Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
“It’s over,” I say, standing over him. It’s taking every ounce of me not to crush the life out of him.
I signal for the security team to take him into custody. The performers and audience, now realizing something serious just happened, begin to murmur among themselves, the atmosphere shifting from confusion to relief.
Lila and I stand together, the adrenaline slowly ebbing. The circus bustles around us, the relieved chatter of the performers and the fading sounds of the music providing a comforting background. Lila reaches out, her hand finding mine.
“We did it,” she says softly, her eyes bright with emotion.
“Yeah, we did,” I reply, squeezing her hand. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
We share a moment of relief and victory. The threat has been neutralized, and the circus can finally breathe easy again. As we watch the performers begin to relax, I pull Lila close, pressing a kiss to her temple.
“Our next challenge?” she asks playfully, a glint of mischief in her eyes.
“Making sure this place runs smoothly,” I say with a grin. “And maybe finding a moment for ourselves in all the chaos.”
She laughs, the sound pure and joyous. “I think we can manage that.”
Chapter Seven
Lila
The moonlight casts a soft glow on Jasper’s caravan, turning the night into a serene canvas. Jasper and I sit close together on a wooden bench, the quiet of the circus grounds wrapping around us like a blanket. The tents are dark silhouettes against the starry sky, and the distant sounds of the circus—muted laughter, the faint hum of machinery—create a soothing backdrop.
We’ve spent hours combing through the mess that Alexander Grey left behind, trying to piece together his twisted plans. Now, we’re taking a moment to breathe, to process everything. My mind races with questions, and I know Jasper feels the same intensity.
“So, Alexander,” I begin, my voice low and hushed. “Why would he go to such lengths to destroy the circus?”
Jasper’s gaze is intense, his eyes reflecting the moonlight. “Alexander was always ambitious, but it turned into resentment when I left the project. He saw my departure as a betrayal. This... all of this, it’s his twisted way of getting back at me, of proving he’s superior. I tested the top of our team during evaluations–that fucker has had it out of me ever since.”
I inch closer to Jasper, the warmth of his body comforting in the cool night air. “And he’s using the same mind control techniques you told me about?”
Jasper nods, his jaw tight. “Yes. He’s perfected them, it seems. Manipulating the performers, setting traps... he’s turned it into an art form of sabotage.”
The rustle of leaves adds to the symphony of the night, and I notice how our voices have dropped to an almost conspiratorial whisper.
He looks deeply into my eyes, and I see a spark of something shift, a realization that seems to hit us both at the same moment. My breath catches, my pulse quickening as the air thickens with unspoken desire.
Jasper reaches out, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His touch lingers, sending a shiver down my spine. “Lila,” he murmurs, his voice husky. “I...”
I place my hand on his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heartbeat under my palm. “Jasper,” I whisper, my voice trembling with the intensity of the moment. “I feel it too.”
The world around us fades away as Jasper leans in, capturing my lips in a slow, passionate kiss. The moonlight highlights our features, casting us in a silvery glow. The kiss deepens, our hands exploring each other’s bodies with a mix of urgency and tenderness. His hands trace the contours of my back, pulling me closer, while mine tangle in his hair, the softness of his locks contrasting with the hard muscles under his security vest.
We break apart briefly, our foreheads touching as we catch our breath. I can hear the quiet thump of Jasper’s heartbeat, feel the rise and fall of his chest. His eyes burn with an intensity that matches my own.
“Lila,” he breathes, his voice a rough whisper. “This...”
I silence him with another kiss, this one more intense, more demanding. Our hands roam freely, exploring, learning each other’s bodies. The need to be closer, to feel more, becomes overwhelming. Jasper stands, taking my hand and guiding me to a blanket he spreads out on the grass outside his caravan. The stars above seem to twinkle more brightly, the night sky a silent witness to our passion.
We sit facing each other, our legs intertwined. The kiss deepens, our hands moving with purpose. He lays me down on the blanket, his body covering mine, and I feel the weight of him, the solid reality of this moment. The moonlight casts a silver glow on our skin, highlighting every curve and angle.
We undress each other slowly, savoring the sensation of skin on skin. Jasper’s hands trace the lines of my body, eliciting soft gasps and moans as our passion builds.