"Where is your car?" I asked wearily. I couldn't believe I was getting into a car with a stranger I knew nothing about. Besides the fact that I had become a regular stalker of his on Google, I didn't know a thing about him.
Jace didn't seem to notice my unease, and if he did, he chose not to aid in its release. His hand moved to the small of my back as he guided me to a car that sat parked on the side of the street. It was black and sleek and probably worth more than my life. I knew enough about cars, but I didn't know this one. The badge it wore was unfamiliar.
Jace seemed to notice my ogling because a grunted laugh sounded from between his perfect lips. "Bugatti Veyron."
I tore my attention from the beautiful black car almost painfully. "What?"
"The car." Jace nodded to the work of art. "It is a Bugatti."
"I've never heard of it." I said, focusing my attention back to the car. Wow.
With his hand on my back, we moved to the passenger side of the car. He opened the door and nudged gently for me to get into the expensive contraption. Everything in the car was black and smooth. I slid against the leather as though it was silk and stared out the heavily tinted windows.
A moment later, Jace was beside me. The engine revved to life and he pulled away from the curb. His hand on the gear shifter was an erotic sight that really shouldn't have turned me on...but it did. Jeez, everything this man did turned me on. It was as though I had been waiting all my life for him. My body had been dormant before meeting him. I had never desired anything physical with a man...and how I had tried. I hated being called cold. I loathed the fact that I couldn't get through a kiss without thinking of other things I could be accomplishing with the time I was wasting. I had always been unaffected by affection, but with Jace...all he had to do was look at me and I turned to warm putty, ready for his molding.
I didn't say anything to Jace as he drove. I was too distracted by his close proximity to speak as I tried relentlessly to dull the burning ach in my core. His scent filled the space around me, making me feel intoxicated by him.
When Jace pulled the car against the curb outside my condo, I felt my mouth drop open. "I didn't tell you where I lived." I gasped.
Jace didn't react. "I'm aware."
"How did you know?"
"I have my ways, Olivia." His tone was dismissive and I felt my cheeks burn.
I knew I should have got out of the car, but I couldn't. I just sat there dumbfounded as I waited for his answer. "Are you stalking me?" My voice was accusatory and I wished I could take the words back as soon as they were out of my mouth. I had basically been stalking him, so I didn't know why I felt I had the right to question him.
Jace laughed, but the sound was strained. "I suppose you could say that."
My breath caught at his admittance. Was he insane? You weren't supposed to go around divulging the fact that you were a stalker. Jeez, whoever gave him his facts should be charged. "You know you aren't supposed to admit that." I blushed. "I mean, if you're stalking someone, you should deny it at all costs because they might think you're creepy."
He laughed and this time it was real. "I don't care what people think of me."
I shook my head. "That's not true."
"How do you figure?" He cocked his head to the side.
"Well," I scanned his outfit. "You are very well dressed and your car...I wouldn't even call this a car. It's more like a piece of art sent from the heavens." I continued. "And you are always so calm and collected. You definitely care about what people think."
"I dress for myself, Olivia. And, as for the car, I like cars. I collect them."
I frowned. "You collect cars in a city like New York? What's the point?"
He shrugged and his eyes darkened. "We all have our interests."
I nodded. "Yeah, we do."
"What's yours?" He asked so softly, I almost didn't hear him.
I thought for a moment. "I like to read." I smiled before continuing. I was very aware of his cobalt eyes on my face as I spoke, but I continued. "I love words. They are magical. Words can create a world beyond the imagination and sometimes it's nice to just escape into those worlds."
"You like to escape, Olivia?" Jace asked. His eyes searched mine as he waited for an answer.
I thought, for a moment. This conversation was getting awfully personal. I knew I should be weary of telling him anything. He was Jace Rush, for goodness sakes. He shouldn't be interested in someone like me. In comparison to him, I was dull. He was like the sun, magnificent in his burning beauty, shinning, so brilliant, that even the lifeless grow exquisite in his presence. I, on the other hand, was insignificant as the pebbles in the asphalt. We were worlds apart, and yet, here we were, together in his car.