Page 5

CHAPTER 4

JACE

T he door to the bathroom banged shut behind us, the thud drowned out by the pulse of music seeping through the walls. It was a single bathroom, thank fuck, and my back had barely hit the door before her hands were on me, and mine were all over her, gripping, pulling, taking.

Her mouth was soft and demanding, kissing me like she needed me to breathe, like she couldn’t last a second more without my taste. The dim lighting cast shadows over her face, flickering with every movement, making the moment feel even more intoxicating—like we were the only two people in the world, lost in the dark, lost in each other.

I was drowning in her. In the way she fit against me, in the way her body arched when I ran my hands up her spine. In the soft, desperate sounds she made when my tongue teased hers. My fingers found the hem of her dress and pushed it up, bunching the fabric in my hands as I traced my fingertips along her smooth, bare thighs.

Her nails dug into my shoulders, tugging me closer, as if I wasn’t already pressed against her, as if there was still space left between us to close.

“Jace, I don’t do this kind of thing,” she breathed against my mouth, and fuck if my name didn’t sound like a plea coming from her lips. I was vaguely aware of the fact that she still hadn’t given me hers. But I wasn’t too worried about it right now. Fate would figure it out.

There was no world where this girl wasn’t mine.

“There’s a first time for everything then, I guess.”

I spun her around, hands pressing firmly against her stomach as I pulled her flush against me. She gasped, bracing herself on the sink as I bent my head to press my lips against the curve of her neck. I wanted to mark her, wanted her walking out of here with reminders of me all over her skin. She tilted her head, granting me access, and I groaned, my fingers skimming up, grazing the curve of her breast before dipping lower.

“Tell me you want this,” I murmured against her skin. I needed to hear her say it.

She turned her head slightly, her lips ghosting over mine, teasing me. “I want this.”

Fuck. My grip tightened, my self-control slipping like sand through my fingers. I yanked her dress up further, sliding my hands over her bare ass as I pushed her forward until her hips pressed into the counter. My palm flattened against her stomach, holding her there as I ground against her, both of us gasping at the contact.

Her breath was ragged, and mine wasn’t much better. I could feel her heart pounding, I could feel the way her body trembled under my hands. My fingers dipped even lower, teasing, circling, feeling her heat.

Her fingers dug into my shoulders as I lifted her, turning her around as her legs instinctively wrapped around my waist. The lock clicked as someone tried to get into the room, but I barely registered the sound over the blood roaring in my ears, over the way she arched into me like she’d been waiting for this just as much as I had.

Like maybe—just maybe—she felt this thing crackling between us too.

“You’re unbelievable,” I murmured against her lips, my breath shaky.

She let out a choked laugh, her teeth grazing my lower lip before pulling back just enough to meet my gaze. “You say that now,” she whispered.

I didn’t understand what she was saying, but it was hard to concentrate on deeper meanings when her lips were swollen from my kiss and she looked like she might die if I didn’t get inside her. I swore I felt something snap inside my chest when she locked eyes with me, something visceral and dark and possessive.

“I don’t need your name to know this is something special,” I rasped, rolling my hips into hers, feeling the way she shuddered at the contact. “Something once in a lifetime. Do you feel it too?”

Her lips parted, her breath catching as her nails scraped against the back of my neck. Her body responded before her words could catch up, grinding against me, chasing the friction, the heat. I gritted my teeth, pressing my forehead to hers. “Yes,” she finally whispered.

“I’m going to ruin you for all other men,” I told her, a challenge in my voice like I was daring her to argue with me.

A sharp inhale. “Then do it,” she answered.

I didn’t need more of an invitation than that.

I spun, setting her down on the edge of the counter, knocking over a soap dispenser in the process, but neither of us cared. My hands gripped her thighs as I stepped between them. She grabbed my belt, yanking it loose, and I swore under my breath as her hands dipped lower, fingers skimming over me.

I was already hard. Already aching. Already so fucking gone for her, it didn’t make sense.

She dragged her lips over my jaw, her tongue flicking out to tease just beneath my ear, and my control slipped another inch. My fingers slipped under the hem of her dress, pushing her panties aside, and she gasped as I ran my knuckles along her inner thigh.

“Holy fuck,” I muttered, feeling just how wet she was.

Her head fell back against the mirror, her lashes fluttering. “Are you just going to stand there and admire the view?” she teased, her voice breathy, wrecked.

A low growl rumbled from my throat as I grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at me. “I want to see your face when I’m inside you.”

Her breath stalled for a second before she nodded, her lips parting like she wanted to say something. But I didn’t let her.

I growled against her mouth, nipping at her bottom lip, tasting the heat of her, the faint tang of her sweat as her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling hard, demanding more. She made a soft sound, half sigh, half moan, that sent fire ripping through me, my cock throbbing against her thigh like it had a mind of its own. I shoved my jeans down, my hands shaking with need as I pulled her closer, until her ass barely clung to the counter’s edge.

