Page 81 of Already Callin’ You Mine

19

PRESLEY

“There’s…errr…something I should probably tell you.”

The words tumble out of me a few steps into the house, moving about as easy as square boulders down a hill. Raw, unfiltered nervousness fills me, starting in the pit of my stomach and slowly radiating outward, seeping through my body.

“Oh, yeah?” Jace asks, his demeanor still calm and easy. How he does that, I will never know.

I nod, looking around, noticing how much of a mess the house is. Busy weeks at work, plus back-to-back weekend events means the house has not been given the attention it requires. Add in the tornado that Otis caused this afternoon while he should have been napping, leaving all his toys scattered across the floor, creating a minefield of tripping hazards.

That’s nothing but a distraction at the moment. One I can focus on later. When I don’t have the cutest boy in school turned sexiest man alive standing in my kitchen, waiting on me to finish my thought. So that he can fuck me.

A shiver skitters down my spine, making my newfound nerves tingle. I can do this. I can open myself up to Jace. There was no problem last week on the couch, so why is there one now?

“The house is a wreck,” I say, unable to stop myself. That was not what was supposed to come out.

Jace chuckles, wrapping an arm around me. “Not concerned with that. I am a little more concerned with how tense you seem all of a sudden.”

Oh, he can tell that, huh? Great…

I swallow hard, trying to ease my taut muscles. Easier said than done.

“It’s just a little weird without Otis here,” I admit. That’s the truth. “I know that he’s safe with my parents, and part of moving here was so that he could have sleepovers at their place and spend time with them, but I haven’t gotten many nights to myself since he was born, so…I almost don’t know what to do with myself.”

Jace kisses me, softly at first, then he turns up the heat. His lips are the perfect combination of soft and strong, warm and wet against mine, making my knees weak. I swear, there is nothing this man can’t do. But kissing…well, that’s right at the top of the list of things he does well. That mouth of his is single-handedly responsible for making me feel all sorts of things I thought were impossible.

Safe. Sexy. On fire.

Just to name a few.

He deepens the kiss, tongue sweeping against mine, fingers gripping the fabric of my skirt. I moan, urging him on, wanting more. More of him. More of this. More of whatever comes next.

“I’ve got a couple of ideas,” he murmurs, moving along my jaw, his scruff oddly soft against my skin.

Yeah…about that…

“Jace…”

His head pops up, soulful brown eyes meeting mine. “The house being a mess isn’t what you thought you should tell me, is it?”

One corner of his mouth ticks up, the knowing, crooked smile cracking my armor. I both love and hate that he can read me so well.

I shake my head. “It did require a warning, but no…there’s something else.”

“You can tell me anything, Pres.”

Let’s hope so. Because here goes…

“It’s, ummmm, been a while. I mean, I know there was the truck and the couch…but I haven’t actually slept with anyone since before Otis was born.”

Phew…got that out.

Jace’s expression remains unchanged. It’s still full of desire and lust, mixed in with some admiration. Everything I could ever want to see staring back at me.

“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want, Pres. You’re not going to hurt my feelings.”

“Did I say I didn’t want to?” My voice is louder and harsher than I intend, taking us both aback. I refocus, closing my eyes for a second, amending my words. “I’m not saying I don’t want to. Just that it’s been a long damn time. Three plus years. I’m not sure that I’ll even remember what to do.”