by Calinda B
“The clock’s ticking, baby. I told Neil I’d be back with the parts by three.”
“Come in the house. I’ll take care of you there.”
He looked at his imaginary wristwatch. “Tick tock, baby.”
“Come on,” she pleaded.
He leaned across the seat, grabbed the keys off the dashboard, and jammed them in the ignition. “You could have had me.”
“What if someone sees us?” she said, like a broken record.
“All they’ll see is me kissing my woman passionately.” He glanced at his wrist again. “Time sensitive offer, baby. Offer ends in three…”
“Jace!”
“Two…”
“Okay, okay.” She climbed on his lap and slammed the door shut. “There. Are you happy now?”
His emerald eyes twinkled as he looked at her. “I’m close. I need to be closer.”
“You’re lucky I put a skirt on today.”
“Am I? Or are you?” He put his hands around her hips, lifting her, tugged aside her panties, and lowered her onto him.
She let out a groan.
“Jace,” she whispered, experiencing both extreme arousal and fret that someone might see them.
“Oh, fuck, baby. Someone’s juicy for her man.”
He scooted his hips forward a bit, sprawled along the seat, and braced his feet on the floorboard.
“Oh, Jesus, Jace,” Zoé said. “I can’t get enough of you. I feel like I’m the addict here.”
She slid up and down his cock, her core sizzling with sensation.
“If I’m the drug, baby.” He let his head fall back against the seat, still clutching her hips, guiding her up and down. “Here comes a car. Kiss me.”
Her head whipped back and forth. “There’s no car. You’re trying to scare me.”
“I’m trying to get you to kiss me.” He laughed.
“You’re impossible,” she said, batting his shoulder.
“Still waiting.”
She dropped her head and touched her lips to his.
His hand came around her neck and pulled her to him, plunging his tongue inside her open mouth. At the same time, he rocked his hips, making circles, pushing himself as deep as he could.
She moaned, feeling the vibration in her mouth and lips. As the orgasm built, she whimpered against his lips, overcome with need. Tearing away, she moaned his name. The climax came swift and hard, her body pulsing around him.
His fingers dug into her hips, guiding her up and down.
“Yeah, baby, come for me. Oh, fuck, here I come. Fuck!” He ground his hips against her, spilling his pleasure inside her. “Now a car’s coming.”
“What?” She turned her head to see a sedan inching up the road. “Shit!”
Jace chuckled. “Guess we’d better look like we’re making out in the car.”
She placed her palms on his stubble-covered cheeks and kissed him.
The car slid by.
“Damn you! You’re going to get me…” arrested, she almost said. “In big trouble.”
“I think you like the kind of trouble I bring to the table.” He grinned at her, then glanced at the clock on the dash and frowned. “Shit. I’ve got to catch that next ferry, baby. I promised Neil I’d be back to get more work done.”
She rolled off him. The combined smell of him and her filled the cab in a heady musk.
“Put that thing away before you get me in a boatload of trouble,” she said, straining for another kiss.
“Gotta go, babe,” he murmured into her lips.
She opened the door and hopped out, straightening her skirt.
Jace zipped up and clambered to the driver’s seat.
Zoé scooted around to the driver’s window. “Thank you for comforting me. For not making me feel like I was to blame by being hurt by Billy.”
“Stop.” He put his finger on her lips. “You’re not to blame for the actions of a psychopath. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
Her eyes moistened with tears. “Thank you,” she whispered.
She leaned in for one more intoxicating kiss. When she pulled away, he looked at her with a serious expression.
“You’ve got to let me clean up the mess I’m in, baby. No more spy games, okay? Please let me deal with my past. I don’t care to re-live it or drag you through it. I want to keep you safe, happy, and trouble free.” He stepped on the brake and cranked the keys in the ignition. When the engine roared, he gunned it a couple of times. “That’s how you make me feel.”
He gave her one of his wicked, panty-drenching smiles.
