Chapter Six
Between Ursula’s busted door and his inability to remember the last time he changed the sheets at his house, he steered to the only other place that could offer privacy. Her fingers teased the hairs of his arm, driving his need as he tried to stay on the road and reach the marina in record speed. Jace helped her from the truck and trailed his hand down her back as they headed toward the dock.
“I see our pretty lady is back,” a gruff voice called.
Jace groaned and closed his eyes. Ursula squeezed his hand as they turned around. “Vic! You’re my hero.” Ursula ran to the old man, pressing a kiss on his cheek.
“All’s I did was give this doofus your message. He shouldn’t have let you outta his sight in the first place.” Vic’s gaze bounced from Ursula to Jace. “What’s up with you two?” He stared at Jace. “You look almost happy. You feelin’ okay?”
“Never better.” He pulled her into his embrace and tipped his head in the direction of his boat. “We have some fish to catch.”
Vic chuckled. “That what they’re calling it these days? Well it’s about time you two came to your senses…” Vic waved his hand and continued his grumbling rant as he hobbled back to the marina.
Jace stepped onto the cruiser and encircled his hands around her waist as she joined him. Tucking a curl behind her ear, he cupped her cheek and brushed a soft kiss to her lips. “I was such an ass.”
She pinned him with her stare. “Yeah, you were. But I need to know where we stand now.”
“I can’t answer that.” As soon as it left his mouth, he knew he dove right back into ass status.
She lifted her brows, assessing him with her gaze for a long moment until she led him into the cabin and closed the door. “I call bullshit, Jace. I know there’s something more to us. If you don’t want to face it, that’s fine. But I won’t be your fuck partner. If that’s what you’re looking for, keep on looking.”
“Urs. I can’t give you what you deserve. I can’t be that person.”
Disappointment flickered over her expression and she wrapped her arms around her chest. “That’s where you’re wrong. I know the man you could be if you’d soften your edge. I know what we could be if you’d let it happen. Why can’t you see it, too?”
He leaned a hand on the wall and rubbed his eyes with the other. “My edge keeps us alive.”
“Your edge keeps you from living,” she said in barely a whisper.
Her gaze moved to the door and he figured he had about a minute or less to make things right or she’d leave forever. He had no choice. He was forced to bring to life the memory that haunted his dreams. Jace slumped onto the cushioned bench. “I never told you how I got into the business.”
She shrugged. “How is that relevant?”
“You’ll understand when I tell you. Just hear me out. After I’m done you can leave if you want to.”
Ursula moved to his side and sank into the cushion, pulling her knees into her chest. “I’m listening.”
“My brother brought me into the business. Luke took me under his wing and taught me everything I know.”
“You never mentioned you have a brother.”
“Had. He was killed during a hit.” He hung his head and lowered his voice. “He died while saving me.” He paused as she whispered an I’m sorry and covered his hand with hers. Jace continued. “I was posing as a delivery driver and drove the target to the edge of a park where Luke would complete the hit. We didn’t know our online communication channel was hacked and we had a surprise waiting for us. Luke saw a sniper with his rifle pointed at me. He moved from his intended target and took out the shooter. The guy who was our target spotted Luke, drew his gun, and shot. I tried to get to the guy before he could get off a shot, but I was too late. He turned his gun on me, but I got him first. Within a couple seconds, it was over. Luke was dead and it was my fault.”
“Jeez, Jace. It wasn’t your fault. He saved you.”
Jace nodded. “He protected me instead of himself.”
“And you would’ve done the same.”
“I wish it could’ve been me. He didn’t deserve to die.”
“And neither did you. It’s a dangerous business. You know that more than anyone. And Luke knew it, too. This explains why you’re against using digital devices but it doesn’t explain why you won’t give us a chance.”
“I’ve never wanted anyone in my life. Never thought I needed anyone. But when I thought I’d lost you, it all changed. Nothing else mattered more than finding you. But what scares me more than letting you walk away from me is having you with me.”
Ursula squeezed his hand. “Let me ask you a question. Who saved who today?”
“I saved—”
She raised her palm interrupting Jace. “Before you say something to piss me off, think about it. Who saved who?” she repeated.
