Jasper POV
When she said, "Let him go," her tone was so light, her gaze so soft.
But it wasn’t for me.
It was for David.
More than that... it was to protect the Goodrich family!
I looked at her, and it felt like something had viciously ripped a gash in my heart. In the conference room, she had just told Caleb, "I don’t need your charity," only to turn around and easily forgive an accomplice in the whole conspiracy, all for a colleague who had betrayed her. ’Why? Is it because she’s soft-hearted? Or is it because... deep down, she’s never let go of her lingering affection for Caleb?’
When we returned to the villa, she didn’t say a word. She walked straight into the guest room and shut the door.
I knew she was angry—she’d discovered Eleanor was one of my people. She wants her independence, and I respect that. But the world won’t treat her gently just because of her "declaration of independence." I learned that the hard way, so much so that I wish I could turn back time ten years.
I sat in my study, staring at the light in her room on the security monitor. The light didn’t go out until two in the morning.
But I couldn’t sleep.
A restless, almost savage possessiveness surged through my veins. ’I want to storm in there, pin her to the bed, and force her to tell me herself: Do you still have feelings for that man?’
My rational mind told me I couldn’t.
But the wolf’s instinct was roaring.
Finally, I got up and walked barefoot to her door. It was unlocked. I pushed it open gently. Moonlight spilled in from the floor-to-ceiling windows, outlining her curled-up form in the center of the bed. Her breathing was even; she was sound asleep.
I stood by the bed, watching her quietly for a long time. Her brow was slightly furrowed, as if she were dreaming.
Suddenly, she turned over. Her lips moved slightly, and the sound was muffled yet clear:
"Caleb... don’t go..."
In that instant, it was as if all the blood in my body froze, only to detonate a moment later!
My golden wolf eyes emerged uncontrollably, my nails shot out into sharp claws, and my bones emitted a low CRACKLE. I clenched my jaw tight to keep a howl from bursting from my throat.
’So that’s how it is.’
’Was her tough act in the conference room during the day all for my benefit?’
’Is she still thinking about him?’
Anger, jealousy, the pain of betrayal... all my emotions coalesced into a destructive impulse. ’I want to tear that name to shreds, tear that past to pieces, tear apart everything in her heart that doesn’t belong to me!’
I leaned over her, planting one hand beside her head and violently grabbing her chin with the other, forcing her to face me. In the moonlight, her lashes fluttered and her cheeks were flushed. She was completely defenseless.
Then, she unconsciously furrowed her brow, suddenly raised a hand, and groped for the wrist of the hand holding her chin.
Her small hand was warm and soft, conveying total trust.
The instant her fingertips touched my skin, the rampaging wolf within me receded like a tide. My golden pupils slowly faded back to dark brown, my claws retracted, and all that remained was a violent heartbeat and a searing body temperature.
I was stunned.
’She... she can actually quell my beastly nature when it erupts?’
The realization was both shocking and terrifying. To think she had such absolute control over me.
I looked down at her face, so close to mine. My breath brushed against her lips. She parted them slightly, letting out a barely audible whimper.
As if possessed, I released her chin. My fingers slid across her smooth cheek and came to rest on her slender neck. Her pulse throbbed gently beneath my fingertips, like a bewitching song.
I couldn’t help but lean closer, my nose brushing against her earlobe as I inhaled the faint scent of shampoo in her hair. Then, my hand slid slowly downward, covering the soft curve of one of her breasts over the thin fabric of her nightgown.
Her body trembled slightly, but she didn’t wake up. Instead, still asleep, she nuzzled against my palm, like a little kitten seeking comfort.
This silent invitation completely shattered my self-control.
I increased the pressure of my hand, my thumb stroking the bud at its peak, feeling it quickly harden beneath my finger. Her breathing grew ragged, her chest heaved, and her legs rubbed together unconsciously.
"Ngh..." She let out a muffled moan, her eyelashes fluttering violently as she seemed on the verge of waking.
I held my breath, my body taut as a bow, torn between wanting her to open her eyes and see me, and fearing she would push me away when she woke.
Just then, she murmured another name: "Jas...per..."
Not Caleb.
It was my name.
A tremor shot through me. All my savagery and suspicion vanished in that instant, replaced by an almost devout ecstasy.
’She called for me in her dream.’
I leaned down, my lips pressing against the shell of her ear, and whispered in a voice only we could hear, "Good girl... keep sleeping. When you wake up, I’ll make you say my name with your own lips, again, and again."
My hand, however, did not stop, continuing to light fires across her body. She called my name from a dream that belonged to another, and now, in reality, I would burn my mark completely into her.
Her breathing grew more and more chaotic, her cheeks were crimson, and her body arched slightly, as if welcoming an approaching storm.
And I was about to drag her into an even deeper abyss—
Suddenly, her eyelids twitched, and her long lashes slowly lifted, revealing a sliver of her eyes.
For a moment, she didn’t seem fully awake. Her gaze was dazed and moist, like a newborn animal that had just woken up. She even unconsciously nuzzled deeper into my embrace, a contented hum escaping her throat as her hand, still resting on my arm, gave it a little squeeze.
"Jasper..." Her voice was as soft as melted honey. "Don’t mess around... let’s sleep a little longer..."
’She thinks this is a dream.’
The realization softened my heart, but my actions only grew bolder. I lowered my head and captured her lips, my tongue prying past her slightly parted teeth to conquer the space within. She stiffened for an instant, then began to respond with clumsy urgency, her breath hitching as her body gradually grew hot.
But just as one of my hands slipped under the hem of her nightgown to caress the bare skin of her waist, she suddenly jolted!
All the drowsiness vanished in an instant, her pupils dilating. She saw clearly the man on top of her, saw the real moonlight filling the room, and finally realized—this was not a dream!
"Ah!" she cried out, shoving at my chest with a voice full of panic and shame. "Jasper! What are you doing?!"
She struggled to sit up, but I held her firmly in my arms. I took the chance to flip her over so her back was against me, then rested my chin in the crook of her shoulder. My voice was low and husky, laced with amusement. "Awake now? You were calling my name so sweetly just a moment ago."
"You... you’re taking advantage of me!" She was so ashamed and angry that the tips of her ears were bleeding red, and she reached up to pry my hands away.
Instead of loosening my grip, I tightened my arms, pressing my scorching chest against her back. My hot breath fanned over the sensitive skin behind her ear. "I was just confirming whether or not I’m in your heart." I paused, my voice suddenly softening. "You called my name in your dream, Lila. Not Caleb’s."
Her body went rigid, and her struggles ceased. "You heard wrong!"