by Mia Ford
And yes, now that it suits, I do believe in it. I think I always did; I was just afraid. But I’m not scared anymore.
30
JACE
I didn’t think that I would ever want to see any airport again, after the life of traveling that I’ve had. I have been sick of the familiar smells, the standard shops you get, the overpriced food and drink… but here, for one last time I like it. Mostly because it’s bringing me home. Back to where I need to be.
God it feels good to be back here; I breathe in deep. I’m so damn glad that I decided to leave it all behind.
Again, I haven’t told my mom that I’m coming home but she might know this time. I’m sure she, or someone she knows, has seen the press conference so she knows to expect me. I won’t stay forever, just until I work out where I’m going to go next. I need to at least see Addie too, to give us one final chance.
Getting through baggage claim and security is a breeze, much easier than usual, which I decide to take as a good omen. All I need to do now is get a cab and I will be back where I need to be shortly. With an endless future stretched out in front of me, with no idea what on earth I’m going to do with any of it.
That’s good. I mean, it’s scary of course, but it’s better than knowing and not liking any of it.
“Jace!” someone calls out. “Oh my god, Jace. Can I take a picture with you?”
I grit my teeth and let the fan snap an image. Of course I will be hot property for a little while, there will be no avoiding it. But soon, this will fade away and I can return to being anonymous. I’m sure once the band finds a new singer that will help speed things along because I will become old news.
I can’t believe I’m excited to become old news. Who would have thought it? When I first started out as a singer, I thought I wanted to be famous forever. How little I knew back then.
“Can you wait a while before posting that online?” I pointlessly ask the overeager fan. I know that my words won’t be listened to. “Only, I’m trying to keep out of the eyes of the press for a while. You saw my press conference, right?” She nods. “Right, well they are desperate to find me and I just want to hide.”
“Oh yeah, of course. I will even wait a couple of days, I’m just so excited to meet you.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that. Would you like me to sign anything for you?”
“Yes please, that would be amazing. Oh my goodness, I would love that…”
Eventually I pull away and I make my way towards the exit, already planning what I’m going to eat when I get back to Mom’s place. If she’s really prepared, she’ll have something for me to eat, which is fab because I’m starving. Giving up life in The Puppeteers has made me ravishing.
“No, I need a ticket to LA, right now,” a woman shrieks. “You don’t understand. This is important. I can’t wait. This is something that I have to do right now. If I don’t go right now there’s no telling what will happen.”
I can’t help being attracted to the voice. My eyes scan that way automatically and there I see a sight which makes everything inside of me freeze. Or heat up, I’m not quite sure.
“Addie?” I ask, bemused. “Addie, what are you doing?”
“I’m trying to get to LA, but apparently there aren’t any… oh!” Finally, she clocks and she turns around to see me. “I suppose it doesn’t matter now that there aren’t any seats on the plane, because you are here.”
She was coming to see me. I absolutely have to take that as a good sign, don’t I? If she wants to speak to me then it means she doesn’t hate me anymore. That’s a good place for us both to begin.
“I’m here,” I reply with a smile. “So, you don’t need to go anywhere.”
She moves away from the desk, filling the woman who’s working behind the counter with relief, and she comes with me to the side of the room so we can have a chat in private. I’m painfully aware of her eyes all over me, she’s looking at me like she can’t quite believe that I’m back, and to be honest, I can’t either.
“So… I saw the press conference. That was interesting.”
“It’s a bit of a blur to be honest, I don’t think I was fully prepared for it.” Her face falls and I instantly realize my mistake. “Oh, not that I didn’t mean what I said, it was just a wild time.”
“And Callie wasn’t ever with you?”
I shake my head and laugh. “Never. I don’t even know her, she just wanted some fame.”
“I thought…” She chews on her bottom lip thoughtfully. “I thought you’d moved on quick.”
“Never. Not from you. And especially not after everything we went through together.”
She steps closer to me and takes my hands in hers. She has the softest skin. “I’m sorry I freaked out. I was just so worried about you going back and us falling apart. I was trying to break things off before we ended up deeper involved. I thought in a warped way that I was doing the right thing.”
“I told you that I wanted to leave the band, I wasn’t lying.”
“I just didn’t want you to resent me because I’d made you give it all up.”
“I didn’t do it for you,” I reassure her. “I did it for myself and our future together.”
She nods and beams up at me. Her smile is so bright it makes my heart skip a beat. She always did light up a room with that grin, I always thought so, and now it’s even more intense. She lights up all of me.
“So, you really want a third try?” she asks in a teasing tone. It’s embarrassing to know that he heard me going on like that, but she doesn’t seem mad about it. “You think we get a third try? Usually it’s just two.”
“Sure, for normal people.” I step closer to her, my breath tickling all over her mouth. “But that isn’t us. I think that we get as many chances as we want. Whether it’s fate or choice bringing us together, it barely matters.”
We breathe together, in and out, almost becoming one as we do. I tilt my head down, just about to connect, but before our lips actually meet, I sense a flash out the corner of my eye, a sight that will always freaks me out.
“A camera,” I gasp. “The press. They’ve found me.”
