"Where are we going?"
"I am taking you to my home." Jace replied stiffly. Had I made him mad by not replying to his earlier admission? Jeez, I hoped not. This was unfamiliar territory for me. The ball was entirely in his court and I didn't know which direction he planned on serving it.
I started fidgeting nervously with my hands as the nose of the car dipped into the dim lighting of the parking garage. My heart was a nervous wreck in my chest. I couldn't concentrate on a damned thing.
"Calm down." Jace said gently. "You don't ever have anything to fear with me."
"I trust you." I was just as floored as Jace by my words. It was so unlike me to utter something so...binding. The moment one allowed trust to weave its way into a relationship was the moment it was surely headed for doom. Like love, trust holds the capacity to become ones' undoing. I can only pray it will be kind enough not to prey upon me.
"You shouldn't." His blue eyes narrowed at my words.
"But, I do." And it was the honest truth. I trusted Jace with my life. If I didn't, I would have bolted from his car a long time ago.
Jace turned the car into a parking space beside a row of impressive vehicles. I couldn't help myself. "You must live in a building of movie stars." I half joked.
Jace cocked his head. "Why do you say that?"
"Did you not see all those cars?" I asked in astonishment. Was he so rich he didn't even notice the expensive badge the cars wore? I'd even seen an Austin Martin in the line, looking pristine and stroke-worthy. I wasn't even going to get started on the Lamborghini. My mouth was already watering. I swear my irrational love of cars had me fearing the possibility my body stored a Y-chromosome.
Jace laughed, interrupting my train of thought. "I saw them."
My mouth dropped as he shrugged off my astonishment. He stepped from the car. I pushed open the door slowly; fearful I might ding another car with the door of the Bugatti. I couldn't imagine the price my head would have if I accidentally dented one of these vehicles. Jeez, I felt as though I was in a museum filled with ancient artifacts that were not encased in protective displays. It was nerve wracking.
Jace watched me step slowly from between the two cars with an amused grin on his face. How dare he laugh at me for this? He might be rich enough to bargain for his life, but I certainly was not.
"Wipe that grin off your face." I snapped. "It's rude."
He laughed. "I'm sure the owner appreciates your care."
I glared hard when I finally made my way from between the two vehicles. A breath of utter relief rushed out of my lungs when I realized I was standing on safe ground. Even if I somehow happened to fall, I would only damage myself.
Jace placed his hand on the small of my back as he guided me toward the elevators. I couldn't seem to tear my attention away from the line of cars. When I looked up and saw the letter P above each parking stall, including the Bugatti's, I realized, with horror, each car belonged to Jace.
I stopped dead in my tracks and Jace looked down at me with confusion on his face. "Is something wrong?"
"These cars are all yours." My voice got higher with each word, and I coughed, too shocked to be embarrassed.
He nodded easily. "Yes. They are."
My eyes bulged. "There are so many..."
He nodded as though it weren't a big deal. It was a huge deal! "I told you I like to collect cars."
"But these are not cars, Jace...they are..." There were no words. No one person should have this much money. Goodness gracious, he was the definition of extreme.
"Come." Jace commanded, and I shook my head, backing away from him.
He was crazy if he thought I was going to go up to his condo after seeing what he had in his parking garage. I could only imagine the things he had incased within the walls he called home that I could destroy.
"I think you should take me home, Jace." I tried to employ command to my tone, but I was unsuccessful.
"Why?"
"I'm exhausted." It was a lame excuse, but at least it was true. I was exhausted.
"I assure you I have a bed you can occupy." Jace smirked and my stomach flipped at the double meaning in his words.
I looked back at his car before narrowing my eyes on his deliciously handsome figure. "Exactly how meticulous are you?"
Jace cocked his head. "I fail to see the relevance in your question, Olivia."
I pulled the corner of my bottom lip between my teeth as I thought. "What I am meaning to ask is, how angry will you be if I scuff your floor or ding your wall or I don't know," I waved my hand. "Chip your granite or something?"
Jace nodded, finally understanding my hesitation to set foot into the elevator that would take us to his condo. "If you scuff my floor, I will watch as you clean it on your hands and knees. All the while, enjoying the curve of your ass." He stepped toward me and my breath caught in my throat. "If you ding my wall, I would be willing to bet the fault was mine; for ravishing you against it." He took another step so only an inch of space I so desperately longed to close, stood between us. "And, if you somehow chip the granite, then I'll know, I was too rough."