by Banks, Maya
Her eyelashes fluttered and her eyes opened, immediately finding his gaze. Her eyes were soft and oh so sweet, cloudy but welcoming as if she were the most content woman in the world. What man wouldn’t love his woman waking up with that kind of look on her face? Like there was no place on earth she’d rather be.
“Merry Christmas,” he murmured as he leaned down to kiss her.
“Merry Christmas,” she returned.
He pushed the box across the bed so it was right in front of her. “I got you a present. Well, it’s only one of the presents I got you.”
Her eyes widened. “Jace, we agreed no presents.”
She sounded genuinely distressed and Jace’s chest clenched. He put his finger over her lips to hush her.
“No, you agreed no presents. I never made any such agreement,” he said gently.
“But I have nothing to give you,” she said in agitation.
He smiled, his entire heart softening. “After what you gave me last night, you can honestly say that this morning?”
She flushed and dropped her gaze. He wouldn’t allow it, though. He tipped her chin up with his finger, forcing her to look at him again.
“Bethany, you gave me something more precious than I will ever give to you. You gave me your trust. You gave me yourself.”
Her cheeks went pink but pleasure sparked in her eyes.
“Now open this present. I wanted to give this one to you separately.”
She pushed herself upward so she could sit cross-legged in front of the box. She stared down at it as if it would bite her. Then she hesitantly pulled the bow from the top and tore the paper off.
It took two attempts before she managed to open the box and then she pulled out an intricate leather choker with a huge diamond teardrop in the very middle, designed to rest in the hollow of her throat.
He’d spent a lot of time searching for just the right piece of jewelry. It wasn’t just a necklace. Far from it. It was a stamp of his possession. A signal of his ownership. It was a . . . collar. Not that he would tell her that. Later. When she was more comfortable in their relationship. For now, he was content with the knowledge that he knew what it was and that she would wear it.
He’d looked at diamond chokers. He’d looked at beautifully rendered precious stones in an array of decorative patterns. But nothing had stood out as being something that suited Bethany. Until he’d seen the rustic leather design. He’d had the diamond teardrop added because it elevated the leather choker from simple to elegant and expensive. Something more worthy of the woman he considered his.
“Jace, it’s beautiful,” she whispered. “Will you put it on me?”
Even as she spoke, she held out the choker to him and when he took it, she turned, presenting her back to him. She reached back to lift her hair and he arranged it around her neck, securing it in back. It fit perfectly, snug against her slim neck.
When she turned back around, he was able to see the full effect, and it was magnificent. His cock swelled and his body surged to life at seeing his collar around her neck. She was his and now the world would know it.
The leather bands flowed in a delicate pattern, crisscrossing as they made their way around her neck. The diamond dangled in the middle, making the necklace look dainty and delicate. Just like Bethany. It was bloody perfect. She was perfect.
“I want you to always wear it,” he said in a low voice. “Never take it off. Promise me.”
Her eyes widened, but her face was flushed with happiness. “I promise.”
He leaned forward, taking her mouth, plundering it with his tongue until they were both gasping for breath.
“Put on one of my robes so you don’t get cold. I’ll go turn on the fireplace and you can open the rest of your presents.”
Her lips twisted into an unhappy frown. “I wish you hadn’t gotten me presents.”
He grinned. “Tough, baby. You need to get used to the fact that I’m going to spoil you at every opportunity. Getting you Christmas presents is my present. Seeing you happy is the best gift I could ever ask for. Watching you opening the stuff I bought for you will make this the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”
She surprised him by launching herself into his arms. She tackled him and knocked him flat on his back on the bed. She hugged him fiercely, peppering his face with kisses.
“Thank you. You can’t know what this means to me,” she whispered.
He smiled tenderly up at her as he smoothed the hair from her face. “Not as much as you mean to me. That I can guarantee.”
He patted her on the ass and then said, “Now, let’s get up. You have a surprise in the living room.”
She heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Jaaace.” His name came out as a plaintive wail but he only grinned and rolled her off him.
“Come on. It’s Christmas morning. Time to get your ass out of bed so we can celebrate.”
She grinned, her eyes lighting with excitement. Regardless of the fact that she’d been adamant that he not get her presents, there was no way in hell he wasn’t going to make the most of their first Christmas together.
He handed her a robe so she wouldn’t be cold. He didn’t want her dressed because he planned for them to spend the day in bed right after she saw her tree and opened her presents.
Pausing only to pull on pajama bottoms, he tugged at her hand and guided her into the living room.
She came to a full stop when she saw the tree with hundreds of white lights and the presents piled underneath. Tears immediately filled her eyes and her mouth fell open.
She turned to him, her expression one of joy and surprise. “How did you do this? Oh, Jace, it’s beautiful! I love it!”
He tugged her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “Merry Christmas, baby. Now go open your presents.”
She all but ran to the tree like an eager child on Christmas morning. His heart ached to think of her never having this experience, but he was damn glad he could be the one to give it to her.
