"Did you have fun?" Cannon asks as he unlocks the door to the house and steps aside so I can walk over the threshold.

"I did. The orchestra played beautifully. I loved the contrast between the current music and the string instruments," I say, kicking my heels off and leaving them in the middle of the foyer just to piss Jace off. He still hasn't spoken to me since the other night when he stormed out of the house like a toddler.

Cannon does the same as me and grins as he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me against him. "Looks like I'm rubbing off on you, huh, princess?"

I wince. Princess. That's Jace's name for me. I don't like it coming from someone else.

"Shit. Sorry, that's what Jace calls you. I didn't mean to—"

I shake my head. "No, no don't apologize. It's just that he hasn't spoken to me since the other night. He's so mad at me, and I don't understand why. Hearing that just made me—it just made me think of it again and I hadn't all day because I'd been with you, that's all."

It was partially true. Hearing princess did make me think of Jace, but I hadn't forgotten that he hadn't spoken to me; it had been on my mind since the moment he slammed the door.

"I get it." Cannon leans down and kisses me, his lips feather soft against mine. "Listen, I have to be up early for work tomorrow. Is it okay if I—"

I nod, probably too quickly. "Yeah, yeah, of course," I say. "I'm tired too. We'll catch up later this week. Thanks for today. It was fun."

"Anytime, Desi," he says, and with a quick peck on my cheek, he disappears into his room.

With a sigh of relief, I head toward my bedroom, but I stop at the top of the stairs and turn in the direction of Jace's door, where a strip of light shines underneath.

I close my eyes and steel myself, smoothing down the satin fabric of my black cocktail dress. I am sick of this shit; Jace and I had made so much progress in our friendship, and when we left Infernis, I considered him my best friend. And now, for what seems like no reason, he's icing me out. I'm done letting it slide. This ends now.

I knock on the door but don't wait for a response before barging in.

"Jace, do you want to tell me what the fuck is going on?" I ask, letting the door shut behind me before marching over to his side of the bed, planting my hands on my hips. "Why you stormed out the other night, haven't spoken to me since...I'd love an explanation right about now."

From his place reclined on a mountain of pillows, he lowers the book he's reading. He doesn't so much as flinch at my outburst, but in monotone answers, "It would appear you're barging into my room. I felt stressed and needed to clear my head. And I've been putting the finishing touches on my proposal for Edmonds. All is answered. Make sure you shut the door on your way out."

I bark out a laugh. "Aw, fuck that. I call bullshit of the highest degree. You were fine before Cannon came down. We were having a lightsaber duel, laughing and joking, and you were even pushing me to go out with him. Like you always do. Then you stormed out into the 20-degree weather with no jacket? Yeah, no. Bullshit. And the finishing touches on a project has never stopped you from at least saying good morning to me." I plop down on the bed and cross one leg over the other. "Try again. I'm not leaving until you tell me what the hell is really going on."

Jace removes his glasses and sets them on his nightstand. He rubs his temples like just my presence is giving him a headache, but I know that's not the case. He's fuming because I'm confronting him, bringing the drama straight to his bedroom. But oh fucking well! There would be no drama if he didn't start it.

"You and Cannon are free to come and go as you like, but when you are crowding my space and subjecting me to whatever the hell is going on with you, you're crossing a line. I was trying to cook dinner, not clean up the counter so he could bend you over it."

There it is. "Wow. You're jealous. That's what this is about," I say, incredulity creeping into my tone. "I—You are the one who convinced me to give Cannon a chance! I was fine just leaving it alone, just being friends with him! But you made me see I was wrong and—"

"Give the man a shot, not dry hump him in my kitchen, Desideria!" He runs his hand over his face and blows out an exasperated breath.

My jaw drops and I spring off the bed to face him. "I don't know what the fuck you thought you saw, but—" I shake my head and turn toward the door. "You know what? Fuck this. You're mad at me for something I didn't even do, for trying to make something happen that you fucking suggested, that I am only trying because you won't—" I stop short again and fling the door open. "Nevermind. It's clear you're not going to listen, so I'm done wasting my time."

Slamming the door behind me, I storm across the landing to my room and shut the door with a bit more care since my room is closer to Cannon's. Gritting my teeth against the scream that is threatening to erupt from my throat, I practically rip my earrings out of my ears, remove my necklace, and jerk the cover down on my bed. I start to unzip my dress and turn toward the window, staring out into Jace's room, where his curtains are wide open.

My breath catches when I remember how clearly I can see Jace from here. He's sitting in his bed with his fingers tangled in his hair, and I feel some satisfaction in knowing that I've gotten under his skin because Lilith knows he is under mine.

