Jace nodded, but his eyes were clouded over. "It's been a long day." Jace dipped his head, brushing his lips against mine. "Go to sleep, Angel."
My heart wept as I closed my eyes. Jace hovered over me for a long moment and I knew he was hunting for an explanation for the sorrow in my face. I knew he wouldn't find it, because the reason was him...and, everything I felt for him was locked away in the vault that was my heart.
Jace shifted and I felt his movement deep inside of me, but still he didn't pull out. He rested his face in the crevice of my neck and breathed me in. His lips skimmed over my skin as he tucked his hand beneath my neck.
This was how we fell asleep. Together as one. For the first and last time...my heart shattered into a million little pieces.
***
I woke early. The sun had not yet risen and the condo was quiet, but I knew what woke me. Jace was gone.
The bed next to me was cold...and so was my body where he had lain when he fell asleep. My heart pounded...thrashed in my chest. My fingers trembled as they clenched into tight fists, the nails digging into the flesh of my palm. I tried to fight the tears that swarmed me, but I was weak. Hot rivulets flowed through my lower lashes in streams of heartache and anger. Oh, I was angry with him. I was furious. How dare he make love to me, only to leave me?
I was angry with myself. I let him in when I knew he never wanted any part of what I had to offer. My heartache was on me. I let him love me and I let him walk away knowing full well I should have been the one to do the walking...or running. I should have been smarter because, maybe then, I would have avoided the pain burning in my chest.
When I cried the last of my tears, I pulled myself from the bed and walked like the ruined woman I was, to my closet. I pulled a deep purple silk negligée over my head. It rested just above my knees. It was cute. I thought about wearing it for Jace before I shook the thought from my mind. Jace was gone. Last night had been the sweetest of goodbyes...but goodbye it had been.
I had to get over him. I had to get over my foolish pain.
I pulled a black silk housecoat from the hanger and shoved my arms into the holes before tying the string at my waist. It was a nice housecoat. Trisha had bought it for me last year for Christmas. She liked sexy boutiques. They weren't really my thing, but with the amount of outfits she bought for me, one would think I was obsessed with the skimpy materials.
I sighed as I padded down the hall. I walked into the empty kitchen and reached for the can of white hot chocolate I kept in the pantry just as the door clicked. I froze as it creaked open. It was too early for Trisha to be creeping in the front door. Someone was entering into the apartment and I could only imagine it was the writer of the letters...my savior.
Without thinking, I reached for the largest knife in the holder and faced the entrance. I listened as each step came closer and closer. My heart was pounding so hard, I could hear its beating in my ears. Relentless.
A figure dressed in black turned the corner and my heart leapt into my throat as blue eyes locked on mine. His eyes widened and he stiffened mid-step.
"What the fuck, Olivia?" Jace growled. His eyes were locked on the knife.
Slowly, I lowered the knife to the counter. My fingers were too shaky to release their hold on the handle as I brought a calming breath into my throat. "I'm sorry."
Jace set the Starbucks tray he had in his hand on the counter before shrugging a laptop case from his shoulder, setting it on the island stool. His eyes were wary as he approached me slowly. "Let go of the knife, Olivia."
Jace did not wait for me to comply. He reached for my hand and plucked one finger after the other from the knife handle. When he was positive I was not going to grab for it again, he set it on the counter behind him and pulled me into his chest.
"I didn't know it was you." I whispered against his chest.
"Who else would it be, Olivia?" he growled. "Aside from Trisha. I don't think she would appreciate that kind of welcoming."
I laughed. "She wouldn't."
Jace pulled me away from him. His eyes swept over my face and he sighed. "Why were you crying?"
"I wasn't." I shook my head and looked away from him. What was he doing here?
"Do not lie to me." He growled. He slipped a finger under my chin, forcing me to look up into his face. "What made you cry and why did you greet me with a knife?"
I drew in a shaky breath. "Why are you here, Jace."
He flinched as though I had slapped him. "What do you mean, why am I here?"
"Why are you here?" I asked again. "I thought last night-," I broke off, as my voice cracked. "I thought last night was goodbye."
"Why would you think that?" He barked. Offense ignited in the depths of his ice blue eyes and he dragged a hand through his hair. "Fuck, Olivia...why would you think that?"