Текст книги "Hot Ticket"

Автор книги: Olivia Cunning

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Текущая страница: 19 (всего у книги 22 страниц)

The door opened, and Eric poked his head in. “Sounds like someone is having fun.”

Jace’s laughter died, and he grabbed Aggie’s wrists to cease her tickling. He picked his cuff off the mattress and hurried to secure it around his scarred wrist. Aggie offered him a sad smile and fastened it for him.

Wearing nothing but his black boxer briefs, Eric entered the room and closed the door behind him. “Can I come in?”

“Aren’t you already in?” Aggie asked.

“I meant in the covers.”

“We aren’t doing anything,” Jace said. “Just talking.”

“You? Talking? I didn’t know you knew how.” He crossed the room and dove across the bed beside them. “I’m so bored. Entertain me.”

“You? Bored?” Jace said. “I didn’t know you knew how.”

Eric laughed and punched him in the shoulder. “It’s all Sed’s fault. Since he and Jessica got engaged, the only action he’s been getting is between his ear and his hand.”

Aggie cocked a brow at him. “His ear?”

“You’re lucky you’ve been allowed to use the bedroom this whole leg of the tour. You don’t have to listen to him whispering into his phone all hours of the night and jerking off.”

“Ah, phone sex. I would like to listen to that actually,” Aggie said with a grin. “I bet he really gets into it.”

“Actually, he tries to be quiet, but we all know what he’s doing.” Eric rolled his eyes. “Like Jessica would know if he fucked a groupie or two.”

“She’d know.” Jace chuckled. “Sed can never hide a guilty conscious.”

“This is true,” Eric said.

“You guys really don’t have any privacy on this bus, do you?” Aggie asked.

“Nope. It’s been the downfall of many bands. It’s good we tolerate each other so well,” Eric said. “I really miss Sed’s performances though. And I don’t mean his vocals. But I guess you two will have to do. Get busy.” He propped his head on one hand and lifted his eyebrows.

“We really weren’t doing anything but talking,” Aggie said.

“What were you talking about?”

Her opening with Eric presented itself, so she took it. “Jace’s father. How he died.”

Eric glanced at Jace. “How?”

“I don’t like to talk about it,” Jace said.

“Do you have any other family?”

“Nope. No parents. No family.”

Jace wriggled to get up, but Aggie sprawled her body over his and rested her head on his shoulder. She lay there like a dead weight to keep him from avoiding this conversation.

“Did you go into foster care?” Eric asked.

“I was fifteen with a criminal record. No one wanted to open their home to a derelict. I stayed in a group home for almost three years.”

“Did you serve jail time?”

“Juvenile hall for a few months. For a couple of shoplifting charges—nothing too exciting.”

“The key to being a good shoplifter is not to get caught.”

“You shoplifted?”

“I was a holy terror as a kid,” Eric said.

Jace snorted and stopped trying to weasel out from beneath Aggie. “Nothing’s changed.”

Eric chuckled. “Maybe, but I don’t steal anymore. I’ve found other ways to get attention.”

“So you never got caught?”

“I didn’t say I was a good shoplifter. I got caught more than once. One of the many reasons I was shuffled from foster home to foster home. Never had to stay in a group home though. I hear those places are pretty rough.”

Jace shrugged. “I lived.”

“So how’d your dad die?”

“None of your bus—”

Aggie covered Jace’s mouth with her hand. “He died in a fire,” she said.

“Oh man, that would be a horrible way to go. Really sorry you lost him.”

Jace tore Aggie’s hand from his mouth. “Why? He was an abusive son of a bitch.”

“Maybe. But he was your father. I’m sure you didn’t want him to die.”

“You would be wrong.”

No, not the tough guy, Jace. Let your heart show, baby.

“Well, whatever. Are you two going to get down to business now, or do I have to go watch boring Internet porn?”

And now she’d lost Eric too. This was going to be more challenging than Aggie realized. She had to lower Jace’s defenses and raise Eric’s sensitivity. No problem. Yeah, right. Maybe some sexual intimacy would work—at least for getting Jace to relax. When she kissed him, his entire body stiffened. Well, except for the part she wanted to stiffen.