“They’re so beautiful I don’t want to open them,” she said in a hushed, reverent tone.
He laughed. “The fun is ripping the paper off as fast as you can.”
Needing no further encouragement, she ripped into the packages, exclaiming in delight as she uncovered each one. Her favorite were the shoes. He’d bought her an array of sexy, high-heeled, sparkly shoes. Of all the things she’d loved when he’d first taken her shopping, the shoes had gotten her attention the most. She’d looked at several pairs wistfully and then flinched at the price tags.
Second on her favorites list was the huge basket of gourmet hot chocolate in a variety of flavors, from milk to dark chocolate.
After she’d opened all the gifts, she launched herself into his arms and they ended up on the floor, him flat on his back laughing as she peppered his entire face with kisses again.
He gazed up at her, taking in her beautiful smile and the joy burning bright in her eyes.
“Have to say, this is the best Christmas ever,” he said softly.
“Wait, that’s my line,” she protested. “And how can you say that? I didn’t get you anything!”
He shook his head solemnly. “All I wanted is right here in my arms. You smiling and looking at me like I just handed you the world. There’ll never be a better present than that, baby.”
chapter twenty-eight
Bethany stirred as Jace slipped from underneath the sheets. He leaned down to kiss her forehead and he murmured, “Sleep, baby. I have to go into work today. You can stay here.”
She sat up, pulling the sheets to cover her breasts. It was an absurd notion that she should try to hide herself. She’d spent most of Christmas naked. In Jace’s arms. He’d made love to her until they’d both fallen into an exhausted sleep.
But now she felt self-conscious and a
little nervous. Her hand fluttered to the choker he’d given her and she traced the lines of the leather design with her fingertip.
She didn’t feel comfortable staying in Jace’s apartment all day when he wasn’t there. None of her things were here. It was Jace’s place. Definitely a bachelor pad. It looked and smelled all male. And while she didn’t have much, at least the apartment she was staying in looked feminine. She was comfortable there. It was starting to feel like something of her own.
“Actually, I thought I’d go back to my apartment if you’re going in to work,” she said quietly.
He frowned but recovered quickly. “If that’s what you want. I’ll swing by after I finish at the office. We can spend the evening there if you want.”
She nodded. Despite her having her own place, they hadn’t spent a night away from each other since they’d met. In fact, other than the time Jace spent at work, they’d been inseparable.
“If you want, I’ll drop you off on my way to work.”
“I won’t make you late?”
He smiled. “I’m the boss, remember? I can go in whenever the hell I want.”
“Okay. I’d like that.”
“Give me five minutes in the shower and then it’s all yours.”
She watched him walk naked toward the bathroom, all his masculine beauty and rough edges on display. His hair, which was tousled from their endless lovemaking, only made him look all the more delicious.
He paused at the doorway of the bathroom and glanced back, his eyes glittering with fire, almost as if he’d known the direction of her thoughts. Then he grinned, his face transforming. She caught her breath because his smile was extraordinary. He didn’t smile often. He had a darker look about him. Almost always serious. Brooding. But when he smiled, she couldn’t breathe.
She sat up when he disappeared inside the bathroom. He’d left the door open, though. An invitation? She licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry.
If they showered together, they’d get done in half the time. Or maybe not. Because if she got in with him, they wouldn’t just shower.
Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
No, it would be a very, very good thing.
Throwing aside the sheets, she crawled out of bed, shivering lightly as she left the warmth. Heat that was still present from when he’d been lying in bed with her.
She hesitated a moment, eyeing the bathroom, waiting for the telltale sign of steam from the shower. After a few minutes, she heard the water turn on and she quietly made her way to the door.
His shower was huge. Easily big enough for two. Or even three. Completely glassed in with multiple showerheads, one overhead and two jets mounted on the wall. His outline was visible through the fogged glass and she could see him washing himself, his hands drifting lower and lower . . .
She opened the stall door and stepped inside before she lost her nerve. His eyes came open, his hand circled around his cock. He blinked in surprise, but the surprise quickly turned to molten desire. His eyes went liquid and his hand stroked over the length of his cock.
He went from a semi-flaccid stage to erect and straining in two seconds flat. If there was any doubt in her mind that he’d welcome her into his shower, it fled as his body came to life in front of her eyes.
“That’s my job,” she murmured as she slid her hand over his erection, removing his in the process.
“By all means,” he said.
Water streamed down his back and rolled down his gorgeous body. His hair was soaked and she could see it was longer than she thought it was. With the weight of the water, there was no body to it, no slight unruly curl. It hung past his neck to the tops of his shoulders.
“You’re so beautiful,” she whispered as she moved closer so their bodies touched.
The water hit her, pulling her in, the heat an exquisite temptation.
His body tensed and his eyes grew rougher, darker. His arms came around her, molding their bodies together as she continued to caress him with her hand.
