Undone (The Unexpected Series Book 2) (16 page)

“Of course. Anything for you.” I pull out of her embrace, holding her at arm’s length to get a look at her. “You look beautiful, Erin, and you are going to be the most beautiful bride ever.”

“That is until you get married.” She winks and looks over my shoulder and then her head tilts up as a shadow crosses over the back of me.

“Ladies.” Trent’s rough voice sends an electric shock down my body directly between my legs.

Erin releases me and pulls him in for a hug, his arms around her, but his piercing brown eyes on me. I can see the stubble gracing his chiseled face, and it makes him look more rugged and fucking sexy.

“Get something to drink, bar is in the back, and bathroom around the corner,” she tells him when they break apart.

Walker picks Erin up from behind and whispers loudly, “Not the same Wrigley bathroom but just as effective.”

Her face turns a lovely shade of red, and she laughs as he drags her away leaving Trent and me alone.

My muscles ache from the tension. I can’t relax with him around. I’ve thought about the first time I would see him since I went to his house. How I would react to him allowing that woman back into his life but in the end he is Erin’s brother and I need to play nice. I still don’t want to lose him.

“Trent, I…” Before I can finish I find Jace, wine glass in hand, watching us as he strides our way.

Without hesitation, Trent leans down to my ear, pulling one finger, one amazing finger, up the back of my arm and whispers, “You look beautiful, Noe.”

My skin prickles as my breathing picks up. I watch the two men pass each other and Trent finds Alex. She looks up at him, then over at me with a look that borders on an apology.

Why should she be sorry?

“Do you still want him?” Jace abruptly asks, handing me my glass, looking their way.

I tell him no. It’s an automatic response because a week ago, when I told Jace I didn’t I thought I meant it. But now that Trent is within feet of me, and his touch is still burning my skin; I’m just not so sure. It made me come alive for a brief moment, more than what Jace and I shared an hour ago.

“Positive?” His hand catches my face, turning me away from Trent and Alex.

“Yea. Let’s go find our seats.” I lie to him for the first time because I am far from being certain, and I allow him to lead me towards our destination.

~~

As the drinks flowed, runs scored (by the other team), and the night fell I became tipsy and brave. Watching Trent and Alex out of the corner of my eye I started to get angry. He never showed her much affection but he is being very attentive. I waited until Alex walked into the bathroom and excused myself from our group. Taking my time I remained just outside the door until I knew she would be close to done and then I storm in.

Her eyes went wide with fear. “Noelle,” she croaks out her voice shaky.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Alex, though you deserve it for leaving those boys without as much as a backward glance. No call. No email. NOTHING!”

“I didn’t think you would hurt me. I just feel like you are looking for answers I can’t give you right now.” She grabs a paper towel from the dispenser wetting it and wipes it across her mouth. Until now, I didn’t see how weak she looked. “He loves you, you know?”

“I don’t care. What I want to know is why you are here?” I point my finger at the door and towards the family she tore apart two years ago. “Did you come back just to leave them all over again? Devastate the family until there is no rebuilding again?”

A tear rolls down her cheek, and she seems to be gasping. “I told you, I’m not ready to give you those answers.” She looks directly at me, and I see pain and heartbreak. “He told me everything, Noelle.”

“So, what? I’m with Jace now. I don’t care.” But I do. I desperately do because deep down I realize I’m still fucked up and confused.

“Don’t you? I know he does but he’s too stubborn. You’re both stubborn.” She tosses her towel in the trashcan and brushes past me but doubles back. “Don’t give up on him. You might not understand what he is doing, but unfortunately for me, soon you will. I promise.”

“It might be too late.” I sneer at her.

Looking down she whispers. “It’s never too late to fight for what you want.”

She leaves me standing in the middle of the floor more confused than ever before. I shouldn’t care. He’s with her now. I’m with Jace.

I say it again so I believe it.

I’m with Jace.

After I use the bathroom and wash my hands, the door flies open and a rather large man barrels in. I immediately back up against the wall and Trent is hovering over me. I’ve never been scared of him, but right now I wish I had my mace.

“What the fuck did you say to her, Noelle?” His teeth are ground so tight but I can see his breath escaping between them.

“I didn’t say anything.” I shake my head like it’s going to convince him as much as myself. “Did she go out there and tell on me?”

His hand slams above my head and his nose meets mine. “Don’t talk to her again. Not without me there. She is off limits to you, do you understand?”

What the fuck?

My anger rises with his warning.

“Unless you pay me or fuck me you don’t dictate what I do!” Exaggerating every word I let him know what currently is a fact. “You. Don’t. Own. Me.”

A slow, mischievous smile passes over his lips and if possible he gets closer. His body flushed with mine. The hand he hit the wall with comes down and slides up the side of my thigh, lifting the bottom of my dress until he reaches my hip bone.

I can’t believe I’m not stopping this.

“I know you haven’t fucked him, Noelle. So, right now, this…” he pushes his hard dick into me, “this is still the last thing to have owned you.”

His tongue darts out and flicks over my lips and abruptly he walks away. I melt into the wall behind me.

“Oh, and put some panties on when you know you’re going to see me, Noelle, otherwise I might not be so…” he turns to look at me, contemplating his next word, “nice.”

My fingers ball up into fists. “I didn’t go without panties for you, Trent. I had some on…someone just ripped them off!”

