Faith (Stregth Series Book 2)

by T. L. Nicholas

  “It is beautiful, Jace, and it looks even better on you, Bayleigh, but we have to work on your lines, man. You need lessons.” Ben says.

  “Hey, I love his lines, leave him alone, Ben.” I say, swatting his arm as I walk out the door.

  CHAPTER 24

  We walk for a while, enjoying the warm weather. In New York, we’d be freezing, but while people around us are wearing jackets, we’re comfortable without them. We pass a couple of clubs, but none of us are really in the mood for a club.

  Ben stops a guy who looks like he’s had a few too many drinks. “Hey, man, where’s the nicest bar around here with a dance floor where people actually dance?”

  “About two blocks down, Aces. It’s usually got a decent crowd,” he answers.

  “Thanks, man,” Ben says.

  We make it to Aces, and there aren’t many people, but it’s still pretty early. Finding a table close to the bar, we look over the menu, while Ben makes me list all the medications I’m currently on. He looks them all up on his phone, and it turns out none of the current ones are an issue with alcohol. He tells me I should let loose and I think why not? We order burgers and I order a Jack and coke. They look at me with a little bit of shock and then order the same. “Hey, we’re walking, so why not,” Ben says.

  Our food comes, and we eat while the place fills up. Ben is eyeing several women, trying to decide which one he should ask to dance if something good comes on, when the waitress brings over a drink for him, “This is from the blonde over there,” she says, pointing to a tall, thin, blonde with a pretty face. All three of us turn to look at her, and she blows a kiss to Ben. He raises the glass, then downs it one gulp. “She’s not really my type, but I should thank her. I’ll be back,” he says, getting up.

  Jace and I laugh, “What kind of drink was that?” he asks.

  I pick up the glass, smelling it, “I don’t know. Gasoline?”

  We watch him twirl around on the dance floor, surprised at how good he is. When the song is over, he kisses her hand, says something that makes her laugh, then comes back over to the table. “You don’t have to sit with us, Ben,” I say, and Jace nods, finishing his drink.

  “I told you she’s not my type. Fun to dance with and all, but she’s not coming home with me.”

  Jace and I try to help Ben pick from the women he’s interested in, and we order more drinks. I haven’t had a drink in so long, I can already feel myself getting a buzz. I’m surprised that with this many people I don’t feel panicked, but, how could I? I feel invincible.

  The waitress brings our drinks, and sits two shots in front of Ben. “I didn’t order these,” he says.

  She grins at him. “I know. One is from her” — she points to a red head sitting with a crowd of women at a back table, who smiles seductively — “and the other is from her” — she points to a petite blonde with super long hair who waves — “Looks like you’re gonna keep me busy tonight, honey. Enjoy!” she says, before walking away.

  “I told you I was pretty,” Ben says. He raises his glass to the redhead, downing it, then repeats the gesture for the petite blonde. “You know the drill, I’ll be back,” he says, walking towards the redhead.

  Within a minute he has both women dancing with him at once. He somehow manages to make both women feel like they’re each his focus. When the song ends they convince him to stay for another one.

  “We might have to wear ear plugs tonight,” Jace says and we both laugh.

  He lazily strokes my bare thigh under the table, and I’m having a hard time focusing. “How you feeling, Baby?”

  “I think I’m much more of a lightweight than I thought. I’m feeling pretty good. How about you?” I ask.

  “I feel great, enjoying the view,” he says, edging his hand a little higher.

  Chills run down my spine and I close my eyes, his hand grazing my panties. I’m breathing hard when Ben returns to the table.

  “They not going home with you either?” Jace asks him.

  “Nah, they both offered, even together, but I’m more of a one-on-one kinda guy.”

  “Afraid you can’t handle them both?” Jace asks, laughing.

  “Not even a little bit, I just don’t like having to split my attention,” he answers.

  The waitress returns with two more shot glasses, she sits them on the table, and Ben groans, “I’m going to have to call a cab to get back to the hotel if it keeps up like this.”

  She laughs, “Sorry, honey, these aren’t yours. They’re yours,” she says, pushing them in front of Jace.

