He smiled and his hand cupped my cheek. "It means exactly what it should. There is nothing I would deny you, so long as it doesn't affect your well-being." He pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was sweet, and powerful, and intense, all in one. I felt as though it were my lifeline. It was beautiful.
Jace was beautiful. Everything he did reminded me, that apart from the dreariness I had come to know as my life, there was still a fire burning within me. There was life. And, it was vibrant. With Jace, anything was possible...any dream could become a reality. He was my undoing and my rock. He was everything. I loved him.
"I-," I stopped myself at the last moment from saying those three little, but very frightening words aloud.
Jace stiffened. His hand was still cupping my face and he looked into my eyes. I didn't know if he was waiting for the words, or if he was begging me silently not to speak them. I shook my face from his hand and curled into his chest, content to just sit beside him.
He wrapped his arm around my body, holding me tight. His breathing enveloped me in a cocoon of comfort. In his arms, I found a place in the world where I was completely safe and entirely impenetrable. So long as his arms were around me, my life would be perfect...I could continue breathing and laughing. He was my lifeline. The thought was both devastatingly terrifying and earthshattering in its greatness.
When the car pulled up outside a very elegant looking restaurant, I was almost disappointed. I wanted to stay with him...just the two of us. I wanted to stay in his arms, where I felt the safest. Away from the world...alone with Jace, was the perfect escape to the fright of my thoughts and stress of the day.
"Are you all right?" Jace asked when Gabe stepped from the car to get the door.
I nodded and smiled; a smile I knew did not meet my eyes. What was wrong with me? Here I was with the most perfect man alive; he was taking me on a date, and I couldn't find the desire within me to step from the car.
Jace frowned, but didn't say another word. Gabe had opened the door and was waiting patiently for us to step from the car. Jace stepped out first and waited for me to exit the vehicle. I took one look around while the tinted windows hid my scrutiny, but found nothing out of the usual, so I stepped from the Audi. Jace placed his hand on the small of my back and walked into the restaurant with me.
Jace opened the door and I stepped through. My mind was frazzled, but I was not oblivious enough to miss the gawking hostess. Her eyes drank in Jace's fill as though she was standing in the desert sun, and he was a tall, icy, glass of water. I rolled my eyes. Okay, maybe I preferred not to go out in public with him. At least, when we were holed up in either of our homes, I had no fear of anyone else stealing him away from me.
"For two, please." Jace said. He appeared oblivious to the woman's obvious attentions.
"Of course," She nodded exuberantly. I didn't miss the glare she shot me as she turned promptly on her heel to lead us into the dinning room. She gave us a table for four, but Jace didn't complain, and neither did I. "Your server will be right with you."
Jace nodded, because it was him she spoke to, which was fine. I would not be the one tipping her.
"What are you in the mood to eat?" Jace asked.
I shrugged. "I don't know." I picked up the menu and decided pasta was probably the best way to go.
I could feel Jace's eyes on me. Even when the waiter stopped by our table, his eyes never moved from my face. A blush crept into my chest and traveled quickly to my face as I stared up at the waiter.
"Can I get you something to drink?" The waiter asked politely. I wondered, for a moment, if the manager stepped in and sent a male to serve our table because his waitresses couldn't possibly serve Jace without acting like a cat in heat. I shook the thought from my mind and nodded crisply.
Jace spoke before I could. He ordered a bottle of wine I couldn't say the name of and sent the waiter on his way. His eyes hadn't left my face the entire time.
When the waiter was out of earshot, Jace spoke. "You're upset."
"No. I'm not upset." I sighed. "I'm nervous, Jace."
"Why?"
"How can you expect me to act normally after this morning?" I asked.
His eyes blazed as he watched me. I felt unraveled. "You're with me, Olivia. You can trust no harm will come to you while you're in my presence."
There was no point in telling him I was not worried for me, but for him. It was a concept he clearly could not understand. I shook my head and toyed with the corner of the silky napkin. I didn't want to talk about this.
"What time is dinner at your Mothers?" I asked.
"We'll be there by six." He replied factually, watching my reaction with calculating eyes. "And, we will be leaving by nine. I want you in my bed with me tonight."