I wasn't going to post this until it was all done but I didn't want you to have to wait any longer. I'm so sorry; I've just been super busy and I didn't find the time. So, with my deepest apologizes, I'm posting this early and turned The Art Of Kissing from a two chapter story to a three of four on instead. Thank you all for being so patient and I love you all dearly.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"So he just agreed? Just like that?"
Clary nodded her head as she clenched her books tighter to her less-than-endowed chest. Right after Jace had left, Clary had immediately texted Sebastian her address. She tried not to stare at her phone every five seconds to no avail before giving up and simply staring straight at her phone's screen willing it with all her might to light up with a new message. She almost gave up after 5 minutes of full on staring before her screen lit up like a holy candle and she dove across her mattress. She squealed and tried to calm the butterflies that had taken refuge in her stomach as she read his reply.
Simon shook his head as he pushed his glasses up his nose and frowned. His yellow and red scarf resembled that of Gryffindor's colors, adding his round glasses and side-swept hair, Simon looked a lot like Harry Potter. "So what did Seb-ASS-chin, say?"
Clary rolled her eyes with a smile as she punched Simon in the shoulder. "He said "K"." Clary let out a girly squeal that she couldn't contain last night either and clapped her hands in excitement. Just thinking about this Friday was giving her chills; she only had two days to master the art of the perfect kiss and she was quickly running out of time.
Simon rose an eyebrow before looking at his friend in disbelief. "Seriously? That's what your fangirling about? A letter?" Simon didn't follow Clary up the steps as she bounded them with a light air and stopped at her door with a confused frown on her face.
"Si? What's wrong?" She said with a laugh. "You actually look genuinely upset."
"That's because I am." Simon said with a curl of his upper lip; Clary winced at what that look did to her heart. Simon was showing her the tall tale sign of disgust. "This isn't you. I thought you were better than this." He said with a shake of his head as he grabbed the straps on his backpack and hiked it up farther; even from here she could see the pins that lay on each strap; she could count on her fingers how many of those pins she had gotten for him.
"What? Simon, I don't understand." Clary said taking a hesitant step toward him before Simon went back a step and turned toward his house.
Simon shook his head; the chilly autumn breeze whipped brown strands of hair around Simon's head. "Whatever, Morgenstern. Good luck with your," Simon sighed. "Whatever this is."
He walked with steady steps down the sidewalk; Clary stood frozen unable to move. She didn't know exactly what happen; one moment she was talking about her upcoming date and the next he was upset. Was he upset because she hadn't asked him about his day? She supposed she wasn't being the best friend but she hadn't done anything horrible.
Biting her lip she turned from her spot with a shake of her head; Simon was long gone now and the autumn chill was getting under her fall jacket. She was sure Simon was just being a drama queen and he would come to his senses later. He was just having a man period; every guy was allowed at least one.
She put her hand on her front door but it fell from her hand as another person turned the knob on the other side. Jace stepped out onto the cool porch in nothing but a thin white long sleeved shirt; taking up all Clary's room and making her take a step back. She hated having to crane her neck to see people but it was just another trial of living the life of a short person. Clary was making it day by day.
"I should have known I smelled a rat." Clary said with a curl of her nose.
Jace simply smiled as he leaned over her; if she were being completely honest she'd admit she was intimidated but she liked to pride herself on being somewhat of a liar. "You should really talk to Simon about his daily hygiene. I can smell him too."
Clary narrowed her eyes as she growled. "I was talking about you."
"Oh, sweetheart, this face can't do rat. It would be just too cruel to give Simon such false hope that he might actually look as stunning as I do." Jace finished with a smirk.
Clary nodded her hand to her chin. "You're right; you're more of a parasite. Sucking all the blood and life from everyone you meet."
Jace smirked as he leaned down next to her ear. "That's not all I can suck, baby." He whispered against her ear as Clary let out a shiver. This wasn't normal; usually Jace would say something mean and witty back. This wasn't what they did. They didn't make each other have shivers of something other than disgust roll up their backs and make their stomachs nervous and excited all at once.
Clary stumbled back a step blinking as Jace leaned against the railing of the porch. She caught her bearings a few minutes too late, Jace's annoying smirk told her that much. He had rattled her and she had let him. Rolling her eyes, she crossed her arms and popped her hip. "One, don't ever get that close to me again. Your mere presence makes me want to vomit. Second, I never need to know about your life outside this house; keep your nasty details to yourself and my brother. And third, don't ever call me baby. I'm not your baby." She narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger at him. "Got it?"
Jace held his hands up in surrender but he walked toward her and invaded her personal space bubble again. Her back was pressed hard against the porch railing as Jace placed a hand on each side of her body blocking her in. "As great as your little speech was, I can't really follow those rules."
Clary glared at him as she silently threw daggers at him with her eyes. "And why not? Because you think you're some die-hard, rockstar rebel?" Clary said with a mocking laugh.
