Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 378

Chapter 378 Fractured Trust

The air between them was thick with his scent.

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Their lips met in a desperate, clinging heat. Tatiana’s head spun; in this moment, the entire world consisted only of him. Her body, once rigid with tension, began to soften beneath him, her hands instinctively finding his back and pulling him closer.

His kisses traveled downward, ghosting over the corner of her mouth, her jaw, her neck, and finally her collarbone. He left a trail of heat everywhere he touched, a lingering sensation that felt like an addictive drug, pulling her deeper into the abyss.

Her skin burned. Her temperature rose until she was flushed and breathless, trapped in a beautiful, suffocating haze. It was a feeling both foreign and hauntingly familiar, an overwhelming invasion of all her

senses.

As he moved over her, her pupils grew unfocused, and a low, broken moan escaped her lips. “Mmm…”

She called his name with a hint of a sob. “Jasper…”

He lifted his head slightly, his eyes smoldering with a dark, unbridled fire. He reached out to brush a damp strand of hair from her cheek, his voice sounding like it had been dragged through gravel. “Yes?”

“Who am I?”

“Tatiana.”

“No… you’re wrong…”

She reached for him blindly, kissing his jaw in a clumsy desperate attempt to get the answer she craved. His eyes darkened further, his suppressed possessiveness finally erupting like a volcano. He abandoned his restraint and claimed her mouth again, dominant and unyielding.

Only after a long, agonizing silence did he finally give her the answer she needed to hear:

“Mrs. Jackson.”

She let out a tearful, giddy laugh and held him with everything she had, whispering a single word: “Honey.”

That word was the final blow to Jasper’s self–control. His resolve shattered into a thousand pieces. His eyes were shot through with crimson, his emotions spiraling beyond his reach. He gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him, his voice a low command. “Say it again. Be a good girl and say it again.”

But this time, no matter how much he coaxed, she was too shy to speak.

The night stretched on as he pursued her again and again, finally satisfied only when he heard that same breathless murmur as she finally broke. It was more captivating than the moonlight, more beautiful than

any song.

By the time he carried her into the bathroom, she was drifting in and out of consciousness. The bathtub was overflowing, the sound of splashing water echoing against the tiles. She opened her eyes blearily, feeling the warmth of the water envelop her.

His long, elegant fingers ran through her dark hair, over and over, until she let out a soft, contented hum like a well–fed cat.

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Chapter 378 Fractured Trust

“Does it hurt?” he asked softly.

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She shook her head and buried her face in his chest, he voice muffled. “It’s just… it feels a little strange.”

She couldn’t find the words for the intimacy they had just shared, but she knew she loved the feeling of being entirely one with him.

“I’m sorry. I was too rough.”

He had been holding back with every ounce of strength he possessed. Once had been a struggle of restraint.

Tatiana felt a flicker of frustration at her own stamina. Why was she so weak? She had passed out after only one time. “Am I really that bad at this? Just wait until I’ve recovered. I’m going to be incredible!”

Her dead–serious expression made him chuckle. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “I look forward to it.”

He didn’t tell her that his “one time” was never just once.

As they soaked, the tension began to rise again. Tatiana’s face crumpled like a worried bun, and she shook her head frantically. “No more! Not until I’ve had some exercise!”

“Easy, I won’t do anything.”

He lifted her out of the tub and wrapped her in a heavy towel. He dried her off with agonizing tenderness, ensuring she was clean and comfortable before carrying her back to the bed.

The moment she hit the mattress, she dived under the covers, hiding everything except her eyes. When her gaze inadvertently drifted to a certain part of him, her eyes widened, and she looked away instantly.

“Um… you… do you need to handle that?”

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. She closed her eyes tight, preparing to throw the covers off and try again for his sake, but his hand pressed down on the blanket, pinning her in place.

Jasper let out a soft, amused laugh. “You don’t need to do that.”

“But what about you?”

“I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry about me. Go to sleep.”

Her brows furrowed, and her eyes drifted down again, filled with skepticism. Take care of it himself? Can he really? He looks so… energetic.

Jasper reached out and covered her eyes with his palm. If you keep looking at me, I’m going to lose my self–control.”

He wasn’t joking. Every innocent glance she threw his way was like pouring gasoline on a fire.

She wanted to laugh, and she did. Her eyelashes fluttered against his palm like a tiny brush, sending a ticklish sensation through his hand.

He took a deep breath, fighting back the urge to pull her back under him. “I’m going back to the bathroom.”

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away His retreat looked suspiciously like a flight.

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Chapter 378 Fractured Trust

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Tatiana’s eyes crinkled with amusement, her physical discomfort forgotten. She rolled over, exhaustion finally claiming her. But just as she was about to fall into a deep sleep, the phone on the nightstand flickered.

She tried to ignore it, but an inexplicable sense of dread gripped her heart. Acting on instinct, she reached out and grabbed his phone.

She entered her birthday as the passcode. It unlocked instantly.

There was a message on the screen:

“Jasper, pick me up at nine tomorrow. I miss you. Goodnight.”

Tatiana’s heart plummeted.

She frantically tried to scroll up, but the history had been wiped clean. There wasn’t even a name saved for the number.

She committed the number to memory, put the phone back exactly where she found it, and retreated under the covers, her skin turning cold as ice.

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