She lifted her head to look at him and found him glaring at her.

“What’s wrong?”

He glanced at Eric and then back at her. “Maybe I don’t appreciate you telling people about my personal business.”

“Don’t know what the big deal is, little man. It’s cool,” Eric said. “I’m sure your past isn’t half as depressing as mine was, but who gives a fuck? It’s over, and you can’t change it, so forget about it. Don’t take it out on Aggie.”

She looked at Eric. “No, Jace is right. If I crossed the line, then he has the right to call me on it.” Her gaze shifted to Jace, who looked stunned by her words. “I apologize for interfering.” But that didn’t mean she was going to stop.

“It’s okay,” he said quietly, his eyes downcast.

This time when she kissed him, he responded with enthusiasm. He was so forgiving of everyone else. Why couldn’t he forgive himself? She kissed her way to his ear. The one on the opposite side of where Eric was lounging, so Eric didn’t overhear.

“I love you.” She felt Jace’s face grow warm against her cheek as he blushed. Ah God, he was so damn cute. She sucked his earlobe in her mouth, flicking his small hoop earring with her tongue. His cock stirred against her hip. She brushed her nose against his face as she whispered, “Do you want Eric to leave us alone? I’ll kick him out.”

“He can stay.”

“Booyah!” Eric climbed from the bed and started removing things from the side table drawer. “I’m so fucking horny, I can hardly stand it.”

Aggie chuckled and lifted her head to peer into the drawer. “Anything cherry-flavored in there?”

“If you use all of Trey’s cherry-flavored oil, he’ll never forgive you.”

“I’ll risk it.”

Eric placed a tube in her outstretched hand.

She tossed the covers aside and slid down Jace’s body. “Your turn, baby. I owe you some pleasure after last night.”

“Did I miss something good?” Eric asked.

She drizzled cherry flavoring down Jace’s hardening cock. “You missed something phenomenal, but I wouldn’t have wanted you there anyway. The only one who gets to see me beg is Jace.”

She loved the self-satisfied grin that crossed Jace’s face. “I got plenty of pleasure out of the experience,” he murmured. “You don’t owe me—”

Jace gasped as she drew his cock into her mouth. He was rock hard in an instant.

“Hey, wait for me,” Eric complained. He settled on the bed beside them, his head even with Jace’s hip as he observed Aggie’s motions. Aggie watched Eric out of the corner of her eye. He squirted oil in his palm and grabbed his cock, then stroked it with the same rhythm Aggie had found to pleasure Jace. She closed her eyes, focusing her attention on bringing Jace the most pleasure. She ran her hands over his narrow hips, drawing her thumbs over the ridges of his hip bones beneath his skin. He shuddered and grabbed her hair. She sucked him harder. His ragged breathing told her he was close. She pulled away and blew cool breaths over the head of his cock. Jace twitched uncontrollably for several moments until he regained control. Aggie held the base of his cock, rubbing her thumb up and down the underside. She drew the head into her mouth, working it between her tongue and the roof of her mouth, applying a light suction. She listened to his breathing as his excitement built again, waiting until he was close to letting go before drawing away. She eased his legs apart, dribbled cherry-flavored oil over his balls, then sucked and licked it off until he was writhing his hips in torment.

“What do you want, baby?” she murmured, licking the crease between his balls and continuing up the underside of his cock. “Tell me.”

“Pussy,” he gasped.

She grinned. “Mine?”

“Yes, yes. Please.”

She moved up his body and straddled his hips. He grabbed his cock and directed it into her wet opening. He arched his back and thrust upward. She didn’t drop down to meet him, but held her body suspended over his and watched him lift his hips to fuck her deeply.

She touched his face. “Settle down, baby. I’ve got you.”

“Ah, Aggie, I can’t take it.”

He relaxed into the mattress after a moment. She sank down to take him deep. Her head fell back in ecstasy. She had wanted him to receive all the pleasure this morning, but there was no way not to take some for herself when he was buried inside her.

Eric shifted and rested his head on Jace’s abdomen.

Jace tensed. “What are you doing?”

“I can see better from here,” he said.

“Get off me.”

