by Green, Maree
Pulling out my phone, I shot off a quick text, making sure I crossed as many parts of my body as possible in hope.
Jace grinned and immediately started the car. Mom’s answer came back straight away.
“She wants to know if your mom’s okay with it,” I said, glancing at Jace.
“Of course,” Jace said without pause. “She’s already told me you’re welcome any time.”
I tapped out those exact words and hit send, grinning when Mom’s consent came back. Knowing I’d be able to sleep in Jace’s arms was making me giddy. “She said yes,” I said, shivering at the breathy sound of my voice. Oh boy. Excitement overload.
Jace’s returning gaze flared with a dark intensity, sending heat straight between my legs. I tensed, clenching my thighs together to savor the sensation. Jace growled.
The drive was quick. As soon as we got there, he took me by the hand without a word and led me inside. When we reached the kitchen, he stopped and gazed down at me. “Do you want a drink or anything?”
My whole body was tingling for him. As if I could think of food or drink. I shook my head, my eyes never leaving his. Understanding was clear in his gaze. With another piercing look, he turned, my hand still in his, and led me to his room.
Closing the door behind me, Jace released my hand and quickly went to pick up the guitar and papers that were scattered over his bed. I took the time to remove the jewelry I was wearing and take in Jace’s most private space.
Yes, I’d been in his room before, but I didn’t exactly get the chance to look around the last time I’d been there. It was quite big as far as bedrooms went. He had posters of some of his favorite bands on the walls, like Linkin Park, Muse and 30 Seconds to Mars.
His desk sat in the corner with even more papers scattered all over it – mostly music sheets and lined paper with words scrawled all over them, which I assumed were lyrics. He had three guitars on stands beside that, with other equipment like amps, tuners and pics strewn around that. His bed sat in the middle of the far wall - a queen size with a dark, navy blue cover.
It was very Jace.
I watched him place the guitar on a stand then slowly close the distance between us until his chest was almost pressed against mine. More gentle than he’d ever been, he ran his fingers through my hair, his eyes sweeping over every inch of my face.
I exhaled softly at his touch and reached out to rest my hands on his hips. The roaring fire inside me seemed to have simmered down to a slow, deep burn. It made me want to take my time, feel, experience.
Jace watched me, the same slow burn reflected in his eyes. Slowly, carefully, he cupped my cheek in his palm, his thumb brushing gently across my cheekbone. I closed my eyes with contentment, and exhaled a slow, languid breath.
I felt his warmth growing closer, and then ever so softly, his lips brushed over mine. A tiny sigh escaped me. It felt like I’d been waiting all my life for this very moment.
He continued to stroke my cheek while his other hand caressed my lower back, drawing soft, slow circles. I leaned into him, deepening the kiss, allowing it to grow and build in intensity. My hands slid over his shirt, feeling the hard contours of his stomach as I poured all my feelings for him out through my kiss.
Every single movement we made was unhurried and gentle. It was perfect. We caressed, and stroked and just breathed, allowing time to just feel and absorb the overwhelming volumes of emotion that was flowing through us.
With sure fingers, I gently unbuttoned Jace’s shirt, gliding my hands over the bare skin of his chest, sliding his shirt over his shoulders and letting it fall to the floor.
And still he kissed me.
His fingers skimmed teasingly up my back, finding the clasp of my zipper and carefully sliding it downwards. I shivered when his fingertips trailed after it, his touch burning passion on my bare skin, leaving a tingling path of warmth in his wake. I moaned into his mouth. Holy. That felt good.
Every inch of my skin tingled as my dress slipped down my body, pooling at my feet, but then Jace’s hands were there, gliding over my bare skin, one moving up under the long strands of my hair, and the other caressing the curve of my hip. I reached up to wrap my arms around his neck, pressing my body against his so I could feel the bare skin of his stomach against mine.
His hands never stilled. They explored nonstop, roaming all over my body, making my breath catch in my throat with every new place he found.
My breath grew faster and faster. I wanted more of him. I needed to feel more of him against me. I reached down to find the button on his jeans, working it undone first, followed by the zipper. When I started to tug on them, Jace broke our kiss, stepping back a fraction to take them off, but when he caught sight of me standing there in just my underwear and red heels, I heard his breath catch.
His eyes travelled slowly over my body, turning darker and darker with each passing moment. That dark hunger was always my undoing. It made my heart trip all over itself. Before I could think, he stepped forward again, taking my face in his hands.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he whispered against my lips.
I shivered at the slight sound of desperation in the words and moaned. It was only a soft sound, but it seemed to send Jace a little wild. Stepping out from the fallen dress, I slipped off my shoes and took his hand, gently leading him over to the bed before helping him strip down to his boxer briefs. Then carefully, he guided me down onto the bed.
I don’t know how long he spent covering my body with kisses, but as I lay there, unable to stop the incoherent moans that escaped me, listening to the appreciative groans he made each time I writhed under his touch, I knew I would never feel this way with another person. Ever. He was it for me.
After a while, he unclipped my bra, sliding his hands over my bare skin, trailing them with sweet, warm kisses. Then he worked his way down, doing the same with my panties, sliding them off until I was lying there, on his bed, in nothing but my naked glory.
