by JAX
Evie shook her head. “I know, and she belongs in this world, with David Abernathy. She’s not mine anymore. I barely recognize her.”
Jace stroked his knuckles over her cheek. “If you miss your only daughter’s wedding, you will never forgive yourself.”
Pushing him away, Evie strode to the nearest stairwell. “It’s better if I go now. Constance won’t want me there because I can’t be happy for her.”
He caught up to her easily, matching her stride with his own. “Why can’t you?”
Evie shook her head and didn’t say anything more, her shoulders squared in grim resolve.
The door hissed open to her suite, their suite since his bags had been delivered here earlier. Opening a drawer, she started heaving clothes inside her suitcase. Damn it all to hell, she couldn’t leave. He had plans for her, for them. Letting her go a second time wasn’t an option. “Babe, please listen to me—”
“You can come with me.” She paused in her packing and glanced up at him with a hopeful light in her eyes.
Jace forgot his argument. “You’d want that? To be with me tomorrow, instead of your daughter on her wedding day?”
“I can’t have everything I want. One out of two isn’t so bad.” She smiled at him, and his heart stumbled in his chest.
Sinking down onto the bed, he considered his options. Tell Evie that his job might depend on her staying? No, she had enough pressure and adding the extra weight of that wasn’t fair. He could go with her, take her up on her offer and just enjoy the hell out of her for the rest of the week. But he’d be just as unemployed when Miranda discovered he’d absconded with the mother of the bride.
Even if she was the one who wanted to abscond with him.
“Give me twelve hours.” Jace rose and strode to Evie.
“Twelve hours to change your mind. If you still want to leave in the morning, I’ll go with you.”
She made an exasperated noise and tossed the sling-back heels she held into her open suitcase. “What difference will twelve hours make?”
“I ask you the same. I need to check in with the Illustra employees after the party wraps up. Most likely they will be booked through the rest of the cruise, but I need to check in, make sure there aren’t any problems. Come on, Evie, it’ll probably take that long to arrange transportation off this boat anyhow.”
She stared at him for an endless moment and he held his breath, hoping.
“Fine.”
Jace grinned and grabbed his duffel bag from where it had been dropped earlier. “Thank you, love. You won’t regret this. Give me five minutes to wash this shit off of me and get dressed.”
Her eyebrows drew together and she cocked her head as though she hadn’t heard him right. “Get dressed?”
Jace ignored the stab of hurt at her assumption that anything they did together would involve naked time. Screwing his way up the corporate ladder had seemed like an ideal way to make a living ten years ago, but when he realized just how disposable he was to a woman like Evie—smart, successful, independent—it made him want to reassess his choices.
He wanted her to look on him as a man who could fulfill all her desires, both in and out of the bedroom. She was starting to lean on him a little; she’d talked to him about the problems with her daughter, like he was her confidant. Jace loved the way she’d turned to him for comfort, and he wasn’t about to undo these fragile bonds of deeper connection by bringing her right back to bed.
Time enough for that later.
“Yup, I’m taking you out.”
“Should I change?” She waved a hand across the luscious red halter dress that had drawn him to her like a bee to a flower, eager for a sip of her nectar.
“No,” he murmured hoarsely. “You look perfect, just like that.”
Jace took the universe’s fastest shower, until all the muscle-enhancing oil was cleansed from his body. Yanking on jeans and a white button-front shirt, he didn’t bother to shave, just tugged on socks and shoes.
Grabbing Evie’s hand, he pulled her out the door and down the corridor at a hurried pace. “Keep up, slow poke.”
She smacked his shoulder playfully. “I’m wearing heels. You try running in them. What’s the rush?”
Jace didn’t know where the sense of urgency came from, but he let it dictate his actions. Keeping Evie busy so she didn’t fume about the run-in with Constance seemed like a stellar idea to him. “I want to show you this really cool place I found when I first came on board.”
“Is it closing or something?” Evie gasped.
He stopped and she crashed into his back. “You okay?”
