Chapter 15 ~ #2
I lean back into his arms. "Thank you, Mase." I lay my head back to meet his eyes.
Jace shuffles up to lay where I was.
Mason drags the bag closer to me and hands me something else.
I'm passed around to everyone as I open their presents.
Dominic gives me a gift certificate to his favourite tattoo place. I sense his intention instantly. I almost immediately start thinking about where I want my brother's name inked into my skin.
It's not the first time in the last few days that I've remembered it's not just my birthday but it's also Dec's. It hits the guys too. Mason doesn't let us get stuck in the sadness too long.
Maverick got me a kindle with all the guys' favourite books on it. I fawn over that for ages while he shows me how to use it.
Luc got me a phone. He tells me Alec got it all set up and it's programmed with all their numbers and others they thought I would need.
Alec steals me from Luc to show me how to use some of the security apps he designed especially for the group.
It still amazes me how smart he is. They also hook my phone up to the security cameras I didn't even realise the house had, just in case of emergencies. Alec assures me that there’s none in the bathrooms or my room but I wasn’t concerned. I trust them.
"Okay, so these are sort of from me and Alec," Mase announces. He looks almost nervous—unusual for my happy, outgoing friend. I regret the use of that word instantly.
I glance up at Alec who smiles and boops my nose.
Mase fingers a cardboard box for a moment before handing it over. He takes a deep breath and seems to hold the air in as I gently open the box.
I gasp as I pull out two cases. One to my new phone, the other to my kindle.
"They're gorgeous," I breathe as I take in the stunning designs.
My kindle case seems like a group mix. In swirling hues of blue, purple, orange and pink is a beautiful Butterfly, ink dripping off its delicate wings. The dark purple around the edges of the intricate creature almost fade into black against the lighter pink and blue sections.
"There's several software apps available for taking a drawing and turning it into an image you can put on something," Alec explains. "Mason did the drawings and I scanned them into my computer. Mason edited them on an app and then they went onto the cases."
I take in every detail of the case before I move on to the other. Oh my god.
Reaching down the length of the phone case is a feathered white and gold angel wing.
"Mase, this is amazing," I tell him, quietly. I can almost feel my throat closing up.
It’s feathers are a bright, pure white with a gold light that almost shines from behind the wing. The first few rows of feathers at the tops are gold and as they progress down, they fade to white.
The background behind it is black, brightening the gold light that seeps around the edges of the white feathered wing.
I drag my eyes up to Mase's. He's fiddling with his fingers nervously and I take in the sickeningly pale look on his face.
Alec nudges me. I almost jump from Alec's lap to Mase. My nervous twin lets out an 'ooft' as he catches me. I wrap my arms around as tight as I can.
"I love them, Mase. So, so much." I squeeze him tightly and his arms curl around me.
He buries his face into my neck, breathing heavily. I quickly glance over at Maverick, seeing the sadness in his features as he watches his brother.
Not liking the pain in my flirty, bright twins, I try to take some of the sadness from Mason’s eyes.
“Will you help me put them on?” I murmur softly.
Mase takes a deep breath before nodding. He stays there for a moment before lifting his head. There’s still a deep rooted pain in those light blue irises but it’s lighter.
Mase turns me in his lap to face the others. He leans forward to pick up my kindle and the case case to put it on. His arms around me make it clear he doesn’t want me to move.
My eyes flick up to Alec’s and he gives me a small nod.
After he was scared he’d hurt me, Dominic sent Mase to get me an icepack as a way of distracting him.
Mase slips the technology into their cases and I pick them up to admire them, not moving out of Mason’s arms.
“Uhh,” Jace starts before stopping. I look up and he gives me a guilty look.
“Do you remember that necklace you used to have?” He starts again, the guilt never leaving his face.
“The heart one?” I ask and he nods. “Yeah, you gave it to me for my thirteenth birthday. I had it on me when my…when Marcus came to get me and the chain broke.” I don’t let myself think back on it, knowing nothing good will come from that memory.
Jace raises his hands to the back of his neck and undoes the clasp on the chain around his neck, letting it pool in his palm. His eyes linger on it for a brief moment before he grabs my hand, dropping it onto my palm.
I gasp when I see it. “You’ve been wearing it this whole time?” I look up from the necklace up to his grey irises.