I could see everything with her flimsy dress bunched up around her hips like that—her soaked panties shoved aside, her heat glistening, dripping for me.

“Beg me to fuck you. Let me hear how bad you’re dying for it,” I murmured against her skin, my voice low, rough, my lips brushing her jaw, teasing her until she squirmed. I needed her to say it, I needed those words to snap the last thread holding me back.

She turned her head, lips ghosting over mine, teasing me right back, her breath hot against my skin. “I want you to fuck me,” she said, a dare wrapped in a plea.

I gripped myself, gliding the tip along her folds, teasing, feeling her slickness coat me, and she gasped, sharp and ragged, her nails digging into my scalp, tugging me closer.

“Jace—please,” she breathed in a dark and wild voice, her hips rocking up, chasing me.

I loved the sound of her desperation. I needed her to feel this, this ache…this crushing desire, like she might die if I didn't get inside her soon.

I pressed in—just the tip, slow as hell, stretching her tight heat—and she moaned, the sound almost like a sob as her head tipped back against the mirror, the glass above her head fogging from her breath.

“Say it,” I growled, voice low, thick with need, pushing in an inch more, feeling her clench around me, hot and perfect, my restraint hanging by a thread. There was still quite a bit of me to go, but I wasn’t going to bring her attention to that. If she went off screaming right now, I’d probably die.

“Tell me you want me—tell me you’re mine,” I growled.

She wouldn’t understand right now what was happening, how she was sealing our fate into stone. But I knew what those words would mean. I knew what would happen as soon as they came out of her mouth.

Her eyes snapped to mine, honey colored and blazing, her lips swollen from my kisses. “I want you. Fuck, I’m yours,” she gasped in a breaking voice, her hands sliding down my neck, nails scraping, leaving red trails I’d wear like a badge. That was it—I thrust in—hard, deep, all the way, burying myself in her until our hips slammed together, the counter rattling under us.

“I own every damn inch of you, sweetheart. I’m gonna fuck you until I’m carved in your bones.”

A hitched sob burst from her mouth, and she froze, her breath stuttering as she blinked at me, obviously dealing with the consequences of having…a lot…stuffed inside her at the moment.

“Fuck. Yes,” I groaned, loud and raw, my hands gripping her thighs, fingers bruising as I held her there, feeling her pulse around me, tight and wet and mine. She cried out my name again, a jagged sound that echoed off the tiles, her legs wrapping tighter around my waist, heels digging into my ass, pulling me deeper like she couldn’t get enough. “You’re so fuckin’ perfect,” I muttered roughly, kissing her hard…messy. Our tongues clashed together as I started moving—slow at first, dragging out every inch, feeling her tremble, then slamming back in, hard and fast, the rhythm wild and primal.

Her hands moved back under my shirt, clawing at my skin as she rocked with me, meeting every thrust, her moans spilling out, loud, unrestrained, bouncing off the walls.

“So good,” she gasped, her voice breaking, her head falling back again, hair sticking to the mirror, wild and tangled, and I grinned smugly, loving how she was unraveling under me, how she was giving it all up for me.

“You’re so fuckin’ hot, taking me like this, all mine,” I growled, my voice thick, possessive, one hand sliding up her stomach, under her dress, shoving it higher until her bra peeked out…black lace that barely held her in.

I yanked it down, her breasts spilling free, her nipples hard and pink, and I ducked, sucking one into my mouth, my tongue flicking, teeth grazing just enough to make her arch, a high whine tearing from her throat. “Nobody else. Say it, baby,” I muttered against her skin, thrusting deeper, the counter creaking as we moved.

“Yours. Fuck. Yours,” she moaned in a shattered voice, her hips bucking against me as she chased her pleasure, her hands fisting my hair, pulling hard enough to sting. I groaned into her skin, sucking harder, leaving a red mark as my fingers found her clit. It was wet and swollen as I rubbed fast, tight circles that made her shake.

“Please, please, please,” she cried, loud and desperate, her body clenching around me, so tight and hot I might die of pleasure.

The handle rattled again, more insistent this time, like whoever was on the other side wasn’t planning on giving up anytime soon. I clenched my jaw, every muscle in my body wound tight.

I dragged my lips up the column of her neck, my own breath shaky. “You gotta be quieter, babycakes,” I murmured, trying for a warning but landing somewhere between desperate and amused.

She nodded, but then I shifted my hips, and she let out this quiet little gasp that went straight to my fucking head.

I growled, thrusting deeper, the counter rocking, her ass sliding with every hit, her breath hitching as she broke—hard, loud, her orgasm squeezing me so tight I nearly lost it.

