Jasper helped pick Eleanor up from the balcony floor. She remained silent for some time as they walked through the long halls of the palace. Suddenly, her stomach let out a loud growl. She stopped walking and clutched herself as the hunger pains consumed her.
"When was the last time you ate Princess?" Jasper demanded, putting his hand on the small of her back. She essentially had vodka for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but surely wasn't going to tell him that.
"I-I'm not sure.." she said purposefully inching away from his touch.
"You really need to take better care of yourself. I'll take you to the kitchen."
Eleanor purposefully took the lead, striding into the dark kitchen with her arms folded. Jasper switched the lights on illuminating the vast vacant area where chef's usually ran around during normal hours of the day.
"What do you want to eat?" he asked opening up one of the many refrigerators.
"I don't care." She sat down at one of the tables and put her head in her hands. Exhaustion devoured her.
"I'll be right back." Jasper vanished out of the room. She listened to his footsteps as they lead further away.
Lord, why am I even giving him the time of day right now? He better not get any ideas..
She retrieved the diamond earrings from her sweatshirt pocket and put them back on, although it did not match her current attire.
Minutes later, he returned wearing a tight fitting white shirt and grey sweatpants. His hair was messy and he was wearing reading glasses. "My room isn't too far from here. I decided it was late enough to change out of that damn suit... I hope that's okay, your highness."
"Wait-" Eleanor chimed in. "You wear glasses?" she fought back a smile as she watched him take out a few items from the fridge.
"I'm near sighted Princess. I wear contacts during the day." He cut up a few veggies and took out a pan. He then cracked a few eggs into the pan and threw bread in the toaster.
How is it possible for him to look even sexier OUT of a suit? Even in those ghastly, dorky glasses?
She didn't realize she was gawking at him until he turned around and looked at her. "Do you like bacon with your eggs?"
"Um.. yes please," she spoke as she felt her cheeks flushing.
He set down two plates in front of them with half of an omelet, toast, and bacon on each. They sat in silence while she took two bites and already felt full. It was truly delicious, but her appetite just hadn't been the same recently.
After another five minutes passed in silence with his eyes close on her. "Why didn't you leave with Mandy when you had the chance?" Eleanor slammed her fork down, breaking the peace. "I could have sent your ass back to prison, along with that bitch girlfriend of yours. In fact, I could still have you arrested this very moment, with just the snap of my finger." She raised her hand and pushed her middle finger and thumb together, leaning her head to the side.
"But you won't."
She hated how he had the ability to knock her off her high horse with one quick statement. He always had that power over her. His foolish level of confidence matched her own.
"And she's not my girlfriend; she never was," he continued. "She was just a friend- or, something like that.." Jasper stumbled over his words reaching for his toast.
"Fuck buddy," Eleanor replied dryly. "A couple of con artists; deceiving people and fucking each other all around the world.. how romantic."
He raised an eyebrow in amusement. "I met her in one of the casino's I was working security at in Vegas. I escorted her out of the hotel for counting cards during a game of black jack, and then we began to talk. I was impressed with her skills."
Now I've really lost my appetite.
"I left one of the highest positions at said hotel, and was given a similar job at another one. We would stay up at night researching the best strategies to make sure she always had the advantage when playing. And I prevented her from ever getting caught again knowing the in's and out's of the casino. We made hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash."
As he spoke, he didn't seem to be the slightest bit ashamed. Jasper was clearly proud. He is the most arrogant man I have ever met.
"So why leave? Why come across the pond to make my life a living hell?"
It was then that he fell back into his typical stern expression. He stared right through her, clearly in deep thought.
Eleanor cleared her throat and started to pick at the bacon on her plate.
"I got the job." He let out a sigh. "The rush was addicting, we felt like we were invincible. Mandy brought out the worst in me. We were a horrible influence on each other. But it's over now, Princess."
"Why on Earth would you ever think that I would believe you? The only reason I haven't turned you in is because of Liam. He really trusts you, you know."
"As he should," he interjected. "I told you earlier. I've changed."
Eleanor snorted as she threw her head back in amusement. Jasper abruptly stood up from his chair, grabbing both of their plates and bringing them toward the garbage.
