by Sophie Stern
“I need your cock in me, Jace. Don’t make me wait.”
I make a tsk sound.
“Where are your manners, pretty girl? Don’t you know you aren’t the one in charge here?”
“Oh, please,” she says. “Please, Jase, I need you inside of me.”
“So much nicer,” I say. “And you know I love it when you beg.”
I pull my fingers free, spin her around, and use my foot to kick her legs farther open. She plants her hands on the door and I push her pants down more. Now I have a perfect view of her from behind.
And oh, it’s a view to die for.
“That pussy is so wet, Polly. Are you excited?”
I can see a blush spread over her skin, but that’s okay. I know she’s loving this just as much as I am. I know she wants more.
“Yes,” she whispers. “I’m excited.”
“Tell me.”
“I’m so excited to feel your cock in me, Jace.”
“And what are you going to do when I slide my cock into your tight, wet pussy, Polly?”
“I’m going to come for you,” she promises.
I move behind her, push my own pants down, and grab her hips. I run my hands up and down her sides before teasing her opening with my cock. Gently, I rub it through her tender juices as she gets more and more excited. I can hear her breathing harder and harder as she waits for me.
As she needs me.
“I’m so close,” she whispers.
“Tell me how much you want me,” I murmur.
I want to hear her say the words again. I want her to come apart for me.
“So much,” she says. “Please.”
I can’t wait any more.
Her begging is enough to make anyone come undone and I’m no exception. I thrust my cock into her from behind, and Polly gasps with pleasure. She breathes heavily and makes these sweet little noises that just serve to get me more excited.
“Jace,” she whispers. “Oh, fuck.”
I reach around her front and begin to stroke her clit softly as I make love to her. She groans, wiggling against me.
This is it, I realize.
This is the moment when everything changes between us.
Last night, sex was about passion and need, but right now?
This sex is about so much more.
This is about healing.
The two of us have been through something traumatic. We’ve been through hell. We’ve been to the end of the world and back again because that’s what happens when you lose everything.
When you love someone you truly care about, everything becomes painful. It becomes hard. It becomes unbelievably horrific.
And right now, all we want to do is forget.
So, I slide into Polly, and I pretend that I’m fine. I imagine that somehow, everything is okay. In another world, in another universe, it is. Maybe soon, in our universe, it will be.
I rub her clit as I thrust in and out of Polly. She’s so fucking precious and beautiful. As I get closer and closer, I can feel her body growing more and more tense. Soon we’re both going to fall apart and it’s going to be fantastic.
It’s going to be incredible.
It’s going to be everything.
“Come for me,” I murmur. “Come, Polly.”
“I can’t,” she whispers. “I’m close.”
“Now, pretty girl,” I command. “Come for me right now, baby. Come for me, princess.”
And just like that, our entire worlds shatter into pieces.
When Polly comes, she throws her head back and cries out. I hold onto her hips, thrusting harder as the orgasm rushes over her. It’s the most beautiful and fantastic thing I’ve ever see. Watching her come apart is like watching the sun rise.
It’s incredible.
It’s amazing.
And it pushes me toward my own orgasm.
When I come, it’s like everything in the world suddenly seems at peace. It’s like everything comes together in a beautiful rush of happiness and joy. I close my eyes as my own pleasure satisfies me, and then I pull away from Polly. I turn her around so we’re face-to-face, and I cup her cheeks.
“What is it?” She asks gently, and I’m not really sure what to say just yet.
“You’re beautiful,” I tell her honestly.
“That’s sweet.”
“It’s the truth.”
“You’re perfect,” I say.
“Why are you flattering me?” Polly asks, cocking her head. “Jace, you don’t owe me anything, you know. I mean, I’m not under the impression that what’s happening between us is anything...you know...eternal.”
I bristle at her words.
So, she doesn’t think this is serious?
She doesn’t feel that what’s happening between us is magical?
Suddenly, I feel more than a little embarrassed.
I feel hurt.
And surprised.
And I wonder if this is just something that she’s saying to make me feel like she’s not expecting much. Does she think that when this thing is over, I’m just going to walk away?
Does she think so low of me?
“What does that mean?” The question burns when I ask it. It physically hurts to ask her, but I need to know.
Polly may not be a shifter, but she’s smart enough to understand that my tone has changed, and my body language is now terrifying tense. Everything hurts as I look at her and wonder what’s going to happen next.
“Jace, we just met,” she says, but she looks like a deer caught in the headlights. She looks like she hasn’t really thought this through and she’s not sure what to say.
“So?” I ask, cocking my head. “Do you often jump into bed with people you’ve just met?”
“What? No!”
“Then why me?” I ask. “Why would you climb into my bed, Polly?”
I don’t move when I’m speaking to her.
I hold perfectly still. I don’t want her to think about anything except for my words, so I stay put and let them sink in.