  Jealousy rears its ugly head, and I want to smack whoever sent them to him. He smiles at the women she points out, two beautiful brunettes, sitting together. They look like sisters. He raises the glasses in both hands, then sits them in front of Ben, making sure they can see. He puts his arm around me, and my jealousy fades. They laugh, and one of them crooks her finger at Ben.

  “So, they don’t have the best taste, but I’ll forgive them,” he says, downing the drinks and getting up to dance with them like the others.

  “They have excellent taste,” I say. Jace smiles, and I feel bold so I kiss him. It quickly becomes the kind of kiss that makes me melt. He breaks away, taking a ragged breath.

  “I don’t care what kind of taste they have. I belong to you,” he says.

  I don’t trust myself to speak when he looks at me like that, so I finish my drink instead.

  “Don’t Let Me Down” by the Chainsmokers comes on and his eyes light up. He grabs my hand, “Dance with me, Baby,” he says. He pulls me to the dance floor, and I realize I’m far more buzzed than I realized. He keeps me close as the music beats in my chest. The chorus couldn’t be more accurate for how I’m feeling right now. He’s got moves, and I’m not surprised when he spins me, backing me up against him, and I see women all over the bar watching him. I can’t tell what has me more intoxicated, the drinks, him, or the music. I feel like liquid and when his hands graze the sides of my breasts, need curls in my belly. He’s hard against me, his breath hot on my neck, and I’m wet and ready. He could take me right here, in the middle of the dance floor, and I don’t think I’d have any desire to stop him. I can’t remember a time that I’ve ever needed anyone so much. He spins me back to face him again, focused only on me, and I let him and the music carry me away.

  The song ends and he pulls me close, wrapping his arms around me. The next song is slower, and I start to pull back, expecting him to want to sit down, but he surprises me; pulling me closer, swaying gently as he sings the words to “Mercy” by Shawn Mendes in my ear. It’s the acoustic version, and it’s not the kind of song I would even expect him to know, believing him to be more of a Metallica guy. His voice is significantly lower than the voice over the speakers, but it’s beautiful, the emotion in his voice undeniable. I hold on to him desperate for him to stop, the pain in his voice ripping me to shreds, and terrified that he’ll stop all at once.

  He knows every word, and I feel like my heart is going to burst by the end. I look up, and he smiles, his heart in his eyes, and I pull him down, kissing him with my whole heart. I feel the beat of another song in my chest, and he pulls away, taking my hand and leading me off the floor. Our table has been claimed by a new group of people since we didn’t leave anything there, except for empty glasses. He pulls me to the end of the bar, next to a speaker where it’s dark and loud, the crush of people a little less over here. He orders a shot of Jack and a jack and coke for me, but I’m having a good time and I yell to the bartender to change mine to a shot too. Jace looks at me with surprise, then laughs and kisses me, squeezing me to him. We do our shots at the same time, both in one gulp, and he raises his eyebrows, when I put mine back and ask for another. “You’re going to regret this later,” he yells over the music, adding another for himself as well.

  “God, I hope so,” I answer, downing the second one. He does the same, a goofy smile on his face.

  “Have you seen Ben?” he asks.

  I s
hake my head no and glance around, looking for him. Jace finds him, pointing him out to me. He’s dancing with a tall, curvaceous, woman in a red dress. She has long, almost black hair, and Ben’s hands are in it as they dance. They look good together, and it’s clear he’s enjoying himself, his eyes only on her.

  “Looks like we’re on our own now,” I say, smiling.

  Jace leans over, his lips against my ear, “I wish I was alone with you.”

  “Why’s that?” I ask, playing coy.

  He smiles, biting my ear playfully, “So I could show you what you do to me.”

  “But I’m not doing anything,” I say innocently.

  He pushes me against the wall next to the bar, thrusting against me, so there’s no doubt for either of us what I’m doing to him. He grabs my hips, pulling me in tight, and I wrap my arms around his neck. He kisses my neck, sucking lightly, and I move against him. He turns me slightly, blocking me from the rest of the bar, sliding his hands over my ass, squeezing and pulling me in tighter. He pulls my dress up, and I don’t even care. Curling around me, he slides his hand under the waistband of my panties, over my ass, and down until he finds me, hot and wet.