She grinned up at him. “You’re like a little kid on Christmas morning, what could possibly be so …” Her words died off when she saw where they were. “Is that a sonic rink?”
Jace stepped through the open glass doors. “Ever been skating?”
“Years ago, a place in Charlotte, when Constance was about twelve. I took her to a birthday party there. It was nothing like this.”
The sonic rink on board the luxury liner was impressive. The reflectors above showed the galaxy beyond the ship’s hull, and the black soundboard flooring gleamed. Even the padded acoustic walls were black, casting the illusion of endless space.
“I know the one you’re talking about. Gray-flecked sonic floor and red acoustic mats, right?”
Evie’s eyes widened, but then she smiled. “I keep forgetting you grew up in that area. You’re so polished, every cell screams big city.”
Jace ignored that and eyed her feet. “Eight and a half, right?”
She shook her head. “Oh, no way, Jace. Do you want to see me fall on my ass? Because that is exactly what will happen, I guarantee it.”
Sweeping his thumb over her cheekbone, he caught her gaze, held it. “I won’t let you fall. Trust me?”
“I …” Evie swallowed and then let out a breath. He could see she really didn’t want to do this but was willing to give it, and him, a shot. “Size eight, wide width if they have it.”
Jace swiped his credit badge for the skates and an hour of rink time. He selected black skates for himself and bright red ones to match her dress. Striding to the bench beside the rink, he engaged the sound barrier that would keep the music from bothering anyone nearby.
He laced up his skates in a hurry, then waited patiently while Evie belabored the chore. When she couldn’t stall any longer, she met his gaze. “Promise not to laugh at me.”
“Never. I’ll only laugh with you, love.” Jace proffered his hand, shifted his weight back, and pulled Evie into his arms.
The skates on her feet warbled as they got used to her jerky movements. His remained silent, one of the bonuses of the black skates. It had taken him years of practice to move soundlessly on them, aware of how every shift of his weight would impact his tune.
Wrapping his arms around Evie’s waist, he held her firmly against him so she was essentially along for the ride. With his gaze focused ahead and his heart pounding with exhilaration, he pushed off.
Evie stiffened in his arms, probably shocked at the speed he used, but she didn’t struggle or try to get away, a move guaranteed to send them both sprawling. Behind him the rink absorbed their wake, and low bass notes erupted in the opening chords of a rock ballad. The side mats were coming at them, so Jace turned, guiding them around in an arc along the perimeter. The soft woman in his arms relaxed against him, snuggled into his body as theirs moved together producing a harmony he’d never imagined.
And couldn’t fathom living without.
Jace was a magnificent skater, and even if he hadn’t been, Evie still would have enjoyed the hell out of being held so securely against his body. The music from their skates was all his doing, she aped his movements, followed his lead. But it was lovely nonetheless, with the stars twinkling overhead and the seductive melody echoing around them.
Most sonic skating rinks were chock-full of children, and the discordant noise could be almost unbearable at times. But
Jace was a master, moving them along at a swift glide, cutting across to hit the right notes to keep the tune playing. Even in the dark he instinctively knew where the edge of the rink was, where he needed to slow or speed up.
Suddenly, he turned them and Evie gasped, partly from fear because now he definitely couldn’t see the walls, but mostly in amazement. Red and black lines trailed all over the floor, marking their progress. The song, slow, yet sensual, echoed off the walls, filling her ears, her mind, her soul. He knew exactly what he was doing and she could be part of it as long as she trusted him.
She did trust Jace, Evie realized with a start. He’d proven himself to be a friend, ditching his job at the bachelorette party to come after her, and then bringing her here to experience this with him, to plant joy where sorrow had flourished.
His hands moved higher on her waist until his thumbs caressed the under swells of her breasts. Guiding her arms up, he urged her to wrap them around his neck, all without slowing their song.
Nuzzling her ear, he said, “In case I forgot to tell you earlier, you look like a goddess in this dress.”
