All Good Things (13 page)

I was like poison to her, but the problem was I was already in her veins and now that I was there...I didn't know if I could leave. It was not a matter of want any longer. She'd bewitched me. There was no other explanation for my sudden carelessness.

I paused in my advance for the door and glanced back at her again. She must have been exhausted to sleep through my relentless pacing. A smile touched my lips as I stared at her. I shook my head at the involuntary reaction my body entertained in response to staring at her. I threw open the bedroom door and let myself out into the hall, closing it, silently, behind me.

I descended the stairs into the living area and stared out at the dark sky. It was only midnight and I hoped Olivia continued to sleep while I tried to figure out what I was going to do about her. I knew one thing for certain. I could not enter into a sexual relationship without her first signing a contract. I simply did not know how I was going to explain that to her. Olivia was not the type of girl I typically decided to spend my time with. As a matter of fact, I wasn't even sure I wanted to have the kind of relationship with Olivia I had with so many other women. After Lexie, I still had the urge to dominate women to a point I knew was sadistic, but I'd taken precautions, and apart from Lexie, I had never pushed them too far. If I thought they couldn't handle it, I released them and sent them on their way. But, Olivia was different. There was no doubt I wanted to dominate her, because I did. I wanted for her to be willing to push her boundaries to please me. I wanted her submission...but, I didn't want to induce pain. Even if the end result was typically pleasure. I didn't want to raise any object to her and nor did I want to raise my hand. The urge simply was not there.

Regardless of what I wanted to do to Olivia sexually, I had to figure out how I was going to incorporate her into my life without her ever knowing of the man that I had always been. After the publication of the article in the gossip magazine, I had good reason to worry about Olivia. I had more enemies than the devil and I knew they wouldn't think twice about using Olivia as a means to acquire what they desire most, my destruction.

If I could, I would have my every enemy watched, but that was impractical. The only option I was left with was having Olivia guarded, but I could already smell an argument brewing over that. The woman liked her privacy there was no doubt about that. She had made it more than clear.

"Jace?" Olivia's voice echoed through the space. I turned to find her standing on the stairs. She was wearing my shirt. The sight made my cock jump, but I clenched my teeth and tried to force my eyes to her face rather than her bared leg...that were wrapped around my waist only a few hours ago. Shit, head in the game! There are more important things to be discussing here.

"Come here." I commanded, and her eyes narrowed as she stepped down the steps, crossing the distance into the kitchen where I sat. Her arms were folded protectively over her chest as she scooted up onto the stool beside me. Damn, I liked the way she looked with her messy hair in my kitchen.

"What is it?" Worry fringed her tone and my heart throbbed. The last thing I wanted was for her to stress...over anything.

"We have to talk." I began, but she interrupted me.

"Don't worry about it, Jace." She shook her head, refusing to meet my eyes. "We talked about this. You took my virginity, not my soul or heart or anything else. It's not a big deal." She lifted her eyes and forced a smile. "Don't worry, I won't start confessing undying love to you." She joked.

My mouth dropped. I couldn't believe that's what she thought I wanted to talk about. I was not that much of an ass; was I? And as for her soul and heart...maybe I did want those things? Ah, hell. I needed to make an appointment to meet with my shrink.

I regained my bearings and spoke. "That's not what I wanted to discuss, Olivia. You're right. We already did talk about that." I should have told her that her undying love was a welcome confession, but I didn't want her to slap me, so I left it at that before I moved on. "What we need to discuss is the matter of your safety."

Her body stiffened. "My safety?"

"Yes, your safety, Olivia." I spoke sternly. I needed her to understand this was serious. "You don't understand how dangerous it is to be considered important to me. I do not want to take any chances that something might happen to you because of me."

She laughed. "Jace, be serious."

"I am." I growled.

"Nothing is going to happen to me. We are not in love as that article claims we are and I am of no importance to you." She laughed again as though the possibility of my caring for her was ridiculous. "Soon, the world will realize just how ridiculous such a notion is. You don't need to worry."

