Page 63 of Dr. Stone
“How are you?” Jace asked, the only voice that mattered.
“I’ve missed you,” I said bluntly and honestly.
His eyes grew more serious while one of his strong hands gently caressed my cheek, “I’ve missed you more, gorgeous.”
Something was crackling in the thick, heavy air surrounding us, and I couldn’t explain anything except that it was all I wanted.
I smiled into his probing eyes, “I told Titus that I couldn’t keep going out with him if I was going to be with you. I hope that works for you?”
“Holy fuck,” he answered, eyes widening. “You want to date only me?”
I chuckled and brought my hands up along both of his biceps. “The exact reaction I was praying for,” I said before hugging him and feeling hot energy surge between us, wrapping us tightly together as if this were happily ever after.
“I promise you, gorgeous,” he said against my neck after he kissed it. “I will not let you regret that call.” He stepped back. “I’d invite you, Brandon, and Duke to stay over tonight, but I feel that is a knee-jerk reaction and moving possibly a bit too fast.”
“How about you meet me for lunch tomorrow?” I asked. “I need to get Brandon home, and I’m just learning that Duke might be your biggest obstacle when it comes to dating me.”
“I heard the same,” Jace chuckled. “Perhaps we’ll just give him to Hawk as compensation for playing along?”
“Be nice,” I arched an eyebrow at him. “It was how he played along that pushed me in your direction.” I stepped back before we could give the group in the other room anything more to talk about for the night, “I’m sorry I can’t stay and meet your friends, but I do look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
“Ah, no,” he stepped toward me, and then I was in his arms, “I’m not letting you drop this unexpected announcement on me and then just disappear into the night before I can do this.”
Jace’s powerful kiss made my body instantly react, and every single memory of our night together flooded back with a surge of energy that’d been held back for too damn long. This was crazy. This didn’t feel real, but it sure as fuck felt right. I melted into the man’s fiery kiss, tasting the flavors of him that I remembered well from that night, his warm, masculine scent flooding my senses. I had no idea why it took me so long to realize he was the only one I wanted.
Playing games and wasting time was so senseless. The only good thing about it was that I was certain I wanted him more than anyone else.
TWENTY-NINE
Jace
I finishedthe last of my office work at ten this morning, tightening up a few medical charts for patients. It sucked having to come in on my day off, but I was playing catch-up from the last week of nonstop hell.
“Here’s the deal,” Jake said while I was packing up, hoping not to see anyone.
I glanced at my watch. “You’ve got fifteen minutes to tell me the deal—which I’m going to refuse, because I have to pick up Andie for lunch.”
He leaned casually in my doorway, smiling brighter than the lights in the OR, and nodded. “I’m not asking you to come on shift, dipfucker,” he sighed. “Ah, love. Love. Love?—”
“Jake, honestly, I don’t have time for you to quote Ben Stiller from one of your movies. I seriously have?—”
“Wasted enough time when it comes to dating Andie? Yeah, we know.” He smirked. “I’ll hit you straight. What car did you plan to impress her with today?”
“I brought my bike, which is why I’m in jeans and a shirt,” I said, shutting down the computer and clearing my desk.
“You brought your bike?”
“Why not? Your first date with Ash was on yours,” I nudged him, trying to get past. “Worked out well for you in the end.”
His eyes narrowed. “Champion move, pal. Following me for inspiration.”
“I’m not following you for shit. I’m just shutting you up so I can get out of here.”
“Damn, this is nice, you know that?” Jake said, trailing after me.
“What’s nice, me being a total dick to you right now?” I asked, stepping onto the bridge toward the parking garage.
“The fact that you’re officially off the market. You just brushed off Steph again. You know that RN is about to corner you for ignoring her, right?”
