Chapter 22
brOOKE
That evening, I went to watch the game live. Every Lords employee was welcome in the VIP box, and tonight, it was a full house.
I was looking closely at the pitch, searching for number eleven. I sent him a quick message to tell him I was watching, even though I knew he’d only see it at halftime.
I didn’t know what made him look up as he strode onto the pitch, but I felt as if he gazed straight at me.
I couldn’t be sure, of course, what with the other thousand watchers, but when that gorgeous smile made an appearance, my breath caught.
I looked down at my hands so no one else could see my matching smile.
I wiggled my fingers and toes, unable to sit still.
I couldn’t believe I was having this reaction just because he’d smiled when he’d noticed me, as if I was the only one who mattered.
I was beginning to understand why he inspired Twitter hashtags and die-hard fans.
I messaged him right before the game finished, asking if he still wanted to meet.
I wasn’t sure where we stood after our fight.
He’d been out of line earlier, but so had been my reaction.
I wanted us to be able to talk things out.
I was in such a frenzy that after the game, I even scrolled through Twitter.
I shouldn’t have.
The endless snapshots of Jace were hot enough to make me fan myself, but the captions reminded me of how many women wanted Jace.
I waited quietly in the lobby of the club, wondering if he’d read my message.
Maybe he was caught up with his teammates.
Or maybe he had seen it and just didn’t care to reply.
I shook my head, trying to dispel the ugly thoughts and trying not to feel like a fool because I was waiting for him here and he might not want to see me tonight at all.
When my phone vibrated, my hands shook a little as I unlocked the screen.
Jace: Loved seeing you in the stands. Can’t wait to make it up to you for earlier.
My knees almost buckled from the wave of relief seeping through me. I couldn’t text back fast enough.
Brooke: Meet me in the lobby?
Jace: I’m going to need another hour or so. Coach wants us to go through some scenes now while they’re fresh in our mind. Why don’t you go home, and I’ll meet you there?
Brooke: Okay.
I smiled at the screen before clutching it to my chest. I had it bad for him.
Once at home, I discovered I was nervous. Jace arrived ten minutes sooner than expected, which didn’t help with my nerves at all. I was too caught up in the smile he was flashing me to notice that he was carrying a small paper bag.
“What’s this? What are you doing?” I asked.
“Apologizing.”
My heart gave a mighty sigh as I took the little bag from him.
“You’ve… wait… where did you get this?” I asked once he’d stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
“Pulled some strings.”
“Used your charm to find a store open so late?”
“Something like that.”
“Dad wasn’t really giving you a speech, was he?”
“No, but it seemed like a good excuse.”
I took out the small box of chocolate truffles, immediately popping one in my mouth. It was delicious.
“Jace, thank you.” My voice didn’t sound quite right.
“I’m sorry about earlier.” He tugged my earlobe between his thumb and forefinger, kissing my cheek, then just resting his nose against my skin, bringing his arms around me.
“I didn’t mean to make things difficult for you.
I just saw you and… I knew I wouldn’t get a chance to catch you alone after the meeting, and I didn’t think it through. Forgive me?”
“You’re so good at apologizing. How can I say no?”
I felt him smile against my cheek. “I really did well with the chocolate, didn’t I?”
“You didn’t have to buy me a present. I love the truffles, don’t get me wrong. But I wasn’t expecting—”
“Brooke, I didn’t buy these because I thought you were expecting them. I just thought they’d make you happy.”
Oh, wow. Jace could make me swoon.
“They do.”
“I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
He blinked a few times before looking away, but not before I noticed the surprise in his eyes. My heart clenched for him. Why wouldn’t he think I missed him too?
“Yeah? How much?”
My next words were unintelligible, because Jace was kissing my neck, torturing all my sweet spots.
“Didn’t hear that clearly,” he said on a chuckle. I playfully pinched his arm. Jace gasped in surprise. A few seconds later, he lifted me off my feet.
“Jace, what are you doing?”
“Moving on to the second part of the evening. Showing you how much I’ve missed you.”
“Ah, you think you’re done apologizing?”
“I’ll do both at the same time. I’m a great multitasker.”
“Braggart.”
I laughed when he lowered me on the bed, climbing on top of me. He rested his knees at either side of my hips, trapping me underneath him.
“You owe me a full-body check, Brooke.”
“Hmmm… I think I’ll let you get on with that multitasking of yours first. You have to earn the bragging rights.”
“And I will.”
He leaned slightly forward, bringing one hand to the top button of my blouse.
He drew a circle around it with his middle finger.
Heat speared me. I clenched my thighs, as if he’d drawn that small circle on my center.
