All Good Things (15 page)

My heart pounded in anger against the cage of my chest and I glared at him. "Please, leave me alone to get dressed, Jace."

He shook his head as he moved to the door and slipped out into the hall. I sighed shakily, as I fought another wave of tears. I scrambled around his bedroom as I dressed myself in the clothing I had worn the day before. I had never had to do the walk of shame from a man's home before. I decided then, I hated it. I couldn't wait to get back to my condo and strip from these clothes...and possibly burn them.

When I was all dressed and I had combed through my hair with my fingers until it was as presentable as I was going to get, I opened his bedroom door, and stopped immediately. Jace was leaning against the wall waiting for me. I scowled at him as I moved past him. I didn't know why I was so angry with him when he told me before we even had sex, he was only interested in my body. I supposed it was because I still wanted him even though he was an ass. He was everything I had always promised myself I would steer clear from. But, I wanted him, regardless.

"You are angry." Jace stated as I stalked past him.

"I just need caffeine." I mumbled, as I started my descent down the stairs with Jace close behind me.

"Well it's a good thing I made coffee." Jace replied and I looked over my shoulder at him. I could not see him making coffee. "Because, we have important matters to discuss."

I rolled my eyes and walked to the kitchen where I left my bag on the island counter. I opened it and dug for my phone. There was a pile of missed phone calls and texts from Trisha. Shit. I totally forgotten to contact her and let her know I was with Jace and I was not coming home. Jeez, thank God for the twenty-four hour rule before someone could report a missing person to the police.

If it was not just past four in the morning, I would call her. I placed the phone back into my bag without opening the texts and sighed, rubbing my face.

"Is something wrong?" Jace asked, passing me a cup of coffee. I frowned as I brought it to my lips. It was perfect, just the way I liked it. I wondered how he knew what I liked in my coffee, but I decided it was probably just a lucky coincidence. I decided not to give him the satisfaction of making my coffee correctly.

"I just forgot to let Trisha know that I was staying here last night and apparently she is worried." I took another sip of my coffee and he nodded. "What is it that you need to discuss with me?"

"I wanted to resume our earlier conversation of your safety." Jace replied tightly. His eyes were hard as they watched my reaction. I set my coffee on the counter and stared back at him with equal stubbornness.

"I'm still opposed to a bodyguard. That has not, and will not, change." I was so not awake enough to deal with this. Hell...I didn't get enough sleep to have to deal with this without wringing his neck. My fingers twitched and I thought once about where I would bury his body, before I shook the thought from my head and forced my hands to my side. I could not dispose of him simply because I was irritable as a starved lion.

"Olivia, be rational." Jace growled, interrupting my thoughts.

"I am Jace." I snapped as I pulled my bag onto my shoulder. "And, I said no."

"Why the fuck are you so stubborn?" Jace was close to yelling, but I was close to throwing my mug at his head. How could someone turn me on one minute, and then, anger me, like this, the next? Jeez, if I didn't clear my head soon, I would lose my sanity.

I took in a deep breath and set both hands on the counter to halt their shaking. "Look, I will make you a deal."

Jace narrowed his eyes. "Let's hear it."

"I don't want a bodyguard, and right now, I don't see the need for one, so how about we go on with our lives like normal. If something happens to make me feel unsafe, I promise, I will tell you, and then you can assign Gabe as my shadow. How about that?" I proposed, hoping to God he would agree.

"Why would you want to wait until something happens before you take a bodyguard?" He demanded, and I fought the urge to pull my hair from my head.

"Those are my conditions. You can take them or leave them." I said through clenched teeth. He made me so angry. I was moments away from screaming at the top of my lungs.

"How do I know you will tell me when something happens?" Jace growled as he stared hard at me.

"I don't like the idea of living my life in fear. You have nothing to worry about. If something happens, I will tell you."

"If that's what you want, then fine." Jace said without commitment. There was a glint in his eye I did not trust. I decided there was definitely something he was not telling me.

"I need to get home." I said as I walked away from him.

Jace followed me to the elevator, tapping the screen of his phone. When the doors rolled open, he followed me in. "Gabe will be driving you home. I have an early meeting."

"I can take a cab." I said, by way of declining his offer.

