“Jesus, knew he was a slimy pencil dick with the way he announced you the day we met. Plus, the getup he wears at a steel mill, well, it says something, doesn’t it. Sorry you have to deal with that, Willow. Really sorry.”
“Thank you. I’d endure it all ten times over for my grandmother. This Sunday, brunch will be served, and my presence is requested. I’m sure there will be some kind of bullshit he’ll say that will have me biting my tongue in order to keep her in the place where she’s well taken care of,” I lay my drama at his feet. If that doesn’t scare him off, I’m not sure anything will.
Plus, he technically works for William Ashford, so it’s like double homicide dealing with anything to do with me.
“So, you do what you have to do, eat shit till you can’t anymore. Meanwhile, I’m sure you’re socking money away to take over the bills for your grandmother,” Jace states.
“How’d you surmise my plans that quickly?”
“Peaches, you’re beautiful, but you’re more than a pretty face. Knew it the moment I met you. See it every time you’re in the office, head down, working, and I’m sure that was a fucking mess you walked into. Willow, you’re smarter than that dumb fuck father of yours gives you credit for. That being said, you need me, I’m here. I’m your man. You may not see that yet, but you will.” With that, he stands up, places his hands on either side of my head, and lowers his head. The moment his lips touch mine, a spark flares to life. It hits me in the chest and spreads, quickly and brightly. I don’t hesitate in chasing his tongue. Instinct takes over, and my fingers curl into his firm chest, needing something to hold on to. One of his hands cradles my jaw, warm, steady, guiding me closer. Our kiss deepens. There’s nothing reckless about this moment, it’s as if we’re memorizing every single second. My thoughts unravel until there’s nothing left except the sensation Jace is building inside of me. The quiethitch of his breath, the way he takes without question. It makes my pulse race, my core ache, and has me wanting so much more.
When our kiss ends, he lingers a breath away, our eyes still hooded, and I know without any words being spoken that something shifted. That Jace McKay and I are right where we need to be.
6
Jace
Willow ate dinner with gusto, digging into her food right alongside me, moaning about how amazing her steak was, which made me relive the moment she came apart in my arms. It also had my dick hard as a damn rock all throughout the grilling, eating, and especially after dinner. We tag-teamed the kitchen, Willow swaying her hips to the music and making me clench my damn teeth.
She knew exactly what she was doing to me, too. I grabbed her hand, spun her in a circle, and then brought her into my arms. Her ass arched into my cock during one of the moments and her breathing hitched. I’d meant what I said—tonight was all about her. I could wait. It’d been weeks so far with me and my fist; a few more won’t kill me. Her cheeks reddened when she noticed what she did to me. The drinks were flowing, and she let her guard down, told me shit I’m sure she hasn’t told anyone else, so the last thing I was going to do was take advantage of her vulnerability.
I might not have grown up a dad, but I had a great mom, one who bent over backward to put food on the table, make sure we had a roof over our head, and didn’t miss a single thing growing up. She’d show up to a game, a science fair, or a play for my sister, Jade, dead on her feet, cheering the loudest, and on top of that, somehow, she’d manage to have some kind of treatwaiting in the wings to let us know how proud of us she was. Willow didn’t have that from either of her parents. Apparently, her grandmother gave a whole lot of good, or she wouldn’t be going to battle with her father over where she’s staying.
“Hmm,” she lets out a low throaty moan, moving closer to my warmth. When she suggested heading home after dinner, it looked like she wanted to do anything but that. I suggested we watch a movie and if she falls asleep, staying here wouldn’t be so bad. Willow asked if I was sure, had to tell her I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t want her there. Man, they did a number on her, mentally and emotionally. Not sure if there were men who came along before me and sure as hell don’t want to think about it now.
The past is the fucking past, the need to go out, be reckless, and be a man undeserving of Willow is long gone. The man I am today is the man who wants Willow, who wants to take care of her, who wants to be the man she runs to, and the man who wants a future with her. One where the man standing beside her is me, waking up next to her, my ring on her finger, and when the time comes, my children growing inside her.
