All Good Things (19 page)

* Permission to possess my body...yes please!

* Accompany him to all business functions...yes.

* Allow Gabe to be my driver...fine.

* Spend the nights with him upon request...yes please!

* Permission to use objects to induce sexual pleasure...um, yes.

* Both parties must refrain from any sexual encounters apart from one another...definitely!

Okay, those were the things I could agree to, and live with. Now, it was time for me to put the trusted highlighter to work on the things I simply could not live with.

* Permission to assign Gabe as my bodyguard...hell no!

* Allow Jace to purchase and choose what I would wear to accompany him to his business functions...nope.

* Permission to inflict pain to later induce pleasure...not really my thing.

* Permission to choose and pay for a condo when current lease is exhausted...absolutely not!

In a nutshell, that was the contract. When I felt confident I had highlighted everything I simply could not live with, I slid the contract across the counter and smiled sweetly, hoping the smile masked my nervousness.

Jace picked up the contract, and I watched, as a brow rose in amusement. "You realize this contract is non-negotiable."

I shrugged. "Negotiable or not, those are my terms."

"All right." Jace nodded. "We can discuss them."

My heart pounded relentlessly against the cage of my chest. "Okay."

"Why are you willing to accept Gabe as your driver, but not your bodyguard?" He asked pointedly.

"As my driver, he will see me throughout the day, and I suspect he will never be too far, but I am unwilling to have him as a second skin...or shadow." I shook my head adamantly at the thought. "I just don't want a bodyguard, Jace. I believe my reasons are the same as yours."

"All right." Jace nodded, but I didn't miss the muscle in his jaw tick. "You are willing to accompany me to my business functions, yes?" he cocked his head and I nodded. "Then why are you so opposed to me purchasing and choosing what you wear?"

I narrowed my eyes and shifted on the barstool. "I do not enjoy feeling as though I'm a responsibility, or like, I'm a doll for you to play dress-up with."

"I believe you are missing the point. I do not feel as though you should have to pay for the clothing to accompany me to my functions. You would, in the end, lose money doing so, and therefore, I believe it is my responsibility to ensure you are dressed appropriately for each function, without it hindering your bank account."

"My bank account is really none of your business." I snapped, suddenly feeling warm.

"You must realize, Olivia," he stared pointedly at me. "I have made everything that regards you my business."

What the hell was that supposed to mean? He somehow had access to my account...but that was impossible and completely inappropriate. And, it was not the topic of importance as of this moment. "I'm going to pretend you didn't just say that, for now." I said tightly. "And, I have decided you can purchase the attire, but you will not choose it for me."

He cocked his head. "I will bend on this because there is another point I would much rather fight for." I shivered, but held my ground. "I am assuming you dislike my desire to pay for your living space for the same reason you dislike my paying for your attire?"

"You would be right." I folded my arms over my chest. "And, that it's completely preposterous."

"How so?"

I couldn't help the words that tumbled from my mouth. "Are you dense, Mr. Rush?"

He flinched, but had the audacity to look mildly amused. "No, Olivia." His eyes were focused solely on me. "I am not dense."

"Then, how is it you find paying for my condo in New York City anything but preposterous?" I snapped. He was making me feel like a whore. There was no nice way of putting it. He wanted me to sign a contract that would give him the right to my body and my life in return for complete monetary comfort. It was offensive, to say the least.

"Living in this city is expensive, and I believe, I made myself clear when I inadvertently admitted to knowing the sum of your bank account." I was shocked speechless and he continued. "You have monetary responsibilities to your project that is not nearly ready to open, and, your lease is due for evaluation in six months."

He looked at me pointedly and I blushed, so hot, I feared it would singe the roots of my hair. "I fail to see what this has to do with you." I spoke, quietly. I had never been this humiliated in my entire life.

"I'm not ready to lose you, Olivia." Jace said gently, but with as much authority as ever. "And, because I doubt I will have had my fill of you in only a short six months, I would hate to see you leave this city because you cannot afford to live here. I also refuse to see you living in an unsafe walkup apartment or location."

