Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“Are you still on birth control?”
Wordlessly, I nodded.
Then several things happened in quick succession. First, Jace shoved my pants down while I tugged free his already loosened tie and tore at the buttons of his shirt. I definitely felt one or two pop, but since he tore my fancy lingerie, that made us even.
His mouth found mine, and he kissed me with abandon, his large hands spreading my thighs. I felt his cock nudge at my entrance and emitted a shuddering sigh. I wanted him.
“Now,” I begged, breathless.
Jace broke our kiss to hold my gaze, his hazel eyes glittering as he pushed inside me. I cried out, feeling full as he seated himself to the hilt. Time slowed down, or maybe it stopped entirely. Either way, I hadn’t felt this electrified in forever. I’d almost forgotten how it was with him. How the rest of the world faded away when we were together.
“No one else, only you,” Jace murmured as he began to move his hips. To know that he was mine and I was his filled my heart with so much blinding warmth I could hardly stand it. Emotion clogged my throat, and unbidden, a tear fell down my cheek.
“Shannon? Should I stop?”
“No, I just … I’m a little …” Overwhelmed?
Jace started to frown, a look of concern shaping his features, and I felt him pulling away. My hand went to his neck, urging him back. “Don’t stop. I want this. What I feel right now is just … a lot.”
His face softened. “I know. Let me make it better.”
Then he was kissing away the tear before his mouth found mine again, moving slow and careful as he made love to me like I was precious, in danger of breaking. Feeling his body move against mine felt right in a way nothing had for a very long time. This was Jace, my Jace, and I didn’t want him to go.
His pace quickened, and I knew he was close. Jace reached down between our bodies, stroking my clit and pushing me towards another orgasm. My thigh muscles clenched, my body tightening as I felt it tumble closer. Moments later, I was coming, followed closely by Jace. I caressed his hard, strong back as he came, his muscles pulsing under my hand.
Then his arms came around me. Instinctively, I wrapped my thighs around his waist as he picked me up and carried to the top of the stairs. Pushing open the bathroom door, he set me on my feet, then began running a bath. I was still a little out of it, my brain barely comprehending that we’d just had sex on my stairs. Jace studied a bottle of almond bubble bath before pouring it in with the hot water.
Once the tub was full, he came back, removing my remaining clothing and taking my hand. He guided me to the bath, and I stepped in, sinking down into the warm water, closing my eyes and savouring the comfort. I was vaguely aware of Jace climbing in behind me, pulling me back so I was lying against his chest. Sated, I could’ve fallen asleep right there.
We sat in quiet for a while, Jace rubbing soothingly at my stomach and making me think about having sex with him again. Once certainly wasn’t enough.
“What are we doing here, Shannon?” he asked, breaking the silence.
The question had reality hurtling back. I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Jace exhaled and began rubbing my shoulders.
“Don’t freak. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I just need to know where your head’s at so I don’t push too far.”
I twisted to look at him, and his hands fell from my shoulders. My voice came out thick when I whispered, “I want to try.”
“Try?”
“You said you wanted me to trust you again,” I said, my chest tightening. “I want to try.”
For a moment, he didn’t speak. His throat worked on a hard swallow, his jaw tightening as his teeth caught briefly on the silver ring in his lip, like he was holding himself together by sheer force of will. When his eyes met mine, they were too full of relief and hope and something achingly close to reverence, and it hit me so hard my own breath stuttered.
Understanding softened his expression, his hands returning to my skin, careful and sure, exactly where I needed them.
“Okay, then,” he said quietly, like a vow. “We’ll try.”
***
After our bath, Jace set me in my bed under the covers. I thought he might crawl in next to me, but instead, he shut off the lamp and retreated back downstairs to the couch. I was disappointed, but I understood why he did it. He was trying to give me the space to let him back in again at my own pace. Though honestly, I wasn’t sure I knew what my pace was. My bed felt empty without him.