JASON and KEANNE Read Online Free Page A

sucked her breath. “You must wish them well on their marriage even if you want to tear them apart.”
      His hard body jerked at her words.
      And then she felt it, and God, oh God, she felt it, and never had such wetness hurt, like acid on her skin.
      Jason’s tears had started to fall.
      “Will you mind,” he asked roughly, his head falling on her shoulder, his tears absorbed by the silk of her dress, “if I become fucking weak now?”
      She shook her head silently, unable to speak past the tears that fell with his.
      “I loved her, little doe. I fucking love her.”
      “I know, mon bébé,” she whispered. “I know.”
      “When they marry – it will be over. I have to accept that it will be over.”
      She withdrew from Jason, cupping his face with her hands, pulling him close so she could press a kiss on his forehead. His kiss had been magical that first day they had met, and right now, Keanne wished with all her might that she could return the gesture.
      “ Keanne. ” His low, hoarse cry was filled with so much sorrow she wanted to carve out her heart and let it beat for him so that his own could rest.
      She pressed her lips harder against his skin. “One day,” she promised him, “one day you will find the right girl that’s meant for you.”
      He laughed bitterly. “You sound so sure.”
      Keanne pulled away again, needing Jason to look into her eyes so he could see she meant her words. “It’s because I am sure.” And she was because she had always known since the day he did not come to rescue her – since that very day he had given her back the courage to look into the mirror and not cry at what she saw, Keanne had known.
      She was in love with Jason, and no other girl could ever love him more than she loved him.
    ****
    Jason was more tipsy than drunk when she helped him back to his room, Keanne waving away the offers of assistance from his guards. She wanted to do this for him because it was but a small thing to do for the man who had saved her in more ways than she could count.
      When she got him to bed, she took off his shirt, his socks, and shoes. Her throat went a little dry at the sight of his naked chest. She had seen it countless times, but of course that did not matter. The sight would always leave her secretly speechless.
    When Keanne turned to leave, long fingers wrapped around her wrist from behind, and she saw Jason’s eyes drifting open. “Jason?”
      Alcohol did not make his voice slur. Rather, it only made his voice naked, and her heart hurt as he half-pleaded, “Don’t go.”
      It shattered her to see such a proud man broken once again, and Keanne flew back to his side, falling to her knees next to Jason’s vast bed. She brought his hand to her badly trembling lips, which were preventing her from speaking.
      He repeated more fiercely, “Don’t go.”
      She closed her eyes. “No, I won’t.” Of course she would not. She never would – for as long as Jason wanted her with him.
      “Stay.” This time, he sounded frantic.
      “I will.” But the anxiety darkening Jason’s gaze did not lessen. At a loss as to what to do, Keanne let her instincts guide her. She rose on her knees and leaned close to press a kiss on his forehead. “I won’t ever leave, Jason,” she whispered. “So please rest.”
      Gradually, Jason calmed down. And when she started to stroke his hair, murmuring to him in French, his eyes slowly drooped.
      He slept, and she slept too.
      It was morning when she woke, but it was her aching back that brought Keanne out of her slumber rather than the warm rays of sunlight crawling into the room from the edges of the balcony’s curtain-covered doors.
      Rubbing her eyes, the first thing she saw was Jason’s peacefully sleeping face. Without a frown or even a seductive smile on his lips, he looked much younger and peaceful, a sun god that had yet to rise.
      Shakily, Keanne reached out to stroke one beautifully