Yours Completely(51)

“Let me see your hands,” Ella commanded taking them in her own. Her brows drew together as she inspected them for any injury. “No cuts. How are your knees?”

“They're fine,” he assured her. It was adorable how concerned she was.

“We should get you to the main house and wash you off.” She bit her lip, obviously unhappy that he might be injured.

“I'm fine,” he told her. “The ground is actually really soft.”

“You're sure?” she asked.

Her eyes met his and he couldn't help himself. He leaned in, kissing her softly at first, then pressing himself into her more urgently. She seemed to forget all about his injury as she pressed back into him. His hands pushed her hair behind her ears and cupped the back of her neck as their kiss grew more feverish. She tasted like sun-warmed strawberries and for once, he knew that the woman he was kissing wouldn't care if he mussed up her clothes with his dirty hands.

He finally released her from the kiss. “I'm sure I'm fine,” he said.

“Apparently,” she murmured, her eyes still glazed from the kiss. There was now a smudge of dirt on her cheek, but it suited her. Somehow, everything she wore, even dirt, looked good. She shook her head, and focused on him. There was still a spot of color in each of her cheeks. He knew from last night that it meant she was enjoying herself.

He wanted to make her cheeks flush again. Only they couldn't do that out here in the vineyards. Despite having rented the place out, it wasn't exactly the most secure location. The last thing he wanted was for some tabloid to get a hold of a picture of the two of them hot and heavy and post it next to his sister's wedding photos.

“You know, maybe we should head to the main house,” he said, rising to his feet.

Ella's mouth instantly frowned and her brows knitted again. “Where does it hurt?”

“If I tell you, will you kiss it?” he asked.

Ella's eyes narrowed and her frown lessened. “Depends. You wouldn't try and trick me, would you?”

He held up his hand as if he was swearing an oath. “Never. Unless you really would kiss it.”

Ella laughed and his heart danced at the sound. How could one woman have such an intoxicating laugh? How could she make his heart soar just by smiling at him like that?

“Where's it hurt?” she asked. Her eyes twinkled, already suspecting the answer.

He pointed to his groin. “Here.”

“Oh, poor baby.” Ella shook her head. “We'll have to get you back to the main house. I can't kiss it through your pants.”

She took his hand, looking perfectly pleased with herself as she pulled him toward the main house.

His jaw nearly dropped. Smart, beautiful, funny, and sexy. She really was perfect.

“Ella...” He pulled to a stop so she would turn and look at him. He didn't expect anything from her. He was having such a great time that he didn't want it to be just about sex between the two of them. “You don't have to do this.”

“I want to.” She smiled, her eyes twinkling as they went to his dirt encrusted knees. “Though, next time, you don't have to trip to catch me.”

She tugged gently on his hand to start walking, but he didn't move. She cocked her head to the side for a moment.

“I'm having a lot of fun, Jace.” She bit her lip, which just made him want to kiss her. “I don't mean to be pushy. We can stay out here, go inside, get back on that stupid helicopter- I don't care. I just want to be with you.”

He'd heard those words before, but he'd never believed them. This time he did. He believed her with his whole heart. He didn't need to even look into her eyes to read the truth, his whole being could feel her honesty.

“We still have a wine tasting scheduled,” he said. “You think you can wait that long?”

“For you, I'd wait forever,” she said. She flushed immediately after the words left her mouth, putting the perfect rosy spots of color on her cheeks. Her innocence and honesty was refreshing. Who couldn't love this girl?

Love this girl? His brain stalled for a moment. The words were overused, yet they resonated within him. It's too soon for love, Jace told himself as they started walking, hand in hand, toward the main house. Yet, he couldn't deny how easily the words fit in his mind and that frightened him.

People didn't fall in love at first sight. That was for fairy tales and love songs, not for real life. He needed to take his time. That didn't mean that they couldn't enjoy the rest of the day, but he needed to not jump into things. Jumping into things without thinking was how he ended up with Rosalind. It was how his father ended up with wives three and four, and looking like it was going to be five soon.

No, despite how he felt, he needed to be cautious. He needed to think, not to feel. He wasn't going to make the same mistakes his father did.