All Good Things(86)

His brow furrowed and he nodded. "Eat, Olivia."

I thought for a moment about arguing, but instead, I nodded and focused my attention back on my pasta. He confused me, but I was ravenous, and the pasta on the table was just too, deliciously, tempting to pass up. I shrugged, and picked up my fork.

We ate in silence. It was not the uncomfortable silence I feared it would be, but instead, it was easy. With Jace, I felt...safe. In everything he did, he proved to me his capability to control with both ease and agility. He was a man of many talents. I knew he was just as capable of making me fret nervously, as he was to allow me a moment to revel in the serenity I found in his presence.

I set my fork on the empty plate and grinned at him from across the table. A slow smile materialized on his face as he sat back in his chair, sliding his fingers over the stem of the wine glass.

"What would you like to do today?" Jace asked.

I narrowed my eyes. "Is there a restriction?"

Jace eyed me carefully as he shook his head. "So long as we can make it to my Mothers for dinner, then no...there is no restriction."

I made a show of thinking even though I knew exactly how I wanted to spend the day with him. "I would love to take your Bugatti to a race track."

His brows plunged high on his forehead. "You want to race my car?"

I nodded vigorously, trying to restrain my growing excitement. "Yes."

He whistled under his breath. "I definitely didn't imagine that response when I asked you what you wanted to do."

I felt the excitement in my stomach plummet. "Oh," I sighed. "You're not interested in racing?"

"I never said that." His blue eyes twinkled mischievously and I grinned.

"Does that mean we can?" I asked, nearly ready to bolt from my chair.

"Absolutely," Jace smiled widely and my heart danced eagerly in my chest.

***

Jace pulled the sleek black Bugatti into the parking lot of the racetrack and grinned over at me. My stomach fluttered, full of butterflies as I thought about what we were about to do. Speed had always enticed me, but ever since the accident...I'd been somewhat leery of vehicles. I wanted to crush that fear...and I couldn't think of a better way then to sit beside Jace as his car spliced through the air. I wanted to loose myself in the feel of the gears shifting, and the sound of the rumbling engine, as Jace's foot slammed the peddle to the floor.

"Are you ready for this?" Jace's voice was thick with excitement and I nodded exuberantly. Seeing such a childish excitement billow through his eyes was gratifying...but, knowing I was the reason for this beautiful, controlled man beside me to smile so easily, was more than satisfying. It was liberating.

"I've never been so ready."

Jace pushed open the drivers door of his car and I waited as he jogged around the nose of the vehicle to open my door. He held his hand out to me and I placed my hand in his. I felt like a princess...or, a queen, as he helped me from the seat. I couldn't stop the beaming smile that claimed my features as I rose to my full height.

"You are so beautiful." Jace murmured as his hand moved to rest against my hip. My heart thundered as he pulled me into his chest, bending his head to press his lips against mine.

My breath hitched as his tongue parted my lips and my heart soared, flying high. His hand tensed, tightening his hold on my hip before he released, sliding his fingers beneath the fabric line of my shirt until his fingertips made contact with my skin. I hissed in a breath as he traced gentle circles over the skin of the small of my back. I wanted him to lay me down right here in the parking lot to show the world just how much he owned me.

I shifted, pressing my body flush against his and he moaned into my mouth. "I want you right here. Right now."

My skin tingled with anticipation as I breathed a breathy response. "I'm yours to take, Jace."

His eyes blazed as he stared down at me. "Say that again."

I froze. "Take me?"

He shook his head. "The other part."

"I'm yours." I whispered.

He groaned deep in his throat. It was a tortured sound as he set his forehead against mine. "I love the sound of those words coming from your lips."

"I mean them, Jace." I spoke, confidently. "I am yours. Completely."

"I want to take you home to bed right now, but you deserve a real date." He sighed as he pulled away. "I will wait to take you until later."

I shivered almost violently as he pulled away from me. I wanted to protest against his sudden desire to provide me with a normal, mundane dating experience, but I knew he needed this just as much, as he believed, I deserved it. So, rather than protesting and demanding he drive me back to his penthouse, I nodded and slid my hand into his.