“Don’t deny me this, buddy. Please. I’m dying here.”

Jace stuffed the sheet under Eric’s head so his bare cheek wasn’t touching Jace’s naked belly. He made no further protest.

Aggie began to move. She couldn’t decide which was sexier, Jace’s face as she took him deep into her body, or Eric’s as he watched and stroked his cock enthusiastically.

“You know why porn is so boring?” Eric asked. “There’s no smell.” He shifted his face closer to Aggie’s pussy and inhaled. His eyes drifted closed. “Even more than the sights and sounds, it’s the fucking scent that I can’t get enough of. Or the taste.” His tongue brushed against Aggie’s clit, and she shuddered.

Jace grabbed a handful of Eric’s hair and yanked him backward. “You’re supposed to watch, not participate.”

“I can’t taste if I don’t participate.”

“Too bad.”

Aggie was a little disappointed that Jace had stopped Eric. Her clit throbbed with excitement. She began to rise and fall faster over Jace’s thick cock, rotating her hips to rub herself against his pubic bone with each downward motion. Eric had stopped stroking his cock. His oil-slick hand slid over Aggie’s hip to her ass. Aggie’s eyes met Eric’s, and he smiled at her knowingly. Her gaze shifted to Jace. He had his eyes closed and was completely unaware that Eric was touching her, sliding his fingertips down the crack of her ass, slipping the tip of one long finger into her ass. She groaned and rocked backward. His finger slid deeper. Aggie’s eyes drifted closed.

“What are you doing?” Jace asked.

“Her ass is lonely, Jace. Look at her. She likes it. She wants it.”

She did, but only if Jace was okay with it. Eric slid a second finger into her ass, and she shuddered.

“Do you like that?” Jace asked.

She bit her lip and nodded slightly.

“Okay, then.”

Eric shifted, and his fingers slid deeper.

“Oh God,” Aggie groaned, grinding against Eric’s hand and Jace’s cock.

“I’m on it,” Eric said.

He pulled his fingers out and moved to sit behind her. He straddled Jace’s legs, sliding right up against Aggie’s back. Eric took a moment to apply a condom and then she felt his cock against her ass. Slippery fingers lubricated her passage, and then he pressed the head of his cock inside her back entrance. She sucked a breath through her teeth. Eric grabbed her hips and pulled her downward. Her body strained to accept two cocks deep inside her. Full. Oh God, so full. She couldn’t breathe.

Jace sat up, and she sank lower. She cried out, shuddering uncontrollably.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Jace growled at Eric over her shoulder.

“Sharing?” Eric tried.

Aggie lifted her hips a bit, and their cocks slid out slightly. Even that little friction had her completely overwhelmed. “Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.”

“She is totally getting off,” Eric said. “Just go with it.”

“Your balls are touching mine,” Jace said between clenched teeth.

“What’s a little sac connection between friends?”

Jace hesitated. “Aggie?”

“Too much,” she gasped.

“You heard her, Eric. Pull out.”

“You guys are killing me,” Eric said.

“Deal with it.”

Eric huffed, but backed out. Aggie exhaled in relief. Jace’s thick girth was more than enough for her, but she had enjoyed Eric’s long, thin fingers.

“What do you need to get off, baby?” Jace asked her.

“Honestly, Jace, I just need you,” she whispered, “but his fingers felt amazing.”

Jace and Eric exchanged glances over her shoulder. A few seconds later, fingers massaged her back opening in a firm circular motion. She groaned and ground her hips, hoping to coax one of those fingers inside. She held Jace’s face between her breasts and kissed the top of his head, love welling up into her chest, her throat, her eyes. Her feelings for him were so strong that she thought they might suffocate her. Her Jace. So selfless. So giving. Oh, how she loved him.

When she released her hold, Jace dropped back on the bed and shifted his hips so she could ride him. She rose and fell over him, driving him deep and watching his face as they shared pleasure. Eyes closed, he bit his lip and gave her total control. Aggie’s gaze moved to the cuff on his wrist. She unsnapped the wide bracelet and lifted his bare wrist to her lips, kissing the scars there. His eyes flipped open. I love you, she mouthed as she continued to kiss his wrist. He watched her as if fascinated. His slight smile brightened with each stroke of her lips.