She closed her eyes briefly, took a deep, calming breath, and opened them, staring into his emerald eyes.
“Okay,” she said in a soft voice. “No more spy games.”
“I’m doing this for us, baby. I’m clearing a path so I can…” He faltered.
“So, you can what?” She brushed a lock of brown waves from his forehead.
He shifted into drive. “Gotta run, baby.”
“Tell me what you were going to say.”
“Foot’s on the gas, girl. I don’t want to run over your toes.”
Zoé stepped back. “Tell me what you were going to say. So, you can what?”
The truck pulled away from her. “Later, baby.”
“Tell me!”
“So, I can fucking love you, Zoé Dubois,” he called, fishtailing out into the street, and speeding away.
Zoé’s hands fell to her hips. “Did he just tell me he loved me? So, why did he run away?”
Chapter 20
Jace
As he left Zoe’s home, Jace groaned in the cab of his truck, wanting to bash his head against the steering wheel. “What are you, Savage? Two years old? You tell her you fucking love her, then, speed away?”
His phone immediately rang.
He slid the connect button and said, “Miss me already?”
“So you can fucking love me? That’s what you said to me?” Zoé said. “You speed away from my home, leaving tire rubber in the road like a teenager, calling the words I’ve longed to hear on the fly? For someone who wields his fist so easily, that seemed like a chicken shit move.”
“Well,” he said, grinning, “I love fucking you and I love you so I’m getting ready to fucking love you. See the logic here?”
She let out an exasperated groan. “When did you figure this out, stud?”
“When did I figure what out? That I love fucking you? That was on the Deus.”
“No! That you love me!”
“That I fucking love you, you mean.”
“Come on, Jace,” she huffed. “When did you figure out you loved me?”
“The moment I laid eyes on you at Chica Ríos.”
She said nothing, making him smile at the impact his words had made.
After a moment, he said, “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“You’re playing with me.”
“No, Zoé, I’m dead serious. When I met you I knew you were a good woman. You made me smile. You made me feel like I’d turned the corner on my fucked-up life and good was waiting for me. You’re my reward. You’re also my reason for powering through everything to get to the other side.”
A soft whimper met his ears.
“Baby! Don’t cry! This is a good thing, I promise.”
“I know,” she said, sniffling through the phone. “We’re moving at the speed of light, you know.”
“It’s not fast enough for me, girl. I want to blaze through the heavens with you.”
“You terrify me sometimes, Jace. I still know barely anything about you, I’m already madly in love with you, and you still terrify me.”
“I think you don’t like feeling out of control.”
“Who does?”
“Ride it, baby. It’s a rush.” He lifted his gaze at the freeway signage, spying the exit he needed. He heard her breath catch. “Baby, I won’t hurt you or drag you into foul play. Is that what you’re worried about?”
> “A little.”
“I told you, I’m putting my past behind me. I only have one more detail to deal with and I’m home free. Well, that and this fucking trial.”
“The Billy lawsuit?”
“Yep. We got served the other day. Neil and me. We have a meeting with the lawyers next week and then we see where we go from there.”
“Oh, Jace, I’m so sorry.”
“Me, too. Billy O’Reilly is a royal prick. I can deal with him but he’s dragged my boss into it. Neil Jenner is one of the best guys on the planet. He doesn’t deserve this.”
“You don’t either,” Zoé said softly.
Jace chewed the inside of his cheek. “Maybe.”
“You sound so calm about it. Why aren’t you hysterical?”
He chuckled. “Hysteria only adds more drama. I don’t do hysteria.”
“You do anger pretty well,” she stated.
“You don’t like it?”
“I didn’t say that. It was only a comment.”
“Yeah, well, I’d say I do anger, passion, recklessness, fearlessness, and determination pretty darn well. I can be stubborn and intense. Creative, too.” He paused. “Oh, and fucking —I can definitely roll with that, where you’re concerned.”
“What about screwing and making love? And laying me out under the stars? You promised.”
