame explanation.

“You must have had something in your mouth that’s thrown your taste buds off.” Jasper sneers, quirking an eyebrow before walking out and leaving my jaw on the floor.

 “What was that?” River asks, tapping my chest.

“Nothing. What was he doing here?”

Her eyes look at anything but me. “Oh, just checking in for Sammy. He was going to get them lunch.” I don’t question her blatant dishonesty as I look around for Kyra.

“She’s gone to an audition with a student.”

“What? Who?” 

She gives me an
are you kidding
look. “Kyra. Let’s not pretend you came here to watch my ass dance around this place.”

A laugh rips from my chest.

 She rises up on her tiptoes to drop a kiss to my cheek.

 God, I’m happy. This is a new feeling for me. I wasn’t a depressed asshole before, but I wasn’t the happy-go-lucky type, either. But I feel warmth in my chest, a little light shining on the dark past that lives inside me.

“Crap, Derek,” River calls after me as I push the door to leave. She jogs towards me. “Jasp left his wallet on the counter. Can you drop it over to him?”

“Didn’t you say he’s gone for food? Call him, I’ll take it to where he’s at.”

She shifts from foot to foot, then twirls a strand of her hair. “I called. He’s gone back to work.”

She can’t be serious; there is no way she called him. I grab the wallet and point my finger at her. “I’m a detective, and even if I wasn’t, I know you like I know the back of my hand, Riv! I don’t like that you’re lying, but I trust that it’s need to know, so I’ll let it go. But in future just say it’s private instead of this”—I wave my hand up and down in front of her—“bullshit! You can’t lie for shit.” 

I stop for some coffee and grab a few sandwiches to take to Jasper and Sammy. Sammy is looking over a Maserati when I arrive; a sleek, silver driver’s heaven in a compact, beautiful package. 

“Nice. Who owns this?” I ask as I admire the high quality leather interior.

“We just secured a new contract with Pyerade Construction to service all their company cars.” He beams.

That’s a huge company and an amazing contract to land. I know Jasper sorts that side of things and the pride booms in my chest.

“This is not a company car,” I state. “I nearly bought one of these.” I skim my hand over the roof.

“You flash bastard. This, we shouldn’t be touching. It’s insured with Maserati, but the guy who owns the company called in a favour.” Sammy eyeballs the bag in my hand. “You brought lunch, what’s going on?”

“Ha ha, I bought coffee, too. I was at the studio. Riv said Jasp left his wallet and was meant to grab lunch for you.”

He shakes his head and tugs a rag in his pocket. “Stevey, give it what it needs, but keep it out of the service manual,” he calls over his shoulder, striding towards my car, opening the door and bringing out the coffees. “Come on then.” He gestures towards the office. “Fuck knows where Jasper’s head’s at. He’s acting shifty as shit.” 

He pulls open the glass door; I grab it and follow behind him. He hands me my coffee cup and slides Jasper’s on the counter. “JASP!” he shouts, banging on Jasper’s office door.

“What’s up?” comes a reply from behind the still-closed door.

Sammy looks over at me, raising his hands in a “what the fuck” gesture. “Open the door, asshole. Your boyfriend just arrived.”

He’s laughing as he says it, but hearing that leave his lips makes me drop my cup. He jumps to avoid the hot splash from the impact as the main door swings open, the same time Jasper’s office door opens. His eyes grow like saucers when he sees me standing there.

“Hi, Jasper,” a male, but feminine voice purrs from behind me.

I look over my shoulder at a skinny blond guy. He must be in his early twenties; he’s wearing skin tight black jeans, a purple shirt tucked in with a pink bow tie. “Oh hello, tall, dark, and handsome.” He accentuates the
ome
, scanning me from top to toe, his eyes lingering on my ass.

“Denny, just drop the package off and piss off will you.” 

“Ohhh, sorry, Jasper. Who else has
not
got up your ass today?” 

It happens quickly, and if it wasn’t for Jasper slipping on the river of coffee at my feet, he wouldn’t have lost his footing and toppled into me, giving me the advantage to grip onto him and stop him landing a right hook to this kid.

Sammy rushes forwards to help grab Jasper, and slips in the coffee, too, landing in a heap. “Motherfucker!” he bellows, the sound echoing around the room.

“Argh, I was joking, I was joking!” the kid screeches, backing away and holding his hands up.

Jasper leans over my arm, pointing his finger at him. “You go too fucking far, Denny.” 

“Just go, Denny,” Sammy growls from the floor. “Seriously, what the fuck?” He groans, rubbing his thigh.

“He crossed a line, Sammy. I want him gone!” Jasper pulls from me, the heat from his body still warming my chest.

“Get the fucking mop and stop being so dramatic. He’s always like that with you. You’ve been acting fucking weird or guilty or some shit.” Sammy stands up and the coffee has completely drenched him. “What have you done?”  

