All Good Things Exposed (13 page)

The thought set a heavy ache in my chest as I stared into the fireplace. The warmth radiating off the flames barely succeeded in melting the ice that covered my body. Jace had hurt me deeply and I didn't really understand why. I'd submitted to him, knowing full well - expecting him to dominate me. So, why had it come to me at such a shock? Why was I hurting?

In the back of my mind, I knew the answer. I knew I was hurting because I had fallen victim to sexual humiliation. It was a difficult pill to swallow. And, the knowledge that this was exactly where Jace wanted me…well, it was a thought I couldn't seem to cope with.

The door clicked open and footsteps sounded on the floor behind me. I didn't bother to look up at the intruder. I knew without the use of my eyes that it was Jace. I could feel him. My entire body came alive whenever he was near. Awareness surged within me.

"Olivia?" I heard the question in his tone. "Are you all right?"

"Yes." I said meekly. I almost hoped he called me out on my lie - since he knew when I was lying.

Jace sighed. He moved around the couch to kneel before me on the floor. With his searching eyes level to mine, I felt the beating of my heart quicken. It was a feat that I ignored it. "Are you ready to go home? The girls are closing up."

I focused on the fire over his shoulder. "Where is home, Jace?"

From the corner of my eyes, I saw a wrinkle of confusion form between his brows. Silence stretched and I thought for a moment that he was not going to answer me. "Home is where I am."

My eyes fell to his and my lips parted. "What?"

"Your home is where I am, Olivia." Jace sighed. "Come. I want to take you to bed." He stood, holding a hand out to me. When I made no move to accept his hand, he sighed, bent at the waist and scooped me up into his arms. I knew it was childish, but this was an affection I needed from him. I needed to feel as though he cared for me. I needed to feel as though he thought of me as more then just a sexual conquest and submissive. I needed to be wanted because of the woman I am - brains, independence, stubbornness and all the rest. God, that's all I wanted from him. Acceptance. Love. Adoration. Honesty. There was nothing else.

When Jace stood to his full height, I buried my face in his neck and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. I held him to me tightly, breathing in the scent only he possessed. His fingers spread over my ribs, claiming more of my body and he pulled me tighter into his chest as he held me like a wife crossing over the threshold. He tilted his face toward mine and pressed his lips against my temple. On a sigh, he sat down on the couch with me in his lap. I curled my feet into the split in the cushion, determined to warm my cold toes as he rocked me gently.

After long moments of silenced passed us by, he spoke. "I'm sorry for what I did. I shouldn't have fucked you like that."

He felt guilty. My stomach clenched. "I wanted you to, Jace." I admitted and it was the truth. I pulled away to look him in the eyes. "I just didn't realize that it would feel that way."

Jace cocked his head. "What way?"

"So degrading…humiliating…wrong." I spoke each word hushed.

Jace nodded. "Do you still think you can do this, Olivia? You've only had a taste of what being a submissive is like. Do you really think you can handle it?"

I thought about his question. I was careful not to answer too fast. My decision to be a submissive was, in its best, rash. I had to consider this fully before I decided I wanted to continue with what we were doing. "Yes." I said after long minutes had passed. "It's what you need and I want to be what you need."

Jace shook his head. "I need you, Olivia. I don't need anything else."

I shook my head. "That's not true."

He flinched as though I'd slapped him. "How do you figure?"

"Well, you wouldn't do it if you didn't need it." I said simply.

He worried his bottom lip as he considered my words. After what felt like a thousand painful heartbeats, he answered. "I used to need it and in some ways, I still do." His eyes held mine. "But every day I want it less. Because you matter more."

I leaned in and pressed my lips to the corner of his mouth. "Then we will take it day by day."

He tightened his hold on me. "I can't imagine living without you."

My heart fluttered in my chest as I soaked up his words. They weren't the three little words with the power of a nuclear bomb, but they were still radioactive. And right now, they were good enough for me. They were hope.

"Let's go home." I whispered. He nodded, standing with me still against his chest. I giggled. "Jace, put me down."

"Never." He walked purposefully to the door, flicking off the fire as he walked, setting the remote on the table.

