“Most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
The weight of Jace’s stare caressed my cheek, and I itched to face him, but my head refused to turn. Tonight had been one of the best nights of my life, and it had everything to do with the man at my side. While we ate, Jace cracked jokes, forcing my smile a little wider each time. I’m pretty sure I hadn’t smiled since my mom died, but Jace made it easy—I’d even laughed as we walked toward the lake, his grumbling complaints trailing behind me.
I never believed in perfect moments. Memories only seemed that way because they’d been preserved through rose-colored glasses. They were snapshots, like glossy photographs that sat silently on people’s shelves. A moment in time, when the smiles were wide and the love seemed clear, but they hid all the surrounding chaos.
No, nothing ever was as perfect as it seemed.
But if I believed in so-called ‘perfect moments’?
This one would be at the top of my list.
As I closed my eyes, the rising sun kissed my skin for just a moment, and a quiet peace washed over me. I let my breath course in and out of me. After the past month, it was hard toremember to breathe, to savor the moments when the world stood still. Grief had distorted my vision, and, for a while, I’d forgotten there was so much beauty left to experience. That there were still reasons to get up every morning, to leave the quiet comfort of my mother’s apartment.
Before I opened my eyes, fingers linked through mine, intertwining our hands so our palms touched. The simplest gesture—but it almost brought tears to my eyes.
My mom had always been more physically affectionate than me. She’d pull me into hugs multiple times a day and always held my hand when we walked through town. And while I’d always complained about it, now that she was gone, I missed it. I had forgotten how nice it felt to be touched. To be held. To have someone care about you and check in on the hard days.
And maybe, if I let him, Jace might be that person for me.
As my eyes opened, I turned toward Jace. Despite the sunrise turning the lake into a thing of beauty, his eyes never strayed from me.How had we gotten here?All I wanted was to leave the house for a couple of hours and help my friend. I never expected to connect with someone like Jace. He made me crave something that always seemed so out of reach.
Jace’s deep blue eyes found mine, and fresh fear washed over me—the fear of missing out. Would I hate myself if I walked away from him right now? Probably, but it didn’t change the facts. I didn’t live here. My life was hours away. He was in the public eye and had a history of one-night stands. There was no scenario in which we could ever work.
But despite the warnings breaking out in my mind, I lifted onto the tips of my toes and pressed a kiss to his lips.
Jace’s entire body tensed as our lips met, and I pulled away.Had I read everything wrong between us?Here I was, hopelessly wishing for more between us, and he was just being friendly?
He silenced those concerns when he released my hand, using both of his to cradle my cheeks. His skin was rough—calloused and rugged from years playing in the league—but they held me gently, as if I was something precious.
His mouth descended on mine, and there was no hesitation this time.
Lips and teeth clattered as we consumed each other, reveling in the chemistry that had been building all night. His hands fumbled along my body, gripping my ass to pull me against him.
“Fucking hell,” he muttered, pausing between words to steal another kiss. “You taste like all my favorite flavors.”
“Is it the whipped cream?”
“Nah.” He smirked at me. “It’s just you, Kins. I don’t know what you’ve done to me, but I’m not questioning it. I need you. Need to have more of you.”
Warning bells shot off in my mind. What was the point of any of this? It wasn’t like it could go any further than tonight, and there were so many other things I should be focusing on.
Fuck that.
All my life, I’d played by the rules, made the right choices, never risked anything so I didn’t have to deal with the consequences. Tonight, I wanted to claim something—someone—for myself. Not because it was the right choice, but because, for the first time in so long, I wanted something more.
I wanted to feel alive.
“Please, Jace.” I trailed my lips along the column of his neck. “Give me more.”
Jace’s blue eyes darkened at my plea, and he didn’t hesitate, scooping me up into his arms. His footsteps raced down the path, refusing to put me down until we reached the fence. He attempted to scoop me up again, but I stepped out of his reach, smirking as I shook my head.
“You don’t have to carry me, hotshot. I’m perfectly capable of walking on my own.”
“Not happening,” he muttered as he lifted me back up. “Pretty sure I dreamed you up, Kins. Might close my eyes, and you’ll disappear. Not taking any chances right now.”
“That might be the cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard,” I snorted.
Jace’s lips turned up at the corner as he shook his head. “Pretty sure it's the worst line I’ve ever used, but I mean it.” His eyes twinkled with something as they met mine. “You get it, don’t you?”