  “Jesus, you’re so wet,” he groans, sliding just the tip of a finger inside me. It’s not enough, I need more. Someone walks past us, into the corner, and he takes his hand away, smoothing my dress down before they can see anything. He leans his forehead against mine, blue eyes pained. “You’re killing me, Baby.”

  “Me too.”

  “You want to dance again?” he asks.

  “I don’t think I can.”

  “Why not? Are you okay?” he asks, immediately concerned.

  “Yeah, I just keep imagining you naked,” I say.

  He closes his eyes, moving his hand to the back of my neck. He kisses me, his tongue sliding against mine, his hand sliding up and fisting in my hair. Someone pushes in at the bar, knocking into us, and he breaks the kiss, both of us panting.

  “Fuck, you make me forget everything but you. I have to stop or I’m going to have to have you right here.”

  “If I wasn’t sure we’d end up in jail, I’d take you up on that,” I say, as shocked as he is that I mean it.

  “Don’t say that. You’re seriously fucking me up, Bayleigh,” he growls.

  I want to push him. I know I shouldn’t, it’s not lady-like or proper, or even acceptable, but he’s my addiction and I’m high on the knowledge that he wants me as much as I want him.

  “Fucking you up in a good way, or a bad way?” I ask, sure that I already know the answer.

  The bartender grabs his attention and Jace orders two jack and cokes before turning back to me, a serious look on his face, “Fucking me up in a ‘I want to hear you scream my name, I want to tell you how much I love you, and I want to fuck you in the middle of the dance floor, kind of way’.”

  What did he just say?

  He takes the drinks from the bartender, handing me mine, then pulling me over to sit down at an empty table in a corner. I let him pull me, a little unstable on my feet and my head reeling. I sit, and he pushes the table to the side, pulling his chair right up in front of me. When he sits, his knees are right against the outsides of mine. He leans forward, takes my glass out of my hand and sits it next to his on the table. He turns back to me, holding both of my hands in his.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it like that, but you really do fuck me up, Bayleigh. I have zero self-control around you. I don’t want you to say anything, I just want you to know that, yeah, I’m drunk, but, Baby, I love you. I love you in a way I didn’t think actually existed” — I stare at him, speechless — “and I really do want to fuck you on the dance floor. I won’t, because I don’t want us to go to jail, but you twist me up and I forget where I am, what I’m doing, and all I can think about is you and the way you make me feel. You push me to places I didn’t know I could go, and you pull me in until I can’t breathe without you. I love you so much it scares me, I didn’t know I could feel this way. So, I know you’re scared, and I don’t want you to say anything, just know that I’m scared too, but I’m all in. I’m at your feet, you own me, signed, sealed, and delivered, you own every part of me, and it’s terrifying, yeah, but I’ve never been happier in my life.”

  I have no air. I want to answer him, tell him that I feel exactly the same, but he asked me not to say anything. I have to though, I have to tell him. I take a breath and he holds his hand up to stop me.

  “No. Don’t say a word. I don’t want to feel like I’ve coerced you. It’s enough, that you know now. That’s all I want.” His expression changes to fear. “Please don’t leave me,” he says, believing I’ll be so afraid I’ll run. I can’t tell him that I never will, because he asked me not to say anything.

  His face though, God, I have to say something. I reach for him, and he stands, picking me up off the ground. I wrap my legs around him, “Never, Jace. Never.” I say before he claims my lips with his.

  When he puts me down, I feel like Cinderella with the glass shoe. It’s like a fairytale, but I’m only partway through. I’m almost glad he told me not to say anything, because I’d probably fuck it all up and say something stupid. We leave our drinks and find Ben. He’s engrossed in conversation with the girl in the red dress.

  “We’re going back to the hotel,” Jace says.

  Ben looks up, nodding, then looks at me. He glares at Jace, “What the hell did you do? She looks shell shocked.”

  “I told her I’m in love with her,” Jace answers.

  Ben grins, “It’s about goddamned time!” He stands up, pulling me into a bear hug. He whispers in my ear, so only I can hear him. “He means it. He won’t let you down, and you’re not going to let him down either. You’re going to be okay.” I nod against him. “You’re Kayleigh, and Kayleigh rules Race’s world. I’m happy for you, kid.”

  He pulls back to look at me and I smile. “Me too. I’m happy for me, too.”