I wanted to shake her. I wanted to throttle her. How could she not see she was the most important thing to me? I had never allowed a woman to even enter these walls that was not either working for me or family. She was the fucking definition of different.

"Damn it, Olivia." I rubbed my forehead as I slid off the stool. Maybe I'd been wrong about not having a desire to punish her. The devil knows she deserved it right now. I could take her over my knee right here and now, and slap her ass until it was pink with my handprint.

"Jace, I'm sorry." She said without humor. Obviously, she could sense my bubbling anger. "I just don't see a threat here."

I grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses. Maybe if I could get her drunk, I could dig up some semblance of rationality within her thick skull that might make her realize self-preservation was not as absurd of an idea as she thought. I poured the glasses and handed her one. She nodded in thanks, as she brought the glass to her lips, taking a sip.

"Please try to understand this from my point of view." I would beg if she wanted. I would do anything so she would let me assign her a bodyguard. "I only want you safe until this blows over. Let me assign Gabe to you for your protection."

She took another sip of the wine as she pondered the idea. Hope sparked in my chest. "Do you have a bodyguard, Jace?"

I frowned. What relevance did this have? "No."

"Well, do you not think your supposed enemies would just go straight for the target then?" She asked. "I mean, it would be easier to just eliminate you rather than to get their hands all messy with me? Am I right?"

Yes, I most definitely was interested in spanking her. I would have to reconsider on the contract if she continued testing me this way. "No, Olivia. You are very wrong."

"Oh?"

"My enemies do not want to kill me. They want to hurt me. They want to break me down so I am a hollow, shell of a man, and if they think you are the key to my undoing, they will use you without hesitation."

Chapter 8

I stared at Jace for a long moment, hoping to God he was joking. When I realized he was not, I picked up my glass of wine, pressed the rim to my lips and threw my head back. When I set my empty glass down on the counter and stood, stumbling a little from nerves, Jace's eyes widened. If I was not so rightfully pissed off, I might have laughed.

"What the hell are you doing, Olivia?"

I turned my back to him. "I'm getting dressed and going home."

"The hell you are." Jace growled and then I was in his arm. He threw me over his shoulder, and stomped, angrily, to the stairs.

"Put me down right now, Jace." I yelled as my fists pounded against his back. I couldn't remember the last time I was this angry. I was fuming. The moment he set me down on my feet, I was going to show him just how angry I was. How dare he think this is appropriate?

Jace's hand came down hard on my almost bare ass, stinging my skin. "Enough." He barked. The sound of his voice rumbled through my stomach and I fisted my hands, my nails digging into my palms, as I thrashed, relentlessly. I was not about to make this easier on him. Hell, no! He just spanked me! Was he insane? Was I insane for feeling almost warmed by the sting over my rear?

Jace didn't bother to acknowledge the fact that my fists were pounding, insistently, against the small of his back as he climbed the stairs. I couldn't help but think if he fell, I would most certainly be dead. I would fall head-first into the sharp looking steps. The thought caused me to halt my incessant beating on his back and I whimpered.

I allowed my body to hang limply over his shoulder, as he walked quickly down the length of the hall toward his bedroom. My body's limpness was deceiving to the rush of anger I felt building within as Jace pulled me from his shoulder. My body slid against his before the pads of my feet touched the floor. Warmth pooled between my legs at the friction and that only served to provoke my anger.

"You have no right to force me to remain here." I snapped. My fists were clenched tight and my nails dug deep into my skin, moments away from cutting. "You were nothing more than a fuck to me, so don't start acting like you hold any rights over me. You wanted it this way, Jace." There! How did he like it? He had said I could be nothing more then sex to him when I had asked him...begged him to make love to me, and now he thought he had the right to boss me around as though he was some permanent part of my life? No way, I didn't see a ring on my finger, and I sure as hell, didn't feel love in the air. Jace was obviously controlling and I simply was not interested in submitting to his whims.

His eyes flamed, as he stared down at me. He didn't speak for a long moment, and when he finally did, his voice was eerily calm. "No woman has ever made me as pissed off as you."

