All Good Things Exposed (9 page)

My body quaked and my back arched. Pressure grew deep within my core as Jace grew thicker inside me. I felt him twitch and I knew it was time. He pinched my clitoris and nipple hard while kissing the tender skin below my ear. I didn't wait for permission. I couldn't have if I'd tried. I came. My release shattered around him as my body trembled in satisfaction.

"Shit Angle," Jace admonished. "You came."

I moaned in response as he pumped quicker inside me. His cock twitched and he moaned into my hair as he pushed me forward. I felt his hot cum pour into my body and I welcomed it. My eyes closed as I leaned my back against him, my head set in the crevice of his shoulder. I was exhausted. I was sated. I was filled.

We sat together for a few precious minutes and despite the fact that my legs were cramping, I could have stayed like this for the rest of eternity. Jace traced circles into the skin of my stomach and adorned my shoulder with tender kisses. It was perfect.

When he shifted to pull out of me, I moaned a protest and he chuckled. "I'd stay like this if I could, Angel."

"I can." I pouted. I couldn't. My legs would most certainly fall off, but I didn't tell him that.

"I'm sure." He joked. "You're younger then me."

I frowned. "I'm not that much younger then you, Jace."

He laughed and lifted my hips from him. When he stood, he brought me with him. He carried me to the bed where he sat me down. I flopped onto my back feeling thoroughly exhausted and satisfied. His hands went to work on the leather binding my ankles. When they were released, I rubbed them together. It was an act I doubted I would ever take for granted again.

"I should leave your wrists." He grinned as he crawled up the bed to straddle me. "I love the way you look bound."

I tried to keep the frown from pulling at my features. "Why?"

Humor fell from his face as he toyed with the chain. "I like knowing you're completely at my mercy."

I fought the shiver that wanted to claim me. "I'm always at your mercy, Jace." I said genuinely. "But, why do you want me that way?"

Shame lit his features. "I like knowing you're helpless, Olivia. It turns me on."

"But, am I really helpless?"

He cocked his head. "When you are bound, yes, you are helpless."

"Really?" I asked again. "Am I really so helpless against you? Would you subject me to pain and terror, Jace?"

"I've hurt women before, Olivia." He said stiffly. "I've seen fear flash in their eyes and I have listened to terror claim their voice."

"I'm not talking about them, Jace." I said. "I'm talking about me. Would you hurt me?"

"I don't know." He stared straight into my eyes.

"Yes, you do." I stared back at him. "Tell me the truth."

He sighed, running a hand through thick inky hair. "I don't want to hurt you. Ever. I don't want you afraid of me." His hand shook just the faintest amount and my heart lurched. "But I can't promise you that I will never hurt you. I can't promise I'll never scare you."

I smiled gently. "That's good enough for me."

"Is it?" He snarled.

"Yes." I nodded. "I trust you, Jace. My trust for you is the only reason I allow you to bind me. Because I believe you would protect me rather than hurt me. I am trusting you to catch me when I fall, because I won't be able to catch myself."

Tension spread in his body, leaking into his face. "Fuck Angel," he leaned down to kiss my lips. "I'll always catch you when you fall."

"I know." I whispered and he swallowed my words of confidence in him as he deepened the kiss. My eyes closed and my lips moved against his. I tried to ignore the way my heart throbbed in my chest with feelings I knew I should try with all my heart to reign in. But I couldn't. I wanted to let those very feelings run loose. I loved Jace. There were no if's and's or buts about it. But for the time being, I would keep those emotions locked away inside me. I would show him I loved him in the only way I knew how. I would sate his needs and try to understand his condition. Because there was nothing else I could do. To love someone completely, you had to understand their demons just as you had to understand their angels. In true companionship, you must accept both the good and the bad. I knew the good in Jace. It was time I met the bad.

Jace pulled away from me and went to work releasing my wrists. I didn't open my eyes. I was exhausted. I needed sleep or I wouldn't be able comprehend a simple sentence.

