7. Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Callie
I watched as Kane sulked away, his mind loud with thoughts that made my heart skip. Not because he wanted to do filthy things to me, I’d gotten used to that, but because he cared . And not in a way I’d expected from him, not yet, not this soon, possibly not ever.
I blinked, my vision blurring with tears I refused to let fall. The thought of someone who wasn’t Sulien loving me felt wrong, almost like I was betraying him. How could Kane, of all people, look at me and see something worth caring for? How could anyone?
When Sulien and I first started dating, I deserved to be loved. I was exactly who I needed to be—beautiful, driven, at the top of my classes. My life had been carefully crafted to look flawless from the outside, and at that time, it almost felt like it was. I was worthy of the attention Sulien gave me, worthy of the way his eyes lit up when he saw me. Deserving of the way he smiled when he said my name.
But now? I was a shadow of the go-getter I once was. I didn’t have the energy to go above and beyond for any class except for Wearable Combat Systems, and even that felt like I was doing the bare minimum for someone of my pedigree. Every inch of my body had changed, and I couldn’t even bring myself to primp myself for the day as I had before. The confident, capable girl Sulien had fallen in love with was long gone, and what was left… what was left felt like a mess. One that didn’t deserve love. If I did, why would my family abandon me?
I exhaled slowly as I wiped my eyes. I didn’t deserve to cry. Not over this. Not over something that was the direct result of my own decisions. My choices had led me here, and crying about it wouldn’t change a thing.
I stared down at the omelet and bacon Kane had made for me, and instantly, I was torn.
Kane wanted me to eat, and after everything yesterday, I was so hungry that my stomach hurt. But Jace was right about my body. I’d grown too soft, too round, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Sulien would’ve been disappointed in me. Would he still have looked at me the same way? Would he still have smiled the way he used to when I walked into a room?
I knew those thoughts were wrong. I’d been in Sulien’s head. He loved me for me . But, the awful loud, nagging voice in the back of my mind wouldn’t allow me to think about anything other than Jace essentially calling me chubby.
His comment had been intended to be somewhere between a compliment and a joke; unfortunately, Jace wasn’t very funny.
He had perched himself on the countertop, watching my every move. And I had a feeling if I broke down, he’d laugh at me. And while it was what I deserved, I wasn’t ready for that. So, I put on my best fake smile and cleared my throat before digging into my eggs, using the food to fill the weird void in my chest like I always did.
“I guess I pissed Kane off again.” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood even though I knew I wasn’t funny either.
Jace scoffed but didn’t respond. Instead, his green eyes stayed pinned on me. I tried to ignore him as I focused on the routine of eating. I could tell the omelet tasted good, but right now, that wasn’t why I kept going. I needed to feel full, even if just for a moment.
His thoughts buzzed in the background like radio static. I wasn’t particularly paying attention to him, which meant I missed a lot. But I could hear how he was waiting for something to happen. He genuinely felt a little bad for pushing, not bad enough to apologize, though.
I swallowed the bite in my mouth before setting the fork down. I knew my last comment wasn’t funny, but maybe if I tried something a little drier, it’d land better.
“You know… for someone who prides themselves on being good with people, your compliments suck .”
My comment drew a smirk from Jace. “Oh, come on. That wasn’t an insult, and you know it.”
I shrugged as I picked up a piece of bacon. “I’ll remember to take being called chubby as a compliment next time.”
“Ah, ah, ah. Don’t put words in my mouth, little lady–I called Sulien and Kane chubby chasers–which they are, by the way.” He corrected, his tone reminding me of a professor at school. “I said you’re gorgeous , which you are.”
“Mhm,” I smirked, taking a bite of my bacon as I thought. “And the comment about extra weight is totally harmless especially , after I told you last week I’m pregnant and not to talk about me like that.”
His smirk widened. “I didn’t say it was harmless, Princess. I also never said any of that was a compliment. Just that I wasn’t exactly trying to insult you.”
I eyed Jace for a moment as I considered if I wanted to play this game. Fuck it, it wasn’t like I had anything better to do.