He nods slightly. My eyes go back down a I realise there's a new pendant on the chain along with the heart one. It's six tiny gemstones on the petals of a lotus flower surrounding a small pearl.
The chain's long enough that I just pull it over my head.
Speaking of Jace, his eyes are starting to darken. If I know him, he won't want me to say anything in front of the others. I almost leave it alone but the pain never leaves his face.
I seek out Luc's gaze and give him a pleading look I hope he can translate. His eyes flick to Jace before he nods slightly to me.
"We'll start getting breakfast organised while you get ready," Luc announces.
The guys grumble but listen, heading for the door. Maverick kisses my temple before climbing out of bed. It's like they do it almost subconsciously now. Like it's just normal.
Mase's hands squeeze my waist. I give him a confused look and he smirks, raising one eyebrow.
Oh. Right. I clamber out of his lap. I wait until he leaves before sitting directly in front of Jace.
I'm not even sure if he even realises the others have left. His eyes are staring straight at my necklace, his chest rising quicker and quicker and I realise he's having a panic or anxiety attack.
"Jace?" I say softly, reaching out to grab his hands. Panic clouds his stormy grey eyes.
"Jace, look at me, sweetie," I murmur. I squeeze his hands and he looks up.
"Ro," he manages to get out, tears filling those gorgeous grey eyes.
"Yeah, J. I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere," I promise him.
I squeeze his hands again to show him I'm really here and he squeezes mine in response. He pulls me into his lap and I go willingly. His arms reach around me as his head drops to my shoulder. Jace takes sharp, harsh breaths as he struggles to pull himself out of the darkness he’s in.
And I’m the one who put him there.
I run my hand up his back, unsure how to help him. An idea pops into my head. I hesitate for the smallest moment before mentally shaking my head.
“J, let me see you.” He pulls back so I can see his eyes and pain fills me.
I place my hands on his face and Jace closes his eyes, squeezing them shut. He’s struggling.
Saying his name again is the only warning I give him before I kiss him. Remembering that pain-pleasure line he seemed to enjoy this morning, I nip at his bottom lip before soothing the pain with a flick of my tongue.
The movement breaks him out of it and he takes control. His growl rumbles through me as his hand curls around the back of my neck.
He kisses me in desperation, like he can’t live without it. I watch as the pain and anger slips away to the burning heat that takes over in his eyes.
My hands drop from his face to rest on his chest as he continues ravishing me.
When he bites down on my bottom lip in retaliation for earlier, I break our contact, gasping. The clearness in Jace’s eyes is the only thing I see before his head drops to my neck.
His hand slides through my hair, gently pulling my head to the side to give himself better access. I can’t keep quiet the moan that slips out when he pulls on my hair.
I feel him smirk against my skin as he nibbles on my neck. Kisses trail up to my ear where he tugs on my earlobe with his teeth, sending shivers through me.
My hands move down, feeling the hard, smooth ridges of his taut stomach muscles. My nails lightly indent his skin and his chest rumbles.
A loud crash has me jumping and Jace flinching. I listen as the guys burst out in laugher with Dominic yelling something about needing to get rid of all the knives in the house.
Jace sighs, placing a soft kiss on the inside of my neck before he pulls back. The darkness is gone and now it’s lust he’s trying to control as well as another emotion I can’t quite describe.
I open my mouth to say something before realising I don’t know what to say. That’s the second time I’ve kissed my best friend. Not counting three years ago.
With the guys…it’s different. It feels the same but I have a lot of history with Jace. I don’t want to ruin that.
"Do you remember when we were kids, you stole my shirt and wore it as a nightie?" Jace asks, lifting a hand to brush the new charm on my necklace.
A smiles makes its way across my face.
"Yeah, I say softly.
When I was about seven, I was upset Jace couldn't sleep over. Nine year old Jace took off his favourite hawkeye shirt and pulled it over me. He told me part of him would always be with me.
I wore that shirt every night until it didn't fit anymore and was pretty much falling apart. Then I stole another one from his wardrobe.
"When I came back from the woods," Jace swallows deeply, "the first thing I noticed was your necklace on the ground. I’ve never seen you take it off. That’s when I knew something was wrong."
I wordlessly take his hands into mine, needing to feel him.
"I told you I'd started acting out but I spiraled when you were gone, Ro," Jace tells me, honestly. That darkness starts to creep back in.