“Let’s skip screwing. Sounds like something you do to a jar or a boat engine. We can jump to a fucking, making-love combo. Sometimes under the stars. How’s that? Now that you know I fucking love you.” Another chuckle rumbled out of him. “Pretty good logic, don’t you think?”
“Jace.”
The way she said his name made him grin. He heard the smile in her voice and pictured her shaking her head at him.
“Are you rolling your eyes?”
“No, I’m smirking. You’re completely impossible.”
“And I keep telling you, I am totally, completely, without reservation within the realm of possibilities for you, Zoé Dubois. If you still want me, that is.”
“I do. I told you, I’m already head over heels in love with you.”
He swallowed, hard, thinking, This L-word is going to be hard to say.
“Say something, stud.”
“I don’t know what to say.” He clenched and released the steering wheel. “I’m not going to be all stars, suckers, and fairy-dust, Zoé.”
“What?” she spluttered. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It means, most people follow a script when they say they love another. I find it impossible to follow a script. I make up my life as I go. I don’t want you to get all sentimental and silly with me, now that you know I love you.”
“Okay,” she said cautiously.
“I’m not going to be any different,” he continued, suddenly feeling defensive. “I’m not going to be the guy who comes home at five, leaves at seven in the morning, and buys you flowers on Sunday.” His fingers moved restlessly over the steering wheel. “I’m not that guy.”
“Okay, Jace. I never said I wanted that, did I?”
“No, but most girls do.”
“I’m not most girls.”
“I noticed. That’s one of the things I love about you.” There. That came out easy. He turned into the ferry driveway, pulling up to the ticket stand. “Hold up, baby, I’ve got to get my ferry ticket.”
“One adult?” the somber male asked him. He leaned down in his ticket booth to peer inside the cab of the Ford.
“That’s right.” Jace handed him his credit card.
The ferry cashier handed him his ticket and his card.
He took them, sitting the ticket on the seat next to him and the card in his wallet.
“Okay, I’m back.”
“I’m glad. I hate it when you go away.”
“Me, too.” He breathed in the feeling of safety, warmth, and acceptance he felt pouring from this woman.
Would he be able to live up to it?
“Jace?”
“Yeah?” He pulled the truck to a stop in the ferry line.
“Oh, never mind, I’ve pestered you with enough questions today.” She huffed through the phone. “Let me just say this —yesterday I thought I loved you.”
He tensed.
“Today, knowing a little, teensy, tiny bit more about you, I love you even more.”
He let out his breath. “Thank you, baby. You’ve got a lot of courage and heart to say that.”
“You bring it out in me. You make me feel strong. And capable. And crazy —a lot.”
He chuckled. “You do the same for me, too.”
“I’m just saying —I’m leaving the door wide open for you to share with me. I want to know all of you, not just the parts you want me to see.”
His heart began to rabbit race in his chest, heading for destinations unknown. “One day at a time, baby. With a solid commitment for more. Will that be enough for you? I sure hope so. Because that’s all I have to give.”
Chapter 21
Zoé
Zoé continued to replay the conversation she’d had with Jace a couple of days ago. It hummed through her mind like an annoying wasp. “That’s all he has to give,” Zoé muttered, stepping from her house into the tidy garage and sliding into the Jeep. Insecurity worked its way into her heart. Because he’s already given his heart to Kate? Because nothing’s left to give? Because I’m not exciting enough? Too safe?
As far as she was concerned, he’d given her the moon, the stars, the planets, and the sun, all tied up in one splendiferous bow. First, he’d told her that he loved her. Second, he told her that he was committed to continuing. “What more is there, Jace Savage?” Again, that aching longing to give her heart to someone she could trust filled her heart.
Once again, thoughts of her brother, Denis, filled her mind. Get to the truth before it’s too late.
She hoped to resolve things tonight. Jace texted her earlier and asked her to meet him at a bar in West Seattle. She’d asked Tanya to bring Tony and make it a double date. She wanted to get Tanya’s opinion on Jace.
