I can't help it; I glare up at this woman with nothing but contempt in my eyes, and I hope she can see it. How dare she even speak to him after what she did? If I wouldn't end up in jail with a fake ID, I'd beat the shit out of her right here.

I glance at Jace out of the corner of my eye, sending him the mental signal to play up our fake dating harder than ever. I want her to feel the loss, see and remember what she gave up for her own selfish needs.

"How are you doing?" she asks.

His fingers creep across the table and entangle with mine. "Good. I'm doing really good. I'm about to lock down an investor on my business. Now I'm just taking my girl out after an afternoon at Dulton Ranch."

Hannah glances down at me, her eyelids lowering as she takes me in. "I don't think we've met. I'm Hannah. Jace and I—"

"Were engaged to be married until you left him to recover in a hospital bed after a traumatic accident. I know who you are." I don't hold back, letting my voice seep with venom. She doesn't deserve pleasantries or to so much as look at Jace. Hannah is the type of person I would love to watch Colére toy with until she screams in agony and begs him to stop.

Jace hooks his index finger over his mouth, hiding his smile. "Hannah, this is Desi, my girlfriend."

I flash her a saccharine sweet grin and prop my elbow on the table, resting my chin in my palm.

Hannah finally blinks, her wide eyes shifting from me to Jace. "I—Nice to meet you?"

"She's a little protective, what can I say?" he comments with a shrug.

"A lot," I correct, leaning over the table and gripping the back of his neck, pressing my mouth against his in a kiss that rivals the passion of the one he'd given me in the car earlier.

"I just wanted to check on you." She points behind her. "I'm actually here with my boyfriend, and he's waiting on me to order."

Jace squints at the man across the room. The guy is good looking—blond, built, but he has his finger in his ear. He studies his menu and only stops when he sniffs whatever lingers on his fingertip.

"Is that Stoner Zack from your biology study group, the one who left you hanging with all the labs?" Jace asks.

"Yeah. Science isn't Zack's thing. He is learning his dad's business and is set to take over in the next few years."

I notice that she fails to mention what that business is. Something tells me that it is nowhere near as impressive as Jace starting his own digital design company. I don't even know that guy, but I can't help wondering how she looks herself in the mirror every morning knowing she downgraded from Jace to Zack.

"Is he waiting on you to order because he needs help reading the menu?" I ask, cocking my head to the side as I watch him turn the plastic brochure right-side-up after staring at it upside down for the past five minutes.

Jace snorts behind his fist and tries to glare at me, but I can tell he thinks I'm hilarious.

Hannah doesn't even spare me a glance as she says, "I think I'll go now. It was good to see you, Jace," she says, pointedly ignoring my existence.

He nods at her once as he squeezes my fingers. "You as well. Tell Stoner Zack that I wish him luck with his order."

She pivots toward her table, and I call out, "Nice to meet you too, Hannah!" in the most cheerful voice I can muster.

Of course she doesn't acknowledge that am alive as she leaves, but I couldn't care less because I am so incredibly proud of Jace for handling the first time he's seen her since his accident like such a fucking boss.

"You were amazing," I whisper, bringing the back of his hand to my mouth and kissing it, watching to see if Hannah is still looking—which she is. "She didn't even deserve one word from you, and you were so put together and mature." I snort and add, "Unlike me. Sorry about that, by the way." I look down and back up at him sheepishly.

"You said all the things I wish I was brave enough to say to her. It hurts like hell seeing her, and I was doing everything I could to avoid making it worse. You don't need to apologize; I was more than happy to live vicariously through you and your snark."

"I'm sorry you're hurting. But look at it this way...you are so much better off without her. Would you really have wanted to be with someone who was capable of throwing away a relationship like that?" He shakes his head and I continue. "I didn't think so. Also, she ended up with Ear Picker Stoner Zack, and you ended up with a fake girlfriend who is actually just your demon roommate that gives excellent blowjobs and can do all the chores with a snap of a finger. Which one is in the better position here, hm?"

The smile returns to his face. "One definitely has benefits that surpass the other. Let's box up this soup and take it home." He jerks his head toward Hannah and Zack's table. "I don't like the way he is undressing you with his eyes. Besides, I'd like to do that for real."

