Undone (The Unexpected Series Book 2) (6 page)

Holy shit! If I didn’t pinch myself multiple times after Trent left I would’ve thought that was another dream. The evidence of my arousal running down my leg should have been proof enough that it wasn’t.

I could see it in his eyes at lunch. He was going to tell me what Erin and Hadley thought was true. That he had feelings for me. When he said it was because he was protecting me, I knew he was lying, and then I freaked too. I got scared and didn’t know what to do. I needed time to think and decide if it’s worth pursuing. So I did the only thing I could. I deflected.

My cell pings in my purse. Digging it out on the front steps I glance down to see a text from Jace.

Sexy Jace: It’s 1:45. Ready?

Me: I am. Are you?

Sexy Jace: Ready to get you wet. Be there in fifteen.

Sighing I realize he won’t be the first one today to get me wet when another text pops up.

Erin: Sunday dinner at six tonight.

Me: Trent going?

Erin: Nope. He’s doing dinner with the bitch’s parents.

Me: I’m there

I’ll most likely have to leave from the beach to the Decker’s. I can’t have Jace pick me up now.

Me: I’ll meet you there.

Sexy Jace: Want your own getaway vehicle?

Me: No, I have dinner plans with Erin.

Running inside to slip on my bathing suit I try to calm my nerves before heading out.

~~

Our cars pull up at the same time and when he steps out he looks panty dropping hot in his navy blue board shorts and sandals. With no shirt on you have a clear view of his rippling abs. I pull out my phone from my bag and without embarrassment this time I take a picture of him as he walks towards me.

“I knew you would do that. You just couldn’t help it could you?” He says wrapping his hard biceps around my body. It’s like hugging a rock solid statue.

“I really couldn’t. Jeez, how much do you workout? You’ve got that whole V thing that makes smart girls go stupid going on.” I subconsciously take in his musky scent.

Did I just sniff him?

My heart rate picks up when he pulls away and sweetly grabs my hand directing us towards the stairway that leads down to the beach.

Glencoe Beach is absolutely amazing. The parking lot surrounds a beautiful park that has walkways crisscrossing around tall shade trees and benches that look down to the beach as well as a few tennis courts. I’ve had one or two nights of fun on those benches. The fifty or so stone steps leading down to the beach are a workout in itself but worth it when you get to the sand. The suburbs of Chicago don’t have very many nice places to enjoy the beach, but this one is my favorite. It’s peaceful and serene but for some reason, today it’s unusually crowded. Bodies take up almost every inch of sand, and I spot a large group of people playing beach volleyball.

He stops at the bottom of the steps allowing me to take in the lake and clear blue sky. “Where do you want to sit, Noelle?”

Looking around, I point to where there is a vacant area that is semi private just next to the water. “Over there is great,” I reply.

Claiming our secluded spot with our towels, I pull the sunscreen out of my bag and grab the hem of my sundress to lift it over my head. “Want me to help you with that?” He asks grabbing the bottom of it at the same time. I remove my hands giving him permission to continue.

He slowly pulls the dress up, and the back of his calloused hands run over the side of my body. Goosebumps invade my skin, and my heart skips a beat. When he successfully pulls it over my head, I hand him the bottle of lotion and hesitantly turn my back to him.

“You have beautiful skin, Noelle,” he says sweeping my hair off my neck.

“Thank you,” I say as he massages sunscreen onto my skin like it’s foreplay. Dragging the tips of his fingers along my shoulders he methodically rubs it into my back.

I can’t help but let out a whimper and heat immediately invades my cheeks.

“Oh, you like that huh?” I can’t speak so I nod my head, and he brings the front of his body flush to mine. Continuing the difficult task of getting every inch of my body protected, he reaches over my shoulders and starts to rub it into my chest. My head falls back against his broad sexy chest, and my eyes close. This. Feels. Amazing. His hands travel lower and his fingertips just barely break the barrier of my bikini top.

“Jace, you have to stop.” I unwillingly turn around and move away from him before I rip my top off and beg him to devour me.

“Okay, baby. What do you want to do?”

Baby?

“Uhm, let’s talk.” I adjust the straps of my bikini top to try to hide the fact that my nipples could cut glass and sit on my towel. He looks down at me shaking his head and does the same.

“Well, since we don’t know each other all that well how about you tell me a little about yourself besides how hot you are in a bikini?” He winks and pulls his legs in front of him resting his forearms on his knees.

“My name is Noelle Marie Grant. I’m twenty eight and my birthday is January twenty second. I don’t have any brothers or sisters. I am an event planner at Events Unlimited. Mostly corporate events but I do weddings as well. I try to work out four times a week. My friends say I’m borderline OCD but I think they just need to be more organized.” I laugh. “I feel like I just filled out my dating profile. What about you?”

“Well, my full name is Jace Michael Reynolds. I’m twenty nine years old and my birthday is May first.” His voice is monotone and seems to be making fun of me. “I have a twin brother named A.J.”
              “Holy SHIT! There are two of you walking around looking that yummy?” I interrupt. I can’t believe there are two of them roaming this earth.

“Yes, there are two of us. Why? You looking for a threesome?” He wiggles his eyebrows up and down suggestively, and I wonder if they have ever done that.

“No. I only do one at a time. That way I can focus all my energy on them.” His mouth drops open, and I start to think that despite what I just said I wouldn’t mind one with him and Trent. Shaking my head to bring me back to my senses I try approaching a safer subject. “Alright, so what do you do Jace Michael?
              “Well, I own my own gym in Des Plaines called JV Fitness. Actually I co-own it with Valerie. The blonde girl you saw in my car.” He looks at me as though I might get jealous. I don’t do jealous. When he doesn’t get it he continues. “J for Jace, V for Valerie.”