Her head thrashed, banging the mirror, her moans echoing rawly around us. I kept thrusting, dragging it out, feeling her tremble, her thighs quaking around me. “That’s it, baby, come again for me,” I rasped in a rough voice as I kissed her neck, licking the sweat off her pulse, my fingers relentless as I continued to push her higher.

She gasped my name again, her hands slipping, scratching down my back, leaving more marks I’d no doubt feel tomorrow, and the only word that could describe me at the moment was…feral. Her breath hitched, a second wave building, and I could feel it—her tightening, her moans turning to whimpers, high and needy.

“Such a sweet, tight pussy,” I purred, kissing her throat, licking the sweat from her skin as I sucked another mark. My fingers were relentless, pushing her higher, her moans turning to whimpers, oversensitive and perfect.

“Jace,” she begged, her hips grinding against me, and I smirked, gripping her tighter as I squeezed her ass, lifting her just enough to angle deeper.

Hitting that spot that made her eyes roll back.

“Yes. Right there,” she gasped, loud and ragged, her nails finally digging in enough to draw blood. I groaned, low and guttural, the sting mixing with the heat and driving me wild.

“Look at you,” I rasped thickly, watching her—dress rucked up, bra shoved down, skin flushed and slick—taking me like she was born for it. “So fucking sexy.”

I thrust harder, slow and deep, then fast, relentless, her moans a melody I’d kill to keep, her body trembling, clenching, pulling me in tight. My hand slid up her spine, and I gripped her hair, pulling her head back until her throat was bared, kissing it and sucking hard, marking her again so she was red, raw…mine.

Her cries echoed around the room, her body shaking, a second orgasm crashing through her, harder, louder, her cry bouncing off the tiles, her thighs clamping around me, squeezing so tight I could barely move. “That’s it, give it to me again ,” I growled, thrusting through it, feeling her pulse around me, wet and hot, dragging it out until she was whimpering, oversensitive, her hands slipping on my shoulders.

Her second climax was even greater; I groaned as I thrust through it, feeling her pulse around me, and my rhythm faltered. My balls tightened as the heat coiled fast. I slammed in one last time, spilling inside her, hot and thick, my groan bouncing off the tiles, my hands clutching her hips until my knuckles ached, marking her with every pulse…every shudder.

We stayed there, panting, tangled, sweat dripping, the counter creaking under us, the bathroom thick with heat—her scent, mine, and sex. I pulled out in a slow, wet glide, and she gasped, soft and wrecked, her legs still trembling around me. I turned her, giving her another messy, hard, possessive kiss, claiming every inch of her mouth.

“You’re mine,” I muttered again roughly, smiling against her lips because I’d never felt more happy in my entire life.

My hands roamed over her hips, her ass, pulling her against me, the counter digging into her thighs. Her dress was a wreck, bunched up, her bra half-off, and her breasts bare. I was still half-hard, still wanting, and I cupped her breast, my thumb brushing her nipple until she whimpered, soft and needy.

I slid two fingers inside her, unable to stop myself. Loving the feel of my cum mixed with hers, how she clenched around my fingers…how her moan vibrated through me. She gripped my shoulders, her breath hitching as I curled my fingers, hitting that spot again relentlessly.

“I can’t—” she gasped rawly, her head falling forward until her forehead was pressed to mine, her breath hot on my lips as she broke again, a soft, sharp, third wave.

Her moan was a whisper now, wrecked and mine . I grinned, kissing her slow and deep, tasting her gasps. My fingers were still lazily sliding in and out of her slick, warm heat, smearing her thigh as I held her there, pinned against the counter, the bathroom a haze of heat and us .

I hadn’t even buttoned my jeans yet when she said it.

“I need to go.”

I blinked, still in a post-orgasmic haze, my brain taking a solid three seconds to catch up. “What?”

But she was already moving. Fast.

She shimmied her dress back down, fixed her bra, and smoothed her hair. Then grabbed the door handle like she was escaping a crime scene.

I lunged for her wrist. And missed.

“Hey—wait a second.”

Spoiler alert. She didn’t wait. She bolted. She slipped right through the door and disappeared into the crowded bar before I could even breathe.

I stood there, my jeans half-zipped, completely fucking stunned . Had I imagined that?

That insane, mind-blowing, earth-shattering sex?

Had I hallucinated the way she’d gasped my name like it was a fucking prayer?

I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the strands as I tried to shake off the whiplash. What the fuck just happened?

I stared at the door, still swinging slightly from her rush to get the hell away from me. No. No way. That was not how this ended.

I was still reeling, still feeling her nails on my back, still aching to kiss every inch of her all over again, and she just ran?

I hurriedly zipped up my jeans, and shoved open the door.

The bar was a blur of bodies and music, the bass vibrating under my feet as I scanned the room, searching for that flash of dark blonde hair.