“Thank you.” She shivered in his embrace as his hands slid down her waist and over her hips in a loving caress. The slow touch was completely in sync with the sexy melody, and at odds with the blurring speed they traveled.
His erection pressed instantly against her ass, but his movements stayed casual, completely unhurried as he explored her at his leisure. With a sigh, she tipped her head back to look at him, yielding to his mastery of her and everything in this moment completely.
The sexy masculinity and raw hunger stole her breath. Gray-green eyes met hers and she saw it all there: his need for her that ran so much deeper than mere physical arousal. He wanted her, desired her, not just any woman. Jace could have picked up a model as his skate and play date; she’d seen a number of them fling themselves in his path. Yet Jace was here with her, had chosen her to share this moment with.
“Evie,” he rasped, and turned her in his arms. The enchanting melody wavered, then faded away as they slowed to a stop. Her back hit the mat and he pinned her arms over her head. “I need you now.”
“Yes,” she whispered, tilting her chin up, ready to accept him. His mouth descended and he claimed her lips in a searing kiss.
Evie forgot they were in a public place, as his tongue swept past the barrier of her teeth to mate with hers. He tasted like coffee—sharp, dark, and spicy. His hands fisted in her hair, pulling it back so she arched into him. Her hands roved over his body, working the buttons of his crisp white shirt frantically, needing closer contact with his magnificent body.
Just like with the skating, she let his mouth take the lead, trusting him to show her how best to pleasure them both. He was the professional after all.
Where a few hours ago that thought would have brought her up short, now she was grateful for his expertise. Because it didn’t matter how many women had come before her, he was with her now, by choice, giving her exactly what she needed.
One of his hands worked the knot at her nape free and the top fell down to her waist, exposing her breasts to the cool air and his white-hot touch. Her nipples pebbled as he worked them over, first gliding his palms across them before rolling them between his fingers. She moaned into his mouth when he pinched them hard and her panties grew damp, her sex aching for the same thorough attention.
Pulling his mouth free of hers, Jace trailed kisses across the line of her jaw before murmuring, “Do you want me to take you here, like this?”
She imagined him hoisting her up against the wall, her skates locking around his back as he thrust deeply into her wet core over and over until they both cried out in ecstasy. As appealing as the scene was, however, she had another plan in mind, something she wanted to try. “No.”
Jace moved back, clearly stunned at her answer, and the notes from his skates sounded woebegone.
Keeping her gaze locked with his, Evie sank down to her knees before him and crooked a finger, calling him back to her. “I had something else in mind,” she whispered in a husky drawl, licking her lips to make sure he got the message.
A grin spread over those sensual lips and he shook his head as though shaking off sleep. “Am I dreaming?” His hands flew to his fly and he unsnapped the button there, then lowered the zipper with frantic tugs.
While he worked, Evie took her time exploring his taut stomach, the tanned skin so soft over rock-hard abs. Raking her fingernails through the happy trail of coffee-colored hairs made him hiss out a breath. With a final push, his erection sprang free. She sighed, making sure her breath fell on his stiff cock in an airy caress.
Jace’s whole body responded, his hips surged forward and a discordant noise echoed through the hall. The hand on her head shook. “Evie, love, please don’t tease me. It’s been so long since anyone gave me this.”
Why did hearing that please her so? A wicked smile stole over her as she laid her head on one trembling thigh, looked up at him, and murmured, “How long?”
His fingers tunneled through her hair, tried to pull her closer, to force his prick between her lips. Feminine power engulfed her. The amazingly gorgeous and strong man was practically begging her to suck him off. She nuzzled him but waited for his answer.
“I honestly don’t remember. It’s not a usual request … that is, no one wants to …” Crimson flushed his face and he closed his eyes, clearly mortified.
