Tyed to You (9 page)

Jasmine giggled, resting her forehead against Ty’s. “I can’t believe we did that,” she whispered. “But it was amazing.”

“You’re amazing,” Ty whispered. His expression turned serious. “Please tell me I have more time with you than just this weekend, Jasmine. Now that we’ve…” He paused, as though searching for the right words before beginning again. “I think it’s been made clear how I’ve felt about you for a long time. Now that you know, and we’ve…”

“Fucked?” Jasmine offered with a sardonic smile, but Ty shook his head almost impatiently.

“No! That’s just it. It’s not just fucking to me, Jas, and I hope that’s not all it is to you too. Is it?”

Taken aback, Jasmine shook her head. “No, Ty. I didn’t mean to be flippant. I think that what we’ve done has been special, and beautiful, and…”

“I don’t want it to stop,” Ty interrupted. “I’m in love with you, Jasmine. I’m sorry if it’s too soon for you to hear that after Kyle and everything, but I need to know that when you leave here tomorrow, that this isn’t over. That we aren’t over. I want to be with you, and I’m begging you to give this, give
me
, a chance.”

‘I’m in love with you, Jasmine
.’

The words rang repetitively in Jasmine’s ears. Her mouth went dry, unsure how to respond as he watched her with pleading eyes. The clock over the mantel ticked the seconds as they passed. Finally, Jasmine found the confidence to take the leap of faith she’d been pondering all morning. She couldn’t profess love to him yet, but she could give him this. She wanted it too. Taking a deep breath, Jasmine spoke. “I’d like that very much, Ty. I want to see where this goes too.”

Ty’s relief was evident, and he threaded his fingers through her hair, cupping the back of her head, and pulled her forward to meet his kiss. She briefly wondered if he’d been holding back before, as he was kissing her with such intensity that it made her gasp and her body flush with desire. Forgetting where they were, Jasmine turned her body so that she straddled him on the couch, returning his kiss with gusto, intent to convey what her words could not—hope that this was real, that they could make this work, and the raw desire that she felt for him.

He stroked and caressed her back, sliding his hands down to cup her ass and press her even closer to him. She was amazed to feel that he was already getting hard again, then smiled against his lips as she acknowledged the perk of dating a man of his age with a roll of her hips.

Ty broke the kiss, grinning as he seemed to pick up on her train of thought. “I take it Kyle didn’t bounce back quite so easily.”

“Nuh-uh,” she whispered.

Chuckling, he pressed his lips against hers again. “Oh, baby. Just you wait.”

A few minutes later, Freddie walked in. “Jesus, you two. Is it mating season or something? Lunch is ready.”

Already?
Jasmine wondered, dazedly looking at the clock. Indeed, the ‘few minutes’ Jasmine thought had passed had been more like fifteen. She then realised her lips were sore and felt a little puffy. She turned her head to see Saul and Laurel sitting at the table on the deck, where she and Ty had been in plain view to them. Laurel acknowledged her with a smug smile and waggled her fingers in a teasing wave. “Oh God. Yeah, lunch! I’m…kind of starving, actually.” Jasmine looked at Ty who was watching her in amusement, but made no move to get up.

“I bet you are,” Freddie intoned good-naturedly. “So are you going to get up from Tyson or is he expected to carry you?”

“Oh! Geez,” Jasmine said, scrambling to extricate herself from Ty’s clutches and he laughed.

“I don’t mind carrying you, you know.”

“Shush, we’re nearly obscene,” Jasmine admonished, having regained a portion of her senses.

“And you have been for the last twenty minutes,” Laurel added. “Come on, you hussy, give your lips a break and eat something.”

* * * *

As the day waned towards evening, it was decided by all to go out for dinner and have drinks at a bar in town rather than barbecue again for dinner.

After agreeing to get ready with Laurel in the master bedroom, Jasmine fetched some clothes from her bag in the studio, fending off Ty’s advances. “Later,” she said, shooing him away with a flirty smile.

Jasmine and Laurel took turns showering, with Jasmine taking care to keep her hair dry for ease of styling when she got out. Laurel chose a short but softly feminine, blue floral sundress paired with brown leather cowboy boots and a straw cowboy hat, while Jasmine opted for a pair of crisp white shorts that fell just above mid-thigh, showcasing her long, smooth legs, and a breezy burnt orange top that draped casually off the shoulder. She finished the look with a pair of espadrilles and left her hair down in soft waves, keeping her make-up casual with the exception of a hint of smoky eye shadow.