“So, If you were trying to compliment me, what would you say?”
“I’d say that you do a fantastic job concealing the massive stick you keep shoved up your ass.” He couldn’t even say that bullshit with a straight face.
“Oh my god, you’re so funny that I forgot to laugh.”
Jace snorted, barely containing his chuckle as he hopped off the counter. “Oh, lighten up, Princess. You couldn’t take it if I complimented you.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what you think it means, Princess.” He leaned down, resting his elbows on the table as he looked into my eyes. “Right now, I could tell you that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And, no matter how genuine I was, you’d never believe me. Which is hilarious because you can tell exactly what I’m thinking.”
He reached over, tapping my nose with the tip of his finger. The action was meant to be patronizing, which meant it should have pissed me off… But it didn’t.
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my cool, but the intensity in his voice was doing things to me. Things that, frankly, made me feel a bit like a slut.
“I’d believe you if you were actually being real and not just messing with me,” I said calmly.
“Callie, you think I’m just messing with you?” He feigned a gasp, pressing his fingers to his lips.
“I know you are. That’s just how you are with me.”
His smirk softened, and for a moment, vulnerability flickered in his eyes.
“Maybe… but not always.” The usual playful edge to his voice faded.
“So, then tell me something serious.” I whispered.
I expected Jace to tell me to fuck off or make another joke. But he stayed silent, his eyes trained on mine. I tried to read him based on his demeanor alone. Normally, I was good at that. But Jace was so rarely serious that this felt impossible, so I pried a little deeper into his mind so that I could hear his thoughts loud and clear.
His brain was a mess of thoughts, racing against each other, trying to be front and center in his cacophony of a mind. But one topic floated above the rest: me.
“You want real? Callie, you’ve fucked up your life by experimenting with men you should have never looked twice at.” I need to push her away.
My eyes widened, not from his insult but because of what came after. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do.” He pulled back, rubbing his jaw as he did. “Kane’s a pickpocket, I’m a prostitute, and Sul… Well, it’s not nice to speak ill of the dead.” I hate my fucking job, but what else can I do?
“Jace…” I said his name slowly, torn between defending Sulien’s honor and telling Jace I was poking around in his mind. “You don’t mean that.”
I wasn’t sure what else to say, but I hoped repeating that would get the point across.
Jace’s eyes narrowed as his jaw tensed. I could feel his frustration, but under it, his mind was alive with fear. Fear that I’d agree with him, fear that I’d walk away, fear that he was making a mistake by letting someone like me get close to someone like him.
“I don’t mind that you’re you,” I said calmly, suddenly reminded of my early conversations with Sulien. He’d always feared he wasn’t good enough for me; it was like he couldn’t see what I did.
Jace averted his gaze before whispering, “Maybe you should.”
I shook my head. “I’m okay… I’m not trying to fix you either.”
It was hard to tell if that was a concern for Jace or not, but I figured it was better safe than sorry.
He looked back up, his eyes lingering on mine just long enough for his next thought to flit into my mind completely uninterrupted.
What if I want to be fixed?
The silence that followed that thought was suffocating. If I asked Jace what he meant, I’d have to admit I knew he thought it. And, if I did that, I’d destroy the razor-thin moment of vulnerability blossoming between the two of us.
Unfortunately, Jace wasn’t as dumb as he pretended to be. Something in my gaze must’ve betrayed my thoughts because before I could even fathom a proper response, Jace’s lips crashed into mine.
The kiss was frantic, like it was the only thing he could think to do to stop the impending conversation. A bolder woman would have stopped him now and redirected the conversation. But… I wasn’t bold. I was touch starved and a little sad.
So, instead of pulling away, I kissed him back.
I didn’t do it because it was smart, or right, or even because deep down, I knew I needed it. Instead, I did it because it was easy. And, for once in my life, I wanted easy. I wanted thoughtless, something done in the heat of the moment just because I could.
“Stand up.” He didn’t stop kissing me to speak, which made his request even more difficult to process.
“What?”
“Stand. Up.” His hands slipped down my sides and up my shirt.
