All Good Things Absolved (11 page)

The door creaked open and Olivia poked her head into the office. "Are we alone?"

I nodded. "We are."

"Good." She opened the door and walked out wearing only my shirt. It was long on her - hanging down over her thighs, but through the thin dress material I could see the swell of her breasts. They'd grown a bit in size since the pregnancy. I'd only heard her complain a few times that they were sore.

Although I didn't like the idea of her being in pain, there was an odd feeling of pride I felt at the knowledge of her breasts aching. I liked knowing she was feeling the effects of our child growing within her. It pleased me.

"I thought you would sleep a little longer." She didn't sleep enough. She tossed and turned at night and I was beginning to notice she looked tired.

"I don't sleep well without you." She admitted as she crawled in my lap. She rested her head on my shoulder and I felt my heart swell. "And I have something I need to tell you."

I never liked hearing those words, but I suspected I knew what she wanted to tell me. "Go on."

"I saw my brother today." Her voice was high-pitched. She was nervous.

"I already knew you saw him, Olivia." I admitted and she lifted her head in startled shock.

"You did?" A brow raised. "Why didn't you say something?"

"I was waiting for you to tell me." I pulled her back into my chest where she belonged and she didn't fight me.

"I should have known Gabe would tell you." She sighed. "Are you angry?"

"No." I was when I'd first heard but I wasn't anymore. "I'm happy you called Gabe and allowed him to accompany you. If you hadn't, I would be very very angry."

"I know you would." She sounded sad.

"How was your meeting?"

"You mean you don't already know?"

"Don't be sarcastic." I warned. "Tell me how seeing your brother went."

"Not good." She sniffled and I tightened my arms around her. If he'd hurt her - I didn't even want to think about it. "He said some mean things - but he always does. It shouldn't have surprised me."

"What did he say?"

"Basically that I shouldn't be with you and I should be back with Bryce." At her words I felt myself grow instantly tense. "He doesn't like how my parents are bragging that their daughter is marrying such an influential man. He called me selfish for not inviting the family to our wedding and,"

I stopped her. I couldn't hear another word. "You won't see him again, Olivia."

"No," She shook her head. "I won't."

I sighed in relief. "I'm glad for once you agreed without a fight."

"I'm not fighting you on this because I do agree with you." Her body shook and I knew she was giggling. "I only fight when I know you're wrong."

"Woman," I mock-roared. "I'm never wrong."

She laughed. "Oh, Jace." Another laugh escaped her lips and I loved that I was the one influencing them. "You have so much to learn."

At those words, my fingers found life against her ribs. I held her with one arm as she flailed helplessly in my lap as I tickled her with the other. "Do I still have so much to learn?" I asked as she gasped for breath.

"Yes!" I tickled more and she laughed harder. "Jace! Stop!"

"Do I still have more to learn?" I knew she was crying now. I could feel her body shuddering with happy tickle tears and that made me grin.

"Jeez Jace!" She gasped for breath. "Stop please! You're perfect the way you are."

I stopped tickling her and she wriggled from my lap. When she was standing on the other side of the desk her eyes glittered with mirth and mischief that made mine narrow in weary response. "You might be perfect, but perfect still needs to learn."

The little vixen! She was on the other side of my desk and as I shot to my feet to chase her, she ran the other way. A loud squeal of delight tore from between her lips as we circled the desk. She was making me chase her! I couldn't believe how fucking much I loved this woman! She was perfection in its finest expression.

Olivia rounded the desk and ran straight for the bedroom door. I knew with certainty she planned on locking me out of the room...away from her. The thought sparked unnecessary panic in my chest and adrenaline flooded my system, increasing my speed. I caught her just before she'd made it through the door. A loud yelp tore from her lips as I spun her to face me. I pressed her back up against the wall and leaned into her. She was breathing hard. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glittered with excitement.