I was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed with emotion for this soft side of Jace. I couldn’t seem to stop myself from thinking about the way he’d been there for me. At school, when the pep rally overcame me. In the parking lot after school, displaying his affection for me in front of all our friends. At the club, helping me realize I’m so much braver than I thought, and that he would always be there to protect me.
It was almost too much to bare. I needed to show him just how much he meant to me, how much I felt for him. I pushed against him, silently asking him to roll over. He obliged without question, pulling me along with him so I was laying on top, out legs tangled together. Slowly, I traced soft lines along his jaw with my fingers while my lips swept sensually over his mouth, his jaw, his throat. His fingers tangled in my hair, growing tighter and tighter with each new place I touched.
When I reached his chest, my hands and mouth combining soft touches all over, he growled and rolled again, laying me back, fully covering my body with his and taking control. He settled between my legs, holding me, caressing me, worshiping me, and just when I thought I couldn’t take any more, he wriggled out of his boxer briefs, reached for the protection, and slid inside me.
The feeling of him filling me was exquisite. When he’d completely filled me his whole body went still and he pressed his lips against my neck, breathing in my scent as we both fought to allow the intensity to settle. I wasn’t sure about him, but for me, there was no sign of it settling. My need for him was not coming down.
I was sure Jace came to the same conclusion because suddenly he was kissing me, and he started to move. I held him to me, my hand cupping the back of his neck as I kissed him with the scorching passion that was burning inside me. Everything was just so intense. It was mind blowing. There were so many emotions swirling around inside me. Inside my head, inside my heart, inside my body. It was indescribable.
I broke the kiss, gasping, moving my hips with his. My fingers were tense like the rest of me, tightening on the back of his neck and shoul
der blade. We moved slowly, finding a rhythm that only allowed for a long, intense build up that gathered more and more emotion as we went.
Everything that was inside me – all the tension I’d built over the past twelve hours, and all the emotion I felt for Jace, was combining to create something I had no idea how to control. It was becoming too much. I could feel it growing too large for me, seeking an outlet, and when I felt my eyes prick with the stirrings of tears, I knew I had to let them come.
I kept them silent, allowing them to slip quietly down over my temples and into my hair. I clung to him tighter, pressing myself against him, and as I felt myself reaching that beautiful precipice, I let go.
I cried out with the intensity of the tremors that were quaking my body, gasping for air. Jace groaned into the curve of my neck, his body tensing against mine as he found his own release.
I held him there, still gasping, till trying desperately to regain control over myself, but I couldn’t. A soft sob escaped me.
Jace’s head shot up to look at me, his expression filled with concern. “Shit, baby, what’s wrong? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
I swallowed against the lump in my throat and shook my head, unable to speak.
“Then what’s wrong?”
The worry in his eyes was heartbreaking. All my control gone, my face fell, and I pulled him back down so I could bury my face against his neck. I tried to take deep, calming breaths so I could collect myself somehow.
Jace just held me, allowing me to hide there in his embrace for as long as I needed. I knew he was still worried, but the fact that he gave me just what I needed made me fall deeper.
When I felt a little better, I loosened my hold on him, letting him pull back so he could see my face. “Mia? Please, baby, tell me what’s wrong,” he said quietly.
I took a breath, testing my ability to speak. “I don’t know...I guess it’s just...everything that’s happened today...and...when I’m with you, everything’s just intensified...it’s like I can feel all the hurt being drawn out of my body, like you’re the only thing that makes it all okay – makes it better.” I closed her eyes against the tears that were building again. “I know that sounds stupid...”
I opened my eyes to see Jace gazing at me with such intensity. “It’s not stupid, Mia. I feel the same thing when I’m with you. It’s...overwhelming...”
Okay, now there was no way I could hold them back. They overflowed, rolling yet again down my temples. Another lump formed in my throat, and my chest shuttered a little with a hiccup.
We watched each other silently for a little while, then Jace swallowed hard, his expression pained as he gazed at me. “I love you, Mia.”
My breath stopped. Just…stopped. I blinked at him, absorbing the words he’d just spoken so tenderly. Then my face fell again. I pulled him down to hide myself in the curve of his neck, breathing through my silent tears, loving him so damned much it hurt.
When the lump in my throat finally loosened enough for me to at least whisper, I softly spoke the words I knew to be truer than anything else I’d ever said. “I love you too.”
Jace carefully rolled us so we were lying on our sides, facing each other. He brushed the hair from my face with his fingers, then leant in to kiss me. I watched him shake his head with wonder as he watched me back. “How on earth did I ever manage to deserve you?”
I frowned. “I think it’s the other way around, Jace.”
He gave me a tiny smile. “Yeah, I’m a pretty good catch.”
I laughed, not expecting him to say that. I was surprised at how light I suddenly felt.
Jace sighed, his lips still curved up contentedly. “I love that sound.” He pulled me into him so my head was resting on his arm and my lips were pressed against his chest. “I can’t believe we get to spend the whole night together without worrying someone will catch us.”
I smiled against his warm skin. “Mmm…”
He whispered a chuckle and squeezed me tighter. “Are you worn out princess?”
