Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
Jace’s eyes consumed me as I stepped backward, shedding off my cardigan and tossing it at his feet.
They turned molten when my tank top and bra joined it, his gaze taking in every inch of skin.
By the time I leaned against the couch, arching my back, he’d closed the space between us, capturing my lips as if it had been weeks, not hours, since our last touch.
“Fuck,” he sighed as his hand gripped the back of my neck, tilting my jaw up to trace the delicate skin. “Every morning, I wake up, and I have to remind myself you’re real. I must have done something right in my miserable life to get to have you like this.”
“Jace…” I moaned, arching into his touch when he cupped my breast. His thumb teased my nipple, and I shifted closer to him, needing so much more.
He stared down at me, a mixture of adoration and amusement reflected in his gaze. “How do you want to come, pretty girl? You want my fingers, mouth, or cock first?”
“Mouth,” I panted, gripping the edge of the couch as his lips encircled my sensitive breast, teasing the tip with his tongue. I reached out to hold his hair, but his hand caught mine first, pinning it back in front of me.
“You like to be in control,” he said, his words broken as he continued to lavish my chest with his tongue. “But for tonight…let me show you what it’d be like to let go.” His blue eyes lifted and met mine. “Trust me?”
I swallowed, unable to do anything but nod under the heat of his gaze.
He reached out, shifting my hips so my front collided with the back of the leather.
Jace’s touch was soft, almost reverent as he ran the backs of his fingers along my spine, bending me over more.
His breath hitched as he toyed with the edge of my pants.
“Fuck, Kins. I can barely breathe when you’re around, especially like this, trembling for my touch. ”
“Then touch me,” I growled, sliding back to collide with his growing length.
“Patience,” he tsked, giving me one thrust before lowering my pants and underwear to the floor.
His hot breath coasted over my core at the same time his fingers skimmed my skin, and a sharp breath escaped my lips.
His touch was gentle—too gentle to get me where I needed to be.
But my knees still shook, my breaths uneven as he kneeled behind me, pushing my thighs to spread them wider.
“Let’s call this a test,” Jace mused as his fingers traced my core.
“See how long before you’re calling out my name. ”
“What?” I snapped. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“It’s all in the anticipation,” Jace growled, his fingers finally stroking me.
He skated through my soaked center, humming his appreciation at my desire.
“See, I could fuck you fast, give you all my cum, make it drip down your thighs all night. But if I go slow…” The subtle glide of his fingers inside me followed the same rhythm.
“Then, when you do break, it’ll be even more intense.
Make you scream my name so loud, all the neighbors will know you’re mine. ”
“Jace.” His name came out as a whine, my hips shifting for more. More. It was the only thought in my mind, the word echoing with a roar.
He stilled as he lowered behind me, leaving kisses down my spine. “Trust me, Kinsley. You know I’ll give you everything and more.”
His quiet promise sliced through the desperation, and my fingers loosened.
As I relaxed, Jace’s mouth found me, exploring every inch of my center.
It was hard to hold on, to not grind into him as he savored me, claiming every drop of my desire.
My fingers dug holes into the leather, my only lifeline as he pushed me closer to the edge.
But as soon as I shook around him, he pulled back, replacing his insistent tongue with the same steady touch of his fingers.
It eased some of the tightening in my core, pulling me back from the release I craved.
I tried to shift to face him, but Jace’s free hand pressed against my spine, bending me back over the back of the couch.
The edge cut into my stomach, but I didn’t care, not when his tongue found me again, each press of his tip around my clit like heaven.
He continued to circle it, toy with me, his fingers and tongue working in tandem to drive me wild.
But just as that sweet crescendo was within reach, he once again backed off, returning to those slow, lazy strokes.
We continued like this for what felt like hours—alternating between him devouring me and those brief strokes that made me whine for more.
Jace smirked against my skin, his smile clear when he pressed his lips to the back of my thighs.
“You’re doing so well, Kins. So responsive. I love having you like this.”
“Please,” I groaned, my fingers almost numb from clutching the cushion. He’d pulled every fiber in my body taut, and I needed to let go. “Please let me come, Jace.”
He hummed against my skin, kissing my backside and stroking my flushed skin. “You need it?”
“Yes.”
“You need me?”
“Fuck yes.” I didn’t care what I looked like, the mess he’d made of me. I needed him to fill me, take me, push me over the edge. When Jace shifted behind me, my heart raced and my fingers tightened. He pressed a kiss to the back of my neck, and just the simple touch made me want to explode.
“God, Kinsley. You should see yourself right now. Almost came just from the sight.”
He cut off my words when he lined himself up, giving me a few strokes through my slickness.
I almost came just from the pressure, my one hand reaching out to grab him, to pull him into me.
But Jace just chuckled, kissing the back of my neck as he took my hand and placed it back on the couch.
“Trust me, Kins. You’re going to want to hold on. ”
That was the only warning. He slammed inside me, the sudden intrusion making my eyes go wide. My inner walls clung to him, desperate to keep him deep inside of me. But when he shifted out of me, I cried out, my voice a mangled sob as the pleasure rose inside my core.
