14. Poppy

FOURTEEN

POPPY

We're dancing to a Jason Aldean song and tonight has been wonderful. Everyone was extremely happy to see us together. Of course, we each got a bit of teasing but it was all in good fun. His chief welcomed me to the table with the rest of the Love Beach fire department and it felt good to be a part of something.

When the DJ began playing some party tunes, I got our table to join in and sing along. We were the loudest there, clearly having fun with each other. When Jace got up and grabbed the microphone from the DJ bringing it over to me, I fell in love a bit more. He wasn't embarrassed by me, in fact, he was encouraging me to keep everyone singing along and enjoying the night.

I feel like I belong here in Love Beach.

"You were amazing tonight, probie," I tease him and his smirk appears.

"It's only because I had you on my arm making me look good."

"Oh, you are smooth. For being so young, where did you learn all these lines?"

He chuckles and shakes his head. "They're not lines when they're true."

"Mr. Sullivan!" I gasp. "Are you flirting with me?"

"Just a little."

His hands are on my back and mine are around his neck and when I feel his fingers dip inside the hem of my dress, brushing against my lower back, my skin burns for more of his touch. I press my body close to him, needing to be as close as I can. When he drops his head to the side of mine, his breath is hot in my ear. "I'm doing my best to hold it together right now. I thought you'd like to know."

I pull back and look him in the eyes. They're dilated with need and I can feel his body shaking. "Is that why you're literally vibrating against me?"

"I want you in the worst way right now," his words come out gravelly.

"When can we leave?"

"Now." He ushers me from the dance floor and we make quick small talk at the table as I grab my purse. Before I know it, he's got in me in the truck and we're speeding through town. He hasn't said another word and I know enough to not push right now. I feel like I'm about to see a side of Jace I've never seen before but always dreamed was there.

He pulls into my driveway and throws the car into park with a bit too much force as I jerk forward in my seat. I let out a little giggle and he apologizes for the abrupt stop but before I can say more, he's out his door and rounding the hood, coming to my side. He opens my door and pulls me out. As we approach my front door, he places his hand on my arm, spinning me around to look at him.

"I'm doing this all wrong, Poppy. I should have taken you out prior to the dance." He runs his hand through his hair and looks upset .

"What are you talking about? We went out the other night."

"No." He shakes his head. "That wasn't a night alone. Our first date shouldn't have been a show in front of the town. I should have bought you a dozen roses instead of just one on your wrist. And I damn sure shouldn't be thinking of the things I want to do to you without us having a proper first kiss."

"A proper kiss? We did that, too! Why are you stressing over timelines?" I place my hand on his arm hoping to calm him down.

"Because that's who I am. And I want to do things right by you. But make no mistake that as soon as we walk through that door, I'm going to show you just what you do to me and how right we can be."

"I don't think you're doing a damn thing wrong, Jace. Now, show me." I push open the door. He hesitates for a fraction of a second before bending at the knees and throwing me over his shoulder. I let out a squeal as he walks us inside and slams the door behind us. He steadies me on my feet and I watch as he flips the lock on the door. I swallow hard and try to calm the excited scream that wants to burst from my lips. This is what I was hoping for, what I knew Jace would be like when he took charge of something he needs.

He shrugs out of his suit jacket dropping it where he stands. He moves around my small home as if he's been here before, closing the blinds in the living room before turning and taking my hand, walking us down the hall to my bedroom.

"How do you know the layout of this house?"

"All these bungalows are the same in Love Beach." We turn into my bedroom and he shuts the door behind us before walking past me looking around the room. "Do you have any breakables in this room?"

His question catches me off guard. "Um, I don't think so—Ahh!" He rushes me, pressing me against the door. My back hits it hard but it's a delicious burn as he pushes his front to mine, pulsing his body against me, his lips rough on mine, and his hands tangled in my hair. I gasp for breath and he relinquishes my kiss to nip and trail kisses down my neck.

"Jace." His name leaves my lips on a breathless whisper. His hands pull at the straps on my dress edging them down my arms. I press my hand against his chest and push him away from me.

"Don't make me stop," he pleads with me.

"Never." I grip his shirt and pull, buttons popping everywhere leaving his chest on full display. That one day I saw him from the car doesn't do him justice. But I don't get a chance to absorb it before his hands are cradling my face and he's kissing me stupid once more. We move around the room, bumping into the dresser and making my perfume bottles rattle, then the nightstand where the small lamp hits the wall. His hands roam down my body where he begins to gather the fabric of my dress pulling it to one side, the slit allowing him easy access.

"How much do you like this dress?" he asks urgently.

"Not at all," I reply quickly.

He drops to his knees and with one piece of my dress in each hand, he yanks, ripping it straight to my belly button. He freezes taking in my pink lace panties. His eyes burning through me is like a physical touch.

"If I knew you had this on under this dress all night, we wouldn't have gone to the dance at all." He leans in kissing my inner thigh and inhales. The primal act from this man who has shown nothing but stoicism makes me drip for him, and when he turns his head, kissing my pussy over my panties my legs almost give out.

He looks up at me, eyes blazing as I run my hands through his hair forcefully pulling his head back. "Come here. "

He stands taking my kiss roughly once again and lifts me, my legs wrapping around his waist. He turns, dropping me to the bed, his weight on me feels so good as he rocks into me. He's so hard and he's hitting me just right. Standing back from me, he grabs the pieces of my dress and yanks once more, ripping the dress clear in half exposing my matching lace set. I sit up, pulling the pieces from my arms but he's on me once again.

"I don't know who I am right now, Poppy." His hands touch every part of me and he pulls the lace bra strap down before latching onto my nipple. He talks against my skin. "You walked into Love Beach and now I don't know how not to be near you. How not to touch you, how not to taste you." He's frantic as he pulls away again shredding his own clothes.

When he's in only his boxers, I drop to my knees. He gathers my hair as I pull them down his legs, until his cock is standing proud, waiting for me to take him. I stroke him once, twice, three times before taking him down my throat. His hips move quickly, fucking my face and the animalistic need he has for me drives me insane.

I pull off him, replacing my mouth with my hand and look up. His chest is tight, his forearms bulging. "I knew you had this inside you. That quiet guy needed an outlet didn't he?"

"It was you. It is you." His hips are still moving in time with my hand. "Poppy, I need to be inside you."

I stand with my hand wrapped around his cock leading him back to the bed. "You want to show me what you can do?" I tease.

That smug grin that I die for appears and I know I'm in for it. "Get on the bed, Poppy." He speaks in a low, sultry voice and everything about him is commanding right now. "Take it all off." He nods at me. I quickly unlatch my bra, dropping it to the ground and pulling my panties down my legs as I back up to the bed and get on it. His eyes are fixated on my breasts and I cup them, rolling my thumbs over my nipples. His nose flares and the rumble that comes from him makes me want to die.

He turns and picks up his dress pants, digging for his wallet. He pulls out two condoms and throws them on the nightstand.

"Two going to be enough?" I taunt him once more.

He tears the pack with his teeth and I whimper. He pulls the condom out and grips his cock stroking it twice all the while holding eye contact with me before he begins to roll it on.

"Two hundred wouldn't be enough." His hands grip my waist as he climbs onto the bed covering my body with his. "Hang on tight Poppy, because I'm about to fucking wreck you for any other man."