It’s childish to try to make him jealous but it works.

He doubles back around and meets me body to body. “I’ve never had to take them off, Noe. You just are so greedy for my touch that you don’t even bother giving me a barrier.”

“Fuck. You!” I spew out.

He takes a step back and asks before walking out. “Begging again?”

It takes a few minutes to get myself composed before I walk out there but when I do I find Jace waiting for me.

“You okay,” he asks leaning in to kiss me. “Because I saw Decker come out of there a few minutes ago and leave with a very upset Alex.”

“I’m fine,” I say looking up at him. “I just told her she better not pull another disappearing act again.”

He eyes me suspiciously. “So, why was Trent in there?”

Huffing out a breath I look past him and see Erin watching us. “He told me not to talk to Alex.”

I leave him there and walk to a wide eyed Erin. “How does Trent know I haven’t slept with Jace?” I harshly whisper.

“I don’t know.” She shakes her head side to side guiltily.

“My personal life is not Trent’s business. If you don’t want to tell me what’s going on with him then please don’t give him information on me.” I try to keep my voice low not to cause a scene.

“I didn’t and still don’t know why Alex is around. You know I would tell you, Noelle.” Her eyes don’t give her away. She’s telling the truth.

“I did,” Walker states putting a protective arm around Erin. “I heard you two hens clucking about it and when he asked I told him.”

“Why would he do that? It’s not his business,” I ask.

“Oh, but you do know. He’s fucking in love with you,” Walker states confidently.

I’m ticklish nowhere else except just above my knee and somehow Jace has found that spot, constantly using it to his advantage, like right now, when I’m in a shitty mood from a bad day at work.

Squealing I jump up off his couch avoiding another torturous touch and sit in the recliner. “Jace, you have to stop. I’m going to piss myself.”

“I’m sorry, baby,” he says lowering down onto his hands and knees, crawling towards me. I brace myself for another attack. “I just want to make you smile.”

His big grin is infectious and I follow suit. When he finally reaches me his hands slide up my legs and he comes to a rest, comfortably burrowing his hips between them.

“You could make me smile by filling this.” I reach to the end table and pick up my wine glass but his eyes dart between my legs.

“You want me to fill that, Noelle.” His lashes flutter slightly and his eyes fiercely meet mine.

My temperature instantly rises when I understand the meaning of his words and think of how it will feel when Jace is inside me. This still has yet to happen. He’s true to his personality, sweet and gentle, when we fool around. Sometimes I just want to shove his face between my legs and tell him to quit screwing around and make me come already.

I’ve been teased by his slow and methodical touches. I need to feel him and today is the day. I had an epiphany.

Jace and I have been mutually exclusive for five weeks now. No boyfriend/girlfriend label but also only seeing each other. Every time we come close to having sex I pull back, claiming I want to take it slow. He’s been so patient, but aside from his innuendo, I was planning on seducing him tonight. I even brought my favorite purple lingerie.

During lunch today Hadley asked if Jace and I had “done the deed” and when I said no she lost it. Asking why I have a jaguar if I won’t take it out of the garage. I, of course, said he would rather put it in the garage.

After we returned to work I couldn’t get her question out of my mind. What was keeping me from giving myself to him?

Trent.

Why was I letting Trent get in the way of what can truly be an amazing relationship when he clearly has moved on?

Because as many times as I’ve thought about Jace, I’ve thought about Trent a hundred times more. When I’m with Jace, he is all I can see, all I can feel, but when we’re apart I can’t stop thinking about Trent, and it’s killing me.

I decide that today I’m done waiting for Trent, because it’s what I’m doing. Noelle Grant waits for no man. Tonight, I will give myself to Jace. Maybe not the title of girlfriend but I will let him fulfill his promise to make love to me.

“Jace,” I whisper and he looks up. “Take me.”

“Are you sure?” His head tilts to the side as though he doesn’t believe me, but the tight grip on my thighs tells me he wouldn’t try to stop me.

My chest leads me up off the back of the chair and meets with his. Tenderly, I trace the ripple of his biceps with my index finger and drag it past his shoulder, pulling him tighter against me. Our lips meet, and I show him with my tongue how sure I am. Pushing, pulling and tugging. Biting.

My body grows hungry for his. It’s as though deciding to give myself to him has given permission for a starving animal to eat.

Our lips part and he looks my face over. “I want you to be sure, Noe.”

Frustrated, I stand up making him fall onto the floor and head to his room. “Meet me in there in five minutes. You’ll know then if I’m certain or not.”

Seven minutes pass before I hear the knob turn in his room. I brought an overnight bag this time, planning on staying until the morning. So, I slipped on my lace purple thong and see through camisole. My nipples are rock hard as a breeze passes in the room from the air conditioner. I’m on my haunches on his bed. My legs spread open and my hair wild.

The light cascades from the hallway into his dimly lit room and he comes to a standstill just inside.

“God, Noe. You look delicious,” his voice cracks showing just how my presentation has affected him.

I tug at the strap of my cami and pull it down over my shoulder. “Come and have a taste then.”

I’m flat on my back in no time. I’ve never seen Jace move that fast. His tight body is over mine and he hitches my leg up, caressing the back of my knee. His other hand pulls my top down a few more inches, enough to bare my right breast and allow him access to pull my taut nipple between his teeth. I hiss at the sensation of the gentle licking but aggressive nips.