All Good Things(35)

"I will be right back. Stay here." I watched as he backed off the bed and disappeared around the bed. When I heard the water running, I assumed he was in the bathroom. Without his weight on my body, I felt cold and very naked. I wanted to reach down and pull the duvet that was folded at the foot of the bed up over my body, but Jace had said to stay here, so I did.

Jace appeared again. He was wearing black silk drawstring pants and my mouth watered. God, he was so damned good looking. "Spread your leg's for me, Angel."

I complied and he wiped me down with a warm washcloth. The action was so gentle and caring, and so very against the man he claimed to be, I was left feeling confused and warmed. When he was done, he threw the cloth onto the floor and climbed back onto the bed. I didn't know what time it was, but the exhaustion that hit me earlier came back at full-force. I didn't want to overstay my welcome, though.

With a sigh, I sat up and reached for my panties. Jace's arm caught my wrist before I had a chance to grasp hold of the material. "What are you doing?"

I glanced at him with wide eyes as I shrugged. He looked mad...really mad. But why? "I'm getting dressed."

"Why?" He growled.

"I'm really tired and I think I should be getting home."

His blue eyes darkened. "I think you should stay here."

My brows raised and so did my voice. "The night?"

"Yes, the night, Olivia." He said slowly so there was no chance of misunderstanding, and I blushed. I preferred when he called me Angel rather than Olivia, but oh well. I would take what I could get.

"Are you sure, Jace?" I asked wearily. "I really won't be offended if you want to take me home."

"Well, you're beginning to offend me and if you slide into even one article of clothing, I will be offended." His eyes burned with warning. "You don't want to offend me, Olivia."

My blood warmed as I nodded. Why was I so quick to obey him? That would have to change. I couldn't possibly be one of those women, and if I was, then I was heading straight to therapy as soon as I had a free moment.

"I'll stay." I relented, scooting back on the bed. "But, if you don't pull that blanket up here, I will be putting my clothes back on." I threatened and Jace chuckled.

He pulled the duvet cover up over the bed before tucking it around me. He pulled me into his side and I wrapped myself around him as naturally as I would if I had spent the last three hundred and sixty-five nights with him in this same way. My head rested on his chest and my leg was twined with his. I found it unfair I was naked, while he was half clothed, but I decided not to bicker about something so trivial. I closed my eyes and sighed contentedly.

"Goodnight Jace." I breathed as I fell into sleep.

***

I hadn't been able to reply to her whispered words before she'd fallen into sleep. Now, as I sat on the edge of the bed, watching her sprawled comfortably in my bed, I couldn't help but wonder, what the fuck I was doing. She had wanted to leave. She'd even gone as far as trying to get dressed and I should have let her, but I couldn't. I was quickly realizing just how powerless I was against her...and that was dangerous.

I rubbed my forehead almost violently as I looked at her over my shoulder for the thousandth time. She was still in the same position. Her dark brown hair spilled over the white pillow. Her chin was tucked into her chest and she held her blanket clutched tightly in her secure fists, close to her face. It looked as though she was trying to protect herself even in sleep. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of childhood she had. My research told me it was privileged, but those were the lives that tended to hold the most painful secrets. I knew if someone had hurt her I would probably kill them. The thought made me cringe. I shouldn't feel a damned thing for her, and yet, on countless occasions, I had proven to myself and to her I was incapable of letting her go. But why? What was it about her that had me ignoring every lesson I ever learned?

My possessiveness did not surprise me. I was possessive over everything that was mine and I definitely considered Olivia to be mine. As far as I was concerned, I had staked my claim on her. The prick she had working for her knew, it and soon I would ensure everyone who went sniffing around her knew it. She belonged to me. I needed her to belong to me. Fuck.

I stood and started pacing the room. I had been hoping I would be able to forget her...get her out of my system, if only I could get her into bed, but I think I knew it would be impossible. Olivia was not the kind of girl you could just screw and be done with. It didn't work that way with her. She was so much more. But damn, I was not good for her. I lived with secrets that would ruin her. I carried a weight on my shoulders that would destroy her wide-eyed innocence. She was good, right down to her very core. She was honest and blunt and to my surprise, naturally submissive. She was everything I wanted, but shouldn't let myself indulge in.