Unzipping my dress, I step out of it and kick it across the room. I reach around to unhook my bra and lift my gaze to the window, only to see Jace looking up in my direction. Narrowing my eyes, I draw my bottom lip between my teeth and continue what I was doing, unsnapping the clasp and dropping the bra to the floor, leaving me in my bright red thong.

I don't have to look back to know he is looking at me. Every cell in my body buzzes to life, like his gaze is his fingers trailing down my spine. I continue to prepare for bed, hanging up my dress, pulling my hair out of the pins that held my curls in place, and doing a set of pre-bed stretches that have my arms reaching toward the ceiling. After my little show, I spare a side glance out the window.

Jace chucks his book across the room and bounds to his feet. I expect him to march into his bathroom, but he flings his bedroom door open. I freeze, my heart so heavy in my chest that it weighs down my feet. Footsteps pound down the hallway, their beat oozing with pure determination. I wait for the sound of a fist hammering against my door, but it never comes.

I sigh and turn back toward the bed, about to give up on a second confrontation with him. I don't know where he's going, but it's clear he isn't coming into my room. Maybe he's decided to storm out of the house again.

And that's when the door bursts open and Jace hisses, "Fuck it."

He closes the distance between us in two quick strides. His eyes burn into me, setting to flame every inch of my naked skin. I search for my voice, fighting for the words to ask him what he is doing. But he cups my face in both his hands and presses his mouth to mine.

Every muscle in my body relaxes; tension I didn't even realize I was holding loosens and I melt into him, and I wrap my arms around his neck. I realize as I part my lips and open to him that he hadn't kissed me in the art exhibit that day, and I'd wanted him to ever since we stood toe to toe in the living room and argued over the laundry—when his mouth brushed mine and I felt those live sparks between us for the first time.

This kiss is everything I'd been waiting for with Cannon and nothing like I'd ever felt before. His lips move with mine like they were sculpted to fit together, and when our tongues meet, it nearly takes my breath away. He tastes like spearmint and smells like soap and sundried laundry. I could spend hours lost in his kisses.

"How is it that you infuriate me and turn me on all in the same breath?" he asks in a husky voice.

I gasp for breath and say against his lips, "You have the exact same effect on me. That's why I couldn't stay away from you any longer."

"And that fucking little striptease you just performed, what were you hoping would come of that?" His hand slides down my spine and pauses on the small of my back. My next words will determine what he does next. Will this moment just be a kiss, or will I tell him that he needs to turn it into something more?

I don't look away from him as I say, "This. That you would come in here and show me what you really want from me, Jace."

He scrunches his face and his fingers fist at my back. "This is a terrible idea, but I'm tired of fighting it."

Jace's mouth falls upon my skin again and his palms slide down my ass, pulling me closer. He's rock hard, the length of him digging into my pelvis. I follow his lead as he steps forward, and I step back. My fingers grip the hair at his nape, using it to steady my trembling legs. I fear that I'm going to stumble and rip his lips from my neck, breaking the spell he's under. It doesn't happen. The back of my legs hit the mattress, and he follows me down onto the fluffy blankets.

We settle into the bed and he holds himself over me, one arm on either side of my shoulders. He presses against the juncture of my legs, creating a steady rocking that hits me in just the right place. I move with him, needing that sweet friction to push me closer to the edge, to that place where I fall into oblivion and fly.

Jace kisses from one side of my neck, across my collarbone, and back up the other side. He takes his time on lavishing attention on the sensitive spots that have me arching into him. Pulling away from my neck, he takes my breast in his palm, stroking my nipple until it's so hard it throbs. When the stimulation becomes too much and I whimper, he drags his tongue over the peak. The warm, slick sensation drives me wild, and I grip the back of his head. He understands my silent direction and draws my nipple into his mouth.

As he sucks and nips at the delicate skin, I tug at his hair with one hand and drag my fingernails down his spine with the other, pressing him closer to me, if that's even possible. I feel him everywhere, which is all I've wanted for weeks now. He lets go of my nipple with a pop and moves to the other, but he lifts his free hand and massages the abandoned breast, rolling the hardened peak between his thumb and forefinger. "Fuck, Jace," I gasp, rocking my hips with his, harder and faster by the second. My release is building so fast that it's almost embarrassing, but I have wanted this for so fucking long. Ever since I saw Jace jerking off in his office after the dance, every night when I slide my hand between my legs, I think of him.

This is everything I fantasized it would be.

"I need to taste you, Desi. Tell me to make you come with my mouth." His words are a desperate command, spoken with a gruff voice.

I'm not sure how long he has thought about putting his mouth on me, but he wants nothing more in this moment. And he isn't the only one who needs this. I am throbbing to know what it will feel like to have Jace Wilder kiss me in the most intimate of ways.

