Page 124 of Stolen Fate

Emilia, probably seeing my turmoil, stood up and held her hand out to Elliot. He looked at her expectantly. “Would you like me to show you how to write everyone’s name?” she asked.

He perked up and grabbed a hold of her hand, letting her lead him out of the room and into the living room. I stayed where I was at for a while, not really sure how I was supposed to feel about this, and not knowing whether or not Elliot seeing us was a good thing or not.

* * *

Jace came homea little earlier than usual.

I heard the front door open, announcing his arrival, and I looked to my reflection on the garden window above the kitchen sink. It was ridiculous, considering I spent my day running after a five-year-old, so I doubted I could actually look more presentable after a quick glance, but Jace seemed to like the way I looked most of the time.

He had told me earlier this morning that he would be coming home early since Emilia was coming, but still, I was surprised that he actually did it. I knew I shouldn’t be.

I supposed I was waiting for any opportunity to tell me that Jace wasn’t the kind of man I thought he was, and that it was a mistake to jump into a relationship with him.

But that wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t true.

Jace had always kept his word, and I knew I was lucky to have caught his attention.

Perhaps that was why I didn’t want to let myself open up to him so easily. I didn’t want to get hurt when he realized he would be better off without me. I didn’t want to see the woman he left behind when all was said and done. I barely liked the woman I was now with him, and that was saying something, considering how I had been before I met Jace.

I was in the middle of heating up the dinner Ms. Bennett had cooked this morning, a beef and potato stew, specifically for Emilia—she had asked me what her favorite meal was—when I felt arms go around my waist.

Jace pulled me closer to him and kissed my neck.

I moved it to the side to give him wider access, and he took advantage, moving his lips across all the exposed skin there.

I smiled and stared at our reflection on the window.

Perhaps it was the lighting, or perhaps it was a long day and my eyes were playing tricks on me, but for the first time, we actually looked like we fit together.

Jace's eyes caught mine and he smiled at me through the reflection.

“How was your day, love?” That was the second time he called me love. I wondered if the nickname meant something, or if it was something he called me, like baby and sweetheart.

“It was good. Have you met Emilia yet?”

“Not yet. I’ll go to her next. For now, I just wanted to spend a few minutes with you in my arms.”

I smiled at that. “Long day?”

“The longest.”

“You weren’t gone that long.”

“And yet, it felt like an eternity, and all I could do is count down the minutes to when I could see you again.”

“Hmm, that’s such a sweet thing to say. I didn’t know you could be such a romantic.”

He shrugged, like it wasn’t a big deal. “I can be romantic with you.”

A giggle caught me by surprise, and Jace grinned. “Too cheesy?” he asked.

“The cheesiest,” I said, a hint of laughter still in my voice. He turned me around until I was facing him, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, titling my head up, asking for a kiss.

He didn’t let me wait long.

I closed my eyes, my lips curving slightly in the beginning of a smile just as he leaned down to seize my lips in a searing kiss.

My arms tightened around him, and when I went up on my tiptoes to deepen the kiss, I couldn’t help but let out a small moan.

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