I wave our server over, letting him know we need to-go containers, and, in a louder than necessary voice, not to worry, that my boyfriend would still be leaving a sizable tip—he is about to get lucky when we get home.

We don't miss the jealous stares from both Hannah and Stoner Zack as we saunter past them, hands practically on each other's asses.

On the way home, I stare out the window and think about the day Jace and I have just spent together, which makes me ponder our arrangement. I actually think it's perfect. I'm getting familiar with the opposite sex and learning what I like before diving back into the search for my eternal partner. Easy peasy.

When we get inside, I lean against the counter after tugging off my boots and socks. "Oh my God...my body hurts from going up and down those hills so many times. Like, I am sore! For real, don't judge me!"

"You took it like a pro today. I think you deserve a reward."

"Do I?"

"You wouldn't happen to have bought a swimsuit during one of your many shopping sprees?"

The thought of swimming in ice-cold water makes my body hurt even more. I'd do better to run out naked during a blizzard. I open my mouth to voice as much when Jace flips a switch on the wall. Beyond the back porch the pool lights up, and steam rolls up from the water illuminated in blue and purple.  

"It's heated, and I cranked it up before we left. It should do the trick."

I nearly moan out loud at the thought of hot water covering my tired muscles. "Oh my. You do realize this is like...a huge bathtub, right? You're giving me the ultimate bathing reward. Are you sure I deserve it after sneaking in and borrowing your tub that one time?"

He steps closer, eyeing my mouth, and runs his thumb over my bottom lip. "I think you made up for it in more ways than one today."

I nip at his thumb with my teeth and grin. "I'll be right back," I say and dart up the stairs to my room as fast as my sore body will take me, peeling off all my clothes as soon as I get inside. Rifling through my dresser, I pull out two bikinis: one is black and the other emerald green. Warmth blooms in my belly and I toss the black one back into the drawer and slip into the green one, which fits every curve perfectly. The cut of the top showcases my mark, and something about being able to show it off to Jace gives me butterflies in every part of my body. Not to even mention, the color is almost identical to the one I wore to the charity event that night, and I know Jace loved it. I hope this one has the same effect.

Grabbing a towel and slinging it over my shoulder, I descend the stairs again to find Jace leaning against the island with one leg crossed over the other, looking down at his phone. He's wearing black swim trunks and no shirt, and I am struck once again with how fucking perfect his body is. I suppose that is the results of not sleeping in, running, and spending an hour in your personal gym each day. I'll keep my soft tummy in exchange for extra sleep and not overexerting myself.

"Hey," I say, and my voice comes out all gravelly and raspy. "I'm ready."

Jace sets down his phone and gestures toward the back doors. My feet freeze and my skin grows tight just thinking of stepping out into the cold with so little on. I'm second guessing my excitement for a swim.

"What are you waiting for? Open the door and let's jump in," he says, stepping up beside me. 

"But it's cold out there," I say in a small voice. "My feet are gonna freeze before we get into the pool." I gesture to my body. "And in case you didn't notice, my bathing suit is kinda...skimpy."

"Oh, I noticed. And heaven forbid that the princess's feet get cold."

Without a warning, he sweeps me up in his arms like a groom carrying his bride over the threshold and swings open the back doors. I think he will set me down on the deck to ease into the pool, but he forges on. My eyes grow wide when the edge of the pool grows closer.

I pound on his shoulder, screaming, "No, Jace. Please!"

"I'm not letting you back out of this."

I open my mouth to protest again, but he jumps into the air, and we are sailing for the steaming water. As soon as it hits me, my muscles melt. It is so warm and calm. Jace swims the distance between us and we surface at the same time.

Brushing his hair from his face, he says, "Sometimes you just have to jump."

"Yeah?" I say, chewing on my bottom lip. "Well, I do have to admit that I'm finding that to be the case the longer I spend here in the human realm. The best things seem to happen when we just let go." I tangle my fingers in his hair and pull him closer to me, kissing the corner of his mouth.

