Free Jakarta's Trust (Castle Phantasie Book 1) by Kit Tunstall Page B

service. Again, tears welled in her eyes, and she brushed them away, impatient with her melancholy thoughts and tendency to cry tonight.
    Besides, Teague wouldn’t be expecting gratitude. For him, offering her a choice in everything was an essential part of helping her heal. She knew he held the hope that if she could completely get beyond the past with Darien, then she could move onto a future with him. Thus far, she hadn’t been able to convince him that she didn’t want any sort of permanency in the future. A sinking sensation filled her stomach, because she suspected when he accepted that, he would end things. Teague wanted more, deserved more, than she could ever give him.
     

C HAPTER T WO
    Jakarta trailed a finger of her left hand across the china plate, getting the last bit of cream. “Those pastries were to die for,” she said, bringing her finger to her mouth to lick off the topping.
    Teague intercepted her hand, taking her finger to his mouth. A quiver of delight ran down her spine when he drew the digit between his lips and cleansed her finger with his tongue. He drew out his strokes, licking her finger with small swipes long after when it would have been clean. Finally, he removed her finger, but held her hand, pressing it against his chest. “Delicious.”
    She pretended to pout. “I know. That’s why I wanted the last bite.”
    His blue eyes took on a smoky tinge, and his voice lowered an octave. “I wasn’t talking about the cream.”
    Just the timbre of his voice and that look in his eyes caused her pussy to flood with moisture. Her nipples beaded in her bra, and the lace was suddenly abrasive. She was ready for him to make love to her.
    He felt in his pocket for something, and her pulse skyrocketed. He must be looking for a condom, which meant he planned to fuck her right there before the fire, on the white fur rug, where they’d had their impromptu carpet picnic. She couldn’t wait to feel the soft fur against her back, Teague against her front, and his cock sliding deep inside her.
    Her erotic thoughts fled when he removed his hand from his pocket, and she saw the familiar diamond ring between his thumb and middle finger. She tried to tug her hand away, as he poised the band over her ring finger. Why did he persist in pushing this issue? “Teague,” she said in a steely tone, meant to act as a warning.
    He looked up from the ring and her finger. “Why don’t you just try it on, to see how it fits? You might like it.”
    She succeeded in pulling away from his hold. Jakarta shook her head. “No. I already know how I’ll feel about wearing any ring again. It’s a prison, Teague…maybe symbolic, but it’s still a sign of ownership, of possession. I won’t be bound again.”
    His eyes darkened further, but not with passion. He dropped the ring on the floor. “Fine. You don’t have to wear a ring. I don’t need that. I’ll take you as my wife, any way I can get you.”
    She shook her head. “Why is the piece of paper making it all official so damned important, if the ring isn’t?”
    “Because at least then I’d know you want more than the moment with me.” He got to his feet. “I love you, Jak, you know that.”
    She nodded. She did know that. Unlike her, he was free with the words. The few times she had managed to express her emotions, the words came out stilted, lacking even a hint of the depth of love she felt for him.
    He paced a small circle around the rug. “I want to spend my life with you.”
    “I want to be with you too.”
    His mouth twisted. “But you want an escape option, should things not go as expected.”
    She bowed her head, not meeting his eyes. Her voice was stiff when she said, “I do love you, Teague. It’s just—”
    He sighed. “I know what the problem is. Don’t you think it’s time to let go of the past?”
    Her eyes widened. “I have! Do you know how hard it was for me to start seeing you? I wanted to call off that first date, but I