I don't even hesitate before tugging his hair until his gaze lifts to mine. "Put your mouth on me, Jace. Make me come on your tongue. I want you to have every bit of desire that's there only for you." I take one of his hands in mine and slide it between us so he can feel just how much I want him. "You do this to me. Every second of every day. I want you to taste me."

"Fuck." One word with so many meanings—a grateful prayer, a passioned fueled moan, and promise of what is to come.

Jace kisses his way down my body, hooking his fingers into the sides of my panties. The closer he gets to my center, the lower the lace slides down my legs. He settles between my open thighs, kissing the inside of each before placing one leg over his shoulder. With his gaze trained on me, Jace glides his tongue along the seam of me. Never have my fingers or a toy made me feel what that single stroke does.

I let out a shuddering breath and grip his hair tighter, my other hand fisting the bedsheet next to my thigh. He doesn't take his eyes off me as he slips his tongue in a little further, and when my lips part on a silent gasp, his lips turn up into the sexiest smirk. I'm about to ask him what he's smiling about when he brings one finger to my center and runs it through my slit.

"God, you are so fucking wet. Do you have any idea how sexy you are when you're like this? Your legs spread for me, fingers in my hair, back arching off the bed every time I touch you?"

Before I even have a chance to answer, he dives between my legs without warning and takes my whole sex into his mouth, his tongue sinking deep inside me. I squeal without any regard for who else might hear, or how out of control I might sound; all I care about is how he's making me feel—like I'm invincible, like my body is on fire in the best possible way.

Jace hums his approval as he devours me thoroughly. The tip of his tongue glides back to the place where I ache the most, and he fills me with two fingers. He no longer holds back. With rapid flicks of his tongue and the pads of his fingers tapping on that place deep inside me, I break. His name flows from my mouth and my body holds to him tight. Without missing a beat, he helps me ride out my high until I have nothing left to give.

I sink into the mattress, working to catch my breath. Jace remains between my legs bathing me with his tongue and pressing kisses to my lower stomach and thighs. He is attentive, arousingly so. I hardly have a chance to bask in the aftermath of the most intense orgasm I've ever had when that needy ache returns.

He's lapping at my center again when I tug on his hair until he looks up at me with lust shining in his grey eyes. "Jace."

He plants another kiss on my inner thigh. "Yes, little hurricane? You're interrupting my dessert, so it better be good."

I clench my core and tamp down the mounting desire building within me. Damn, this man is going to take me out. Thankfully, he gives me a reprieve. Jace licks his lips and raises to his knees. I glance down at where his cock is tenting his pajama pants. He's still as hard as he was when he came in here, and I want to help him find his release, just as he did for me.

"Let me touch you. Please," I say.

He reaches into his pants and lowers the waist, revealing his hand wrapped around himself. Not in all my decades have I seen anyone look so otherworldly. His chestnut hair perfectly rumpled, his cut abs like something chiseled by the Creator's hand, and his cock, seeing it reflected in the office window didn't do it justice. His body is flawless. Even the gnarly scar on his chest is sexy.

With lazy strokes up and down his shaft, he asks, "Have you ever touched a man?"

He knows the answer to his question. I've confessed that my first kiss was with Cannon, but he wants to hear it, for me to assure him that I didn't take this liberty with our friend when Jace stormed out.

"No," I whisper.

"Come here and give me your hand, Desideria."

My heart is flying out of my chest as I sit up and shift to my knees in front of him, sitting on my feet. I offer him my hand and he takes it.

"Open it for me," he murmurs, and when I unfurl my fingers, he brings my palm to his mouth and licks it, sending a shockwave of desire between my legs. He closes my hand around him and his eyes flutter shut, his perfect lips parting, a groan releasing from low in his throat.

I move my hand slowly up and down. I'm surprised by how soft his skin is, yet he is extremely hard. I can't help but to tighten my grip on him. I enjoy the way he pulsates in my hand, and I steal glances at his face. He's always handsome, but it is impossible to stop staring when he's like this—his eyes hooded, jaw clenched, chest heaving.

"Is this okay?" I whisper, moving closer to him so our legs touch.

He releases my hand and combs his fingers through my hair. "Yes. Don't stop. I'm already close."

His touch and words drive me forward, and I speed up my strokes. With each pump, he grows harder. I marvel at his response, at how his body is so different from mine. Hard and soft, chiseled and curved, and both desperate for more.

"Come for me, Jace," I murmur, and with one tug to my hair, he's gone.

"Fuck, Desideria," he gasps, and his desire spills from him onto his stomach and over my hand. I draw my bottom lip into my mouth as I watch the milky liquid run onto my pale skin. If I thought watching Jace's desire was hot, the sight of him losing himself is off the charts.

