Grace and I hit it off immediately, we were two birds of a feather. When she’d been in her early twenties, she had traveled extensively before settling down with Jace’s dad. Jace was Jason Sr.’s doppelganger in all ways other than age. I could see how Jace had obtained his demeanor. The layer of confidence and integrity, with no trace of arrogance.
They say you can learn a lot about a man by how he treats his mother. Well, damn. After watching Grace and Jace together? They were so in synch that it made sense that their names rhymed.
Suffice it to say, I was even more sold.
Plus, with no further contact from Cassie, Jace and I both fooled ourselves into believing the situation had resolved itself.
By the end of spring, I was ready to actively look for my first two rescues. Jace was in LA recording a few songs for a movie soundtrack. While he was gone, Becca and I road-tripped around the state figuring out criteria on how to select the horses. Turns out, choosing was the hardest part. For me, it was agony because taking one horse meant leaving another. My emotions were all over the place.
We ended up picking Gloria, a ten-year-old black mare who had been abused and left for dead and Bingo, a former racehorse who was scheduled to be euthanized. When they arrived at my barn, the feeling was unbelievable. I was so overwhelmingly happy that I set up a cot and slept by them for days to make them feel welcome and to make sure their every need was met.
The only thing missing was Jace, but he wouldn’t be back for a couple of weeks. Just in time for the show at the Space Needle for Ty’s foundation.
Jace hadn’t filled me in on the details other than knowing that he wanted me to be there. I truthfully wasn’t paying too much attention because my plate was full. One evening, when I’d been out in the barn all day tending to Gloria, I returned to the house ready to grab a peanut butter sandwich and take a bath before FaceTiming Jace at our designated time.
My BFF was waiting.
“Hey, stranger!” Zoey jumped up from her seat on the front porch, clutching a cider.
“Dude!” I gleefully ran up the steps and crushed her with a hug. When she handed me my own cider, I gratefully accepted it.
“I missed you and was sick of texting, so I thought I’d come out and crash for a night.” She clinked her bottle to mine.
“God, you’re a sight for sore eyes.” I sank into my chair. “But I’m loving my life right now, I’m so happy here with the horses.”
“I was going to come out to the barn but didn’t want to spook them. I know you’re getting them settled in.” Zoey always paid attention to my life, something I appreciated more the older I got.
“I’ll bring you out in the morning with me,” I assured her. “They’re beautiful.”
Relaxing on the porch with my best friend was just what the doctor ordered. We caught up on more of our life events before she let me know the real reason for her visit.
“So, I have an ulterior motive for being here. I got invited to Ty’s party.” Zoey showed me the gorgeous invite. “I wasn’t sure if I was going, but he encouraged me to invite you as my plus one. Please say yes, otherwise I won’t have the courage to go.”
I scanned the invite. Internally, I groaned. If I didn’t say something now, this would be just one more event where Jace and I weren’t being honest with those closest to us.
“Sure, as long as Becca can stay out here with Gloria and Bingo.” I squeezed her hand. As if I’d say no to my BFF.
“You can stay at my place in the city,” Zoey offered.
“Okay. It will be fun.” In Seattle’s hot real estate market, I’d received an all-cash offer on my condo and sold it a few weeks prior, so I’d have more money for the rescue.
“Or you’ll be at Jace’s.” She gave me a sly, knowing look.
“Maybe.” I mimicked zipping my lips.
“C’mon,” she pleaded. “His sister and her girlfriend practically live here, don’t tell me things aren’t moving into relationship territory.”
“He wishes,” It came out before I could stop it. Hiding my wince. I knew I was digging myself into a hole.
“You’re terrible at giving me Jace gossip,” she chastised me. “I’ll show you how it’s done. Ty told me he wants to talk everything out after the show.”
“Wow!” The news came as a shock, which meant Jace knew nothing about this. “About the two of you?”
“Yeah.” Zoey rubbed her temples. “I’m scared to even think about it, I hurt him so badly. I don’t know where this is going to lead.”
