Chapter 47
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
POLLY
I’ve been getting an awful feeling that you don’t love me back, but that doesn’t change what I feel about you or make it any less real. Even if you throw me out of your life forever, I want you to know that you’ll always be the best part of me.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips, First Lady
I found Jace standing outside, hands in his pockets, looking out at the mountains when I came downstairs. I knocked on the glass of the patio door and he turned quickly, revealing solemn, weary eyes, his hair frizzy like he’d been running his fingers through it continuously.
I watched him visibly steel himself before coming inside. After closing the door softly behind him, he returned his hands to his pockets and watched me warily.
“Hi,” I rasped, voice still raw with emotion.
“Hiya, darlin’,” he drawled, tone unbearably sad.
When I’d walked down the stairs, I was resolved that I would talk to him calmly, getting the reassurance I wanted before deciding if I truly forgave him. And while that’s what my brain told me, my heart was beating out a different story. Jace had already shown me little by little who he was. His strength of character. His patience. His kindness. When I saw him, I found that I’d already forgiven him. Yes, he made a mistake, but I trusted him. I trusted his apology. My chest ached, feeling full and true and happier than I could remember feeling, maybe ever.
“I’m sorry I overreacted,” I said, which had Jace immediately shaking his head.
“No, I’m the one who should be sorry. The last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt you. I knew it was wrong when I did it. I have nothing left to say now except I’m sorry and it won’t happen again.”
I nodded, giving him a little smile. “I know.”
Jace reared back. “You know?”
“Yes.” I walked forward until I was right in front of him, my head tipping back to look into his eyes. “There are a lot of things to talk about, but the most important thing is this, I forgive you and I trust you.”
A flash of relief passed over his features before he lunged for me, wrapping his arms around me, burying his head in my neck. I brought my arms around his shoulders and held tight, feeling the slight trembling of Jace’s body. I soothed my hand up and down his back in slow, calming circles, gradually feeling his body relax as he clung to me.
“I didn’t know if I’d ever get to hold you again,” Jace murmured into my neck. “I told myself, just one more time, one more time and it’d be enough. And now I’m here, holding you.” Jace pulled back, his face inches from mine, gazing at me like he was memorizing my features. “Now I know it for the lie it was. I could hold you every day like this, and it still wouldn’t be enough.”
His lip fused to my own, hot and demanding, my mouth opening immediately. His right hand clutched the side of my face, his thumb stroking along my jaw as his fingers extended back through my hair, cupping my head, holding me to him.
“It drove me insane, knowing you were listening to these books, wondering what you were doing to yourself, who you were picturing.”
As he spoke, he trailed his fingers up my right arm to where my hand was holding tight to the back of his neck. Gently, he grasped my right hand, moving it from around his neck and pulled it to his mouth.
“I’ve never been more jealous of a hand in my entire life.”
Without breaking eye contact, he sucked my index and middle fingers into his mouth, moaning and closing his eyes. I gasped at the erotic imagery, at the liquid fire that burned deep in my core as Jace’s tongue swirled around my fingers, then freed them with a pop.
With a roguish smile, Jace bent at the knees and swept me up into a full-on princess carry. I’d love to say I was totally calm, and my arms folded naturally about his neck . . . but I think I actually let out a shriek and clutched to him like a skittish baby kitten.
“The more I got to know you, the better and worse it got.”
I was hypnotized by his words as he carried me up the stairs.
“You were sass and sweetness all rolled into one. I’ve never looked forward to anything in the morning as much as when you’d come downstairs, your sweet perfume around you, having no idea just how beautiful you were.”
Jace carried me into my bedroom, letting me down near the end of my bed. His fingers went to the sides of my lavender blouse and pulled it over my head, revealing the pink push-up bra underneath. His eyes were practically on fire as he brought his hands up to cup my breasts, bending to bring his face even with them, tracing his nose over the swells as his clever fingers teased and pinched and drove me insane. My clit throbbed with each pinch and roll of my nipples.
I was breathing hard as I went to unhook my bra, but Jace pulled back and gave a gentle shake of his head, moving to unhook it himself.
It fell to the floor.
Jace let out a soft breath before feasting on my bare flesh, caressing me, making me cry out, first in pleasure, then in distress when he removed his hands and dropped to his knees before me. His hands untied the belt of my linen pants quickly as he leaned in to kiss just above my navel, making me giggle. My pants fell to the ground in a rush, revealing my matching pink lace panties.
His chest rumbled in appreciation, then grabbed my ass with both hands and squeezed, making me grip his shoulders and gasp with desire.
“Your goddamn leggings were the death of me. They showed off every curve of these phenomenal legs,” he said as his hands caressed slowly down my thighs to my calves, then moved back up to grasp my ass again.
His words were driving me to distraction as he slowly peeled my panties off. Once I’d kicked them away, I stood fully naked in front of him, panting, vibrating with anticipation. To my extreme disappointment, Jace didn’t move to stroke me where I was wet and longing for him. No, he slowly got to his feet, removed his shirt and pants with impressive speed, then walked me backward, easing me down onto the bed.
Jace slowly prowled over me as I lay on my back. I was aching with need, desperate for his touch. Glancing down between us my eyes tripped over his proud erection, straining toward me.
A soft touch on my cheek brought my gaze back to his. “The night with the lightning bugs,” he whispered, “being close enough to touch you, watching your eyes fill with delight when you caught one,” Jace paused, searching my face with reverent eyes, drinking me in. “It was everything I could do not to kiss you, to hold you. Because there you were, the most beautiful creature on earth, and you didn’t even know it.”