The second his palms met my bare skin, an almost magnetic sensation pulsed through me. My body reacted without me, forcing me to follow his command. Panic prickled around the edge of my mind, closing in like a vignette on an old photo, but Jace’s warmth quickly drowned out my concern.
He slipped his hand off my side, resting it on my back as he continued to shower me in hungry kisses. I kept my eyes closed because as difficult as it was to comprehend; I trusted Jace.
Eventually, my back met the counter, and Jace took no time hoisting me up.
“What? Not going to use lifting me as an opportunity to call me fat again?” I teased as my ass met the cold, hard surface.
My words caused Jace to pause just long enough for me to catch my breath. He tipped his head to the side as he thought, and after a moment, a lazy grin spread across his lips.
He placed his hand on my thigh, softly squeezing me as the same magnetic sensation filled my veins.
“Why would I?” He teased, leaning in to nip my neck. “Plus, I’d never back down from a challenge.”
“You’re an a-asshole.”
My insult was betrayed by the quiver in my voice, the one he was causing by dragging a hand up my thigh, only stopping once his fingers met the hem of my underwear.
He chuckled, shaking his head as he did. “Watch the tone, baby girl. I’m just your type.”
“Uh–No, you’re not. My type is–”
A wave of pleasure washed through me like a ripple through water, causing a sharp gasp to cut off my words. I leaned forward slightly, wrapping my fingers around Jace’s bicep. The purple of my nails popped against the red flowers etched into his right arm.
“What’s your type, Princess? Go on… Use your big girl words for Daddy Jace.” He drawled, smirking at me but never moving his fingers from my hip.
The small ripple built into a consistent pulse, one that matched the racing of my heart. Heat pooled in my stomach, trickling down all the way to my toes as I gripped Jace harder.
“I–What are you doing to me?” I panted.
Jace guided me to lean my head against the wall, and my lips parted as I desperately tried to breathe through whatever the fuck this was.
“Awe, baby girl, don’t tell me you don’t know how an orgasm works.” He leaned down close enough for me to smell the coffee on his breath.
“I–” Once again, Jace made it impossible for me to respond.
I tried to snap my legs shut, but I couldn’t. It was like my body was working against me, like every muscle was no longer mine to control.
“Shh… save that beautiful voice of yours for screaming my name when you cum.” He used his free hand to press a finger to my lips. “Orgasms are all blood flow .” He started with a tone that reminded me of a bored professor. “Circulation, if you want to get technical. When all that beautiful blood of yours rushes to the right places, the pressure builds, and builds, and builds . And just when you don’t think you can take it anymore, you snap.”
He dragged his thumb in lazy half-circles over my thigh. A broken whimper escaped my throat as I closed my eyes, doing my best to fight Jace’s special form of magic.
Sulien had always thought Jace was a shitty hemomancer, but now as I threatened to come undone with him barely touching me, I wasn’t so sure that was the case.
“And, as long as my skin is touching yours, your blood is mine . You are mine . And you will be until I say we’re done.”
I clenched my jaw as I did my best not to give into the heat in my core, to not give in to him. But how the hell was I supposed to resist someone who was literally in my veins?
“You’re so tough, aren’t you?” He leaned in, his lips brushing mine as he spoke. “Go on, let me see what you look like when you cum.”
I shook my head as I bit my lip so hard I tasted copper. There was no reason for me to fight Jace, but something about denying him felt incredibly freeing.
Jace pressed his forehead to mine. His breathing was warm and even, a far cry from the ragged gasps that filled my lungs.
“It’s cute watching you fight.” He whispered. “But, we both know how this is going to end… So, I’m going to count down from five, and you’re going to give me what I want.”
Jace’s voice was low and dangerous, as dangerous as the magic he forced through my veins. My chest tightened with every breath I took. His forehead remained pressed against mine.
“Five,” he whispered, stretching the word as if it could drag on forever.
My breath hitched, and my nails dug into his arm as I tried desperately to cling to whatever semblance of self-control I possessed. But it was slipping fast—my body trembled as the heat in my core spiraled out of control. I was so fucking hot that I felt like I’d melt if I didn’t let him win.
