Least of all Cassie.
Chapter 18
ALEX
Three months later
Rushing out of the elevator on the way to my condo, I dropped all my packages to let myself in. Jace was going to be there shortly, and I wanted to look amazing for our date. Once inside, I corralled my purchases into the bedroom and rifled through to find what I was looking for. After I laid out my clothes, I grabbed a small overnight bag and shoved jeans, my Frye boots, and a sweater inside.
Next, I jumped into the shower to clean up, shave all my body parts, slathered my body with my tropical ocean lotion, and quickly dried my hair. With little time for makeup, I settled on some lengthening mascara and nude lipstick. Shimmying into a tight, black halter that pushed my boobs up, I pulled on some black-leather shorts and toed on my indulgent pair of Prada wedge espadrilles. My doorbell rang as I pulled on a few bangle bracelets for good measure.
“Holy hotness.” Jace yanked me in for a deep kiss. “This is the right way to greet a man.”
He looked incredible in faded, gray moto jeans, a simple, black T-shirt, and black boots. Smiling down at me in between kisses, Jace pushed his Ray-Ban glasses back on his head. I couldn’t help but grip his big biceps and lightly trace his poppy tattoo with my thumb.
“We’re going to be late.” I saucily pushed him away.
“I wish I knew where you were taking me.” Jace didn’t miss a beat and picked up my bag.
“Then it wouldn’t be a surprise.” I tucked myself under his strong arm. “But we need some alone time after three months apart.”
“We have an entire week before I have any commitments.” Jace stopped and held me tight against him. “I hope you didn’t bring any clothes; you won’t be needing them.”
Laughing, we made our way downstairs to my garage. After we put our bags in the trunk of my new Range Rover, I drove the short distance to the ferry terminal and bought a ticket to Bainbridge Island. Once we were on the ferry, Jace tucked his hair under a skull cap and put on aviator glasses to avoid recognition. Then we made our way upstairs to the upper deck.
“It’s warm for June.” Jace wrapped his arms around me from behind. We stood at the rail and watched the Seattle skyline get smaller and smaller as we headed toward the island.
“Are we really talking about the weather?” I reached up from behind and stroked his cheek.
“I’m a little out of my element, Poppy.” Jace grinned down at me. “We’re actually out on a date.”
“Get used to it.” I leaned up and kissed his soft lips. “We’re dating now.”
“I like it. And, I intend to.” He tightened his arms around me, and we snuggled through the rest of the ferry ride across Puget Sound with the fresh, salty wind caressing our skin.
Once we docked, I drove up through Bainbridge to Allen’s Cove where we parked at my dad’s house. Leave it to Allen LeRoux to buy a house in a neighborhood bearing his name. He loved to joke about how the house was located in “his” cove, and even I had to admit that his sarcastic sense of humor carried it off.
“Wow, this is some house.” Jace looked in wonder at my dad’s magnificent Cape Cod-style estate set on an acre of beautiful, professionally landscaped gardens with sweeping views of Puget Sound.
No one was home, so I used my key to let us in and showed him around. For someone who had been in many a celebrity mansion, he oohed and aahed over the huge pool, wine cellar, movie theater, and the custom finishes throughout the house.
“So, as breathtaking as this house is, did we come all this way to have a date with your dad?” Jace leaned on the kitchen counter, his eyebrow raised.
“No, he picked something up for me, and I need to get it before we can go to our final destination.” I grabbed bottles of water for us out of their Sub-Zero fridge. “But we can say hi, I’m sure he’ll be home soon.”
“Ahh, mysterious woman.” Jace crossed the room to the sliding doors and looked out at the gorgeous, sparkling blue water. In the late spring, even though it was early evening the sun was still high in the sky.
“Not that mysterious.” I wrapped my arms around him from behind and cheekily cupped his package, stroking him through his jeans. “Maybe we can find some way to spend some time until he gets home.”
Jace cupped his hand over mine and gently moved me away.
“The last thing I’m going to do is make a shitty impression on your dad by having you in a compromising position.” Jace turned and clasped both my hands in his tightly. “I’ll just make sure you keep your hands where they won’t get me into trouble.”