Evie blinked, amazed. Not only because she’d actually made a manwhore blush, but also at the sheer selfishness of the average human female. Clearly what had been going on at the bachelorette party was an anomaly, and as Evie thought back to what she’d seen there, it was more about the women showing off their mad skills for one another than pleasuring the man. Why else suck off an android with a sac full of wine? Giving a guy head might not be every woman’s sensual dream, but Evie delighted in the chance to explore every inch of Jace’s body with her lips. “Well, I want to.”
Wrapping one hand around the base of his shaft to hold it steady, Evie leaned in and lapped precome from the slit, her eyes glued to his face.
His lips parted and his fingers tightened in her hair. “Oh, fuck yeah. That feels so damn good.”
Tracing the thick vein with her tongue, Evie considered how she wanted to proceed. She’d already made up her mind that he was going to come in her mouth, but how quickly did she want to get him there?
“Suck me, Evie. Take me between your sweet lips,” Jace half ordered, half begged.
Keeping her gaze locked on his, she did, sucking just the crown at first and then sliding wetly down the long length of his thick shaft. She didn’t know if she could take all of him, but damned if she wasn’t going to try and make this the best blow job of his life.
“Yes!” Jace shouted when the tip hit the back of her throat and she swallowed, using her throat muscles to work his length. Her mouth had never been so full. She rolled his balls with her free hand, massaging the twin weights, enjoying the shuddering groans along with the salty male essence, the deep masculine spice of him.
One of his fingers traced her features. “Evie, you have to stop.”
To hell with that. Evie sucked harder, worked him faster, swiveling her head from side to side on every withdrawal. Her hand explored the sensitive skin behind his sack, pressing lightly on his perineum.
He made a strangled noise as she worked upward, fully intending to slip a finger inside his ass and send him over the edge. But when her hand reached the targeted area, it collided with something hard and plastic already lodged inside of him.
Talking with her mouth still full of his cock wasn’t an option, so she raised one eyebrow.
“Busted,” Jace whispered, his cheeks flushing crimson again.
* * *
10
Jace knew Evie was waiting for an explanation as to why he was wearing a butt plug. She deserved one, after finding out the way she had. The sexy little minx had been going above and beyond to make him
orgasm, and only his lauded control had kept him from spurting hot ropey jizz down her tight little throat.
“It’s a self-lubing prostate massager, to keep me hard for the event. This one is specially designed to keep steady pressure to my prostate, not enough to make me come, just so I stay at the ready. A little extra stimulation, better than chemicals, which take longer to wear off.”
He prayed she wouldn’t want to talk about this anymore. It embarrassed him to admit he needed extra help staying hard. Closing his eyes, he waited for her response.
Evie released him with a wet-sounding pop. So, she was done with him, maybe even repulsed by what he’d admitted. Christ, he was pathetic. He should have taken the time to remove the thing after his shower but had been tempted by the idea of having his back passage filled while he came inside Evie’s slick sex. Never had he expected her to go exploring back there or having to talk his way out of the awkwardness.
Her soft, silky hair brushed against his thigh. “Don’t be embarrassed.”
His laugh lacked humor. “How can I not be? Most men wouldn’t need help staying hard in a room full of naked and sexually charged models.”
Blue eyes full of compassion locked on him. “You’re not most men, Jace. After what I saw tonight, I can only imagine what you’ve been through. I’m surprised you’d want to have sex at all when you’re off the clock.”
“I don’t,” he murmured. “I just want to make love with you.”
She smiled shyly, the flip side of his aggressive pistol-packing mountain woman who stole his breath and made his heart beat faster. When she looked like that, so innocently curious, he wanted to protect her, to wrap her in his arms and never let go. And he wanted to fuck her until neither of them could move. He was light-headed from all the blood rushing to his groin. Her lush tits spilled from her top and her hand still lingered on the toy. Her smile turned wicked as she caressed his crease and murmured, “So this feels good?”
“Yeah,” he croaked. “Real good.”
She nuzzled his stiff prick, still wet from the well of her mouth. “Self-lubing, huh? Such a dirty secret, Jace. I might have to punish you for keeping it from me.”
