All Good Things(44)

Wow. Did I really give the impression that I was someone who was so completely helpless?

"Don't worry about me, Trisha. I went into this with Jace knowing exactly what I was getting out of it. It's just sex." I felt my cheeks burn, bright red, as I poured two heaping spoons of powder into the mug. I added the water and set to stirring.

"Just sex." Trisha's mouth dropped. "You've never believed in 'just sex'. I have been telling you for years, you just need to loosen up and live, but you've never listened. You aren't admitting it to yourself, Liv...but this is more than 'just sex' to you."

I shook my head adamantly and eyed her coldly. "Nope. It's just sex."

"What changed?" She raised a brow, and her voice sounded interrogating.

I shrugged. "I decided to listen to you for a change."

She stared at me for a long, hard moment before finally nodding. "Well," she sighed. "How was it then?"

I blushed again. "Have I ever been one to kiss and tell?"

She stood. "You're blushing, so it must have been damned good." She walked around the island and dropped her mug into the sink. "You can tell me about it some other time. I have to get to work. I'm hoping the four pots of coffee I had over the night will keep me coherent."

"I'm sorry again." I said as I downed the rest of my creamy drink.

"Yeah, yeah." Trisha padded to the hall, paused and poked her head back into the kitchen. She pointed to an envelope on the counter by the fridge. It was where we tended to keep our bills. "A letter came for you last night. I don't know when it came or who dropped it off. They just slid it under the door. Believe me, I was tempted to read it...but, it was sealed so I refrained."

"That was big of you, Trisha." I grinned. She waved her hand and mumbled as she disappeared down the hall to her bedroom.

I padded across the kitchen. I had my sights set on the envelope. I was intrigued. I picked it up and stared at it. My name was hand written in elegant script. I frowned as I tore the envelope open, pulling a single sheet of paper from the pocket. I unfolded it eagerly and as I read through the words, my blood froze.

Olivia,

You've gone too far and tempted a prodigious monster. He wears his mask well and he plays his part flawlessly. Make no mistake, you are nothing to him but a conquest he will eventually have his fill of, and when he does, he will leave you a shell of a woman. Mark my words, he will rob you of your humanity, crush your dreams and taint your sanity. But, worst of all, he will steal your soul and leave you so broken you will have no hope of ever picking up the pieces.

But, you can still run. You have not been ruined...yet. He has not broken you and you still have a future ahead of you, but if you remain in the den with him...be prepared to remain forever within his shackles.

Sincerely,

Your Savior.

My knees were weak. That was the first thought that registered in my mind as I leaned against the counter. The letter was not a threat...but a warning. I had a sickening feeling the man the writer was referring to was none other than Jace. But I didn't understand. Who would be warning me away from Jace? And, why?

With shaky hands, I folded the letter and placed it in the envelope. I thought about calling Jace and then shook the thought from my mind. Whoever sent me the letter was obviously unstable. I walked through the hall and slipped into my bedroom. It had to be a crazy ex girlfriend. I couldn't think of another scenario. Someone wanted me to stay away from Jace and they were trying to frighten me into complying.

I laughed aloud as I placed the letter in the top drawer of my desk. As much as I hated the thought of giving the writer even an ounce of satisfaction, I didn't think I would be seeing Jace again. At least not anytime soon. Jace was all kinds of wrong for me. The writer had that tidbit correct. Jace would, undoubtedly, hurt me if I allowed this to continue...but, it didn't matter. By the way the morning unfolded, it was more than apparent Jace had gotten what he'd wanted from me. I was a body to warm his bed. I was mature enough to accept the facts for what they were. Jace was one hell of a one night stand...and, that was all.

I forced thoughts of Jace from my mind as I peeled my clothing from my body before throwing them into the laundry hamper. I turned on the shower and climbed into the steamy stream of water. I tried to ignore the memory of Jace washing me down with his delicious hands as I scrubbed his scent from my body.

I had to move on from the world of Jace and there was nothing like an early morning shower to start a new day.





Chapter 10

I looked up from the screen of my laptop as Caleb waltzed into my office. He grinned at me as he planted himself comfortably in one of the two black leather chairs I had facing my desk. Moments later, he had his ankles crossed and his feet rested on the corner of my desk. Sometimes I wondered what went through his mind. Caleb was both refreshing and infuriating. There was no one in the world who dared to speak to me like Caleb...as though he didn't give a shit about ticking me off. I liked that, and hated it at the same time. As a matter of fact, Olivia was starting to act remarkably similar to Caleb. Maybe that was why I couldn't seem to get enough of her. She tested me.