Chapter 3
MIA
Jace Stevens has to be the dreamiest man on this earth, and I’m one lucky girl because I spent the whole day with him.
“Well, don’t you have hearts in your eyes?
” A female’s voice coming from my right side catches my attention.
I was supposed to be getting another beer from the cooler, but I guess seeing Jace, in all his gorgeousness by the light of the bonfire, was just so mesmerizing that I got a little sidetracked from my task.
I grab my beer and close the lid. “I’m sorry; what did you say?” A pretty woman with beautiful brown skin (about my age) approaches me, but I don’t recognize her.
“Hi. I’m Crystal, Matt’s wife. This is our farm.” She smiles warmly as she stretches out her arm to greet me with a handshake.
“Oh, hi! I'm Mia. I love your place! It’s so peaceful and ideal for a bonfire.”
“Thank you. I’m glad Jace brought you along. He never brings anyone to these.” I don’t know why that makes my heart swell with pride, as if I’ve accomplished something special, but I can’t deny that it does.
I glance over to where he’s talking with Matt and some of his other friends by the massive fire.
He must sense my eyes on him because he turns from his conversation and looks at me.
I watch as his gaze travels down the length of my body, then all the way back up until it lands on my face.
His tongue peeks out and licks his lower lip as a sexy smile slowly tips up the corners of his mouth.
Those ocean-blue eyes of his are filled with so much desire.
“Watching the two of you is gonna make my ovaries faint.” My head snaps to my right, where Crystal is still standing.
I must have momentarily forgotten she was even there—Jace seems to have that effect on me.
She has a shit-eating grin on her face, and I blush, a little embarrassed she witnessed the exchange between us.
“I see now why he brought you. C’mon, before he undresses you with his eyes any more than he already has.
At least let me be a good southern hostess and introduce you to the other girls.
” She clasps my hand in hers and takes me over to the patio, where several women sit in a circle of chairs around a small firepit.
“Girls, this is Mia. You must all bow down at her feet because she’s done the impossible.
” I look at Crystal with an expression of confusion on my face, and she pats my hand that’s still clutched within hers.
Then, she returns her attention to the group that’s murmuring amongst themselves.
“She’s here with The Jace Stevens. And when I tell you she’s caught the man’s full attention, I mean even their eyefucking was so orgasmic that I came, and I was just a bystander. ”
“Oh my God,” I whisper under my breath, dipping my head in complete mortification. A brunette in a pale blue sundress chokes on her wine, and Crystal seems pretty pleased with herself and the grand introduction she just gave me.
After regaining her composure, the brunette says, “Well, you must be some kind of deity then, Mia. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
I’m Charlotte. This is my best friend Josie, and this is Tris, she’s new to our little gang.
Come, join our band of misfit toys.” She gestures to the other women, and Crystal and I find empty seats around the firepit.
“So, you’ve captured The Jace Stevens, huh? ”
I sip my beer and look around the group. All the women seem pretty interested in hearing my answer, which I find intriguing. “I hate to disappoint you, but I haven’t captured him. We’re more along the lines of… acquaintances?”
Crystal looks at me as if I’m full of shit. “I don’t know about you, but I damn sure don’t look at my acquaintances like that.”
“I mean… We did both admit to having crushes on each other when we were kids, so…” I lift my shoulders in a slight shrug.
Josie chimes in and says, “Well, he’s all grown up now—that’s for damn sure. That man is gorgeous. And he’s never interested in anyone. Believe me… many women have tried and failed.”
“I’m just here visiting my Nana. Maybe there is something between Jace and me, but I don’t live here. So, I guess it doesn’t matter anyway.” Reality brings me down from my girlish fantasies.
But Crystal’s right there to keep the illusion alive. “Oooh, sounds like the perfect vacation fling to me. Getting tangled up in the sheets with a small-town cop? I’d read that book!” I laugh, because that does sound like one of the smutty books I’d love to read.
“We’re huge romance readers over here, Mia. The steamier, the better. What about you?”
Dear God, I’ve found my people!
For years, I’ve been secretly writing romance stories and keeping them hidden away.
I started in college when I took a few elective courses and discovered I was a pretty decent writer.
Several professors encouraged me to submit my work for publications and contests.
But when I mentioned it to my mother, she not only discouraged the idea, she admonished me for wasting my time on a foolish fantasy that wouldn’t amount to anything.
Rather than seeing me do something that genuinely made me happy and that I was good at, she pushed me into a more socially acceptable career—the kind that was sure to make me a thriving, young Black professional.
Unfortunately, romance writing was out of the question.
But since then, I’ve read thousands of books along with the few I’ve written.
I may not be published yet, but at least I can talk about my first love with some incredible people.
Too bad I lose count of how many drinks I’ve had while talking book boyfriends with said awesome people.
