The Avoidance of Love (The Daniels' Sisters Book 2) (21 page)

Just as I put my key in the door of the main building, I found myself upside down and tossed over a very familiar shoulder.

“Jace, what are you doing?” I smacked his back, but it made no difference.

“You didn’t really think I was going to sit in the car and wait like a good boy did you?”

“Silly me. You can put me down now.”

“Nah. I like you like this.”

He carried me all the way up the stairs and took my keys from me to let us in. Only when we were completely inside, did he place me on my feet. Before I could say anything, he took off.

“Where are you going?”

“To snoop before you come up with some excuse to try and stop me. I want to know why you didn’t want me to come in. You hiding another man in here?”

I rolled my eyes. That man could seriously frustrate me to distraction. While Jace made a song and dance of looking in every room, cupboard, and closet, I made my way to my bedroom to pack a fresh bag of clothes. It didn’t take much time, so I quickly took a shower before I got ready for us to meet Luke. Jace came into the bathroom while I was showering.

“Do you mind?”

“Not at all. Just a shame I can’t jump in there with you.” Jace had gotten ready before we left his place. I couldn’t deny that I was disappointed that he wasn’t joining me.

“I like your apartment. It’s nice and clean.”

“But?”

“I didn’t say but.”

“But you were going to. Go on. I doubt you’re going to say anything I haven’t heard before.”

“You’re so defensive. All I would say is that it doesn’t reflect you at all.” I hadn’t heard that. I stopped shampooing my hair and looked at him over my shoulder. “You’re warm and loving, everything that represents home to me. It just doesn’t show here. It’s like your fake front that you put on for others. It’s not the real you.”

“Oh.” I felt uncomfortable. Was that a compliment or just an observation? I think he could tell I was squirming slightly under his analysis, which was made all the worse since I was still naked.

“Come on, BonBon, get you bum in gear. I’ll wait for you in the living room while you get ready.”

He left me to get ready, and I quickly jumped out the shower to get dressed. Once I’d finished drying my hair, I went to my closet to pick out a dress to wear. When I opened the door, there was a little cobalt blue skater dress hanging on the door with a note.

Dear Sis,

I absolutely LOVE that you are finally getting some on a regular basis. Saw this when I was out with Coops and we both thought that this would look phenomenal on you. I know Jace is bound to take you out again soon. If I wasn’t your sister, and you were a guy, or if Coops was straight, we’d both do you.

Wear this with the silver stilettos I bought you. They are under your bed.

Have fun, gorgeous!

Love, Lana and Cooperella! x x x

Sometimes there was nothing to do but love that girl. She was annoying as hell but just as loveable.

When I stepped out into the living room, I couldn’t have asked for a better reaction from Jace. He looked at my face and smiled so devilishly, I wanted to strip him down right where he was. He then took his time to scan my body from head to toe and right back up again.

“We could stay in, I really don’t mind. I’d have more fun stripping you out of that dress.” He looked back down my legs. “The shoes stay on though.” It was seriously tempting.

“Remember what you said? No sex.” I walked past him to pick my keys up off the table, bending inappropriately in front of him so he could catch a glimpse of what I had on underneath my dress, or more importantly . . . what I didn’t. The sharp intake of breath told me that he’d seen.

“Mr. Bryce, if you want control, you’re going to have to take it because I sure as hell will not be giving it away easily. Now, let’s go; the last time I met your friends, I was late and I don’t want to make a habit of it.” I sauntered through the doorway and headed for the stairs. I heard the groan behind me, and soon he was hot on my trail.

Jace moaned and whined about going home the entire way to the bar. I will not deny that I let my dress ride up every now and again while we were in the car. It was fun playing with him.

Once we actually got to the bar, he was even worse . . . to my delight.

“That dress so much as makes it to mid-thigh, we will be going home right that second, and I will be spanking your ass for showing the men in here what is mine.” Thank God, I’d opted not to wear my thong because I would have had to remove it. His tone and the fierce possessiveness in his face melted me on the spot.

“Did I just turn you on, baby?” All I could do was whimper. Why had we come here again? He chuckled and leaned in to kiss me. Gently warming me up and coaxing me to open up to him. I grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him closer to me, and his arms came around my body affirming his desire to be one with me. “We could just leave, BonBon. No one would know.”

“Mmmmmmm.”

“Come on, let’s go.” He took my hand and spun me around so that we could walk back to the door, when I huge hand came down on his shoulder.

“Where do you lovebirds think you’re going?” As much as I liked Zack, I wanted to break his jaw right now. “I know what you two were thinking and that’s not gonna fly tonight. It’s Luke’s birthday; you have to at least come and have one drink and dance.”

Jace was looking at him as if he wanted to kill him and that made me a little happier about the fact that our great escape had been thwarted. Zack was right, anyway. Jace should be there for his friend, but it gave me an idea for later.

Reaching the bar, I saw a few familiar faces even if I couldn’t remember their names. Luke came straight over and gave me a bear hug.

“Hey, Luke.”

“You two sorted your shit out then?”

“Yeah, it looks that way.”

Luke looked over my head and his smile dropped. I automatically looked to see what had caused the change in his body language. Brielle. Headed in our direction.

“Mara, I’m sorry. I didn’t invite her, but I should have told the guys to keep it hush hush, so she didn’t show her face.”

“Don’t worry about it Luke. I’m not fazed.” Lie. Big goddamn mother fucking lie. No woman would enjoy bumping into a woman who had slept with her boyfriend at every single damn outing. A woman who clearly wanted her boyfriend like fish needed water.

