Page 48 of Jace

“All is great,” I agree and Luna hollers out for another round making us all laugh.

Maybe it’s because of my emotional breakthrough with Bree, or maybe it’s because I felt like the past was finally where it belonged. I’m sure it had a lot to do with the shots and frilly drinks I’ve had tonight, but my mind was finally at ease.

Presley dropped each of us off, me being the last and the words she said just before I got out still play on repeat in my mind.

“Let him love you Aurora, it may have taken you two a bit to get where you are, but he loves you. You didn’t see him at the hospital, you didn’t see him each day while you lay in that bed and recovered. He was devastated, his world had been titled, he was lost. The idea of losing you, it did something to Jace. It did something to us all.”

I enter the house and find it quiet, the only light on is the small one above the sink. As I walk toward the kitchen, I hear the radio playing from the back deck.

Gliding my hand over the countertop I peek through the window and see Jace with his head laying back as he soaks in the hot tub. Water beaded on his chest, a beer in one hand as his arms are stretched out to his hide.

He is breathtaking.

Again Presley’s words echo in my head.

I round the counter, push open the French doors and he lifts his head, our eyes connecting immediately.

“Hey baby,” I love when he gets all sweet and endearing. “How was your night?”

“Good,” I grab my shirt and pull it over my head, tossing it to the chair, before I start unbuttoning my jeans. “And yours?”

“Better now,” Jace grins as he watches my movements. I feel beautiful, the way he watches me leaves me breathless.

When I reach around my back and unclasp my bra, pulling my arms free and allowing it to drop to the chair his lips part. Next I hook my panties, and shimmy out of them, before tossing them to join the rest of my clothes. Then I join him, the hot water feeling amazing as I lower myself to his lap, straddling him.

Cupping his face, I kiss him softly and then pull back, ensuring he is looking at me. My throat feeling tight, I take a calming breath. My pulse is racing, tears cloud my vision and I see the concern, but I don’t give him the time to ask.

“I love you,” his eyes widen slightly and I know it’s because he’s said it to me so many times already and I’ve given him nothing in return. “I’m so in love with you, that it terrifies me and excites me all at once. I know you could break me Jace, I know you could destroy me and I?—”

“No,” he cuts my rambling off. “Protecting you, loving you, and doing everything I can to make sure you are smiling is all I want. Hurting you, I know I’ve done that, I’ve messed up with you enough, babe, that’s done. You’re safe with me,” he holds my stare. “I’ve never been this content, not once in my life. I’ve struggled; I’ve fucked up a lot. In fact, I’ve searched for it, I’m a magnet for the bad shit, but you make it all better. I’m keeping you,” I smile at his words. “You are my happy Ror. You’re my peace.”

“I don’t ever want this to end,” I whisper, allowing my forehead to rest against his.

“I won’t let it,” he assures me.

Sliding forward, I press my lips to his and shift against him, making him moan. Reaching between us, I slip my hand into his shorts and grip him, stroking him slowly.

With his help he lowers his trunks and I lift enough to let him inside me. Together we moan as I begin to rock my hips.

“You’re my home too,” expressing just how much I need him too.

When I try to pick up speed he grips my hips holding me still and I pause seeing him staring up at me. “Slow,” he whispers, “go slow baby, I want this to last.”

And for the next hour Jace and I do something we’ve never done before. We make love, nice and slow, dragging out the connection.

Loving each other thoroughly.

Chapter Thirty-One

Jace

I'd never seen more pictures of myself anywhere else. Smiling, scowling, laughing, even sleeping, there were so many.

Lying in the dark, with Aurora sleeping soundly at my side I’d grabbed her phone to set an alarm and found myself looking through her photos a few minutes later.

Reminded of a conversation Zac and I shared before when he’d mentioned I should look through her pictures sometime.

Seeing myself through her eyes, from almost the very first time is altering. The realization that I’d already wasted so much time. Time I will never get back, time lost, memories and moments she and I could have shared.

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