“I have a fair idea who he wants.” I pointed at her. “You. You. You.”
“Did Jace tell you that?”
“Look, Zoey.” It was time for me to get off the childish rollercoaster and let my friend handle her own shit. “You and Ty are now grownups. I’ve seen him here and there over the years, and he’s been miserable without you. He has always loved you. I don’t have any idea whether you guys can work it out, but it is up to you two to do that. Whatever happens, you have my support.”
“I know I do.” Zoey squeezed my hand. “I just want him back so badly. We’ve already talked a bit and discussed how much we had loved each other. But, it was in the past tense. I still love him. I’m so scared that he’s going to tell me he can’t love me anymore. That’s probably why I’ve been living in purgatory. The fear. It’s like I’d rather not know and have hope than have him confirm my biggest worry.”
“Zoey, he’s never stopped hoping you’d be back together someday.” That much was obvious to anyone who ever saw them together. “But you’re right. You have to start communicating with him and tune out the rest of the world—including me. Put your big girl panties on and, hopefully, he’ll take them off.”
I was such a hypocrite.
She laughed nervously. “God, I hope so!”
At least our conversation gave me clarity. Something clicked, and I couldn’t wait to see Jace in person and take my own advice. The Space Needle show couldn’t come fast enough. The band wasn’t coming back to Seattle until the morning of, so I wouldn’t get to see Jace in person until that night.
Ty’s event, which was a private radio show for Sirius announcing his foundation, was a very exclusive but casual affair. Jace was busy preparing, but not too busy to text me cute messages all day. I loved him so much, I couldn’t wait to get into Seattle.
Just like old times, Zoey and I got ready together at her condo. I wore my usual uniform, a gray T-shirt, Levi’s, and my Frye boots. Zoey did herself up a bit more, as was her custom. She was going to snag her man back and looked fantastic wearing minimal makeup and her hair in a long side braid. I’m pretty sure both of our hearts were beating a mile a minute in anticipation of seeing the delectable rockers when the elevator door opened, and we stepped into the intimate setting.
Jace caught my eye the minute I walked in, but he was in the middle of a group of people who were fluttering around him. I kept my distance even though every fiber of my being wanted to run and jump into his arms. He shot me a subtle air kiss when his publicist pulled them into preshow interviews. I texted him a heart emoji and patiently waited for him to take care of business.
We’d already arranged to meet back at his place after the show. He knew that my focus was getting Zoey through the night. Which is exactly what I did by marching Zoey to the back of the room and grabbing wine for both of us. We were sipping a delicious Viognier as the sun set over the Olympic Mountains. The energy was palpable when the guys took the stage.
Zoey clung to me but stared at Ty throughout the entire show. He sang his heart out as if no one were in the room but his butterfly. When he dedicated a new song and performed it for her, I thought my hand would fall off from how hard she was squeezing it. The love between them was so clear. I was happy for her.
Tonight would be their reunion, I just knew it.
Throughout the show, Jace kept watch over me. He was so hot; I couldn’t get enough of his biceps flexing while he played the bongos. It would
n’t be long before we would have our own reunion. My entire body was aroused in anticipation of getting naked with my man.
Unfortunately, the press and fans crowded the band after they finished. Zoey and I had to wait outside on the observation deck to let them do their thing. When Ty shyly approached us, I waved him over and gave him an encouraging squeeze on the arm. Looking him in the eye and willing him to do the right thing, I passed him to Zoey with my blessing, which they didn’t need but seemed to want. With a parting kiss on her head, as far as I was concerned, it was now up to them.
A few hours later, I was peppering Jace with kisses while he tried to unlock the door to his condo. When he managed to get it open, we stumbled, laughing, through the doorway in a tangle of limbs, but we managed to stay upright long enough for him to lock and bolt the door behind us.
Immediately, Jace spun me around and pinned me against the wall. Our mood turned even more heated in the privacy of his place. His eyes scanned my face, and he pushed his fingers through my hair to the back of my head, cupping me to pull my face toward his.