“I’m getting bored back here,” Eric said.

Jace stiffened as if he’d forgotten Eric was still present. Aggie chuckled.

“Then maybe you should leave,” Jace said.

“If Aggie would just lean forward a bit, I could see better.” Eric placed a hand on the center of her back and pushed until he was satisfied with her position. “That’s better.” Eric’s fingers slipped inside her ass and pressed deep.

“Oh!” Her eyelids fluttered as attainment of release became her goal. Jace moved both hands to hold her breasts as she rode him harder and faster. He plucked at her nipples until she thought she’d go mad.

“That’s it,” Eric said. “Fuck him, Aggie.”

She could hear Eric stroking himself behind her. She found herself moving to match his rhythm. Jace’s back arched unexpectedly, lifting his hips off the bed and driving himself deep into Aggie’s body. His eyes squeezed shut as he called out in bliss.

“Jace lost,” Eric said. “He came first.” He sucked a breath through his teeth. “I’m about to join him.”

“If you come on me, I will kill you,” Jace said to Eric.

He didn’t come on Jace. He came on Aggie’s ass. She felt his fluids hit her skin—warm and thick. “God, that’s hot,” Eric groaned and rubbed the head of his cock in his cum to spread it over her skin.

“You really need to find yourself a woman,” she said. “Preferably a porn star.”

“I’d rather share you with little man.”

“Not sure why we let you participate,” Jace grumbled. “I satisfy her better on my own.”

Eric flopped down on the bed beside Jace. “Because I’m your best buddy, and you don’t want me to die from a giant case of blue balls?”

“I don’t think that’s fatal,” Aggie said.

“Have you ever had blue balls?” Eric asked.

She grinned and flipped her gaze to the ceiling. “Well…”

“They’re not just for Smurfs.”

Jace laughed and reached up to tug Aggie down against his chest to cuddle her against him. “Wouldn’t that be a constant condition for them?”

“Poor little guys,” Eric said with a troubled scowl.

“That probably has more to do with them only having one female in their species, more than their skin color,” Jace said.

Eric laughed.

“I bet Smurfette gets a lot of UTIs,” Aggie said.

Eric guffawed until Aggie thought he was going to pass out from lack of air. After several minutes, he wiped the tears from his eyes, still chuckling sporadically. “You guys kill me.”

Aggie snuggled closer to Jace’s chest. Did he see it now? How much he meant to Eric?

Eric stretched his arms over his head and yawned. “I could go for a nap. Are you going to finish her on your own? I don’t have the energy. Haven’t been getting enough sleep.”

Jace rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You’re worthless.”

“Maybe,” Eric said, “but at least I don’t have a daisy tattooed on the top of my foot.”

“Ass.” Jace punched him in the arm and received a retaliating blow in return.

Aggie just grinned. Watching Jace’s walls crumble was the greatest gift he could give her.

Chapter 35

Jace removed his sling and stretched his injured arm above his head. There was barely any pain now, but his strength had diminished significantly since he’d been wearing the damned thing. It was time to become proactive in his recovery so he could get back in the show. Screw Jon. This was Jace’s band now. He was fucking sick of taking the backseat, not pursuing what he wanted, worrying about how everyone else felt. Jace left the tour bus and went to find Sed in the back of the equipment truck. Sed could usually be found there lifting weights, especially when he was sexually frustrated. Since he hadn’t seen his fiancée in almost a month, he was bulking up like a Mr. Olympian contestant.

Jace climbed into the back of the truck. Though it was chilly outside, the air inside was stifling, thick, and moist. It smelled like an unwashed gym sock. Sed was bench-pressing twice Jace’s weight, his bulging muscles straining against his skin.

Jace moved to stand at Sed’s head and peered down at his red, sweaty face. “Need a spotter?”

Sed lifted an eyebrow, but instead of pointing out that Jace would make a piss-poor spotter, he nodded. “Sure.”

Jace watched Sed do a couple of reps, hoping to God he never actually needed a spotter. With one useless arm, there was no way Jace could possibly hold that much weight, much less lift it off Sed’s chest.