"I fucked up, Eleanor, I know that," he calmly spoke with his back to her. "I'm a fucked up person who was raised by thieves."
"Daddy issues?" she snickered as he slammed one of the plates into the sink shattering it. The loud crashing noise made her jump in her seat. Jasper promptly turned back toward her as she instantly regretted saying that.
Clearly I've hit a nerve..
"Call it what you want," he spoke at a low volume with his teeth pressed together. "Everyone has their demons. You for one, should know that."
This shut her up and she found herself once again without words.
"Let's get you to bed." He dashed toward her, extending his hand out for her to grab onto.
"Aren't you going to clean that up?" Eleanor winced looking into the kitchen.
She grabbed onto his hand helping her stand up. Without one word Jasper escorted her into the dark halls of the palace, never letting go of her hand. And she didn't want him to.
They walked upstairs to her bedroom in the dark. The full moon cast through the windows leaving just enough light to see. "Thank you for the food," Eleanor whispered, lightly biting her lip as she removed her hand from his grasp.
"Anything for you, Princess," he resumed his bodyguard stance.
She didn't want him to leave her. Even after everything he had just told her. Even after everything he had put her through. There was no one on the planet who had ever made her feel the way he does. She hated him, she cared for him, she was afraid of him, she lusted for him.. He made her feel alive.
Without thinking she slowly backed herself up against the wall. She stared into his eyes; those big beautiful blue eyes that told such a story. There was such agony and disdain pouring from his glance. There was more to this man than she ever thought there was. He was clearly broken. And all she wanted to do was fix him. She looked down at his lips, feeling her heart rate begin to accelerate.
Eleanor couldn't fight the feeling anymore. No matter how many times he fucked up was irrelevant in this moment. She wanted him, and she wanted him now. She pulled the waistband of his sweatpants to pull him in closer. Throwing him off guard he lost his balance, pushing most of his body weight up against hers. His breath was heavy and she saw his eyes flicker with excitement. With one swift movement he scooped her small frame up against the wall as she instantaneously wrapped her legs around his waist. She grabbed his face and pushed her lips onto his. Eleanor yanked on the back of his hair as he deepened the kiss and grinded into her. Still holding her, he opened up her bedroom door and placed her on the couch on her back.
Jasper ripped off her sweatshirt to find that she wasn't wearing anything underneath it. He made a quick glance into her eyes before delicately kissing and sucking on her breasts. He made his way down her stomach and lightly licked around her belly button. She squirmed as he removed her shorts with his teeth tossing them to the ground. He continued to pleasure her as she let out a moan under her breath. After a moment she placed her foot on his shoulder and extended her leg, pushing him back. Jasper promptly stood up with a confused look on his face.
"I want you inside of me, take me to my bed," she demanded as she tore off his shirt and placed his glasses on her table.
"Yes, Princess" Jasper growled as he picked her up from the couch. He lightly placed her down on her pillow and nipped at her neck. Putting his face before hers, he caressed her face with his hand and glanced next to her. Suddenly his eyes widened and his eyebrows furrowed. He swiftly let go of her body and backed away off the bed.
"What, what is it?" Eleanor asked. She looked around her bed and fixed her eyes on what he was staring at. Next to her lied the empty bottle of vodka that she had consumed all within a matter of hours earlier that day.
"Eleanor, you've been drinking today? Do you not remember that you almost fucking died from this behavior the other night?" Jaspers eyes flashed with rage.
"Jasper I wanted to take the pain away.. today had been so annoying and-"
"And I'm sure you were just trying to take the pain away the other night, you know, when you almost DIED!" he shouted at her making her slightly jump.
"Fucking hell Jasper, yes, I was. And it was all your fault. You did this to me, don't you ever forget that," she fumed pulling the covers over her body.
And then, with the look on his face as though he had just seen a car crash, Jasper reached for his glasses on the table and threw his shirt back on. "Clearly this was a mistake," he spoke softly as he gave one last look at Eleanor. "Good night Princess."
Before she could even get a word out he slammed the door. What the fuck just happened? She took one of her pillows and slammed it over her face collapsing into her bed. Overwhelmed and exhausted with the events of the day, Eleanor quickly fell asleep.