***

I sat on the edge of the bed watching Olivia sleep. She was so beautiful and so mine. I'd staked my claim on her, but I knew deep down there was nothing holding her to me. Apart from sex and money, I had nothing to offer her. I was a shell of a man who was incapable of feeling any true emotion. I couldn't give her everything she surely wanted. I couldn't be the man she needed me to be, but damn - I was selfish enough to try and bind her to me none-the-less.

"Shit," I ran a hand through my hair for the thousandth time. I couldn't sleep. As much as I wanted to pull her into my chest and fall into the peace she found so easily, I just couldn't. For reasons beyond me, I was terrified of losing her. I knew what it meant to live without her and I knew I couldn't go back to that. But I didn't know how to keep her. My needs were distorted at best and down right fucked-up at worst. She thought she could be everything for me, but I didn't know if I could allow that. I didn't know if I wanted her to be everything. I'd taken it easy on her tonight. I'd shown her the good parts of BDSM. But there were so many other sectors of that kind of relationship. And, although I yearned for it, I fucking couldn't allow myself to subject her to those ways. I just couldn't. I had to find a way around it. For her. Not because I loved her…but because I needed her. Again, it was selfish. I was selfish.

My sex life was the only aspect in my life where I'd always been selfish. It was where I found release. Where I found control. As much as it looks like I am in control of my life, I'm not. My fuck of a father left me the company, forcing me to run his screwed up business despite the fact that I had no desire what-so-ever to do it. He raised me to become a businessman and I was just as cuttingly shrewd as he always wanted me to be. Without intention, I had turned into my father.

I threw another glance into Olivia's direction where she was curled up in the center of my bed with the blankets clutched tightly to her chest. She looked peaceful and innocent in sleep. I knew I would taint her purity with my darkness, but I just couldn't fathom the idea of walking away from her. Not again. The thought of losing her sent a jolting pain into my gut and my breathing shortened. I stood in shock and quickly crossed the room to the door. I needed food. Or drink. I needed something to take my mind off Olivia.

It was only Friday and I knew I should be at the office. But I wasn't and so long as Olivia was here, I had no plans on going in. I would have to improvise and use my home office. With a shrug, I descended the stairs and spotted Mrs. Clark working away in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Gail." I used her first name. Ever since she'd started working for me, she insisted I call her Gail rather than Mrs. Clark.

"Jace," she nodded. "What would you like for breakfast?"

"I don't know." I shrugged. I wish I knew more about Olivia. I didn't even know what she liked to eat for breakfast.

Gail cocked a brow. "You don't know?"

"I have a woman here and I'm not sure what she'd like?" I was surprised to feel my heart thump nervously at the words.

"A woman?" She gasped. Dropping the towel onto the counter. I wanted to tell her to pick up her open jaw with her now free hand, but refrained for the sake of politeness. "In all the years I've worked here, I only ever met one woman you were seeing and she was a little weird. What's this one like?" I knew she was blunt and referring to Lexie. She was like family, so I ignored the annoyance her statement brought on and answered her question.

"Her name is Olivia." I said gruffly. "She's nothing like anyone I've ever been with."

"Good to hear." She nodded. "Where is the girl?"

"Sleeping." I ran a hand through my hair. "I don't know when she'll be up."

"All right then," she went back to wiping the counter. "I look forward to it. Did you want anything to eat in the meantime?"

"No." I shook my head, stepping backward to my office. "I'll wait for her."

I didn't miss the knowing glimmer in Gail's eyes as I turned my back on her snickering face. My relationship with Gail was much like my relationship with my mother. They were both women I respected highly and cared for deeply. In all the years Gail worked for me, she had never once held her tongue. It was refreshing.

I shook the thought from my mind and wandered into my office. I powered on my Mac and checked my phone as I waited. I had countless texts and missed calls from Caleb. Most of them were asking me where I was in a variety of different approaches. I chuckled as I opened his last text message.

Where the hell are you? Answer your phone!
I chuckled as I read the message and as though on queue, another one came in. I opened it.
I'm on my way over.

I laughed out loud and messaged him back.
I'm fine. Olivia's here. Won't be in.

A few seconds passed and my phone rang. Caleb's name lit the screen and I cursed.

