“You came with some drama, Selena,” he said. “Especially those last months when we were together. But I liked your kind of crazy.”
“And what kind is that?”
“The kind that’s fun and sexy and so goddamn hard to forget.”
She took a steadying breath. How many times did she have to tell herself that this was just sex? Her stupid heart still hadn’t gotten the message. Thump, thump, thump, it pounded in her ears as the spark between them brightened.
Enough talking. Enough thinking. It was time to get to the good stuff.
“Are we done with the tour?” she asked.
He smiled. “I could make a really classy comment about the kind of tour I’m interested in next.”
Selena waggled her eyebrows at him. “Would you like a private tour, Jace?”
“I want to do my own exploring.”
His laugh was so sexy, and it was just for her. She had forgotten how much they used to laugh together. That deep ring of his voice awoke another flood of memories. Saturday nights at Ruth’s Pizza Place. Movies on his parents’ couch, his little sister squished onto the couch with them. She had buried these memories, hidden them from herself, but the more time she spent with Jace, the more they came back.
He stepped closer and tugged gently at the bottom of her shirt. “Can I take it off?”
She nodded and lifted her arms, and he brought the shirt over her head. His expression grew more serious as he traced the edges of her bra with the pads of his fingers. She looked down at her body, heavier, nine years older.
“I’m not as…perky as I used to be,” she said, her cheeks heating up.
His brow furrowed a little. “Selena, I promise you that judging your body is the last thing I’m concerned with.”
She swallowed. “It’s hard to miss.”
“You want to know what’s going through my mind right now?” he asked, his fingers running over her stomach.
She nodded.
“I’m thinking, goddamn, did I really spend nine years without you?” he whispered.
Selena closed her eyes and swallowed hard. The more he touched her, the more he whispered in her ear with that husky voice, the more serious this felt. And she didn’t want it to stop.
“Can you take off your shirt?” she asked.
He smiled and tugged it over his head. Selena stilled as her pulse kicked up. When he walked out of the bathroom shirtless, she had wanted to take time to stare. Now, she did it. Oh, Lord, this man was gorgeous. He was built, but in a different way than she remembered, leaner, more muscular, more…man. How unfair it was that he had gotten more beautiful and she had gotten rounder. But he seemed just as captivated by her as she was by him. In fact, maybe he was waiting for a response.
“Not bad,” she said, though her words stuck in her throat.
Jace chuckled. “Aww, thanks.”
“I just don’t want it to go to your head.”
“Who me?” He flexed his muscles in a couple of exaggerated poses, then cracked a smile.
Selena did her best to look unimpressed, but she was pretty sure she was failing. “You still play any sports?”
He shook his head. “Rarely. One injury and the garage is in trouble. We can’t afford it.”
“I didn’t think about that,” she said softly.
But he didn’t look bothered by it, at least not right now.
“Your turn to strip,” he said, crossing his arms.
She reached around and unfastened her bra, letting it drop to the floor. His gaze was intense, his eyes half-lidded with desire, and he took a step toward her, but she shook her head.
“You’re next.”
He slipped off his socks and jeans…and then his boxers. No hesitation. He was hard and naked and ready and so, so close. When her gaze finally wandered back to his face, his smile bordered on smug.
“Your turn again.”
She slipped off the last of her own clothes, and they stood facing each other, naked in every way. His hands glided over her shoulders, down her arms. He traced her collarbone, her breasts, her stomach. It took a moment to remember that she could touch him, too, so she did. The muscles of his arms, the tufts of hair on his chest, the ridges of his abs, and lower.
Jace drew in a sharp breath, followed by a little laugh. “I want you too much to play around. It’s been so long.”
She smiled and took a step back to the bed, trying to ease the weight of his comment. It’s been so long. They had both moved on after she left, and yet he said these words like he had been waiting for her. Maybe some part of her had been searching for a way back to him, too.
Jace followed her toward the bed, mirroring her first step, then her second, his big, warm body pressed against hers. She scooted onto the mattress and lay back, propping herself on her elbows, studying more of the changes. Jace had lost all traces of boyishness. His shoulders were broader, his muscles more defined. He had also lost some of that easy smile he had worn as a teenager, though it seemed to be coming back as the night progressed.
His chest rose and fell as he gazed down at her, his eyes hooded. The way he looked at her hadn’t changed at all. Like there was nothing else that mattered except her.
But it wasn’t like that anymore. Did she want it to be? If she let her mind wander down that long-forbidden path for just this moment, what would she find?
“Something else on your mind?” Jace’s voice broke into her thoughts.
She motioned him closer. “I’ll whisper it in your ear.”
He chuckled and climbed over her, resting on his elbows, the delicious weight of his body on top of hers. He kissed her lips, her neck and her lips again.
“What are you thinking about, Lee?”
“Us,” she whispered. “The way it used to be with us.”
Some of the truth, not nearly all of it.
Jace’s deep chuckle rumbled in her ear. “Good. So good.”
The tightness inside eased a little, so she tried to put more of her thoughts into words. “You think it might be just as good this time?”