“Damn, girl, if my brother had trouble keeping his hands off you before, God help him now,” Laurel said appreciatively.

Jasmine nibbled her lip. “You think so?”

Laurel nodded. “I know so. You look hot.”

Jasmine laughed. “Well, so do you. You’re not looking to find some company while Hank’s away, are you?” she teased.

“Nah, I just like to let the boys see what they can’t have. Not gonna lie, it’s an ego boost,” she admitted with a wicked grin.

Jasmine laughed again, briefly, before her mood sobered and she looked at Laurel thoughtfully. “Are you sure you’re okay with—”

Laurel cut her off before she got any further. “I don’t want you to ask me that again, because the answer is yes. A million times yes. My brother is crazy about you, and I’ve never seen either of you happier than you are right now.”

Jasmine nodded, and down to the floor as she confessed, “He told me he was in love with me.”

“Good.” Laurel’s tone was so matter-of-fact that Jasmine looked back up at her in shock. “He has been for years. I’m a little surprised he’s already come out and said as much, but I’m so glad he did. Now we just need to wait for you to figure out you’re in love with him too,” she finished with a smug smile.

Jasmine chuckled ruefully. “Such a meddler,” she teased.

“Yes, and you’re welcome, Miss ‘fuck-me-harder-on-the-washing-machine’.”

Jasmine cringed. “Wow, you heard that too, huh?”

Laurel raised an eyebrow at her. “I’d be shocked if the neighbours didn’t hear you.”

Jasmine heard the guys downstairs and realised that they were probably waiting on them to finish, so that ended the girl talk for now. They walked down and while Saul and Freddie whistled at the both of them, Jasmine only watched Ty’s eyes.

He was looking pretty damn fine himself. He was dressed casually in a checked short-sleeve button-down shirt, worn untucked over khaki cargo shorts that displayed his tanned, toned calves. The shirt did nothing to show the chiselled muscle underneath, but with those eyes and that rakish grin, he would easily be the handsomest guy in the bar. And he was hers.

“Hi,” she greeted him shyly.

He quickly crossed the room to her. “You look…damn. Laurel, we’re not going.”

“What?” both women asked in confusion.

“I think I’d rather skip dinner and drinks, and go right to my dessert,” Ty murmured to Jasmine, leaning down and placing gentle kisses on her neck. The effect it had on her was immediate and delicious. “You are gorgeous.” He pressed his lips to hers, lip gloss be damned.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, let’s go,” Freddie groaned. “You guys have the rest of the night.”

“Come on,” Jasmine said quietly to Ty. “The wait will make it that much better when we get back.”

Laurel volunteered to be designated driver, so they all piled into her small SUV. Saul called shotgun, leaving Freddie in the back seat behind Laurel with Jasmine and Ty, Jasmine seated in the middle. Ty spent most of the ride to town staring at Jasmine’s legs, stroking his hand up and down her thigh, apparently unaware of the conversation going on around him. After Saul and Freddie had exchanged a look the third time that Ty had responded with “Hmm?” when directly addressed, they gave up trying to include him in the conversation.

They arrived at the bar and found a booth off to the side that would accommodate all five of them. Jasmine couldn’t help but notice the appreciative looks that Ty received from a group of girls at an adjacent table, but he seemed completely oblivious of them. His eyes were on Jasmine. They ordered a pitcher of beer, Laurel opting for ice tea, and pondered the menu while the barmaid went to fill their drinks. A group of men came in and began setting up speakers and microphones on the small stage not far from their table.

“Oh, there must be live music tonight,” Laurel said eagerly.

“Hope it’s something good, I feel like dancing.” Jasmine added.

The barmaid returned with their beer and iced tea and took their dinner orders—cobb salad for Jasmine, fish and chips for Laurel, Saul, and Freddie, and a pulled pork sandwich for Tyson. Saul poured the beers for all but Laurel and raised his glass. “To good times, good friends, and great sex.”

Ty and Jasmine groaned but couldn’t help but laugh at Saul. He meant well.

The atmosphere was relaxing and pleasant while they ate, sipping their drinks and watching the band set up. By the time they’d finished, the band had begun tuning up. “You like to dance, don’t you?” Jasmine asked Tyson.

“I do. You?”

Jasmine nodded. “I do.”

“I hope you’ll save me one,” he teased.

