Page 41 of Embers of Torment

"You better not."

I had to laugh. Della was bold and blunt, as usual. Lying beside her, I leaned over, my mouth going to her breast, playfully feasting. I loved the sounds she made and the way her body reacted to my touch. My hand drifted down her stomach and slipped between her thighs. I savored her moaning response.

Not wanting to wait, I grabbed a condom from my nightstand and put it on. Della's eyes were dark pools of need as she watched me. Eager and ready, I slid on top of her, stifling her moans with a kiss as our bodies merged into one.

I pulled my mouth from hers. "Are you okay?"

"Oh, lordy. It must be a holiday because I feel stuffed like a turkey."

"I'm not sure I like your analogy, but I aim to satisfy."

"Umm, you're on your way to getting an A plus."

Soon, we were going at it, our libidos unleashed. The sex was as physically rousing as I had envisioned. But it was the emotional connection that was blowing me away. It was intense and consuming, and I wondered if Della experienced the same draw I did to her.

"Oh, shit." Della dug her nails into my back, her eyes closing as her muscles contracted.

Unable to hold back, a medley of sounds reverberated in my throat as I let loose into the latex.

Carefully pulling away, I rolled onto my side and brushed a lock of hair from Della's cheek. "I'll be right back. I need to clean up." I went to the bathroom, sliding onto the mattress beside her minutes later.

Appearing completely relaxed, Della gave me a lazy smile. "Umm. Jace?"

"Yes."

"Does this mean we're dating?"

I burst out laughing, her question not quite what I expected. "I would hope so. I didn't pursue you only to disappear."

"I'm glad you said that because I'd have to hurt you if you had other plans." The tone in Della's voice made it clear she was teasing.

Grinning broadly, I leaned over for another kiss, happier than I'd been in a long time.

Chapter 13

Della

It was lunchtime, and Sofie and I sat at one of the tables in the plaza by the café. We'd had a busy morning, so we hadn't had a chance to chat.

"You seem rather lighthearted and energetic today. It's almost like you're glowing. Did something happen?" Sofie asked while scrolling through her email.

"Umm, no. It was an ordinary weekend. Adam, Jace, and I watched a flick Friday night. It was nothing scary this time. We pickedHocus Pocus."

"A regular movie. What prompted that?"

"We were at Jace's apartment, so we decided to stay away from anything that might give me a nightmare since I was going home afterward."

Sofie set her phone down, giving me her undivided attention. "Jace's place, hmm? How did that go?"

I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant, although I could feel my cheeks warming. "It was the same as usual. We had dinnerand drank a few beers. Nothing eventful." I hated lying. Dating Jace was a big deal. Sofie would be disappointed knowing I was holding that tidbit of information from her. In particular, the part where we slept together. But I wasn't ready to share. Our relationship was too new, and with my track record, anything could happen.

True, it was super pessimistic to think that way, especially after such a pleasurable weekend. But it seemed too perfect to last. I stayed the night at Jace's apartment on Friday, going home after he made me breakfast. He was at my place Saturday evening, and we spent Sunday enjoying each other's company, which included lunch at the waterfront and a stroll along the harborwalk.

Jace was attentive the entire time, in addition to being well-mannered, respectful, and protective. He insisted on walking on the street side of the sidewalk, closed the distance between us when we were in a crowd, and escorted me to my door. Jace had an enduring quality I adored, other than his wonderful sense of humor.

He was a cuddler.

If I pointed to the ideal man, it would be him. And that was scary. Guys like Jace were foreign to me, which was part of the reason I was skeptical.

---