Wow. I had no idea what to say to him. He had sifted through my dirty laundry and was now holding his findings over my head. My hands shook with the need to throttle him and my tear ducts were stinging as I tried to force my emotions into obedience. No one had ever made me feel so low and incompetent in my life. And, that was a feat to be recognized because my father was the king of making me feel worthless. The fact that Jace had surpassed even his most ruthless comments and actions, in a matter of minutes, was astonishing. He really knew how to take someone down. I guessed that was why he was known as a cutthroat businessman. His conscious knew no bounds and his heart...well, I was beginning to wonder if it even existed.

"Shall I take your silence as acceptance?" Jace asked cordially. His tone really was not fit for the scene.

I shook my head and looked down to the speckled marble floor. "No," I spoke quietly. If I allowed my voice to be any louder, I feared it would reflect my feelings to him and I could not have that. "I think this meeting is over."

"You're wrong, Olivia." Jace stated. "Stop running from me every time you do not get your way." His tone was a warning that set my body on fire despite the fact that my mind begged for severance.

He set the contract on the counter and rounded the island. I knew full well, I should run from him. But, I couldn't. I was fully aware, once he touched me, he would ensnare me in a trap that would eventually claim my soul. He was like a black hole, irresistible in his dangerous beauty. It would not be long until he had sucked everything passionate within my person into his dominating abyss. Soon, there would be nothing left for me to give and he would be forced to move on to find another life to claim...another soul to fulfill his own. But, the sad part was, I was entirely aware of the danger he posed to me...to my life, my heart, my soul...and, I still wanted to save him. Was there nothing I would not sacrifice for this man? Was no part of me safe?

His eyes locked on mine and despite my anger, I was lost in their sorrowful blue. It was moments like these I wondered who the man behind the cool, impeccably calculated frontier was. His hard exterior was no doubt a shield he held intact against the wounded soul within; but I wanted inside. I wanted to save him. I wanted to show him there was a world apart from the darkness that festered within his soul...there was a part of him worth loving.

It was in that moment I realized I would do anything for him...even if I had to lose myself. The realization was frightening and awe inspiring and downright knee-knocking. But, it was the cold hard truth. This man had found a way into my caged heart...it was my turn to return the action no matter how impossible the feat may be. He was worth it.

"I don't want to fight anymore with you, Jace." I whispered. I knew what I wanted to do with him...and, it was, so not this.

"And, what do you want, Olivia?" Jace leaned into me and I couldn't help but breathe him in. His scent was intoxicating and my mind clouded, tainting my rationality.

"I agree to the contract." I spoke quietly. I couldn't even find shame poking at me relentlessly for my weakness. There was nothing...but Jace. "All of it...apart from Gabe being my bodyguard. I still don't want a bodyguard."

Surprise flashed in his eyes, but it was soon swamped by white-hot desire that made my knees weak and my core ache. "You're perfect." Jace whispered, as he swiped his knuckles against the skin beneath my eye. I leaned into his touch and he groaned, cupping my cheek. "Do you see how natural it is for you to surrender to my demands, Angel?" He slid his thumb under my chin, tilting my face up, forcing my eyes to meet his. "Does this not feel right to you?"

It was so wrong...but he was right on the money. This felt right in every sense of the word. "Yes."

"Yes," he cocked his head. "Tell me, Angel."

"This feels right." I conceded, in a hoarse whisper that made him groan. The hairs on my arms stood erect at his primal sound and the future pleasure it promised me.

Jace dropped his hand from my face, slowly moving it down over my body while his other hand held my hip in a possessive grip that had my core melting for him. The idea of him possessing me was life altering in its raw, primitive perfection. His eyes were trained on my face that felt warm with the heat of my racing blood as his hand trailed a scorching path over my breast, down my stomach and further still, over my thigh and between my legs to the source of the heat. His fingers trailed lightly over my panties and I parted my legs, hoping my knees didn't buckle. The tips of his fingers moved sensually over my crease teasing the inferno that was my body with sweet release only he could supply. Only he could fill me and feed the fires that burned solely for him.

One by one, his fingers slid into the side of the fabric of my panties and my core clenched with need. I pushed my hips against him in desperate pursuit for release I knew he could give me.