"And what is the next thing you hope happens?" He kisses my neck, working his way across my shoulder.

I lean my head over to one side, letting my hair fall back over my arm, enjoying the feeling of his mouth on my skin. "I kind of like the direction this is going in, what do you think?"

"I promised a repayment for your efforts in the car, didn't I?"

"You certainly did. And on top of everything else...I wore this bathing suit just for you. Any idea why?"

"No clue." He tugs on the bow behind my neck before releasing the one at the center of my back. The fabric drifts away from us while he continues kissing and nipping at my collarbone. The warm water laps at my skin, and Jace cups my breast, kneading and stroking the hard peak. If it were not for already being weightless, I would fall to my knees at the mixture of sensations.

"I—" Words try to flow off my tongue but it's nearly impossible to focus on forming a sentence as his mouth moves further between my breasts, toward my mark. "Did the color look—" I gasp as he pinches one of my nipples before soothing it with a soft brush of his palm. "Familiar to you?" The last part of my sentence comes out as a squeak.

"It's that damn green. But I think I have a new favorite color for you." He licks my nipple, making his point.

I lean my head back and push my chest out toward him, offering him my other breast. "Perfect. I'll be wearing this one at all times," I say with a wink as I meet his gaze. I hop onto his front, wrap my legs around his waist, hooking my ankles behind him. Running my tongue along his jawline, I kiss down the cords of his neck. "Can I tell you something?"

He looks down at me and raises an eyebrow. "Of course."

"Do you remember the charity event you took me to?"

"How could I forget?" he asks, planting more kisses between my breasts. "It's the night I got to spin you around the dance floor in that damn dress."

"Yeah," I say, tangling my fingers in his hair. "I—I stopped by your office that night because your light was on and I thought you'd accidentally forgotten to turn it off and I—" My face burns, and I suddenly chicken out. "You know what, never—nevermind."

He slowly lifts his head and his eyes narrow. "And what did you see, Desideria?"'

I swallow and avert my eyes. "I saw you. Well, actually, I saw your reflection in the window. And you," I clear my throat and close my eyes before continuing, "you were touching yourself. But I swear, as soon as my shock wore off, after about two seconds, I left. I felt really creepy about watching you, especially after you were so upset about your bathtub, and I didn't want to invade your privacy any further, but oh my God, Jace, that was one of the hardest things I've ever done, to tear my eyes away from that reflection," I murmur. "I could tell right then that you were so fucking sexy, the way you moved your body, even just the way your hand moved around your cock was so sensual."

"And did you see what I was jerking off to?"

My eyes widen and I shake my head. "No! I told you, I only stood there for a couple of seconds before I forced myself to leave. I only saw your phone in your hand. I figured you were watching porn, though," I say with a shrug. "Or maybe watching Star Wars: Return of the Jedi?" I manage with a straight face.

He holds me closer to his chest and rubs his cheek against mine. "It was better than that, but I'm not sure you will be happy when you learn what it was."

I turn my face in toward his and peer at him. "What do you mean? What was it, Jace? Now I'm curious."

"Do you remember how I went to the bathroom after our dance." I nod and he continues. "You were dancing by yourself and I took a picture of you with my phone. You were just too stunning in that dress with your curls flying around your face and your hands in the air."

"Are you saying..."

"I jerked off to a picture of you. Yeah. I didn't start off with that as my intention. But I was alone and looked at the picture and the next thing I know my dick was in my hand. I'm sorry if I crossed a line into creeper status."

I am absolutely stunned into silence. That was the last thing I ever expected him to say. We still borderline hated each other at that point and had spent the last week giving each other the longest silent treatment in the history of my one-hundred and twenty-five years. And not only did he take a photo of me because he thought I looked beautiful, but then when he looked at it later, he got hard and...pleasured himself while looking at it?

"Fuck," I blurt, and I know my face is one hundred shades of red, colors that I'm pretty sure haven't been invented yet. "That is so fucking hot. And sweet. And sexy. And honestly, not creepy at all. I can't tell you how...flattered I am. Because, Jace, after that night—up until the moment you touched me in the art exhibit and gave me something real to remember—I pictured you with your dick in your hand every single time I touched myself." And to be honest, I still haven't finished my confessions.

