Page 43 of Jace
Am I dying to know what’s on that video? Yes. It makes me conflicted.
The beast in me wants to kill the man who violated her sexual privacy. It’s so fucking wrong.
But the man in me wants to know what she was doing that she thinks was so bad, so that I can do itwithher and show her how good it can feel.
Because I’d never hurt her. I can’t imagine how she must feel about sex now. When it’s been weaponized against you, can you trust someone to share it again?
Maybe last night is all we can have. It’s all that feels safe for her. And that’s good enough for me. But it shouldn’tbegood enough for her.
That’s why I’m sad.
Vivian deserves so much more.
I shrug, dismissing my feelings. This isn’t about me. “Same day, different dicksplash,” I tell Vale.
She and I are crass because our friendship is close. It’s completely understood that she belongs with Nash, and I’m in love with Vivian. There’s a freedom in our clarity—a cuteness to our candor.
So of course, Vale rips her feet off the desk. “Oh my god, something finally happened last night with Vivian, didn’t it?” She claps. “Jace! Yay!”
Clocking Vivian’s ponytail, swishing by the gate, I wave Vale off. “Put the pom-poms down.”
“Hey.” Vivian blushes at the first sight of me.
“Hey.” Fuck, I’m blushing too.
Without a word, she walks my way, looking like a true smokeshow in her sleeveless, mock turtleneck sweater dress and nude sandals. Her dress is beige and elegant and fucking killing me because her nipples have never looked harder.
Silently, she hands me a white paper bag of my favorite macarons.
“Thank you.” I barely remember English.
For the first time, she winks at me. “My pleasure.”
She hasn’t been crying this morning, I can tell. She woke up happy because of last night. It’s obvious and worth it, even if it’s all we can do together.
For now.
“Hey, Vale.” She turns to go inside, ever the professional once she’s in the shop. “I have a client coming at five. She’s a new mom and wants to feel sexy again, and I told her you could help her find something gorgeous to wear for our shoot?”
“Sure.” Vale perks up. “What’s her name?”
The two easily chat while I watch, flooded with warmth.
Vivian fits in without even knowing who we really are.
Vale adores her. Nash respects her. Grant likes her. Delphine and Ruby are on her side. Even Axel raises an admiring brow at her. Without trying, Vivian belongs to us. It’s natural and making this really hard to hide.
This pounding in my heart.
This image I have of initiating her.
This urge I have to make her my queen.
I have pit stains the size of Canada.
The women exchange quick hugs before Vivian slings her camera bag over her shoulder. “Okay, I’ve got a meeting at The Mercier at three, but I’ll be right back.”
Instinct punches my gut. “The Mercier?” It’s telling me not to let her out of my sight.
