by Cat Carmine
He holds the door open when we get to the tenth floor and then follows me wordlessly down the hallway. I don’t really let myself breathe until the door of our room swings closed behind us. Then I turn to face Jace.
His eyes are dark and he’s watching me carefully, as if waiting for me to set the pace.
“Jace…” My hands are knotting involuntarily, a distraction from what they really want to do, which is reach out and stroke his hard jaw.
He takes a step toward me, closing the distance between us. He leans in until his face is mere inches from mine.
“Celia,” he says. His voice is gruff and it seems to catch in his throat.
Finally I unclench my hands. I reach up and run my fingertips along his jaw, the way they’ve been aching to do.
“I don’t want to talk, okay?” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. Jace’s eyes darken further, his pupils dilating.
“Okay.”
His hands move to my hair. He winds my locks around his fists and tugs gently, tilting my head back just enough so that I’m looking up at him. He’s standing even closer to me now, having somehow closed the distance between us completely, and I can feel the heat of his body in front of me.
My breath is coming in short pants now, and by the time Jace leans in closer, my lips are aching for him. My whole body aches for him.
“Kiss me.” My words are a breathless whisper. So unlike me — or at least that’s what I used to think. Funny how Jace has changed my perception of who I am and what I want.
Jace is grinning now, that same damn cocky grin that made me melt for him in the first place.
“Okay,” he says again.
His lips against mine are soft and heavenly. We’re not so much kissing as exchanging breath. He grazes my lips with his. Neither of us move.
Then Jace nips at my bottom lip. I groan and press my mouth harder against his. I open to him and then his tongue is finding mine, roughly invading my mouth. My whole body trembles as I lean against him, and I snake my arms around his waist to keep from falling over. I feel dizzy with this — his lips on mine, his scent in my nose, his hands in my hair.
He’s still kissing me as he walks me backwards toward the bed, but then he pulls away. He pushes me down onto the bed, and then slowly starts removing his clothes — first the yellow bowtie, then the jacket. Then he slowly unbuttons the white shirt. I lick my lips in breathless anticipation, shivering as I see his muscled chest come into view.
Every movement he makes is slow and deliberate. He finishes undoing the buttons and then slides the shirt off his broad shoulders. When he moves to his belt and starts undoing it, I feel my whole body clench. I can already see the bulge that’s tenting the front of his tuxedo pants. When he pushes his pants down off his hips, his shorts come too, unleashing the thick huge cock that I’ve been so hungry for.
“Stand up,” he says. He’s already got his fist wrapped around his dick, and he strokes the shaft slowly as I do as he says.
“Turn around,” he says, as I stand, and I do that too.
I feel his free hand against the back of my neck, and then he’s pulling down the zipper of my dress. The whole garment slips down off my shoulders, and I let it fall to the floor and then step neatly out of it.
Jace is still standing behind me, and I feel his fingers against my back now. He unclasps the light lavender colored bra I’m wearing, and I raise my arms just enough to let that fall to the ground too. My panties go next, as Jace pushes them down off my hips and I step out of them.
When we’re both completely naked, he turns me back around. He lets go of his cock, and then both his hands go to my face, tilting it up so that he can kiss me again.
I moan into his mouth. My whole body feels electric with anticipation.
He’s still kissing me as he pushes me down, and still kissing me as he climbs onto the bed, kneeling over me.
I pull him down on top of me and for the longest time, we do nothing but kiss. As if somehow, our lips can say what our voices can’t.
I twine my legs through his and press my body up against him, wanting to get as close as I possibly can, to feel every inch of his skin against mine. Soon his hands are grazing over my arms, down my thighs, up over my ribcage. I squirm in closer to him and make a sound that can only be described as a purr.
Jace chuckles and pulls away for a minute. His blue eyes connect with my green ones, and for a second it feels like he’s staring right into my soul.
He sits up and pulls me so that I’m sitting up too, and then he pulls me into his lap. His arms go around my back, holding me to him. I can feel his cock between us, thick and hard and huge.
I turn so that I’m facing him, and wrap my legs around his waist. Now I can feel his cock pressed up against my slit and I shimmy against him. Jace groans and winds his hands through my hair.
“I need to be inside you,” he whispers. All I can do is nod, because God, do I need that too.
Jace lifts my hips just enough that he can nudge his cock up against my entrance, and then he lets me slowly sink down on him. I keep my arms wrapped tightly around his neck as he fills me, stretching me almost to my limit.
I can’t take my eyes off his. We start to move together like that, me in his lap facing him, his hands braced just under my ass to help me rock against him. Our movements are slow and gentle but somehow I’m already starting to clench around him.
“Oh, God, Celia.” He’s holding me so tight to him that my breasts are crushed against his chest, and my clit rubs against his groin.
“Jace…” I touch his jaw with my fingertips, then lean into kiss him again. My hair tumbles over both of us. As we kiss, Jace starts shifting his hips faster, lifting my ass up and down so that I’m bobbing on his cock.
It feels incredible — so hot yet so intimate at the same time. I clench my walls tighter around him as he thrusts, and he groans into my mouth.
