Chapter 15 #2
As long as I kept my perspective, living inside the fantasy of what could be, pretending some magnificent dude like Mace loved me and only me, I’d weather this overwhelmingly emotional storm.
At least that was the conversation I had with my head of security. And with my agent. Then again with my manager. Another time with Austin Grainger who had called to schedule a meeting with me, ending up staying on the phone for over an hour, listening to me coo over Mace.
What a beautiful home Mace was building. If I invested, helping to make Mace’s dreams come true, maybe it’d help when I left. If we were business partners, Mace would be forced to stay in touch during the long months that I was back in the Hollywood grind.
The warmth radiating from Mace’s body lulled me until my eyes closed again.
Mace’s movement roused me. He was probably rising to get a wet towel; he was good about cleaning me up. I was completely unprepared for the hard body landing back on top of mine. Breath rushed out when his lips caressed the side of my ear. His hand cupped my head, keeping me pinned there.
“We have great sex.”
“I believe we make love,” I murmured, and those perfectly pouty lips pressed against the shell of my ear, chuckling and kissing at the same time.
His laughter felt stinging. I’d learned how to absorb emotional blows to the heart a long time ago.
Even getting to the point where my heart had stopped feeling anything until I met the man now giggling at my expense.
A solid rumble erupted above me as Mace flipped off me again. “I’ll get you a towel in a sec.”
“You didn’t like my choice of words describing our physical relationship?” I asked cheekily, rising enough on my side to place my hand underneath my head, propped on my elbow. I place my other hand over Mace’s thumping heart.
“Nah, it’s fine, but we’re too different and have an expiration date. Making love doesn’t fit what we’re doin’,” Mace explained, his arm going underneath his head.
“What? I don’t understand. Say that a different way.” Something speculative crossed Mace’s handsome brow.
“Simple enough, you’re confusin’ great sex with somethin’ more meaningful. Tying us together when we maybe don’t technically fit,” he simply explained.
Seconds passed as my anger built stealthily. I abruptly lifted. Mace reached for my hand. His confused expression should have helped ease my frustration, but it didn’t. My back went ramrod stiff, and my jaw clenched shut.
“It’s okay, Slade. It’s really great sex. Best I’ve ever had.”
“Love didn’t just slip. I know what I’m experiencing. You’re the one hiding in the past. I’m opening to the idea of there being something solid and perhaps long term between us. Regardless, we don’t have just great sex.”
Mace sat up while I pulled up my jeans in all haste. Why couldn’t he keep his ridiculous thoughts to himself like he always fucking did?
“You’re mad,” he said half-accusingly. As if he were in control of that feel as well.
“Really angry.” I left him there, marching toward the bathroom inside Mace’s home.
=?=
Mace
The beautiful, sated feelings vanished as Slade stormed from the barn.
My overexerted body protested as I rose to my feet.
I was slower to reenter the house with the rest of his clothing in tow.
The bathroom door was shut in such a way that I knew I was to stay on the other side.
I left his clothing on my bed, his fancy shoes on the floor beside them, and finished dressing, going to the kitchen island to put space between me and Slade’s things.
Our first argument. What did it say that I didn’t believe this hard-edged, angry guy was really part of Slade.
He’d said it was inside him many times, but I didn’t believe it, not with how he clamored to cater to my every need.
I was clearly wrong in what I said and manned up when the bathroom door opened.
Slade came out, towel wrapped around his waist. He was wet, and hot as shit. Too bad I needed to keep my distance.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. He gave no response but to drop the towel to the floor and sit on the edge of my mattress, nude. It took a minute more for his gaze to level on me.
“From the first second I saw you, I became open to whatever happens between us.”
“I can see where that’s true,” I said, still glued to where I stood many feet from him.
“Then with such a clear vision, why in the world would you think I’m lost to all the great sex we’re having?”
That was a landmine kind of a question.
“What do I do to make this go away? Do I leave to give you space?” I asked.
Slade’s body tightened, his jaw clenched, his gaze turned into laser beams. “This is your house.”
I stayed silent about the many miles I’d walked through this countryside over my life.
“I don’t want to leave here without you. Our sex is just a beautiful benefit to knowing you. You’re attractive as hell and great company. It’s extraordinary. I never believed this was possible.”
“Then I’m sorry,” I said automatically, but I was lost to what he was explaining. I finally took a couple of steps closer to him. “So where are we?”
Slade rolled his shoulders, his head following the direction, fighting off the tension, almost tangible enough to be cut with a knife.
“I don’t know but I don’t see the ending I once did.
Off the top of my head, I want to help with your animal refuge.
I have enough contacts to get the concept off the ground and figure out the financials.
And I love you. I want us to figure out the future together.
” He flipped out a hand, using it to help explain his confession.
No matter how soberly he dropped the words, I felt the worry of his admission. It helped me to keep my calm, roll with the hysteria surging through me at his words.
Slade dragged a hand through his hair, shaking his head while his riveting stare never wavered.
“What can I do to make this better?”
“You’ve made it better by not running.” His small smile didn’t reach his eyes, but it did lessen the tension surrounding us. “Have I freaked you out?”
“I…” The lump remained in my throat. “I’m not a…
” How did I explain that I probably felt the same way.
That it didn’t make me uncertain to consider and I’d find a way to keep going after he left.
I might have some joy from the idea of starting a business with him.
I liked my dreams coming true with him by my side.
“Wildflower, a sanctuary animal refuge. Her picture’s in the logo. ”
Slade’s smile turned real for the first time since he’d left the barn. “I like it. It’s an industry I know nothing about. How many acres do you have here?”
“Ten. It’s not large enough to handle a lot of animals but the pasture’s pretty high quality, and we can rotate the land.
I could have five or six large animals on what I have,” I explained, happier with this side of the conversation.
“I figured I’d try to lease some land attached to me.
The person who owns the property to my west might be my best bet. ”
“Who owns the property?” Slade asked. I could practically see the wheels turning in that beautiful brain of his.
“You might know him. He’s an actor…”
“You share a property with me?” he asked, rearing back.
“Yeah. You own a lot of land. That’s why it took so long to get here,” I explained, tucking my hands inside my pockets.
“This is getting better and better. We could stay here or at my place, use all the land. It’s not doing anything else,” he said, and started for his clothes. “Are you good with me getting my people involved? We’ll have contracts and a business plan that’s designed to protect you.”
“You always look out for me,” I murmured. Slade’s gaze shifted to me again.
“I’ll give you time to say it back to me.
As much time as you need.” He dressed quickly, adding the bracelets back on his wrist. The Rolex followed.
“We’re learning each other’s faults. I guess it’s sweet.
” Slade came toward me then past me, patting my stomach muscles.
“I’m starving. What do you have to eat?”
I barely caught the wink he sent me over his shoulder. That was entirely his ass’s fault. My gaze always drew to watch his strut. “So, we’re good?”
“You have some making up to do. I’m not normally so insulted…”
“Slade, I wasn’t insultin’ you. I was only tryin’ to figure out what was happenin’ between us,” I said, tossing a helpless hand in the air.
Slade’s laughter indicated I was going to be paying for this for a long time.