Muse - Fighting Fate #1 (13 page)

When he lowered himself back on top of me, I pulled him into me without waiting for anything else, needing him right then and there. Tipping my head back, I moaned at how good he felt inside me. “Oh, Jace...”

He breathed heavily against my neck.
“God, Mia, you always feel so good.”

His words were like pure adrenalin. My
fingers tensed against his back, and I pressed him closer, tilting my hips to take him deeper. His pace quickened, and his mouth was suddenly claiming mine, his tongue searching, caressing, and tangling.

Before too long,
I could feel that wonderful tension building, growing to such a height I was almost afraid to let it go. “Jace...” I said breathlessly.

“Come with me
, baby.”

H
is voice was tight and full of desire, and it instantly brought me undone. My body arched and convulsed, flooded with wave after wave of unadulterated pleasure. “Oh, God!”

He kissed me again, and
the pure erotic dance of his tongue strung my orgasm out even longer. I whimpered into his mouth, kissing him back with all the raging emotions that were coursing through my body.

When
I finally came down, my body relaxing beneath his, he finally broke the kiss, pressing his lips to the soft curve of my neck as he focused on slowing his breathing. I held him to me, one hand cupping the back of his neck, while the other pressed against his lower back.

Before I could register what he was doing, he rolled
onto his back, pulling me along with him so I was lying on top of him. I squealed then giggled, but then Jace moved so he was sliding out of me, and the unexpected tingling sensation from it made me gasp.

Jace
looked up at me, his face filled with emotion. Gently, he took my face between his hands and pulled me down to kiss him. I kissed him softly, barely skimming my lips across his, then I took a tiny bite at his lower lip, softly nipping at it.

Jace groaned, forcing my m
outh hard against his, kissing me passionately. For some reason though, I giggled. He sighed and let his head fall back against the bed with a playful scowl.

“I thought you were going to a party,”
I teased.

He raised an eyebrow.
‘Why would I go to a party when you’re naked and sitting on top of me?”

“Are you saying I should get off?”

“That is the exact opposite of what I’m saying...” His phone beeped from somewhere beside the bed, interrupting us. Shifting so I was still in his arms, he reached for his jeans and found his phone. “It’s Aiden, wondering where I am.”

I sighed
. “You should probably go...”

Jace pulled
me closer to him with one arm while his thumb ran over the screen. “Nope. Not a chance in hell. I’m just going to tell him I can’t be bothered. Besides, he’ll be trying for another piece of Carly. Unlike me with Violet, he really did hook up with her.”

I rolled my eyes and laughed
softly. “Yeah, whatever. But, seriously, Mom will probably be home in an hour or so, so you’ll have to go soon anyway.”

He frowned at me and sighed
. “What time do you think she’ll be home? I’ll stay until then, and then I’ll decide what I’m doing.”

I grinned
. “I think we’ve got at least an hour...”

Jace thr
ew his phone to the side and pulled me closer. “What could we possibly do for an hour?”

Chapter 22

Jace

The first thing on my mind when I woke was Mia. I was so fucking happy she said yes, I wanted to immortalize that feeling in a song. So I did. The lyrics were now done, and they were perfect. I knew I couldn’t have explained what she did to me any better than that.

As I lay in bed,
I wondered how she would react when I played it for her. I wasn’t sure when that would be. I wanted to make sure she was comfortable with what we’d agreed on before I sprang that kind of shit on her.

My biggest problem was that
the guys were hounding me to hear it. I knew they didn’t understand why I was being so secretive. As far as they were concerned, I had nothing different going on in my life, but I knew the second they heard those lyrics, they would know I was falling for a girl, and they would want to know who she was.

My phone beeped from my bedside table. When I picked it up, I saw there was a text from Aiden.

Beach today. 10am.

The fuck? I glanced out the crack in my curtains and saw the sun bright and all fucking shiny, but was it hot enough for the beach? Fuck that.

I don’t think so

I opened the weather app on my phone to check and saw there was supposed to be a high of sixty-five today. Well, how about that.

Fuck you. You’re coming. Carly said everyone’s going.

I smiled. If Aiden was going to the beach, I could go see Mia.

No thanks. Have fun!

I threw my phone down on my bed and pulled on a shirt. Mom still hadn’t seen my tat yet, and I didn’t want that argument this morning. Even though I was eighteen and could do what I wanted, I still respected her opinion.

I’d just pulled out a fresh pair of jeans when my phone beeped again. If it was Aiden again, I wasn’t responding. When I saw Mia’s name, I smiled.

You’d better be coming to the beach!

I frowned at her message. She was going to the beach?

Are you serious? I thought it’d give me the perfect excuse to come see you!

Her response was quick.

Not possible.
Mom’s home.

Fuck. I hadn’t thought about that.