“You didn’t just sleep with me once, Polly. Once could be an accident. Once could be, we were both drunk and made a bad choice. Once doesn’t have to be extreme. You slept with me twice, though. The second time, at least, was something you decided on. That was something you wanted.”
“I know,” she says.
“So why are you acting like we don’t matter?”
“Jace, there is no ‘we’. I just met you. I mean, you’re the father of my best friend’s baby. Don’t you think that’s kind of weird? Don’t you think it’s just a little bit wrong?”
“Are you asking if I think it’s wrong to love someone because of their past?”
She pauses and looks at me for a long minute. Oh, the good doctor might be smart, but she’s also very dumb if she thinks I’m not attracted to her because of my history with Polly. Does she really think that because I loved Polly in the past, I can’t love her in the present?
Wow.
I’ve been called selfish before, but this is something new entirely.
“That’s not what I said.”
“Then what?”
“It’s just...”
“Tell me.”
“I miss her, okay?” Polly screams the words, and then she covers her mouth with her hand, as though she can’t believe she did it. She gets up and moves across the room. She looks out the window, and then she turns back to me. Her arms are wrapped around herself tightly, protectively, like she’s doing everything she can to just keep holding on.
My first instinct is to run to her and reach for her. I want to cover her, to hold her. I want to tell her that I’m sorry Alexis is gone and that I can help her through this because I’ve already done it.
I’ve already gotten over Alexis.
But that’s not what she needs right now, is it?
No, what Polly needs is something else.
She doesn’t need comfort.
She needs strength.
“It’s okay to b
e sad.”
“I know that.”
“But it’s okay to move on, too.”
“Jace, for you, it’s been months. Half a year. For me, it’s only been a few days.”
“I’m not going to rush you, Polly. I’m not going to push you into anything you don’t want, but I’m also not going to hold back just because of my past.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that I’m going to wait for you, Polly. This thing between you and I?” I gesture between us. “This isn’t it. It’s not over. It’s not going to be for a long time, and that’s quite all right with me because you are fantastic, Polly. You’re brave, and you’re courageous, and you risked your entire life for a kid who isn’t even yours. That takes balls, Polly. It takes guts.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying.
“On the contrary,” now I do stand.
I get up, and I move across the room. I go to Polly, and I reach for her shoulders, and I hold them gently. She looks so lovely, even now, even when she’s scared and upset, and I pull her close to myself.
“I know exactly what I’m saying, love, and that’s why it’s so meaningful.”
“Why me?” She whispers, and she looks up at me like no one has ever been kind to her before, like no one has ever spoken to her this way.
She looks at me like I’m offering her something wonderful, something she never would have otherwise gotten.
She’s looking at me like I’m the king of her world.
And that’s exactly what I want to be.
“I wasn’t expecting you to rush through that door yesterday,” I say.
She laughs a little.
“Yeah, me neither,” she admits. “I thought I was taking refuge from a storm. I didn’t think I was going to run into the very guy I had to find.”
“I’m glad it worked out this way.”
“It’s strange that it did.”
“Do you believe in fate?”
“I didn’t, not before yesterday.”
“And now?”
“Now?” She scrunches up her nose, as though it’s the hardest question she’s ever faced, and then she shakes her head. “Now, I mean...well, just look at us.”
She gestures between us, and I smile.
“Pretty incredible,” I say.
“Pretty incredible,” she repeats.
For a long time, we just look at each other. There are a lot of questions rolling around in my brain. I’m not sure how this is going to work, and I’m not sure if this is totally crazy or not, and I’m not sure if I’m going to be a good mate or a good dad or a good...well, a good anything.
But I know that I’m willing to try.
And I know that I’m up for the challenge of loving a human and my baby bear.
No matter what it takes.
I kiss Polly again, and this time, it’s not out of lust or desire or anything but true, genuine acceptance. I kiss her like I mean it, and I kiss her because she deserves it, and I kiss her because I know that no matter what happens, everything is going to be okay.
She pulls back and looks at me. Polly cups my face, and she opens her mouth to say something, but then we hear a crash.
And everything goes to hell.
Chapter Nine
Polly
What would otherwise be a tender moment abruptly ends when someone breaks in the front door. I know Jace had it locked. He always locks the door. Instantly, I hear shouting and yelling in the other room. Jace motions for me to be quiet.
“The baby,” I whisper, trying to push past him to the living room. Baby Brandon is out there, and he’s all alone. I don’t know how Greg and Andrew found us, but they did, and I need to get to the baby before it’s too late.
Jace shakes his head, though. He doesn’t say anything, and I realize that he’s got this under control. The look on his face says that he has all of this under control.
And I realize that he does.
This is Jace’s territory. No matter what happens next, he’s got this in the bag. He’s the one who lives here. He’s the one who’s familiar with the land. He’s the one who understands exactly how everything works in this area. Jace is the guy who gave up his life in the city to move to the wilderness and live that lumberjack life.
He’s got this.