Not giving up, I touched my lips to his but did nothing more. His tongue traced the seam of my lips and, of course, I allowed him access. It still felt a little naughty making out at your parents’ house. Even when you were a grown woman with a full bank account.
Not ten minutes later, we heard the garage door open and my dad swooped into the kitchen through the attached door. He always was so well put together. He wore a natty red sweater and skinny black slacks, his silver hair cut short, and his handsome face crinkled with happiness when he saw me.
“Alex!” Dad strode to me and enveloped me into a huge hug. “And you have a shaggy-haired friend.”
“I’m Jace Deveraux, sir.” Jace tried to contain his laughter and held out his hand to my dad. “Alex’s boyfriend.”
“Oh, so you have a boyfriend now.” Dad winked at me conspiratorially, even though I’d told him about Jace. “Alex hasn’t mentioned you.”
“Um . . .” Jace looked at me in a panic. “Well . . .”
“Dad’s just initiating you into his unique brand of hazing.” I rolled my eyes.
“I’m Allen LeRoux.” Dad reached for Jace’s hand. “You’re that band guy from the girls’ graduation party.”
“Yes.” Jace looked relieved. “I’m him.”
After making small talk for a few minutes and turning down my dad’s offer for dinner, I retrieved my large Amazon package and big envelope from his home office. Finally, we were driving back toward town toward our final destination. My heart raced with excitement when we turned on Big Valley Road to the driveway leading to the ranch I had just purchased.
Grabbing the keys out of an envelope, I jumped out of the car into the quiet oasis that was going to be my new home. Jace got out of the car and looked around in wonder. Grabbing his strong hand, I led him up across the sprawling porch to the front door.
“This is all mine!” I clapped my hands and squealed. “It closed yesterday. My dad picked up the keys for me today!”
“Wow!” Jace looked awestruck. “Show me around.”
My new home was five minutes from the town and was surrounded by forest, gardens, a big pond, a firepit, and a state-of-the-art horse barn. The house itself had a huge wraparound porch overlooking the grounds, three bedrooms, and a large, newly renovated master suite. A tiny but functional kitchen looked out onto the pasture and connected to a living room with a wood stove. The barn had three stalls with a tack room and hayloft, and outside there was an outdoor arena and two pastures enclosed by new fencing. To top it off, a small but modern cottage was nestled at the border of the property close to the pastures.
“Poppy, this is beautiful.” Jace gazed out at the pastures in wonder. “You’ve accomplished your dream.”
“I know, I can hardly believe it.” I twirled around. “You’re the first person who has seen it besides Dad.”
“Not even Zoey?” Jace looked shocked. “Or your mom?”
“Not yet.” I took his hand. “Are you surprised?”
“Yes.” He clasped our fingers together tightly and brought our hands to his chest.
“The bed in the master is new, I had it delivered this morning.” I pointed to the package. “This is some bedding so we can stay tonight!”
Jace waggled his eyebrows. “So our date is that we’re going to christen your house?”
“Complaints?”
“Nope!”
T
he sun had started to finally duck behind the trees, which made the night a bit chilly. After I showed him all around the property we went inside and made the bed. My plan was to get busy right away but when I made my big move, Jace’s stomach growled so loud that we both burst out laughing.
“Let’s run into town and grab something to eat and some provisions for tomorrow, then we can come back here and get naked.”
“Your entire fridge is full of food.” Jace opened the door. “It looks fresh.”
“Dad must have stocked it for me.” I peered inside beside him. “That’s so weird, he never does stuff like that.”
“Let’s just make sandwiches.” Jace pulled out bread, ham, mustard, and cheese. “The last thing I want to do is be in public and sign a bunch of autographs tonight. I just want to have an entire blissful evening with my girlfriend. Alone.”
Swoon. Every time he called me his girlfriend.
After we wolfed down our sandwiches, Jace loaded our bags out of the car and up into the bedroom. We brushed our teeth side-by-side, giving each other smirky side glances in the mirror. Jace’s green eyes twinkled, and he strode into the bedroom, stripping off his clothes. He turned to me completely naked, except for his skull cap and a smile. His magnificent erection saluted me when he posed with his arms akimbo.
