“I’m capable of taking care of myself, Jace,” I argue, rolling my eyes as I let out a soft laugh.
“Yeah, I know,” he says, stepping deeper into the store as he closes the distance between us. He bends over, lifting a stack of the folded shirts. “But it’s not a crime to let other people take care of you too.”
My breath catches in my throat and my heart pitter patters to its own vulnerable beat as he steps up beside me, handing me the stack. I swallow roughly, pushing the emotions away.Why do I let him have this effect on me?“What are the dinner plans then?”
“Come over and let me cook for you.”
“Jace.”
He lifts a brow. “Willow.” He shakes his head as I open my mouth to argue. “Before you tell me that I don’t have to, I’m well aware. I want to.”
His stare is unwavering and it’s chipping away at my resolve. Arguing with him is useless at this point. I know Jace Miller better than I know anyone else. When he has his mind set on something, good luck at changing it.
My chest heaves as I let out a deep breath, biting back my grin as I turn back to the shelves and slide the stack of shirts onto them. “Okay, you win.”
“I only play to win,” he says with a wink before distracting himself with breaking down the empty boxes.
Damn him and the effect he has on me.
“Can I at least help dry them?” I hop up onto the counter, folding my hands in my lap as Jace pushes his hands into the soapy dishwater. Both cats sit on the floor by our feet with Dr. Grey licking her fur and Snoop just watching.
Jace shakes his head as he scrubs one of the plates with a sponge. “Nope.”
“I didn’t know you were such a good cook.”
He looks at me out of the corner of his eye, a smirk lifting the corner of his mouth as he rinses the plate and sets it in the drying rack. “I’m just full of surprises.”
“You are,” I say softly, crossing my ankles over one another. Jace’s eyes are trained on mine as he sets the last dish down and twists the towel around his hands, removing the remaining liquid before he tosses it onto the counter.
Both of the cats scatter from the room.
He’s standing less than two feet away from me and it only takes him a step and a half to close the distance between us. He stops in front of me, his arms hanging by his sides as I tilt my head back to look up at him.
My ankles instinctively separate, my knees parting slightly. His gaze is hooded, lips parted as he studies my face.
“I can’t stop thinking about you.” His voice is hoarse and thick with lust. He’s looking at me like he wants to devour me. His hands reach for my knees, pushing them wider as he steps between them. His right hand lifts to cup my chin and he drags his thumb against my bottom lip. “I can’t stop thinking about the way you looked on your knees with these pretty lips wrapped around my cock.”
My stomach does a somersault, my breath hitching as my heart pounds harder. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he breathes. The tip of my tongue darts out to touch his thumb. His nostrils flare, his gaze snapping to mine. “Fuck, Willow.” A moan rumbles in his throat as I open my mouth wider. He pushes his thumb between my teeth, pressing down on my tongue as I wrap my lips around him. I suck on his thumb, and his eyelids flutter shut. “You drive me fucking crazy.”
I grab his wrist, not letting him pull away, and hum my approval.
“This is so fucked up.” He drags his thumb from my mouth and his other hand finds my waist. “I’m not supposed to want you, but I can’t help myself.” He pulls me to the edge of the counter as he presses into me, his right hand slipping around the back of my neck. “Do you feel what you do to me?”
There’s only the material of his pants and the thin material of my panties and leggings separating us. It’s impossible to not feel how hard he is. My mouth is instantly dry and my hips start to grind against him, his erection pressing against my clit. A jolt ofpleasure ripples through me. “Yes,” I half moan, a ragged breath escaping me.
“I need you to know before we go any further, I can’t give you anything more than this.” His eyes are on mine. He doesn’t give me a reason why and I don’t want to ask.
“We’re just friends,” I remind him, the words tasting bitter as they roll off my tongue. “This doesn’t have to change that.”
His lips crash into mine, his tongue plunging into my mouth. He’s acting like he’s starved and I’m his last meal. When he pulls back, we’re both panting. He rests his forehead against mine, as if he’s having to restrain himself but he can’t bring himself to lose physical contact.
“If I remember correctly, I believe I have a debt to pay,” he murmurs, his eyes roaming over my face, lingering on my lips before trailing back up to my eyes. “Are you ready to collect?”
His voice vibrates through my entire body, the low timbre sending a shiver down my spine.
“Yes.”