"Will you just let Gabe drive you home, Olivia?" Jace looked up from his phone and glared as he waited for me to answer.

"Whatever, Jace." I folded my arms over my chest and leaned against the wall.

"Thank you, Olivia." The doors rolled open to a glamorous lobby. "This is your stop."

I didn't say anything as I stepped from the elevator. I could feel Jace's eyes on my back, but I kept walking through the lobby. Never once did I allow myself to look back. When I stepped out into the early morning air, I sighed and waved for a taxi. I climbed in the back seat and tried to pretend I didn't notice Gabe watching me. I closed the door and leaned my head against the back seat as I prayed to get home safely. I still didn't like taxis, but the thought of getting into Gabe's car was worse.

***

"What?" I growled into the phone.

"She took a taxi, Mr. Rush." Gabe replied.

"Why did you let her take a taxi?" I demanded. I knew I was being unreasonable, but I was irritated. The damn girl tested me at every corner. How the fuck was I supposed to protect her when she refused to follow simple orders?

"Short of me tying her up and forcing her into the backseat, I had no choice, Sir."

"Are you following the taxi?" I asked. I was trying to ignore the way my cock jumped at the thought of Olivia bound in the back seat of a car...completely at my disposal.

"Yes, sir." Gabe interrupted my thoughts, bringing me back to the issue at hand.

I smiled. "Good. Follow her for the rest of the day, but do not get too close. Try to keep her from noticing your presence."

"Yes, sir." Gabe said politely and I ended the call. I tossed my phone onto the passenger seat as I pulled out of the parking stall. I had no idea how one small woman could irritate me so greatly.

***

I tried to ignore the anger bubbling to the surface of my throat as the Audi pulled to the curb a few cars down from the taxi. Gabe had followed me the entire way home. I was furious with Jace for his intrusion in my life by the time I handed the cab driver the money and stepped from the car. I made a point of looking directly at the Audi and wished Gabe was not wearing sunglasses. If I could see his eyes, maybe I would see shame residing in their depths for following me. After glaring hard at Gabe, I stomped into the lobby of the condo. I marched straight to the elevator, and wondered momentarily, if Gabe would follow me, to then station himself outside my door. I didn't know what I would do if he did...but, I would not be held accountable for my actions.

I shoved my key into the door, but didn't have time to twist the knob, before the door flung open and Trisha stared down at me. She was furious.

"Where the hell have you been?" She roared. Her hair was a mess and her makeup was smudged. She looked like shit. "I've been worried sick. I called the police, dammit!"

I tried to keep my eyes from growing wide as I stepped into the tight entrance, setting my bag onto the table. "I'm so sorry, Trisha."

"Where were you, Liv?"

A blush crept into my cheeks. "I was at Jace's."

"Are you kidding me?" She wiped her hand over her already smudged raccoon eyes. "Trey said you went with Jace, but I didn't believe him."

"Why didn't you believe him?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

She looked at me tiredly. "I just thought you were a better judge of character."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I kicked the door shut. I didn't think it was appropriate to wake up the entire building at five a.m. over something so silly.

"Jace is dangerous, Liv. How do you not see that?"

"I don't know what you mean by dangerous, Trisha."

She looked hard at me and then shook her head. "You know what? Never mind. Just, next time you decide to spend the night with him...give me a call or text. Let me know that you are alive rather than in a dumpster somewhere."

I was fuming. How dare she make a big deal over my spending time with Jace, and then, not give me a real reason for her obvious loathing of him? Did she hit on him at some point while I was in the hospital and he turned her down? Was that why she hated him?

"Trisha, you need to tell me why you don't like him. I deserve to know." I leaned against the wall.

"Come on. I need a coffee." She turned her back to me and walked into the kitchen. There was already coffee in the pot. I thought about making myself a cup, but I was cranky and I needed something more soothing. I went for the pantry and pulled out the kettle and my special tin of white hot chocolate.

"Was it that bad?" Trisha nodded to the tin and I blushed. She knew me well.

"We will talk about me, after we talk about why you have a bounty on Jace's head." I snapped.

