Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Jace
Leaning over my table, I get lost in the sounds of the music playing through my earbuds. The soothing beat of the sound, the words, it’s how I enjoy spending my late afternoons and into the evenings. Sometimes when I can’t sleep, I find myself sitting in a dark room with only one single light, etching the new vision in my head.
It’s the one way to tame the racing thoughts in my head. Memories of my life, growing up and where I am now. Everything all mingles together, the darkness threatening to overshadow the light.
But tonight, the blackness doesn’t seem so dark because there are mixtures of red and the sweetest smile that are keeping me from falling over into the place I always go.
The place that has me doing and saying things I later regret.
Completely oblivious to anything around me I’m surprised when someone slides their palm over my shoulder.
Looking up I’m met with a gorgeous set of eyes watching me.
Reaching up I start to pull an earbud out of my ear when she stops me, taking it in her hand instead. “What are you listening to?” She doesn’t wait for my response before placing it in her ear. The smile that takes over her lips warms my chest. “Nice,” she adds slowly moving around in front of me.
What she does next surprises the hell out of me.
Lifting her leg, she straddles my lap and sits, putting one hand on each of my shoulders.
When she carefully allows her palms to glide over my collarbone, then my shoulders and upper arms, I close my eyes for a moment, taking in the feeling of her touch.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, and I open my eyes once more to find her watching me. “I know we weren’t together and had I chosen to spend time with anyone else I wouldn’t being saying sorry. But I took your best friend and for that I’m sorry.”
I swallow, the lump in my throat making it hard to respond with words.
“I took something from you and that was never my intention.”
“You don’t need to say sorry,” I tell her dragging my thumb over her jaw. “I know you two were, are just friends.”
“We are, but you didn’t know that then.”
“I do now,” I tell her, and she slides in a little closer. Having her this close, like this, it’s impossible for my body not to react. I can see the very moment she picks up on that too.
Leaning in closer, she presses her lips to mine and I allow her to lead the way. The coolness of her tongue, gliding over my lips, the way she grinds against me. My head grows foggy.
“Back then, it wasn’t our time,” she confesses and I open my eyes, staring up at her.
“And now?”
“Well,” she shifts on my lap once again. “That’s up to you.”
I grip her hips, needing her to stop moving. My thoughts are getting cloudy. “I don't know exactly how to do this, Ror.’” I motion between us.
“This?”
“I don’t know how to be the guy you want me to be. I don’t know how to be perfect.”
“Jace,” she cups my jaw on each side with both her hands. “I don’t want you to be perfect. I just want you to be you.”
“Babe, you don’t want that.” I chuckle when she arches a brow.
“Yes, I do,” she pushes, kissing me softly.
“You have no idea what you’re asking,” she has some delusional thought that I’m a good guy.
“I do. Because I know that you’re an honest, caring, guy, but for some unknown reason you’ve convinced yourself otherwise.” She drags her thumb over my lower lip and I kiss the tip, making her smile. “If it’s the last thing I do, I’m gonna prove you wrong, Jace. I’m gonna force you to see what I see.”
I look up at her but say nothing.
“I’m gonna make you see what you’ve been running from,” she adds and without being able to hold back any longer I stand and take her with me. Setting her on the table, I move in between her thighs and fist her hair, kissing her hard. A deep moan falls from her and I thrust my tongue between her lips and suck the tip of hers gently.
My head is spinning. My heart races.
She must be crazy; it’s the only explanation as to why a woman like Aurora could ever want a man like me. She deserves more, but by some miracle she wants me.
“This is not a brothel,” a displeased voice says as they walk past my room.
“As if you and Luna haven’t done worse here.” I holler out and Aurora grows rigid when she knows we’ve been caught.
“Oh my God!” She hurries to scoot forward and slide off the table only I don’t let her get too far.
“Let me take you to dinner.”
“Tonight?” I nod. “I’d planned on staying in my leggings and oversized sweatshirt, braless and comfy.”
Though the image she has now instilled in my mind is quite pleasing, I really want to do things right with her. I’ve never had a relationship with a woman and Aurora deserves a guy that gives it his all.
“Dinner,” I say once more, “then a movie maybe, with some buttery popcorn under a comfy blanket with the lights off.”
“Now that you’ve put it that way,” she moves in close once more. “I think that sounds perfect.”
“I’m asking you to go on a date with me,” I whisper against her lips.
“You said once before that you don’t go on dates, Jace,” I can’t help but smile at her efforts to throw me off my game.
“No, normally I don’t, but for you,” I let the sentence die there.
“I don’t need to go on a date,” she tells me but the way she is smiling tells me she’s eating this up.
“Can you be ready at six?”
“I think I can manage that,” she’s already pretty put together, but I need a quick shower. “I’ll be at your place to pick you up.”
Lifting my hand to knock on her door, within seconds Aurora opens it up and my chest grows tight. She’s swapped out the jeans from earlier and replaced them with a flowing skirt that hits just above her knees. High boots stopped just below her knees covering most of her legs and an off the shoulder sweater in red. I smile, flashbacks of her in my shirt the other morning fill my mind. Though she looks fucking incredible now, I still think I love her in my t-shirt a little more.
“Are you going to tell me yet, where we are going?” She asks trying to pull off the narrowed annoyed look but no matter how hard she tries she can’t hide her excitement.
“You’ll find out soon,” I step aside ready to lead her out to my awaiting car.
“Well, will you at least tell me if this outfit works? Or am I so overdressed that I will look ridiculous when we walk into some back alley bar?”
“Really,” I say with a laugh. “A back alley bar huh?”
“You don’t date,” she deadpans, “you go out for drinks, and loud music. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard you going anywhere fancy. Not that I need fancy, I would however like to know if I need to change.”
Stepping forward I reach out and hook her waist, pulling her a little closer. Taking a moment to look her over from head to toe, I fight the rush of lust that hits me. Damn she has incredible fucking legs. Those heeled boots are not helping me keep my thoughts pure.
“You look incredible,” I tell her, reconnecting our gaze as I carefully rein in my urges. Sliding my hand around to her back, my hand coming to rest on the swoop of her waist leading to the top her ass. “I may not date, I may prefer a rusted bar, with fried food and pretzels, but I’m not an ape. I do love a good steak, and I know how to use a fork.”
I kiss the tip of her nose and she slaps my chest playfully.
“I never said you were an ape.”
“What you’re wearing is perfect,” I assure her, leaning a little closer to kiss the corner of her mouth. As I move in, she turns and instead of getting the side, I get her sweet little mouth instead.
A little moan escapes her and it triggers that need I was trying to tame. Gripping her waist tighter, I pull her body to mine and for a few minutes the two of us are lost in the kiss.
Fuck, my head is spinning, my pulse racing and if I’m being truthful what I really want to do it back up and lock us both away in her apartment. I want nothing more than to kiss every single inch of her body, feeling her pant and claw at my back.
I pull back, resting my forehead to hers, taking a slow deep breath.
“We should go,” I tell her, refusing to give in to the want in me. “Our reservations are for seven.”
She attempts to ask me more, but I pull her forward and close the door. Taking her keys I place them in the lock and ensure her apartment is secure before linking my hand with hers.