There was no sign of her.

I cursed under my breath, shoving a hand through my hair as I spun on my heel and bolted for the front door. My pulse pounded like the relentless bassline threatening to drive me insane as I yanked it open and stepped outside.

I scanned the street, searching, but she was nowhere. Just a bunch of people milling around, giving me weird looks—probably because I looked like I’d just gone three rounds with a wildcat.

I exhaled sharply, jaw clenching as frustration clawed up my spine.

Where the hell did she go?

I lingered for another second, half-expecting to see her slipping around a corner or ducking into a car. But there was nothing—no trace of her at all.

With a muttered curse, I stepped back inside, the door clicking shut behind me.

I exhaled through my nose, dragging my hands down my face before heading back to the bar.

I barely made it back before my legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the stool like I’d just gotten off a damn rollercoaster.

Holy. Fucking. Shit. I was wrecked. I’d said I was going to ruin her.

But I was the one who’d been ruined. Shaken to my fucking core.

My shirt was half-untucked, my collar pulled so wide it looked like I’d been in a fight. My hair? A total disaster, thanks to her fingers tugging it. My face burned from the heat still running through my veins, my skin buzzing like it had been permanently marked by her touch. I could still smell her on me.

And my chest hurt. Like, actually ached, and I had no idea what the hell to do with that.

I sat there, staring at nothing, trying to catch my breath, and then?—

“What’s wrong with you?”

Parker’s voice cut through my daze, and I looked up to see him and Matty staring at me, both fully entertained at whatever the hell I must’ve looked like.

Matty smirked, eyes glinting. “And what, or rather who, did you just do?”

I opened my mouth. Paused. How the hell was I supposed to explain this? I swallowed, rubbing at my chest again, because seriously, what the fuck was this feeling?

“You’re never going to believe this.”

Matty raised a brow. “You got funny since you went to the bathroom? Yeah, I’m probably not going to believe that.”

I ignored him, my mind still spinning, still trying to process whatever the hell had just happened back there.

I licked my lips. “I just…I just found the love of my life.”

Matty and Parker stared at me for a second—before losing their shit.

Parker actually choked on his drink, coughing through his laugh, while Matty was practically bent over, his shoulders shaking.

“Where?” Matty managed. “In the bathroom?”

“No, man,” I said seriously, jabbing a finger toward the dance floor. “She was out there. We were dancing, and then…well, you know.”

Parker was still laughing as he wiped his mouth. “Wait, you did that just now?—”

“Yes.”

Matty whistled. “That good, huh?”

“Best fifteen minutes of my life—and don’t give me shit about fifteen minutes. I had to work my ass off to even last that long.” I sighed, still feeling wrecked, still feeling like I’d been hit by a fucking truck. I leaned forward, bracing my elbows on the bar, my mind still back there, still with her.

“She was perfect,” I murmured.

Matty snorted. “Okay…so where is she? What’s her name?”

I froze.

My stomach dropped.

Oh. Shit.

I sat back, rubbing my face, fully panicking as my brain caught up. “She left,” I admitted, my voice tight. “And…I don’t know her name. She wouldn’t give it to me.”

Silence.

Matty absolutely lost it. Again.

Parker was grinning, shaking his head, while Matty was practically doubled over, wheezing.

“Let me get this straight,” Matty said between gasps of laughter. “You think you met the ‘love of your life,’ and she wouldn’t even give you her name?”

I groaned, gripping my chest, because fuck. It was still hurting.

What the hell was wrong with me?

Just then, the bartender appeared in front of us, setting a card down on the bar. “Hey, man,” he said, looking at me. “That blonde you came up to the bar with—was that your girlfriend?”

My head snapped up.

I sat up so fast that my stool nearly tipped over.

“Yeah,” I said quickly, voice way too high. I cleared my throat, forcing casual. “Yeah. Why?”

“She left her credit card behind. Figured you might want it back.”

He pushed it toward me. I stared at it. The shiny black card, the little gold chip in the corner. The name printed across the front.

I reached for it, my fingers shaking, my pulse racing.

Riley St. James.

I knew her name now. I finally fucking knew her name. My grin was so wide it hurt.

“Gentlemen,” I said, holding up the card like I’d just won the fucking lottery. “Do you know what this is?”

Parker and Matty both stared at me for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“What?” Parker asked, raising a brow.

Matty leaned in. “A credit card?”

I laughed, because oh, they had no idea. My whole body was thrumming with victory.

“Nope.” I smirked, my grip tightening around the card like it was my golden ticket. “This is a sign.”

Matty rolled his eyes, clapping me on the back. “Or it’s just her credit card, dumbass. Either way, let’s get you another drink before you start proposing.”

But I didn’t need another drink. Because I had what I needed.

I had her name. And now?

Now, she was never getting away from me again.