“Did you come in here for a reason?” Sed asked.

Jace shrugged.

“Hiding from your chick or something?”

“Nah, she’s an angel.”

“Eric?”

“Nope. We’re cool.” For once.

Sed grunted and lifted the metal bar to rest on the bench’s stand. The truck rocked slightly with the shift in weight. Sed sat up and wiped his face on a towel. “Got a problem?”

“Kinda. I need to build up the strength in my arm. It’s about healed, but…” He shrugged.

“Aren’t you supposed to wear that sling for two more weeks?” Sed acted more like his father than Jace’s actual father ever had. Jace had always found it comforting. He never wanted to let this guy down.

Jace ducked his head, disappointment sinking low in his chest. “Yeah.”

Jace turned to leave the truck, but Sed caught him by the back of his shirt. “Let’s see it.”

He hesitated and then pulled his shirt off his arms and let it hang around his neck. The puckered skin of the scar on his upper arm looked a little less angry every day. He needed a mirror to see the one on the back of his shoulder, but it had healed shut as well. They no longer required bandages. The problem wasn’t the wounds though. It was the loss of muscle mass from wearing that sling so long. Jace could see the difference in the size of his two arms, and apparently, so could Sed. He poked Jace’s right biceps.

“You should start out pretty light and build up to heavier stuff. We’ll get you evened out, but I don’t want you to hurt yourself by rushing this. We’ve got Jon until you’re better.”

Jace pulled his shirt back in place, embarrassed by his puny arm in the company of ripped-beyond-belief Sed. “That’s why I’m ready to get stronger. Now.” Jace lifted his head, forcing his gaze not to waver. “I don’t want Jon to take my place anymore.”

Sed smiled, which always made him look less tough and reminded Jace that Sed really was a nice guy and genuinely cared about people. “I guess it would be boring to be stuck on the tour bus for a month and not get to be onstage. We’ll get you back out there soon.”

“I never wanted Jon to take my place,” Jace clarified.

Sed scratched his head, looking perplexed. “But you wouldn’t have been able to play a month ago. We would have had to cancel tour dates.”

Jace’s heart thudded. He knew his next words would make his feelings perfectly clear, and he had no idea how Sed would respond. Jace expected him to tell him to get lost. Permanently. “You did it for Trey.”

“But there was no one readily available to take Trey’s place like there was with you.” A look of realization crossed Sed’s face. “Oh.” Sed blushed. Jace didn’t know that Sed was capable of blushing. “If you felt that way, dipshit, why didn’t you say something sooner?”

Jace rubbed the hoop in his earlobe. “It’s selfish of me to feel that way.”

“So what. We’re not going to know how you feel about stuff unless you tell us. It doesn’t mean it will change our decisions, but at least we’ll understand where you’re coming from. You’re part of this band, too, you know?”

Sed hadn’t told him to get lost. He had sort of chastised him though. Jace soaked it up like a sponge.

“I want back onstage as soon as I can get my strength up,” Jace said, “but I don’t want to suck. I want to play properly. I know I’m not ready for a full show yet. Maybe I can play half of the next show. A few songs at least.”

“Whatever you think you can handle.” Sed went to a rack of hand weights and lifted a set of fifteen-pounders. He handed them to Jace and selected forty-pound weights for himself. “Let’s get busy then.”

Sed put him through the ringer with repetition after repetition. The weight was far too light for Jace’s left arm, but he struggled to lift even fifteen pounds with his right. He’d never let Sed know that though. He worked until his muscles refused to contract.

“You’re done,” Sed said.

Sed set his weights on the rack and took Jace’s. Good thing. Jace probably would have dropped it on his foot. Sed set the weights down and then cuffed Jace on the side of his head. “Go rest for a while. We can work out again tomorrow.”

“How about later tonight?” Jace should have recovered enough to move by then.

“You shouldn’t overdo it, Jace.”

Jace lowered his gaze. He preferred to work out with Sed. The guy was a body builder. Sed knew what he was doing, but Jace could do this on his own if necessary.

Sed chuckled. “You’re really determined to get stronger, aren’t you?”