Once she’d pulled onto the street, she tapped Tanya’s number into her phone.
“I’m on my way, T,” she said. “Jace will meet us there. Yeah, he knows where the Moonlit bar is, who doesn’t? It’s a West Seattle institution.”
When she arrived at Moonlit, the sky had begun liquefying into dusk, moody peach, purple, and oranges blurring the edges of the clouds. The bar faced the water, where people strolled along the sidewalk across the street or in the sand, enjoying the pleasant evening. She stepped out of the Jeep as Jace and his Angel powered into the lot, parking next to her.
“My bike’s getting lonely, baby,” he said, removing his helmet, dressed, as usual, in his leathers, jeans, and a linen shirt. “You need a ride.”
She arched an eyebrow. “I need a ride, or you need a rider?”
He laughed and shook out his lustrous hair. “Both.”
“You get sexier by the day,” she said, leaning against the cool metal of her vehicle. “You’re like an Adonis or a David or a….”
“That’s because I’ve got you to keep my sexy alive and well,” he interrupted, grinning at her.
Tanya and Tony pulled up in their Subaru, pulling up next to them.
“There are my friends,” Zoé said, pointing at their car.
He didn’t spare them a glance. “I haven’t greeted you properly yet,” he said, stepping in front of her. “Let’s follow proper procedures.”
He took her face in his hands and kissed her once, twice, thrice, the third one deep and hard.
He smelled like fresh air, motorcycle, and Jace. She softened into the kiss, whispers of self-consciousness protesting, waving frantically in the recesses of her mind.
“Ahem,” Tanya said. “Onlookers in the parking lot.”
She pulled away from Jace, breathless, cheeks on fire.
“I’m sorry,” she said, looking askance at Jace’s beautiful face. The man
screamed hot sex.
“I’m not,” Jace said. “I’m Jace Savage.” He turned and shook Tony’s hand confidently. “Tony, right?”
“That’s right. Tony De Luca. This is my wife, Tanya.”
“A pleasure,” he said, giving Tanya’s hand a light shake.
Her eyes widened as she regarded him. “Good to meet you.”
When he turned away from her, Tanya looked at Zoé and mouthed, Oh, my God! waving her fingers at her face like a fan.
“Shall we?” Jace slung his arm around Zoé, guiding her into the bar.
Inside the Moonlit bar, Zoé scanned the décor. The bar was known for its quirk. Every square inch of the walls held a piece of rock and roll memorabilia, from old records, to t-shirts and photos signed by rock stars of days gone by as well as current ones. Loud music blared. People yelled across the tables to one another. They talked and laughed. The place literally vibrated with energy.
A mood of excitement filled Zoé’s heart. It seemed like a night where anything could happen.
Once seated in the booth, he asked, “What will everyone have? The tab’s on me tonight.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Zoé said.
“Paycheck’s burning a hole in my pocket.” He patted his chest. “Can’t have that, can we?”
“Someone’s in a good mood,” Zoé said.
“Someone’s sitting next to his favorite girl.” He pulled her closer, drawing his hand up and down the inside of her leg.
Zoé shivered and felt her face flush —again. Intoxicating shivers wound their way between her legs. Damn, damn, damn.
“I think I heard of you, Jace,” Tony said.
“Yeah?” Jace said, signaling for the waitress.
Zoé felt him tense, gripping her leg ever so slightly.
“Didn’t you win some prestigious photo award?”
He let out a breath and continued stroking. “Yeah, that was me all right. Caught a photo of a jaguar in Brazil’s jungle.” He framed the air with his fingers. “Right time, right place, and boom! Perfect shot.”
“Brazil! Sounds exciting!” Tanya said, clearly impressed.
“How’d you get so close to that animal? It looked like you could reach out and touch him,” Zoé asked.
“I used the zoom, but yes, I was pretty close. I have a way with wild things.” His fingers traced a wicked, slow path up the inside of her thigh. “Especially pussy cats.”