“You’re the beautiful one, Bethany. I never get tired of just looking at you.”
She smiled and rolled up on the balls of her feet so she could kiss him.
“I’ve never had shower sex before,” she said huskily against his mouth.
“Then we most assuredly need to remedy that right away.”
She slid down his body to her knees, water raining down over them. She glanced up to see his gaze locked with hers, and then it drifted to his groin, where she caressed him to further hardness.
As light as a hush, her mouth feathered over the mushroomed head, her tongue flicking out to tease the sensitive underside. Drops of water hit her tongue, filling her mouth as she sucked him deeper.
A tortured groan sounded above the spray of the water. His hands went to her hair, now drenched and plastered to the side of her head. He framed her face with his palms and held her tightly as he pushed inside her mouth.
His features were harsh, lines forming at his mouth and at his temples. She could see his chest work up and down, his breath coming in ragged bursts as she worked him deeper, to the back of her throat.
Applying light suction, she took him even deeper, boldly making love to him. He hit the back of her throat and she swallowed. This time he emitted a hiss, the violent expulsion of air loud over the sound of rushing water.
He stroked over her head, then to her cheeks, lightly caressing the lines of her face as her throat worked around him. His touch was infinitely gentle, so tender that her heart squeezed in response.
He was her addiction. Replacing everything else. With him, there was no need for the coping mechanisms of the past. He was her anchor. He was what sex and pills used to be for her. A safe place in a world of uncertainty.
Had she merely traded one addiction for another?
The thought took root in her mind, a shadow that gave her pause. But she shook it off, determined not to let her past ruin what she had with Jace. Right here and now. She was finished living in the past, wasn’t she? Jace had given her new life. He’d made her believe that they were starting new and fresh, that what had been no longer mattered. That it was what was to come that was important.
With everything else he’d given her for Christmas, this was the most precious gift she could ever hope to receive.
She sucked deeply again, pouring every bit of her heart, her feelings for him into her movements. She hoped he could see, could feel what she was giving him. It was the only thing she had to give him. She just hoped it was enough.
Jace’s grip tightened on her face. Then he roughly slid his hands down and underneath her arms. He lifted, hauling her up his body. His mouth met hers in a heated clash that left her gasping for breath.
Then he hoisted her and, in one swift movement, he turned and pressed her against the wall of the shower.
“Wrap your legs around me,” he growled.
The fierce command sent shivers down her spine. Her belly clenched and butterflies took flight in her chest. Already his cock had found her opening and as she hooked her ankles at the small of his back, he plunged, finding his depth in one forceful thrust.
His fingers dug into her buttocks, massaging and molding, holding her open as he pounded into her again. His mouth brushed teasingly against her neck and then he sunk his teeth into the sensitive column, eliciting another gasp from her.
He sucked as he plunged over and over, driving her body against the shower wall. His hands seemed to be everywhere, his mouth driving her insane with lust. She’d have a mark on her neck later, evidence of his possession and the bruising force in which he took her. And yet she wanted more. More strength. More ferocity. It would never be enough.
“Not going to last long, baby,” he said roughly, his voice strained and garbled. “How close are you? Want you there.”
<
br /> She took one arm from around his neck where she was gripping him tightly and slid her hand between their bodies, down to her clit. As soon as she touched herself, her body coiled into a tight knot.
“Close,” she gasped.
“Good. Get there.”
He leaned into her, trapping her hand between them. She barely had room to caress the taut bundle of nerves between her legs. He pounded into her, driving her against the wall, driving himself deeper into her. She felt bruised and shaken, the force with which he took her overwhelming.
She was his. She truly belonged. To him.
Her thighs shook, her entire body quaked. Desire rose, sharp and edgy. Overpowering. Her climax built into a crescendo that was nearly deafening. The roar in her ears. The pounding of her heart. She screamed hoarsely and then his shout of triumph joined her cries.
He leaned into her, buried deeply, his chest heaving with exertion. He kissed her neck. Her jaw. Then her lips, his breaths mingling with hers.
Dimly, she became aware of the water still rushing over them. The steam was choking, the air so moist it was hard to breathe in.
“Christ,” Jace muttered. “You undo me, Bethany. How the hell am I supposed to even move now, much less finish showering and get to work?”
She smiled against his neck and then let her body slide down the wall until she stood on shaking legs.
“Guess I’ll just have to finish washing you,” she murmured.
“Oh hell no,” he grumbled. “I’m going to wash your hair and then kick you out of my shower. If you put your hands on me again, we’ll never leave the bathroom.”
Her grin broadened and she leaned up to kiss his firm jaw. “I’m not going to argue with a man who wants to wash my hair for me.”
chapter twenty-nine
When Jace’s car pulled up to her apartment building, he acted as though he were reluctant to let Bethany get out. He held on to her hand for a long moment before leaning over to kiss her. Fierce. Possessive. She struggled to pull in a breath when he finally released her and his gaze glittered, his eyes going dark and sultry.