“That’s the last event that you stay on the sidelines, Poppy,” Jace rasped before our lips crashed together. The low moan that filled the room was from me when Jace pushed his tongue into my mouth. We made out like our first time when I was still a teenager. Gawd. The way he made me feel. I clutched his T-shirt tightly with both hands to keep him flush against me as our kisses grew deeper and more intense.
It was all I could do not to climb him like a tree, but Jace ran his hand down my lower back and pressed his palm to the curve right above my ass. I could feel every inch of his cock pulsing against the seam of my jeans. Arching toward him, I rolled my hips against his pelvis in my quest to get as close to him as possible. His other hand trailed down to my hip and with one motion, he lifted me up so I could wrap my legs around his waist.
“Jace—” I tried to speak, but his lips claimed mine again in a passionate kiss.
“Shh.” He tightened his grip under my thighs. “I love when you’re wrapped around me.”
My hands slid over his broad, muscular shoulders, and I combed my fingers through his hair. Before I could process what was happening, Jace was marching us down the hall with me clinging to him like a monkey. Our lips still fused together, he kicked the door to his bedroom open and lowered me to my feet. When he took a small step back, my chest heaved in ragged breaths. My lips were swollen from our kisses.
“You’re so handsome, Jace Deveraux,” I moaned, looking him up and down. When my eyes caught his, they were full of hunger when he studied my face.
“You’re incredible, Alexandria LeRoux.” Jace grazed his knuckles over my nipples, which beaded even tighter at his touch. Moving downward, he splayed his hands across my ribs and stomach, trailing his index finger inside my jeans before he unfastened them and pushed them down my body.
We’d undressed like this together many times, but tonight felt more intense. Our energy had shifted in a way that was both scary and exciting at the same time. Toeing off my boots while Jace divested himself of his own boots and jeans, we were finally, blissfully naked. Every time we reunited, knowing how much my Viking god wanted and desired me made my heart open just a little more.
Using his patented move, he rolled us over in one motion to his favorite position where I straddled him, and he impaled me all at once. Bracing my hands on his chest, I rode my cowboy, undulating in a figure eight. Everything else disappeared as our bodies merged. Groping, biting, nipping each other like animals, Jace canted his hips, driving himself deeper and deeper inside me. Scraping my nails on his shoulders, I wanted to leave marks. Everything about Jace consumed me. I wanted him completely, nothing mattered except us.
Jace rubbed my clit in tight circles and it took all of two seconds for me to fly apart with a strangled moan. His muscles strained, and he let out a guttural sound when his body spasmed and he ejaculated everything he had inside me. When we both came down to Earth, and were lying wrapped in each other’s arms, I breathed in his delicious sandalwood scent mixed with our lust.
“Whenever we’ve been apart over the years, did you know how many times every day I thought about us together like this?” Jace kissed my temple. “It’s enough to drive a person crazy.”
“Well, then we’re both crazy.” I licked his neck.
Jace snuggled me tight into his side. My hand ran up and down the hard planes of his abs, I never got sick of feeling the ridges of his muscles there.
“Are you okay?”
“Now that you’re back, I’m better than okay. I’m awesome.” I leaned up to kiss him.
“You’re shaking, Poppy.” He sweetly smoothed my hair from my eyes. “Are you cold?”
“Honestly? I think it’s adrenaline from seeing you again.” I sank against him. “Probably a lot of emotion from the show. I guess I didn’t realize how much energy I spent worrying about Zoey. Now I can hopefully let that go.”
“Yeah.” Jace seemed lost in thought.
“Are you okay?” I traced his lips with my finger.
“Yeah.” Jace looked at me with his intense green eyes. “It feels so different knowing I can come home to you. Good different.”
“That’s because we’re together for real now, Jace.” I smiled at him. “Really and truly. No more running.”
He wrapped his arms around me to pull me tightly against him. “Thank God.”
“Through thick and thin,” I assured him. “You’re my guy.”
