Fever (Breathless #2)(90)

“But what am I supposed to do? I can’t just walk away from him. I can’t just leave him alone and with nothing. Not when I have all the things he doesn’t.”

Jace stared into her tear-drenched eyes and realized that she wouldn’t be the woman he loved if she could just walk away from her family. He stroked her cheek, wiping away the dampness, and then he sighed.

“I’ll figure something out for Jack. But you have to understand if I step in, that means you step away.”

Her eyes became troubled and she dropped her gaze again.

“Could he . . .”

She bit into her lip and went silent.

“Could he what, baby? You don’t have to be afraid to ask me anything.”

“But I have no right to ask this,” she said in a low voice. “You’ve given me so much and I’ve given you nothing in return.”

“You are everything to me. Everything, Bethany. I don’t say that lightly. I’ve damn sure never said that to another woman. Hell, I’ve never said it to another human being.”

She stared at him with such confusion and amazement that he couldn’t control himself any longer. He hauled her into his arms and against his chest, anchoring her so tight that it was doubtful she could breathe.

“Ask, Bethany.”

“I was going to ask you if Jack could stay in the apartment,” she whispered. “Just for a little while. Until he gets on his feet and can afford a place of his own.”

Jace carefully extricated Bethany from his hold and set her far enough away so that she could see him and he could see her. His expression was utterly serious as he stared down at her.

“If you move in with me, I’ll see what I can do about letting Jack move into your apartment.”

She didn’t react to the subtle blackmail. Not that it was even subtle. But he wasn’t above using whatever means necessary to get her into his space, in his bed and more firmly entrenched in his life.

“You’d do that?” she whispered.

Hell yes, he’d do it. And not suffer one iota of guilt in the process.

“Yes, I would do that.”

She threw her arms around him, nearly toppling him backward on the couch. “Thank you,” she said fiercely. “I don’t deserve you, Jace. I thank God every day for you, though.”

He frowned at her assertion but since she hadn’t balked at the idea of moving in with him he didn’t push the matter.

“I can’t wait to tell Jack,” she said. “He won’t believe it.”

Jace held up his hands. “There are a few conditions, Bethany.”

She went silent and looked questioningly at him.

“I won’t have drugs in that apartment. I won’t have them anywhere near you. If Kaden or Trevor finds them at any time, he’s out. And if you see Jack, you’ll do it with either Kaden or Trevor or myself. That I won’t bend on.”

Bethany was quiet. He could see the wheels turning in her mind. He found himself holding his breath, wondering if he’d been too forceful. But it was who he was. He couldn’t change that, wouldn’t change it for something as important as her safety.

“All right,” she said quietly. “I’ll explain to Jack.”

“No.”

She lifted her brows and they furrowed in confusion.

“I’ll explain to Jack,” Jace said grimly. “I won’t put you in an uncomfortable situation. Let me be the ass**le. I have no problem with that role when it comes to you.”

“You’re not an ass**le,” she said in a fierce voice that made him smile.

“Does that mean you’ll be happy to stay with me and not think me a huge ass**le for manipulating you into moving in with me?”

Her eyes went soft and then she leaned into his embrace, her body melting like liquid satin over his skin. So smooth and warm. So f**king perfect. His hands glided down her back, wishing like hell his robe wasn’t covering her.

“I never wanted to leave,” she said faintly. “I thought it was what you wanted.”

“Shhh, baby, no. Don’t say that. Never that.”

“And I worry, Jace. I do. I worry where this is going to go and how long you’re going to be happy with . . . me.”

The unspoken fear was as evident as if she’d voiced it. She was worried that this was temporary for him and she worried what would happen to her when, in her mind, he got tired of her and moved on.

“And I still worry that I’m not good enough for you,” she said in a starkly vulnerable voice.

“Oh, baby.”

She shook her head and continued on. “I don’t fit into your world. How could I? I’m afraid that one day you’re going to realize that.”

He stroked her face with his palm, allowing her to keep her head nestled against his shoulder. “You are my world, baby. We’ve been over this.”

He could feel her squeezing her eyes shut and she trembled. He hugged her tighter and kissed her silky hair.

“I want to believe that,” she whispered. “Because you’re mine, Jace. And that scares me. You’re my entire world. Everything that’s wonderful. The best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ve lost a lot in my life, and I survived. But if I lost you, it would devastate me as nothing else has or ever could. You have so much power over me and that’s frightening.”