Runaway (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 4)

“You won’t? I am glad about that.”

Jasper jerked and leaned back to look at her in astonishment. “You are?”

“Yes. It is good to know that I am not going to be alone in having to enjoy the misery of us being apart. You see, I am not able to settle properly if I don’t know where you are and what you are doing at any given moment either. I know you are going to tell me that it is the nature of your job and that your activities have to be kept quiet, but there it is. I c-care about you.” Molly looked at him with all the love in her eyes that blossomed deep within her heart.

“Good, because I c-care about you,” he teased. “A lot.”

“A lot?”

“Definitely,” Jasper whispered. He secured his promise with a loving kiss. “Shall we?”

Molly blinked at him, completely lost for a moment in the sublime promise of his kiss.

“Shall we what?”

“Leave this place and go and find somewhere nicer in the countryside somewhere to live?” Jasper asked.

“I think that is a splendid idea,” Molly replied with a soft smile.

Harry, who had just sauntered into the house, took one look at them and rolled his eyes. He had just overheard the end of Jasper’s question and Molly’s response and promptly turned around and retraced his steps. As he left he began to hum the wedding march, but the door was closed behind him before Jasper or Molly could take him to task over it.

“I warn you now that I insist upon you making an honest man out of me,” Jasper smirked when he had tipped Molly’s chin back around until she was looking at him.

“You want to marry me?” she breathed.

“I promise I will do my very best to look after you, protect you at all costs, and ke

ep you happy for the rest of our lives,” Jasper whispered.

“I should like that,” Molly replied, her voice raspy with emotion.

Before his lips settled over hers, Jasper paused. “I have to confess something.”

“Oh?” Molly stared at him and waited.

“When I said I c-care about you; it was a lie. I don’t,” Jasper informed her.

Molly nodded, as though completely understanding.

Jasper, boldly heartened by the disappointment in her eyes, felt the last of his lingering doubts about their suitability vanish.

“I am new to all of this marriage malarkey. I confess, I live in a man’s world, one which hasn’t afforded much in the way of luxuries, or relationships for that matter,” Jasper murmured.

“Relationship malarkey?” Molly asked when Jasper fell into thoughtful silence.

Her brows lifted when he tugged uncomfortably at his ear in much the same way Oscar did when he had to confess to some misdemeanour. He – Jasper – looked so endearing that it was all Molly could do not to hug him, but there was clearly something important he had to say.

“I love you,” Jasper breathed. “It’s there. I have said it and mean every word. You are and always will be my world. Something changed the second I dragged you out of that river. You were a stranger to me, but I truly felt as though I knew you. I don’t know what it means, but I do know that I would be a damned fool to ever let you go because I could never replace you. I want you with me all the time. I want you as my wife.”

Molly, with tears streaming down her cheeks, stared helplessly at him for several long moments. She had never felt as happy as she did right then. Nevertheless, seeing Jasper’s discomfort had helped her vanquish her own fears and insecurities.

“I love you too,” she whispered boldly. “I don’t know what it means either, but I do know what you mean to me. I felt it too, the second you pulled me out of the river. This connection between us is strong, too strong to ignore. I love you, Jasper.”

“Then you will marry me?” Jasper asked hopefully.

“Yes, I would consider myself blessed to be your wife,” Molly replied fervently.

She got no further before Jasper kissed her and stole her breath and brought her a thousand promises for the future – a future they now knew they would share.

The End.