“Yes. Don’t get me wrong, I want this,” I toggled a finger between him and I. “And I want this again.” Jace puffed out his chest and I rolled my eyes. “But you work for me. Ryla and Max are my children.”
“And here I thought you rented those kids,” Jace teased, his face turning serious as he took in my unamused expression. Propping himself on his hand to face me, he said, “Sorry. It’s a reflex. Go ahead.”
“I want to be careful. I don’t know what the future holds for any of us right now. And with Max and Ryla, they have to be my first priority. I can’t bring anyone into their lives they can’t bear to lose. It’d break them . . .” I trailed off, knowing that losing Jace wouldn’t just break them—it was my heart I was risking as well. “It’s not a good time to tell them, or anyone else, that something is going on between us. I’d like to keep this private, just between us, for now. Also, it has to be outside of your regular time with the kids. I don’t want to feel like I’m paying you for sex.”
Jace flashed a grin. “That’s a relief. I don’t want to feel like you’re paying me for sex either.”
Groaning, I rolled onto my back, my voice muffled as I lamented, “You know what I mean.”
Jace chuckled as he gently pulled my hands from my face. “I know what you meant. I can keep it separate. Nothing has to change between us while the kids are around. But if I want to do something nice for you, or spend time with the kids out of my regular hours, know it’s because I want to. I’m not expecting sex in exchange.”
I lifted a single eyebrow in challenge. Jace smiled coyly. “Well, not exchange per se—but we get to keep doing this, right?”
Laughter burst from my lips as Jace rolled over me, planting his hands on either side of my head. He looked infuriatingly cute as his red curls hung down and I reached up, rubbing the locks between my fingers as he spoke.
“We were friends first. And I’ll keep being your friend. Which means I get to do nice things for you. And I like spending time with the kids. No strings attached. Granted, it might be harder now that I know what your lips taste like.” He leaned down, brushing a kiss over my lips. Instantly, I parted for him, my fingers moving into his hair, pulling him closer.
Polly! Focus!
I tore my mouth from his and pushed him back.
“See! This is why we needed to have this conversation, otherwise I’ll want to do that all the time!”
Settling back on his side, wearing nothing but a bemused smile, Jace winked at me. “If we’re being honest, I’ve had some practice at that already. Because I’ve wanted to do that long before today.”
Despite wearing matching birthday suits and spending the better part of the day exploring every inch of his gloriously naked body with my lips, I felt suddenly, inexplicably, shy. I looked down at my hands, rolling one thumb over the other. How long did he mean? I didn’t want to ask. But why would he say that if he didn’t want me to know? I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, then quickly looked down again. What if it was only this past week? That’s the most likely answer. And who cares? He clearly liked me now . . . but I would have been aware of him a lot longer than he would have been of me.
I felt a tug on my hand as Jace threaded our fingers together, and I reluctantly turned to face him, a knowing smile on his face.
“What?” My question was high pitched, feeling like my insecurity was written all over my face like words on a page.
“Ask me.”
I smoothed a wrinkle in the sheet covering me, stalling. “Ask what?”
He reached out to caress my cheek. “You were wearing a black dress, with these pearl buttons down the back. Your hair was down, but your eyes were hidden by your sunglasses. And you had these red high heels on.”
I bit my lip.
“And then you bent over to reach into your car.”
I sucked in a breath. “That was the first time I met you.”
Nodding, he placed two fingers below my chin, inclining my head toward his. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I first laid my eyes on you. I couldn’t remember ever seeing anyone as stunning.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Except if I’m looking in the mirror of course.”
This earned him a laugh and playful shove.
“We can keep this between us for now, if that’s better for you. I can be patient.” His sincere words were paired with a heated look, igniting my craving for him once again. Sitting up, I let the covers fall, baring myself from the waist up. Jace’s expression turned eager—no—desirous.I felt wanton and powerful, insecurity stripped away as his gaze licked its way up my body. I shivered, my nipples pebbling under his perusal. A low, throaty moan left my lips as I embraced my inner she-cougar, pushing him to his back, moving to sit astride him.
“Patience isn’t really my virtue,” I crooned, then glanced at the clock, knowing we had to leave to pick up the kids in less than an hour. “We’ll have to be quick.”
“Good thing for you, speed ismyvirtue.” He grinned and rolled us over, pinning me underneath him.
Luckily for me, Jace was a gifted liar.
* * *
After picking up the kids that afternoon, Jace and the kids hung out while I did some work in the study for a few hours. Rose had looked livid on Saturday when I pulled her aside to tell her that I had received an email from Mr. Goldenstein, requesting a personal meeting with me. Despite being furious, she patted my arm and told me not to worry, she’d handle it. When I checked my email this afternoon, I’d received an email from Mr. Sievers, the school guidance counselor, saying that he and Rose would be joining my meeting with Brad next week.
