Chapter 1

I wake to the feeling of hands caressing down the side of my body and lips pressed against my back. My eyes flutter open and I squint as the sun shines into my face. Taking a deep breath, I roll over.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, beautiful." Jasper groans as he leans in, kissing me gently. He wraps his arms around me, pulling my naked body into him tightly.

"Sleep well?"

"Yes, I always do." I close my eyes, wondering if I can squeeze five more minutes of sleep in.

Jasper kept me up until 3 am and it wasn't even for sex. He had a big project and needed my help in sorting things out. By the time we finished, he had to carry me to bed. Jasper has been working so hard these past few months since his workload has grown a bit at the company. Things are just all over the place, but it doesn't take away from the bliss we feel from being married.

Pulling my attention back to the present, Jasper's warm hand slides over my backside, squeezing firmly.

"You better not be going back to sleep. We have work."

Groaning loudly, I push away from him and roll over.

"Have fun with that, Mr. King."

A few seconds pass and I feel myself drifting back off only to have a swat on my butt wake me back up.

"Jasper!" I push my smile away to try to sound angry. The only downside to being married to Jasper is that he can wake me up just as early as he wakes up. He doesn't have to get out of bed and walk to a separate room just to get me up anymore.

"Come on, Eden. It's already 8." I feel Jasper roll out of bed and go into the bathroom.

I lay there for a moment, listening to him turn the sink water on as he shaves. When I hear the shower turn on, I throw the covers back and sit up. Hair falls into my face and I blow a strand away as I pick my phone up. The first thing I see is a text from Lea reminding me of lunch later.

"Eden," Jasper calls for me and I sit the phone down.

"Don't rush me."

"If I have to come to get you, it won't be nice and I don't think you want a sore ass at work this time," I smirk, thinking about the last time he gave me a morning spanking for going back to sleep while he cooked breakfast.

Laughing to myself, I stand and walk to the bathroom. Opening the shower door, I slip in and Jasper immediately pulls me into his arms. Kissing me hard, I wrap my arms around his neck as he pulls me under the hot water.

Moaning softly as the water warms me and I feel Jasper's member pressing against my stomach. In the beginning, I thought the fire would die down with just me and Jasper, but after 7 months, the flames are still there. Tilting my head back, Jasper sucks at my neck and shoulder as he eases down onto his knees. Pushing me back against the shower wall, Jasper takes my right nipple in his mouth, sucking gently.

My body wakes up more and I part my lips to sigh in pleasure. Running my fingers through his hair, I grip it gently as he runs his tongue over the other nipple. Moving down, Jasper kisses my stomach, gently and a pinch of sadness runs over me.

After finding out I was pregnant, Jasper was ecstatic, but 2 weeks afterward, I miscarried. After seeing a doctor other than my regular, I was told that I have Endometriosis which explains my horrible periods. I was pretty upset, but Jasper was slightly more heartbroken, even more so when I was put back on birth control to help.

I know he wants children and I hope that I can give them to him.

I watch as Jasper licks over my belly button before lifting my legs onto his shoulder. He dives in between my legs and I press my free hand against the wall for more stability as I pull at his hair. It doesn't take long for his tongue to send my body convulsing with an orgasm. As my head spins, Jasper comes back up, catching my face between his hands, kissing me hard. Nipping at his lip, he reaches down and lifts the same leg again. Jasper reaches between us, gripping his hard length, pressing the head at my opening. With one strong thrust, he slips into my walls and yells out, clawing at his shoulder.

"Fuck, Jasper!" I yell out and I hear him chuckle softly.

"Just making sure you're awake."

"You smug bastard." I sigh as he presses his hips forward, pushing more of himself into me. Steam fills the shower as Jasper's lips brush over mine, digging deep into my core. When I come, I dig my nails into his skin and he curses loudly, finding his own release.

Licking my lips, I smile. "Definitely awake now."

Jasper chuckles, kissing me softly as he pulls out of me, causing one last shudder.

An hour later, we walk into the office and I make my way over to Gary and Stacy who are forever gossiping.

"Do you guys ever work?"

"Do you ever get to work on time?" Gary shoots back with a smile. "That hubby of yours has been getting here later every day since he married you."

Giggling, I sit down.

"Shower sex is my excuse for today."

Shaking her head, Stacy sighs.

"Damn. When I’m late it's usually because my alarm didn't go off. Lucky bitch."

"Took the words right out my mouth," Gary says, throwing a ball of paper at me. I catch it before it hits me and throws it back, hitting him in the face.

"Bitch!" He yelps.

Stacy leans on me as we laugh at Gary.

"You started it," I say as I put my purse in my desk drawer. Pushing Gary out of my chair, I sit down and turn my computer on.

"Lea and I are doing lunch later. Wanna come?"

"Yeah, sure. I brought a sandwich that is surely going to be stolen from the fridge in the break room" Stacy rolls her eyes and turns to Gary who frowns.

"Don't look at me. You were the one who said you wanted to lose ten pounds. I'm just helping."