That is what he had to say to my outburst? Well, screw him! "I really don't care how pissed off you are, Jace." I turned away from him and started marching toward my clothes that were still on the floor where I had willingly stripped for him. My cheeks flamed, as I recounted my earlier behavior. What had gotten into me? Oh right, Jace had.

His hand shot out to close the space between us, and his fingers wrapped tightly around my arm. "Where are you going?"

"I already told you I'm going home."

"And, I already told you, you aren't." Jace pulled my arm back toward his chest, forcing my body to tumble against his hot, warm chest. I tried to ignore the effects his hard body had over mine. But, the moist heat between my legs and the ache in my belly were more than demanding. My body screamed for his at the same time my mind ordered me to run faster and farther than I had ever run before. I didn't know which demand I was supposed to listen to.

Jace's hand remained stiff, and possessive, on my arm while his free hand moved to the hem of his shirt I wore, travelling up over my naked belly to the heavy underside of my breasts. I moaned. "Let me go, Jace." I begged, pathetically, at the same time as I rolled my hips against his hardness.

"You don't want me to, Angel." Jace spoke low in my ear, as his fingers inched up to my breast. He flicked my nipple, causing a gasp to escape from between my lips. His hand stretched to cover my entire breast, and he squeezed, only hard enough to make my stomach clench with need. "Admit you want me."

I shook my head from side to side against his chest. "I want to leave."

Jace didn't bother taking my words to heart; rather he took them as a challenge. He tugged at my nipple, pulling it too roughly and I shivered, my knees felt weak. I slumped against him. He rolled the swell of my breast between his thumb and forefinger; eliciting another reluctant moan from deep in my throat. What was he doing to me? I should be stronger than this.

"Tell me you want me, Angel." Jace commanded.

"No, Jace..." I whispered as his hand moved over my stomach. "I don't want you." I moaned. His fingers dipped into the band of my panties before stopping, rubbing small circles against my skin. "I can't want you."

"You can want me." Jace growled. "I will give you anything you need. Just tell me and it's yours."

His fingers danced over my skin, teasing me. I wanted him to run his fingers south. I wanted him to touch me where I needed him most. I wanted him to release whatever this was built up within me, but I knew he wouldn't. He wouldn't continue until he received permission...but, he wouldn't stop teasing me either. Oh, I was weak when it came to him. My resolve melted away and I leaned my head back against his chest, as I closed my eyes.

"I want you to touch me, Jace."

"Where, Angel?" His whispered words against my ear made the ache in my core so much hotter.

"I want you to touch my clitoris. I want your fingers inside of me." I couldn't believe he made me speak my desires aloud. The blush that bloomed in my chest spread quickly to my hairline. I was just happy Jace was behind me, unable to see the burn in my cheeks.

"As you wish." Jace growled in my ear as his finger moved deeper into my panties, sliding into the slick folds. He hissed in a breath. "You are so wet for me, Angel." His finger massaged my clit, circling the bulb at the same time one of his other fingers moved slowly inside me, filling me. I moaned and my skin heated as he pulled his finger out slowly before plunging in again. His hand moved from my arm to my hip, holding my bucking body in place as he worked me with his fingers. His invasion was hot and I couldn't refrain from moaning his name continuously as he worked me.

Jace slipped another finger deep inside me and I felt my body quiver, as it stretched to accommodate his delicious intrusion. "You are so tight." He quickened his pace and my body tightened. "Come for me, Angel." He instructed, and as though on queue, my body bowed, eager to fulfill his command. His hand on my hip held me tight to his body, as I came unraveled in his hand. His fingers stroked me gently, as he pulled from the folds, slipping his hand from my panties.

My skin was flushed and my knees were weak. My body was exhausted and satisfied, but my mind was wide-awake. What had I done?

Jace placed his hands against my waist as he turned me to face him. He turned until my back was against the wall. "Do you still want to leave Angel?"

Did I? No, I wanted to stay with him, but I knew I should leave. He was not good for me. He obviously held a power over me I could not diffuse, and that, in itself, made him dangerous to me. I should walk out his door and never look back...but I couldn't.