Page 122 of Enemies with Benefits

I raised a brow. “I never said the sex needed to change. You want to pin me to a surface and have your way with me so hard that I'm walking funny the next day, then sign me up. But I meant?—"

"I know what you meant," he muttered, his cheeks darkening. Alright, so he was feeling bold enough to kiss me and hold my hand in public, but maybe not ready to risk someone overhearing about him screwing me stupid. "And about thefighting, you're right...but we can still spar, right?"

I laughed. “I don't think we could go without needing to beat the shit out of each other, but...in a controlled way. No way we're going to make it without that. We are who we are, and sometimes, over the next who knows how long, we'll need that outlet. And if it does that and also...other things, all the better."

"Oh," he said, staring at me.

"What?"

"You're...that's long-term thinking."

"Hey, short-term is our current problem, but I wouldn't be willing to work on short-term problems if I weren't ready to think long-term eventually."

The shy look returned to his face, and he pulled his hand away, shuffling from one foot to the other. "I guess that's good."

"You guess, huh?"

"Yeah, but it'd be...nice not to have to guess at some point."

"Still need to figure that out, huh?"

"Yeah, sorry."

"Nah, it's not like I don't need to figure my own shit out."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

I cleared my throat as my sister appeared, Micah at her side as they descended the stairs toward us. Jace released my hand, quickly spinning around to face her, trying a smile and...failing miserably.

"Good try," I muttered.

"Shut the fuck up," he grumbled back. "It's weird. Tell me it's weird for you."

"Oh, this is just strange. Weird is going to come when she decides she's going to talk to us about it."

"Fuck. I forgot how long she takes to talk about things. She builds up a whole list to hit you with."

"Mmm, want some advice?"

"Fuck, yes, I was never ready for her."

"You know her well enough to guess what kind of questions she's going to ask, but understand you're never going to be ready for all of them. So prepare for the ones you can, and brace for the rest."

"What are you two whispering about?" Moira asked as she reached us, brow twitching up.

"That's private," Jace told her, and I had to admit, it was a good response. It also hinted that we were talking about the very subject she would broach soon, which told her he was confidentabout it enough to mention it around her. More importantly, it was the last piece of evidence I needed to know he was, in fact, serious about going forward with things between us.

"Mmm," she hummed thoughtfully. "Which one of you two wants to take Micah back to the hotel? He's craving Grandma time now Kayden is okay."

"Going to be okay," Micah corrected, but he was smiling. The little weirdo was really fond of Kayden, which...well, made sense. Moira would never in a trillion years let her attention linger on someone who couldn't attract her son's affections. Maybe have some fun briefly, but never anything serious.

"We can both take him," Jace offered, and I snorted. He frowned at me. “What?"

I cocked my head at Moira, who shook her head. “You don't have to avoid me. I'm not going to get either of you...yet."

"That's not why," Jace protested. "We should probably shower and change."

"At the same time?" Moira asked innocently.