"No, you're not." He shook his bead. "Bitchy or not, you're mine and you're coming with me."
"Oh got to hell." I didn't have a chance to make a break for the door because I was suddenly over Jace's shoulder. I moaned in pleasured frustration as the plug shifted sharply. I was so flipping horny I was angry and so damned close to tears for no good reason. I slumped against his back, unwilling to fight him anymore. I was tired and emotional and cranky. And I wasn't even due for my period for another week. There was no reason for this apart from severe emotional stimulation overdose.
Jace's hands were gentle on my body as he pulled me from his shoulder, sliding me down his body slowly. He was hard. I could feel him and my body ached in response. I loved and hated how intimately my body responded to his. I didn't want to want him so desperately. I didn't want to want to give into his ridiculous demands - but I did.
"You're quiet." Jace said softly.
"Hmm." I forced a small smile, trying to fight my need to assure him everything was fine.
"What's wrong?"
"Are you going to take me home, Jace?"
He nodded. "Yes. I'm going to take you home."
Chapter 16
I sat on the bar stool, blowing on the soup Jace sat in front of me before sipping it from my spoon. It was delicious, but more than that…it was comforting. Something about soup never failed to comfort me when I felt strung tight to the point of snapping from strain. I sighed and closed my eyes as I thought of a much-needed retreat. The thought made me think of Trisha and her yearly family vacation.
"I have something I need to discuss with you." I said seriously. He needed to know there was no room for ridiculous demands in this. I would be going whether he wanted me to or not - whether he came or not.
Jace frowned and nodded. He placed his spoon against the edge of his bowl and settled impeccable blues on me. He was giving me his full attention and I was grateful. "Go on."
"I'm going to British Columbia with Trisha to spend the first two weeks of December with her family in their vacation house near Kicking Horse." I spoke the words quickly. "I've done it for years. It's tradition."
"All right." Jace said gruffly. "Am I invited?"
I felt my eyes grow inconsiderably wide. "You want to come?"
"Of course I want to come. I go where you go." He spoke the words as though I were dense.
"Well, you were invited because Trisha so brazenly told her parents I was in a relationship." I mumbled.
"At least Trisha knows what's up." Jace stated and again, my eyes widened.
"So, we're in a relationship?"
He waved at his surroundings. "I think that's what two people call it when they can't get enough of one another. You're not leaving without me for two weeks. I won't allow it."
I raised my brows. "You won't allow it?"
"No Olivia, I won't." he said sternly, daring me to challenge. I took the dare.
"Since when were you given the right to dictate what I could and couldn't do?"
His eyes were serious and they never flickered from mine. "Since the moment you told me you loved me."
My breath caught at his words and my heart pounded in my chest erratically. I didn't know what to say. I was speechless. "Oh,"
"If you're going then I'm going too." Jace said as he turned his attention back to his soup. "Thanks for the notice. I'll be letting Caleb know he'll have to be around."
I felt rocked down to my very core. "Do you ski?"
"I do." He raised his brows. "Do you?"
"I love skiing."
"Huh," he studied me as though I had two heads. "I didn't see that. What else do you like doing?"
We were back to getting to know each other. And I was back to the realization that I loved a man I didn't know. "Um, I like winter. I love the snow."
"I thought you liked the warmth, hence your desire to see Italy."
"Oh, I love the warmth too." I smiled. "I like weather in general. Each season is beautiful for a different reason."
"I see." He nodded. "Which is your favorite?"
"I don't have a favorite. Do you?"
"I don't either." He stood with his bowl and I followed. "What's your favorite flower?"
I grinned. "Oh, I love them all."
He glared. "You're not going to give me a straight answer are you?"
"Well, I love them all." I whined. "But I especially love dahlias, peonies and lilies. I've always wanted a garden filled with them." I sighed, staring dreamily off into space. When I came back to reality, Jace was staring at me with a serious look on his face. His blue eyes were so intense I shivered.