Chapter 38: Cozy Comforts

Unbelievable. He was impossible to deal with, and Jasper didn’t know how to handle Buck’s statement.
“What the fuck?” Jasper scoffed. “Why does how I feel matter to you?”
He winced as if wounded and sneered. “You’re a living, breathing person with a bleeding heart like everyone else. That’s why.”
Buck snatched the last vine-fashioned clamp from her nipple, and she stifled a moan. His show of aggression and irritation was glorious. And hell of a lot better than the soft, sweet nothings he’d tried to recite.
“You deserve care and tenderness, Jasper. It don’t matter who you done dealt with or what they have said to you.”
Free to move, Jasper rubbed her wrists and focused on the mess they’d made instead of Buck’s undressing gaze. She wanted to feel bad for squirting all over him, but couldn’t find a single fuck to give. He’d been rough and thorough, giving.
“I can’t—“ Jasper screwed her eyes shut as he removed dangling vines from her waist and thighs. “This can’t be a big thing. I don’t want special treatment. If I start overthinking it, I’ll—“
“Look at me,” Buck demanded, cutting her off mid-rant. His textured palms cradled her cheeks. Positive fuzzy emotions mounted and rebounded. Jasper didn’t want to fold and bend, but her aching heart…
Against common sense and better judgment, Jasper matched his stare. Buck’s sincerity screamed from within. His solid, heated lust had been wrapped in a gauzy warmth.
“This isn’t special treatment, woman.” He was earnest and honest. His delivery might have touched more than her mind. “It’s called respect. You don’t gotta be mine for me to care about you. I’m merely tending to the mess I made, and the gorgeous succubus who done worked me up to it.”
Despite her hesitations and fears, Jasper laughed. She giggled and kissed the man twice.
“I don’t think I played a big part in it.”
He beamed and caressed her padded waist. She had never been self-conscious about her rolls or dimples. And it seemed Buck enjoyed them too. He massaged and kneaded with round two on his mind.
It wasn’t hard to sense or feel him bobbing to attention.
“Don’t get any ideas,” Jasper asserted. She slid to her feet and arched an unimpressed brow. “You get nothing more from me tonight.”
“You know how to play, darlin’.”
“I’m the best.” She patted his cheek and sniffed. “If you’re intent on pampering me, then you better get to it, Mr. Sunside.”
Jasper brushed past Buck and stepped over her glimmering, golden pool.
“I won’t be spending the night, so be about your time.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
True to his word, Buck hustled and scooped her from behind. Jasper hollered in laughter and complained. He had no right to carry her like a newly wedded bride.
“You’ve lost your mind,” Jasper snapped. “I am perfectly capable—“
“You moving too slow for my taste.”
“I am not to be rushed.”
“Shiiid.”
Jasper chuckled again as he set her down in a packed bathroom. She hadn’t breeched the master during the tour and had no idea what awaited. The washroom kept on theme with healthy leaves and thriving botanicals. Though fresh and inviting, it was humid. The moisture-rich air was another reminder of home.
Dredge Bathhouse and its hard workers were above reproach. Fire, head, booze, and free food.
“Go ‘head and pick out something you like.” Buck gestured to a cluttered shelf wedged between a rain forest and a massive claw-footed tub. “Nimmy keeps it stocked. I got a few favorites. Oils, salts, bubbles, or petals, take your pick.”
She padded across a soft rug, unconcerned with the show of nudity. Happy as hell to get a soak in, Jasper perused and plucked while Buck filled the tub.
Rose milk powder, pink salts, oats, and coconut oil. With a handful of goodies, she twirled about.
“Got what I want.”
“Let me see.”
After handing her haul over to Buck, he added each item to the water.
“You got some good stuff.”
“I like milk baths more than bubbles.”
He snickered and glanced her way. “You and me both. Nimmy love her some foam, bombs, and bubbles. I don’t need allat.”
“It’s fussy.”
“You ain’t wrong.”
Waiting, with arms crossed, Jasper admired from afar. Buck wasn’t small or athletic. He’d put on muscle and pounds like a fine three-piece suite.
A man who loved food and lifting. Days, months, and years of hard labor had turned him into a masterpiece. Soft brawn came to mind as his wide shoulders and thick, bone-crushing thighs tensed.
“C’mere.” Her attention lingered on his girth. She hadn’t seen it, but then again, she didn’t need to. He’d stretched her well. “Up here, succubus.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re not.”
“I’m not.” Moths fluttered in her stomach the moment she took his hand. “You’re not a small man.”
“Who you telling?”
They shared a smile and stepped into the bath. Jasper nearly moaned. He hadn’t bitched out on the water temperature. Most would tell her it was too hot, but steam rolled during their descent.
Once fully submerged, Jasper uncoiled her tail and groaned. “This here might be better than sex.”