There were no words exchanged between us, but we both knew what had to happen. She'd run from me and I had to have her. I had to claim her. Again. She knew this would happen, I could see the expectation in her eyes as she stared at me. I hooked my hands around her thigh, lifting one leg around my waist as I set myself free with my other hand. I was already hard for her. I needed her. And, as she pulled her bottom lip into her mouth - her teeth scraping the flesh, the assault turning her lips red and plush - begging for my mouth on hers, I pressed myself against her. With one shift of my hips, I was buried deep inside of her.

A moan of ecstasy escaped her lips as she took me in, throwing her head back against the wall as I ravished her. I pounded hard against her - into her. And, she took me completely - opening herself to me entirely. She pressed herself against the wall, forcing herself into me and taking me so much deeper than I expected. It was decadent. She felt like heaven. She was my version of heaven. If I didn't have her even in the afterlife, I wouldn't be happy. It wouldn't be paradise without her. She was my world.

"Jace," Olivia gasped as she tightened her legs around my waist. "I need you deeper."

She sounded frantic. It was almost as though she simply could not live without me inside her, giving her what she needed. Her nails scraped against my shoulders over the fabric of my shirt and I clutched her hips, positioning her flat against the wall as I pushed myself deeper inside her. She cried out, vibrating with pleasure as I bit down on her neck. I knew I was marking her. I knew I was bruising her skin, but I didn't care. I couldn't care. She was spending the day without me tomorrow. I had to mark her. I had to let the world know she was taken. Anyone who thought they might have a chance with her had to know she belonged to me. She had to know she belonged to me.

I could feel her orgasm climbing. She was nearly there and I quickened my strokes. I was almost there too. But I refused to allow myself to come without her. Her hips rocked against he wall and her ankles locked behind my back. Her head was tilted and her mouth was agape as I pounded her hard. Feeling myself buried deep inside her was explosive. Her warmth was incomparable. Beads of sweat appeared at my hairline as I moved inside her, pounding for homerun.

"Come for me, Angel." I ground out between clenched teeth. "Give me everything."

As though my words were the barrier holding back the dam, she let herself fall apart around me. The ties she had holding herself together loosened as she tightened her hips around me, clenching. I felt her need growing and her muscles clenched with desire and satisfaction. A cry fell from her lips as her nails buried in my shoulder. The sound made me feel desperate for her mouth. I needed to swallow it. Claim it. I needed to capture and hold every part of her pleasure, her sound included. And I did. I dropped my mouth on hers - swallowing every moan of ecstasy as I poured myself into her. And, like usual she took every drop I had to give her. I loved this part. I loved knowing I was inside her even when I wasn't. I loved knowing I left a part of myself inside her when I pulled away. I loved knowing my scent remained when I couldn't. It was empowering. I fucking loved this woman.

I peeled her from the wall as I carried her to the bedroom. I didn't pull myself from inside her as I laid her down on the bed. I kissed her forehead and she sighed, her eyes fluttering closed.

"Sleep." I commanded on a whispered breath.

"You won't leave?" As though she thought I might, she tightened her legs around my waist.

"I won't leave." I shifted myself inside her and she moaned, making me hard once again. I couldn't seem to handle the thought of leaving this warm place I'd found in Olivia. With her heart beating against mine as we lay, connected in this way, there was just no possibility of my leaving. I was - home.

Chapter 10

Jace shifted inside me, pulling me from sleep. His motions were slow and sweet. I opened my eyes to find him smiling down at me with gentle blue eyes. I loved gentle Jace. I really really did.

"Hi," I smiled. I couldn't have held it back even if I'd wanted to. And I didn't. I wanted him to know how deliriously happy he made me. With only his presence he sated me.

"You slept." He rolled his hips and I gasped.

"You woke me up."

He quirked a brow. "Are you complaining?"

"Not at all." As though to reinforce my words I spread my legs wider, taking him deeper. "Never."

He groaned. "You're insatiable."

"You're the insatiable one." I murmured. But I knew we were both hungry for each other and I wouldn't have it any other way. This voracious hunger was
pure
. It was raw.

"Only for you." His eyes were serious and filled to the brim with love. "Only ever for you."

"Good." I said sternly. "Because I would die if it were any other way."

"You'll never have to worry about that, Angel." He rocked inside me slowly. He was making love to me. Sweet gentle love. "It's always going to be us. Just us."