Jasper’s hands go to his hips, his head bowed. “Why do you assume I’ve done something? You really have a shitty opinion of me.”

“Opinion, or years of friendship to back up facts?” 

He moves forward and shoves Sammy who stumbles backwards. “Hey, hey,” I say, grabbing Jasper. Sammy glares back at him with a raised brow. Jasper shakes me off, then goes back in his office and slams the door. The whole frame shakes from the force, the sound piercing the air.

“I told you he was acting weird. I need to go change. Talk to him, will you? Find out what’s going on.”

I wait until Sammy is out of sight before entering. The handle gives way under my hand and I slip in and close it behind me. He sits at his desk, his elbows resting on it and his hands holding his head.

“Jasp?” 

His breathing is ragged and in a quick movement, he’s up out of his chair and in my space, his eyes burning into mine. “What the fuck are you doing to me? Why can’t I stop the craving?”

His lips smash against mine, his hands gripping my hair in an almost painful grasp. His tongue seeks entry and I’m done letting him lead. I grip his hair and tug his face from mine, his mouth is all swollen and glowing with a red tinge, and his eyes have melted into pools of lust. I bite down on his lip drawing a deep groan from him.

I release the bruised lip and swipe my tongue over it to soothe it. “Because every craving needs to be fed.” I force his lips back to mine, consuming them. I take every tongue caress, every tooth graze across my lips, and every tug on my hair, and the feel of his tight, hard body pushing into mine.

His phone ringing is a distant hum in the background.
Bang, bang, bang!
“Answer your phone, asshole,” Sammy shouts through the door.

Jasper wrenches away from me as the answer machine kicks in and Hannah’s voice washes through the room, dousing the fire that engulfed it moments before.

“Jasper, it’s Hannah. You weren’t answering your cell. Surprise, surprise.” She breathes down the line causing a dreadful noise to fill the room. “I came home earlier than expected and wanted you to come here tonight to talk some things over. Call me.”

He stares at the phone, not speaking or moving, and I exit without a word.

Sammy sits there at the reception desk expectantly in fresh jeans and polo shirt. “I thought you were going home to change?” I ask.

He scoffs and goes back to his computer. “When you work here, you’re used to being covered in crap from one thing or another. I keep clothes here.” He looks to me, then to Jasper’s closed door. “Did you find out what’s eating him?”

I close my eyes at his choice of words and shake my head. “Just this Hannah crap. I need to go.” I lift my chin and he returns the gesture.

The breeze hits my heated flesh as I step outside. Why did she have to call in that moment; making us both remember that she exists and how everything is going to change soon?

* * * * *

I walk into the precinct; the flurry of activity all around me draws me from my thoughts. I recognise Johnny Marten sitting at Hans’ desk in handcuffs.

“Two weeks you’ve been out of prison. What have you done this time?”

He scowls at Hans, then looks up at me. “Like I told this asshole, I was set up.”

Hans bites into an apple; the juice squirts from his mouth and sprays some file on his desk. “Who would want to set you up and in the process lose their coke, you dumb fuck?” Hans kicks the leg of Johnny’s chair.

“Look, police harassment!” he shouts at me.

“Tell it to a judge, Johnny, and to your cell mate.” I point to my office for Hans to follow.

“Get him in an interview room, Jones,” Hans calls out, shutting the door behind him.

“Update on the suspect?” He bites more from his apple, then tosses it into my trash can. “What’s with the apple? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat anything that’s not a pastry.”

He turns his nose up. “The wife has cut me off until I lose a few pounds for our vacation.” 

“Update.” I can’t even respond to that.

“They moved him from ICU. He’s stable, but in an induced coma until the swelling reduces, and then it’s a waiting game. He may never wake up and if he does, he may not be like he was.”

I squint my eyes at him. “A stalking, woman molesting abuser?” 

He rolls his eyes. “He may be brain damaged; they don’t know the extent of his brain injury yet.”

“Fine, just keep me informed.”

My phone chirps with a text alert and I wave Hans out.

Kyra and Dawn are at the club tonight. Jasp was supposed to take them home afterwards, but he said he’s busy now and to text you.  R

I hated her going to these clubs, but she loved going and letting her hair down every now and then, and how could I deny her? Dancing was expression for River, her way of pouring everything she was feeling out, releasing her emotions, and she was breathtaking. Dawn was a helper at the studio and sometimes tagged along with River, now it was Kyra.

Time, Riv?

11? R

Fine, I will come in for them.

They will meet you outside. R

I WILL come IN for them!!!!

Ok DAD! .R

I can picture her giggling at her own text when she typed that. It was bad enough Kyra and Dawn were going alone. The last thing I wanted was them waiting in the street at that time of night.