"I'm flattered that I put on such a good show."

"That's not the only show you've put on for me..." I mutter.

His eyes snap to mine. "What was that?"

I sigh and drop my legs from around his waist and disentangle my arms from his neck. "I'm going to back up for this one, just in case..." I take a few steps back and say, "One night I was in bed, just minding my own damn business, trying to sleep, when you were freaking undressing in front of the window! I watched you. I just couldn't look away. I watched you undress like a creep and it was all I could do to keep my hand out of my panties while I did it," I blurt, my words a long stream with basically no pause for breath. "I'm sorry," I say, covering my face with my hands.

He moves my palms away and grins. The flash of his teeth and glint in his eyes speaks volumes. I just have no clue what is going to come out of his mouth. "I could have closed the curtains, Desi. You left yours open, so I did the same. It turns out I was just putting on performances for you longer than you were for me."

I gape at him. "You knew I was watching you?"

"I had a feeling, or maybe it was wishful thinking. Either way, it was a rush."

Warmth floods from my face to my core and I jump back onto him, wrapping my legs back around his waist. "I'm glad I could give you that. Watching you certainly gave me one. So how many times did you see me naked?"

"Naked?"

"Sure."

"Zero. I always looked away. I'd just watch you prancing around your room in your little thongs and bras. I didn't want to go full blown peeping tom. Why? How many times did you see me naked?"

I blush at the thought of the skimpy nightclothes I wear in my room at night and meet his eyes as I drape my arms over his shoulders. "None. I swear. I'd never invade your privacy that way."

"So just some innocent admiring in private moments on both our parts."

"It sounds like it."

"I'm not interested in innocently watching anymore." He hooks his thumbs in my bikini bottoms. "Let me take these off."

My breath catches and I lean back to better see his face. "Please. But can I..." I untangle my legs from around his waist and stand in front of him, running my hands down his abdomen. "Can I take these off too?" I ask, dipping my fingers under his waistband.

"Fair is fair."

He helps me out of my bottoms and tosses them onto the deck of the pool. I follow his lead until we both stand in front of each other naked. I can make out hints of his body through the water. As the lights merge from one hue to the next, I sometimes get a better glimpse. It is enough for where we are in this thing we have going, and it's not enough at all.

I drag my eyes back up to his face and push a stubborn strand of hair off his forehead. "How is it possible that you are so perfect and a human, and I'm so imperfect and a freaking immortal demon princess?"

His lips form a firm line, and he shakes his head. "Nah. We're not doing this tonight or any night after. This is curvaceous and soft and sexy. I won't accept anything else out of your mouth."

I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. "Yes sir," I say, sliding my hands around his waist and pressing myself against him. "Has anyone ever told you you're extremely bossy?"

He slides his palm up my back and tangles his fingers in my hair. Pulling so my head is tilted back, he says, "Has anyone ever told you that you're spoiled and need someone to put you in your place?"

I whimper under the force, but I love the throbbing it sends between my legs. "No. Is that what you think?"

"Yes, it is. Go to the steps, turn around, and put your hands on the deck. Make sure your back is arched and that perfect ass presented to me."

Oh my God. "Okay," I whisper, swimming to the edge and doing exactly as he said, gripping the edge and putting my ass in the air for him to do with what he pleases. And I cannot wait to see what that is. The contrast of the warm water lapping at my skin and the chilled air on my rear has my heart flying out of my chest. It takes everything in me to not look over my shoulder at him.

The water stirs around me, and Jace's palms rest on my hips. With a solid stroke, his fingers graze along my sides and over my shoulders. His chest presses into my back, and his voice is a low rumble in my ears when he says, "I've never seen you look sexier than you do right now. And trust me, I find myself thinking you are sexy almost every minute of the day."

A raspy laugh escapes me and this time, I do look over my shoulder. "Almost every minute, huh? What do I have to do to make that almost disappear from that sentence?" I tease, pushing my ass against his hardened cock, running my tongue along my bottom lip.

