Chapter Ten

"I feel like shit for being gruff with you." Ian sighed as he entered the downtown area. "Just because you smiled and the tension disappeared doesn't mean I feel less guilty."

"You pissed me off!" Jace slapped a hand over his mouth, wondering where his boldness had come from. He wasn't the confrontational type. Owen was proof of that. Jace had allowed the guy to get away with his behavior.

"That should've made you angry," Ian agreed. "I had no right to take things out on you. Don't ever be afraid to hand me my ass when I screw up."

That outburst had felt…good. "My mom wanted me to invite you to dinner, but I'm not sure I should since I'm still upset at you."

"I said hand me my ass, not torment me." Ian frowned at him. "Damn, you've got claws."

Jace had lost count of how many times he'd suppressed his irritation or anger when all he'd wanted to do was tell off the person who'd offended him.

Like Owen.

Or the girl who'd flirted with Ian at the ice cream hut.

Even before those two unpleasant jerks, Jace had bottled up his feelings. For eight long years he'd taken crap, afraid of verbally expressing himself. Not that he was offended often. But when it did happen, he'd kept his mouth shut.

The girl had been disrespectful, but Owen had been a downright asshole toward Jace for reasons Jace still didn't understand.

But Ian's rudeness had hurt the most, and something inside of Jace just couldn't let it slide.

"I dated a guy named Tucker," he told Ian. "At first, he said my shyness was cute. He used to make a game out of trying to get me to be more of an extrovert, especially in public."

Ian glanced at him as they parked next to Jace's car.

"After a couple of weeks, when Tucker saw his game wasn't working, he became more aggressive and tried to force me to talk to people. He made it seem like he was being supportive, holding my hand while he thrust me into conversations with strangers."

"Baby, I haven't—"

Jace held up a finger, and Ian grew silent.

"He was the first guy I ever dated," Jace continued. "I was so happy to finally have a boyfriend that I let things slide, but I knew his behavior was becoming borderline abusive. He never raised a hand to me. It was emotional abuse. Sometimes verbal."

Ian scrubbed a hand through his hair. "Fuck."

"I'm in no way saying you're remotely like Tucker," Jace clarified because Ian wasn't.

"But when I snapped at you, I made you feel unsafe," Ian concluded.

"No, you made me feel like your anger was the only feeling that mattered," Jace corrected as he fisted his hands, fighting back tears. "You said we were mates, but…" He swallowed then forced the rest of his words out. "I'll walk away from this before I let you treat me that way."

It was the hardest thing Jace had ever said. He was used to biting his tongue. Had been doing it since the car accident.

But he really cared for Ian, and if their relationship was going to work, Jace had to set boundaries, which included opening his mouth and telling Ian when something was unacceptable or upsetting.

Ian remained quiet for a long moment. "Your feelings are just as valid and significant," he finally said. "I'm truly sorry if I made you believe otherwise."

Jace appreciated Ian's ownership of his actions, instead of placing the blame on Nolan. Unlike Tucker, Ian didn't try to defuse the situation with jokes or attempts at comforting gestures like handholding. His sincere apology went a long way in Jace's forgiveness of him.

"Thank you." Jace cleared his throat. "Your apology means a lot to me."

"I want you to always let me know when I've made a mistake," Ian said. "I care deeply about you and would never intentionally cause you any pain."

"I believe you." Jace glanced at Ian then smiled. "Would you like to come to dinner?"

"God, yes. I'm starving." Just then, his stomach growled.

Jace chuckled. "Then let's get to the bakery."

Ian tucked his fingers under Jace's chin, his eyes still dark with regret. "You mean everything to me, kitten."

"You…uh…" A thousand flutters filled Jace's stomach.

"I'm dying for a kiss, handsome." Ian slid his thumb over Jace's chin.

Guilty eyes turned to smoldering embers. Jace was sucked right into them as he leaned forward, their breaths mingling. "Then kiss me."

Ian didn't hesitate, using his muscular arms to pull Jace onto his lap from across the console. The kiss made Jace's heart thunder as he held on to Ian's jaw, moaning as Ian expertly explored his mouth.

Someone knocked on the driver's side window.

"Never a peaceful moment," Ian growled against Jace's lips.

"I don't mean to interrupt you guys, but there's no parking spaces available. Are you two leaving soon?"

Jace's brows shot up when he saw his high school math teacher standing there. Mr. Skelton had been the hottest teacher in Falls High, and time had definitely been kind to him. Jace had spent more time daydreaming about the guy than learning math.

