Page 77 of Muse (Fighting Fate)

I smiled as I thought about the kiss we’d shared in front of all our friends. It was hot to say the least. Aiden had looked at me despairingly, but he didn’t say anything. After that, I decided I’d had enough and asked Jace if we could leave.

When we reached the car, Jace opened the door for me and I happily slipped inside. As he moved around the front of the car, I watched him pull his phone out and read something off the screen.

“Mom and Mark are staying at Aunt Kelly’s tonight,” he said, sliding into the driver’s seat. “Apparently Mark’s too tired to drive, and Mom’s had too much to drink to drive, so...” he continued, looking over at me. “Do you think your mom’d be okay with you staying the night?”

I smiled, my insides already fluttering with the thought of being alone with him. He looked so hopeful. “I’m not sure. Maybe. I’ll text her.”

Pulling out my phone, I shot off a quick text, making sure I crossed as many parts of my body as possible in hope.

Jace grinned and immediately started the car. Mom’s answer came back straight away.

“She wants to know if your mom’s okay with it,” I said, glancing at Jace.

“Of course,” Jace said without pause. “She’s already told me you’re welcome any time.”

I tapped out those exact words and hit send, grinning when Mom’s consent came back. Knowing I’d be able to sleep in Jace’s arms was making me giddy. “She said yes,” I said, shivering at the breathy sound of my voice. Oh boy. Excitement overload.

Jace’s returning gaze flared with a dark intensity, sending heat straight between my legs. I tensed, clenching my thighs together to savor the sensation. Jace growled.

The drive was quick. As soon as we got there, he took me by the hand without a word and led me inside. When we reached the kitchen, he stopped and gazed down at me. “Do you want a drink or anything?”

My whole body was tingling for him. As if I could think of food or drink. I shook my head, my eyes never leaving his. Understanding was clear in his gaze. With another piercing look, he turned, my hand still in his, and led me to his room.

Closing the door behind me, Jace released my hand and quickly went to pick up the guitar and papers that were scattered over his bed. I took the time to remove the jewelry I was wearing and take in Jace’s most private space.

Yes, I’d been in his room before, but I didn’t exactly get the chance to look around the last time I’d been there. It was quite big as far as bedrooms went. He had posters of some of his favorite bands on the walls, like Linkin Park, Muse and 30 Seconds to Mars.

His desk sat in the corner with even more papers scattered all over it – mostly music sheets and lined paper with words scrawled all over them, which I assumed were lyrics. He had three guitars on stands beside that, with other equipment like amps, tuners and pics strewn around that. His bed sat in the middle of the far wall - a queen size with a dark, navy blue cover.

It was very Jace.

I watched him place the guitar on a stand then slowly close the distance between us until his chest was almost pressed against mine. More gentle than he’d ever been, he ran his fingers through my hair, his eyes sweeping over every inch of my face.

I exhaled softly at his touch and reached out to rest my hands on his hips. The roaring fire inside me seemed to have simmered down to a slow, deep burn. It made me want to take my time, feel, experience.

Jace watched me, the same slow burn reflected in his eyes. Slowly, carefully, he cupped my cheek in his palm, his thumb brushing gently across my cheekbone. I closed my eyes with contentment, and exhaled a slow, languid breath.

I felt his warmth growing closer, and then ever so softly, his lips brushed over mine. A tiny sigh escaped me. It felt like I’d been waiting all my life for this very moment.

He continued to stroke my cheek while his other hand caressed my lower back, drawing soft, slow circles. I leaned into him, deepening the kiss, allowing it to grow and build in intensity. My hands slid over his shirt, feeling the hard contours of his stomach as I poured all my feelings for him out through my kiss.

Every single movement we made was unhurried and gentle. It was perfect. We caressed, and stroked and just breathed, allowing time to just feel and absorb the overwhelming volumes of emotion that was flowing through us.

With sure fingers, I gently unbuttoned Jace’s shirt, gliding my hands over the bare skin of his chest, sliding his shirt over his shoulders and letting it fall to the floor.

And still he kissed me.

His fingers skimmed teasingly up my back, finding the clasp of my zipper and carefully sliding it downwards. I shivered when his fingertips trailed after it, his touch burning passion on my bare skin, leaving a tingling path of warmth in his wake. I moaned into his mouth. Holy. That felt good.

Every inch of my skin tingled as my dress slipped down my body, pooling at my feet, but then Jace’s hands were there, gliding over my bare skin, one moving up under the long strands of my hair, and the other caressing the curve of my hip. I reached up to wrap my arms around his neck, pressing my body against his so I could feel the bare skin of his stomach against mine.

His hands never stilled. They explored nonstop, roaming all over my body, making my breath catch in my throat with every new place he found.

My breath grew faster and faster. I wanted more of him. I needed to feel more of him against me. I reached down to find the button on his jeans, working it undone first, followed by the zipper. When I started to tug on them, Jace broke our kiss, stepping back a fraction to take them off, but when he caught sight of me standing there in just my underwear and red heels, I heard his breath catch.

His eyes travelled slowly over my body, turning darker and darker with each passing moment. That dark hunger was always my undoing. It made my heart trip all over itself. Before I could think, he stepped forward again, taking my face in his hands.

“You are so fucking beautiful,” he whispered against my lips.

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