“Four,” Jace murmured, dragging his thumb a little higher on my thigh. “I can feel how badly you want it, Princess. But I’m so proud of you for fighting me this long. Not many people can do that.”
A broken whimper escaped my lips, and my hips shifted closer to him, chasing the pressure I swore I wasn’t going to give in to.
“Three,” he whispered, and my pulse quickened in response.
“Two,” he breathed against my lips. “I know you can feel it, Callie. That sweet, beautiful moment right before you fall apart. You’re almost there, I promise .”
I whimpered again as I realized my struggle had done nothing but prolong the inevitable. Every cell in my body was burned, begging for release, begging for Jace, and he knew it.
“One.” He shot me a sardonic grin as a final pulse of heat surged through my veins. “Cum for me, Princess.”
The command hit me like a magnitude-ten earthquake. My orgasm was violent and entirely overwhelming, dragging me under wave after relentless wave of ecstasy.
Jace held me steady, guiding me through every moan and shudder until control of my body finally returned to its rightful owner.
“That’s it,” he murmured, brushing his lips against my temple. “Good girl.”
His hand finally left my hip, and I pressed my palm to my chest as I gasped for air. It was like I’d just surfaced after almost drowning.
“You’re a dick.” I spat, my lack of oxygen cutting through the venom I wanted to have.
“If you keep talking like that, you’ll never get to the main event.” He bit his lip before grabbing his cock.
Unfortunately, my eyes followed the motion, taking careful note of the way his erection lifted his basketball shorts.
“Ah, ah, ah. You’ve had your fun. My eyes are up here.” He teased with a wink before turning around and clearing my half-eaten breakfast from the table.
“Kane’s going to kick your ass if he finds out you threw that away.” I warned, even though I wasn’t particularly in the mood to finish it.
“Uh, no?” He snorted, dumping the omelet into the trash before placing the plate in the sink. “Kane isn’t going to care as long as you’re fed, and I’m not letting you eat an omelet in my bed.”
My brow furrowed. “At what point was it determined that I’m going to your room, let alone your bed?”
Jace turned back to me with a cocky grin wide enough to showcase his perfectly straight teeth.
“Uh, right now? I make you cum, we cuddle in my bed, watch medical dramas, and eat snacks. It’s a win-win.”
“And what if I don’t want to? I have homework, you know.” Sure, I’d worked through the next few weeks of assignments, but I still needed to finish drafting my project for Wearable Combat Systems.
“Callie, you were in the hospital twelve hours ago. You’re not doing anything other than sitting on your ass and resting.” His tone was unusually stern.
I blinked twice, taken aback by the sudden shift. It felt like the Jace I knew—the one who teased, flirted, and schmoozed his way through everything—had taken a backseat to someone... different. Someone who cared .
“You can flutter those pretty little lashes all you want, but you’re not getting your way.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “We’re eating chips, watching Symptom Zero , and cuddling until I fall asleep because I was so worried about you I didn’t sleep last night. And if you repeat that, I’ll deny it. Capisce?”
My heart did a weird somersault. I should have been angry; he had no right to order me around, but something about this version of Jace was so… Interesting, I guess. And, even though I had a million other things to do, the idea of being lazy with Jace was just too appealing.
“... Can I have something sweet instead?” I asked slowly, not wanting to tell him that eating chips in bed was serial killer behavior.
Jace extended his hand to me with a dramatic flourish before helping me off the counter. My knees felt like jelly, but I did my best to stand tall.
“I keep a stash of peanut butter taffy in my nightstand–you know, just in case. And, lucky for you, I am excellent at sharing.”
“Peanut butter taffy? What are you, eighty?” I snorted, a sudden wave of embarrassment rushing through me as I realized how rude that was.
But Jace didn’t seem offended; instead, he laughed it off and placed a hand on my back.
“I’m an old soul, Princess. Now come on, I want to cuddle.”
