Page 120 of Bria and the Tiger

Lincoln pounded on Jace’s front door for a third time before yanking his keys out of his pocket. He searched through them as Bria said, “Hurry, Lincoln.”

“I’m hurrying,” he growled. He found the right one and shoved it into the lock. He pushed the door open and immediately called Jace’s name.

There was no reply and he ran to the kitchen. “Jace, buddy, you in here? Shit.”

He stuck his head back into the hallway. “He’s not in here.”

Bria ran up the stairs. Lincoln was right behind her and she hurried down the hall to Jace’s bedroom. “Jace! Jace, are you in here? Oh my God!”

Lincoln made a grunt of surprise behind her. “What the hell?”

Jace was walking out of the bathroom, completely naked and drying his hair with a towel. “Bria? Lincoln? What are you doing here?”

“Holy shit, put some clothes on, man,” Lincoln said. “You think I wanna see your dick?”

Jace stared blankly at his body before bunching the towel in front of his crotch. “You’re the one who just barged into my house while I was showering.”

“Because we thought you were gonna do something stupid,” Lincoln said. “Why the fuck aren’t you answering your goddamn phone?”

“Because I’ve been sick, and it was on silent.” Jace dropped his gaze to Bria. “Um, hi. I was just about to come and see you.”

“You were?” Bria cupped her elbows and took a hesitant step toward him. She studied him carefully. His nose was swollen and red, and he had dark circles under his eyes. He sounded completely stuffed up and as she watched, he suddenly tucked his face into the crook of his elbow and sneezed explosively.

“Gross.” Lincoln backed out of the room. “I’m out. I’ll ask Rosalie to cover phones for the rest of the day. You two lovebirds kiss and make up.”

“Thank you, Lincoln.” Bria didn’t look away from Jace.

“Anytime.” He left the room and a few minutes later, they heard the front door slam shut.

“I’m sorry,” Bria said. “I shouldn’t have asked Lincoln to bring me over, but I was worried about you and -”

“I love you.”

She took a step back, hugging her torso as she stared wide-eyed at Jace. “What?”

“I love you. I’m sorry that I hurt you. I love you and I want to be with you.”

“Do you have a fever? Are you delirious?” Bria stared up at him when he crossed the room and stopped in front of her.

She wanted to throw her arms around him. Instead, she reached up and pressed her hand against his forehead. He smiled at her. “I’m not delirious. I’m an idiot, but a completely clear-headed idiot.”

“Jace, I…”

“I have to touch you,” he said in a low voice. “Please, let me touch you.”

She nodded, and he dropped his towel, threw his arms around her waist and picked her up. He buried his face in her neck and kissed her throat repeatedly as she hugged him and rubbed his back.

“I love you,” he said again.

“I love you too.”

He leaned back so he could see her face. “You love me?”

She smiled a little. “You know I do. You can smell it.”

“Maybe, but I like hearing it too.”

She kissed him on the mouth and growled when he pulled his head back. He grinned at her. “I have a cold. I don’t want to give you my germs.”

---