All Good Things (10 page)

I didn't reply. I couldn't. Holy crap! There was an entire story in print about my life and I hadn't even read it...much less lived it. I didn't know what to think, much less say. How the hell hadn't I seen this alleged story? I'd stalked him every day on Google...how hadn't I stumbled across the article?

"Okay, I get it." I said quietly. "But, I still don't understand why I would need protection, Jace."

He sighed. "I am a powerful man, Olivia."

"I'm aware." Seriously? He chose now, of all moments, to stroke his ego?

Jace growled at my interruption. "I have made many enemies over the years and I'm afraid some of them wouldn't think twice about hurting you to get to me."

I stilled as I took in his words. I hadn't even eaten the cake to gain the weight. Jeez, I was being threatened because I allegedly held Jace Rush's heart in the palm of my hand.

"Olivia, are you all right? You look pale." Worry fringed his tone and my heart jumped, causing frustration to spread throughout my veins. It burned like fire.

"I'm thinking." I snapped, unable to help myself. I was, admittedly, angry with him.

"About?"

I turned to glare at him in my seat. "I'm being prosecuted for a crime I didn't even have the enjoyment of committing. What do you think I'm thinking about?"

Jace's mouth dropped. Score another point for Olivia! I'd just shocked the untouchable, unshakable, Jace Rush. Damn, I'm good!

"You would have rather...commit the crime, so to speak?"

Was he delusional? "Of course. If I have to take the heat for it."

"We can rectify that immediately." Jace said, without humor and I blushed. Was he being serious, because I couldn't tell? Our private conversation was all about sex. But, was I really ready for that...and, with Jace Rush, of all people? Well, at least he turned me on. I had never been affected by anyone else, so why not take it while I had the chance?

"I think that's the best idea you've had yet." I said soberly. I held my breath as I watched for Jace's reaction. It was instantaneous. His blue eyes blazed and he hissed in a breath before looking at me suspiciously. I smiled with as much confidence as I could muster and he shook his head in exasperation.

"You should not tease me about such things, Olivia."

Why did his words sound like a warning? And, better yet, why did I want to challenge them?

I decided on asking another question, while I had him talking so openly. "If you know why I may, possibly, be in danger," I accentuated the word 'possibly' because, as of yet, the only person I feared I was in danger of, was Jace himself. "Why are you still coming to see me? Why wouldn't you make it obvious the rumor is just that, and leave me alone?"

Jace stiffened as he turned down an unfamiliar street bordered by tall buildings with curved glass. "I can't stay away from you, Olivia." I gasped, feeling a rush of heat between my legs at the meaning and intensity of his words. My stomach dipped. "Believe me, I tried."

I felt myself free falling into oblivion. Jace Rush had just committed the impossible. He affected me with only words. No one had ever succeeded in such a feat before this moment and I knew I had to have him. If only for a few short months, I had to make him mine. I knew it would hurt when it was over, but, at least, I would have the memories to last me a lifetime. I decided then I would take whatever moments I was offered with Jace, because I was sure they would not last. I glanced sadly at Jace. The brightest stars are always the ones that lose their shimmer first.

Jace didn't add anything to the comment and I did not reply as he continued to drive through the streets of the big city. When he signaled to drive into an underground garage of a very large, very tall building, I found myself in incapable of maintaining my silence.

"Where are we going?"

"I am taking you to my home." Jace replied stiffly. Had I made him mad by not replying to his earlier admission? Jeez, I hoped not. This was unfamiliar territory for me. The ball was entirely in his court and I didn't know which direction he planned on serving it.

I started fidgeting nervously with my hands as the nose of the car dipped into the dim lighting of the parking garage. My heart was a nervous wreck in my chest. I couldn't concentrate on a damned thing.

"Calm down." Jace said gently. "You don't ever have anything to fear with me."

"I trust you." I was just as floored as Jace by my words. It was so unlike me to utter something so...binding. The moment one allowed trust to weave its way into a relationship was the moment it was surely headed for doom. Like love, trust holds the capacity to become ones' undoing. I can only pray it will be kind enough not to prey upon me.