I wasn’t exactly sure when I fell asleep. But when I woke up, I was tangled in his arms. Drool caused my hair to stick to my cheek, and I was glad that Jace had also apparently fallen asleep.
If not, God knows he would have made fun of me.
I scooted forward slightly as I yawned, placing my head beside the wet spot I’d left on the pillow. But, the second I got comfortable, Jace pulled me back, this time closer. Once he had me where he wanted me, he nuzzled his face into my hair as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Before I started dating Sulien, I knew different sex positions existed, thanks to the internet. What I didn’t expect was different snuggling positions too.
When we cuddled, Sulien liked to have my head on his chest, and his arm looped around my waist. Jace, however, liked my back to be against his chest and his arm draped over my stomach. I wiggled against him, trying to get comfortable before focusing on the large TV mounted on Jace’s wall.
Symptom Zero was still playing. The doctors on the screen were deep in discussion, rapidly rattling off symptoms and theories. Jace had called this show strangely addicting, and he was right. I was totally hooked, even if I hadn’t expected Jace to be interested in medical dramas.
… He’d probably make a wonderful nurse, assuming he actually meant it when he thought about wanting to be fixed.
I tried to shake off the thought as nothing more than a half-baked idea, but the longer I sat with it, the more sense it made. Jace was a hemomancer; he could smell when something was wrong. Not only that, but if someone was bleeding out, he could probably control it. And Jace was likable. He was funny, charismatic, and would probably have excellent bedside manner.
There was just the issue of schooling… But I could probably help him with that. I mulled over the thought a moment longer but was quickly derailed by my stomach growling. He’d offered to grab me something else when I rejected his geriatric candy, but I said I’d get something later, apparently later was now.
Gently, I peeled Jace off of me before wiggling out of his grasp. For a second, I thought I’d successfully snuck away, but as I fully settled on my feet, Jace cracked an eye.
“Where are you going?” He slurred through a yawn.
“To make lunch,” I whispered.
Jace stretched, and I paused, almost hoping he’d join me. Instead, he rolled over, leaving me with an excellent view of the kiss mark tattoo decorating his shoulder.
“Remember, you’re eating for two…” His words trailed off as he presumably fell back asleep.
I stood there for a moment, watching his breathing steady before heading out of his room. The hallway in the apartment wasn’t long; honestly, even calling it a hallway felt generous. But, that short walk was all I needed to decide to bother Kane. After this morning, I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but he’d been making breakfast for me, so it was only right if I offered him lunch.
I stopped directly in front of the wooden door, which was labeled with a black-and-white “do not enter ” sign.
Obviously, it wasn’t meant for me, so I ignored it, knocking on the door three times.
“Fuck off, Jace!” Kane’s gruff voice was muffled by the wood separating us.
“It’s not Jace!”
There was a pause before I heard movement on the other side of the door–the creak of a bed followed by a soft shuffle of steps. The near silence caused my heart to jump to my throat, and for good reason.
When Kane’s door opened, I wasn’t greeted with a hello or even a smile. Instead, I got a glare.
“You’re supposed to be resting–Why are you up?” He grumbled.
I stood a little straighter as I tried to process this .
“I–I’m hungry, so I’m making lunch. I was seeing if you–”
“Go sit. I’ll cook.”
He gently moved me so he could exit the room. I loved Kane’s desire to take care of me; it made me feel special. But, I didn’t like his thoughts. Right now, his mind was full of how fragile he thought I was. Which, to put it lightly, was insulting.
“No–I enjoy cooking,” I said firmly. “Would you like lunch?”
His dark brows crept toward his hairline, and I liked that he was as taken aback by my shift in demeanor as I was his. But, where I let his attitude roll off my back, Kane’s fuse was much shorter than mine.
“No, you’re not,” he grumbled.
I stared at him, my lips parting as I tried to find the right words, the right argument to tell him I wasn’t made of glass. But something in his eyes caused me to stop.
With our gazes locked, his next thoughts were loud and clear.
I’m shitty with words, but maybe if I just… do enough, she’ll realize I love her without me having to embarrass myself. And then maybe she’ll love me too.