Page 39 of Ruined

Throwing myself off him, I jump towards the bathroom, barely having the time or energy to close it let alone lock it. I drop to my knees in front of the toilet just in time for everything that I ate today to come right back up.

The faint sound of the door opening and running water has me shooing him away, hoping Jace will listen to me. I don’t need him to see me throwing up and embarrassing myself any more than I already have.

I don’t know what’s worse, the fact I just had the most mind-blowing orgasm from someone else and now I’m throwing up, or the fact he’s witnessing all this and rubbing circles into my back.

“It’s okay, I got you,” he whispers soothingly. I want to scream at him that’s it not okay, none of this can beokay.

Not when another wave of nausea passes through me, and my head is basically touching the water in the toilet. I want to die here.

“Blake,” he mumbles. I shake my head, not wanting him to comfort me. “Honey, you’re okay, look at me,” he voices, leaving no room for argument. I’m not even sure I should argue with Jace, not that it’s stopped me before.

Glancing up, I look at him through my lashes, my cheeks flaming red from embarrassment. I swear I can feel the acid rising in my throat again.

“Breathe for me. I need you to take a deep breath in. You’re panicking and making yourself get sick,” he says.

I didn’t realize I was even crying until his thumb brushed against my cheek. The small action only makes me cry harder.How much more freaking embarrassing can I get?

“Come on, love, let’s get your teeth brushed and into bed.” Jace stands at once, helping me to my feet. I don’t think too much about it as he helps me to the sink. Producing a toothbrush, he squeezes some toothpaste on it before handing it over. Keeping my eyes down, I brush my teeth, doing the best I can to not look like a complete fool. I mean who cares what you look like while brushing your teeth? It’s good hygiene. Yet, my cheeks are tomato red, flushing down to my neck. My scar in view for his eyes to see, and there’s no way I can just pull my hood up without him noticing.

Closing my eyes, I bend down, spitting the foam out before rinsing my mouth. I don’t look at Jace as he leads me to the bed, picking the covers up from the floor. My eyes are drawn to the wrinkled sheets…

“Stop thinking so much,” Jace mumbles beside me. “Take your sweatshirt off, Blake.”

I snap my head toward him, eyes widening before my hands move toward those scissors in my pocket. If he thinks he’s just going to make me cum and then I’ll just lay down for him to have his way, he’s dead wrong.

“You’re going to get comfortable, and I know you hate those sweatshirts. So, take it off, and let’s get some sleep before we have to leave early again.” He chuckles before he heads towards his duffle bag. Dropping his pants, I stand there shocked, not only that I’m seeing his bare ass, but that he has no shame at all. Don’t men usually get awkward about their asses being out in the open?

“Blake, drop your sweatshirt. I’m not going to tell you again.” He sighs, pulling on another pair of boxer briefs.

Biting my bottom lip, I can’t look anywhere but the ground while I pull it over my head. Twisting the fabric in between my fingers. I can feel Jace suddenly standing near me, his large form hovering over me.

“Get in bed, love.” Jace grabs my sweatshirt from my hand, placing it off to the side. I scoot to the side, lying back, and I pull the covers up to my chin. Jace crawls into bed beside me, placing the whiteboard I hadn’t even noticed he picked up in between us. I’m confused about how we went from arguing that he hadn’t kissed me, to him doing more to me than I’d thought possible. Then I’m throwing up everything inside me, to now, just lying in bed together?

Grabbing the marker and whiteboard, I scribble out a question. I’m not sure I want to know, but I have to.

How’d you know I was freaking out? I might be sick.

Handing the board over, Jace flicks the side lamp on, squinting when the light shines into the room. Reading over what I said, Jace tilts his head over to me before erasing it and handing the board over. “There are signs. You haven’t eaten in hours so it couldn’t have been food poisoning. You’re not around anyone but me and I feel fine. I open all your doors, so you haven’t touched anything with germs, really.” He sighs. “Plus, you just did something that I’m guessing you’ve never done before. And well, I’m piecing together you have a past.”

I nod before I can think. Sure, we all have a past. And I’m gathering Jace’s is dark like mine.

How’d you know what to do?I write on the board.

“I have an old friend that used to have panic attacks a lot, still has them sometimes, but not nearly as bad… Hey, no need to get jealous, love. You’re the only woman in my life.” He smiles scooping the back of my head up and dragging me to his side.

“It’s okay to panic, just don’t let it control you,” he whispers, rubbing circles into my back.

I don’t say anything, swallowing the panic bubbling inside. I take a calming deep breath, listening to Jace’s steady heartbeat. I fall asleep before I know it.

“This is our last night. We have about an hour left,” Jace announces.

Using the side button, I move the seat back up, and stretch my arms out, yawning. Between traveling, being attacked, and sleeping in hotel beds, I’m ready for a normal bed. Hopefully alone…or with Jace.

“Think we can hold off on snacks? When we arrive, I can get dinner started,” Jace asks pulling into the gas station.

Nodding, I unclick my seatbelt as soon as he pulls up to a gas pump.

“Blake,” he warns.

---