“Just a little,” I giggled.
Jace sighed and kissed my hair. “What do you want to do tomorrow?”
I wriggled, moving myself so I could see his face better. “Uh…I kind of have plans in the morning,” I said, a grin spreading to my lips.
“Okay,” he said. His eyes narrowed at my expression, curiosity evident. “What are you doing?”
I smiled at him devilishly. “Mom’s taking me to the doctors to get the pill.”
Jace’s eyes widened with shock. “You told your mom we’re having sex?”
I laughed at his expression. “No, but I told her I want to have sex with you.”
The horror on his face was comical. I couldn’t help but giggle. “It’s not funny, Mia. She’s going to cut my balls off.”
“No, she’s not. She loves you. And I told you, I tell her everything. I feel bad that I haven’t told her I’m already having sex.”
He ran his hand over his face. “Fuck, I glad you haven’t. Oh my God, if Aiden knew I’ve been sleeping with you all this time...”
I cuddled into him. “Don’t worry about it. She’ll be fine. And just so you know, I’ll be losing my virginity soon.”
Panic flashed in his eyes. “You’re going to tell her?!”
I grinned. “Soon. When it’s been long enough for her to think it’s acceptable.”
Jace closed his eyes and groaned. “She’s so going to hate me. Aiden’s going to kill me.”
I frowned at that thought. “Ewww...I won’t be telling him. That’s just creepy.” I scrunched my nose up to reiterate. “And anyway, isn’t that supposed to be your thing? He’s your best friend.”
Jace exhaled loudly. “Normally I probably would, but you’re his sister. Just like I’m sure you don’t want to hear about his sex life, I’m pretty confident he won’t want to hear about yours...especially with me.”
I pressed my lips together, knowing very well I had no desire to even think about what Aiden did behind his bedroom door.
Jace suddenly scowled, following it with a groan. “I can’t believe you tell your mom everything. Can’t you just tell Kaeli instead?”
I shrugged. “Oh Kaeli already knows. I told her about Aspen the day after it happened.”
Jace sighed. “Aspen,” he said with a tinge of sadness. “That was hard. You completely threw my plans into a spin.” He shook his head as the memories flashed through his mind.
I laughed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for the mirror to fall off the wall and smash all around me so you’d have to carry me out.”
He smirked at me. “I was just being a gentleman.”
“Yeah, right.”
“You have no idea how much of a struggle I went through that night. I wanted to protect you, look after you like your brother would, but seeing you standing there in that damned towel, with those big, beautiful eyes looking up at me with so much trust, I would’ve had to be a fucking saint to hold back. After that first kiss, I actually thought I could stop it – just pass it off as a little mistake, but then your fucking towel fell off and I had no chance.” He laughed, remembering.
“Then the next day Kacey was all over me, and you were acting like nothing had happened. I had no idea what I was supposed to do with that. I was so confused.” He gazed at me tenderly, his expression one of pure honesty. “But something happened to me that night. It was like something woke up inside me, and I was seeing you for the first time.” He twirled a piece of my hair between his fingers, his gaze settling on the long strands as he sorted through his memories. “I knew you were vulnerable. I knew I shouldn’t let it go too far, but it was like I needed you.”
I gently stroked his cheek, watching him struggle with his feelings. “I needed you too. I didn’t realize how much until it happened.” I looked down at our hands as Jace entwined our fingers together. “You know, I used to watch the other girls at school, the way they’d flirt and date, and I’d hear the stories of how they were waiting for that
perfect time to sleep with their boyfriends, waiting for that moment when they were comfortable enough for their boyfriends to see them in their most vulnerable state. And I knew right then and there, that was something I’d never be able to do.
“But in that split second when my towel fell off in Aspen, I realized I was actually at that point. I was standing there in front of you in my most vulnerable state, and I was surprised to find I really did trust you.”
Jace leant forward and kissed my forehead. “I’m fucking glad you did.”
I slowly moved in his arms, snuggling back in and gently running my hand over the muscles on his back. I heard him inhale, long and deep, and he pushed himself against me, his arms tightening as he went. I sighed.
“In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m not letting you go.” He tilted his head down so he could see my face. “You’re my muse.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Am I now?”
He smirked. “Yes, you are. I’ve written three songs since Aspen, and you inspired all of them.”
“You mean there’s more than the one about nameless girls that fuck?”
Jace laughed. “The unspoken story of that song is about one incredibly gorgeous girl who I didn’t want to name, that takes my breath away in every sense of the word.”
My heart actually skipped a beat as he spoke. He was so beautiful. I didn’t know what I was going to do when he had to go on tour. I sighed. I couldn’t think about that now.
Chapter 36
Jace
It was almost eleven o’clock when I got the text from Mia saying she was home from the doctors. Deciding not to waste any time, I jumped in the car and drove straight over.
The guys and I had a band meeting later that afternoon to discuss the thing with Leighton’s, so I wanted to make sure I got to spend as much time with Mia as I could before then.
I knocked and waited for someone to answer the door. When it swung open and I found Lillian standing there, I gave her a coy smile. “Hi, Mrs. C.”