"You shouldn't." His blue eyes narrowed at my words.

"But, I do." And it was the honest truth. I trusted Jace with my life. If I didn't, I would have bolted from his car a long time ago.

Jace turned the car into a parking space beside a row of impressive vehicles. I couldn't help myself. "You must live in a building of movie stars." I half joked.

Jace cocked his head. "Why do you say that?"

"Did you not see all those cars?" I asked in astonishment. Was he so rich he didn't even notice the expensive badge the cars wore? I'd even seen an Austin Martin in the line, looking pristine and stroke-worthy. I wasn't even going to get started on the Lamborghini. My mouth was already watering. I swear my irrational love of cars had me fearing the possibility my body stored a Y-chromosome.

Jace laughed, interrupting my train of thought. "I saw them."

My mouth dropped as he shrugged off my astonishment. He stepped from the car. I pushed open the door slowly; fearful I might ding another car with the door of the Bugatti. I couldn't imagine the price my head would have if I accidentally dented one of these vehicles. Jeez, I felt as though I was in a museum filled with ancient artifacts that were not encased in protective displays. It was nerve wracking.

Jace watched me step slowly from between the two cars with an amused grin on his face. How dare he laugh at me for this? He might be rich enough to bargain for his life, but I certainly was not.

"Wipe that grin off your face." I snapped. "It's rude."

He laughed. "I'm sure the owner appreciates your care."

I glared hard when I finally made my way from between the two vehicles. A breath of utter relief rushed out of my lungs when I realized I was standing on safe ground. Even if I somehow happened to fall, I would only damage myself.

Jace placed his hand on the small of my back as he guided me toward the elevators. I couldn't seem to tear my attention away from the line of cars. When I looked up and saw the letter P above each parking stall, including the Bugatti's, I realized, with horror, each car belonged to Jace.

I stopped dead in my tracks and Jace looked down at me with confusion on his face. "Is something wrong?"

"These cars are all yours." My voice got higher with each word, and I coughed, too shocked to be embarrassed.

He nodded easily. "Yes. They are."

My eyes bulged. "There are so many..."

He nodded as though it weren't a big deal. It was a huge deal! "I told you I like to collect cars."

"But these are not cars, Jace...they are..." There were no words. No one person should have this much money. Goodness gracious, he was the definition of extreme.

"Come." Jace commanded, and I shook my head, backing away from him.

He was crazy if he thought I was going to go up to his condo after seeing what he had in his parking garage. I could only imagine the things he had incased within the walls he called home that I could destroy.

"I think you should take me home, Jace." I tried to employ command to my tone, but I was unsuccessful.

"Why?"

"I'm exhausted." It was a lame excuse, but at least it was true. I was exhausted.

"I assure you I have a bed you can occupy." Jace smirked and my stomach flipped at the double meaning in his words.

I looked back at his car before narrowing my eyes on his deliciously handsome figure. "Exactly how meticulous are you?"

Jace cocked his head. "I fail to see the relevance in your question, Olivia."

I pulled the corner of my bottom lip between my teeth as I thought. "What I am meaning to ask is, how angry will you be if I scuff your floor or ding your wall or I don't know," I waved my hand. "Chip your granite or something?"

Jace nodded, finally understanding my hesitation to set foot into the elevator that would take us to his condo. "If you scuff my floor, I will watch as you clean it on your hands and knees. All the while, enjoying the curve of your ass." He stepped toward me and my breath caught in my throat. "If you ding my wall, I would be willing to bet the fault was mine; for ravishing you against it." He took another step so only an inch of space I so desperately longed to close, stood between us. "And, if you somehow chip the granite, then I'll know, I was too rough."

Wow. I definitely didn't care about a thing in his condo as long as he lived up to the promise in his words. The only thing causing me to hesitate was the fact my knees felt as though they would buckle if I tried to move. How his words affected me so intimately, I would never know.

I said the only thing I could think to say. "Lead the way."

Jace grinned, devilishly, and my heart rate spiked. "So eager."

I felt my cheeks burn as he placed his hand once more against the small of my back. "Don't tease me, Jace. It is rude."