Shrugging, Gary leans over and kisses my temple before Kissing Stacy's.

"Gotta go, I was supposed to copy some papers for Harper and send them off like 30 minutes ago."

"I'm so surprised that you still have a job." Stacy groans.

"Well, I work for Harper now. He can't fire me. Eden won't let it happen."

Looking up at him, I press my lips together. "You know I don't have that kind of power. If he fires you then you're just fired."

"But he won't, because of you. Duh. Now stop holding me up. Bye." Gary walks off and Stacy and I watch as he smacks the butt of the buff security guard who is also his new Beau. After Stacy leaves my office, I sit and click through my emails, stopping on one from Harper. I click it, quickly.

Emailing you to let you know that I received an email about your mother's surprise party for William next month. I didn't know if you knew or not. I most likely won't be there.

-Harp, I stare at the email for a moment before replying.

No, please come. If my mom wants you there then that's fine. I want you to come. Bring Claire too. -E

I hit send then remember something important. Opening up a new email, I quickly type.

Oh! I just remembered that I found a box of your things in the hall closet. I can drop them off at your place if you want. Let me know -E

I sit back and go through Jasper's schedule for the day until the low ding lets me know of a new email.

Uh, yeah that would be fine. Just let me know when. -Harp Is tonight okay? I get off at 6:30 -E

Will you tell him? -Harp There is nothing to tell. I'm just dropping off a box. You two are being so damn ridiculous. It's exhausting. I'll be there at 7 -E

Ever since Davina's birthday party, Jasper and Harper have been like little kids. I thought they had moved past everything at the party, but I was so wrong. They avoid each other at all costs now. Harper doesn't even work on the same floor anymore because of how tense things became. Arguments about work started becoming frequent until Harper just gave up trying to get Jasper to forgive him.

It was an office uproar when he moved a floor above Jasper. Whenever I try to talk to Jasper about it, he gets defensive. Harper and Jasper had never lied to each other before Harper broke the news about Claire. It threw everyone for a loop, including me. I was completely heartbroken but managed to push me feeling away so that I forget about it. Harper hurt me so badly when he confessed about seeing Claire behind my back. For a while, I resented him, but then I left it alone completely for Jasper's sake. I think we all tried to act normal about it, but never actually talked about what happened. Now, it's just becoming foolish that they don't talk. I feel like it's partly my fault.

I've run into Harper a few times since the wedding, but we haven't talked about anything. Tonight will surely be the same when I drop off his things.

After lunch, I spend the day performing my assistant duties for Jasper, choking each time I plan on telling him that I was going to see Harper. I never hid any of my run-ins with Harper, but this was the first time I was willingly going to go see him. I don't know how Jasper will take it.

At 6, I wander into Jasper's office and sit down in his lap while he talks on the phone about stocks. Playing with his tie, I nibble at my lip as nerves grew in my belly. I'm literally terrified that Jasper is going to bolt me to his desk to keep me from seeing Harper. Shaking my head at the outlandish thought, I sigh which causes Jasper to look at me. Pulling the phone away from his mouth, he whispers.

"What's wrong?"

I shake my head. "Nothing. It can wait."

Jasper tells the person on the phone that he will call them later and hangs up. Apparently, it couldn't wait. Wrapping his arms around me, Jasper kisses my bare arm.

"Now, what's going on with my wife?"

"You're not going to like it." I scrunch my nose. Jasper sighs and lifts his glass of Scotch off the desk. Drinking the last bit of it, he clears his throat.

"Talk, baby."

"For starters, my mother sent Harper an invite to William’s party and he emailed me asking if it were okay. I said yes." I watched as Jasper frowned a bit.

"It's your mother's party. She can invite whoever she wants. Continue."

"And then I remembered the box I found with his things in it so I told him that would drop them off at his apartment after work." I bite my bottom lip hard and Jasper groans. When he looks up at my expression, he shakes his head, reaching up. Pressing his thumb under my lip, he pulls it from in between my teeth.

"It's fine."

"Huh?"

Jasper snorts. "I said it's fine. I can't stop you from seeing Harper. He's still family despite everything."

"Then why won't you talk to him?"

"Because, Eden, he lied and cheated on you. If he wanted out then he should have said so instead of tucking his balls up into his stomach and going behind our backs. It was me and Harper who pulled you into the agreement. We told you we wanted you and he bailed on you and lied to me. He could have handled it better." I roll my eyes at his choice of words.

"I wish you too would just talk. I hate seeing you two like this."

"Please, Eden." Jasper's arms drop from around my waist.

"Sorry." I look away.

"Look at me." Jasper orders and when I don't, he gently grips my chin and turns my face to his. "I just can't right now, love. I know you want what's best, but it's not going to happen right now. It's never going to be the same."

Looking in Jasper's eyes, I can tell he is hurting. Harper and his relationship were solid before and throughout the arrangement. I feel like I broke up two brothers forever. I'm surprised that their mother doesn't hate me, but it's the complete opposite. As soon as Davina learned how to text, she started texting me every. single. day. I can't complain though, she is a lot better than she used to be.