Jace met his eyes. “Yeah.”

“Then it’s a date.”

“A date?” a feminine voice said from the end of the truck bed. “Sorry, Jace, but I’m the only one he’s dating for the next forty-eight hours.”

Sed gasped, his eyes widening with shock as they located their guest. “Jessica.”

“Hey, baby,” she said, with a beautiful smile on her face. She climbed into the truck and dusted her hands off on her frilly white dress. The woman was amazingly sexy. No wonder Sed was already racing toward her. “Did you miss—”

Her words were cut off by Sed’s enthusiastic kiss. He was hugging her so close Jace wouldn’t be surprised if he broke her ribs. After a long moment, Sed pulled away and looked at her as if unable to believe she was really there. He touched her face, her long, strawberry blonde hair, and then settled both hands on her shoulders, tilting her back slightly so that her belly brushed against his sweaty, naked torso. “How did you get here?”

She laughed and cupped the side of his face. “Brian sent me a plane ticket. He told me to ditch school and get my ass to Canada before you spontaneously combusted. I’d have been here sooner, but I needed a passport.”

“Brian did?”

“You’re welcome,” Brian said from the ground at the end of the truck. He had his arms crossed over his chest and looked pleased with himself. Jon stood beside him grinning, but when he noticed Jace, he scowled and slinked away.

“You two better make good use of that bedroom tonight,” Brian added, “because Myrna will be here tomorrow, and we won’t be leaving that room for two days.”

Jace wasn’t sure if Sed and Jessica even heard him. They were lost in each other’s eyes. “You’re all sweaty, baby,” she murmured. “And damn, you’re ripped. What have you been doing with yourself?” Her hands stroked his bulging biceps with obvious appreciation.

Sed’s hold loosened. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to get my stink all over you.”

Jessica leaned closer and licked the sweat off his collarbone. Sed’s body tensed. “I want all of you, Sed. All over me.” Her hand disappeared between their bodies, and Sed gasped brokenly when she found her target. “Inside me.”

Sed growled and claimed Jessica’s mouth again. He turned, pressed her against the steel wall, and slid a hand under the hem of her skirt. He grabbed her thigh and lifted it to his hip, before grinding himself against her.

Jace doubted these two were going to make it to the bedroom.

He grinned. Sed was so in love with Jessica. It was wonderful to see. It was even more wonderful to experience it himself with Aggie. Yeah, he loved her. He wondered what she was up to. He hopped out of the truck, landing next to Brian, and left Sed and Jessica to get reacquainted in semiprivate.

“Put it in, Sed,” Jace heard Jessica cry against Sed’s lips as they walked away. “I can’t wait…”

“That was a nice thing you did,” Jace said to Brian.

Brian chuckled, and they made their way back to the bus. “I knew Sed was too damn stubborn to tell her how much he needed her here. And Myrna’s too damn stubborn to come here no matter how much I tell her I need her.”

“So how did you convince Myrna?”

“I made it seem like it was her idea. I think I’ve finally figured out how to get what I want. She’s a psychologist, so she usually sees my manipulative methods coming from a mile away.” Brian laughed.

Jace smiled, holding Brian’s gaze. His intense, brown eyes were so much like Kara’s it stole Jace’s breath. And apparently, his ability to reason. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this.”

Brian paused. “Tell me what?”

“I dated your sister.” He wasn’t sure why he wanted to own up to it all of a sudden.

“Not possible. My sister has been dead for ten years.”

Jace nodded. “Yeah. We were teenagers. We broke it off a few weeks before she…”

Brian’s eyes narrowed suddenly. “You’re Jason?”

Jace’s heart skipped a beat. “Huh?”

“Are you the asshole who took her virginity and then never called afterward?”

Brian knew? How could he know? He’d never told anyone—with the exception of Aggie.

“I-I guess so.”

Brian took a swing at him. Jace ducked instinctively.

“You fucking jerk,” Brian growled. “She cried for weeks over you.”

“She did?”

Brian’s next swing hit home. Jace gladly took it in the chin.

“I thought she hated me,” Jace murmured.

“No, she loved you. I hated you.”

