“Someone paid way more attention to the tours than I did,” Iacknowledged.
“It’s all so fascinating. I remember learning about British history and things like the War of the Roses in high school, but putting it in context is pretty awesome. Thank you for this. You didn’t have to do that, since you’ve seen all these things already, but it was nice getting to see them withsomeone.”
“My pleasure. I’ve been here a few times, and even to some of these places, and I haven’t enjoyed them as much as I did this go-around.”
I poured him a cocktail, and we headed out onto my balcony, overlooking the Londondusk.
“Wow,” he said. “I’m thoroughly impressed so far, DaxMunro.”
“So am I,” I said, not taking my eyes off him, and suddenly, we were just staring at oneanother.
“And you get to do this kind of stuff all thetime?”
“The job demandsit.”
“Meanwhile, mine sort of keeps me in Fever Falls. Don’t get me wrong. I love being a firefighter, and I take pride in being the best I can at my job. I wouldn’t be doing anything else, but I haven’t traveled alot.”
“Any big bucket-list places?” Iasked.
“Yeah, always wanted to go to Peru. MachuPicchu.”
“That’s veryspecific.”
He shrugged. “Always thought it sounded cool, the idea of this tucked-away secret place. All these people living their lives and no one knowing about them. A little mystery is kind ofnice.”
“Yeah, it is. And you’re quite the mystery to me, JaceKruse.”
“I’ve told you, I’m an openbook.”
“And I’ve told you that’s the part that confounds me. Not many people like that, not in myexperience.”
“Maybe you’re just hanging around the wrongcrowd.”
I couldn’t help but enjoy the remark. “At least I’m with the right crowdtonight.”
“You just trying to get sweet on me, Dax? Tell me, did you have innocent intentions when you asked me for a drink uphere?”
I snickered. “I was honest about a drink, but I wasn’t talking about thecocktail.”
“So just minus the tailpart?”
“Depends on whose tail we’re talkingabout.”
He took a drink of the vodka soda I’d made him, then set it down on the side table on the balcony and approached me. There was no question in my mind what that look was. Jace oozed sex andcharisma.
This titan was coming for me, and there was no way in hell I could fucking resisthim.
I set my drink down on the ledge, and nearly as soon, his lips were against mine, just as they had been that night almost two weeksprior.
10
Jace
“God,your lips feel as good as they did last time,” I confessed without inhibition orregret.
I was surprised at how effortlessly my hands made their way around him, tugging me closer to his body. His hands were just as curious about my body as he moved his hand under my shirt, feeling his way over the ridges of my back. His tongue slid between my lips, and I eagerly acceptedit.
I fucking loved the way his scruff scratched at my face. “Damn,” I said into his mouth, and hesnickered.