You’re really going to the beach?

I thought it’d be worth it if I got to see you...

Fuck yes it would, but I wouldn’t be able to touch her. That part sucked royally. I didn’t want to complain though. I had a feeling going to the beach was a big step for her.

I’ll text Aid to pick me up ;)

xx

Begrudgingly, I typed a quick message to Aiden and hit send.

Fine. I’ll go. Pick me up on your way.

That’s more like it. Carly said
Melissa will be there, so you can make up for your soft cock effort last night.

I scowled at his message. After I left Mia last night, I’d gone to the party. I didn’t want to go. I wanted to show her that I didn’t care about that sort of shit, but she told me to go have fun and check on Aiden while I was there.

Aiden had been as pissed as a nit by the time I’d gotten there. So were the majority of the girls, and they’d pounced on me like I was the last man on earth. After just having left Mia, I couldn’t stand having them even touching me.

Aiden had been with Carly again, and
apparently she’d decided to help Melissa score with me. Yeah, I was real fucking happy with that.

After spending the next two hours ignoring her blatant come-ons, I dragged Aiden’s ass out of there and made sure he got home safely.

Knowing they were still intent on hooking me up pissed me off. I knew Aiden didn’t really give a fuck, he just wanted Carly to be happy so she’d put out, but I wished he’d just leave it the fuck alone.

Having a quick shower, I threw on some board shorts and a shirt,
and grabbed a towel. Saying a quick hi to Mom, I gave Ruby a kiss and cuddle and went out the front to meet Aiden.

Mia was sitting in the back seat when he pulled up, and I was tempted to jump in there with her, but I refrained myself and climbed in the passenger seat instead.

“Hey, man, thanks,” I said before turning sideways in my seat to look at Mia. I couldn’t help the little smile from sliding onto my lips. “Hi, Mia.”

She smiled sweetly and blushed. “Good morning.”

I gazed out the windscreen as Aiden drove, only half listening to him going on about some shit from the party the night before. Most of my awareness was on Mia, sitting quietly in the back with her towel folded neatly on her lap.

“So, you’re going to go
Melissa today aren’t you?” I heard Aiden say somewhere out of my haze.

Fuck me. I groaned. “Man, I told you last night. I’m not interested in her.”

“Don’t give me that shit. You fuck anything that moves. Just do it for me. It’ll get Carly off my fucking back.”

I clenched my jaw. I wanted to fucking punch him. If he made Mia re-think her decision to be with me, I fucking would. “Sort your own fucking shit out. I’m not going there.”

A slight soft clearing of throat from the backseat stopped the next words out of Aiden’s mouth. “Do you think you two could maybe have this conversation when I’m not around?”

Aiden looked in the rear view mirror and smiled apologetically. “Sorry
, baby girl. I forgot you were there. You’re too quiet.”

“Gee, good to know. Glad I’m practically invisible.”

I wanted to tell her just how visible she was to me, but I couldn’t. Not yet.

Aiden pulled into the parking lot and found a spot right near a track that led down to the beach. I climbed out and walked around to the front of the car.

I saw Aiden open Mia’s door and wished it was me. It was already fucking driving me insane not being able to do that for her. When I saw her pause halfway out of the car and look up at Aiden with a slight panicked look on her face, I was ready to fucking rip him out of the way.

“You go ahead. I’ll come down in a minute,” she said quietly.

Fuck no. I wasn’t leaving her sitting there looking like that. Aiden took a deep breath. “Are you sure?”

She looked over at me before nodding. “Yeah, I’m just not ready yet.”

Aiden gave her a brisk nod and handed her the keys. “Okay. I’ll see you down there.” He turned and came towards me. “Let’s go.”

I looked back at Mia again, suddenly torn. This shit was fucking hard. She gave me a little smile that I guessed was supposed to make me feel better, but only succeeded in making me feel like the biggest fucking douche bag when I had to turn and follow Aiden down the path.

I only made it halfway before I knew I’d made a mistake. I stopped. “I might just go throw my wallet in the car.” I didn’t wait for his response. I was already walking back.

Mia was standing outside the car, hidden behind the open door when I reached the top of the path again. Her eyes widened when she saw me, and I automatically slowed my steps, my sub-conscious warning me to be cautious.

“Are you okay?” She looked nervous. I pulled my wallet out and held it up. “I told Aiden I was just going to throw this in the car.”

I stepped around the door to where she was standing and froze. Holy motherfucking shit. She was wearing the shortest fucking pair of denim shorts I thought I’d seen. Well, that wasn’t true, but on her, they were the sexiest fucking things I’d ever seen. I’d known her legs were fucking incredible – I’d had them wrapped around me, but out here in the open, they were obscene.