“Actually, I think it was that family over there, not someone taking a picture of you…”
She probably thinks that I’m big headed, but it’s more just paranoia. I’m so scared of someone finding out about Addie. I know they will eventually, there’s no escaping it, but for now I want to keep her to myself.
“Well, a fan took a picture with me before, and while I asked her not to post it online, she still might. The press is far too interested in what I’m doing now, especially after that little speech about you, and I don’t want to be plastered all over the papers tomorrow. I’m sure you don’t want that too.”
“I’m surprised I’ve managed to keep out of it so far, but yes, I’d like to extend that. Come on, let’s go to my place.”
“I might just need to pop into Mom’s on the way,” I say. “I hope that’s fine. I just want to explain about the press conference. I don’t know how much she does and doesn’t know.”
“Oh yes, I was with your mom earlier and I ran off in a hurry. I probably should apologize.”
“You were with her?” That shocks me, it makes me nervous actually. “Why?”
“I will tell you all about it on the way. And don’t worry, we only talked about you the whole time.”
“Talked about me? Oh no, that has to be bad news. What did Mom say about me?”
“Nothing for you to be troubled about… only all your secrets.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, I’m sure you know all of those anyway.”
“Hmm, I do know them all now, and you have some serious explaining to do!”
I smile and let Addie tease me. I will let her say what she wants to me forever as long as I get to keep her in my life. We’ve fought to be together for a long time, and we’ve also fought to be apart. I don’t know if it will be straight forward from here on out, I’m sure there wi
ll still be mountains and issues to overcome, such as Luci, I still have no idea what’s happening there, but I feel stronger now and I hope she does too.
I lean on the door frame and watch Mom and Addie talk with ease. They have always had an incredible bond, but I guess I forgot that over time. Seeing them get along as if they are already family just convinces me more that its fate for me to one day to make her my own. Officially. As my wife.
I haven’t dreamed about her being my bride for a very long time, but now the image floods my mind and I love it. There hasn’t ever been anyone else that I wanted to marry, not like I do her. I may not have waited around like a nun for Addie, but she’s the only one who’s ever had my heart and soul.
I love her so much that I would be happy with my decision even if it was because of her. I’d never resent her.
“Mom, we can’t stay here all night, you know. You can’t hog Addie.”
Mom narrows her eyes at me. “You have to drop that diva attitude now, since you aren’t a rock star anymore.”
She’s glad, I know she is. Partly because she knows as well as I do that, I will get back to myself, but also because it wasn’t making me happy anymore. Mom understands better than anyone that this is the right move for me. I just hope that I can make Addie see the same thing too.
“Alright, alright.” I hold my hands up in defeat. “Maybe I should make some drinks instead.”
“And some biscuits. Thanks, Jace. The chocolate ones are at the back of the cupboard.”
“Ooh, getting out the good ones, are we?”
Mom beams with joy. “Well, it isn’t every day that I get amazing news like this.”
“Okay, fine, but don’t get out any baby pictures while I’m gone. I don’t need more humiliation,”
“I saw your baby pictures six years ago,” Addie reminds me that we shared a life together a long time ago. “And I’m still here, so it can’t have been that bad. I would like to see them again then.”
“I’m getting out of here if you’re doing that. I don’t need to get involved.”
“You get out of here then,” Mom interjects. “We want to talk about you behind your back.”
Even being bossed around here doesn’t bother me, I just feel content because this is my true home, where I’m supposed to be. I have my LA house about to go on the market, someone will snap it up quickly because it’s a great place in a prime location, then Addie and I can aim for our lives near the ocean.
Not now, not while Addie is still happy with her job and at the peak of her career, but when she’s ready. Then we can go for everything we ever wanted and more. Addie and I can finally have it all.
31
ADDISON
J ace’s mouth kisses all over my throat as soon as we set foot into my apartment. It’s like he has been desperate to get his hands all over me from the moment we saw each other in the airport again, and now it’s finally happening. I have to say I’ve been feeling a similar way myself so this is incredible.
My body buzzes with desire, I feel him vibrate, a thrill shooting through my veins. This is more than just passion; it’s love as well. A deeper love than ever before, one that’s really going somewhere special.
I gasp, his lips making me crazy, falling backwards until we hit my couch. I slide my eyes closed as I tumble on to the cushions, his hands still exploring me. It’s as if Jace can’t bear to end our connection now. He has me back and he fears that if he stops touching me for even a second, I might vanish into thin air.
I won’t disappear again though. Not this time. I’m willing to give it my all.
Jace crashes on the couch with me and his tongue slips its way into my mouth. My heart pounds hard against my rib cage, I’m sure he must be able to feel it, I throb between my thighs, the thick steel he has pressed up against me makes me lose my freaking head. I need him right now. I can’t wait any longer.
My top edges upright, Jace’s calloused, guitar fingers, brushing over my hyper sensitive skin. Perspiration dots up all over me, I’m sticky already and he’s barely even touched me, but Jace doesn’t mind. He wants to touch every part of me, slick with sweat and desire or not.
