Page 10 of Single Mom’s Undoing (Lucky Lady Reverse Harems #1)

CLARA

A s the hours roll by, I settle into my new office.

It’s lovely, spacious and overflowing with natural light, thanks to a pair of huge windows. I get texts from Jodie on an hourly basis. Matty had a small issue with his blood pressure earlier, but the medication helped. According to her latest text, he’s sound asleep.

I pore over the future Vanguard building blueprints. I’m genuinely fascinated by the speed with which Carter’s company has grown. Then again, with Damon and Jace by his side, it shouldn’t be a surprise. They work exceptionally well together.

I’m also relieved that Bill Lockwood is out of the country. May he never return. Because when he does come back, I’ll definitely have to leave.

I flip the page in front of me.

How the hell am I expected to keep my secrets from men like Carter, Damon, and Jace? It’s bad enough I can’t stay away from them. We’re only getting closer, which means they’ll figure me out eventually, and when they do learn the truth…

Oh, God, I think I’m going to be sick .

The mere thought horrifies me.

Just then Jace comes in and closes the door behind him. Suddenly, my fears evaporate—quickly replaced by a mixture of anxiousness and arousal. He looks so good in that dark grey suit.

“How’s it going?” he asks, his piercing blue eyes drilling holes into my soul.

“Good, actually. I think I may have my work cut out for me, though,” I chuckle, pointing at the open folder on my desk.

“I understand the visual requirements from Vanguard Mansion and given that your new properties are rather different from one another in terms of terrain and landscape, I’ll have to adapt the original styles to each of these locations. ”

“It’s going to be a challenge, then.”

“Challenge accepted,” I say, getting up from my chair.

I shouldn’t have done that. Jace comes over, his stride long and confident. I hold my breath until he’s standing just a couple of feet away from me, his eyes never leaving mine.

“How do you like your office?” he asks, his voice low.

“It’s lovely,” I manage.

“It suits you: light and breezy; tasteful and elegant; colorful, like you,” he says, nodding at the bold red curtains.

I noticed them as soon as I walked in. They’re soft and shimmery, made of layers of fine organza that delicately fall to the floor .

“I’m loving the brass details, particularly on the chandelier,” I say, glancing up at the impressive piece. “Whoever designed this place is good—really good—at combining modern and vintage.”

“Yes, the designers are good, but they’re no longer available for our upcoming projects. I find that to be a blessing in disguise since you came along,” he replies as he inches closer.

I take a step back. “I am more than happy to work with you on a professional level, but after I’m done, I’m out of here,” I say.

I’m trying so hard to keep my wits about me but the notes of tobacco and leather in his cologne are messing with my head, his darkening glare turning me on beyond my ability to control my most primal instincts.

“Out of where?”

“Out of Blackthorn Falls.”

Jace’s lips stretch into a slight smile. “You still think you’re leaving?”

“I don’t think I’m leaving, I know I am,” I feebly insist.

“You still don’t get it, do you?”

“Get what, Jace?”

Before I can react, he closes the distance between us. His right arm snakes around my waist, locking me in, and I damn near lose consciousness as I realize what a perfect match my body is to his.

“You’re not leaving Blackthorn Falls ever again, Clara. You got away from us once. We can’t lose you a second time.” His lips are way too close to mine .

“It’s not that easy. There’s a lot you don’t know, a lot you don’t understand.”

“I understand this,” he says, his left hand coming up to touch my face. My heart skips a beat, then another. “You can’t deny this, can you? This thing that’s growing between us. It was growing before you left, and it’s only grown in the time you’ve been away.”

“Jace…”

I pull in a deep breath when he firmly clasps my chin, beckoning me to look up, to face my darkest desire yet. “You keep lying to yourself. Why not just surrender to what you really want?”

“Because it would destroy me,” I whisper.

“Would it? Or would it make you whole again?”

The words hit me like a ton of bricks, echoing in my mind on repeat. Jace lowers his head. I should push him away, but it feels safe and warm in his arms against his hard body, his generous erection wedged against my lower belly.

I should push him away, but the minute his lips meet mine, I’m done for.

“We’re supposed to keep it professional,” I whisper, but he only kisses me harder in response, his tongue slipping through the last of my defenses.

