Page 60 of Unleashing Chaos

“Oh no,” I say, placing my palm on his forehead and checking for a fever. I let out a relieved sigh when I find his forehead a normal temperature. “Okay, no fever, you’re fine. You’ll be good as soon as we get back to the human realm. Close your eyes, I think we’re about to—”

And with that, we’re off. A few moments pass and we’re back in the broom closet in the bus station, being greeted by the gum-chewing blond.

Jace still looks a little woozy when we reach the BMW, so I pull a bottle out of my purse and shake a pill onto my palm.

“Here, take this,” I say, handing it to him with a bottle of water.

“What is it?”

“Devil’s claw root. It’s only found in the human realm, but my mom keeps a stash of it. It’s the only thing we’ve ever discovered that helps humans when they’ve stayed a little too long in Infernis. I grabbed some before we left just in case this happened.”

He nods and swallows the pill before helping me load our suitcases into the trunk. He hands me the keys, and I drive us home. I realize then how sick he must feel if he’s letting me drive. Jace follows all the traffic rules; he even holds the steering wheel at ten and two. It’s another thing he never gives up control over. I’m so grateful we left when we did.

My brain buzzes with thousands of thoughts. I think about my family’s reaction to Jace, the responsibility of my Circle, but mostly, I think about the man next to me. Jace’s hands rest on his stomach, his eyes closed, and soft snores drift through his lips. I wonder how things will change between us now that he knows everything about me, about where I come from . . . and after what happened between us in the lust exhibit.

It was an effect of the art; it played on the tension that had been building between us. But will it change our dynamic? Will it make things feel awkward around the house? I hope not.

When we get home, Jace carries in our bags and kicks the door shut behind us. The sheen of sweat is gone from his skin, and it has returned to its beautiful tan tone. He doesn’t wait for me, taking the steps two at a time and heading for my room. Keeping some distance, I wrap my arms around my stomach and watch as he heads for the door. My heart sinks and I fight back the sting in my eyes. Everything is awkward. We’ve crossed a line we shouldn’t have and now he can’t even look at me.

He stops at the threshold and glances at me over his shoulder. “Thank you, Desi. I’m honored that you trusted me with such an important secret and that you let me help you with your family.”

It surprises me enough that a tear I’d been trying to hold back nearly slips down my cheek. I wipe at my eye and step toward him. “No, Jace. I should be thanking you. You trusted me with your life, something you’ve come close to losing in the past, and I can’t put into words what that means to me.”

He drops his bag and turns to face me. Leaning against the door frame, he cocks a brow and says, “Come on, you let me bring you to an orgasm in the same room as a demon artist. Once in a lifetime experience.”

And there it is. The playfulness and humor he shows when he lets his guard down. I was so close to thinking I’d never see it again, that we ruined what we built with one moment of uncontrollable passion.

I cover my face with my palms and laugh, sinking down onto the mattress. “I mean, there was no way I was getting out of that room without having an orgasm. I was just glad you were the one to give it to me. It was by far the best one I’ve ever had.”

His gaze darts to my bedside table and the drawer in the top. “I’d hate to think I’ve put some expensive toys out of business.”

I clench my thighs together and my face heats. “Even my clit-sucking toy has nothing on you, Jace Wilder.”

He blushes. Blushes! Rubbing the back of his neck to hide his face, he says, “And with my newly inflated ego, I apologize for clearly putting a favorite device to shame, and wish you good night, Desideria.”

I smirk and bite my bottom lip before nodding in his direction. “Good night, Jace. See you in the morning.”

I contain the giddy laughter that bubbles in my chest as I enter the house. Jace and I finished another Star Wars movie, completing his favorite three. To celebrate the occasion, I ordered him a gift, and it arrived today. Jace has been stressing out since we returned home. He jumped back into his proposal for the guy Matt wants him to hire. Late nights and early mornings have ruled his life, and every minute in between is spent behind a computer screen. He carved out two hours last night for us to finish the third movie, and I’m excited to offer him another small reprieve.

I fumble with Jace’s gift as I shut the door and maneuver through the entry. It’s long, awkward, and bound to bring chaotic joy to his day. I step into the kitchen and find him sitting at the counter with a bowl of cereal, his laptop, and his glasses sitting high on his nose. This is perfect timing. He is clearly moving toward stressed out.

He glances at me from the corner of his eye and mumbles, “Another busy day at the mall, I see. That has got to be the strangest pair of shoes you’ve ever bought.”

“Although I looked at several pairs of shoes today, this didn’t come from the mall. It was just delivered to the house.” I place the box wrapped in black paper in front of him. It stretches from one side of the kitchen island to the other.

He picks the gift up and studies it. “This is normally where I would make some ridiculous guess about what you bought, but I’m at a loss.”

“I guess you’ll just have to open it then.”

His attention splits between ripping the paper and watching me. He looks hesitant, like I’ve wrapped a boa constrictor in a box and handed it to him with the hopes that it will curl around his body and put him out of his misery. The nondescript box comes into view, and he pries open one end. He looks inside and just as quickly closes the flap.

“No way,” he says with wide eyes.

“Yes way. Take them out.”

Jace opens the box again and removes two lightsabers. He hits the button on one and it lights up with a deep, electric drone. The red light reflects off the steel kitchen appliances. “Oh my god.”

“The other one is Luke’s,” I say.

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