"I believe you." I lifted my lips to his and kissed him deeply. In this kiss - I swore I could taste his soul.

"Give me everything, Angel." Jace murmured the words into my mouth. They were a plea for more than just my orgasm. I knew this with certainty, and as I shattered around him, I gave him my all. My dreams, hopes, fears and pleasure all poured into him as I caved to my pleasure. And in return, he gave me everything. He was the basis of my love. He was the epitome of my happiness. And, he was the essence of my desire. In him, I'd not only found belief, but I'd found faith and reason. I found life. And the funny part was he thought the same about me. It boggled my mind that the perfect, sincere man I knew could be anything other than what I knew him to be.

***

Jace ordered takeout. I flat-out insisted on Chinese. I didn't know why, but I needed green onion cake. Severely.

"Is this a pregnancy craving?" Jace asked me as he opened the box of green onion cake with a crinkled nose.

"I don't know." I shrugged. "Are you glaring at my green onion cake?"

"This looks like greasy shit." Jace said on a scowl. "You shouldn't eat this."

I reached for the box suddenly fearful he might not allow me to eat it. "I probably shouldn't." I grinned. The box was safe in my hands. "But I'm going to."

"Olivia," Jace sighed. "Are you seriously eating that?"

"Yes." I set what I hoped were frightening eyes on him. "And so are you."

He shook his head. "No, I'm not."

"You're boring." I held a piece over the coffee table at him. "Please, try it."

He sighed and plucked it from my hand. "Fine."

I watched Jace set the green onion cake on the side of his noodles and rolled my eyes. I knew his game. He took the piece from me because he knew it was one less piece I'd eat. He was so conniving - but I was onto him. And he wouldn't get away with it. That delicious piece of carbs would not find its way to the garbage can! There was no way in hell!

I chomped into the warm bread and moaned. It was delicious. I closed my eyes to savor the taste and when I opened them, Jace was looking at me hotly. There was no way he could want sex -
again
! We'd done the deed countless times today. I didn't even know if my body could handle him...again.

"What?" I squeaked and swallowed - or gulped might have been a better term.

"It's that good?" His voice was gruff and his eyes were heated. I shifted my position on the floor and sighed. Thank God we were talking about food.

"It's that good." I nodded at his piece. "Try it."

He shook his head. "After."

"No, try it right now." I pleaded.

"Why?"

"Because, I want to see you moan in pleasure because there is something delicious in your mouth." I winked.

His eyes flashed blazing hot and I felt my core warm. This time my shift on the floor wasn't voluntary - it was required. "If you want to see that all I need is you in my mouth."

"Well," I fanned my face. I was suddenly on fire. "I'll take the next best thing. Try the cake."

He sighed, but relented, as I knew he would. "I can't deny you."

"You can." I corrected dryly. "And, you do."

His eyes glimmered with mischief as he took a bite of the cake. "Not bad." He admitted as he chewed. "And I only deny you when I know that what you want doesn't make you safe."

"Right." I nodded. That was practically everything on the globe.

"Don't act like it's not true. You know I'll give you anything you ask for." His voice was shockingly serious and I swallowed my earlier laughter. "You have me wrapped around your finger. Not only am I able to give you everything - but I want to. I never want you to go to anyone else - for anything. I want to be everything to you."

His words took my breath away. "You are everything to me, Jace." I met his eyes with mine, willing him to understand. "Why can't you see that?"

"Because you're too good for me." He lowered his blue eyes and when he spoke again his voice was quiet. "You deserve so much more than me."

My heart stuttered. "I don't want to hear you say things like that, Jace." The emotion in my voice was thick. "Please, never say that again. It hurts me."

Jace didn't reply and I dropped my chopsticks into my noodles. Without thinking, I crawled around the coffee table toward him. All the while, he watched me with hot passionate eyes. This man loved me so completely - so deeply. How could he think he didn't deserve me? How dare he think so little of himself? It was repulsive. And it angered me to no extent.

"What are you doing, Olivia?" Jace's voice was gruff as he set his chopsticks to the side.