“I’m sorry, Brian. I had no idea. I never meant to hurt her.”

“Well, you did.” Brian considered him for a long moment. Jace wished he’d just hit him again and get it over with. Brian relaxed his stance instead. He cracked his knuckles. “God, that felt good. Do you know how long I’ve wanted to punch this Jason jerk in the face?”

“Ten years?” Jace guessed.

Brian laughed. “Yeah.” He thumbed the bruise forming on Jace’s chin. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I’m glad you hit me. I feel better now. That secret has been eating me alive.”

“We’ll never speak of this again. Got it?”

Jace nodded. “Got it.”

They started toward the bus. “So are you and Aggie going to tie the knot?” Brian asked unexpectedly.

Tie the knot. As in marriage? Jace was so stunned by the idea he stopped walking in mid-stride. He stumbled, bumping against Brian’s shoulder. Marriage had never crossed his mind. Not once. But wasn’t that what a couple did when they were in love?

“No?” Brian squeezed Jace’s shoulder. “I guess you’re still pretty young. No need to rush it.”

“Do you think she would?” Jace sputtered. “Marry. Me?” Why did his voice sound like he’d reentered puberty?

“You’ll have to ask her.”

Jace’s brow crinkled. “Yeah. Maybe I will.”

* * *

Aggie grinned when Jace came up behind her and wrapped both arms around her waist.

“I’m starving,” he murmured. “Whatcha cooking?”

“Spaghetti. We have a guest.” She covered his entwined hands with hers. “Jessica’s here,” she told him. “Brian just brought her in from the airport.”

“Yeah, I saw her.”

“Where’ve you been anyway? You were gone when I woke up.” When she’d opened her eyes, Eric had been cuddled up against her naked body. She hadn’t been comfortable being left alone with him and had been a little put off that Jace had abandoned her and not made Eric leave.

“I was working out with Sed.”

“Is your body up to that?”

“It’s up to fucking you a couple times a day. I think I can handle lifting fifteen pounds.”

What had him out of sorts? “What’s the matter, baby?” She reached behind her to run a hand through his soft hair. It was getting long, and his brown roots were showing again. She was glad he hadn’t spiked it with gel today. It felt like silk against her fingertips.

“How do you feel about marriage?” he asked.

Her heart skipped a beat. “Marriage?” she sputtered breathlessly.

He stood there silently for a long moment. When she didn’t say anything, he released her and backed away. “That’s what I thought.” He disappeared into the bathroom and shut the door before she could get a handle on what had just happened.

Did Jace want to marry her? Her? A trashy dominatrix from Vegas. As a doting wife? Surely he was just asking what she thought about marriage in general.

The stove hissed as her pot of spaghetti boiled over. She grabbed the handles and sloshed the excess water in the sink before returning the pot to the burner.

Marriage?

Where had that come from?

In all their time together, marriage had never crossed her mind. She felt kind of guilty about that. How long had he been thinking about this? She walked down the hall and stood outside the bathroom door with her knuckles raised to knock. The sound of the shower being turned on made her pause. She didn’t want to leave him to fester. She knew how he internalized the things that hurt him, but she needed time to think about this. She didn’t think she’d ever get married. It hadn’t been on her life’s to-do list. But she loved Jace. Adored him. She didn’t want to lose him. But marry him? She wasn’t sure if that was best for either of them.

Eric leaned against the wall next to her. “What did he do now?”

Aggie glanced up at Eric’s twinkling, blue eyes. “Who?”

“Jace.”

“Nothing.” She spun away from the door and returned to the stove to stir the spaghetti sauce. She checked the meatballs in the oven. Glanced over her shoulder at the bathroom door. Stirred the sauce. Checked the meatballs. Glanced at the bathroom door.

Eric hopped up to sit on the kitchen counter between the stove and the sink. “He did something,” Eric insisted. “I’ve never seen you this upset.”

“I’m not upset.”

“Are too.”

“Not.”

“You can tell me,” Eric said. “I’ll help you straighten him out.”

“He doesn’t need straightening out.”

Eric clung to the edge of the counter and swung his long legs, his heels bumping against the lower cabinet repetitively.