Fever (29 page)

up and then he scooted down so his feet hung off the bed.

“Crawl up and put your knees on either side of my head,” he said.

It was ridiculous for her to be shy, but she was a little mortified to be climbing up, bold as you

please, in order to sit on his face so his mouth was pressed to her pussy.

She rocked up on her knees so she was still several inches from his mouth. When she started to

lower herself, he put a hand to her waist to stop her.

“Use your hand and spread your pussy lips for me,” he said huskily. “I want my tongue over every

inch and I want you to come all over my face.”

She sucked in a huge, steadying breath, but she was a wreck after all that had gone on in the living

room and now his blunt, evocative words cut right to her core and sparked instant arousal.

She tentatively slid her hand down her belly and then into the curls between her legs, finding the

plump folds. Her finger rubbed over her clit and she moaned.

“I can smell how turned on you are,” Jace growled. “So fucking sexy. Spread for me, baby. Can’t

wait to taste you.”

She parted her lips with her fingers and held herself open before lowering herself those last few

inches. The instant she made contact with his tongue, she jerked and bucked upward. He grasped her

hips with both hands, his grip hard, and slammed her back down onto his mouth.

He ate her like a man starving. Licking, feasting, sucking, sliding his tongue inside her and over all

parts in-between her entrance and her clit. He worked her into a mindless frenzy, until she rode his

face like she was taking his cock.

But then he slid his fingers between her ass cheeks and parted her just as she’d parted her pussy

lips. His index finger inched closer to her anal opening, teasing and rimming the entrance. He pushed

in the barest amount. Not even an inch. Just the tip of his finger, but it was enough to send her hurtling

right over the edge.

She exploded into his mouth, drenching his lips and chin with a sudden flood of moisture. She

bucked and writhed, wanting more of his mouth. Wanting those wicked fingers. Wanting everything he

had to give her.

She sagged downward, her muscles going completely lax, and then she realized to her

embarrassment that she was probably smothering him. She jerked upward, but he caught her hips and

settled her down just below his chin so his mouth was pressed to her belly.

Her fluids glistened on his lips and his chin, and he licked his tongue over his lips, removing the

traces of her release. It was insanely provocative and arousing to watch a man who greatly enjoyed

going down on a woman. He looked satisfied and supremely smug, like the cat who got the cream.

And, well, she supposed he had.

“Come here,” he murmured, pulling her down so she was cradled in his arms, resting firmly against

his chest. He rolled until they were side by side, her tucked into his neck, his hands possessively

gripping her ass.

“Christmas is in a few days.”

She propped her head up, because this was an abrupt change in topic and it made her wary. But he

pulled her back down, holding her so her face was once again buried in his neck.

“Like you like this,” he rumbled out. “Touching me. So close you’re melted on my skin. Like a

permanent tattoo. I like wearing you and nothing else.”

She smiled against his neck.

“My baby likes that,” he said smugly.

“Yeah, I like,” she breathed.

“Anyway, as I was saying, Christmas is coming up shortly. We’re spending it at Gabe and Mia’s,

and Gabe’s parents will be there, as will Ash. You have a closet full of clothes but I want you to

choose what you wear.”

She stiffened in surprise. This wasn’t one of their agreements. He made all the decisions. Even the

insignificant ones like what she wore outside the apartment. Now for general errands, slumming

around the house, running down to the market for something, she wore whatever. But when they went

out for any reason together, he chose her clothing, and she had to admit he had impeccable taste.

“I want you to be comfortable and confident,” he said in a low voice. “And if you don’t have

anything in your closet that’s going to work for you and make you feel those two things then I want you

to go out and buy something. No argument. You have credit cards. You have cash. It’s about damn

time you start using them.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. “Not for offering to buy me new stuff. I’m sure I have plenty to

choose from in that huge closet. I have stuff that still has the tags on it! But thank you for making such

an effort for me not to feel awkward.”

He squeezed her to him. “Don’t want you in any situation that you don’t feel good in, baby. So get

what you need. Pick out something that makes you feel good.”

She raised her head despite his effort to keep holding her against his chest and she kissed him hard,

wrapping her arms around his neck as she slid her tongue over his.

“You’re so good to me, Jace,” she said quietly. “But I thank God every single day for you.”

chapter twenty-four

Bethany’s anxiety was through the roof. She’d dressed with extreme care because she didn’t want

to disappoint Jace in front of his family. There had been plenty of outfits to choose from in her closet,

many, as she’d told Jace that still had the tags, unworn as of yet. She’d chosen a sparkly silver

cocktail dress because it seemed festive and appropriate for Christmas, and after debating and a huge

amount of guilt, she’d bought matching sparkly silver heels to go with it.

Jace had sensed her anxiety and had gone to great lengths to reassure her. As she’d been in the

bathroom putting her hair up in a silver clip that matched her dress, he’d come in and slipped a

beautiful diamond necklace around her neck and fastened it while she stood gaping in the mirror.

“Jace!” she protested. “This is too much!”

He grinned and pressed a kiss to her neck just underneath her ear and then reached around her,

holding a box with a matching pair of earrings.

“Then you’ll definitely think this is too much, but deal with it, baby. Can’t have my woman going to

Christmas with my family and them thinking I don’t spoil you ridiculously. I’ll lose all credibility. So

put them on. I like seeing my jewelry on you. And you look beautiful without it, but I want you to feel

just as beautiful as I see you. There isn’t a woman alive who doesn’t love diamonds. You can’t be the

exception here.”

Put that way, there wasn’t a whole lot she could say.

