Page 22 of Catalyst

Unfortunately, Jace wasn’t as dumb as he pretended to be. Something in my gaze must’ve betrayed my thoughts because before I could even fathom a proper response, Jace’s lips crashed into mine.

The kiss was frantic, like it was the only thing he could think to do to stop the impending conversation. A bolder woman would have stopped him now and redirected the conversation. But… I wasn’t bold. I was touch starved and a little sad.

So, instead of pulling away, I kissed him back.

I didn’t do it because it was smart, or right, or even because deep down, I knew I needed it. Instead, I did it because it was easy. And, for once in my life, Iwantedeasy. I wanted thoughtless, something done in the heat of the moment just because I could.

“Stand up.” He didn’t stop kissing me to speak, which made his request even more difficult to process.

“What?”

“Stand. Up.” His hands slipped down my sides and up my shirt.

The second his palms met my bare skin, an almost magnetic sensation pulsed through me. My body reacted without me, forcing me to follow his command. Panic prickled around the edge of my mind, closing in like a vignette on an old photo, but Jace’s warmth quickly drowned out my concern.

He slipped his hand off my side, resting it on my back as he continued to shower me in hungry kisses. I kept my eyes closed because as difficult as it was to comprehend; I trusted Jace.

Eventually, my back met the counter, and Jace took no time hoisting me up.

“What? Not going to use lifting me as an opportunity to call me fat again?” I teased as my ass met the cold, hard surface.

My words caused Jace to pause just long enough for me to catch my breath. He tipped his head to the side as he thought, and after a moment, a lazy grin spread across his lips.

He placed his hand on my thigh, softly squeezing me as the same magnetic sensation filled my veins.

“Why would I?” He teased, leaning in to nip my neck. “Plus, I’dneverback down from a challenge.”

“You’re an a-asshole.”

My insult was betrayed by the quiver in my voice, the one he was causing by dragging a hand up my thigh, only stopping once his fingers met the hem of my underwear.

He chuckled, shaking his head as he did. “Watch the tone, baby girl. I’m just your type.”

“Uh–No, you’re not. My type is–”

A wave of pleasure washed through me like a ripple through water, causing a sharp gasp to cut off my words. I leaned forward slightly, wrapping my fingers around Jace’s bicep. The purple of my nails popped against the red flowers etched into his right arm.

“What’s your type, Princess? Go on… Use your big girl words for Daddy Jace.” He drawled, smirking at me but never moving his fingers from my hip.

The small ripple built into a consistent pulse, one that matched the racing of my heart. Heat pooled in my stomach, trickling down all the way to my toes as I gripped Jace harder.

“I–What are you doing to me?” I panted.

Jace guided me to lean my head against the wall, and my lips parted as I desperately tried to breathe through whatever the fuck this was.

“Awe, baby girl, don’t tell me you don’t know how an orgasm works.” He leaned down close enough for me to smell the coffee on his breath.

“I–” Once again, Jace made it impossible for me to respond.

I tried to snap my legs shut, but I couldn’t. It was like my body was working against me, like every muscle was no longer mine to control.

“Shh… save that beautiful voice of yours for screaming my name when you cum.” He used his free hand to press a finger to my lips. “Orgasms are allblood flow.” He started with a tone that reminded me of a bored professor. “Circulation, if you want to get technical. When all that beautiful blood of yours rushes to the right places, the pressure builds, and builds, andbuilds. And just when you don’t think you can take it anymore, you snap.”

He dragged his thumb in lazy half-circles over my thigh. A broken whimper escaped my throat as I closed my eyes, doing my best to fight Jace’s special form of magic.

Sulien had always thought Jace was a shitty hemomancer, but now as I threatened to come undone with him barely touching me, I wasn’t so sure that was the case.

“And, as long as my skin is touching yours, your blood ismine. You aremine. And you will be until I say we’re done.”

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