Trisha sighed and took a long sip of coffee. "I don't have a bounty on his head." She began and I rolled my eyes. "I just don't like him. I don't even have a real reason...it's just everything about him, and nothing about him." She shrugged. She was not making sense, but I understood. "When you were in the hospital...he was so irritatingly commanding. And, everyone followed his orders as though he was their freaking God. Whatever he demanded, he received." She shook her head. "I just think someone like him would crush someone like you and you deserve so much more. I don't want to see you hurt and I'm so afraid if you continue whatever is going on between the two of you that is exactly what will happen. You will be hurt and he will leave you alone to walk onto his next victim."

Wow. Did I really give the impression that I was someone who was so completely helpless?

"Don't worry about me, Trisha. I went into this with Jace knowing exactly what I was getting out of it. It's just sex." I felt my cheeks burn, bright red, as I poured two heaping spoons of powder into the mug. I added the water and set to stirring.

"Just sex." Trisha's mouth dropped. "You've never believed in 'just sex'. I have been telling you for years, you just need to loosen up and live, but you've never listened. You aren't admitting it to yourself, Liv...but this is more than 'just sex' to you."

I shook my head adamantly and eyed her coldly. "Nope. It's just sex."

"What changed?" She raised a brow, and her voice sounded interrogating.

I shrugged. "I decided to listen to you for a change."

She stared at me for a long, hard moment before finally nodding. "Well," she sighed. "How was it then?"

I blushed again. "Have I ever been one to kiss and tell?"

She stood. "You're blushing, so it must have been damned good." She walked around the island and dropped her mug into the sink. "You can tell me about it some other time. I have to get to work. I'm hoping the four pots of coffee I had over the night will keep me coherent."

"I'm sorry again." I said as I downed the rest of my creamy drink.

"Yeah, yeah." Trisha padded to the hall, paused and poked her head back into the kitchen. She pointed to an envelope on the counter by the fridge. It was where we tended to keep our bills. "A letter came for you last night. I don't know when it came or who dropped it off. They just slid it under the door. Believe me, I was tempted to read it...but, it was sealed so I refrained."

"That was big of you, Trisha." I grinned. She waved her hand and mumbled as she disappeared down the hall to her bedroom.

I padded across the kitchen. I had my sights set on the envelope. I was intrigued. I picked it up and stared at it. My name was hand written in elegant script. I frowned as I tore the envelope open, pulling a single sheet of paper from the pocket. I unfolded it eagerly and as I read through the words, my blood froze.

Olivia,

You've gone too far and tempted a prodigious monster. He wears his mask well and he plays his part flawlessly. Make no mistake, you are nothing to him but a conquest he will eventually have his fill of, and when he does, he will leave you a shell of a woman. Mark my words, he will rob you of your humanity, crush your dreams and taint your sanity. But, worst of all, he will steal your soul and leave you so broken you will have no hope of ever picking up the pieces.

But, you can still run. You have not been ruined...yet. He has not broken you and you still have a future ahead of you, but if you remain in the den with him...be prepared to remain forever within his shackles.

Sincerely,

Your Savior.

My knees were weak. That was the first thought that registered in my mind as I leaned against the counter. The letter was not a threat...but a warning. I had a sickening feeling the man the writer was referring to was none other than Jace. But I didn't understand. Who would be warning me away from Jace? And, why?

With shaky hands, I folded the letter and placed it in the envelope. I thought about calling Jace and then shook the thought from my mind. Whoever sent me the letter was obviously unstable. I walked through the hall and slipped into my bedroom. It had to be a crazy ex girlfriend. I couldn't think of another scenario. Someone wanted me to stay away from Jace and they were trying to frighten me into complying.

I laughed aloud as I placed the letter in the top drawer of my desk. As much as I hated the thought of giving the writer even an ounce of satisfaction, I didn't think I would be seeing Jace again. At least not anytime soon. Jace was all kinds of wrong for me. The writer had that tidbit correct. Jace would, undoubtedly, hurt me if I allowed this to continue...but, it didn't matter. By the way the morning unfolded, it was more than apparent Jace had gotten what he'd wanted from me. I was a body to warm his bed. I was mature enough to accept the facts for what they were. Jace was one hell of a one night stand...and, that was all.