Jace

by T. A. Grey

  That relief was short lived.

  Somebody was knocking on her front door. Mara grabbed the Taser from her nightstand and headed for the front door on quiet footsteps. Her heart raced while her mouth turned dry as sand. Taking a deep breath, she searched through the peephole. Her porch light was on and lit the doorway. Jace stood on the other side.

  Her heart raced for an entirely different reason now. She cracked the door, squinting up at him through the light.

  “You woke me up.”

  “Sorry. I need to use the bathroom.”

  “Oh, okay,” she heard herself say.

  He went to use the bathroom while she leaned against the wall. Her eyes slid shut. She was so tired. She’d been in the midst of heavy recuperation before he’d awakened her.

  “You’re so beautiful standing there.”

  Mara’s eyes sprang open. Jace stood close, so close that if he wanted to pull her into his arms, he could.

  “You might hate me in the morning, but I’m going to kiss you.”

  Her breath caught.

  And then he slid his arms around her, pulled her into his heat, and kissed her. The kiss started smooth and slow, tender. In a daze, Mara wrapped her arms around him to feel that big warm chest even closer to her. He pressed up against her in the best way. The way he held her made her feel safe, like he’d protect her from everything. It was beautiful and shattering all at the same time.

  The kiss grew wet slowly. One dart of a tongue here, one open-mouth kiss. It became a pattern, a voracious feeding that made her body tingle with sensations. His arms curled tighter around her, groaning.

  Mara became wrapped up in his touch. He was such a good kisser. She wanted to stay locked like this forever. Arousal stirred between her legs in a great rush. Her earlier failed pleasuring felt multiplied. She was growing wet as his tongue rocked across hers, mimicking the motion of his hips pumping into her.

  Things grew heated. She didn’t know who took them to the next level; maybe it wasn’t just one of them, but both. He pressed her back into the wall and let his hands slide around her body. He cupped and caressed, rocked her hips against his. Mara kissed him harder.

  The ache in her belly was deep and seemed untouchable.

  Oh god, please, she thought, wishing she could tell him what she needed.

  His hips pumped, letting her feel his rigid shaft wanting her. She whimpered, aching to grab hold of his velvety cock to feel him in her palm…in her mouth.

  “Sweetheart,” he groaned, burying his lips in her neck. He kissed and licked, setting fire to her body.

  She was so wet, her hips writhing with need. “Please,” she begged.

  All she wore was a baggy T-shirt that had to be ten years old and her underwear. So when he reached down to touch her outer thigh, she stilled awaiting the pleasure of his touch.

  He breathed hard against her neck then claimed her mouth again. Fingers trailed up her thigh, then moved inward to cup her sex. It was either break the kiss to breathe or kiss him harder and there was no way she was going to stop kissing him so Mara ate at him.

  Then his fingers petted her. She was so wet, so sensitive, her folds plump and pink for him. She thought he’d tease her forever and never touch her how she needed to be. But then he did.

  He slipped his hand down the front of her panties and touched her skin to skin. Finally she couldn’t kiss him anymore. She buried her face in his neck and inhaled his rich, male scent as his fingers slipped along her folds, learning her. She was so wet, he glided around easily. The muscled cord of his neck tempted her, so she bit and sucked on the flesh hoping to mark him.

  He was breathing hard, his lips parted as he finally, finally circled her needy bud. The touch was electric. She was swollen and hard there, needing him to make her come so badly, to ease the painful ache in her loins.

  Their mouths came together again. He worked her with that one hand. She humped his hand, moaned wildly. Sweat drenched her skin as a fever took hold of her. She wanted to whip the stupid shirt and panties off and be skin to skin with him, to feel his silky cock slide hard and deep inside her.

  Their tongues were locked in a battle when the first tremor hit. It was building and building at his rapid touch. Her moans were eaten by his kiss. She rocked faster as her muscles tensed for the pleasurable onslaught. When it came, it was so much more spectacular than she thought it could be. She tore her mouth away and cried out as her body rippled and waved at his touch, all-consuming pleasure riding through her like tidal wave.