The man was relatively young, maybe in his mid-thirties, with striking blue eyes and a charming smile that could make anyone weak in the knees.

Shit. Why was Jace even thinking about his math teacher when he was sitting in Ian's lap, his lips probably kiss-swollen?

"Jace Galano?" Mr. Skelton squinted then beamed. "How're things going?"

You just caught me shoving my tongue down a guy's throat. How do you think things are going?

Jace scrambled off of Ian, trying to remember if he'd studied for his finals. Wait. He'd graduated six years ago. "F-Fine, Mr. Skelton."

Ian arched a brow.

"My high school math teacher," Jace whispered.

He was going to strangle Ian for rolling down the damn window and then sticking out his hand. "Ian Grant."

Did Mr. Skelton just blush?

"I'm well aware of who you are, Mr. Grant." He shook Ian's hand then let it go. "Please, both of you call me Reggie."

"Call me Ian."

Call me mortified for getting caught making out in a parked truck like a horny teenager. "I…" Jace wished to god a hole would open up and swallow him.

"You're an adult, Jace." Reggie chuckled. "I'm no longer your math teacher. You don't have to worry about me calling your mom."

Jace slapped a hand over his face. Reggie had tried to ease his embarrassment but had only made it worse. He might be an adult now, but his math teacher's presence made him feel like he was still in high school.

"You can have this parking space," Ian said.

"Thanks. It was a pleasure meeting you, Ian," Reggie said. "See you around, Jace."

"Same." Ian rolled up the window as Jace threw up a hand, hoping it looked like a wave since his other hand was still covering his face.

"He's gone."

Jace peeked between his fingers to make sure. Reggie was parked behind his car, still waiting for a space. "I can't go out there. You drive my car."

"Look at him with dreamy eyes again and I'll drive your car into the closest lake," Ian snarled.

"Like he was looking at you?" Jace argued.

"I can't stop someone from blushing at me," he said. "But I can guarantee you won't see me batting my eyelashes at anyone but my mate ."

"I was just shocked to see him! Those were rapid blinks, not batting lashes." Before Jace dug a deeper hole, he jumped out of the truck and closed the door. Then he tapped on the passenger window.

Ian lowered it.

"I'm sorry. In high school, I had a crush on him. I had a knee-jerk reaction to seeing him again."

Ian rolled up the window.

"I should've just stayed a mute," Jace grumbled while he walked to his car, careful not to look in Reggie's direction. How in the hell had the tables turned on him ? He was supposed to be pissed at Ian, not the other way around.

Jace swung open the driver's door, only to be met with a putrid stench that made him dry heave. He doubled over and vomited, desperately trying to rid his nose and mouth of the foul odor.

"Goddamn!" Ian pressed the back of his hand against his nose when he appeared behind Jace. "It smells like something died in your car."

"Oh, god." Jace gagged again then spit out bile. "The smell is living in my lungs now."

Ian yanked him around the car, his hand still pressed to his nose. "Did you leave something in there when you got to work this morning?"

Jace sat on the curb on the passenger side of Ian's truck. He couldn't stop gagging. "No."

"I see the problem," Reggie said from somewhere near Jace's trunk. "There are three medium-sized fish on your backseat. In this heat, you should've refrigerated them right away."

"It's not mine," Jace said low enough that only Ian heard him. "I'm not a fan of any seafood other than shrimp."

Ian grabbed Jace's hand and pulled him to his feet, leading him inside the gym. They walked straight to Zeke's office, and then Ian knocked.

A moment later, Zeke opened the door. He wrinkled his nose. "What is that god-awful smell?"

"Fish baking in the sun." Ian told Zeke what they'd found. "Tell me you have exterior cameras."

"I do, but they're focused on the back parking lot and the front entrance," Zeke said.

"They don't cover the parking spaces out front?" Ian asked.

"No, because those aren't designated for gym use."

"Thanks," Ian said. "I'm going to check the other businesses to see if their cameras caught anything."

The only buildings near the gym were the auto repair shop and the pizza place. The pizza joint had been closed for more than a month after the owner passed away while cooking in the kitchen. The pizza in the unattended oven caused a fire, and the sole employee had been out on deliveries during the incident.

Jace doubted that the security cameras were still functioning, but hopefully they had some luck at the repair shop.

Twenty minutes later, that hoped was dashed. Not only had the head mechanic refused to let Jace and Ian get near the office, but he'd also told them that their cameras only focused on the shop and the parking lot on the side of their building.

The parking lot facing the opposite direction of the gym.

That meant Jace had no idea who'd put the fish in his car. His money was on Owen. It just sucked that he couldn't prove it.

