All Good Things(63)

I thought about telling Jace, but there was no way he would know who was writing to me. It was more than likely some crazy female who had read the article published in the gossip magazine, and was jealous. She probably just wanted to make me feel threatened so I would, ultimately, avoid Jace. She wanted a threat eliminated and I was not going to be so easily frightened.

In the back of my mind, I knew it was more than just a jealous female...but I was not ready to admit that yet. I also didn't want to worry Jace. He was already paranoid, but I was starting to wonder if his paranoia was valid. I moved quickly to my closet in search of something comfortable to change into. I decided on a little white tank top and a pair of light pink boyfriend shorts. I slid from the dress and stepped into my shorts, pulling the shirt over my head.

A bang sounded against the door of my condo and my heart thrashed nervously in my chest. How the hell had someone gotten past the buzzer? What if it was the writer of the letters coming to make good on their threat? No...threat was not the right word. The letter had been composed with a threatening feel, but, in reality, there were no threat...just warnings.

I slammed the desk drawer closed and ran through the hall. I paused in the kitchen, debated on picking up a knife, but I decided I was not going to live my life in fear. I walked past the kitchen with all the sharp knives and paused by the door. I peeked through the peephole and my breath caught in my throat.

I swung open the door. "Jace?"

"Olivia," he grinned almost sheepishly as he handed me a cup from Starbucks. "I was told you wanted white hot chocolate."

I glared. Gabe, the traitor! If I didn't want to pull him into a tight bear hug for sending me Jace, I might have plotted revenge. I said, "I could have made that here."

"I want to be the reason you feel relaxed." He spoke gruffly. "It's only fitting I calm you down considering I'm the one who worked you up."

I shifted my weight from foot to foot. How was I supposed to keep my emotions in check when he was doing things like this? Damn! I reached out to accept the hot chocolate. "Thank you."

"Of course." His eyes stared intensely into mine. "Are you going to invite me in?"

My heart fluttered and I held the door open for him. He took a step inside and I watched as he kicked off his shoes. He pulled the door from my grasp, and closed it, before locking it. He really was attentive and for someone who didn't want a bodyguard, he was paranoid. I wonder if he had also been receiving threatening letters...or, if Jace was just this way all the time. It was obvious his obsessive need to control, everything and everyone around him, stemmed from a deep-rooted distrust of undefined variables. I frowned. Was I an undefined variable in his life? Did he not trust me? Was that why he was here? Was he checking up on me?

I cocked my head to the side as I watched him walk slowly into my living space. His shoulders were tense and his eyes were all-seeing. I wondered what he was thinking. Did he draw a conclusion on my personality as I had done when I'd walked into his penthouse?

"It's not as bad as I thought it would be." He admitted as he scanned the condo. I didn't know whether to be offended or relieved. Had he thought I lived in a complete dump because I didn't have a doorman? The condo was still very aesthetically pleasing; maybe not so much as his penthouse, but it was my home and I loved it.

"Thank you." I chuckled. I shook my head incredulously. Any living space would appear shabby in comparison to Jace's pristine penthouse, but I appreciated his odd attempt at politeness. "How did you get in?"

His eyes glittered. "You wouldn't have to ask that question if you had a doorman."

I pursed my lips and my shoulders tensed. "Jace," I warned.

He grinned. "Take a sip of that hot chocolate, baby. I want to see you come undone."

I frowned. Was he being serious? Jeez, he was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Sometimes he was so difficult to read, but tonight I decided to beat him at his own games.

"It comes in second to you." I flirted, and his eyes glittered. It was not a lie. Giving myself over to Jace was the best feeling in the world. It fulfilled me completely. Was it irrational...hell, yes! But, would I stop...oh no!

Jace turned away from me and I watched as he brought a long, steady breath into his body before releasing. "You do not like the dark?" He inquired.

I stiffened. "I just like a high power bill." I joked.

He turned to face me again. His blue eyes were filled with concern. "Is there something I should be aware of, Olivia?"

I froze, momentarily, before bringing the hot chocolate to my lips. "Nope." I took a long sip as Jace studied me. Finally, he nodded. In a few long strides, he was standing in front of me.