Page 24 of Catalyst

“You can flutter those pretty little lashes all you want, but you’re not getting your way.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “We’re eating chips, watchingSymptom Zero, and cuddling untilIfall asleep because I was so worried about you Ididn’tsleep last night. And if you repeat that, I’ll deny it. Capisce?”

My heart did a weird somersault. I should have been angry; he had no right to order me around, but something about this version of Jace was so… Interesting, I guess. And, even though I had a million other things to do, the idea of being lazy with Jace was just too appealing.

“... Can I have something sweet instead?” I asked slowly, not wanting to tell him that eating chips in bed was serial killer behavior.

Jace extended his hand to me with a dramatic flourish before helping me off the counter. My knees felt like jelly, but I did my best to stand tall.

“I keep a stash of peanut butter taffy in my nightstand–you know, just in case. And, lucky for you, I amexcellentat sharing.”

“Peanut butter taffy? What are you, eighty?” I snorted, a sudden wave of embarrassment rushing through me as I realized how rude that was.

But Jace didn’t seem offended; instead, he laughed it off and placed a hand on my back.

“I’m an old soul, Princess. Now come on, I want to cuddle.”

I wasn’t exactly sure when I fell asleep. But when I woke up, I was tangled in his arms. Drool caused my hair to stick to my cheek, and I was glad that Jace had also apparently fallen asleep.

If not, God knows he would have made fun of me.

I scooted forward slightly as I yawned, placing my head beside the wet spot I’d left on the pillow. But, the second I got comfortable, Jace pulled me back, this time closer. Once he had me where he wanted me, he nuzzled his face into my hair as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Before I started dating Sulien, I knew different sex positions existed, thanks to the internet. What I didn’t expect was different snuggling positions too.

When we cuddled, Sulien liked to have my head on his chest, and his arm looped around my waist. Jace, however, liked my back to be against his chest and his arm draped over my stomach. I wiggled against him, trying to get comfortable before focusing on the large TV mounted on Jace’s wall.

Symptom Zerowas still playing. The doctors on the screen were deep in discussion, rapidly rattling off symptoms and theories. Jace had called this show strangely addicting, and he was right. I was totally hooked, even if I hadn’t expected Jace to be interested in medical dramas.

… He’d probably make a wonderful nurse, assuming he actually meant it when he thought about wanting to be fixed.

I tried to shake off the thought as nothing more than a half-baked idea, but the longer I sat with it, the more sense it made. Jace was a hemomancer; he could smell when something was wrong. Not only that, but if someone was bleeding out, he could probably control it. And Jace was likable. He was funny, charismatic, and would probably haveexcellentbedside manner.

There was just the issue of schooling… But I could probably help him with that. I mulled over the thought a moment longer but was quickly derailed by my stomach growling. He’d offered to grab me something else when I rejected his geriatric candy, but I said I’d get something later, apparentlylaterwas now.

Gently, I peeled Jace off of me before wiggling out of his grasp. For a second, I thought I’d successfully snuck away, but as I fully settled on my feet, Jace cracked an eye.

“Where are you going?” He slurred through a yawn.

“To make lunch,” I whispered.

Jace stretched, and I paused, almost hoping he’d join me. Instead, he rolled over, leaving me with an excellent view of the kiss mark tattoo decorating his shoulder.

“Remember, you’re eating for two…” His words trailed off as he presumably fell back asleep.

I stood there for a moment, watching his breathing steady before heading out of his room. The hallway in the apartment wasn’t long; honestly, even calling it a hallway felt generous. But, that short walk was all I needed to decide to bother Kane. Afterthis morning, I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but he’d been making breakfast for me, so it was only right if I offered him lunch.

I stopped directly in front of the wooden door, which was labeled with a black-and-white “do not enter”sign.

Obviously, it wasn’t meant for me, so I ignored it, knocking on the door three times.

“Fuck off, Jace!” Kane’s gruff voice was muffled by the wood separating us.

“It’s not Jace!”

There was a pause before I heard movement on the other side of the door–the creak of a bed followed by a soft shuffle of steps. The near silence caused my heart to jump to my throat, and for good reason.

When Kane’s door opened, I wasn’t greeted with ahelloor even a smile. Instead, I got a glare.

“You’re supposed to be resting–Why are you up?” He grumbled.

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