“So, you two are like together together?” Ava asked.

It had been two weeks and three days—yes, I was counting—since the night Mace and I laid it all on the line, and every minute of those two weeks and three days had been bliss.

“Yes, Teenaged Ava,” I giggled through the phone. “We’re together together.”

She squealed so loudly I had to pull the phone from my ear. “Ohmigod! You can’t see it right now, but I’m totally doing my ‘I told you so’ dance.”

“Please tell me you aren’t doing that dance in public. You know you don’t have any rhythm,” I teased while propping the phone between my ear and shoulder so I could continue rummaging around the top of the dresser in search of my watch. It wasn’t there, and I couldn’t find it in any of the other places I usually put it. The morning after what I’d dubbed The Night of the Stairs, Mace had gotten out of bed and proceeded making one trip after another between our rooms, officially moving me into his. It was a wonderful gesture, but a few of my things had gone missing in the shuffle.

The watch Will had given me as a graduation present was just the latest of many things that had disappeared. So far I’d managed to lose my favorite hair tie, a tube of lip gloss, and three pairs of expensive panties. Besides the watch, the panties were what I was most pissed about, because without them the matching bras were just a waste.

“I have rhythm,” Ava argued. “You just refuse to appreciate my mad dancing skills.”

I rolled my eyes and gave up my search on the dresser, moving into the master bathroom to dig around on the vanity. “If you say so.”

“So happy for you, babe,” she said, her voice suddenly dropping several octaves as she grew serious. “Over the freaking moon.”

I paused in my search, my eyes suddenly growing blurry. “Thanks, honey,” I replied, my voice just as soft and quiet. “That means a lot.”

“One of us is making a trip soon. I’m missing my girl something fierce.”

I lifted my head and smiled at my reflection in the mirror. It was like looking at a different person. I couldn’t remember the last time my eyes shone so brightly. My cheeks held a constant rosy glow that was only partly because of whisker burn from Mace’s scruff, and mostly because I couldn’t contain the blush that heated my face every time I thought about how happy I was. It was like I was staring at a new and improved Lyla.

“It’s a deal. But I’m thinking this time you should come here so I can show you everything Seattle has to offer.”

“Sounds like a plan. Ooh! You better take me to where they filmed the Twilight movies.”

“Honey, most of those were filmed in Oregon. That’s a totally different state.”

“Son of a bitch!” she snapped. “Why can’t they film movies where they’re actually based?”

I laughed into the phone before saying, “Well, there is an actual Forks, but it’s about four hours away. We could make a mini road trip out of it if you want.”

“No, thanks,” she instantly replied. “I’ve been trapped in a car with you for long periods of time before, and I’m not willing to do it again. You’re a slob.”

“Am not!” I cried in offense.

“Babe, you totally are. I spent the whole time curled in the passenger seat, too afraid to put my feet on the floor ’cause I was worried your mess had attracted bugs.”

“Whatever,” I grumbled. “If you’re quite finished with the insults, I gotta go. I’m meeting Gina for drinks and I’m running late.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she chided, but I could hear the smile in her voice. “I’ll let you go, but call again soon, huh? I miss you.”

“Miss you too, sweetie. And I will.”

I hung up and resumed the search for my watch. I dug through drawers and jewelry boxes, even rummaged through all my purses to see if I’d dropped it in one before switching them out.

Nothing.

It was as if the watch had grown legs and walked away with the rest of my missing shit. Everything else I could’ve easily brushed off, but that was important to me. Will had worked some serious overtime and saved up to buy that watch. It was expensive and beautiful, and it meant everything to me.

A low whistle from the doorway caught my attention, and I spun around to find Mace with his shoulder against the doorjamb. “Goddamn, baby. That’s one hell of dress.”

His eyes smoldered as he trailed his gaze down my body. With the watch suddenly forgotten, my nipples instantly hardened and my pussy clenched. “You like it?” I asked breathily, rubbing my hands down my hips. The dusky blue color complemented my hair and skin coloring perfectly, and the stretchy material hugged every inch of my body, hinting seductively at what lay beneath.

He stalked slowly into the room like the sexiest predator on the planet. I could tell from the look in his eyes exactly what he wanted, and that knowledge took my breath away at the same time it drenched my panties with arousal.

For every step he took forward, I took one back, the enticing game of cat and mouse too thrilling to ignore. “Oh, I more than like it, Goldie.” He prowled closer, moving me back until I reentered the bathroom. “How long you got ’til you have to meet Gina?” he asked in a rough, craggy growl.

I hadn’t looked at the time in a while so I couldn’t be sure, but I had a distinct feeling I was already running a few minutes late.

However… “Depends. How fast can you be?”

With that, he lunged, spinning me around to face the mirror and pinning me between the counter and his long, hard body. “Oh, baby, you know better than that. I take my time when it comes to you. Always.”

His hands came up and spanned my ribs, his thumbs brushing the underside of my breasts before he trailed them down my sides slowly, so very slowly, over my waist and hips, my outer thighs. “Wanted you for too goddamn long,” he said softly against my neck before dragging his lips across the sensitive flesh. My whole body trembled with need and goose bumps broke out along my arms. “All this smooth, creamy skin,” he continued, still speaking in a hushed tone. “All these curves.” One hand came back over my belly until he was cupping my breast, his thumb rubbing across my tight nipple. “And this. Christ,” he grunted as his other hand slipped beneath my skirt and his fingertips scraped tantalizingly between my thighs. “Everything about you is so fuckin’ perfect. And it’s all mine.”