“Come and get it, baby.” Jace threw off his cap and opened his arms.
“Don’t worry, I’m not waiting another minute!” Squealing with joy, I peeled off my clothes, kicked off my shoes, and launched myself at my man.
“God, I’ve missed you.” Jace’s strong hands ran up and down my back and gripped my ass, pulling me flush against him, his hard length pressing against my belly.
“I’m right here.” I wove my hands through his hair and lifted my lips up to his.
“Poppy, I’m not gonna last long the first time.” He kissed me and then suckled his way down my neck.
Before I even knew what was happening, Jace backed me toward the newly made bed and ground his cock against me. Devouring my neck, collarbone, and all around my breasts, his lips had my entire body tingling. Which intensified when he nipped at my right nipple and sucked on it enthusiastically. My head lolled back because my entire body felt like it was bursting into flames. Moving down my body, Jace gripped my hips and kissed my stomach, swirling his tongue around my belly-button piercing.
Grabbing his biceps, I writhed against him, trying to press my body closer to his. Abruptly, he knelt down. so that his mouth was level with my pussy.
“You smell so sweet, Poppy.” Jace nuzzled my nether parts. “I can’t wait to hear every little sexy sound you make when you come.”
My moans were visceral when his calloused fingertips caressed my hipbones and his warm lips softly kissed the concave beside my belly button. Jace pulled my pelvis into his face and his warm, wet tongue lapped up my juices voraciously. He laved my throbbing clit with long swoops of his tongue, like he was licking an ice-cream cone. Drawing it out, he teased and suckled, sending me into a frenzy until I propped my right thigh over his shoulder to thrust my pelvis against his lips. Looking down at him eating me out like a gourmet meal, I couldn’t stop myself from bucking against his face like a dog in heat.
“I fucking love going down on you,” Jace growled, his disheveled mane wild around his face as he wolfishly stared up at me.
On the very brink of release, I had no self-control. Gripping his long, blond hair while he moaned into my pussy, I pressed my pelvis into his face desperately. His hands cupped my ass to rhythmically control my thrusts with the hungry movements of his lips and tongue.
“Ohmygod,” I breathed out as all of my parts began to clench forcefully from deep inside me. “Jace, I’m going to come so hard.”
“Jesus, you taste so fucking good,” Jace mumbled from between my legs as he slid two thick fingers deep inside me and curled them in a come-hither motion.
His relentless manipulation of my sweet inner spot was all it took for my body to release so forcefully that pleasure slammed into me like a freight train. My body twisted and shuddered as I struggled to maintain my balance. I kept clawing and gripping his hair to keep myself upright or to keep his mouth on me, I wasn’t sure. Jace suckled and licked me gently through the aftershocks.
When I finally released my viselike hold on his head, Jace gently took my thigh off his shoulder and stood, licking his glistening lips. My clit was still vibrating when he embraced me. Melting into my drummer’s arms yet still quaking with desire, I moaned when we aligned our bodies for the big show. His right hand pulled all of my hair into a ponytail, tight at my nape, to move me where he wanted. Gripping his cock with his other hand, he rubbed the crown against my pussy lips.
“Please. I want you inside me now,” I begged.
“Alex, you are so fucking beautiful. You’re my fantasy every day,” he breathed, tortuously flicking the tip of his dick back and forth against my clit.
I couldn’t comprehend, let alone respond. I was on the edge of my sanity with anticipation and could feel my arousal dripping down my inner thighs. Suddenly, Jace turned me around and leaned me over the duvet, pulling my ass against his shaft. His percussive fingers reached around my body to massage my clit rhythmically just when he thrust his cock inside me.
“Come for me again.” Jace leaned over me, his lips right against my ear as he worked me into a frenzy. With his other hand, he pinched my nipple so hard that it sent jolts to my already-stimulated pussy and another orgasm ripped through my body, wrenching my insides like a towel being wrung out to dry.
“Ahhhhhhhhh.” I heard myself keening. He’d brought me into a zone where I couldn’t stop coming.