"I don't want my staff to see this?"

"What?" He frowned. "Me claiming you?"

I shook my head in exasperation. "Yes, exactly that. Put me down."

"I like holding you." He stated gruffly.

I sighed. "You can cuddle me all night long, Jace."

Mischief lit his eyes. "I've got other plans for you tonight, Olivia."

"Oh, really?" My heart stuttered.

He laughed, his eyes daring me to challenge him. "Yes. Really."

"Well, I look forward to these plans, Mr. Rush." I teased and he grinned.

"You do?"

"Oh yes," I breathed. "I most certainly do."

"Woman, you amaze me." With that, he pressed his lips to mine in a kiss to rival all other kisses. His tongue traced the line of my lips before delving deep into my mouth, dancing with my tongue. His lips moved against mine, gentle, rough, needy. He drank me in. His kiss was the kiss of a man starved, and it stirred my senses. I weaved my hands in his hair and pulled him tighter to me. A moan toppled from his lips at my near violent claiming of his mouth. I swallowed his sound, reveling in the effect it had on my body. Every inch of my skin was warmed by his touch, tingling with throbbing awareness. In the back of my mind, I was aware my staff was waiting for me to close the café and I had to stop this. But damn…I didn't want to. I could have stayed linked to him like this the entire night. Kissing like teenagers on a couch. It was beautiful in its innocence.

Finally, I found the ability to pull away from him. We both gasped for air as though starved. His eyes were hooded as he stared down into my face. He was so beautiful. And he was mine.

Whoa! Where had that though come from? Oh my - I was learning to be possessive from Mr. Possessive himself. Hum, I wondered what he would take of this?

"What's that look on your face for, Miss LeRoux?"

"What look?" I asked innocently. I knew exactly what look he was referring to. I'd seen it on his face plenty of times and I could feel it on mine.

"Hum," he mumbled the grunt. "As if you don't know what I'm talking about?"

I set wide, innocent eyes on his face. "Nope. I have no idea. I'm innocent."

He laughed. "It's all right." He traced the line of my nose with his. It was a gesture that would have knocked me on my ass it I had been standing. It was so gentle and loving - I didn't know what to take of it. "I like that look on your face."

"You do?" I was breathless. He'd robbed me of it.

"I do." He set me on my feet. "Let's get going."

I nodded. "Let's."

Chapter 10

I watched Olivia lock the door of the café. She'd sent the girls she had working for her home only minutes before shutting off the last of the lights and walking out herself.

"I can't believe you ordered me a white hot chocolate." She said as she turned to face me, dropping the bulk of keys into her bag.

"Yeah," I held the cup to her. "It's probably cold now though. I didn't think it would take so long to coax you off the couch."

She tossed a mock glare at my teasing tone. Any and all fear that it might have sparked was quickly killed as she started giggling. Like a hyena. After a few embarrassing moments - on her part - she pulled herself together and looked down at her drink. "You know," she paused as though building her courage. I was immediately concerned. "I haven't drank a white hot chocolate since I asked you to leave."

That was a revelation if there ever was one. She loved that sugary crap. "Why?"

"Well, it reminded me of you." She shrugged. "Tasting it makes me think of you…"

I didn't know why, but I liked this. I liked that I'd made such an impact on her. I wanted the things around her to remind her of me. I wanted her to think of me when I wasn't there. "As screwed up as it makes me, I like hearing that."

She gasped. "Why?"

"Because you were thinking of me." I admitted shamelessly. I took her hand in mine and crossed the street to where my waiting car sat. "I like that you think of me."

"Jace," she spoke my name so seriously it warranted a wide-eyed glance. "I think about you every day." She blushed and I couldn't help but think she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. "I think about you more than I should."

I pulled her against my chest, pressing her back into the side of my car. "You could think about me ever second of every day and it's never going to be enough, Olivia."

"What's enough, Jace?" she asked breathlessly. Her eyes searched mine and she wet her lips as she waited for my answer.

"Nothing is ever going to be enough." I said on a hoarse growl. "With you, I'm always going to want more."

