There was a time when I might’ve taken offense to my dad’s warning, but not anymore. I could take accountability for my past actions now, and besides, I knew he was only coming from a place of love for both of us. I lifted my chin, staring him dead in the eye as I assured him with absolute confidence. “I won’t. The rest of my life will be keeping her safe and happy, I can assure you.”
My response seemed to satisfy him. “Good.”
Mam came and wrapped her arms around me briefly before placing a gentle kiss on my cheek. “It’s been so lovely to see the two of you getting close again. I’m so happy for you, Jace.”
My throat thickened with emotion, and I felt too exposed under my parents’ studied focus, so I stood from the table and went to see what was taking Shannon so long. She’d been in the bathroom for a while, and I hoped she wasn’t feeling sick. All the stress of the last two days would’ve had anyone’s immune system struggling.
When I climbed the stairs, I found the main bathroom empty. Where had she gone? As I went to check the other rooms, I found her standing by the desk in my bedroom.
“Shannon?” I entered the room, and she turned. Her eyes were glassy, and I immediately closed the distance between us. “What happened?”
She pointed to the framed painting resting against the side of the desk, the one Roan had done of her. It was still half covered in the protective bubble wrap from when I’d collected it from the gallery.
“You bought it,” she whispered, the words heavy with emotion.
“I had to,” I replied, picking up the frame and pulling off the wrapping before setting it down on the desk so we could admire it fully. “It’s the most beautiful painting I’ve ever seen.”
“Jace.”
“It’s true. I’ve never seen anything more—”
Before I could finish, her lips crashed into mine, her arms around my neck, pulling me close. “I love you,” she breathed, each word slipping between desperate kisses, and for a moment, the rest of the world ceased to exist.
My chest tightened, heart hammering as her words sank in. A shiver ran through me, and my fingers trembled as I instinctively pulled her closer. I lifted her into my arms, her warmth anchoring me, and carried her to the bed, laying her down with care. Every nerve in my body felt alive, every thought consumed by her, by us. I pressed my forehead to hers, letting the weight of her love wash over me, and I swore I would never let her go.
“I love you, too, never stopped …” Her fingernails raked along the back of my neck, and I groaned. “We can’t do this here, not with my parents downstairs.”
“I know,” she breathed. “I just … need you.”
“Although, saying that,” I added with a smirk, “my parents being in the house never stopped us when we were teenagers.”
She giggled, and it was the most perfect sound. “Nothing could stop us back then.”
“Honestly, I don’t feel like much has changed.” I caught her chin between my thumb and forefinger, pressing a softer kiss to her lips as I struggled to calm my breathing. I swallowed her up with my gaze. She was the sexiest thing in the world. “Tell me again,” I requested, my voice a husky rasp.
Shannon’s eyelids flickered shut, a breath rushing out when I pressed my erection between her legs. “Tell you what?” she murmured.
I sank my hand into her silky hair, then wrapped my fingers around it, forming a thick rope and gave a little tug. Another sexy gasp. “That you love me.”
“I love you, Jace. You have my whole heart.”
“I love you so fucking much. It’s maddening how much.”
“Jace.”
“What is it, baby?”
“Pull my hair again, just a little.”
A dark, sinful smile shaped my mouth as I gave another gentle tug. “Like that?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
“I almost forgot how much you liked that.” Leaning onto my side, I kept a hold of her hair, my gaze traversing the dips and curves of her body as I ran my hand down her stomach to the swell of her thighs. She quietly moaned, and I tutted, “I can’t leave you in this state, now can I? Not when you’ve been so sweet for me.”
My hand brushed whisper soft between her legs, and her thighs fell open for me on instinct. I needed to get up and close the door, but I didn’t want to leave her. “Hold that exact thought for me, Shannon, yeah?”
She nodded, eyes fluttering closed again. Quick as a flash, I climbed from the bed, closed and locked the door, then returnedto her. I captured her hair in my fist again, then buried my face in her neck, licking at the goosebumps as I pushed up the hem of her dress, past her underwear, finding her wet and soft and ready. I thumbed her clit, soliciting a moan and chuckled low and deep as I whispered in her ear, “Gonna have to be a little quieter than that, Kryten. Otherwise, I’ll have to gag you.”