Because now, I think I’m drunk as I sit with Crystal, Charlotte, and the other misfit toys, as we’re now calling ourselves in our inebriated states.
We’re in hysterics—discussing alien sex and the logistics of two cocks—when warm, heavy hands land on my shoulders. I peek up and see familiar blue eyes staring back at me, a look of amusement on Jace’s sexy face.
“Hey, handsome. Are you ready to take me to bed?” My eyebrows shoot to my hairline when I realize what I’ve just said in my less-than-sober state. “I-I-I mean… Take me home. Are you ready to take me home?” I swallow loudly as I let out a nervous laugh.
“I think she had it right the first time,” Charlotte stage-whispers to Josie, and the girls all break into a fit of drunken giggles.
“You girls, hush.” I scold them, lifting my index finger to my lips while urging them to be quiet. But that only makes them laugh louder.
Jace clears his throat, getting my attention. “I’m a gentleman, Mia. I’ll be more than happy to take you to bed. I mean home.” He winks at me, and there go my panties—up in smoke. “C’mon, honey. Glad to see you had a good time with the girls, but I promised Miss Hattie I’d get you home safely.”
He chuckles while offering me his hand before helping me from my chair. We both pause after I stand, and he gazes into my eyes. I swear the world stops spinning, and it’s just the two of us at this point in time. I never want this moment to end.
But it does, and we say our goodbyes to everyone at the bonfire, then drive to Nana’s house.
When I ask Jace about my car, he lets me know he already had it moved earlier in the day so I wouldn’t have to worry about it.
I’m shocked that he’s so considerate, and it only makes me that much more attracted to him.
Damn him for being so sweet.
I’m pretty tipsy from all the beer, and it’s putting me in that happy, drowsy state.
So, I’m quiet on the drive back to Nana’s house and barely register when Jace tells me she isn’t home yet.
And I almost miss it when he then informs me he can’t find the extra key to her house to let me inside, and that I’ll be sleeping at his place tonight instead. Almost.
“Sounds heavenly, Jacey. It’s been such a long day. Did I really walk out on my job today?” My eyes are closed, but I can tell I have a dopey smile on my face as I think about snuggling with him.
“Yeah, honey, you did. But it’s more like you took an unplanned, much-needed vacation.” I hear his deep chuckle, and I find the sound quite soothing. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“Mmmmm, looks like I get my wish after all.”
“Fuck.” Jace’s voice is barely a whisper.
I’m half-asleep and propped against the passenger door of his SUV when I startle with the motion of it opening. He catches me in his strong arms and holds me in a warm embrace, enveloping me in that fresh ocean scent that smells like heaven.
I look up at him with blissful eyes. “You know, I came to Maple Ridge because I needed Nana to make me feel better. But you made me feel better instead. Thanks, Jace.”
“I haven’t done anything, baby.”
“Sure you have.” My words are a bit slurred, but I continue. “You gave me just what I needed today. But, now… I need one more thing.” Before either of us can think better of it, I rise on the tips of my toes and press my mouth to his.
The feel of his lips on mine is intoxicating, even more so than the alcohol I had earlier.
I want more of him and nibble his plump lower lip, which must ignite something within him because he holds me tighter and dives into my mouth, licking his way inside.
I’m all too eager to let him in, opening for him and moving my tongue against his.
But just as the kiss starts to deepen, he pulls away, resting his forehead against mine as we both fight to catch our breath.
“Why’d you stop?” The pulsing ache of my pussy is almost painful.
“Because when I fuck you, Mia—and I will—I need you clearheaded. You’ve had a long-ass day after having a Come to Jesus moment at work, and you’ve been drinking.
” Damn him for being rational. “There will be no distractions when I finally get inside you. Because it’s something I’ve dreamed about for a long time, and I want you focused on everything I’m gonna do to you. ”
“You’ve dreamed about me?” I’m still panting as I listen to him.
Jace takes my hand and slides it down his ripped abs, allowing me to feel every ripple of hard muscle. He holds my gaze with his piercing blue eyes as he moves my palm over his rock-hard cock, gliding it along his denim-covered length.
Fuck, he’s a big boy.
“I know, baby.” He smirks at me as I wrinkle my brow. “You said that out loud.”
I want to be embarrassed, but it’s kind of difficult with my hand still on his dick. “Well, it’s true.” I smile at him.
“Behave, Mia, and get in the house. All we’re doing is sleeping tonight, honey.”
Jace ushers me inside his lakeside home, conveniently located next door to Nana’s.
Like the good southern boy his mama raised him to be, he gives me everything I need to get ready for bed, including one of his t-shirts, which smells just like him.
I climb under the covers of his king-size bed, and he follows behind me, the big spoon to my little one.
Then, as I drift off to sleep, two things register in my mind: nothing in the world has ever felt this good, and I better not get used to it.