This was mine.Jacewas mine. And if we were going to make a memory, we were going to make a damn good one.
“Jace.” I murmured, tightening my legs around him.
“Mmm…?” he said against the dip at the base of my neck, and his voice sent shivers through me to settle in intimate places.
“Put me down. Just for a second.”
Jace growled lightly, but complied, and a second after my feet hit the floor, my dress followed.
“Jace.”
He turned to me, buttoning his jeans, and part of me wanted to take them right back off him. “Will you do something for me?”
“Anything.” He had his shirt gathered over both arms, but paused before pulling it over his head to kiss me.
“Join the Southeast Pride.”
His eyes widened, and his shirt fell to the floor. “What?”
“If you have to be rank-less somewhere, move to South Carolina with me. We could rent a little house and go running on the weekends. I’ll transfer and finish school. You can work construction, or do whatever you want. We’ll be rank-less together.”
“Are you serious? It’s only been a couple of weeks, Abby.”
I shrugged. “Do you love me?”
“You know I do.”
“Any doubts about that?”
His brows rose. “None.”
“Any plans to sleep around?”
“Of course not.” Jace pulled his shirt over his head and shoved his arms through the holes.
“Good, because it may take all five of them, but my brotherswouldkick your ass.” I picked up his shirt and handed it to him. “Assuming I leave anything for them to kick.”
“I don’t want anyone but you.” He tugged me closer, but I tripped over my shoe and threw us off balance. Jace righted us with one hand against the wall, then pressed me against it with his whole body. He bent down until his forehead touched mine. “If I come to South Carolina with you, could we do this a lot?”
“Every waking moment. Except those moments when we’re doingotherthings.”
He gave me a slow, smoldering smile and slid his arms around me. “That sounds amazing.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Maybe.” He shook his head. “Yes. But Abby, this is crazy.”
“So what? I know what I want. And anyway, according to Warner, if it’s not crazy—”
“It isn’t love. I know.” Jace ran one hand through his pale brown waves, and I could practically see the thoughts running through his head. Scrolling past his eyes. “Abby, your dad…”
“He might be pissed at first, but he’ll come around. My mom will help. She likes you.” I pulled him down for another kiss, then spoke with my lips still brushing his. Then in a couple of years, when my dad’s ready to retire...” I let him draw his own conclusion.
“Abby, that’s a beautiful idea, but it won’t work. They won’t let me back on the council after I’ve been voted off. Even if we get married, eventually, it’ll be your Pride. Your council seat. And I think that’s the way it should be. I can kick just as much ass behind the scenes, with you wearing the crown. Especially if you promise not to wear anything else…”
The heat in his eyes was stunning. It almost stole my breath.
“But you’re an Alpha and that won’t change, even if you’re not running a Pride.” Alphas donottake orders. “Do you really think you could go back to being an enforcer? Even mytopenforcer?”