“Well, that ain’t something you hear a succubus say every day.”
Sitting across from Buck, legs outstretched and straddling him, Jasper closed her eyes. The tub was big enough for two, maybe even three. With the ample amount of space, it was easy to relax.
The build was great for anyone who wanted to rest. And Jasper was one of those people. The bath pillow was soft as hel,l and water scolding. After being well fucked, she was due for a nap and almost slipped into it before Buck clutched her foot.
He held her for a moment, waiting for permission. Buck was going to be such a good boy.
“Well,” Jasper prompted, cracking his lids. “Do what you like.”
He grinned and squeezed just right. With thumbs tucked into the arch, he pressed, and Jasper whimpered.
“Ohmygods, yeees. Get in there!”
“I love your toes,” Buck said, adding pressure to her heel and sole. “They chubby and a soft.”
“Not the first time I’ve heard that.”
“Can I ask you something, Jasper?”
“Depends.” She cleared her throat and let her lids fall. Her head lay on the pillow as Buck worked magic. His hands were a gift. For this, and many other reasons, she considered Nieema lucky.
Jasper briefly wondered what it’d be like to receive such treatments year-round.
“What makes you happy?”
Her head popped up at his query. She eyed Buck for a minute, if only to get her bearings. It was a loaded fucking question no one had ever asked her.
“What do you mean?”
He tilted his head as confusion trickled between them. “What brings you the most joy and happiness? Be it person, place, or thing.”
“Oh, fuck,” Jasper grunted as he stretched her toes, bending them backward. It was so good her pussy almost clenched. “Uhm, uh…I—well, I love to cross-stitch, as you know. But I love nature photography. Annnnd I enjoy video games and—“
“All that is great, and I wanna know every last detail about you. But you not telling me what you eat, feel, or experience.”
She laughed, though nervous. Rubbing her forehead, Jasper fought with her thoughts and sighed.
“I love baths, hot springs. And let me tell you, nothing makes me happier than sweets. I have the nastiest sweet tooth. Also, I feel my best at night. With the moon. There’s nothing like it in Undervell. I fell in love with it immediately.
“And I kid you not, I love exploring and doing new shit. Just going somewhere. It doesn’t even have to be fancy or anything. To be honest, I’ve lost all interest in fine dining, white tablecloths, and galas. I just—I wanna take pictures of animals and stitch. I love that. Doing what I want brings me the most joy. Being who I want to be is of the utmost importance to me. It’s changed something in me. I’m not quite where I wanna be, but I’m close. It’s the reason why I’ll never go back to Undervell. I get homesick and nostalgic, sure. I miss my friends and family, but I’d never be my own person there.”
Jasper paused and splashed her face with water. She scrubbed and settled once again. Jasper set her sights on the high ceiling festooned with ivy.
“I love it here,” she whispered, as Buck swapped the left foot for the right. “Indigo Plains is special. Something about it makes me feel at peace. Like I’ve found a home.”
“And you did, darlin’. This is your home now. You got a large community of folks out there just waiting to get to know you.”
“I know, I know.”
“How about you and me go out tomorrow night? I’ll show you around some of my favorite spots and people.”
“I have to work, sorry.”
“Who writes them checks?”
She cackled and lifted her head. “Do I have enough PTO for it?”
“Mehhhh, maybe after work then.”
They shared more laughter, and Jasper warmed. It was in his genuine smile and interest. The care he took and questions he asked. It went beyond sex. Like he wanted more than his next demonic nut.
No man had ever, ever looked deeper than her skin and bones.
And for the longest time, Jasper thought that was healthy. Turns out, no, it wasn’t. Therapy had been good for her. The lessons were hard, but she learned quite a bit.
Now, she knew better. Though following all the advice given was scary as fuck.
There were layers to what she had with the Sunsides’, but Jasper didn’t want to unpack that right now.
Not before dealing with her past and Trevor Voaremont.
“Enough.” Jasper spouted, retrieving her appendage. “I want your hands somewhere else.”
Their stares clashed as Jasper planted her foot on his dick. He jutted and kicked on contact.
She pressed and ground, testing the man. He gripped porcelain and bore into her.
“You like a pain with pleasure, don’t you?” She didn’t need him to answer. It was her nature to exhume these details. Kinks were private, until they weren’t. Until she was given access, until they let her taste them.
“Yeaaah, I know.” She lifted her foot and popped forward. “But until I see fit that you can handle it, you’ll get none of that from me.”
“Oh, I can show you better than I can tell you, baby.”
Jasper slid into his lap and sat on top of his stiff length. Smashing it under her ass. Water sloshed as she bounced and used her tail to fondle his heavy sac.
“I think I can go for one more.”
He answered her with a kiss, and she relished it. Jasper melted as his arms locked around her.
She still couldn’t stay over, but may the Undergods help her, she was in no hurry to leave.