His palm lands on my ass with a wet smack. I suck in a breath at the sting and rub my thighs together. I'd heard talk and read books where a little pain intensified pleasure, but I never thought it would feel like this. It doesn't matter how Jace touches me—rough, gentle, taunting—I want more. I always want more.

"Keep grinding your ass on my cock like this and it will be all I think about for the rest of my life," he says.

His words send heat through my veins and a shock to my heart. I tighten my grip on the edge of the pool and a smile spreads across my face as I grind harder, hoping like hell that he spanks me again. "Yeah? I want that; I want to leave my mark on your memory so that every time you touch yourself, every time you touch someone else, you think of me," I whisper.

"Sweet Desideria. You have a filthy mouth, but it is nothing in comparison to the things I imagine doing to you."

Jace stands and grips my hips, guiding them up and down. He is like smooth steel, sliding against the seam of me. Again, he spanks me, and I clench. My ass gripping the length of him. His groan is lustful, but I catch the hint of frustration. The friction is good, but not enough. 

"Jace," I gasp. "I—I need more. More of you. And I think, if the sounds you're making in my ear are any indication, you feel the same way." I glance over my shoulder again and search his face to find his gray eyes blazing. "Please, Jace. I want you to fuck me."

He stills behind me. His eyes squeeze shut, and he releases a long breath. The ways his body goes rigid and how he tilts his head side to side, it's like a man on the edge of destruction making the decision to step away.

"No," he says, but he doesn't move away.

In one swift motion, he spins me around and takes my place sitting on the steps. My stomach sinks when I think I spoke out of turn and he's done. But Jace pulls me forward and positions me to straddle him. His fingers move to my hair, sweeping the red curls from my face. "Keep grinding against me," he demands.

He doesn't have to tell me more than once; I grip his shoulders and position myself on top of his cock, moving my hips over his in a slow rhythm that has my heart thumping against my ribs and my core pulsating with the sudden need for release. I raise up and lower myself onto him again, but this time, I run my slit down his length, from tip to base, and I whimper with the pressure against my clit.

Jace wraps my hair around his hand and pulls until my chin tilts back, giving him a clear path to my neck.  He places his lips to my pulse and says, "That's it, little hurricane, make us both feel good." 

My skin burns under his kiss, and my whimpers grow louder with each roll of my hips. "Fuck," I gasp, sliding back toward the tip of his cock, wanting more than anything to impale myself on it. But I don't, moving to safer territory. But the need to tease him overwhelms me and I roll my hips again, my seam parting over his shaft. Slipping my fingers into his hair and tugging, I whisper, "I know you want to be inside me, Jace. Why don't you just give in?"

"Because you deserve better than what I can give you." He glides his mouth over the swells of my breasts. "You are worthy of more than my damaged heart and a fuck in a pool."

I use my strength to pull my hair from his grip, pinch his chin between my thumb and forefinger, forcing his eyes to mine. "Hey. You are not damaged. If you're allowed to tell me I can't talk about my body, I can tell you not to talk about your heart. Regardless of what you can or can't commit to because of the actions of another, you are not damaged. Got it?" I roll my hips over his again and push him backwards onto the stairs so I'm dominating him, at least for the moment.

The muscles in his cheeks flex as he fights back a smile, but it breaks through. He grips my waist pressing me down on him. All it would take is one slight movement and he would be buried inside me. "Yes, ma'am. I understand. You're sexy when you get bossy."

I smirk and lean forward, capturing his lips with mine. "So are you," I whisper against them, and when I grind against him this time, my clit pulsates so hard I nearly come undone right then. "God, you feel so fucking good."

He eases his hand between us, and his thumb presses to my center, massaging small circles. The throb between my legs morphs into hot need. And when he presses two fingers inside me, I moan his name. Moving further back on his thighs, I take him in my hand and match his pace. Our breathing speeds, and he grabs the back of my neck, pulling me into a kiss. Frantic tongues and muffled moans, we are on the brink of losing ourselves.

"Come for me, Jace. That's all I need to fall apart. That's what you want to see, isn't it? What you want to feel? Every bit of this desire flowing from me, all of it for you?" I murmur, nipping his plump bottom lip with my teeth.