Lifting my fingers to my mouth, I put my first two between my lips and suck, closing my eyes as the salty taste of him hits my tongue. I hum my approval and flash him a smile. "You taste good," I say as he reaches to my nightstand for the tissue box and starts to clean us both up.

"You're a wicked thing, and that is bound to get me hard again."

I smirk and lay back against the pillows with my hands folded behind my head as he gently wipes between my thighs before moving next to me. He doesn't lay down, but just moves my hair out of my face as he looks down at me. The tips of his fingers fall to my chest and the seven-pointed star marking my sternum. It has an iridescent sheen making it slightly paler than the rest of my skin.

"What does this mean?" he asks.

I shiver at his touch and say, "It's the mark of a demon. Every being not of this realm has one. Demons bear a star and angels a sun with pointed rays, but not every mark is the same size or on the same part of their body. When angels and demons are in this realm, it is impossible to tell us apart. Unless I saw the mark, I wouldn't recognize a fellow demon since only those who have a human-like form are sent here. It is believed that the creator marked us so we could identify each other and focus on humans when we are sent to guide them."

"It's beautiful. You're beautiful."

Reaching up, I tangle my fingers in his hair and pull him down for another kiss, his tongue running along the seam of my mouth. I open to him, and he kisses me deep until we lose our breaths.

"Jace?" I whisper against his lips. "Is this what you wanted from me that night? Is that why you ran out of the house like that?"

"I meant what I said. You should give Cannon a shot. I was just upset that he impeded on my time with you, and your attention moved to him."

I smile and pull him down next to me. "You were jealous. That's so cute." He pins me with a look, and I continue, "And by the way, I have given him a shot. I'm—I'm trying."

"And? How's it going?"

I avert my eyes and clear my throat. "Well, I...uh...he took me to his room, and we..." I cleared my throat. "And I couldn't..." I drop my voice and barely breathe, "I faked it."

Jace's eyebrows shoot up, and he chuckles. "Did you just fake it with me too?"

I sit up straight in the bed and shove him backward. Of course, he doesn't budge, but it makes me feel better. "Of course not! You couldn't tell that was real?"

He holds up his hands in surrender. "I was paying attention. Your body told me it was real. Why didn't you just communicate with him? Tell the man what he did wrong."

I cross my arms over my chest. "How about I told him what I wanted during? And he still didn't get it right? If I hadn't faked it we'd have been there for hours. And I just couldn't bear to embarrass him after faking it. That's just adding insult to injury."

"Fair enough. What have you learned that you like so far?"

My cheeks flush and I settle back into the mattress and rest my head in his lap. "Well, I like it when you tell me what to do. I like it when we have skin-to-skin contact, when you kiss me deep, when you put your mouth between my legs. I could go on and on."

"Those aren't exceptional requirements. This isn't a lost cause, Desi."

"I know, that's why I said I'm trying. But...this...you. After the art exhibit, I want to continue exploring that with you. The way I respond to you is a sure thing. And how my eternal partner will be able to please me is not."

Jace lifts a curl and winds it around his finger, his thoughts far away. I don't press for a response, just let him ponder it for a moment. When his eyes meet mine again, he says, "What exactly are you saying? I need you to be clear and lay it all out."

I sit up and cross my legs underneath me, my thighs resting on top of his. "I guess what I'm saying is this: I want to keep learning what I like. And I want to do it with you. I don't have anything official with Cannon; he doesn't want anything official. I like how you make me feel, Jace."

"You want to use me to explore your sexuality?" One side of his mouth quirks in a mischievous smirk.

Despite the playfulness of his question, I'm taken aback. Is that what I want? To use his body for my pleasure? In a way, I suppose it is valid. But something deep inside me whispers it is more. I know what will happen if I imply that it is anything more than friends messing around. And to be fair, all we can ever be is that.

"No, of course not. When you put it that way it sounds cheap and exploitative. I—I consider you my best friend, Jace. I trust you. And after tonight, I just sort of figured that you'd enjoy it too." I wring my hands in my lap and scoot back, moving my legs away from his. "If I overstepped, I apologize. I didn't mean it that way."

"What part of my question gave you the idea I wouldn't like to be your plaything?" He moves onto his hands and knees and follows me up the bed. When I'm trapped beneath him, his arms braced on either side of my head, he says, "As long as you promise this won't change anything between us, I'm down."

My eyes dart over his face and I slide my fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck. "I promise," I murmur, but deep down, I know it isn't a promise I should be making.

Because somewhere at the bottom of my heart, there's already a whisper of a feeling I shouldn't be having. I only hope I can silence it before it's too late.