I groaned. “Holy shit.” Closing my eyes, I swallowed hard. “God damn it, Mia. Do you realize I’m going to have to spend the rest of the day sitting down now?”

I opened my eyes to see her blinking up at me all confused. Fuck she was adorable.

“It’ll be the only way I’m going to be able to hide the boner you’re going to give me all day,” I explained.

She blushed, but the smile I’d been anticipating didn’t come. “I don’t look like a slut do I?”

What the fuck? Why the fuck would she even think to ask that? “Of course not. You’re at the beach Mia. I’m assuming you’re going to be taking those off to go swimming...” My voice instantly trailed off as realization hit me. She was going to be taking those clothes off. “Ah fuck.” I gazed down her incredible body, hoping she was wearing some one piece swim suit that covered everything up. When I saw the strings of what could only be a bikini tied up around her neck, I groaned. “You’re wearing a bikini?”

She nodded, her eyes all fucking innocent and trusting.

“On second thoughts, maybe you shouldn’t come down. I could take you home...”

Her eyes flashed with worry. “What? Why?”

“God damn it, Mia.” I ran my hands over my face and hair. “I’ve seen you in your underwear, and I don’t know if I’m going to be able to keep away from you in a bikini.” I thought about trying to sit there while she was right there on the beach with all our friends around. Oh, fuck no! The other guys were going to be all over her. “Fuck! And I’m going to have to beat the shit out of any guy who ogles you.”

Mia giggle
d. Now she fucking giggles…

As distressed as I was, I melted. I loved that fucking sound. “It’s not funny, Mia,” I said, but it was only half-hearted. “I can’t even stake my claim on you. I want to be able show everyone you’re mine, but you’re going to force me to sit there and pretend you aren’t the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Her smile faded, but at least she still looked happy. “Thank you,” she said softly. She picked up my hand and ran her thumb over the back of it. It was just what I needed. “And I’m sorry.”

I gave her a smile because I knew that was what she needed. She released my hand and shut the door. “Can I walk down with you?” She asked, her voice hesitant.

“Only if I can hold your hand.”

I was only joking, but when I saw the panic in her eyes, I
mentally kicked myself. Hard.

“Relax
, baby. I was only kidding around.”

She exhaled heavily and nodded. We started down the track at a slow pace, leaving a couple of feet between us.

Even though I’d prepared myself for the looks Mia was bound to get, I still couldn’t stop myself from tensing the second I saw them start to notice her. It was like a fucking domino effect, one after the other.

I almost laughed out loud though when I saw Aiden notice and punch those within hitting distance for ogling his sister. Good.

I also noticed some of the girls looking. Some were smiling, obviously happy to see Mia out for a change, but there were a few who looked less than happy. I knew that had to do with the fact that she was with me, and it just pissed me off.

“
Can you see Kaeli?” she asked quietly.

I looked across the sand and found her
near the back, her towel spread out and sitting on it cross legged. I didn’t know how she couldn’t see her. She was pretty easy to spot. I looked across at Mia questioningly and saw the reason why. She was purposely not looking. My heart ached a little. “Yeah, I have to walk passed her to get to Aiden, so I’ll take you.”

“Kay, thanks.”

The closer we got to Kaeli, the more apprehensive I got. I wanted to stay with her and make sure she was going to be okay. This shit sucked. “Text me any time you feel like you need to go, okay?”

She chanced a glance up at me and smiled. It was only a little smile, but it was relaxed. Thank fuck. “I will.”

We reached Kaeli’s set up and I had to force myself to keep walking. “Hi, Kaeli. See you both later.”

I
threw my towel down with the guys and pulled my shirt off, sinking down on the sand so my body was half turned so I could see Mia.

“
Holy shit, man. When the fuck did you get a tattoo?” Ryan said, sticking his hand out for a bump.

I looked down at my arm. I’d forgotten about that. “Oh yeah. I got it Friday, after the gig.”

“That’s fucking awesome. How long did it take?”

“I don’t know…about four hours?”

The other guys started crowding around trying to get a look, so I turned my arm to show them, hoping to get it over and done with.

“Oh
, man. Nice!”

“Fuck, did it hurt?”

“That’s wicked art man. Who did it?”

I glanced over at Mia to see her deep in conversation with Kaeli
while I answered all their questions. My sunglasses helped me stay covert, so I kept watching for a while. Kaeli looked surprised by something Mia was saying, her hand flying up to cover her mouth. I almost smiled when she threw a quick look my way. Mia had to be telling her about me.

I saw Aiden stand up out of the corner of my eye and turned to watch him and Carly go down to the water’s edge. When he was out of ear shot, the comments started.

“Fuck, did you see Mia?”

“
How are those fucking legs? Damn! Who would’ve thought she’d be packing those babies,” Ryan said.

Cain nodded.
“Yeah, she’s hot, hey.”