It took me thirty-eight years to discover I had an erogenous zone below my ear.
And Jace, the overachiever, figured it out in less than five minutes.
I grasped the bottom of his shirt in my hands, lifting it in earnest, desperately wanting to feel his skin beneath my palms. I made a noise of frustration when his shirt caught on the button of his jeans. Chuckling low and sexy, Jace backed up a step and reached behind his back, pulling the shirt over his head with one hand. The motion caused his biceps to pop and his red hair to go every which way, making me giggle.
My laughter abruptly stopped as my eyes trailed down his chest to the rippled glory of his abs. He took a step closer to me. Mouth dry, I placed my hands on his upper arms, sliding them gently up to curve around his shoulders, luxuriating in the feel of firm muscles beneath warm skin. I traced his collarbone, then moved lower, my fingers smoothing down to the solid muscles of his pecs; they were so firm, the skin covering them so taut, that for a moment I wondered if he was real.
Without thinking, I flicked his chest lightly with my fingers, then realizing what I just did, covered my mouth with my hand and giggled.
Jace chuckled as he leaned into me, and I felt a puff of air against my forehead before he placed a soft kiss there. The notes of his cologne were fresh and warm and comforting, coming off his skin in waves, drugging my senses. Leaning forward, I nuzzled and pressed an open-mouthed kiss on his chest, making him shudder. My fingers continued tracing down the individual ridges of his abdominal muscles and all humor faded as my fingertips fell below the waistband of his jeans, finding a very prominent bulge.
My mouth watered.
I tilted my head back to look into his eyes.
I gulped, finding them focused on me, serious and wanting. His hands dropped to the hem of my shirt. He raised his eyebrows in question, and I lifted my arms in response. My T-shirt was removed quickly, revealing my bra—which I’d forgotten was beige. Granted, it had some lace and a few petal designs, but I instantly tensed.
A plain beige bra for the middle-aged mom.
Jace, however, wasn’t looking at me like I was plainormiddle-aged.
His eyes carved their way down my body, looking at me like he was a starving man in front of a five-course meal.
“I have an IUD.”
Oops. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
But with Jace’s starving expression, why shouldn’t I let him know that my restaurant was open for business?
At my revelation, his eyes flashed, and he leaned toward me, putting both of his hands on the granite countertop, effectively boxing me in again.
I took a deep breath in. “I haven’t had sex in a long time. I’ve been tested, and I’m clean. You?”
Jace’s face softened. “I test after every partner. There’s been no one for months. You’re safe with me, darlin’.”
You’re safe with me.
His words pierced my heart, straight through to my soul. Because I did feel safe with Jace. If I was being honest, I felt safer with him than almost anyone else I knew. It didn’t matter that I’d only known him a short time. I felt safe to be myself. Safe to be imperfect. Safe to try something for the first time.
“I know. You’re safe with me, too.” My words were strong. Resolute.
And then we exploded.
Jace practically tackled me, our hands wildly stroking up and down each other as if we couldn’t pick where we wanted to touch first. His mouth trailed kisses down my neck, his hands cupping me over my bra. A curious smirk came over his face as he traced the petal designs on my bra. Then quick as a flash, he pulled a cup to one side and enveloped my nipple with his mouth.
“Jace!” I gasped and threw my head back. Bolts of lust surged directly to my clit. As his tongue continued to lavish attention to my nipple, his other hand reached up to stroke my other breast. I was panting hard, making soft keening noises as Jace continued to shower my sensitive peaks with lapping strokes and sucks. His hands went behind me and with a practiced hand that I didn’t want to even think about, unhooked my bra. Fully bared to him, he growled and cupped my breasts together. I cried out as he swiped his thumbs over each peak. Unable to take anymore, I grabbed his face and pulled him to me, finding his lips swollen and wet.
Licking into his mouth, I experienced the wettest, filthiest, greediest kiss I’d ever had. As much as I didn’t want it to end, I finally let his face go and wantonly leaned back on my hands, breasts on full display.
“Upstairs?” I asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Jace’s expression turned feral. “I’m nowhere near finished yet.”
He gripped my hips, sliding me off the counter and onto shaky legs. He deftly undid the button at my waist, bringing my jeans and panties down to my ankles. Stepping out of them, I kicked them across the kitchen, kind of sure, but not totally sure, what he was going to do next.
Fully naked before him, he gently pushed me back against the island. My skin protested at the cold from the granite as Jace lowered himself to his knees. His eyes trained on mine as he slid his hand up my left calf to my thigh, picking my leg up and draping it over his shoulder. He raised his eyebrows and smirked.
Wait, was he really going to do that while I was stand?—
