Page 23 of Catalyst

I clenched my jaw as I did my best not to give into the heat in my core, to not give in to him. But how the hell was I supposed to resist someone who was literally in my veins?

“You’re so tough, aren’t you?” He leaned in, his lips brushing mine as he spoke. “Go on, let me see what you look like when you cum.”

I shook my head as I bit my lip so hard I tasted copper. There was no reason for me to fight Jace, but something about denying him felt incredibly freeing.

Jace pressed his forehead to mine. His breathing was warm and even, a far cry from the ragged gasps that filled my lungs.

“It’s cute watching you fight.” He whispered. “But, we both know how this is going to end… So, I’m going to count down from five, and you’re going to give me what I want.”

Jace’s voice was low and dangerous, as dangerous as the magic he forced through my veins. My chest tightened with every breath I took. His forehead remained pressed against mine.

“Five,” he whispered, stretching the word as if it could drag on forever.

My breath hitched, and my nails dug into his arm as I tried desperately to cling to whatever semblance of self-control I possessed. But it was slipping fast—my body trembled as the heat in my core spiraled out of control. I was so fucking hot that I felt like I’d melt if I didn’t let him win.

“Four,” Jace murmured, dragging his thumb a little higher on my thigh. “I can feel how badly you want it, Princess. But I’m so proud of you for fighting me this long. Not many people can do that.”

A broken whimper escaped my lips, and my hips shifted closer to him, chasing the pressure I swore I wasn’t going to give in to.

“Three,” he whispered, and my pulse quickened in response.

“Two,” he breathed against my lips. “I know you can feel it, Callie. That sweet, beautiful moment right before you fall apart. You’re almost there, Ipromise.”

I whimpered again as I realized my struggle had done nothing but prolong the inevitable. Every cell in my body was burned, begging for release, begging for Jace, and he knew it.

“One.” He shot me a sardonic grin as a final pulse of heat surged through my veins. “Cum for me, Princess.”

The command hit me like a magnitude-ten earthquake. My orgasm was violent and entirely overwhelming, dragging me under wave after relentless wave of ecstasy.

Jace held me steady, guiding me through every moan and shudder until control of my body finally returned to its rightful owner.

“That’s it,” he murmured, brushing his lips against my temple. “Good girl.”

His hand finally left my hip, and I pressed my palm to my chest as I gasped for air. It was like I’d just surfaced after almost drowning.

“You’re a dick.” I spat, my lack of oxygen cutting through the venom I wanted to have.

“If you keep talking like that, you’ll never get to the main event.” He bit his lip before grabbing his cock.

Unfortunately, my eyes followed the motion, taking careful note of the way his erection lifted his basketball shorts.

“Ah, ah, ah. You’ve had your fun. My eyes are up here.” He teased with a wink before turning around and clearing my half-eaten breakfast from the table.

“Kane’s going to kick your ass if he finds out you threw that away.” I warned, even though I wasn’t particularly in the mood to finish it.

“Uh, no?” He snorted, dumping the omelet into the trash before placing the plate in the sink. “Kane isn’t going to care aslong as you’re fed, and I’m not letting you eat an omelet in my bed.”

My brow furrowed. “At what point was it determined that I’m going to your room, let alone your bed?”

Jace turned back to me with a cocky grin wide enough to showcase his perfectly straight teeth.

“Uh, right now? I make you cum, we cuddle in my bed, watch medical dramas, and eat snacks. It’s a win-win.”

“And what if I don’t want to? I have homework, you know.” Sure, I’d worked through the next few weeks of assignments, but I still needed to finish drafting my project for Wearable Combat Systems.

“Callie, you were in the hospital twelve hours ago. You’re not doing anything other than sitting on your ass and resting.” His tone was unusually stern.

I blinked twice, taken aback by the sudden shift. It felt like the Jace I knew—the one who teased, flirted, and schmoozed his way through everything—had taken a backseat to someone... different. Someone whocared.

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