35. Theo Glass

I felt like a new man. Like I’d been reborn. Given another chance.

Standing in my bathroom with Jace undressing felt like some kind of miracle.

No longer was I scared of being locked in here. I didn’t even care that the door was closed. It was like I’d been cured. My anxiety, my panic, it was nowhere to be found. All I could feel was the cool embrace of relief, bolstered by the warm touch of hope.

My life had completely changed in the span of a couple of hours.

I was free. Finally free from the shadow of my father. I had dismantled Pressure Point, the group my sister had made it her mission to take down. I finished it for her. Honored her memory. Made the ones responsible for her death pay.

And I was able to keep Jace in the process .

That had been one of my biggest fears. Bigger than going to prison for the rest of my life.

Irrational, yes, but when was love ever known for being rational?

Jace Holloway had shown me a side to life that I never wanted to give up. And seeing him tied up, his life only a trigger pull away from ending, was a horror I never wanted to experience again. I’d seen death. I’d delivered death.

But witnessing Jace at death’s doorstep changed me.

I ended lives to find my own meaning, he thought. Now, with him, I finally see what living truly means.

This was a second chance I couldn’t fuck up. And I wouldn’t. I’d prove to him that he made the right decision. Every day, I would work hard to make sure Jace knew that he was right in saving me.

It began tonight.

The water rushed into the tub. Jace was silent as he folded his clothes and set them on the bathroom counter. He stripped down to his black briefs. His muscles shifted in the light. I dimmed the lights from my phone before I rummaged in the cabinet and grabbed a bath bomb I’d gotten as a white elephant gift.

“Pulling out all the stops, huh?” Jace asked. He was teasing me.

Good. It felt like things were slowly shifting back to normalcy. It would take time, but time was all we had.

Thanks to Jace.

“Only the best for you,” I said, winking. The bath bomb smelled like lavender with rose petals set inside it. I dropped it in the water, creating an immediate fizz effect as bubbles began to form. The soft, rosy scent filled the bathroom. I pulled off my sweatpants and set them next to Jace’s clothes. I was completely naked. Bare.

Jace’s eyes raked across my body. The familiar flame I’d been so used to feeling around him sparked to life. I stood there, allowing him to drink me in. It wasn’t long before I began to get hard. I didn’t touch myself or hide myself. Just continued to stand there, letting Jace come to me on his own time.

He finished undressing, revealing that I wasn’t the only one who was getting hard because of this.

Jace motioned to the tub. “Should we?”

“Yeah, looks about full.”

Jace got in first. Some of the water sloshed out of the side. He apologized, but I waved it off. I didn’t care. We could get water all over the apartment, and I wouldn’t give three fucks. All that mattered was that Jace was here, with me, and there were no more secrets between us. He knew everything. And he accepted everything.

I got into the tub so that I faced him. It wasn’t a large bathtub—we lived in New York, after all—so I had to bend my legs a bit. Jace stretched his out so that they fit on either side of me. I reached under the water and gently grabbed him. The water was deliciously warm and helped ease the coiled tension that wrapped around my muscles.

“I never thought I’d enjoy a bath as much as I do right now,” I admitted to Jace.

“You’re okay being in here, right?”

I closed my eyes and nodded. “I am. You being here helps.”

“Good,” Jace answered. “Because I feel like I want to stay in here for hours.”

“Don’t you think you’ll get bored after all that time?”

Jace shrugged, creating ripples in the water. “I’m sure we could figure out a way to keep things interesting.”

I grabbed my still-hard dick under the water. His gaze dropped. The bubbles were covering me, but I had a feeling he knew exactly what I was doing. He smiled and did the same. “You’re special to me, Jace. In ways I can’t even begin to describe. You know that, right?”

He took a moment to answer, his eyes searching mine. I wondered what he was thinking about. I wished I could read him like a book. I wanted to be able to highlight his thoughts as if they were my favorite passages in a worn-out book. One I carried with me everywhere I went. “I do. And you’re the same to me. Clearly, you make me act in ways I never imagined I’d act. You… you surprise me, and change me, and make me happy.”

“That’s all I ever want to do.” I moved my leg so it was between his and gently moved my foot next to his dick. He let go of himself and grabbed my foot instead, gently massaging it under the water. I let out a deep sigh, dropping my head back, stroking myself under the water as Jace continued to massage my foot.

A low groan escaped my lips as his hands moved up my leg, his fingers tracing patterns on my skin beneath the water. My grip tightened around my own hard cock, the warmth of the bath and his touch igniting every nerve.

“You’re making it hard to stay still,” I murmured, eyes half-closed .

“Is that a problem?” he asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

“Not at all,” I replied.

He shifted forward, the water rippling between us. His hand slid up my thigh, inching closer to where I ached for him. I could feel his gaze roaming over me, taking in every detail.

“Let me,” he said softly, his fingers brushing mine aside as he took hold of my stiff cock. The sensation sent a jolt through me, and I couldn’t suppress the moan that followed.

“Jace,” I breathed, his name a plea on my lips.

He stroked me slowly, his grip firm yet gentle. I opened my eyes to meet his, the intensity there almost overwhelming. Without breaking eye contact, I reached out and wrapped my hand around his length, matching his rhythm.

The air was thick with steam and the scent of lavender, but all I could focus on was him—the way his breath hitched, the subtle movements of his muscles under the water.

“You’re driving me crazy,” he whispered.

“Good,” I replied, a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth.