“I love you so much, Alex.” Jace was uncharacteristically choked up. “While I was in LA, Ty was so confident about Zoey. He kept saying, ‘Everything happens for a reason.’”
I stared at the ceiling, reflecting on the past eight years. “You know what I’ve realized? We’ve had something they never had over all of these years.”
“What?” Jace nuzzled my hair. “Sex across many continents?”
“No. Friendship.” I kissed his full lips. “We’ve always been friends. Even during our breaks, we never got nasty, we’ve always genuinely liked each other through all of our ups and downs.”
“That’s because you’re my absolute favorite person in the whole world, Poppy.” Jace’s voice broke again.
“I’ve never seen you so emotional, what’s going on?” His demeanor was scaring me a bit. I wasn’t used to seeing him so vulnerable. “I’m right here, I’ve always been right here. You’re my favorite person too.”
“You,” he said simply. “That’s what has changed, you’re really ready to be in this now. You’re not just saying the words.”
“I am ready.” I closed my eyes against his chest, breathing him in again. “You’re my home. I know that with every ounce of my being.”
“I’ve been waiting to hear you say that for years, Poppy.” Jace wrapped himself around me. “I can’t wait to build our future together.”
Chapter 21
JACE
Sunlight streamed into the bedroom, cars honked, and a siren squealed by. A group of children were screaming on the street. All the noise meant we were most certainly not waking up at Alex’s oasis on Bainbridge Island. Scrubbing my eyes with my fists, I heard an annoying and relentless ping ping ping sound emanating from Alex’s phone. I put on my readers, checked my phone for the time and it was past noon.
We were both early risers but going four rounds last night meant we didn’t get much sleep.
“Whoever keeps texting, I’m going to kill them,” I grumbled.
“Zoey.” Alex was sitting up, typing into her phone. “They had a fight, Ty stormed out.”
“Jesus fucking Christ.” I slammed my head back down and pulled the covers over my eyes. “And I thought we’d finally cut them loose.”
The strains of Butterfly streamed through her phone. Alex answered and mouthed, “Zoey” before answering.
“Duh!” I mouthed back and rolled my eyes. All the way back into my head.
Pounding at my front door startled me at the exact same mome
nt. Punching my fist into my palm, I jumped out of bed, grabbed my jeans from the floor, hoisted them up, and padded out to the door.
Surprise, surprise, it was Ty. I gave him a quick pep talk and sent him on his way and was heading back to the bedroom when Alex emerged wearing only my T-shirt.
“So much for our best intentions.” She put her hands on her hips.
“Pray for them.” I reached for her. “They need it. For the record, I fucking hate this drama. At least we’ve kept our drama to ourselves.”
“I want to be a good friend.” She traced my poppy tattoo with her index finger. “Zoey knows something is up with us.”
“Good. Ty also knows you’re here.” I cupped her head to my chest. “For the record, I like sleeping at your place better, fewer interruptions.”
“You should move in with me,” Alex murmured against my pecs.
“Really?” I took ahold of both her shoulders and moved her gently away so I could look her in the eye and gauge if she meant it.
“Yes. If you want.” She looked up at me through her lashes, almost shyly.
“So, you’re inviting me to move in with you? I want to make sure I’m hearing you correctly.” There was nothing more that I wanted, but I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
“Jace! Shut up.” Alex giggled.
“Alexandria LeRoux? I, Jace Deveraux, do hereby accept your offer of cohabitation.” I bowed low. “So long as you know that living together without marriage is a sin, and I ain’t gonna be a sinner for too long.”
“Are you serious?” Alex’s mouth formed a little “o.”
“Of course I am.” I caressed both of her cheeks and kissed her tenderly. “I want to ask you the right way, though, so this is not a proposal yet. Just a ‘please put me out of my misery if you’re not on the same page’ heads-up.”
“I’m overwhelmed. And so happy!” Alex’s smile was brighter than the sun. “I hoped this was where this was going, but I didn’t want to assume.”
LIMITLESS: A Less Than Zero Rockstar Romance: Book 2: Jace & Alex Page 22