He kissed her again and then patted her affectionately on the ass. “Need to leave in five minutes, so

put a move on it.”

She sighed as he left and then caught her reflection in the mirror as she fumbled with the box so she

could slip the earrings in her ears. She was smiling. Happy. Her eyes warm with a contented glow.

He always knew just how to make her feel more at ease. Not that she wasn’t still a nervous wreck.

Christmas was a holiday she’d never really marked. In the beginning, particularly the first year she

and Jack had been homeless, Jack had tried his best to infuse the occasion with holiday cheer. He’d

gotten a shrub, which they’d decorated and set up in their tiny corner of a deserted park using

discarded wrapping paper from a nearby shop.

They’d fashioned bows, little stars and a few other shapes that couldn’t exactly be classified as

recognizable symbols of Christmas, but Bethany had loved Jack for the effort he’d made. He’d also

managed Christmas dinner, though he’d never told her how and she hadn’t asked.

Where was he today? It was cold and snow had begun falling, covering the sidewalks in a white

blanket. Did he have a place to stay? Was he warm? Did he have anything to eat?

She felt extremely guilty as Jace ushered her into his waiting car, warm and comfortable, on their

way to Gabe’s apartment, where they’d eat, enjoy time with Jace’s loved ones and celebrate the

holiday. She was well taken care of. Jace had seen to her every need. And Jack was out there alone

for the first time in all the years he and Bethany had been together.

She put a hand to her hair for the sixth time since they’d left her apartment, worried that the careful

arrangement would plummet down her neck at any moment.

Jace put his arm around her, pulling her to him so he could kiss her temple. “You look gorgeous,”

he murmured. “Stop worrying. You’ll love them and they’ll love you.”

She smiled—or rather, she tried to. It was bad enough she was meeting his sister, her fiancé who

also happened to be Jace’s other best friend and business partner, and Gabe’s parents, but Ash would

also be there. This would be the first time she’d seen him since that night of their threesome and her

stomach was in knots over it all.

How awkward would it be to exchange pleasantries with a man who’d fucked her with Jace? Jace

couldn’t be any more comfortable with it than she was. He’d made his feelings very clear on the

matter. He didn’t even like to discuss it, and so she’d avoided the issue, adopting firm denial that it

had ever happened.

That would all change tonight.

And then another thought struck her. One that horrified her. What if the others knew that she’d slept

with both Jace and Ash?

“Baby.”

Jace’s soft voice broke into her thoughts and she turned in his direction.

“You’re tying yourself into knots over nothing.”

He squeezed her hand and then brought it up to his mouth to kiss. He kissed every single one of her

fingers, prying them loose from the fist she’d formed.

“It’s Christmas. I want you to enjoy the holiday. Our first together,” he added with a smile.

“I’m terrified,” she blurted out.

Jace’s gaze softened and he scooted closer to her. “There’s no need to be. I swear it. These are the

very best people. They’re my family. I wouldn’t subject you to any situation I thought would be

harmful to you.”

“Ash is going to be there.”

Jace’s eyes flickered, but he recovered quickly. But she’d seen his reaction and knew he didn’t

look forward to her and Ash being together any more than she did.

“Honey, listen to me. It’s inevitable that you and Ash will cross paths. You’re both very important

to me. What happened happened. We can’t change it, no matter how much I wish differently. So the

only thing we can do is face it and move forward. He’s not a dick. He’s not going to make things

awkward. Ash is the best friend I have. He knows what you mean to me. Trust me when I say things

are going to be fine.”

She glanced down. “I’m sorry. I’m ruining Christmas for you before we even get there. I’m scared.

I don’t want to disappoint you. I don’t want to let you down. And I don’t want to embarrass you in

front of the people you love. All I can think about is that they’ll take one look at me and they’ll know

everything. They’ll know I’m not good enough for you. They’ll know you could have done better. And

I can’t stand seeing that look on their faces. How they’ll look at you, wondering what on earth you’re

doing.”

Jace’s scowl was instant. “Now you’re just pissing me off. That’s a bunch of bullshit, and swear to

God, Bethany, if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to get you beyond such asinine thinking.”

She closed her eyes tightly, determined not to do something stupid. Like cry. It would ruin her

carefully applied makeup anyway. Makeup that Jace had had to help her purchase because she hadn’t

had a clue what to buy or even how to apply it. A very patient makeup artist had gone through all the

steps, showing her how and what to apply, and in what order. Then she’d sent Bethany home with an

entire bag of cosmetics, half of which Bethany didn’t even remember the purpose of.

“Baby, look at me.”

It wasn’t a request. It was a firmly worded command. One she instantly obeyed. While Jace was

still holding back and easing her into their relationship, in the days since their emotional discussion

about the course of their relationship, he’d become more comfortable demonstrating his dominance.

He’d gradually become more forceful, not only in bed, but in their everyday existence. And in the

beginning, she’d truly wondered if she’d chafe at his authority over her, but in fact she’d embraced it.

She reveled in her well-ordered existence. As soon as Jace had taken that step in exerting his

dominance, a part of her had sighed in relief. It had been so freeing to hand over responsibility to

someone who cared about her. Someone who took care of her and was insanely protective of her.

It gave her a measure of security she hadn’t enjoyed until now. It made her feel . . . safe.

“You do Gabe and Mia and Ash a huge disservice by thinking they’d feel any such way about you.

They aren’t judgmental. They aren’t snobs. They’re not going to care about your past or where you

came from. All they’re going to care about is that you make me happy because they care about me.

And by extension, because they care about me, they’re going to love you. All I’m asking is that you