Page 61 of The Heiress

I could barely breathe. My heart was in my throat. “Maybe?”

“Maybe we have to be apart. Because it’s safer or...it just has to be.” He gave my fingers a squeeze. “But that’s not now.Right nowwe’re together and worrying tonight won’t do anything but make us unhappy.”

Wherever Jace went tonight, it had him rattled. He took a hot shower and seemed a little more relaxed when he slid into bed with a finger of whiskey. “This is my favorite life change, you know? Sleeping in the same bed with you.”

“It feels weird to look back a year ago and realize you weren’t a part of my life, because now youbelonghere. I can’t imagine you anywhere else.”

“I like that.” He shot back the whiskey and slid down so we were nose to nose. His eyes drank me in like I was even more intoxicating than the alcohol.

I stared into the eyes of the man I’d known my whole life. He was capable and authoritative, but sweet and caring, too. He made me feel safe because he knew me so well, but also because I was pretty sure he could crush just about anyone who crossed our path.

And that was damn sexy.

My past boyfriends seemed so inadequate now. They were nice and respectful. We had fun. But not one of them could read my thoughts or stand beside me through the toughest decision of my life.

But Jace could.

The stress bounced off him. He might have his doubts but I was pretty sure fear wasn’t something that factored into his routine. He took care of himself and, I was fairly certain if I let him, he’d take care of me too.

Not in a patronizing paternal way, but in a protective partner kind of way. If I needed help he would be the one to take on that responsibility. If I wanted to feel good, he’d take care of that too.

“What are you thinking?”

I blinked and brought Jace back into focus. “I was thinking about you. About us.”

“About how no one will ever know you better than I know you?”

A challenge and a promise all wrapped up into one possessive statement.

And his confidence in that sent a thrill through me. “Exactly.” That single word came out all strangled and throaty.

Jace’s eyes darkened. “For a long time I tried to convince myself that I didn’t feel anything for you. It wouldn’t make sense to fall in love with you.” He cupped my cheek.

He kept saying love.

I loved him too.

I always had.

Maybe that’s what made this so simple. I slid my hand around his wrist and held on. “I want you.”

He kissed me. The soft press stole my breath. Electricity sizzled across my skin. My head spun. Thank God I was holding onto him. I gripped him even tighter as he teased my mouth open and slid his tongue along mine.

“You’re sure?” His words whispered across my lips.

“Absolutely.” I’d never been more sure of anything in my life. Jace was a permanent part of me and the thought ofnotbeing with him hurt more than anything I might worry about in the future.

“God, yes,” he groaned, deepening the kiss. Somehow our bodies became closer. It just felt right. To touch him, to kiss him, to want him.

I ran my hand over the muscles of his forearms and biceps, down his back and clutched at his hips when he rolled on top of me. “How long, Jace? How long have you felt this way?”

I could barely breathe because everything was so intense from his warm body to his scent to his raw emotions. But deep down this one thing had been bothering me ever since our first kiss, and for some reason, knowing the answer was critical.

“Does it matter?”

“Yes. It does.”

He opened his eyes. It cut me to my core to have that much raw emotion directed at me. It sucked the air right out of my lungs. Time stopped.

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