Fever (Breathless #2)(36)

She pressed her lips to the hollow indention at his collarbone and savored this connection. Savored the feeling of being wanted. Of being cherished and cared for on an emotional level.

He shifted and she started to protest but then she caught sight of his expression and she stopped. He levered up enough that he brought his hand to her face and she realized that her cheeks were wet with her tears.

“Hey,” he said gently. “What’s this?”

She was embarrassed over her reaction. How could she explain the enormity of this feeling? She tried to look away, but he wouldn’t let her. He lowered his head and kissed away the damp trails and then lifted his head to stare into her eyes once more.

“Bethany?”

There was concern in his voice, which made her feel all the more foolish.

“I’m okay,” she choked out.

“Are you?”

“I’ve never been more okay,” she said softly.

He seemed to understand then. He smiled and kissed her again.

“Let me get rid of the condom and then we need to talk,” he said.

Alarmed, she let him roll off her and waited as he discarded the condom. Then he was back on the bed, reaching for her to tuck her into his side.

He stroked through her hair, silent as he held her against him.

“I don’t want anything between us,” he finally said.

Not fully understanding what he meant, she stayed quiet as she waited.

“We need to get you an appointment so we can have tests and then we need to put you on birth control. I don’t want to wear condoms. I want no barrier between us. I’ll, of course, continue to use them until it’s safe, but you’re mine and I want unfettered access to you. All of you. Are you okay with that?”

Even though she knew—he’d certainly made himself clear—hearing that he had every intention of them having sex on a regular basis threw her for a loop. It all sounded so . . . permanent, and she knew a relationship between them could be anything but.

“Baby? Talk to me. You’re too damn quiet. Are you freaked out? Am I moving too fast?”

She nearly laughed. Now he was worried about moving too fast? She didn’t even know he had any concept of moving too fast.

“I don’t have a problem with birth control. But Jace, we have to talk.”

He kissed her, effectively silencing her.

“We don’t need to talk about anything other than getting you what you need. What we need,” he amended. “It’s a fact that you’re going to be in my bed. Eventually my apartment. I’m trying to give you space to work this out. I don’t want to overwhelm you but you need to know that I’m serious about this. And I’m going to fight any statement from you that begins with you not being with me.”

“Wow,” she breathed.

“Anything else you need to say?” he asked, amusement coloring his voice.

“I guess not,” she murmured.

“Good. Then let’s have breakfast and then I’ll take you shopping.”

“But Jace, what about work? You can’t just take off shopping with me on a whim.”

“There are perks to being the boss,” he said smugly. “One of them being that I can take a few hours off. It’s not like I’m going to get fired.”

“Well, okay then.”

He patted her on the ass and then rolled out of bed, leaving her lying there on her side.

“I’m going to shower right quick and then you can have the bathroom while I start on breakfast. Sound good?”

She nodded, unable to keep the smile from curving her mouth.

He smiled back, his eyes lighting up. “You need to do that more often and if I have my way, you will.”

Her brow furrowed in puzzlement. “Do what?”

“Smile.”

Chapter fourteen

Shopping with Jace was an exhausting, thrilling, completely baffling experience. He swept through the department stores and countless boutiques like a man on a mission and he was exacting in his requirements. It occurred to her that he had a lot of experience in shopping for a woman and she didn’t like the jealousy that seized her. Until Jace wryly commented that he’d made countless shopping trips with his younger sister over the years.

When it became obvious that Bethany wouldn’t choose any of the dreadfully expensive items that Jace was convinced she needed, he forewent asking her altogether and took charge. He bulldozed his way through the stores, pointing out what he wanted in her sizes and had the saleslady collect them.

After outfitting her in all the necessities, from underwear—which was horribly awkward—to bras—equally awkward—to jeans, shirts and dresses she had no clue why she’d ever need, he then purchased sweaters, two coats—one short and one long—and three pairs of fur-lined boots.

“I don’t want your feet getting cold,” he told her.

She was appalled and at the same time her heart melted at the care he took in picking out every single purchase.

By the end of the five-hour marathon, Bethany’s head was spinning and Jace’s driver had to help carry all the purchases to the car. There was a veritable mountain of bags and boxes in the trunk and they still had to stuff many of them in the front seat.

Bethany sagged into the seat, bewildered by the way the day had shaped up. Yes, he’d said he was taking her shopping. She figured he’d buy a coat—since he was so pissed that she didn’t own one—and maybe a few items. She’d never expected an entire wardrobe and enough clothes to wear every day for a month without duplication! She didn’t even want to know what all this had cost. She’d refused to look at the price tags after she’d made the mistake of peeking at the first one. She’d nearly fainted and Jace had frowned and promptly directed her gaze elsewhere.