  He hugs me again, kissing the top of my head. “That’s my girl!”

  “Ahem. I thought we just established that she’s my girl,” Jace says, putting his arm around me. I put my arm around his waist.

  “You established that a long time ago, you just hadn’t told her yet. No doubt about that. Now get the hell out of here and go make her scream your name where I can’t hear it,” Ben says, green eyes sparkling.

  The brunette reaches out, grabbing my hand, and I look down into gorgeous chocolate brown eyes, “Congratulations on a fantastic catch, girl,” She says, her voice throaty and her smile warm and sincere. I instantly understand Ben’s attraction to her. She suits him.

  “Thank you,” I answer.

  We say goodbye and head out into the fresh air.

  Outside, he smiles at me, and I smile back. He stops, pulling me to him, “I am so in love with you, Bayleigh. I’m sorry that I keep saying it, but it feels so good to say it out loud. I love you, Bayleigh Renee Richards.”

  His eyes are shiny, his whole heart in them. I pull him down for a kiss, and when he deepens it, I pull his sweater up, sliding my hands along his ribcage. I drag my nails down his back, needing him closer. He kisses my neck, then sucks on the spot just under my ear. I moan, arching into him.

  “Fuck, Bayleigh, we’re on a sidewalk.”

  “I don’t care. I need you,” I whisper, and it’s true. I don’t care.

  He holds me away from him, “Bayleigh— “

  “Please, Jace,” I beg. I need him too much to wait until we’re back at the hotel.

  He groans, looking around us frantically, then grabbing my hand and pulling me down the street to the alley. It’s dark and dingy, but there isn’t anyone around. He pulls me past a massive heating and air conditioning unit, and pushes me against the wall, using it to hide us from view of the street.

  I kiss him, my hands finding their way under his sweater again, pushing it up, releasing his lips to kiss his chest. I bite his nipple lightly then suck it into my mouth, my tongue tea
sing it.

  “Oh God,” he says, his voice raspy and ragged.

  I have no inhibitions left, and I unbutton and unzip his jeans, pushing them down just enough to let his cock spring free.

  He grabs my wrists, “Bayleigh, are you sure you want to do this here?” he asks.

  I can see in his eyes that he’s afraid I’m going to change my mind, but he’d let me if I wanted to. No way is that happening. He’s still holding my wrists, and I lower myself to a crouch, holding his gaze. His eyes widen in shock, and I love it. I love surprising him.

  I lick the head of his cock, and he grunts, closing his eyes. I take him in my mouth, letting my tongue flick the underside of the tip, as I slowly take more. He lets go of my wrists, moving his hands to the wall, holding himself up. There’s no way I can take all of him, so I wrap my hand around the base of him, sliding my hand in sync with my mouth.

  “Oh, fuck. Fuck, Baby,” he groans. I use my other hand to cup his balls, and he moans long and low. Encouraged, I increase the tempo of my mouth and hand.

  He jerks away, yanking me up, kissing me hard. He pulls my dress up, starts to slide my panties down, then changes his mind and rips them, the delicate lace tearing like paper under his hands. He yanks me up into his arms, wrapping my legs around him, and slams into me.

  I squeal before I can stop it, and he kisses me, taking every yelp I make into his mouth. He’s deliciously rough, slamming into me, his pace so frenzied I can barely keep up. He breaks the kiss, biting my shoulder through my dress, making me groan and bite him back. He buries his face in my neck, breathing hard.

  “Fuck, I can’t… I can’t wait… I’m…” He comes hard, his whole body shaking, crushing me between him and the wall, his hips jerking, grinding against my clit. It pushes me over, and I scream, convulsing around him.

  I wake up with Jace wrapped around me, snoring softly in my ear. The sun is flooding through the open curtains, and I know it’s later than either of us intended to sleep. I untangle myself from him slowly and carefully. It’s later than we intended, but I’m sure Ben is still sleeping too, and Jace deserves to sleep as long as he wants. I take one last look at his peaceful face, before slipping out to use the bathroom and make coffee. In the living room area, I realize I probably shouldn’t be walking around naked when the curtains are open, so I pick up Jace’s discarded sweater off the floor and slip it over my head. It goes to mid-thigh on me, but it’s comfy and it smells like him.