A moan escapes my throat as my arms come up around his neck.

Jace deepens the kiss, his mouth making love to mine as liquid heat pools between my legs. He trails kisses down my jawline and neck; his breathing is ragged, mine erratic .

“Let this happen,” he says, one hand working its way down until his fingers reach the hem of my skirt. “Your body is crying out for me, Clara.”

“Jace, this is so wrong.”

“Is it?” he pauses to look at me, his brow slightly furrowed.

My pussy clenches, regret quick to tangle my stomach up in knots for trying to stop this. “Oh, fucking hell,” I groan and pull him into another kiss.

Things unravel fast between us.

Hands roaming. Lips parting. Tongues licking and tasting, fingers digging in. We devour one another as Jace clears the desk behind me with one sweep of his hand.

“Hold still,” he commands as the last of my stationery clatters across the floor. He pulls my panties down and beckons me to sit on the edge. “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”

He smiles his debonair smile as he plants another kiss on my lips, then loses his jacket and shirt before peeling my blouse off. My breasts struggle against the pink lace bra I’m wearing, and he takes a moment to admire them, licking his lips as he unhooks the front clasp and releases them.

“All of this,” he says and lowers his head.

He grabs a handful of my breast and locks his lips around the nipple, sucking hard and hungrily, while his fingers slip between my legs. I’m so slick and hot, it rips a groan from his throat as he finds my clit swollen already, my pussy aching for release.

“Dammit, Clara,” he mutters and drops to his knees. Our eyes meet, and the pleading look he gives me causes my legs to part wide and willingly for him .

“Just…take me. Finish this,” I whisper.

As Jace dives between my legs, we keep our gazes locked.

I watch him go down on me, his tongue lapping at my glazed folds, licking and tasting, setting my very core on fire before he penetrates me with two fingers and suckles on my clit for the finishing touch.

“Oh, fuck,” I cry out, grabbing his black, wavy hair, holding on for dear life.

The sound of his delighted moans as he devours me sends me over the edge, and I come hard, trembling like a leaf in the wind. Jace drinks me whole, licking and finger-fucking me until he squeezes every drop.

“You’re right,” I say, my voice ragged and weak. “I can’t fight this anymore.”

“Then don’t,” he replies as he stands, his lips glistening with my juices.

I kiss him. Hard. Greedily. Desperately.

He enters me with his thick cock, hard as a goddamn rock. I’m stretched and practically humming with pure pleasure as I lock my legs around his waist.

Every thrust has us bonding tighter, deeper.

“Give me everything,” I command him.

Jace shoves a hand in my hair and yanks my head back.

His tongue trails down my neck, and he playfully bites into my shoulder as he fucks me.

Harder, faster, deeper still. I cry out, clenched tightly around his marvelous cock, feeling every inch and every throbbing vein as pure pleasure overtakes me .

We hold tight to each other. My breasts bounce under his dark blue eyes. He grabs one, squeezing tighter and tighter until it stings, until I can’t take it anymore.

“That’s it, Clara, that’s what I want,” he growls. “All of it.”

“Oh, God,” I moan as he pounds into me, feeling myself getting closer to the edge, my body eager to go over it.

He unleashes his inner beast and fucks me hard until finally, I explode.

Jace stills, buried deep inside of me, and I feel the heat of him, his essence filling me, his soul tangled with mine.

I stay seated on the edge of my desk, Jace still inside me, pulsating in the afterglow with our arms wrapped around one another. Our clothes are strewn about the office. My hair is now an unkempt mess flowing over his shoulder.

“Isn’t this better?” he asks, resting his head against mine. “When we don’t fight it?”

“It shouldn’t have happened.”

“But it did. And it will keep happening. Please just accept that this is where you’re supposed to be, Clara.”

He kisses my cheek. I welcome the softness of his lips.

I can’t, however, agree that this is where I’m supposed to be. I want to, but I can’t. The only thing I can do is bide my time and make the most of this. They’ll hate me when I’m gone, I know it. I was too weak to resist them, and I will hurt them again. I have no choice.

Bill Lockwood will eventually return to Blackthorn Falls.

And when he does, I’ll be gone.

Again.