“Oh my God, you’re so fucking hot, Poppy.” His hard cock was so deep inside me from behind. Filling me. Jace’s guttural moan of pure pleasure was enough to push me over the edge another time.
“Ohmygod, Jace!” I screamed again as my body clenched forcefully around his hardness.
Jace and I had been having sex for years, but I’d never been so orgasmic. And, I’d never come just from him simply entering me. I felt like I was turned inside out, but unable to process as the waves of pleasure gripped me and my body tightened, warped, and rippled around Jace.
His low, husky groans quickened, and his cock felt absolutely enormous each time he burrowed into me, his balls hitting my ass with each thrust.
“You’re perfect,” he whispered into my ear, driving into me faster and faster while his hands groped every inch of my body.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhh,” I screamed, unable to speak.
Cupping my breasts in his hands, Jace rammed into me more and more forcefully, as though he couldn’t control himself. Overwhelmed with desire and losing control, I couldn’t help but slam my hips back against him, grunting and riding his cock as hard as I could manage. Somehow his free hand found its way to my mouth and I couldn’t help sucking ravenously on his fingers.
Jace emitted a strangled sound from deep in his throat and reached around to rub my clit furiously as he jerked his hips in short, fast bursts, spurting deep inside me. My pussy squeezed every drop out of him when I climaxed yet again. The only sounds in the room were our tortured, labored breaths. Jace collapsed over my back, his cock still twitching inside me.
After a few minutes, Jace pulled out and turned my limp, noodley body around to face him.
“You’re mine.” He cupped my face tenderly in between his palms.
“Yes.” I breathed.
I traced the seam of his lips with my tongue and then kissed him as though my life depended on it. Our greedy mouths consumed each other; our sweaty bodies pressed together. Jace gestured for us to get under the covers then got up to turn off the light. When he crawled into bed and spooned me from behind, my body melted into his.
“It’s perfect here.”
“I know,” I whispered.
“I can’t wait to see what you do with this place.”
“Ohmygod, you have no idea!” I listed all
the projects that I had in mind and the horses I wanted to rescue.
Jace’s arms were wrapped tightly around me and his finger stroked my belly button ring while I shared all my hopes and dreams for the place. He responded enthusiastically and supportively in all the right places until his arms went slack when he fell asleep holding me.
Turning toward him, I stared at his beautiful face, now peaceful in slumber. Stroking his hair, I kissed his forehead and sighed. Life was finally settling down for me, but I had no idea what he wanted for his future.
At some point, I must have fallen asleep in his strong arms. When I woke up, the sun was streaming through my window and Jace wasn’t in bed. Wrapping the duvet around myself, I padded into the kitchen where he was standing in the window, looking out at my pastures wearing nothing but his jeans.
“Morning, sunshine.” I moved to his side and slipped under his arm and ran my hand along the planes of his hard abs.
“Good morning.” Jace draped his arm around me. “It really is blessedly quiet here.”
“I know, it’s what I always loved most about being away from the city.” I nestled against him. “Did you have trouble sleeping? You’re probably used to road noise and chaos.”
“Yeah.” He took several long, deep breaths. “The air smells so clean.”
“Yep. Another one of the things I loved about being out in the country at my rescues.”
“There’s this whole side to you that I never got to know.” Jace sounded wistful.
“I’ve never hidden anything from you.” I looked up at him, locking into an intense gaze with his gorgeous green eyes.
“No, you never have.” He kissed my head. “I totally get it now.”
“Get what?”
“Why you couldn’t get fully on board with us as a couple.”
“Geez. Do we need to be dressed for this conversation?” I tried to lighten the mood.
He took my hand and brought it to his lips. “I’m just so sorry, Poppy.”
“For what?”
“Not making the effort to be in your world.” Jace sighed heavily. “You were right all along. My context with you has always been about the band. About me. First, it was rehearsal and the studio, then you meeting up with me at gigs. I never made the effort to learn what made you tick.”
LIMITLESS: A Less Than Zero Rockstar Romance: Book 2: Jace & Alex Page 20