Page 48 of Forbidden Billionaire Rockstar

Mallory

Jace’s thoughtfulness transforms thebathroom into a sanctuary of care, with each detail serving as a testament to it. My heart stutters, tears threatening to spill. This isn’t just a bath - it’s a window into a world where I matter to someone in a way I never expected. The realization hits me like a tidal wave.

He did this… but why?

As if reading my mind, a throat clears, and Jace says, “I know you were stressed over work, so I thought I’d do something to help you relax.”

I slowly walk over to the tub, turn the water off, and stand there silently, staring at the bubbles starting to overflow onto the floor. All I can hear is the rainfall, and when I take a deep breath, lavender swirls heavily in the air, but I’m still hyper-aware ofJace being behind me. I’m afraid if I turn around to look at him, he’ll see the emotion all over my face, and I will no longer be able to hide these growing feelings I seem to be getting for him.

It’s not what we agreed to.

Our arrangement was supposed to be simple and uncomplicated. But this? This feels like the beginning of something I’m not sure I’m ready for. Something that could shatter the carefully constructed walls around my heart.

“This is nice,” I whisper, glancing at him over my shoulder. “Thank you.”

“Is it too hot? I can—”

“No,” I say, interrupting him. “It’s perfect.”

Too perfect.

Reluctantly, I turn to face him and try to keep my features as neutral as possible.

“I wasn’t sure what you’d like.” He waves a hand toward the bathroom sink, where a plethora of face masks are resting. “Thought you could look everything over and pick what’s best.”

“You didn’t have to do this.”

All the emotions running through me are threatening to escape, and I’m worried if he spends another second in here with me that, they’ll explode.

He shrugs, rocks back and forth in front of me, and clears his throat. “It isn’t a big deal, just something to clear your head.”

“Right.”

A few seconds roll by without either of us saying a word, then he runs a hand through his tousled locks and looks at the opened door. “I’ll, uh, let you relax.”

Before I can say anything, not that I wanted to stop him since I can’t keep control of myself when he’s near me, he disappears through the open door and leaves me standing alone in the bathroom.

I walk over to the sink, glancing at the different options for a face mask, and pluck one from the pile that looks more promising than the others. When I was in my party-girl phase, face masks were a necessity each night to make sure my skin glowed the following morning — no man wants to hook up with a woman who looks like she doesn’t take care of herself. Since changing my ways, I haven’t relied as heavily on them, and it’s nice to do so tonight.

How did he know I needed this?

With that question running through my mind and the mask in my hand, I slowly make my way back over to the tub and cometo a stop in front of it. I slowly strip from my clothes, which currently feel like they are suffocating me, then open the face mask and apply it as directed onto my face before easing myself into the hot water.

As I sink into the lavender-scented water, I’m torn between gratitude and panic.

The warm water embraces me, but it does little to soothe the turmoil in my mind. On one hand, Jace's gesture touches a part of me I've kept locked away for so long. It's a glimpse of what it feels like to be truly cared for, to be seen. But on the other hand, it's a dangerous temptation.

Jace’s gesture is everything I didn’t know I needed, but it’s also a stark reminder of how close I am to losing myself in him. My career, my independence - they’re all at risk. Yet a part of me wonders if they’re worth the price of pushing him away.

I lean back, letting the warm water lap at my skin. The lavender scent is rich and soothing, mingling with the subtle notes of vanilla from the candles. The soft patter of artificial rain from the sound machine creates a cocoon of tranquility, broken only by the occasional clink of ice settling in the wine bucket. The plush towel beneath my head is impossibly soft, a stark contrast to the smooth, cool porcelain of the tub. In the flickering candlelight, shadows dance across the walls, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere.

It's a sensory symphony, every detail carefully orchestrated. By Jace. For me.

But, my mind doesn’t stay calm for long. I keep replaying the conversation between me and the band had with Hilary about the work I’ve been doing, or lack thereof. One more mistake, and I’ll be gone.

Part of the reason I missed the interview, even though I had everyone prepared for it, is because I was too busy with Jace the night before. We stayed up too late, causing me to sleep through my alarms, and now my career is in jeopardy.

Julia told me, after I explained what Hilary said, that she believes I can do this — how, though, when I can barely believe in myself? I tried so hard to change my life, become the woman the surrounding people would expect me to be, and I’m screwing it up when I’ve barely gotten started.

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