"Don't pretend you don't love it." Jace retorted and the blush in my cheeks deepened. How did he know me so damned well? It was like...he was meant for me.

Oh, hell no! I forced the thought from my mind as he pressed the button in the wall. I was not even going there. This was a strictly sexual relationship I was willingly entering into. I knew what I was getting into. I knew men like Jace...the powerful men that walked in this world I had forbidden myself from venturing into. They were selfish in their desires and strictly incapable of any emotion that resembled love. I would not let myself fall for him. I would enjoy what he had to offer me. I would learn from him, but I would not expect him to remain a part of my life for long. I was certain our time together would be just as fleeting as it would be passionate. I was okay with that. I had to be.

The elevator door rolled open, exposing a stainless steel box. I stepped inside and couldn't help but marvel at how impeccably clean the dark tiled floor was.

Jace rubbed a circle into my back with his thumb. "You are tense."

"I am?" Of course I was. I was moments away from walking into Jace Rush's living space. I had no idea what to expect. Google offered me nothing of his living space. I was walking into the lions den blind...but, oh so willing.

"Yes. You are." Jace confirmed. "Why?"

"Wouldn't you be?" I asked, pointedly, and he took a moment to ponder my question.

"I suppose."

I scoffed. "You suppose?"

"You will be the first, aside from very close friends and family to be brought here." He looked down at my bug-eyed disbelief, and chuckled. "Like you, Olivia, I like my privacy."

I liked my privacy for what I suspected was an entirely different reason than Jace's. I knew what it felt like to feel owned. I loathed that feeling with every fiber of my being. When I decided to move to New York, I had experienced a severe sense of relief I would never again be forced to bite back my opinions, beliefs or feelings because of my father. The man had done everything in his power to mold me into a woman who would succumb to his will. He'd wanted me to marry into power and had a list of eligible bachelors that would suit him just dandy. He'd chosen carefully, but each man had something in common. Contacts. Everything was about contacts to my father and he would have gladly sold me in order to gain an upper hand. I vowed I would never again feel the way he made me feel. Like I was nothing more than cattle.

I looked up when Jace's hand paused its movement against my back. His eyes were dark as they studied my face. I felt as though he could see through me, right down to my very soul. The idea filled me with a debilitating fear unlike anything I had ever known and I sucked in a deep breath for courage. "What are you looking at me like that for?"

"What were you thinking?" Jace asked. There really was no beating around the bush with him.

I shook my head. "Nothing."

He nodded, but I could see by the stiff cold swamped his eyes that he didn't believe me. A wave of relief washed over me when the elevator door opened up to a clean, modern lobby. The floors were a black marble that had intricate flecks of gold...no wait, maybe it was silver and the walls were a bright shade of white. It looked almost sterile, but I loved it. I loved the modern, spacious look. I couldn't help but wonder what his condo would look like.

"Come." Jace pushed gently, but authoritatively, against my back as he guided me across the spacious room. The art on the walls was exquisite. I could have stood here studying the art all day if he'd allowed me.

Jace typed a code into the door and it unlocked. He twisted the knob, letting the door fall open to expose his personal space. It was so much more than I ever could have imagined. It was modern and warm at the same time. I had no idea how his designer had accomplished this feeling, but whoever it was, deserved a handsome pay raise.

There was a long corridor of black marble floor that stretched into the living space. It overlooked an enormous window that covered what appeared to be the entire far wall of the condo. The living room housed a sleek, black, leather couch set and decorative chairs, accents of cerulean added pops of color to the space. It was a beautiful color that couldn't decide whether it wanted to be blue or green. A silver-gray shag rug was positioned artfully against the marble floor, making the flecks I now decided were silver, pop from the depths of the black.

A large fireplace assembled with smooth, gray tile, stood between the living room and the dining room. The kitchen stood on the other side of the large dining area. The fireplace allowed the space to feel open, while at the same time, giving a distinct feel to each separate room. I ambled toward the kitchen, as though in a trance, and marveled at the grand beauty. The cupboards were all a white gloss and the counters were black granite with flecks of cerulean dispersed intricately within the rock.