Page 100 of Unleashing Chaos

“You will?”

“Yes. I told you I would, and I meant it. You’re my best friend, and I see no reason why I shouldn’t spend the rest of my life doing something as amazing as running an entire Circle of Infernis with you.”

My heart swells and I throw my arms around his neck. “Thank you, Cannon. Thank you. You’re saving my life—and my entire realm—here.”

“I’m happy to do it. I’ll be ready when you need me. I’ll start tying up loose ends tomorrow morning.”

“Can you give me a day before you come through the portal? My family is going to be really confused if I come home with someone besides Jace. I want to explain everything to them and prepare them to meet you.”

He nods in that accepting, patient way that is so uniquely Cannon. “Of course. That will give me time to go home and say goodbye to my family. Then I’ll come to you.”

“Thank you. I know I’ve already told you, but I can’t say it enough. Everything else sucks, but at least you’re going to be next to me through it all,” I whisper, and Cannon leans over to kiss my cheek.

“It’s all going to work out fine. You’ll see, Desi.” He pauses. “Wait—what’s a portal?”

I laugh despite everything falling apart around me. “I’ll explain it all to you later.”

The room falls silent as Cannon makes his way upstairs to begin preparing for his departure from this realm. I try to fill my lungs with a calming breath, but the air is too thick. Everything is closing in on me and I can’t move quickly enough to get out of its way. I’m going to suffocate to death, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

But I can deflect the pain, and my best distraction is waiting for me.

Thirty-one

DESI

I trudge up the stairs and make my way to Jace’s room. After two light taps of my knuckles, he answers the door. He’s traded his traveling clothes for joggers and a T-shirt depicting the evolution of humans into robots. His hair stands on end like he’s run his fingers through it a thousand times. I feel very overdressed.

“I’m going to change,” I say, pivoting to head down the hall again.

He grabs my arm and guides me into his room. “That won’t be necessary.”

It doesn’t escape me that Jace has already unpacked; not an item in his room is out of place. I also don’t miss the flickering amber glow coming from his bathroom.

“You didn’t get a chance to use that tub in the hotel. I thought I’d make it up to you,” he says, leading me forward with his hand on my lower back.

The calming scent of lavender fills my lungs as we enter the bathroom. Candles are placed around the bathtub, which is billowing with bubbles. Towels are neatly folded on the ledge. Jace has transformed his bathroom into a romantic spa.

Turning to him, I place my hand on his cheek and run my palm over his scruff. “How are you so perfect?”

Jace shakes his head and presses a kiss to my forehead. “I’m not. But you—that’s a different story. So that makes me want to treat you like the princess you are.” He slips his hands under the hem of my blouse and pushes it over my bra. “Here, let’s get you undressed so you can relax. Lift your arms for me.”

Jace taking care of me like this is exactly what I need right now, so I do what he says. He takes my shirt off and drops it in the laundry basket, then slides his hands down the curve of my waist. “These next.” Popping the button on my jeans, he slides the zipper down and slips them over my ass, running his palm across the bare skin that’s barely covered by my cheeky green lace panties. “These are new,” he comments as he helps me step out of my pants.

My skin heats and I push a loose curl out of my eyes. “I bought them because I knew you liked the color on me. It’s the first time I’ve worn them.”

He grins and reaches behind me to unfasten my bra, letting it fall to the floor without bothering to pick it up. Pressing his lips to the valley between my breasts, he kisses a path down the center of my stomach until he reaches the waistband of said panties. I shiver when he runs his fingertip along it. “I love them. I wonder if they’re ruined yet,” he whispers as he slips his fingers underneath to pull them off.

“Oh yeah, you can bet on it,” I breathe, reaching out to hang on to the towel rack for support.

He glances at the lace after I step out of them, and I’m certain my body temperature rises at least a hundred degrees when he gives me a wicked grin and puts them in the pocket of his joggers. “I think I’ll keep these.” With a featherlight kiss under my belly button, he stands to his full height. “All right, let’s get you settled.”

He takes my hand and helps me into the tub as if he didn’t just turn me on to high heat. But when I sink under the bubbles, I forget everything. “Damn, this feels fucking good,” I say, opening my eyes and meeting his scorching gaze.

“That’s what I wanted. For you to feel good.” He leans down and kisses the corner of my mouth. I try to capture his lips for a deeper kiss but he pulls back. “This is you time. I’m going to go check on a couple of other things while you relax. I’ll come back in a few. Okay?”

My chest deflates. I thought for sure he was going to join me. But just as quickly, I remember how grateful I am that he did all this. Just for me. “Okay, I’ll be here,” I say, splashing the bubbles at him playfully.

“You better be.” With that, he disappears into his room, leaving me with my thoughts.

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