“Mara, I didn’t know you were going to be here. Who are you here with?” She didn’t deign to be polite or hide her disgust at me being a part of the group.

“I’m here with Jace. Who are you here with?” If her face contorted anymore, I hoped it would get stuck that way.

“I’m here with my new boyfriend, Eric. Eric, say hi to Mara. She’s Jace’s employee.” Eric seemed like a nice guy. If nice guys eye-fucked you while standing next to his new girlfriend. The pair seemed suited to each other.

I was about to correct her when an arm came around my shoulder.

“She’s not my employee, Brielle. She’s my girlfriend. And she’s going to come and dance with me. Catch you two later.” Jace led me off to the dance floor and spun me so my back was flush against his chest.

“Smooth move, Mr. Bryce.”

“I’m always silky, BonBon.” I laughed and we danced the night away.

So much for going home early. It was well into the early hours of the morning before we got back to Jace’s house. I just wanted to climb into bed, but Jace had other ideas. As soon as we got through the door, he scooped me up, and headed for the bedroom.

“Shhhhhh, my dad’s sleeping. I don’t want to get grounded for making noise.” I had to giggle.

Once we were in the bedroom, my dress was whipped off me in record time, and Jace was on me. I didn’t have time to check where the bed was, but luckily, I landed on it just fine. At first, it was frantic and passionate all in one, then he slowed down, and it became sensual. He was still fully dressed.

“Jace, I need you inside me. Now.” I was about to combust.

“No. The next time we make love, BonBon, I want all of you. Not just sex. Not fucking. No holding back. I want nothing between us. When you’re ready for that, you let me know.” He rolled off me and gave me a last kiss before getting ready for bed.

He wanted to use sex to gain control. Challenge accepted. I undressed and then got ready for bed, taking out the little bag that I’d packed just in case of a situation such as this.

I waited until Jace’s breathing slowed. I knew he wasn’t asleep, but he was close. That’s when I pulled out Felix. I named my B.O.B. Personally, I felt giving it a name made it more personal.

As soon as the first vibration hit my clit, I let out a deep moan. I raised my left knee and began to stoke myself with Felix. All the time, I was imaging it was Jace’s cock touching me, his hands over my body. My back began to arch off the bed. Suddenly, the side lamp was switched on and I felt the sheet whipped from my body. I refused to open my eyes and Jace didn’t say anything for seconds so I knew he was watching.

“Fuck this shit.” Felix was ripped out of my hand and chucked across the room. I could still hear him vibrating. Poor thing. Jace climbed on top of me. He didn’t wait for an invitation, hooking my leg over his arm, and driving home.

“Jesus!” He paused for what seemed like forever to gain composure and then he really started to move. I mean really move. I had to put my hand over my head and press against the headboard to stop my head from banging against it. “You drive me crazy, BonBon; I can’t get enough.”

“Fuck, Jace. Stop talking and make me come.”

AT BREAKFAST, NEITHER Jace nor I could stop smirking at the table. John had even taken to telling us to knock it off. I don’t know how I was going to manage going in to work today. I still hadn’t slept. We’d made love and then we’d fucked until the sun came up.

When John was ready to leave, I gave him a hug and squeeze, something normally out of my comfort zone, but somehow felt natural at the same time. He froze a little at first then returned the hug with more enthusiasm than I could have anticipated.

“You keep my boy out of trouble while I’m gone.”

“I’ll try my best.”

Coops came to pick me up to take me to the office. Jace gave me a long kiss goodbye at the front door with Coops hooting in the background.

“I’ll see you later at your place.”

“Uh huh. Make sure you bring Felix with you. I can’t find him anywhere.” ” He pushed me away from him and turned me around toward Coops car.

“That thing is getting burned at the first opportunity I get.”

I laughed and waved as we pulled away.

Coops and I spent most of the morning catching up on the happenings between Jace and me. When we’d gossiped as much as physically possible, we went back to our desks and got on with some real work. It was late in the afternoon when I got a call from Lana. As soon as I picked up, she was screaming down the phone, but this was not her usual excitement. She was crying.

“Lana, what’s wrong? What’s happened?”

“Oh, Mara. Oh my God, it’s Mitchell. He’s hurt Dana. Really badly this time. She’s in hospital.” Mitchell was Jacobs asshole excuse for a father.

My stomach dropped to my knees. That piece of shit had almost ruined her life once before by getting her pregnant and treating her worse than a doormat, but she’d escaped him and now that he’d come back, he was trying to finish the job.

“I’m on my way, Lana. Which hospital is it?” She was hysterical. There had to be something more. “Lana, talk to me. I’m coming. What are you not telling me?”

“Mills came to see Dana, Mara. She arrived when he was there beating Dana. He killed her, Mara. Mills is dead.”

I couldn’t speak. Mills had been Dana’s friend for years. She and her brother had pretty much been a permanent fixture in our house growing up. I hadn’t even noticed the tears falling down my face. They wouldn’t stop. My heart ached so badly.

“Mara, please say something to me. I don’t know what to do. What do I do, Mara? Dana is unconscious. She doesn’t know. I haven’t even told Ma and Pops yet. What do I say to them?” She broke down sobbing.

I took a deep breath. “Lana, stay at the hospital with Dana, in case she wakes up. I will go over to Grandma and Granddad’s and tell them. Call Saz and let her know please, Lana.” She didn’t respond. “Lana!”