"Fuck yes." His back arches and another finger slides inside me, stretching me in a way I've never experienced. My whimper of pain and pleasure is all it takes. Jace pulsates in my hand, his lips devours mine with pure hunger. And he is off on that euphoric high.

That's all I need to come unglued. I call out his name, with no regard for the fact that we are outdoors. Even though we have a decent amount of privacy, it is not out of the realm of possibility that someone could hear us. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," I chant as I ride his hand, wave after wave of pleasure wracking every inch of my body.

His fingers don't let up until I fall limp against his chest. The gentle stroke up my spine and back again reminds me to breathe until my heart settles. "You're perfect. So fucking perfect," he whispers into my hair and kisses the top of my head.

I smile and hide my flushed cheeks against his chest as I wrap my legs around his waist, clinging to him like a needy koala bear. "Will you take me upstairs and just hold me for a while?" 

"Of course." All the early morning workouts have paid off. Jace carries me out of the pool and grabs a towel by the back door. He wraps it around us and proceeds to take me to my room. We settle into my bed and our bodies return to one another like magnets, clinging for dear life.    

I burrow into him and my eyes get heavy. I'm so sleepy, but I want him to stay. I know, though, that he won't. Not all night. He never has, except in Infernis when he had no choice, and I don't see that changing. So I force my eyelids to stay open.

"Thank you for today, Jace," I whisper into the dark. "I enjoyed every single second of time I spent with you."

"You're welcome. Thanks for laying it on extra thick with Hannah. I know it's petty, but I enjoyed watching her squirm."

I grin and nip at his collarbone. "Making her squirm gave me a thrill that was probably a little sadistic, but what can I say? I am a literal demon. So I guess I have an excuse."                         

"I could have sworn wrath was your circle in that moment," he says, twirling my hair around his finger. "I like watching your demon side let go. You should give into that chaos a little more."  

I raise an eyebrow and say, "Oh? You think I should be more chaotic? You? Mr. Neat and Tidy? I'm truly shocked." I place my palm over my collarbone and splay my fingers across my chest to accentuate my surprise.

"It is in your nature, little hurricane, not mine. And I'm not against a little madness. I just don't want it in my house."   

"Fair enough." I place my palm on his cheek and bring his lips down to mine. "I promise to explore my more chaotic side if you promise to stop punishing yourself for what your mother and Hannah did to you," I whisper, biting the inside of my cheek and hoping I haven't said too much. "One day, Jace, please...let yourself trust someone. Or at least try."         

He kisses the tip of my nose. "I trust you. I know exactly what I'm getting with you. You're not meant to stay, and I already know how this ends. So I just bask in moments like this, knowing they aren't tainted with false promises of forever."

I swallow and am suddenly glad of how dark it is in this room because I know hurt just crossed my features. How can he say he trusts me if he thinks I'd give him false promises? My chest caves in on itself and I genuinely have no clue what to say to that.

Doesn't he know that if he would give me a chance, I'd—

I shake my head and close my eyes. There's no point in even thinking it. It can never be.

I even out my breathing and feign sleep, because I have nothing more to say. If I open my mouth to speak, my voice is sure to crack and tears will fall. He'll know he hurt me, he'll feel bad, and tonight will be ruined.

A few minutes pass and Jace eases out of my hold. He pulls the blankets around my shoulders, tucking me in like a small child. The touch of his lips on my brow kickstarts my heart. I want to pull him back into the bed with me, but I curl my fingers to the sheet below me and keep my breathing slow. I don't know why it's important that he believes I'm asleep, but something deep inside me demands that I don't so much as flex a toe.

My ears perk when he speaks in a whisper so quiet it's hard to hear him. But I make out enough of his words.

"I wish you would have come into my life sooner, when I still had half my heart to give you. It wouldn't have been what you deserved, but I would have loved you totally with that half. Now, I can't gather all the pieces and place them back together. It's just a dark void inside of me that you've shined a little light into. Thank you for that, Desi."

Footsteps pad across my room and the door opens and closes behind Jace.        

Now that I'm alone, I let the tears fall and wish with everything in me that things were different.