Page 24 of The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancée
And yet, Jace doesn't take his eyes off us. That predatory look still in his eyes as if he's sensing something unspoken between me and Tom.
I want to explain that Tom is only a friend.
A childhood friend who means a lot.
And then I wonder, why do I want to do that? Why do I feel this need to calm Jace down, to provide an explanation?
As much as I want to tell him who Tom is, to clarify the situation, I also want to see Jace hurt. I want to see him helpless. As helpless as I'd felt watching him with that beautiful man outside.
The one I'm not going to ask about.
Tom looks from me to Jace, a question on his face. As if asking Jace for permission? Seriously? Something passes between them. Something unsaid, a man-code of some kind.
Jace's eyebrows slash down. He lifts his hand and I flinch. But all he does is wrap his arm around my waist, hauling me close, the possessiveness in his gesture unmistakable.
Stunned, I turn to face him, as Tom's chuckle floats over my heads. "Who's your boyfriend, Sen?"
Damn. Tom is calling me by my nickname to annoy Jace. A not-so-subtle hint that Tom has known me for a long time. Longer than Jace.
"Not my boyfriend," I shoot back.
"Almost fiancé," Jace says in the same breath, his fingers tightening on my skin. He plasters me to his side.
And my emotions go a bit crazy inside. Why is Jace acting so possessive?
I like it. Very much.
Damn.
"Fiancé?" Tom's eyes dart to Jace, then back at me.
Feeling me stiffen, Jace brushes his hand over the bare skin of my lower back. The warmth of his body curls around me. His hand slips down to grip my hips and he hauls me to him. Fits me snugly into the 'V' between his legs. His arousal thrusts against the curve of my butt.
Oh. God.
Heat streaks through me, liquid desire. Moisture pools in my core. And my lips go dry.
I melt into him.
It earns us another stare from Tom, but I don't care.
I'm too busy trying to figure out what is happening between me and Jace. One minute, I think he's a cynical, money-minded man, trying to manipulate me. The next, he's showing a part of himself that I didn't know. A possessiveness that intrigues, that hints at something more between us.
The silence stretches.
Neither man makes the effort to introduce himself.
Tom turns to me, smiles. "Well then, why don't I leave you guys to it." Turning to me, he says, "I'm in room 208. Why don't we catch up later?"
Jace's muscles tense in response.
No, he didn't like the blatant invitation in Tom's voice.
I dig my fingers into his thigh. Rock solid muscle. I massage it and he stills.
Tom turns to go, then stops. "You're here for Natalie's wedding?"
"How did you guess?" I ask, then reply to my own question. "Of course, the entire hotel is booked out for the guests of the wedding, isn't it?"