“Fuck, you really are everything,” he growls as his fingers run over my black silky bra. “I love you so much.”
His words cause every cell in my body to implode. Everything reacts at once and I begin to writhe underneath him. My back arches needily, causing his fingers to automatically to curl around my breast.
Jace smirks as he slips one of my bra straps down. I giggle girlishly, loving the intense, powerful desire filled look in his eyes. He appears to be completely consumed by me right now, and I adore that.
I always have and have always had his full attention. Even when it hasn’t always seemed that way. I just need to keep that at the forefront of my mind so I don’t allow myself to forget again. It’s forgetting that’s the problem.
“Ooh!” All of a sudden, Jace shocks me by nipping at my shoulder with his teeth. It spikes desire, sending a shudder racing up and down my spine. I get swallowed up in that feeling, barely even noticing my bra shedding from my body. Not until my nipple is between his teeth and he’s nipping at that too.
As my head spins in unexpected sensations that weirdly almost tip me over the edge already, I hook my fingers under the hemline of Jace’s top and I drag it over his head so we’re both topless. My soft curvy body pressed up against his rock hard one. I need more, I want to feel every inch of him, I need all of him to belong to me.
I rub his chest, groaning with sheer bliss as I touch his pecs and abs, all the while, Jace edges down my trousers, allowing me to shake them off once they reach my feet, then I wrap my legs around him and I press in to him.
“Ooh, I like this lacy underwear,” he gasps into my mouth. “It feels good.”
“It would feel even better if you didn’t have any trousers on.”
He makes a sound like he’s in pain, and pulls away from me just long enough to do as I’ve commanded. His boxer shorts shed away too, leaving me with the delicious sight of his rock hard erection, pulsing for me.
Instead of allowing him to lie back down with me, I push him off and slide to the ground with a slight thump. His eyes narrow in confusion as he watches me push my panties away, but as soon as I roll on to my front, he seems to sense exactly what I’m doing. I peer over my shoulder at him while I poke my ass into the air.
He always liked this position with me, that’s something I remember well, so it will be reminiscent of our past, but also something new since it’s been over six years since he’s taken me from behind like this. I’m excited. Thrilled even. There’s a deep, loud hum tearing through my body, crying out to him.
“Oh, you really are a dirty girl, aren’t you?” Jace moans as he falls behind me, his hands already exploring the tops of my thighs. “I always loved that about you. The way you drive me wild.”
I gasp and push myself on to his hands, needing him to explore my soaking wet heat, but it seems that right now he isn’t ready for that. First, he wants to frustrate me until I can’t take it anymore and I yell at him to fuck me. Much as I love him inside of me, I do like our game of teasing as well. It’s just so classic Jace and me.
“Will you stop it?” I bite out. “You are making me want to scream.”
“Maybe that’s what I want, to drive you crazy, to hear you scream. To make you fall apart.”
I toss my head back and feel my hair spilling down my back, tickling my skin. Jace continues to rub his hands all over me but never quite touching me where I need him to until I can’t physically take it anymore.
“Jace, I fucking mean it,” I pant out, the desire getting too much, too dizzying, for me. “I need you right now.”
“Okay, okay, my impatient girl, but just because I love you so much.”
His thick cock slides into me, and since it’s coming from behind, the sensation is shocking. He seems to fill me up even more from here, I don’t know if I can ha
ndle him… but as always, my body works it out.
“So tight,” Jace groans. “So wet for me.”
He thrusts slowly, testing the waters, trying to remember how much of his massive cock I can endure, but as I slam back against him, needing more with every thrust, he complies by pushing in harder and faster. My fingers claw at the carpet, trying to grip on to something, as all kinds of feral screams burst free from my chest.
Then, almost by accident, I catch a glimpse of us in the TV screen. The blurry, unfocused image of Jace slamming into me from behind is sexy as hell. It makes my pulse race out of control. He’s been on my television a lot, but this is by far my favorite. His face twisted up with desire, animalistic and crazy, it’s perfect.
“Oh fuck.” The lust washes over me in a powerful wave, hitting me almost as if from nowhere. I nearly completely fall apart as the heat swallows me up whole, it takes everything that I have not to fall face first to the floor. My jittery, shaky limbs can barely keep me upright any longer. “Oh, Jace.”
The sensation is a wondrous heat that floods my limbs, expands, grows, completely fills me up, I love it, I want to cling to it, for it to last forever, but of course it eventually washes away, leaving me in a delicious, warm glow. I cling on to it, and the carpet, as Jace lets loose inside of me. As he does, my heart races in a new, different way. This is hope, this is real, this is the feeling that we might actually have a chance this time around…
We collapse on to the floor together, gasping desperately for air. I’m burning hot, still laying in the burning flames, yet I still want to curl into him, to hold him close to me. I rest my head against his chest, enjoying the thundering of his heat beat. I made him feel that way, I turn him on, make him wild, just as much as he does me. I’m sure people won’t understand why he chose me when he could have any woman in the world, and those are opinions I might have to face if the press does find him here, but with him by my side, bolstering me up just like he always does, I think I might just be able to face it. I certainly don’t intend to fight it anymore anyway.