I exhaled a watery sigh, his words doing nothing but stoking the fire within me. Finally, Jace’s hand left my face, tracing down my flesh, until he finally skimmed the seam of my body. It was all I could do not to thrust my hips forward, to put pressure where it was needed most.
“I came so hard in the shower that night. Thinking of you. Thinking of doing just this.” I gasped as he parted me, thrusting two fingers inside. I tipped my head back and cried out as Jace placed an open kiss to my neck, continuing to stroke his two fingers in and out of me until I was practically riding his hand.
Suddenly, Jace removed his fingers—I cried out in frustration and the bastard winked. He must know he was driving me insane with want.
“I thought I knew what it’d be like between us, but once I had a taste . . .” Jace brought his two wet fingers to his mouth and sucked, just like he’d done in the kitchen, groaning and closing his eyes. He released them in a soft pop, eyes opening at the same time, looking at me like he wanted to consume me.
His voice went molten, the heat burning me to my core. “I knew I’d never get enough.”
Jace abruptly slid both of his hands between my thighs, spreading me wide. He gripped his cock, his eyes zeroing in on my pink center.
Jace’s features were wicked and sinful and delicious as he stroked his cock up and down with his hand, looking his fill at my naked body. My mouth watered, wanting to do that, to feel the soft skin that covered his steel erection, to trace my thumb up and around the firm tip, watching his eyes half close in ecstasy as I pumped him, hard.
“When you look at me like that, it drives me wild.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off of what he was doing as he pressed the head of his cock against my swollen center, not sliding in, but up. I whimpered, yes fucking whimpered , when the head of his cock stroked my clit; I tried not to beg when Jace continued to make soft little passes over and over and over my secret spot, but I was mindless with desire and not in control of my actions.
“Jace,” my words came in short gasps. “Come inside me, please, I need you.”
“Not as much as I need you.”
He pushed home, my core rejoicing in riotous relief. We cried out together as he pumped and rocked into me, our mutual rhythm sending little zings of pleasure through me with each thrust. I sighed and panted and shouted his name, desperate for release, but never wanting it to stop.
His hips accelerated, the sound of our skin slapping together a filthy soundtrack to our lovemaking.
“Tell me I can have all of you. Tell me you’re mine.” Jace panted out.
“I’m yours,” I gasped, matching his thrusts, climbing toward the peak. “Always.”
I pushed hard as Jace thrust in, intensifying the pressure, making me fly apart. I cried out, my orgasm pulsating through me, my muscles milking his cock as Jace gritted his teeth and almost roared with the force of his climax, pushing into the hilt and causing me to cry out again.
As we came down, our breathing eventually slowing, we melted into each other, luxuriating in the feel of one another. I closed my eyes, safely cocooned against Jace’s chest.
My heart was just returning to its normal pace when Jace propped himself up on his arm.
“Did you really mean that before, when you said, that you were mine, always?”
There was wonder and awe in his question, but there was doubt, too. Like the words we’d uttered to each other were just that: pretty words spoken in the heat of the moment. He looked uncertain, as if bracing for what I’d say once reality set in.
Sometime during the last two weeks, I’d completely fallen in love with this man. This funny, charming, genuine man.
I answered with the simple truth. Because I was his. And he was mine. We’d work on the rest as it came.
“Yes.”
He cupped my cheek, kissing me softly. When our kiss ended, he pulled back and looked thoughtful.
“I’d like to tell the kids about us.”
My eyes widened. “Today?”
Smiling all cute and adorable, he shook his head. “No. But it’s supposed to be nice weather all weekend. I was thinking we could all go for a hike tomorrow. I know some trails the kids would love, and it’d be an opportunity to add to your fun list. Besides, if we tell ’em on a trail, it’d be sort of special. Like we’re making a new memory, just the four of us.”
Just the four of us.
Telling the kids about us could be a mistake. One—or all of us could get hurt if something went wrong. But I was sick of playing it safe, of being afraid of making a mistake. I was ready to take a risk that made life worth living. I was ready to feel alive.
“Ok.” I nodded, smiling at the surprise in his features at my quick agreement.
“And I want to introduce you to my parents on Sunday. As my girlfriend.”
“Wow, when you go for it, you really go for it”
Jace gave me a cocky grin as he raked his eyes over my naked body.
“That wasn’t how I meant it.”
“Not in my head,” Jace teased
I smiled, loving how easy this felt. “I know one thing for sure. I want you in my life. Yes, it’s fast, but at this point, I can’t see a future for me without you in it.”
Jace lifted my hand and kissed my palm. “So, that’s a yes for meetin’ my parents as my girlfriend?”
I nodded. I didn’t know what our future held, but as long as I was with Jace, I found I was startlingly okay with that.
Completely and totally relaxed, I closed my eyes, nestling back into his side, hoping we would not get out of this bed until it was time to pick up the kids.
“There’s something else I want to do with you.” His voice was playful.
“I hope it involves staying in this bed,” I murmured, keeping my eyes closed.
“Nope!” His voice was chipper.
I cracked an eye open. “I know we agreed not to quibble about our ages, but I have a complaint.”
Jace laughed, sliding down and off the bed, looking at the floor for what I presumed to be his clothes.
“Does it involve food?” I ventured.
Jace tilted his head back and forth as he pulled on his boxers. I whined in protest. Chuckling, Jace crawled back up the bed, kissing up my shoulder until he reached my ear.
“How do you feel about chocolate sauce?” His breath tickled my ear, and I shivered.
“I’m in.”