“You can have them all. Though I think I may have competition,” she added, gesturing subtly at the girls at the next table who for the last several minutes had been blatantly checking Tyson out, though one of the three seemed to have eyes for Saul.

Tyson barely glanced in their direction. “There’s no competition when it comes to you, Jasmine. I have what I want right here.”

“Then I’m assuming you don’t mind if we pursue your cast-offs?” Freddie asked with a waggle of his eyebrows.

“They’re all yours,” Ty laughed.

The dishes were cleaned away and another pitcher was delivered to the table just as the band began to play a classic, southern rock song.

“Aw, yes! That’s the good stuff right there! “ Freddie hollered.

“Most definitely,” Laurel agreed. “I hope they have more where this came from.”

“One more beer before dancing?” Ty asked, refilling four glasses when the others nodded, then Jasmine sighed.

“You know, I think before I have more of that, I need to go get rid of what I’ve already drank. Care to hit the ladies’ room with me, Laurel?”

“Sure,” Laurel agreed. They made their way to the restroom, which was blessedly empty of other patrons.

“You okay, Jas?” Laurel asked as they washed up after using the facilities.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just saw how some of those girls in there look at him, and hell, I mean,
look at him.
He’s gorgeous. What’s he doing with me? Any of those girls his age could have him.” Jasmine began to feel the all-too-familiar feeling of inadequacy come creeping in once again.

Laurel waved it all off dismissively. “Are you kidding me? That’s not what he’s interested in. Girls like that were all over the place in college. He dated a few, and they didn’t last long. You are the one he wants, Jasmine. You’ll see.” Laurel gave her a reassuring hug. “Come on, let’s go dance!”

They were just emerging from the hallway when Jasmine saw a red-haired girl walking towards their table, her hips swaying seductively, her sights set on Tyson. She gasped. “You see, this is exactly what I meant!”

But Laurel stopped, grabbing Jasmine’s arm. “Wait a sec.”

He calmly took a sip of his beer as the girl reached the table, placing her palms flat on its surface to lean down towards Ty, providing him a generous view down her low-cut tank top. “Hi.”

“Hey,” Tyson replied casually, almost bored in tone.

“I’m Brandie.”

“Mm-hmm,” he said, taking another sip of his beer and not offering his name.

“You know, I think you’d be having a lot more fun if you were over there dancing with us.”

“I’m having a great time where I’m at, thanks,” he replied dismissively.

Not taking a hint, Brandie slid herself into the seat across the table from Tyson, the sight making Jasmine’s stomach roll. “Come on, just one dance. I promise I don’t bite…unless you want me to.” She reached for his hand, but he yanked it away, sitting back in the seat to create more distance between them.

“Yeah, look, I’m not interested okay? I’m here with someone. My buddies are unattached and more than happy to dance with you and your friends, so…” He waved her off, gesturing towards the dance floor.

When Jasmine heard his words, it absolutely made her heart swell even more for Ty. “See?” Laurel said smugly. “You have nothing to worry about. Come on.”

But apparently, rejection was a foreign concept to the bright-eyed, curvaceous redhead, who wasn’t giving up just yet. “I saw who you’re here with and I’m pretty sure I can show you a much better time than those two,” she said, just as Jasmine and Laurel walked up behind her.

“Who’s your new friend, little brother?” Laurel asked in an innocent voice. The woman turned around, and her expression at first surprised, relaxed, then slid into a confident smirk.

“I’m Brandie. I was just trying to convince your little brother to come out and dance with me,” she said, smiling conspiringly. “I’m sure you wouldn’t mind, would you?”

Laurel laughed. “Oh, I wouldn’t mind,” she began, then indicated her head towards Jasmine. “But I think his girlfriend might.”

“Girlfriend?” Brandie scoffed.

“Girlfriend,” Tyson confirmed, meeting Jasmine’s eyes with a twinkle in his own as he stood up and reached for her hand. “Come on, Jassy. Let’s go dance.”

Not bothering to give Brandie another glance, Jasmine smiled and took Tyson’s hand, allowing him to lead her on to the dance floor. The band was playing a slower number, a ballad Jasmine recognised from her high-school days. Ty wrapped his arm low on her waist and pulled her body closer to his. The espadrilles she was wearing went a long way towards evening their height, so Jasmine laid her cheek against his collarbone and breathed him in, taking a few calming breaths before speaking. “Is that what I have to look forward to?” She hated herself for sounding so insecure, and hated Kyle even more for knocking her self-esteem down to such a low.