"What a girl." I muttered under my breath as I answered the call. "What, Caleb?"

"I shoulda known you had Olivia with you. She's the only damn reason you bail on work." He joked.

"I'm working right now."

"Right, her maybe."

"I wouldn't be talking to you if I was working her."

"Touché." Caleb chuckled. "You coming in tomorrow? We have the conference call." He reminded me as though I would forget.

"I'll be in." I leaned back in the chair and stared up at the roof. "That project I transferred to you, the one in Italy," I thought of the land I'd purchased for the hotel resort I intended on building in Italy because that was where Olivia wanted to travel to and ran a hand through my hair. "I want to take over it."

"Man, I've put blood, sweat and tears into this project."

"I'm sure you have." I replied dryly.

"Why do you want it?" Caleb asked, all humor gone from his tone.

"It's none of your business."

"It is if you want it." Caleb said confidently.

"I bought the property for Olivia." I admitted.

"I knew you did, man." Caleb sighed. "Building in Italy just didn't make sense. It has nothing in common with our other locations."

"It's in a prime location." I reminded Caleb. "It's a perfect honeymoon site with the vineyards and whatnot."

"So you keep telling me." I could only imagine he was shaking his head. "I'll transfer the files to your email."

"Thanks." I said. "See you tomorrow."

"Later."

I hung up the phone and signed into my email. I hoped Caleb was quick to deliver the file. I couldn't wait to propose a trip to Olivia.

Chapter 7

I woke to an empty bed and frowned. Where was Jace? I remembered him being here when I'd fallen asleep, but he was nowhere to be seen. I rolled onto my stomach and spotted my purse on the nightstand. I glared at the black bag I knew housed my phone before wiggling over the mattress. I grasped hold of my purse and dig through it for my phone. I powered it on and thanked heaven that it wasn't dead. I had a bone to chew with Trisha.

Backstabber!
I texted her.

Her reply was immediate.
Sorry…how is he? How R U?

Angry. With U.

Please understand. You weren't acting like yourself.

I know.

I didn't know what to do. I love you.

I know. I love you too.

So…?

So…what?
I asked. If she thought she was getting the goods on Jace, she was terribly mistaken.

How's Jace?

Do you care?
I asked.

Of course.

Amazing. As always.

When will you be home?
She asked, bringing me back to the reality of my life.

In a couple hours. Will you go 2 the café for me?

Already here.

Thx.
I replied and threw my phone into my bag. I would go find Jace and be on my way home. I wondered for a moment if he had the clothing he'd bought me before we broke it off the first time. Since he'd cut up my slutty dress, I assumed he did.

I wandered into his closet and found a dress shirt. I slipped into it ignoring the housecoat he'd given me the night before and padded to the door. As I walked down the stairs, I noticed an older woman working around the kitchen. My heart pounded as I walked into the kitchen and when she caught sight of me, she jumped.

"You gave me a scare, girl." She shook her head and looked me up and down.

"I'm sorry." I smiled unsurely as I sat on a stool. "I'm Olivia."

"I've heard." She grinned with her hands on her hips. "I'm Gail."

"It's nice to meet you. Sorry about my state of dress," I gestured to my clothing - or lack thereof. I was about to tell her Jace cut up my dress, but I decided it was better to keep that bit of information to myself.

Her eyes twinkled as she stared at me and I thought for a moment she was trying to keep herself from laughing. "It's not a problem." She waved her hand. "Are you hungry?"

I shook my head. "Um, no. I actually need to get going."

"The hell you do." Jace barked from behind me. I spun around to see him marching like a mad man through the living room. "We'll take pancakes for breakfast."

I raised a brow. "Those take forever."

"Exactly." Jace grinned the shit-grin that made me want to laugh and fight him at the same time.

"I have to go, Jace."

"Too bad you don't have any clothes to leave in."

Gail chuckled. "What happened to the clothes she came in?"

I threw a glare at Jace. "He cut my dress up."

A full belly laugh sounded from Gail as she shook her head. "Pancakes it is."

I grit my teeth as I stared at Jace. "Where are the clothes you bought for me the last time I was here?"