It was him I was afraid of losing. Maybe the people he works for can replace Jasper if something happens to him, but I can’t. He’s the man I want to grow old with, and I could never love an ordinary man after knowing what it’s like to be loved by him.
He ruined me, just like I knew he would.
And I’m so glad he did.
“I’m retiring,” he verifies softly.
I sigh, pushing out a breath I had no idea I’ve been holding for the last three years. The relief flooding my system is so dizzying, it makes me unsteady. I throw my arms around his neck and hold him tight. “Thank you,” I whisper, burying my face in the crook of his neck.
He may not have said he’s doing it for me, but I know he is. Jasper enjoys the work he does, he enjoys the people he works with and for. It’s the only life he really knows, and some part of me thinks he might miss it once he’s out, but he’s getting out, anyway—for me. For Livy.
He’d do anything for me and Livy.
Jasper’s strong hand settles on my back, the other going to my waist.
It’s a long time before I let go. When I finally do, I pull back to look at him. “When?”
“In the new year. Probably January, maybe February. I still have some stuff to handle, loose ends to clip and tie up, plus I have to deal with the financial shit on the house. I already put in the offer and they accepted it, but I wanted to wait before we moved forward with everything. They knew I was giving it to you as a Christmas gift, so they agreed to wait. I didn’t want to be finished with the process already, just in case you reacted differently than I expected and didn’t want to move anymore.”
A teasing smile graces my lips. “I mean, I do find my work deeply fulfilling. I’m not sure I can leave it.”
Jasper rolls his eyes. “Sure you do.”
“If I’m not here, who will wash the high maintenance silk bedding that keeps the Morelli ladies so beautiful? Who will ensure that the household never runs out of dried cranberries for Mateo’s dinner salad?”
“These are the important things in life,” he says, playing along.
I nod. “I’m glad you understand.”
Jasper snatches the keyring out of my hand. “I guess I’ll just have to give this big, beautiful house to someone else.”
“Hey, give that back,” I say, giving up the game and tackling him so I can get my new house key back.
“Technically, this key is for theatrical purposes only.” He holds it over his head so I can’t reach, and keeps an arm around my waist to keep me from getting any higher. “We’ll get the real keys after we sign the closing paperwork, but I needed something to wrap, so…”
I stop reaching for the key now that I’m on top of Jasper, my thighs straddling his sexy body. “I don’t care if it’s a real key or symbolic, it’s still mine. Give it back, thief.”
His beautiful eyes glint mischievously as he looks up at me. “You’ll have to fight me for it.”
I gaze down at him, my eyes full of all the love I can bear. Overcome with tenderness, I sigh and run my fingers through his hair, then I lean down to kiss those perfect lips.
Jasper falls right into my trap, letting his guard down and kissing me back. I break away and sit back so I can reach for the hem of my shirt and draw it off. I toss it back toward the couch, then go right for the clasp on my bra. His heated gaze drops as I free my boobs from their fabric prison, and he drops the key on the ground so his hands can follow.
Before he can catch my breasts in his hands, before he even gets to touch me, I snatch the keychain and leap off of him.
“Hey!” Jasper objects.
I don’t pause to look back—I can’t, he’s too quick. I laugh as I run down the hall with my prize, but Jasper seizes me the moment I step over the threshold into our bedroom.
“You’re gonna pay for that,” he tells me, walking me forward toward the bed.
Anticipation thick in my tone, I reach back to wind my arm around his neck. “Promise?”
“Mm-hmm.” He kisses the side of my neck greedily, one hand moving around my body to palm my naked breast. “Just because I’m retiring, don’t think that means I’ll stop collecting on what I’m owed.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I murmur, sighing as he drags his lips across a particularly sensitive area of my neck.
I want to keep up the game, but not more than I want to turn around and kiss him, so that’s what I do.