“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks.

“Do you?”

“I’d like to clarify some things so we can get on with our evening,” he says with a nod. “Because now it’s awkward, and that pisses me off.”

“Okay.” I wipe my mouth with a napkin. “Tell me.”

Jace reaches over for the bottle of champagne and fills my glass, instinctively knowing that I probably need it.

He’s right.

“She’s a surgeon at the hospital, and I’ve had sex with her exactly twice.”

“When was the last time?” I ask, holding my breath and watching his face, which doesn’t change in the slightest.

“Almost a year ago,” he replies immediately and reaches for my hand. “You’re right, we don’t need to go into who we’ve been with in the past. It might kill me. But she gave me no choice because she was rude to you, disrespectful, and made a show of touching me.”

“Really wishing I’d broken that hand,” I reply and then smile at him. His face is tense with worry, which only makes me love him more. “We’re fine, Jace. Really.”

“I’ll always be honest,” he says. “I don’t have secrets from you.”

“I know.”

It’s true. We don’t have secrets, and we don’t lie to each other. It’s one of the things I love the most about our relationship.

“My trust for you isn’t an issue,” I assure him. “My man is hot, I know that. I’m secure enough to not fly into a jealous rage every time someone hits on you.”

“You could fly into a tiny jealous rage,” he says with a laugh, the tension easing from his face. “It’s kind of hot.”

“I didn’t know what to do,” I admit. “The grocery store was easy. She didn’t do anything wrong. She saw a handsome guy and said hi. This woman was a different story. But she’s gone. I have the guy, and if she pulls anything again, I’ll punch her in the cunt.”

His eyes bulge, and he chokes on the bite of food he just took, making me smile smugly.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that word before.”

“We’re both full of surprises, aren’t we?”

“That was amazing,” I announce as we pull up to my house. The light on the porch is on, signaling that my dad was here to check on Angela and the puppies. “Seriously, all of the hype is well worth it.”

“Agreed,” he says with a grin as he follows me up to the front door. I reach out to unlock it, but he turns me to him, and right there on my porch, he grips my shoulders and lowers his mouth to mine, nibbling the corner of my lips seductively.

My knees are weak. My panties are soaked, and my nipples are hard and pressed against the fabric of my dress.

He kisses along my jawline to my ear, tugs the lobe with his teeth, and whispers, “Are you going to invite me in?”

“I didn’t know you needed an invitation.” I swallow hard, unable to take a deep breath. Jesus, he’s potent.

“It’s our first date,” he reminds me.

“Right.” I swallow again just before he drags his tongue along my lower lip. His hands roam over my back and move down to my ass, then slide up again, making it difficult to think. “Jace, would you like to come inside?”

“Very much.” He grins as I reach behind me for the handle, open the door, and stumble inside. I’m so turned on, I’m clumsy.

I set my clutch on the table by the door, then immediately tend to Angela. She’s whining, wanting to go outside. Once she’s back in and snuggled up to her babies, I turn to find Jace leaning his hip on the island countertop, his jacket already off, and his arms crossed over his chest.

“Is she taken care of?”

“Yeah.”

He nods, his eyes holding mine, and I’ve never been so nervous to be with him in my life. He’s suddenly taller, broader, more imposing than I remember. And the look in his eyes says we’re about to have a night that I’ll never forget.

He crosses to me and drags his fingertips up and down my upper arms, spreading goosebumps over my entire body. His fingers graze my collarbone and move up my neck until he’s cradling my face in his hands. I’m completely under his spell.

“You’re gorgeous, Joy.”

“So are you,” I breathe.

“I just have one request.” His lips brush mine softly. I’d promise him anything in this moment.

“What is it?”

“Take. This. Off.”

~Jace~

She’s tempted me all night. The dress skims over her curves deliciously, showing off her cleavage. I’ve wanted to kiss her there.

So, I do.

She gasps as I drag my tongue over her sternum and up her neck.

“Keep the heels on,” I whisper against her lips before claiming them, teasing her with light kisses then deep ones, tangling my tongue with hers.

She peels the dress over her shoulders, and it drops to pool around her feet. She’s braless, wearing only a tiny scrap of lace as panties.

“I want to boost you onto this countertop and fuck you,” I inform her. A shiver rolls through her, and she nods, her mouth seeking mine as I lift her into my arms. “But I’m not going to.”

“Sad,” she pouts, making me grin.

“We need the bed for what I have in store.”

Her eyes flare with anticipation and need as I climb her stairs with her in my arms. When I reach her bed, I set her on her feet next to it.

“You’re too . . . dressed,” she informs me, but I catch her hands before they can unfasten my tie. Her eyes jump to mine as I kiss her fingertips.

“This is all about you.”

“Then I want you naked,” she insists, and I bite her fingertip, making her pupils dilate.

“I think you’ll be doing what you’re told tonight, my love.”

She doesn’t argue. Her pink lips part on a soft gasp, and as she stands before me, I drag my hands down her sides to catch the lace at her hips with my thumbs, then peel the panties down her legs. She kicks out of them. She’s finally naked, aside from the heels on her feet. I kiss her ankle and up the outside of her leg, my hand grazing the inside of the same thigh as I move, and smile when I find a she’s soaking wet between her legs.

“Good girl,” I whisper before planting an open-mouthed kiss on her hip. “This right here, Joy?”

“Mm-hmm?”

“This curvy hip is mine.”

She bites her lip, watching me as if she’s in a trance as I kiss my way over her belly to her navel and circle it with my nose. I push my fingers inside her and then still, simply filling her as my mouth feasts on her flesh.

“Sit,” I command. She follows orders well, scooting back on the bed until I’m kneeling between her legs, my fingers still inside her, and her heels planted on the linens. “Do you have any idea what you did to me tonight?”

She shakes her head no. “Tell me.”

“You make me lose myself,” I murmur, kissing up her belly to one perfect breast, the nipple tight and straining toward the ceiling. “Your body makes me ache.” I pluck the nipple with my lips. “I have a constant hard-on.”

“You’re welcome,” she whispers with a smile, and I tug the nipple again, harder this time, making her catch her breath.

“These breasts are mine, Joy.”

She nods wordlessly, and I make my way to the cleavage she’s had on display all night, dragging my nose down her smooth skin, then licking my way back up again. Her hips writhe, trying to make my fingers move and release the pressure I’m sure is building within her.

But I don’t oblige her yet. I will, in spades, just not quite yet.

“I fucking love your mouth,” I murmur against her lips, brushing against them softly. “Your lips are full and beautiful. And they feel so fucking good around my cock.”

She sticks out her tongue to brush my lower lip, and I about come in my pants.

Fuck me, she unarms me.

“This mouth is mine.”

“All yours,” she agrees before I lower my weight atop her, kissing her until we’re both breathless, then kissing her again. Her hands make their way into my hair, holding on tightly as she sighs, and I sink in deeper.