“Oh...” Her cheeks heated. “Well, you...you…”
“Yeah. And you.”
He was being gooey. And looking at her funny.
“You know,” she said, “I’m easy where you’re concerned. You don’t have to try this hard.”
“I’m just being honest.”
“Okay.”
She started running hot water out of the tap, scrubbing at the bowl idly with her thumb before realizing what she was doing. And then she realized he wasn’t yelling at her. And that was weird.
“I’m washing the bowl with my thumb,” she said, studying his face closely. “My thumb, Jace. I petted Poppy with these hands earlier. I grabbed your ass. This thumb was involved in said ass-grabbing.”
He shrugged and smiled. “It’s going to go in the dishwasher.”
She squinted at him. “Are you high?”
“Never once in my life.”
“No. You’re too much of a control freak. Which is why I am suspicious of you now.”
“I’m fine. I’m...” He looked down at her hand. “You did stick your hand down my pants.”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe you could use a cloth?”
She smiled and grabbed a clean dish towel from the counter. “Yeah, I could do that.” There. That was more normal. Nitpicky Jace, who was freaky about his dishes, was strange but normal in his way.
“So what’s with the trying to be relaxed about me manhandling your stuff?” she asked.
“I’m making an effort to be flexible.”
“That’s weird, man. I’m not gonna lie.”
“You’re staying here. And I shouldn’t make you feel like an imposition.”
“Huh. Well. For the record, you don’t make me feel like an imposition, but thank you.”
“But you wouldn’t feel comfortable if you were staying here permanently.”
Something strange and heavy settled in her chest. “No. But I’m not.”
“No,” he said. “But...if you were, I couldn’t be tyrannical about everything.”
“But I’m not,” she said, feeling the need to affirm it.
“No,” he said again.
She set the bowl down in the sink. “Stop thinking so much,” she said, touching his cheek. “I can think of something that doesn’t require thinking at all.”
“Really?” The light in his eyes changed. It had been soft, almost sweet a moment ago. Not now. Now it was sharp. Predatory.
“Yes, really.”
She reached between them and grabbed his belt, tugging him forward. She ran her hands over his chest, confidence filling her. Because Jace was the most enthusiastic lover she’d ever had. Because he made her feel confident. Beautiful. More aggressive. And safe. Even when he took her to the edge, Jace made her feel safe.
