Jasper's Claim | Book One

Nineteen

Music: Symphony by Clean bandit ft Zara Larsson

They rode into work together on Monday. Seeing as he was in town, Jax had decided to meet briefly with her bosses before heading back to New York.

She still had that meeting with his lawyers which was scheduled for late afternoon.

She couldn't help smiling as she remembered how they had been unable to sleep after the wild sex they'd had.

'You awake doll?' he'd murmured into her hair, after they had lain in silence for a while.

She lay on her side, her head on his chest and one leg thrown across his thigh, while, he was on his back, one arm wrapped around her shoulder, holding her close.

'No.' she whispered back, smiling.

He was silent for a few seconds, then, 'I could have sworn I heard someone say no.' he whispered to himself.

She giggled as he kissed her head.

'It was nice to meet Sophia,' he said, 'she's a riot.'

'Yeah, she is.' she responded wistfully. 'I don't know what I would do without her.'

He smiled, his thumb stroking her skin.

'Do you both see your parents often? Are they in Miami too?'

She paused for a moment before responding, 'Our parents passed away, few years ago.'

He stilled. 'I'm sorry to hear that.'

She nodded.

'How did they pass?' he asked softly.

'Car accident.'

He said nothing, just pulled her tighter against him.

They were silent for a while after that, both in their thoughts.

'I had just graduated from College...Sophie was still a freshman.' she said, quietly.

'They were so different. My mom was from Trinidad and my dad was white, but, they were probably the most in-love couple I've ever seen.' she laughed softly.

'I got a call one night,' she continued, pausing to take a deep breath, 'I had just moved in here and wasn't at home...the hospital asked me to come immediately...they must've known they wouldn't be alive much longer.' her voice thinned out as her throat closed up.

She swallowed and tried to control her emotions so as to keep the tears at bay.

He caressed her, 'We don't have to talk about it love.' he said.

She shook her head. 'No, it's ok. I think I should. I haven't ever talked about it with anyone...'

He remained silent, listening.

'Anyway,' she cleared her throat, 'afterwards, Sophie decided to move in here with me, she was mostly at school and...there are so many memories at our parents place...'

'So, no one lives there now?' he asked.

She shook her head. 'It's locked up. We didn't want to sort through their things...and we didn't want to sell the house...it's what they worked for, where we grew up, you know?'

'mhmmn.'

She sighed.

'And their families? Your extended family, do you stay in touch?'

'My mom's family doesn't live in the states, but, yes, we talk on the phone. I have a few cousins I haven't met yet.' She laughed and continued, 'my dad's family did not support their marriage.