“Come inside me, Jace,” I whisper, my words almost getting lost in my breathless panting. “Come and take me with you.”
Jace growls, low in his throat, and I can feel his cock start to surge inside me. I bear down on him, grinding my clit against him as all my muscles clench.
The eruption comes hard and fast, for both of us. Jace grips my hips and pulls me down even more forcefully on top of him, and then I’m seizing around him, my pussy spasming uncontrollably around him. My back arches, my head flies back, even my toes curl, totally out of my control. I feel Jace swell and then erupt inside of me, spilling all of himself deep into my canal.
We keep rocking together long after our orgasms have subsided, as if both of us are reluctant to give up this closeness.
But eventually Jace’s cock starts to soften and slip out of me, and our joined fluids drip down my thigh. Jace cradles me and we roll over together, so that we’re lying on the bed together, my head tucked neatly under his chin, his arms wrapped around me.
We’re both quiet for a long time, then Jace kisses the top of my head.
“Remember the other day, when we were talking and I said missionary was my favorite position?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, I think I’d like to change my answer to whatever that was called.”
I giggle. “I think it’s called Hell Yeah. And I’d like to change my answer too.”
Jace laughs, low and deep and unconstrained, and for the first time in awhile, I feel like everything is perfect.
31
Celia
In the morning, I roll over and find Jace already awake, watching me. The sun is streaming in through the window, since we hadn’t bothered to close the curtains last night, and tiny dust motes dance in the sunbeam like sparkles.
“Hi,” Jace says, smiling when he sees I’m awake.
“Hi.” I snuggle up against his broad chest.
He leans over to kiss my forehead, grazing his lips across my skin. It sends a shiver through me, and despite the fact that we only got to sleep a couple of
hours ago, I drape my thigh over his and grind my pussy against his hard muscles.
“Woman, you’re insatiable,” he teases, grinning.
“I can’t help it,” I plead innocently. “You make me that way.”
He nuzzles my nose. “Unfortunately for both of us, I said I would help Luke with some stuff out at the house today, and I need to get going soon.”
“You did?” I try to keep the note of disappointment out of my voice. I had really been hoping that we’d finally get a chance to talk today. “Do you want me to come with you? I can help with whatever it is.”
But Jace shakes his head. “You would be bored to tears. Why don’t you do something fun today? Hit the spa here at the hotel or go out shopping or something.”
I don’t want to go to the spa or go shopping, but things are still too much on shaky ground with us for me to pick a fight about this. Instead I force myself to smile.
“That sounds fun. When will you be back?”
“Probably around four or so? I’ll pick you up and we can go for dinner?”
“That sounds nice.” This time my smile isn’t even forced. I lean in to kiss his mouth and the kiss lingers and deepens, until Jace finally pulls away with a groan.
“Why do you have to be so damn tempting?” he says, shaking his head and laughing. I think that’ll be enough to lure him into staying for a while longer, but to my disappointment, he hoists himself out of the bed and starts getting dressed.
Less than fifteen minutes later, he’s ready to go. I, on the other hand, haven’t even dragged myself out of bed yet.
Jace looks me up and down, wrapped in the white bed sheet. “You’ll be okay by yourself today, right?”
I nod, plastering another fake smile on my face. “Of course. Maybe I’ll check out the spa, like you suggested.”
Jace’s face relaxes. “Good.” He leans down and gives me a quick peck on the cheek, and then he’s off.
I stare at the door for a few minutes, as if I can’t quite believe he’s gone.
After last night, I was sure we would finally spend the morning talking everything through. I have feelings for him, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has feelings for me too. Even if he hasn’t said anything yet, his body had told me everything I needed to know.
So why was he so eager to dash off this morning?
I shake my head and make my way to the shower. Maybe I’m reading too much into this. Maybe Luke really did just need help cleaning up after the wedding — though you’d think a family with as much money as they have would just hire cleaners.
After my shower, I decide to go for a stroll. The neighborhood around the hotel is a vibrant one, and we’ve barely explored any of it. I find a coffee shop and enjoy a latte and a pastry while I flip through a local entertainment magazine someone left on the table.
That manages to kill an hour or so, and then I wander listlessly for another little while. Contrary to what I told Jace, I don’t bother checking out the spa — I know there’s no way I’ll be able to relax today.
Eventually I make my way back to the hotel and flop down on the king-sized bed. I decide to call Rori to take my mind off things, but when I dial, it just rings and rings and then goes to voicemail.
“Hi,” I say, huffing up at the ceiling. “It’s me. Just calling to say hi. Call me when you get a chance.”
I’m not expecting to hear back from her right away, so I’m surprised when a text dings through just a couple of minutes later:
“Sorry, sweetie. Caught up in some stuff. Call you back tonight, okay?”
Great. Even Rori doesn’t have time for me today. And what would she be so busy doing on a Sunday anyway?
I’m starting to feel pathetic for moping around though — this isn’t who I am. I wanted to see the city while I was here, and now I actually have a little bit of time.