He leaned in, his lips hovering just above mine. “I don’t think I can hold back much longer.”

“Then don’t.” I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed him. Had to have him inside me.

I moved forward, water splashing over the tub. I grabbed his face in my hands and kissed him, his legs opening for me as I pressed myself against him. He gripped my ass, squeezing, his fingers pressing down on my hole.

“Tell me what you want,” he murmured against my lips, his voice low and rough.

“You,” I whispered, barely able to get the word out. “I want you inside me.”

His eyes searched mine, desire and affection mingling in those deep hazel depths. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I breathed. “Please.”

He nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Turn around,” he instructed gently.

I shifted carefully in the cramped space, turning so my back was pressed against his chest. The water lapped around us, bubbles clinging to our bodies. I could feel his hard cock pressing against my lower back, igniting a fire inside me.

He wrapped one arm around my waist, pulling me snug against him. His other hand trailed down my stomach, fingers grazing sensitive skin until he reached my own throbbing length. He took me in his hand, stroking slowly as he nuzzled into the crook of my neck.

“You’re so fucking sexy,” he whispered, his breath hot against my ear.

A shiver ran down my spine. “Jace…”

His fingers found their way to my entrance, circling before pressing gently. I moaned, pushing back against him, needing more.

“That’s it,” he soothed. “I’ve got you.”

He slipped a finger inside me, the sensation sending a jolt of pleasure through my entire body. I gasped, gripping the edge of the tub as he moved slowly, preparing me. He added a second finger, stretching me further. The mix of slight discomfort and overwhelming need was intoxicating.

“Please,” I begged softly. “I want you to fuck me.”

He withdrew his fingers, and I felt the tip of his cock pressing against me. He hesitated for a moment, kissing the side of my neck.

“Tell me if it’s too much,” he said.

“It won’t be,” I promised.

He chuckled and began to push inside, inch by tantalizing inch. I sucked in a sharp breath as he filled me, the stretch intense but so right. He paused once he was fully inside, both of us breathing heavily.

“God, you feel amazing,” he groaned.

“Fuck me,” I urged him, pressing back to emphasize my point.

He didn’t need further encouragement. He started a slow rhythm, pulling out almost completely before sliding back in. Each thrust sent waves of pleasure radiating through me. The water around us churned, spilling over the sides of the tub onto the floor, but neither of us cared.

I reached back and tangled my fingers in his hair, turning my head to capture his lips in a messy, desperate kiss. Our tongues danced together, matching the pace of our bodies.

“Faster,” I gasped against his mouth.

He obliged, his movements becoming more urgent. The sound of skin against skin echoed softly in the steamy bathroom, mingling with our ragged breaths and low moans and splashing water .

“You’re so tight,” he groaned, adjusting his grip on my hips.

“And you’re so deep,” I replied, my voice hitching as he hit that perfect spot inside me.

He reached around and took hold of my cock again, pumping in time with his thrusts. Pleasure built rapidly, coiling tight in my belly.

“I’m close,” I warned him.

“Me too,” he panted.

He slammed into me a few more times, each movement more intense than the last. The world blurred at the edges as my climax crashed over me. I cried out his name, spilling into his hand and the water below.

A moment later, I felt him tense behind me, a deep groan escaping his lips as he came hard, filling me with his warmth. His hips jerked erratically as he rode out his orgasm, holding me tightly against him.

We stayed like that, connected, as the aftershocks rippled through us. My legs felt like jelly, and I was grateful for his strong arms keeping me upright.

“That was…” I started, struggling to find the right words.

“Incredible,” he finished, pressing a soft kiss to my shoulder.

I chuckled breathlessly. “We’re making a mess.”

He glanced around at the water all over the floor. “Worth it.”

I turned carefully in his arms, facing him once more. His hair was damp, droplets clinging to his eyelashes. He looked utterly content, a lazy smile spread across his face .

“I love you,” I said, the words coming easily.

“I love you, too, Theo,” he replied without hesitation.

I leaned in to kiss him softly, savoring the tenderness of the moment. Our lips moved slowly, no urgency this time—just pure affection. It was the first time he’d told me he loved me. A declaration that might as well have been tattooed directly onto my heart. That’s how much it meant to me.

We eventually untangled ourselves and stood up, the cool air hitting our skin as we stepped out of the tub. Water pooled at our feet, but we ignored it. He grabbed a couple of towels, handing one to me.

As we dried off, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. Every movement, every glance he sent my way, filled me with a warmth I couldn’t quite explain.

“Come on,” he said, wrapping his towel around his waist. “Let’s clean up and get comfortable.”

We spent a few minutes mopping up the worst of the water, our teamwork efficient. Once satisfied, we headed to the bedroom. He dropped his towel and crawled into bed, holding the covers open for me. I joined him, the sheets cool against my bare skin.

He pulled me close, our bodies fitting together perfectly. I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, feeling the soft brush of his chest hair against my cheek.

“Today was… intense,” I mused.

“That’s one way to put it,” he replied, stroking his fingers through my hair.

“I meant what I said earlier,” I told him. “You’re special to me. More than I ever thought possible. ”

He tilted my chin up so I could see his eyes. “And you mean the world to me. We’re in this together now.”

I smiled softly. “No more secrets.”

“No more secrets,” he agreed.

I settled back against him, feeling contentment wash over me. The rhythm of his breathing began to lull me toward sleep.

For the first time in a very, very long time I slept without having a single nightmare.

Thank you for reading EDGE OF CONTROL.