  His touch gentled, slowed. The kiss became soft again, mostly smooches and pecks, moist kisses across cheeks.

  It was so good. She was so wet. But she needed more. She had to feel him.

  Still kissing him, she reached between them. A gruff sound came as she pulled open his jeans to free him. Her hand found silky boxers. They were incredibly soft. His hard length poked at her and she pulled him free from his underwear. Jace shuddered at the touch.

  They worked together then, minds made up in unison.

  Jace reached beneath her shirt to tug her panties down. They slid to her ankles and she listlessly slid out of them. Now nothing separated them. Her heart raced like galloping horses.

  Jace grabbed her thighs and lifted her. She rose into the air and clung to his bare hips with her thighs. He took them down to the floor, pressing her back into the wood. He didn’t bother taking off his clothes or taking her shirt off, he simply shoved his jeans down to his knees and climbed between her widespread legs.

  Yes! This is what she wanted, what she needed, to feel his thick length driving into her over and over again.

  He settled himself between her legs and she found his sexy mouth again. She couldn’t get enough of kissing him. It was like his lips were an aphrodisiac. His hips rocked against hers, gliding his shaft back and forth over her wet sex. The sensations were erotic and wonderful. She knew she could come again. That first one had robbed her of breath but now she had a second wind.

  He leaned back to poise his cock at her entrance. He slowed the kiss for this, just barely letting their lips touch. Mara looked into his eyes. Arousal and need drowned in his eyes. It was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen.

  Lips clinging to each other, their eyes locked as he began to enter her. A gasp stuck in her throat. He was spreading her so wide. He was so thick, so big. Her tissues spread to accept him, her wetness a gift for him.

  His eyelids shuddered halfway in and he groaned, finally slamming all the way in. Her body rocked with the thrust, breasts jiggling. His hips were connected to hers, pressed flush together. He circled his hips in little, unrelenting motions that tweaked her aching bud. His actions seemed involuntary, like he couldn’t help himself. There was no keeping still once he was inside her.

  “Mara,” he groaned.

  “Jace.” She wrapped her arms around him, tugging his shirt up so she could feel warm skin. His was covered in sweat too.

  He started moving then, spearing through her tight, wet flesh with driving urgency. He was by far the biggest man she’d ever been with…in every way. His cock felt wickedly delightful, stuffing her repeatedly.

  It was so good. Too good. Mara rocked into his pounding thrusts, and kissed him back thoroughly as they clung to each other, her breasts smashed against his chest. He groaned, arms wrapped around her back, caging her in. She felt so incredibly tiny, like a little woman being fucked by a big, strong warrior.

  The pleasure grew too intense. It had to go somewhere. His rhythm faltered as his release neared. She could see it in the flush that darkened his cheeks, his heavy breaths, and the hard rutting of his hips. He was taking her now, ready to find release.

  Their lips caught and held on as a hot rush swept her up. It came crashing through her making her hold onto him with fingernails buried into his back as he pumped his hips faster. The shudders from her clenching sex were too much for him. He buried his face in her neck and slid deep one…two…three more times before holding him
self there. Hot liquid spurts filled her as he trembled.

  The aftermath was something else entirely. As he slowly sat up, Mara was completely awake now. The realization of what she’d done struck her. She found her panties by the front door. She put them on as he righted his clothes. Her pulse still raced and her blood felt like warm goo. She wanted to pull him back into the bedroom for a nice cuddle and sleep, but she couldn’t do that.

  “I’m not sorry that happened,” Jace said. His voice was hoarse. He was flushed and rumpled and absolutely the sexiest man she’d ever seen.

  Mara looked away, swallowing hard. “I am.” Because now it hurt even worse knowing what she was missing out on. She couldn’t be with a man like Jace. She couldn’t be stupid and take the risk that he’d turn out like Corey. What if he was just another Corey in disguise?

