"Jace, please."
"Olivia," I warned, tugging her wrist and forcing her to face me.
Her eyes were sad and her bottom lip trembled. "Jace, what are we doing? I mean really doing?"
My blood turned cold. Was I ready for this talk? "We're seeing each other."
"But are we just seeing each other or are we seeing each other?" She asked. Her eyes were pleading with me for answers and damn it if I didn't want to give them to her. But I didn't have them! I didn't know what this was between us any better then she knew.
"I want you to be mine." I said. I knew it wasn't an answer, but it was all I had. It was the truth.
"What does that mean?"
"I want you now and I want you in the future - with me."
Her eyes widened. "With you?"
"Always." I whispered. The word felt hard and heavy as I pulled it from my throat. But I meant it. I wanted this woman with me always. I would do anything and everything for her. I wanted to bind her to me so she could never ever run from me again. I wanted her bound to me in a way she could never escape from no matter which of my past demons decided to show their faces.
She didn't say anything. She just stood, her gaze frozen on me. "Olivia, say something."
"I don't know what to say." She whispered shakily.
"Say you'll always be here with me." I stepped closer to her. We were a breath away. I could feel her heat emanating from her body. It made me feel warm and welcomed. "Say you'll never leave me."
Her eyes misted a shiny sheen and my heart clenched. She lifted her hand to my face, pressing her palm against the side of my face, her fingers delving into my hair around the back of my neck as she pulled my head down to hers. Her lips were soft and shaky as she pressed them against mine. Her kiss was not the consuming kind where flames of passion licked your soul. It was gentle and caressing. And it touched my heart, claiming my soul.
"I love you, Jace." She spoke the words against my lips and everything within me shattered. Every defense I'd ever built up against these weak emotions spiraled down around me and I let her in. I wanted her in. I let her take my heart in her palm and I fucking prayed she held it with care. I kissed her harder, delving my hands into her long chocolate hair and holding her to me. My heart raced in my chest as she kissed me back. She didn't demand I reciprocate her words she just kissed me. She let me process her declaration because she knew it was what I needed. I needed time to understand this. I needed time to accept what I already knew. I knew she loved me and I knew without a doubt that I loved her too. More than my own life.
I would make her mine if it was the last thing I ever did.
Chapter 15
Jace didn't speak the words. But he didn't have to. I could feel it. I could feel his love for me pouring through his kiss. It filled me. I didn't need words. Not until he was ready. I didn't want him to feel pressured. I wanted him to love me in his own time and if he needed more then I would wait. I could wait for him for all of eternity. Because I loved him and he knew.
The thought was shocking. I couldn't believe I spoke the words and he wasn't running for the hills. Why wasn't he running from me?
Jace pulled away. "You are a beautiful woman, Angel. And you are mine."
"Yes, Jace." I nodded assuring. "I am yours. Entirely."
"And I'm so grateful for that." He smiled, his hand still cradling the back of my neck. "But now that I have you I hope you know I will never let you go."
"I never want you to let me go." I looked deeply into his eyes. "I love you."
"Come." He ran his hand from my neck to my hand where he linked his fingers with mine. "I'm taking you home."
"Okay,"
I followed Jace from the bedroom feeling completely content and elated by my confession of love for this man. He swiped my purse from a chair and handed it to me. I took it with an eye roll. I would have forgotten the damned thing if it hadn't been for him.
"Thank you,"
"Oh," Jace's hand dived into his pocket and he pulled out a card. He handed it to me. "I almost forgot."
I took the card with a frown, studying it. "Wow," my picture looked horrible. I was visibly pale and very wide-eyed. I wasn't even smiling.
"Nice picture." Jace said as he looked at the card.
The scowl that found its way on my face rivaled the scowl in the picture. "Thanks."
Jace laughed. "Were you really so excited to see me?"
"It wasn't that."
He cocked his head. "What was it then?"
"Something Caleb said?"
"Ah yes," he nodded. "Caleb was with you."
"He signed for the card." I pulled out my wallet and shoved the horrendous piece of plastic into an open nook.