“Maybe. Or maybe it’ll be better.” He kissed her again and flexed his hips, his erection pressing against her.
She lifted her head to brush her lips against his. “I’m on birth control. Just thought you might want to know.”
“I’ve never been with anyone without a condom. Ever. But I brought one. In the back pocket of my jeans.”
“Because you knew you’d get lucky tonight?”
Jace shook his head, but he didn’t answer right away. Selena got the feeling he was debating how much to reveal. Then he licked his lips and spoke. “Because I’d never want to miss this chance if it came up.”
She lay on her back and brought her hands to his face, stroking his cheeks, running her fingers over the stubble of his jaw. “So you think we might be good together the second time around?”
His gaze moved over her slowly, hot and intense. “I hope so.”
Hope. That was the right word for this moment. Looking up into his eyes, she let herself hope. Want. Maybe even need the things they could give each other.
So they kissed and kissed and kissed some more. She parted her legs, and he settled between them. He reached down, teasing her, getting her even more worked up. His erection pressed urgently against her thigh, and she wiggled closer.
“You want this?” His voice was short and a little strained.
“Yes. Yes.”
He lowered his head for a kiss, first soft, then hungrier as he entered her. Oh, God, there was nothing that came close to this magical mix of bliss and relief. Finally, finally, she and Jace were together again. He shifted over her, memories mixing with sensations as they fit themselves together.
Selena closed her eyes, adjusting, remembering. Jace was inside her, covering her with his big, hard body, the familiar scent of him everywhere. She didn’t resist the flood of happiness that filled her. At last. Ja
ce shook as he held her, waiting for her.
“I’m ready,” she whispered. “Please.”
He rested on his elbows, pulling out and then gliding back in. Pleasure raced through her, every stroke spreading white-hot bursts of desire. She met each of his thrusts, pulling him against her, trying to get closer. It was as if all those years apart were just to lead them to this moment, when they came together again. His muscles moved against hers, and he wrapped his hands around her shoulders, holding her in place as he thrust. His eyes were dark and serious, and he didn’t look away.
“Goddamn, Selena,” he bit out. “There’s no one like you.”
She moaned and met each of his thrusts with her hips, faster, harder. The connection between them was so good, so strong, and he whispered words of pleasure, over and over, telling her how much he needed her. His expression tightened and his breaths were fast and harsh. He was close, but she knew he’d wait for her. He always would. Selena blinked back her tears as her body burst into flames.
Chapter Thirteen
Jace’s body was spent, but he held Selena tightly, breathing in her scent. He wasn’t ready to let her go. Her head rested on his chest, and her legs tangled with his. Their bodies still fit together so perfectly.
He could feel the moment starting to slip away, and he searched for something to say, something to convince her to hold onto this new connection, to explore it.
“I meant what I said,” he whispered into her hair. “There’s no one like you.”
Selena’s body shook with quiet laughter. “We can do that again, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
She stilled in his arms. “You don’t have to explain.”
He shook his head. He had to get these next moments right. What could he say to convince her to start over with him?
“Jace?”
Her voice was soft, hesitant. Selena’s hand drifted over his shoulder and down his arm, and her eyes were serious.
Jace flipped his hand over and laced his fingers with hers. “Please don’t just disappear. Give us a chance.”
Now he had said it, and he braced himself for whatever came next.
“I’ve been thinking about it. A lot.” Her eyes were dewy, and it was doing crazy things to him.
“I’m not going to push you this time,” he said, keeping his voice even. “But I can’t be casual with you.”
If this ended again, Jace wasn’t sure if his heart would survive it, but he didn’t want to let her go. He had already tried a life without her.
“I don’t think I can be casual either.” She squeezed his hand. “We probably should have known that from the start.”
“Maybe we should talk about it. About us.” Her voice was so soft, barely there, but his heart jumped in his chest. Was she ready for a new beginning, or was this the end?
He shifted to his side so he could see her expression. He didn’t want to miss anything.
Selena drew in a long breath. “I know this isn’t the past, but I don’t want us to make the same mistakes again.”
“Me neither.” It felt too soon to bring up their break-up, but he wasn’t going to say no to her. Maybe she needed this conversation to move on. “Where do we start?”
She propped her chin on her hand and smiled a little, but her eyes were full of questions. “Going away to college and leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I was so in love with you. But in all those months of trying to coax me to stay in Sacred Harbor, you never once offered to come to Boston. You could have, you know.”
Her lips shook as she spoke, and he wrinkled his brow. She had wanted him to come with her, yet she had never said it. If she had asked, would he have said yes, leaving his family and the garage behind? Maybe, but it would have been a painful choice.
“And it’s not like you were at home waiting for me,” she continued. “Mary Jo Whitney made sure I knew about the blow job she gave you on Valentine’s Day that year. How she understood why I had been with you all through high school.”
Jace closed his eyes. “It wasn’t—”
“We weren’t together, Jace,” she said quickly. “I’m just saying that when I called you that spring, things had changed.”