  His eye twitched. “Now that you’re up, I want you to pack a few things. We’re going to my place for the rest of the night until we get your alarm system installed.”

  “I already said—”

  “Don’t argue with me, Mara. I got a call from my friend on the police force tonight. A man going by the first name Corey, matching your ex’s description, is wanted for questioning by police. Apparently he robbed a gun store tonight and stole guns and ammunition. His actions are getting more impatient and wilder. He’s escalating. We need to go. Now go pack some clothes and personal items. We’re leaving in five minutes.” He left, closing the front door after him.

  Mara did what he said. She went home with Jace that night. At two o’clock in the morning, she found herself back in Jace’s truck again, and that’s when she realized nothing could ever bet the same. Corey knew where she lived and he had a gun. It was only a matter of time until he found her.

  Corey was right. There was a time limit to this game of his, she’d only just now felt its ticking pulse.

  Tick tock, Mara. Tick tock.

  Chapter 7

  Mara woke up with itchy, scratching feeling eyes. It took a few moments for her to orient her senses to the new surroundings.

  “No way.”

  Mara buried her face in her hands. For the first time since she’d left Corey she’d had sex…and it’d been amazing. Spectacular, write about it, sing the praises to your momma, kind of good. There was a shower in the bathroom and towels under the sink.

  Mara grabbed her beauty supplies from her suitcase and got in the shower. The water stung it was so hard but the temperature was hot. She bathed slowly, not looking forward to seeing Jace just yet. She picked out a pretty yellow sundress to wear and even applied some light makeup. She told herself she wanted to put makeup on because it would match the dress, but really she knew she was procrastinating.

  Finally with nothing left to do, she left the bedroom. She could hear water running down the hall from his bedroom and she figured him to be in the shower. She took a moment to inspect his house while he was away. He had a large ranch style home in the woods outside the city where she’d never been before. His property was fenced in and surrounded by woods. She hadn’t asked him questions last night. She’d been silent the whole trip to his house and he’d been the same. Neither one of them said a word about what happened.

  Everything was made from dark colored wood from the kitchen cabinets to the paneled floors. He had a comfortable home, especially in the living room where he had pictures on the wall of him with what looked like his mom. She was a dark-skinned woman so he must get his lightness from his father. Mara found no pictures of his father anywhere.

  The shower shut off. Mara tensed, then forced herself into the kitchen where she found the coffeepot. She started making some so she’d have something to do. A door opened down the hallway. She heard his heavy footsteps coming and her breath quickened. He was coming!

  She started to fill the carafe with water as she kept her back to the doorway. Maybe if she just pretended he wasn’t here then he’d go away.

  The pot was full. She didn’t need to be standing at the sink anymore. Jace’s presence filled the doorway. He paused in the doorway as if surprised and then she heard the fridge open. Curiosity getting the better of her, Mara went back to making coffee. As she did, she spied Jace. He held a bottle of orange juice by the neck and gulped down big gulps of it. His eyes were on her. Shit! And he was dripping wet, literally dripping little puddles on the floor where he stood in only a towel knotted around his tight hips. She could see every glorious, strong inch of him. His chest showed two defined muscles rippling down over hills of abominable muscles. He’d shaved. His jaw looked stronger than ever and more handsome. His chest had only a dabbling of hair trailing down the middle of his stomach to his groin.

  He watched her take in his body naked for the first time with unnerving intensity.

  She startled, spilling some of the water on the counter. Shit again. Ignoring him, she finished the coffee and hit the switch.

  “I’m making coffee.” Mara rolled her eyes at her obvious statement. Of course he knew she was making coffee. What else could she possibly be doing with the coffeepot?

  “I see that.” He drank about half the bottle, capped it, then put it back. All while looking at her. Her stomach fluttered with nerves and she wished she’d worn sweats and sweater, even though it was hot outside, because his gaze held nothing back. His eyes were intense and he looked like he wanted to say something. “Get dressed.”