"Stay still." He growled, pulling away only fractionally.

I whimpered, closing my eyes against his delicious assault. Slowly...teasingly slowly, his finger parted my folds and slid against my clitoris. My entire body felt the pleasure the nerves exulted under the pressure of his expert touch. His finger circled my opening in a teasing massage, as I fought to hold my body still for him. I wanted him inside me more than I had ever wanted anything else, but he was determined to keep me moments away from release, building me up higher and higher. Oh, God. I couldn't possibly survive this...but at least I would die a happy, fractionally satisfied woman.

His finger continued his sensual exploration against the entrance of my core and I cried out in frustrated pleasure as I rolled my hips into his hand, begging for penetration. His finger felt so good...the pleasure almost verged on pain. I needed him. Now.

The hand he had on my hip tightened his hold, forcing my body into submission. "I asked you to remain still, Angel. If you cannot, I will be forced to tie you up so movement is not a choice you have to make." His finger dipped a delicious inch into me and I moaned aloud, closing my eyes in pleasure. "Do you understand me, Angel?" I moaned, but couldn't summon the ability to form coherent words. He pulled his finger from inside my body and went back to his teasing onslaught against my opening.

"Do you understand?" Jace asked again, his tone a demand that could not be ignored.

I opened my eyes to glare up at him. "I understand." I panted. "No movement."

He smiled winningly. "Unless instructed."

I nodded. "Yes, Sir."

I had meant for the words to be sarcastic, but by the light in his eyes, it was more than obvious the title pleased him. He slid his hand from my panties and stepped back away from me, forcing me to hold myself up on shaky legs. I wanted to ask him what he was doing, but I decided that would probably warrant the elusive punishment, so I kept my mouth shut. This teasing punishment was enough for me.

"Climb up on the island." He commanded.

I raised my brows. Could my legs handle that kind of stress when they were so weak? I didn't think so.

Seeing my hesitation, his eyes flashed. "Do not make me ask you again, Angel."

I nodded and turned back to the island. I planted my palms flat against the granite and raised myself onto the countertop so I was sitting on the ledge, dangling my legs toward Jace. I waited for further instruction, my heart beating wildly in my chest, my most intimate place throbbing with incessant need for him.

"Stand and strip for me, Angel."

Wow. He had a thing for watching me strip for him. I glanced over at the harsh light shining through his floor to ceiling window and cringed. Thank goodness it was only sunset and not full-blown daylight outside.

"Don't worry, Angel. Only I can see you." Jace spoke confidently. It was not others seeing me I was worried about. It was the fact that Jace would see me under such a unforgiving light that would surely put every one of my flaws on display for him.

I turned away from the sunlight that peered into the window and took a deep, calming breath that had no effect on my wired nerves, before I set my eyes on his and started a slow, sensual movement of my hips. If he wanted me to strip...that is what he would get.

I let my body move to music in my mind as my hands ran over the expanse of my hips, up my stomach and over my breasts. I came to the straps of my dress and pulled them ever so slowly from my shoulders before sliding the flimsy white material over my breasts and down my hips. It pooled on the counter around my feet and I stepped out of it slowly before catching the material with my toe and kicking it at Jace. I was awarded when his brow twitched in surprised appreciation and his blue eyes widened. But, I was not done yet. I was feeling emboldened under the heat of his gaze and I was not near ready to stop. Continuing my slow sensual dance, I turned my back to him and wiggled my butt as I unfastened my bra before turning around to reveal my breasts to him. I let my hair fall down to the center of my back, baring my breasts to him completely as I traced the trim of my panties with my fingers. I let my fingers trail up my stomach and to my breasts that were aching to be touched...preferably by him, but I was left to work with what I had.

I watched his blue eyes turn to molten lava as I cupped my breasts with my hands, needing them the way I wished his hands would. I let my fingers trail over my nipples, pinching them and pulling in just the right way to evoke a moan of decadent pleasure from between my lips. Jace took a step toward me as though captivated, and I smiled as I leaned my head back, pleasuring myself with my fingers.