"I'm honestly not sure even having your car professionally cleaned will get that smell out," Ian said as they walked back to the gym. "We could try, though."

"I can't afford it." Jace wanted to kill whoever had done such a rotten thing. If it was just a prank by some kids, they had no idea the impact it had on Jace and his family. His car was their only means of transportation. There was no way he could drive around with that stench. It would make him constantly vomit, and the smell would be impossible to get rid of, clinging to him wherever he went.

If it was Owen, he was not only an asshole but the world's biggest sleazebag. Jace couldn't come up with a vile enough insult to accurately describe Owen's despicable character.

"Can you use your mom's or grandma's car?"

"They don't have one," Jace said. "That's why I'm always making store runs."

"You can't be without a car." They reached Ian's Navigator. "I might have a solution."

"What did you have in mind?"

"I'll pay to have your car cleaned," Ian offered. "Meanwhile, I'll get you a rental."

"That sounds expensive. I can't have you spending that kind of money on me." Jace wasn't used to spending other people's money, and it made him feel uncomfortable.

"Get in my truck." Ian unlocked the doors, and Jace slipped inside, knowing he had no choice but to rely on Ian's assistance.

Ian turned to him. "Babe, I'm 243."

Jace's jaw hit his chest.

"My entire life I've been looking for my mate. Now that I've found you, there's nothing I won't do for you, kitten." He tapped the underside of Jace's chin. "You're gonna catch flies if you don't close your mouth."

"I… you…" Jace blinked several times, but words failed him.

"Once I claim you, you'll live as long as I do. That's a long-ass time to financially struggle." Ian smiled softly. "It's my job, as your mate, to take care of you."

"No, it's not," Jace said. "It's my job to take care of me."

"If we were both human, I still wouldn't agree." Ian started the truck and turned on the AC. "As you are well aware, I'm not human. For my kind, the inability to take care of one's mate is a great source of shame. Failing to help you in your time of need would be a personal failure for me."

"Sounds like shifters have huge egos." Jace shivered as the cold air blew over his body. Or maybe the shiver wasn't due to the AC but rather the thought of not having to constantly stress about money.

But he still felt as if he were taking advantage of Ian.

"I can't argue with that." Ian's intense gaze had Jace shivering even more. "We're also very possessive."

"I said I was sorry about my math teacher," Jace groaned. "His appearance caught me off-guard. Just remember whose lap I was sitting in and who I was kissing."

Jace wasn't going to live that down for a long while. Without meaning to, he had hurt Ian and now felt terrible about it. "I'm sorry, Ian. But you have to know by now how crazy I am about you. You're the only person I want."

"I've noticed you're opening up to me more," Ian said, taking Jace's hand. "You're not as tense or reserved around me anymore. I like that you're speaking your mind freely."

"I'm comfortable with you," Jace admitted. "Just being near you, being intimate with you, without pressure to change who I am, has helped me let go of my defenses and come out from under my protective shell."

Which made Jace consider binding his soul to Ian's. No one had ever made him feel this way before, and he doubted anyone other than Ian would.

"Then let me help you with your car." Ian's voice broke through his thoughts.

Right. Help. The fish car. The putrid stench. Jace needed a toothbrush and mouthwash stat. He'd probably curled a few nose hairs standing so close to Zeke and the ornery mechanic at the repair shop.

Not to mention his close proximity to Ian.

"Not because you have some caveman mentality," Jace said, "but I'll rely on your generosity this once, only because I can't afford to pay for a solution myself."

Ian playfully nipped at Jace's finger. "This caveman wants to spread you out and generously lick every inch of you, sexy."

Heat exploded like a grenade over Jace's face and ears as he yanked his finger back. He'd nearly blown out an excited breath until he remembered he needed to drown his mouth in toothpaste.

"Your fucking blush is making my dick hard, kitten." Ian reversed and pulled into traffic. "Too bad I can't take you home and find a solution to my dilemma."

"You can't?" Jace turned to face forward before he crawled back into Ian's lap or his breath caused the guy to crash.

"Sweetheart, if I get you in my bed, I promise nothing is going to stop me from sinking my dick into you." Ian stopped at the traffic light then looked at Jace. "If that happens, I won't be able to stop myself from biting you, which will bind us."

Jace's palms were so sweaty they should have been dripping with perspiration. "Green light."

Ian smirked before his gaze swung back to the road.

The guy was a walking temptation.

Those eyes pierced hearts.

His smile stirred passion.

But his promise ignited Jace's soul.