  He turned and went back to his bedroom.

  Well that wasn’t exactly what she had in mind.

  After Jace drove them back to her house, Mara didn’t know quite what to say. Something should be said since they had sex last night, intense, passionate wild rutting that made her wet just thinking about it. Which she was trying stridently not to. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel like she was supposed to say something.

  Unable to take the silence anymore, she turned the radio on. Willie Nelson was crooning a country song about horses. Jace shut the radio off. “We need to talk.”

  This couldn’t be good. Talking was never good when it was prefaced with we need to talk.

  “Okay.”

  Jace sighed and scrubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Yesterday was…” he trailed off then tried again. “I really like you.”

  Mara blinked, not expecting that. “Okay…?”

  Jace sent her a stupid smile. “Last night was incredible and this changes things between us.”

  “I’ll have to disagree. Just because you put your penis inside me does not mean I think any differently about this arrangement, mister.”

  His eyes darkened with heat as his gaze flicked down her dress a moment. “Yeah, I guess it does.” Even his voice was deeper.

  “Jace…” she looked away, blushing. “I’m not gonna lie and say I’m not looking for someone because I am. I’ve been looking for someone for a long time who will complete me. Who will be my friend, my lover, my protector. I wouldn’t take back what we did last night because it was wonderful, but I’m not going to do it again either. Because you’re not the one to complete me.”

  He laughed in disbelief. “Mara, you’re weird, but I like that. I like you enough to come inside you without a condom. Have you thought about that?”

  Ice filled her veins. Shit!

  “I can see from your look of horror that you did not. Are you taking anything?”

  “I’m not on the pill,” she said woodenly. What if she was pregnant?

  God, please don’t do this to me right now, she prayed.

  “Listen, everything will be fine. I’m not usually so stupid about things like that, but I’d never been with you before. It was a whole other thing entirely.” Again his gaze swept over her. His look made her warm all over.

  “Stop looking at me like that!” she snapped.

  He looked back at the road. “Then stop looking so fucking beautiful, Mara,” he shot right back.

  Her mouth floundered open and closed but no words came out.

  “Sweetheart, I like you a lot. I think abo
ut you all the time. This isn’t something I’m going to ignore. You’re not the only one who’d like…”

  “Like what?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Nothing. Forget about it. We’re almost there anyway. My co-worker, Gio, is coming over. He’s great with wiring things. We’ll set up cameras inside and outside your house along with the alarm. I’m going to change your locks too. When we’re all done, your place will be like Fort Knox.”

  Mara wished he’d said what he really liked. She wanted to know. This man messed her up so bad. This wasn’t a person who entered your life and left it without you remembering a thing about them. This was a person who came into your life, tossed all your thoughts and dreams around like a rag doll, then made you fall in love before you knew it. That’s why she had to be extra careful with Jace. She was already too susceptible to him.

  “Jace,” she began. “I can’t take the chance.”

  He didn’t say anything but his eyes tensed around the corners. She hated adding that stress there, making things even harder on him when he was only helping her.

  “Thank you for helping me. I know I haven’t seemed very grateful and that’s because I don’t want your help. But you’ve somehow finagled your way into my life so I guess I just have to live with it.” She laughed and his lips loosened into a small smile.

  He looked at her deeply one last time. And then he took her home.

  Right away, Mara knew something was wrong as they turned onto her driveway.

  “Jace, those curtains were closed when we left last night.” The brown curtains were pulled wide open.

  His eyes narrowed. He parked, then without saying a word, reached under his seat and pulled out a gun. Mara’s eyes flew open. “Hey, you have a gun!” That was the second time she’d said something incredibly obvious today. She was on a roll.

  “Comes with the job territory. Stay in the truck, lock the doors, and honk if you see anything.”

  With that, he left her. She did what he said and waited. He came back a few minutes later. She hopped out of the truck and saw the hard line of his jaw.