Jace set a brutal pace, and he was right—I needed the support to keep up with his powerful strokes.
But that was all I could do, hold on as he played with my body in the way only he ever could.
It was only moments before the pleasure consumed me, my orgasm spreading through my body like wildfire.
Everything else in the world faded away as he continued to fuck me through it, breaking me down until all there was only him.
Jace only lasted a few more thrusts before he followed me, roaring his own orgasm so loud, the neighbors would complain. Not that I cared, not when my body still tingled from the force of us coming together. Nothing else would ever compare.
As he stilled, Jace gathered me into his arms, my sweat slicked back colliding with his strong chest. He held me tight, his forehead resting on my shoulder as we caught our breaths, unable to form words or any real thoughts.
His head turned, his breath tickling the shell of my ear. “Was it too much?”
“Not at all,” I panted. “Pretty sure I’ve never come so hard in my life.”
A satisfied grin pressed against the side of my neck. “Told you to trust me.”
The words cut through the fog in my mind, my body tensing for another reason.
I did trust Jace. I loved him, and he was becoming the most important person in my life, tied only with Anna for the top spot.
It wasn’t rational, wasn’t logical, but fear sliced through me, unsure how I’d ever be able to survive if he walked away from this—from us.
Jace pulled out of me, shifting us until I faced him. My eyes met his, and the amount of love reflecting at me almost destroyed those tendrils of fear.
Almost.
Later that night, after we’d showered and Jace helped me scrub the sweat away from my skin, we settled into his bed. God, this mattress was heaven. Replacing mine was high on the priority list, but I’d never bothered, not when there were always other things that needed to get done.
Being in this space—the high-end features, the top of the line furniture—made my own home pale in comparison. Jace said nothing, never complained about the lumpy mattress or the dated features, but he had to sense it, especially when this was the level of luxury he’d always experienced.
Unease pressed into my chest, but Jace held me close, shifting us until my head rested on his chest, his fingers toying with my damp hair. It’d be a mess in the morning, but I didn’t care, not when standing seemed like a Herculean event after what we’d shared earlier.
“What did you think about Gray’s offer?”
I froze. After everything that happened tonight, I’d forgotten about his friend’s comment about his wife needing an associate. I shook my head. “There’s nothing to think about. I’m not a lawyer.”
Jace turned, so we faced each other. “What happened to law school?”
“What do you mean?”
“C’mon, Kins.” Jace’s fingers stroked down my bare spine. “You mentioned taking the LSAT years ago. Did you ever do it?”
Heat flooded my cheeks, and I broke our stare, focusing instead on the tension in Jace’s neck. When I spoke, my words came out whispered. “No.”
“Why not?”
“There was no point,” I groaned. “Even if I did well on the test—which, mind you, was a big if—it wasn’t like I’d have time to go to law school. I need to work, Jace. Need to provide for Anna. I had to make a choice, and it was her. It will always be her.”
He studied me, his eyes assessing my features as if he could see through everything I tried to keep buried, the dreams I’d let die morphing into something new. He reached up, forcing my chin higher to meet his gaze. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For giving up so much for our daughter. I don’t know if I’ve ever told you how much it means to me. The way you love her. You’re a fucking incredible mom, Kins, and I hope to be half the parent you are most days.”
Tears filled my eyes, ready to tell him he already was, that he’d stepped up in ways I never imagined he would. That when I had Anna, I never imagined having a partner so loyal, so devoted to her. However, his next breath cut me off. “But you’re not in this alone anymore. Let me help you.”
I shoved away. “What does that mean?”
Dark blue eyes hardened at the space between us, the inches feeling more like miles. “You’re not supporting Anna on your own anymore. And in case you haven’t noticed, I make a pretty good living, enough to cover the costs for anything Anna needs. And you, if that’s what you want.”
I shook my head. “You’re not—”
“You could quit your job, move in here if you want.” My fingers curled into fists. “Let me take care of you, mama.”
Take care of me? Anger bubbled in my gut, deep and furious, at his words. I didn’t need anyone—especially not Jace—to take care of me. I’d been on my own long enough, knowing the only person I could truly count on was myself.
Or was this all about Anna? Was he implying I wasn’t doing everything I could for her?
That he could provide more for her than I ever could?
Maybe I’d never be able to afford fancy private schools or give her horseback riding lessons or whatever the fuck rich people did in their spare time, but she was loved. Safe. Cared for.
I sat up, gathering the sheets to cover me as I searched for my clothes. This was too much. The idea of giving my heart to Jace was already terrifying, handing him the power to bend and break me. But for him to imply I was some charity case?
Suddenly, I felt dirty—as if my mere presence in this place sullied it. How could I have been so stupid?
When I climbed out of bed, Jace followed, standing in front of me. He dropped to his knees, blocking me from standing. “What did I say, Kins? Talk to me.”
“How long?” His brow furrowed in confusion. “How long have you pitied me?”
“It’s not—”
“I am not your problem to solve, Jace.”
My words from years earlier flew out of my mouth, and, once again, Jace flinched. He shifted, allowing me to grab my things, but he stopped me before I fled the room. “It’s not pity, Kins. It’s love.”