His house is truly a rare gem. There’s so much growth, yet he’s got a piece of property that’s secluded in a magical way. A charming cabin-style home, exuding warmth with its set of wide welcoming steps leading up to a spacious front porch. I can imagine sitting on while enjoying a cup of coffee, writing my journal, and listening to the trees sway in the breeze.
The wood is richly stained, giving the home a rustic yet inviting look. The large front windows give me the idea that his house is bright and airy.
“Home sweet home.” Jace unlocks the door, all without letting go of my hand. I step inside and see that the charm from the front carries all the way through. Tongue-and-groove stained wood covers the ceilings and floors, the walls are a painted in a rich taupe color, and the furniture is big and inviting. I can imagine Jace relaxing after a long day, shirt off, boots the same way. Maybe he’s still in his jeans, but his feet are most definitely propped up on the coffee table while he’s enjoying a drink of some kind. My imagination gets the better of me, and I envision being right there beside him, sitting sideways in his lap, fingers tracing his chest.
“It’s beautiful. The wood, the view, it’s so full of character and craftmanship.” The words aren’t enough to describe how amazing his home is.
“Thank you. Make yourself at home. I’ll open up the back, get the grill started, and make us a couple of drinks.” He squeezes my hand before letting it go, moving to place my bag on the couch.
“Do you mind if I change my clothes?” I ask, more than ready to get out of my high heels.
“Not at all. Bedroom is this way.” Jace grabs my bag before leading me through the house. The living room is open to the kitchen and dining room, showcasing the river Jace has just steps out his backdoor. A quick trip down the hallway brings us to his room, and I’m completely unprepared to be surrounded by him and where he sleeps. “Take your time. I’ll be out back.” He gives me a wink, a whisper of his finger grazes the slope of my neck, and before I’m able to respond, he’s out of the room, closing the door behind him.
I’d like to say I change quickly, but that would be a lie. Instead, I take my time, noticing everything about his room—the masculine furniture, the dark bedding, the décor, which isn’t much, just metal wall art, something I expect he might have made. It depicts the nature outside of his home: the trees, the river, the ground. It’s absolutely stunning. I take one last quick walk around the room, nose into the bathroom and walk-in closet, both of which fit the space perfectly. There’s no marble or quartz to be seen. Everything is what I’m assuming to be original to when the house was built, and it takes my breath away.
When I’m thoroughly finished being the nosey woman I am, I make quick work of changing into my clothes. I check the bathroom mirror when I’m done, and I’m thankful I had the forethought to repack something a bit better this time around.
“You can’t hide forever, Willow.” I straighten my top, pull my hair out of the clip, letting the blonde waves hang loosely around my shoulders, and head to the man who makes a delicious tingle shiver down my spine any time he’s near.
4
Jace
“You good with whiskey?” I ask Willow as she steps into the kitchen. My eyes sweep across her body and land firmly on what it looks like she may not be wearing.
“I’m not picky, but can I have it mixed with something?” A smile tugs at my lips. The dressed-down version of her might be my favorite damn sight. Her hair is down, her face looks to be void of makeup, and she looks a hell of a lot more comfortable.
“Of course. Soda or juice?” While I walk to the fridge, my hand glides along her lower abdomen where a sliver of skin is showing, and sure enough, the lace bra she had on earlier is gone. Willow’s nipples pebble into tight buds, and I watch as her eyes flutter closed. The reaction her body has to me awakens my own, and not just my dick, either.
“Soda will work, but please let me. And the least I can do is make sides while you grill?” She moves right along with me, falling into step.
“Didn’t invite you over to put you to work, peaches.” The first thing I noticed when I met her was the scent of peaches—sweet, warm, and soft. I’ve yet to figure out if it’s her perfume or hair product, but whatever it is, it has me getting as close to her as possible.
Another reason why I showed her to my bedroom, because I want the faint sweetness to cling to me as much as possible. Even when she leaves, I’ll have a piece of her to stay with me.
Willow probably has no idea what it does to me. One day, she will.
“It’s a good thing I’m offering, then.” She moves in front of me and digs around in the fridge until she finds what she’s looking for: a soda, asparagus, butter, garlic, and then she moves through the kitchen until she finds the potatoes I placed on the counter. “Garlic mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus okay with you, or would you prefer to grill them?”
“Next time you’re over, you can cook. Tonight, leave it to me.” I move everything out of her hands and onto the counter, then wrap my arm around her waist, guiding her away from where I’m sure she’s ready to dive right in. What it also does is give me a lungful of her intoxicating scent. And when she turns around and looks up at me while her soft sweetness surrounds us, I’m left to do one thing and one thing only. “Tell me to stop, Willow, and I will.”
“I won’t, Jace. Please.” My hand closes around her wrist, pulling up until it’s placed on my chest, holding her there, not too tightly, just enough to hold her right where I want her.
“Fuck, peaches, been dreaming about what you taste like.” For a second, she doesn’t breathe. It isn’t until her eyelids flutter closed that I move in, dipping my head and sliding my nose along hers. I can feel the warmth of her skin, smell her soft scent. I’ve spent the past couple of weeks wanting and waiting, wondering what this would feel like. What she would feel like. And now I’m going to finally have her. Maybe not what I’ve been fisting my cock to, but this is a close second.
I don’t ask for more permission, moving Willow until her back meets the fridge. My eyes drop to her mouth while my other hand slides to her waist, feeling her soft skin beneath mypalm, sliding upward until my fingers graze the underside of her breast. Sure enough, there’s not a scrap of lace. My thumb slides over her taut nipple, and that’s when I take her mouth. The first touch is slow, almost testing to see what she’ll give me. A small moan is all the access I need, and then my tongue invades her mouth. Hers slide along mind as her body presses closer, fingers digging into my chest, and the taste of her hits me a second later.
It’s better than I imagined.She’sbetter than I could have ever imagined. All the fantasies, all the heated looks I’d send her way when I walked past her doors, this is so much fucking better.
A low rumble leaves my chest. This is what I’ve been missing all along. This is what my friends have, what I was searching for when I didn’t even know it. I deepen the kiss and tighten my hold on her waist, continuing to cup her breast and pulling on her nipple.
“Jace, so good.” She arches into me, hiking her leg over my hip, and I help hold her steady by cupping the cheek of her ass.
“Fuck, peaches.” I pull back for a moment, wanting to see the heat in her gaze, to watch as her need takes over. “Can feel you, can smell you. Take what you need, Willow.” My voice comes off a bit rougher than intended, but when I look into her eyes, I can tell she’s more than okay with where this is going. I wedge my thigh between her legs, lowering her until she can use me, and while I’d love nothing more than for her to rub her hot center along my dick, this is for her, just for her.
“Jace.” Her chest heaves, her breathing comes out choppily, and I watch as she rides my thigh. The downside of watching her get off, which isn’t too much of one to begin with, is that she has clothes on. It’d be a fuck of a lot better for her without the extra fabric. It’d also be a hell of a show for me. I’d get on my knees and use my mouth and tongue, flicking her clit, sucking on her lips, and driving my fingers inside her wet depths.
“Fuck yeah.” Now that I have her balanced, my other hand joins the fun. Her breasts are more than a handful, and her nipples are responsive as hell. Each tug, each pull, each pinch causes her hips to undulate, rocking back and forth.