He recalled the events that happened over the past few hours. “I guess we saved each other.”
“Good answer. You’re not as much of a doofus as Vic thinks. My point is if we weren’t attuned to each other, we probably would both be dead right now.” She turned to face him and hooked her index finger under his chin, tipping his face up to meet her gaze. “We rescued each other.”
He pulled her onto his lap and cupped her face in his palms. “If anything ever happened to you, I’d never forgive myself.”
“Nothing will. We’re stronger together than apart.”
Her words prompted the question bugging him all day. “You said you had another job offer. Who were you going to work for?” he asked, searching her eyes.
A slow smile grew on her lips. “There was no other job. I said it to piss you off.” She raised her brow. “Mission accomplished.”
Relief, followed by need, rolled through him as he closed the gap between them. The heat of her body enveloped him as his tongue brushed her lips, coaxing a sweet moan from her throat. His erection pushed hungrily against his fly as her hips teased a slow circle on his lap. His fingers trailed up her ribs, taking her shirt along. She was like a beacon, guiding him closer to her fire. Her shirt floated to the floor as she yanked his over his head. The warmth of their skin mingled into one and he didn’t know where she ended and he began. He needed to possess her fully and completely, almost as much as he needed to breathe.
Encircling her hips, he tried to drag her to the cushion, but she braced her legs and shot him a sexy smile. “You made me wait. I’m going to do the same to you.” She slid from his lap so her elbows rested on his knees. “But don’t worry, I think you’re going to like the wait.” Her fingers trailed to his waist and undid his button and fly. He groaned as she dipped her hand inside. His gaze raked over her as she freed his cock from his pants and her tongue dragged circles around the tip. Jace leaned back and widened his parted legs, giving her more access. Shit, he’d do a split if it would keep her doing that crazy thing with her tongue. Her eyes flicked to his and she took him fully into her mouth. Her glistening lips wrapped around his dick while she captured his stare was the sexiest vision he’d ever witnessed in his life.
He palmed her hollowed cheeks, guiding her movement, while her gaze stayed trained on him. A whimpered sigh broke the silence as she sucked and licked her way around his cock. The sound almost sent him over the edge. He raked his fingers through her hair and pulled gently. “Baby, if you keep that up you’ll set me off like some high school kid during his first time. Come here.” He pulled her back to his lap. “Are you done torturing me?”
She arched her brow. “I’ve only begun.”
“Now it’s my turn. You’ve put me through hell over the past three years. All those times I watched you seduce other men from the scope of my rifle. When they touched you here…” he brushed the back of his fingers along her side. “And they kissed you here…” Ursula tilted her head as he pulled her hair back and trailed his tongue from her ear to the bottom of her neck where her pulse met his lips. “I wanted it to be me.”
He pulled away and met her glistening eyes. “It’s all I ever wanted,” she said and brushed her lips along his mouth as she reached back and unhooked her bra. Jace palmed the curve of her breast and she arched as his tongue trailed circles around her nipples. “Fuck, Jace, don’t make me wait. I need you inside me now.”
He hoisted her into his arms and carried her to the sleeping quarters, grabbing a condom from the bathroom along the way. Ursula wiggled out of her shorts and panties as he stripped. He ripped open the condom wrapper and rolled it on his length before climbing over her heated flesh. He braced his arms on either side of her body, claiming her mouth with his. Desire coursed through his veins as her legs wrapped around him and he thrust deep inside with a low groan. He tipped his forehead to hers, capturing her gaze as he glided in and out of the nirvana of her core. Ursula closed her eyes. “Please. Don’t stop. Don’t ever stop.” She dug her nails into the flesh of his back, pulling him close. His edge melted as he pumped everything he had into her sweet sex, leaving nothing. It was hard and gritty, and so fucking amazing.
“I’ll never stop loving you, Urs. We’re in this thing together.” And they were. He never thought he’d need anyone in his life, but at that moment he knew what he’d been missing. She let light into his heart and made him human. She was the piece that made him whole. She moaned soft and sweet in his ear, his new favorite sounds, as they tumbled off the edge of oblivion together.
The End