Jace didn’t miss my reaction. He smiled lazily as he undid the button, before moving lower.
He repeated the motion with each button, until I was so turned on, I felt that I might lose my mind.
Once all buttons were undone, he yanked my blouse away, leaning over me to kiss my torso.
He seemed intent on exploring every inch of my upper body, skimming his lips from my navel upward on my ribs, then my chest. I was barely keeping myself from writhing underneath him.
My center pulsed. My nipples were so sensitive that they were aching at the contact with the silky bra.
I grabbed the hem of his shirt, awkwardly pulling it over his head. I gasped as I came face-to-face with a huge bruise on his left side.
“Does it hurt?”
“A little.”
“Should we be doing this?”
“Babe, even if I was covered in bruises, I’d still be all over you.”
“Well then, I must reward you for your effort, right?”
I wiggled from under him, barely refraining from pinching him when he gave me a smug smile. I undid his belt, taking it out completely before getting rid of his jeans. I also did away with his boxers, fastening my palm around his erection, licking the tip.
“Brooke,” he growled, jerking his hips forward.
I was sitting with my legs curled up next to me, one hand propped on the mattress for support, the other tightly wrapped around him.
I sucked in my belly in anticipation when Jace reached down, slipping one hand under my skirt.
He pulsed in my mouth when his fingers touched my panties and he realized how ready I was for him.
He slid his hand inside my thong, giving me two fingers at once and curling them inside me so good that my vision faded.
My inner muscles spasmed around his fingers.
“Babe….” He brought one hand to the side of my head, gently guiding me back until he was out of my mouth.
And then he pushed me on my back, positioning himself over me.
He tugged down one cup of my bra, as if he was too impatient to take it off, as if he needed me too much to bother with logistics.
He pulled a nipple into his mouth, driving me crazy with the gentle suckling.
I reached behind my back, awkwardly undoing the clasp.
Jace groaned when my bra came off completely, moving to the other breast. His hips were nestled between my legs.
I became painfully aware of the fact that he was naked and I still had panties on when the tip of his erection pressed against the fabric.
I wanted him so much that my entire body was aching with need.
“Oh fuck, Brooke.”
He reached one hand under my skirt, grabbing my thong and yanking it down, past my knees, down to my ankles. Then I kicked it away.
Jace reached blindly to the nightstand, and one second after sheathing himself with a condom, he rolled us over until I was on top of him.
I lowered myself on him in one quick move, pinching my eyes shut.
I’d never felt so utterly and completely full.
I wouldn’t last long. I felt an orgasm already forming, exquisitely and slowly, spurred by the feeling of him inside me, the lashes of his tongue alternating between torturing my nipple and my mouth.
I came so hard that I needed to hold on to him tightly.
Jace took control, gripping my hips, moving me up and down his cock, prolonging my wave of pleasure until he reached his own climax.
He kept his arms around my waist afterward.
His hot, shaky breath tickled my collarbone, but I didn’t want to move.
I loved feeling him all around me like this.
“I forgot to congratulate you for today’s victory,” I said a while later. We were cuddling in my bed after a quick shower. I spoke in between peppering small kisses on his shoulder and chest.
“Thanks. Great day for both of us, huh?”
“You could say that. Did you see Graham’s face in the meeting? He seemed impressed.”
“Everyone was. You’re great at what you do.”
Jace brought a hand to the side of my head. I looked up at him, surprised to see him frown.
“What’s wrong?”
“I know we said we’d wait, but… I’d like everyone to know we’re together. I saw how much everyone appreciates your work, Brooke.”
“I know. I think they trust that I’m competent by now.”
“Does that mean you’ll consider it?” He brought me higher, until our faces were almost level.
“I’ve been thinking about this the entire day. It’s important to you, and I think it’s time.”
He smiled, wrapping his fingers in my hair, tilting my head back slightly.
“Thank you. I can’t stop missing you whenever we’re not together, Brooke.
I want to be able to spend time with you when we’re at the club too.
During lunch, or other breaks. I want to take you out on dates and bring you to Friday dinners.
I want you to be part of my life in every way possible, and I want to be part of yours too. I want everyone to know I’m your man.”
“Jace, I want that too. All of that. All of you.” My heart was thundering in my chest. I leaned in to kiss him. Everything he’d said just humbled me.
I hadn’t ever felt so adored, and… safe from heartbreak. I couldn’t believe how much Jace meant to me, how far I’d come from the woman who thought love just wasn’t in the cards for her.
I was still a little nervous about Jace and me sharing a workplace. But with this sexy and amazing man on my side, I trusted we’d figure everything out.