Andrew and Greg might be evil at heart, but they’re also not from around here. There’s so much they don’t understand. They don’t know the layout of the woods or the mountains. They don’t really know anything. Maybe they don’t even know Jace is here.
I’m not sure.
I look at him, and I nod, letting him know that I believe in him. He’s going to be able to save us. All of us. Whatever happens next is going to change everything, but I have a feeling that we’re all going to walk out of the situation just fine.
Jace nods and swallows hard. He looks over his shoulder toward the door to the bedroom. It’s closed over, but it’s not locked, and I wonder what’s running through his mind. I know he doesn’t like the fact that intruders came to his home. We both thought it would happen, but neither one of us thought it would happen this fast.
And we certainly didn’t think it would happen like this.
For a second, I think he’s going to go barreling into the living room, but he doesn’t. Instead, he pushes open the window, climbs out, and closes it behind him. It all happens so quickly. I stay exactly where I am, but I look over to see him. He shifts right outside the window, changing into his bear form, and I know that no matter what happens next, it’s not going to be pretty.
There’s shouting coming from the living room and my first instinct is to rush out into the room. I turn toward the sounds.
“Check the bedroom!” One of the voices says, and that’s it. There’s nowhere for me to hide, so I don’t bother trying. What am I going to do? Try to fit under the bed? Yeah, there’s no way. Besides, I’ve seen enough horror movies to know that never goes over well. They’ll instantly find me, so I don’t bother moving.
Instead, I take a deep breath, and as the door bursts open, I remind myself that everything is going to be okay.
Andrew comes barreling into the room. He’s not wearing any clothes. Now I know why: it’s that whole “shifter” thing. So, he is a shifter, just like Jace thought. Apparently, that’s how they found us. He probably shifted into his animal form – whatever that is – and hunted us down. They had access to my house, which means they had access to my scent.
Well, mine and Brandon’s.
“It’s you,” he says. His eyes narrow. I’ve met him before, but not anytime recently. Once Alexis left town, I stopped talking with her dad and Andrew both. Not that we were close before: we weren’t. Still, actively cutting contact was quite therapeutic for me.
“And it’s you,” I say.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He says. He strides across the room toward me, and I involuntarily move back. All the while, I hate myself for it. I don’t like that I’m shying away from him – from this. I don’t like that he’s scaring me enough that I’m quite literally backing myself into a corner.
“Excuse me?” I ask, trying to steel myself.
But I can’t.
Because this is the man who took everything from me.
From us.
This is the man who hunted down my friend.
This is the man who ended her life.
This is the man who ensured that Brandon would never get to live a normal life.
This is the man who stole away his mother.
Inside, I feel gooey and weak. I feel scared. I know that I’m shaking, and I realize that my heart is racing. Andrew glances at my chest and I know he’s not looking at me because he thinks I’m pretty, but because he can hear my heartbeat.
Great.
“What. Are. You. Doing. Here?”
He speaks again. This time, his words are short and impatient, and I realize that he doesn’t really know why I took off. He knows that
I ran away with the baby, of course, but he doesn’t know who I was running to.
I at least have that much going for me.
Alexis told me that even when she was living with Jace, she was very careful not to talk about her past very much. She even said she went so far as to avoid talking about him at work. She got a job, yeah, but she didn’t let Jace come see her at the office and she never told anyone she had a boyfriend. She hid her pregnancy as much as possible and when it was obvious that she was pregnant, she brushed it off as a one-night stand gone wrong.
She was private, and careful, and there is no way that Andrew or Greg know about Jace.
“Who is it?” I hear Greg’s voice now, and he appears in the doorway with the baby. Brandon is looking up at the man in terror. He turns to me, and then he bursts into tears.
“Stupid baby,” Andrew says. He looks to Greg. “Can’t you shut it up?”
“Shut up,” Greg hisses, but this only makes Brandon cry more.
“He’s scared, dumbass,” I say, suddenly finding my will to speak. I reach for my sweatshirt and sweatpants and yank them on. Then I reach for the baby. Greg takes a step back, but I frown. “Do you want him to stop crying or not?” I ask.
Both men stare at me, but don’t say anything.
They seem to think this is some sort of trick.
Good.
It kind of is.
But I glare at them and cross my arms over my chest. I raise an eyebrow, as if to say, “I told you I could make him stop crying, but you didn’t want me to.”
I didn’t realize it was possible to cry louder, but Brandon proves me wrong. He starts screeching at the top of his lungs and finally, Andrew motions to me.
“Just hand it over,” he says.
“He’s a baby, not an ‘it’,” I hiss, but I accept Brandon from Greg and instantly start soothing him.
“Why are you here?” Greg looks beyond pissed.
Good.
Fuck that guy.
He murdered his own daughter in cold blood, and for what?
To be able to be right?
To be able to have the final word?
What a fucking dick.
“I could ask you the same question,” I say. “But I don’t get the feeling you’re going to give me a straight answer.”
Greg and Andrew both have the same look of anger on their faces.