Chapter 49

Heat flies rapidly through my veins as Jace holds my hand and leads me through the house and up the stairs to my bedroom. As soon as the door's shut behind us, he's gently pushing me against it, and his hands are everywhere. So is his mouth. He kisses me. With the strength of a thousand kisses, he consumes every part of me. For minutes, that's all he does—traces my shape with his fingertips, inhales every single one of my exhales into his lungs until we're both breathless. "I need to kiss you," he says against my neck.

"You are."

"Everywhere, Harlow. I need to taste you, everywhere." And then he's lifting me off my feet, and I land on my back, on my mattress, and he's over me, his hot tongue setting my cold flesh ablaze. He moves from my neck, down to my breasts, over my bralette as he glides his hand up my side until his thumb strokes the underside of my breast. He stays there a moment, as if unsure.

"Please," I urge. "Everything. Everywhere."

It's all he needs to hear. He lifts the thin fabric higher, his thumb sliding over my nipple, and I surge forward at the sensation. "Shit," I whisper, right before he replaces his thumb with his mouth. Heat simmers in my bloodline, and I moan when he flicks his tongue, again and again, and then he moves to the other one to repeat the process. I writhe on the bed, fisting my covers to calm my body's reaction to the pleasure he's creating.

My center coils, and I squeeze my legs, try to relieve the pressure there. Jace lowers his hand, gripping my thigh and pulling my legs apart. His fingers find my warmth, stroking me over my underwear, and I tense when he pulls the crotch to the side so it's skin on skin. He doesn't enter me right away, just spreads my liquid pleasure higher, skimming my clit, then back down again. I can hear how wet I am, and his single moan around my breasts shows his approval. For a long moment, he remains where he is, teasing me toward the edge, until he eventually moves, lowering himself down my body until he's nothing but a silhouette standing at the foot of the bed.

I almost cry out in frustration, but then he grasps my ankles, pulling me to the edge of the mattress. Slowly, he removes my underwear completely, kissing a path down my leg as he does. And then he drops to his knees, his head between my thighs. The first stroke of his tongue splits me open for him, and I whisper expletives into the darkness when he licks my clit, takes it between his lips, and sucks.

I burn on the inside, ignited by desire and kept alight by each and every stroke of his tongue. I can't see him in the darkness, but the sound of every lick, over every kiss, every move of his fingers inside me is amplified, and suddenly there's a soft glow as my lamp turns back on and the house comes to life. I gasp as I look down at Jace, his face between my legs, looking up at me, smiling as he flattens his tongue and makes a show of tasting the entire length of me. I come undone at the sight, my body convulsing, core pulsing against his tongue. He doesn't stop. Not until I forcefully shove his head away. "I can't take anymore."

I'm all skin, no bones—a mess of limbs on the bed, and he stands, his erection tenting his shorts as his eyes take in my naked form for the first time. "So much better than I fucking imagined," he says, shoving his hands down his boxer shorts. I assume he's adjusting himself, like he's done in the past, but instead, he pulls out his cock, strokes it, and I lick my lips.

"Not today," he groans, his arm moving rapidly. "But I can't fucking wait to see your mouth spread around me." His fingers come down between my legs, his thumb massaging my nub, as his eyes drink in every inch of me. He unloads with a groan, a curse, and I look down at the liquid pleasure he spilled on my stomach. "Sorry sorry sorry," he says.

"Don't be," I breathe out. "That was so fucking hot."

"Yeah?"

"Jace…"

He swallows, out of breath. "I'll run you a shower."