Yeah, I’m known as the man who plays footloose and fancy free, but one tiny slip of a woman has changed everything. For the better.
I slowly unwrap my body from hers, it requires some careful maneuvering and being a bit flexible. Willow is lying in front of me. I’m on my side, and my arm is beneath her neck, being used as a pillow. This isn’t how we started, but it is where we ended when she started yawning because the movie she picked out is clearly a snooze fest. She made it less than ten minutes into the flick before her head drifted to my shoulder, giving me more of her weight, which gave me the excuse to maneuver us into the position we’re in now.
“Come on, peaches. Time for bed.” I carefully slide from around her, she’s curled into the couch and only moves when I’m lifting her into my arms, bridal style.
“Jace,” she murmurs my name against my throat, looping her arms around my neck and breathing me in. Fuck, my cock throbs beneath my jeans, the button fly doesn’t do a single fucking thing to give me some breathing room.
“Taking you to bed, Willow.” I grunt when I feel her tongue slide along the skin of my neck. Her teeth come into play next, rasping where she licked me. It makes me stop in my tracks. “Christ, peaches, you’re making it hard not to strip you bare and see if you taste exactly like you smell.” She hums against me in response. She’s in between sleep and awake, not coherent enough to make that decision. There’s a lot of shit I’d do to Willow, but taking advantage of her isn’t one of them. Unless she lets me know it’s a fantasy of hers, then all bets are off, and I’d make it my mission to give her what she wants. She’d never know when or how I’d make it happen, but I would, and it’d be damn fun.
I carry her through the house, turning off the lights with a push of my elbow. I already locked the house up before we moved to the living room. Willow seemed comfortable in my home, and I noticed when I used my master bedroom after she changed, she left her bag open in the same place I dropped it. Her clothes weren’t folded and tucked away, they were stuffed into the small duffle, and her high heels looked kicked off and forgotten.
She fit in, and it makes me fucking ecstatic. When we make it the bedroom, I pull the comforter back with one hand, trying not to jostle her too much, and gently place her in the bed. I’m left with a conundrum of a situation. She’s in a tank top and sweatpants. The problem with that is, I sleep hot, and there’s no damn way I won’t have her wrapped around me tonight. AndI don’t want her burning the hell up, which means I do what I probably shouldn’t and pray to fuck she’s wearing something beneath the bottoms.
While my fingertips grasp the material at her waist to tug it down, my eyes stay laser-focused on her face. I know myself well enough that the temptation will be impossible to resist if I get a glimpse of her with barely a scrimp of fabric covering her pussy.
“Jace.” Her gaze locks on mine when she lifts her hips to help me guide her sweats down her hot little body.
“Just getting you comfortable, peaches.” The serene smile playing on her lips makes my dick grow impossibly harder.
“Want these off.” Willow hooks her fingers into my jeans, sliding them dangerously close to the button. One pull, and she’d get her wish.
“Soon as I get you into bed, Willow,” I murmur. Her hand drops away, and I groan in response, missing her touch.
“Fine,” she says with a pout. Fuck, this woman is driving me wild.
“Peaches, don’t you fuckin’ dare.” She attempts to go after her top.
“Don’t usually sleep in any clothes but my panties, Jace.” Lucky, or not so lucky, for me, she flops onto her back, rolls to her side, tugs at the pillow next to her and pulls it into her chest, and promptly passes out.
I take a deep calming breath, round the bed, pull the sheets down, and tug at my jeans. Willow sleeping naked and admitting doing so was not on my bucket list. The relief I thought my cock would get is gone, she’s awakened the damn beast, and there’s no way he’ll calm his ass down tonight. Especially when I slide between the sheets, move the pillow away from her body, and gather her in my arms. The minute my hand slides beneath her neck, Willow turns into me, burrowing her cold nose into my chest and muttering sweet nothings in her sleep. I close my eyes,breathe in her sweet scent, and realize this right here is the best feeling on earth. I’m not chasing after a temporary high. I’m with the woman who I’ve known a short amount of time yet means so fucking much to me, and it’s only going to get better from here.