"Jace, I," she cut off her words as she pressed her lips to mine.

I felt shattered down to my very core as I took in the words I was certain she had been about to say before she stopped herself. I ground my body into hers, kissing her deeply and passionately. I was, for a moment, unaware that I was trying to kiss a confession of love for me out of her tightly sealed lips. But I wanted it. As insane as it was, I wanted to hear those three words from her. I needed them. I'd never wanted to hear them before, but with Olivia, I wanted to. Wanting things I'd never wanted from any other before her was becoming the norm.

Finally, I pulled away from her and she breathed in gasps of air as she stared up at me. I thought I could see love shining in the depths of her brown eyes, but I wasn't sure. I wouldn't be sure until she took the leap and spoke the words aloud. I wanted her to take that leap. The thought was breath robbing, heart stopping, palm-sweating and downright shocking.

"Take me home, Jace." Her eyes fluttered sleepily. "I'm exhausted."

"Why so tired?"

"Today has been…" she paused as though thinking of the right word. "Tiring. It's just been tiring and I'm ready for bed."

I nodded. "All right, then." I set my hand on the small of her back and guided her gently around the car to the passenger side. "Get in. I'll take you home."

I don't know why, but my heart felt about as full as a hot air balloon. If it swelled any more, surely my feet would rise off solid ground and I would find myself elated by…love?

I shook the thought from my head and rounded the front of my car. When I sat down in the seat beside Olivia, my heart warmed at the sight of her. She looked so at peace in my space, it made me feel euphoric…that I was the one who did this to her. Her face was tilted slightly toward me and her eyes were closed. Her lips were soft and relaxed and her hands were holding tight to the coffee cup between her legs. Her breathing was even and I wondered for a moment if she'd already fallen asleep, or if she was just on the brink. I didn't question her. I reached over and plucked the coffee cup from her hands, setting it into the cup holder before I started the car and sped off into the direction of my penthouse.

***

I started awake by the sound of an elevator door dinging. To my surprise, I was cradled in Jace's arms. The door opened to reveal the door to his suite and I gaped. I'd slept through the ride, and the ordeal it must have been to get me out of the car. Instantly, my face heated and I jerked in his arms to look up at his face.

He was already looking down on me with hooded blue eyes framed in thick ebony lashes. "You're awake."

"Mmm," I moaned and snuggled into his chest again.

Deep laughter rumbled in his chest, rolling off his lips. "You're beautiful when you sleep."

"Why, thank you." I hummed my pleasure.

Jace set me down once we were inside the penthouse and locked the door behind him. "Are you hungry?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No. I'm just sleepy."

"You should eat." He stated as he shrugged out of his suit jacket. "I doubt you've eaten yet."

He knew me well. "Nope. But I'm not hungry."

"You can't not eat," He scoffed. "Gail made lasagna. We'll just have to heat it."

"I'm not hungry, Jace." I protested. I thought about stomping my foot, but refrained.

"Well, I am." He walked from the door into the kitchen. He pulled a casserole dish from the fridge and set it in the oven to bake. "Foods cooking," he walked toward me, his eyes narrowed as though he were stalking me. My heart leapt as he set his hands on my hips, his thumbs working small circles against the fabric of my skirt. "How about we take a bath while the food's in the oven?"

That sounded delicious. "I think we should do that." I nodded and he laughed.

"You're so easy to convince."

"I think you're just the master of persuasion."

"I am." He dipped his head and kissed the tip of my nose.

He weaved his fingers with mine and pulled me toward the stairs. With every step we took, my heart pounded louder and harder against my chest. I could hear it clearly and I wondered…was it possible Jace heard it too?

I allowed him to lead me to his bedroom where a large soaker tub sat tucked in a corner of the bathroom. He guided me to a bench and sat me down. With a wink, he turned away from me to rummage through a linen closet. He produced two white candles and set them at the foot of the tub before lighting them. He turned on the water and added bubbles to the stream. He moved to flick off the lights before coming back to stand in front of me.

My heart raced and in an attempt to quell my sudden nerves, I asked. "What scent are the candles?"

"Vanilla." He purred.