Page 45 of Jace 4Ever
“Of course! Soon. Thanks, Nelson!”
The phone disconnected and I dropped it on the nightstand next to the bed. I slid back under the cover behind Jace and wrapped an arm around him.
“Mmm, s’nice,” he mumbled.
“Do you always nap after sex?” I teased the words over his sensitive skin.
“No, this is a luxury.” His eyes fluttered open, and a smile slipped onto his face. “Mostly they’ve been hookups and I scrambled away putting on clothes and getting the hell out.”
His skin was soft and inviting. I couldn’t help but lick a slow stripe from the crook of his shoulder up to the little sensitive divot behind his ear. I couldn’t get enough of this man and I didn’t think I wanted to. “You never have to run away from my bed. Even if I’m not here, you’re welcome to sleep here.”
His brow wrinkled a bit, then smoothed. “That’s silly.”
Reaching over him, I rummaged around in the drawer and finally found what I was feeling around for. Tapping the drawer closed again, I held up my prize for Jace. “Here.”
He stared at the keychain in my hand. “What?”
“Here. This is key to the downstairs door. The code to the alarm is eight six seven five.”
His eyes danced over the chain and the key and then over to me. “You’re serious? You’re giving me a key to your place?”
“Of course, I am.” I took his hand and dropped the key and chain into it. “I’d like to know you’re sleeping in my bed when I’m not here.” And there was a great measure of protection in the suggestion. I knew his home life wasn’t the best. Having a safe place to stay, with a key and an alarm would be good for him. And me. Since I’d decided to worry about him so much.
“Thank you, Nelson.” The soft lilt to his voice was endearing and I gave into my impulse to kiss his cheek.
“I have a question for you.” Sitting up seemed the better option for this, so I did, draping the sheets over my legs and junk so Jace didn’t stare at me lustily.
“Okay...” Jace seemed skeptical, but it didn’t stop him from dragging his finger lightly over my happy trail.
“Can you get a week off next month?”
“Depends on what week. Our shooting schedule is already up.”
“Third week.”
“We’re down that week for a set swap, so yeah, I’m free.”
“Come with me to the Oscars?”
The words froze him in place. “What?”
“Come with me to the Oscars. The Academy Awards. I want you on the red carpet with me.”
He squeaked. “Like, as your date for the night?”
“Yes. I need to put my money where my mouth is,” I said. “I gave Austin a rousing speech about not being afraid to be gay and learning to be a role model, so I need to pony up. I need to make sure that Hollywood knows I’m not straight. And I would be honored if you’d help me do that.”
Jace stared at me for a very long time. I tried not to start worrying, but I couldn’t help it. I was asking him for something huge. I was asking him to give up part of his privacy just to be seen with me on the red carpet. He would have a lot of trouble just being Jace McIntire after that.
“You’re really all in on this, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I’m all in on you.”
He was back to staring at me for a moment, then crawled over the bed slowly, ending up in my lap. “Yes, Nelson, I’ll be your date for the Oscars.”
I pressed a hard kiss to his lips and wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you, baby. We’re going to have so much fun!”
“Holy crap…” He laughed. “I’m going to the Oscars with Nelson fucking Powers.”