I’d been watching him touch me, the desire in my blood growing stronger with each stroke of his fingertips. It was better than any porn I’d ever seen, but it was quickly becoming too much. My head fell back against his shoulder as my eyes closed. “Mace,” I moaned. “God, Mace.”

“What do you need, baby?”

My hand went to his between my legs, pressing his fingers harder against the gusset of my panties. “You,” I panted, circling my hips in desperation. “I need you. I always need you.”

“How do you want it?” he asked, continuing to tease me until I thought I might lose my mind. “You want my cock or my fingers?” One long, deft finger shoved the lace to the side and plunged inside me.

“God, please. Fuck me, Mace.” I grinded against his hand. I could feel it coming, and I couldn’t freaking wait.

“You sure? You seem pretty eager right now.” He slipped the digit out before slowly sliding it back in.

Every orgasm he gave me was off the charts, beyond perfect. But I didn’t want to come this way. “Please. I want your cock, honey.”

His hand disappeared from between my legs. “Well, since you asked so nicely.” The skirt of my dress was pulled up over my ass with a whoosh, my panties hit the floor, and the sound of his zipper being pulled down echoed through the room. A second later, he bent his knees and drove up, filling me so completely, so perfectly that my head fell forward on a loud cry.

“Keep your eyes up,” Mace grunted as he powered in and out, each slide of his cock brushing that place inside me that set me on fire. I managed to force my head up, looking at our reflections in the mirror through hooded eyes. I’d been wrong before. This was better than porn. Every thrust of his hips made my body jolt and my breasts jiggle. Mace’s dark hair was a contrast against my light, his ocean eyes the opposite of my whiskey ones, his caramel skin stark against my peaches and cream. But god, we looked perfect together, locked in the most intimate way possible.

“See how amazing we are together?” he growled, his forehead glistening with sweat as he drove in and out, sending me higher and higher. “So fuckin’ perfect. Christ, never had anything like this.”

The sight of him fucking me was almost as much of a turn-on as his cock, and I couldn’t get enough. With one hand braced on the vanity, I used the other to pull my skirt higher so I could see our connection, see his dick glistening with my juices.

“There’s my girl,” he said with a wicked smile. “Watch me take you, baby. Watch me fuck you.”

“Yes,” I groaned. “Don’t stop.”

“Never, baby. I’ll never stop.”

“I’m close.”

“Fuck. Love this, Lyla. Fuckin’ love this. Touch yourself. Let me see you.”

The hand holding my skirt drifted farther in. I sucked in a breath as my index finger brushed my clit.

“That’s it, Goldie. Just like that. Keep circling.”

I did as he ordered, coming with his name a low moan on my lips as my pussy clamped around him. “Fuck, Mace! Oh god, yes. Yes! Fuck me. Don’t stop.”

“Eyes open!” he snapped when they drifted closed again. “Jesus, fuck. So hot. So goddamn tight.” He powered in twice more before shoving his face in my neck and groaning out his own climax. And just like always, it was the most beautiful sight in the world.

“Love you, baby,” he whispered into my hair as his hands wandered soothingly over my body.

“I love you too,” I panted with a smile into the mirror.

He pulled out a second later and squatted to the floor, reaching for my panties. “Step,” he ordered, tapping my right ankle. I lifted my foot so he could fit my heel through one leg hole, and then he tapped the other, going through the same process before standing and sliding them up my legs and settling them where they should be. “Don’t want you cleanin’ up,” he said. “Want you walkin’ into that place with me still between your legs, dripping outta you so if any fucker tries to hit on you, you’ll still be able to feel me there.”

That sent a tremor through my body. I liked that. I really liked that.

Turning around, I gave him a kiss and pulled away, using my thumb to brush my lip gloss off his lips. “Then you don’t get to clean up either. I want you to smell me while I’m gone. I want it to drive you crazy so when I get home, you can’t keep your hands off me.”

An animalistic sound vibrated from his throat as he grabbed me by the back of my neck and pulled me against him to kiss me fast and hard and deep. “You got a deal, baby.”

I moved out of the bathroom and back to the dresser where my gold hoop earrings and bangles sat. I picked up the hoops and started putting them in my ears as I looked back at him. “Have you seen my watch?”

He stepped out of the bathroom while doing up his jeans. “Last time it was on the dresser. Is it not there?”

“No.” I chewed on my bottom lip with unease. “I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find it. Will gave me that watch for graduation. It’s important to me.”

He came close and took my face in his hands. “Then we’ll find it. I promise. It’ll turn up, don’t worry.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.” He gave me one last kiss before patting me on my ass. “Go. Have fun with Gina.”

“What are you and Kill gonna do tonight?”

He took my hand and began leading me down the hall. “The Xbox is cued up and ready to go.”

A giggle bubbled past my lips as I grabbed my purse off the entryway table. “Grown men and their video games. I’ll never understand that.”

“Not for you to understand.” He grinned. “You’ve got your thing, like having to go to the bathroom with an entourage.”

I glowered playfully. “We don’t all do that.”

“Sure you don’t. Now kiss me before you hit the road.”

I rose to my toes and gave him one more kiss. “I love you, honey.”

“Have fun tonight, baby. I love you too.”

Man, I was never going to get tired of hearing that.