So with that, I put Jace and Rori and everything else out of my mind, and head back out into the streets. I eventually manage to while away the day in downtown Chicago, popping into little shops that pique my interest, taking myself out for lunch, and possibly drinking a half liter of white wine at a little sidewalk cafe.
I head back to the hotel a little before dinner time to shower and change. Jace had said we’d have dinner together, but I haven’t heard from him all day.
By the time I get out of the shower and finish drying my hair, I have a text from him.
“So sorry. Caught up later than I thought. Trent’s lending us his driver for the night — he’ll pick you up at 7. Ok?”
I stare at the message for a minute, then shake my head. Is it just me or is Jace behaving strangely today?
I try to shake it off — I’m probably just stressed and reading too much into it.
“Sure. Where are we going?” I text back.
His response comes through almost immediately:
“You’ll see. ;)”
Okay. I shake my head again. I text him one more time.
“Can you at least tell me what to wear?”
“Anything. You look good in everything. :)”
That makes me smile. Jace is sweet. Not exactly helpful, but sweet.
I eventually decide on a simple jersey black dress. Stretchy and comfortable and casual, but because it’s black, it can pass for dressy in a dimly lit restaurant, if that’s where we’re going.
By that time it’s almost seven, so I go downstairs to the lobby to wait for Trent’s driver.
He shows up promptly at seven, and introduces himself as Ted. I follow him out of the hotel and to the waiting SUV.
“Do you know where we’re going?” I ask him, as he holds the back door open for me.
“Yes, ma’am. Holloway Drive.”
I stare at him blankly. A smile crosses his aged face.
“Luke Whittaker’s place, ma’am.”
I wrack my brain, trying to think of why Jace might want me to go all the way out to Luke’s.
“I thought we were going to dinner?” I say to Ted.
“We’ve only just met, ma’am.” He smiles kindly but there’s a twinkle in his eye.
I realize he’s cracking a joke, so I laugh and climb into the back seat. Of course he doesn’t know why we’re going to Luke’s. He’s just the driver. But as we begin the hour long drive out to the farmhouse, my mind races: what in the world is going on?
32
Celia
The driveway up to Luke’s home must be almost a mile, so it takes me a couple of minutes to notice it.
There’s music playing. Loud too, pumping out of some kind of outdoor speakers. There are cars parked in the yard too — not as many as last night, but at least half a dozen.
Ted pulls the SUV to a stop right up near the house, and comes around to let me out. I step out of the car, but I almost don’t want him to leave me just yet. I can hear voices carrying from the back yard area but I don’t see anyone and I still have no idea what’s going on.
And then I see him.
He appears from around the corner of the house like a mirage. Like a miracle. Jace, looking handsome as hell in the same black polo shirt and jeans he was wearing when he left the hotel this morning.
I wave a quick goodbye and say thank you to Ted, and then cross the lawn over to Jace.
“Hey,” he says, leaning in for a kiss. He looks tired but happy to see me.
I let him graze his lips against mine, but then I pull back. “What’s going on? I thought we were going for dinner.”
He grins. “I thought we could do something a little different.”
“Like what?”
He pauses, then points up at the air, gesturing for me to listen.
I stop and finally pay attention to the music that’s pumping out through the yard.
“The Steve Miller Band,” I say, laughing. My face fills with a giant grin. “What’s going on Jace?”
“Come on,” is all he says, slipping his hand through mine.
I follow him into the backyard. I
t’s dark except for a huge roaring bonfire in the middle of the yard.
I look at Jace, still confused, but he just squeezes my hand.
As we get closer, I slowly start to make out voices and figures, and I realize they’re all here: Hannah and Trent, Luke, Sloane, Ally, Jace’s mom Evelyn. Even …
“Rori!” I shriek when I see my best friend and then she’s leaping across the yard toward me.
I wrap her in a huge hug. “What are you doing here?”
“Hanging out,” she laughs. “Sorry I couldn’t get back to you earlier. I was just about to get on the plane when you called.”
“I still don’t understand.” I’m looking back and forth between Rori and Jace, and both of them are wearing such sly smiles that I feel like I must be totally missing something.
Finally Jace laughs. “Don’t look so scared,” he teases. “I just remember someone saying they wanted to go to a bonfire. Maybe with a little Steve Miller playing.”
“You did all this for me?” I ask incredulously, as Rori heads back to grab a seat near the fire, next to Sloane and Ally.
He nods solemnly. “I did.”
“But why?”
He shakes his head, incredulous, as if he can’t believe that I even have to ask that question.
“Because I love you,” he says. His words and voice are so plain, simple and perfect.
“You do?” My words are barely more than a whisper.
“Yes, silly girl.”
“I love you too, Jace.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear you say that, because it’s going to make this next part a bit easier.”
“What part?”
He leads me closer to the fire.
“Your first proposal was in your office,” he says. “And I think that’s just unacceptable.”
I laugh. Tears are springing to my eyes, even though I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the way Jace’s face looks so earnest in the firelight. Maybe it’s the way everyone has turned to look at us, expectant and like they’re holding their collective breath. Maybe it’s the fucking Steve Miller band.