“I’m not surprised you own a gym looking the way you do.” I shrug.

We say nothing else as we look out towards the water. I think about how I have to tell him about Trent, but I don’t know where to start.

He effortlessly stands and reaches for my hand. “Do you want to go for a swim?”

I take it and allow him to pull me up like a rag doll. He captures me in his large hands, and his breathing becomes staggered. The front of his body presses against mine and I feel what I can only assume is either his rather large dick or an anaconda pressed up against my stomach. He lifts his hands to push back the hair that has fallen from behind my ear and slides the back of his fingers down my neck. Ducking his head down low he brings his mouth slowly closer to mine.

“Jace…” I whisper.

“Yea, baby?” His voice is hoarse, and I watch his Adams apple slide up and down his stubble covered throat as he swallows.

“Race you to the water?!” I squeak out, shoving away from him.

I decide it’s best not to kiss him until he knows what happened earlier today, and I’m not willing to tell him just yet.

I take off towards the water like I’m being chased.

I’m a fast runner but Jace is much faster. He runs up ahead of me, doubles back, and picks me up. I’m effortlessly thrown over his shoulders, and he continues his trek into Lake Michigan. I beg him not to throw me in, but he slaps my ass and launches us both into the cool water. It’s refreshing. However, the shock of the cold takes my breath away. I come up for air and quickly dive back down teasingly trying to get away from him. The water cascades over me and I try to imagine I’m back in the crystal clear waters of Cozumel and not the murky lake. When my lungs start to burn from lack of oxygen, I use both of my feet to push off the bottom and shoot up to break the surface. As I get to the top and take in some air I am greeted with paralyzing cramps in my calf muscles. My body freezes up as I grab the back of my legs and sink back under the water.

Struggling, all I can do is try to use my hands to swim back up. My legs are of no use and panic seizes me.

Where the hell is Jace?

Panic turns into sheer horror as I look and feel around finding him nowhere.

I’m going to die a virgin
!

Just kidding. I’m way past that shit
.

I guess the years of swim lessons didn’t do a damn thing for me. My lungs are burning, and I can’t hold my breath any longer. Just as I let go of the last bit of air in my lungs, I feel large hands wrap around my body. I’m finally brought back to the surface, and I gasp and choke sucking in the fresh air.

“Noelle! Are you okay?” His eyes are wide with fear and relief.

I shake my head no and he cradles me in his arms keeping me above the surface.

“No,” I finally say with the little breath I have. “I have fucking cramps in my calf muscles and I couldn’t get to surface. Crap they hurt!”              

Wading back into shallow waters, he swings my legs around him wrapping me around his waist. My arms automatically go around his neck and my head to his chest and I take in another breath. He slides his hands down my body and to my calves massaging the cramps out. I yell out in pain at first but after a few squeezes it subsides, and I start to get normal feeling back in my legs.

“Thank you, Jace. I thought I was going to drown,” I say pulling my head off his well-built pecs that I just want to nip at and look up into his concerned green eyes.

“No need to thank me. I thought you were just playing around. When I got close enough I could tell something was wrong. How do they feel now?” His ministrations get more aggressive.

“Better. That feels so good,” I say a little too orgasmically.

He gets this cocky look on his face and brings his hands higher to my knees and uses his thumbs to rub circles over them. “Does it now? What about this?”

“Oh my God, so good.” I know what he is trying to do but I don’t care.

“How about now, Noelle?” He brings his fingers underneath my thighs and pulls me a little tighter. I’m practically one with him and his thumbs are sliding up and down the tops of my thighs. I can’t speak. I can only just stare at the hunger in his eyes. He bites his lower lip and looks down at mine.

“I can’t stop thinking about you, Noelle.” I don’t have time to deflect him as his lips collide with mine. He lets go of one thigh bringing his free hand to the back of my neck to hold my lips to his. This kiss is strong. Aggressive. I yearn to ride him like the stallion he is. I’m still worked up from Trent and now Jace has my head spinning.

Oh, shit! Trent.

I push on his chest, so I can get a little space and catch my breath. “Jace, we need to talk.”

“What do we need to talk about, baby? I like kissing you. You don’t like it?” His lips are just a millimeter away, and I want to suck on them.

What is wrong with me? Kissing two guys in one day? Not my style.

“I need to tell you what happened with Trent today.” I look away, and his grip loosens its hold. Annoyance is all over his face as I risk another look at him, and I decide it’s best to take my arms from around his neck.

“What about it?” His green eyes have turned fierce, and I almost want to take it back.

“He kissed me.” The words rush out, and I bite the inside of my cheek.

He stares at me for a moment before asking, “How long have you known him, Noelle?” His face grows dark.
              “Ten years,” I reply not even having to do the math.

“And he chose now to make a move? Convenient.” He shakes his head letting go of me completely and swims back to shore. My body shivers at the loss of his warmth.

“Jace. Let’s talk about this like adults. Please?” My sore calf muscles scream as I tread after him.

He makes it all the way to the shoreline and sits down letting the small waves crash into him. His knees are bent, and he has his head in his hands resting on them. “What do you want, Noelle? You can’t have us both.”

Sitting next to him, I place my hand on his forearm. “I know but right now I don’t know how I feel about either of you, and I owe it to myself and the both of you to figure that out.” He rips his arm from my grasp and stands up. I follow. “I don’t want to miss an opportunity with you either though, Jace.”

“Are you serious? So you’re asking to date us both? That’s not happening, Noelle.” He stalks towards the towels kicking sand up as he does.

“I don’t know what to do, Jace!” I yell to his back. “I really like you. I don’t know much about you but what I do know I really like and I want to get to know you more. I feel a connection with you but I just need you to bear with me while I figure it all out.”