He shook his head. “Not for me.”
“Then why didn’t you say so?” Her voice was tight.
Jace furrowed his brow. “I don’t know. Because you wouldn’t take the ring. Because my dad needed me at the garage.” He closed his eyes. “And maybe because I needed to grow up a little more.”
She let go of his hand and moved closer, resting her cheek on his shoulder. “I needed to grow up, too. Eighteen is too young to get married.”
“Maybe.”
It felt so good to be close to her again, her body touching his. Nine years ago, all he had wanted was for Selena to come back, for everything to be the way it had been. His life was here, his family, his garage, everything that meant something to him. But he had been so scared of losing her, scared that she’d leave him behind for a guy with more money, more education. And in the end, she had.
Now, he was trying to wrap his head around how it felt to be her back then. She had wanted college, and she wasn’t ready for marriage, but she still wanted him. At eighteen, all he could hear was the rejection. Even though he would have said he loved her ambition and drive, he had tried to pressure her to stay back. All because he didn’t want to lose her. A heaviness was settling in his chest.
“I’m so sorry, too, Selena,” he said. “I shouldn’t have made you choose. If I could take it back, I would.”
She nodded. “We’re not eighteen anymore. Maybe we can both do better this time around.”
Jace slipped his other hand to her waist, stroking up and down. “Whatever happens next with us, I promise I’ll do better.”
She turned to him and held his face in her hands. Slowly, she guided his mouth to hers. He kissed her softly.
She pulled back a little, blinking up at him. “Do you think this is just the magical fruitcake talking?”
It took a minute to remember what she was talking about.
“You’re kidding, right?” He frowned a little. “I can’t imagine a scenario where I don’t want you.”
Selena took a deep breath, and her eyes softened as she studied him. “But there’s something magical about us meeting again, isn’t there? My car breaking down, you picking me up, me leaving my packages for you to bring back. Though you forgot my suitcase in the trunk.”
“It’s outside in my truck. You distracted me.” Jace laughed as he gazed down at her, smiling. “Maybe it’s not the fruitcake. Maybe we’re making our own magic.”
“Are we giving this a try for real, Jace?”
Her eyes were bright with the same hope that had been brewing inside him since they sat across from each other in the café.
“Yes. For real,” he said, sliding his hand over her collarbone and down her chest. He cupped her breast, and she sighed with pleasure. “Tomorrow is Saturday, which means we can spend the whole day in bed. We can make up for all those years apart. And then you can come with me to Sunday brunch at my parents’ place.”
Selena’s mouth dropped open, so Jace kissed her again before she had a chance to protest.
Chapter Fourteen
Selena glanced over at Jace, standing next to her on the snow-covered front porch of his parents’ house. Fresh flakes of snow dusted his hair, and his breaths puffed out in faint clouds. He was rubbing his hands together absently, staring at the door, but he hadn’t made any move to open it. Was he having second thoughts? She certainly was.
She slipped her hand into his back pocket and tugged him closer. “Are we really ready for this?”
“Sure we are…in a trial-by-fire kind of way,” he said with a little laugh. Then he reached for her hand and laced his fingers with hers. “Seriously, we can handle my family.”
�
��I’ll be fine,” she said, more to herself than to him. “I used to love coming here.” Most of the time, at least. In the end, it was harder. Seeing his mother for the first time in nine years? That part probably wouldn’t be as fun.
Jace gestured to the gift bag with cards sticking out of it. “You didn’t have to bring a gift.”
“Just chocolate,” she said. And a couple other things…
“Plus, Drake’s here for the weekend. My mother will spend a good portion of the evening convincing my brother to visit more often, so she can see all four of her kids at the table.” Jace flashed her an innocent smile. “I’m one of the good sons, remember?”
It was a valid point, but…“And I’m the ex-girlfriend that broke the good son’s heart.”
“That’s the past.” He turned to rest a hand on her face, stroking her cheek. Snowflakes fell through the air between them, landing on his eyelashes, his coat, everywhere. His gaze wandered to her lips, and he bent down for a soft, warm kiss. “This is about us today. And whatever happens tonight, I owe you anything you want for a day.”
“Anything I want for a day,” she repeated. “That does have its appeal. You’ll be washing dishes, doing the laundry, shoveling snow…”
Before she could continue, Jace’s mouth was on hers again for another kiss, this one hungrier. “I was hoping your demands would be more along the lines of me going down on you, sex in the shower, a dirty—”
The front door of his parents’ house creaked open, and Selena froze. Classy way to start the evening. She took a deep breath and turned around. But it wasn’t his mother standing in the doorway. It was Lizzie, and she was so far from the girl she had been the last time Selena had seen her.
“You two planning on making out on the doorstep all evening, or are you coming in?”
Selena just stared at the woman in front of her. When she had left for college, Lizzie had been an adorable eleven-year-old kid. Now, she was gorgeous and tall, taller than Selena by inches. She looked like Jace. It shouldn’t have caught her off guard, but a lump rose in the back of her throat. So much time had passed.
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