“Oh, you’re good, soldier.” I scoff out a small chuckle. “You know exactly where to hit. Come in.” I exhale, stumbling back a few steps as I open the door wide, inviting him in. I take in his familiar, woodsy scent, annoyed he smells so good.
“Thanks.”
I keep my head lowered to his black Nikes as he steps in from the porch, ignoring how delicious he looks. A simple pair of black gym shorts hangs low on his hips, and light gray tank top stretches across his broad chest.
“Let me put these in water.” I toss the blanket on the couch and snatch the flowers from his hand.
“You’re watching the race?” He follows me into the kitchen.
“Of course…well, technically, I was about to nap.” My cheeks warm, and I let out a nervous chuckle, a little flustered being so close to him.
“Kiely insisted we watch it too. She’s been obsessed with racing since she met you,” he says with a shy smile. He’s so ruggedly adorable. Stop it, Charlotte, you’re mad at him.
“I can tell by the picture she drew.” I attach the drawing of me sitting in a race car, with my number on it, to the front of my fridge with the Disney magnet Lilly bought when we went to Disneyland for the day a few months back. I reach for a vase sitting high on the open shelf above the windowsill when Jace reaches over me and snatches it. “I can get it,” I say breathily, snagging it from his hand. “So…why are you here?” I turn around and face him, hugging the vase in front of me. I have to pinch myself to remember how angry I am with him. He couldn’t give me enough credit and tell me he had a child. He hurt me and dumped me before we barely started. Jerk.
“You’re still in danger.” He runs his hand through his dark, messy hair—his signature move.
“Not this again.” I give a bitter laugh. “I’ll tell you what I told Colton this morning on the phone…I don’t need anyone protecting me.”
“There are more photos…”
“I don’t care,” I bark louder than I intended, feeling myself blush. I close my eyes and take in a deep breath. “It was a mistake for you to come. You shouldn’t have come here, Jace,” I say in a pleading voice.
“I did. I did have to come here.” He’s silent for a moment. “I…I needed to see you.”
“Why?” Is he trying to torture me?
“I fucked up. You’re the most beautiful bad decision I’ve ever made,” he says, his gaze locked on mine.
“Here’s the thing, Jace,” I snarl, folding my arms over my chest. “We are over…or did you forget? You don’t get to worry about my safety. You don’t get to come over here and stand in my kitchen, telling me how you feel or what I need.”
“God, woman, will you listen for a minute?” He breathes out some heavy air and rolls his eyes in frustration.
My lips twitch. “Okay, Mr. Dramatic, say whatever it is you need to say.” I should tell him to go, but I’m in too deep already. I love him.
“I came here.” He inches closer, and my heart kicks up a notch in my chest. “I came because…”
“Because what? Spit it out, Jace.” I have to stretch my neck to look up at him since he’s right in front of me now. “Because it’s your job, and you’re a big macho man who thinks I need—”
He reaches out slowly, brushing a loose lock of hair from my face. “Because I love you.”
My mouth falls open as I suck in a breath. “Y…you…love me?”
He captures my cheeks in his large hands, our eyes connected. “I’ve been miserable without you. I came to warn you, but more importantly, I came to tell you I need you in my life. My heart is an empty shell without you. I love you, Charlotte, and I don’t want a life without you in it.” Holy shit!
He loves me. I’m hit with a sudden wave of lust. I remain motionless as my chest rises and falls with rapid breaths. “You love me?”
He grins. “Do you know how beautiful you are?” He cups both my cheeks.
“Pfft…you see what I’m wearing, right?”
“You think you don’t look fucking hot in anything you wear?” He pushes up against me with his massive frame, trapping me between him and the countertop.
“What happens when you get spooked again? Because my heart won’t take it.”
“I’m sorry. I have…issues…but I swear to you, I want to work them out. With you at my side. I need you in my life…if you’ll have me. Just…Kiely…she comes with the package…if you’ll have both of us. I swear, I’ll never stop you from your career, and I don’t expect…”
“Shut up, Jace. I love Kiely.”
“Really?” His strong arms wrap around my waist and drop to my ass, pulling me in close.
“Of course. She’s a part of you. I can’t wait to get to know her.” My skin is on fire, and I’m trembling to touch him. I place my hands on his shoulders to steady myself.
“Do you have any idea how much I want you?” he growls.
My cheeks flame. “I do,” I say with a tremor in my voice. I’m about to beg him to take me right here on the countertop. My taut nipples are aching—my clit throbbing.
“I wanted you the moment you walked into that bar. I knew you were special when I laid eyes on you.” Jace grips my hips, pulling me tight against him. “Should I stop?”
“No.” He traces my lips with his. He pulls my bottom lip between his teeth, biting softly, shooting a spark straight to my groin. “I want you.”
I can’t move. I’m barely breathing. Goosebumps ripple across my skin at an alarming rate. In an instant, we’re kissing like starved lovers. His lips are perfection. My hands grip the back of his head, my fingers swimming in his hair as our lips crash, tongues tangle. I’m too drunk on lust to care about holding back, guarding my delicate heart anymore.
“God, I’ve missed you,” he groans. “I know you’re unsure. I don’t want to rush you. I just…I’m not letting you go. Ever again.”
I missed him so much. I rock my hips into him, feeling his steel erection against my belly. I place my palms against his pecs and push him back. “You coming?”
“Where?”
“Time to race. Let’s see if you can keep up.” I snag his hand, threading my fingers through his and lead him down the short hallway to my bedroom with joyful anticipation.
“Lilly home?”
“House is empty,” I whisper, as we step into the room, and Jace closes the door behind us. I turn around and face him—his alluring smile makes me want to fall to my knees. My breasts ache for his touch, and I’m already soaked between my legs.
I tug the ends of his shirt up over his head, kissing my way across his muscular chest. He groans when I flick his nipple with my tongue. I shove my shirt off, revealing my bare breasts as he makes quick work toeing off his sneakers. My baggy sweats fall easily to the floor, and I kick them aside, leaving me in nothing but a scrap of black lace panties.
His heated gaze travels over my body, the lust in his dark eyes blatant. “You’re breathtaking.” Jace inches closer and wraps his arms around me, blanketing me with his rock-hard body. Jace captures my mouth with his. He kisses me until I’m drunk out of my mind on lust.