Jace raised an eyebrow; a single curl falling in his gleaming eyes and it made Clary stop a moment and observe. "On the contrary, I'm simply doing my part in our agreement. And to do that I'll have to get close," He said with a smirk as he pressed his chest against hers making her gasp. "And personal." He brought his face hovering above hers, his lips only a small inch away. And suddenly Clary was super aware of Jace's presence all around her. "I was under the impression I would be teaching you how to kiss an actual person; not air kiss." His voice was low and husky as he stood over her. Another foreign and unwelcome shiver shook down Clary's spine.
She suddenly felt like a women; she felt delicate and soft next to Jace who was all hard surface and rough skin. She felt dominated and strangely powerful at the same time. She didn't understand what was happening as she stared at Jace's perfectly shaped lips. They looked soft like rose petals and were tinted a light pink like a blushing bride. His bottom stuck out farther than his upper and his chin looked rough with unshaven scruff.
"Clary? Jace?" Jocelyn called through the slightly open front door. Clary felt her breathe hitching as Jace stared down at her expressionless before taking a few steps back and smiling brightly to her mother who was pushing the door open fully. "What are you two doing out here? It's freezing." Anything below 80 degrees was freezing to her mother.
"I was just helping Clary, Mrs. Mogenstern. She isn't feeling well. " Jace answered simply like only the innocent and loyal son's best friend could.
Jocelyn put on her worried face at that and fussed over her daughter who still looked shocked at what had occurred just moments earlier. Was she the only one who felt so strange with him so close? Had she no affect on him?
What in the world was she saying! Jace had no affect on her and she certainly had no affect on him. It was ludicrous; it was preposterous!
And yet. . .
"You're not feeling well?" Her mother said, Clary tugged her large, wool sweater closer to her as Jocelyn made her away forward. The wind pushed her hair around her head like an open flame and for a moment Clary was captivated. Her mother truly was beautiful; she placed a soft palm against Clary's forehead. "You don't feel warm but you do look a bit flushed."
Jace threw a smirk at her from behind her mother's back as Clary glared over her head, her face no doubt becoming more flushed. "I feel—"
"Just horrible, Mrs. Morgenstern." Jace interrupted as he came toward them. "I saw her walking weakly up the porch steps; she was burning up when I touched her forehead." He said with complete innocence. His golden eyes were open with concern as Clary stared at him amazed. He was lying right through his stupid, white, commercial straight teeth with no remorse! As if he had too much practice.
Jocelyn frowned deeper; her worry escalating. "Well, that's just horrible!" Her mother smiled at him over her shoulder. "And how many times to I have to tell you to call me Jocelyn."
Jace dropped his look of purity as a genuine smile crossed over his face. "Sorry, Jocelyn."
"You're family, Jace. You should know you can call me Mamma, Jocelyn, or anything else other than Mrs. Morgenstern." Her mother smiled at him again as she turned back to her daughter. "Well, you're probably catching a cold and that means you can't possibly come to the gala tonight."
"I am not. . ." Clary started in outrage; she was going to tell her mother that Jace was up to his ears in lies at this point in the conversation but couldn't find the words as they got stuck in her throat. She stared at Jace in wonder; he was still looking at her mother with his head turned down slightly. His eyes were glossy and his nose was becoming red and it couldn't have been from the weather; it was not nearly cold enough. He was blinking rapidly trying to keep, what could only be, tears at bay.
The Great Jace Wayland was staring at her mother with tears and a strange belonging in his eyes.
"You're not what?" Her mother frowned as Jace raised his head and looked at Clary head on. He sniffed slightly his cheeks tinted pink as he bowed his head again. Jace was embarrassed by whatever she had seen. And what exactly had she seen?
"She's going to say she's not sick." Jace answered as her mother turned toward him again. "But you know how stubborn she is, she's the same as Jon." He had his trademark smirk back on his face as if the last 2 seconds had never happened. "Too pig-headed for their own good." Any other time this comment would have had her swinging her fist toward him but something in Jace's eyes told her to wait.
Jocelyn let out a laugh with an agreeing nod. "Yes, that's true." She looked back at her daughter with a kind smile. "We'll just have to get you inside and in bed. You're going to be home alone for only a few hours and when we get back I'll make sure you don't have a temperature." She gestured her daughter toward the front door as Clary kept her confused gaze on Jace. "Sleep will be best for you right now. Why don't you run upstairs and take a nap." Her mother said with another motherly smile before turning to Jace. "You'll be joining us, won't you, Jace?"
Jace winced. "I would love to, Jocelyn, you know I love going to your art gala's but I have a project I need to do. "Jace said as he stared hard into Clary's eyes as it all connected in her head.
Her mother, who Clary didn't even notice was dressed in a shimmering sapphire dress with a dipping backline, had an art gala tonight in the city. Her father, herself, Jace and Jon normally attended the gatherings to support her mother who always sold every painting she'd created effortlessly. She had forgotten it was even this week; she had been so wrapped up in her own problems. Maybe, she was focusing too much on herself and not enough on everyone else.
She knew what Jace was doing now though; he was giving them the perfect opportunity to start their deal. She stumbled toward her mother and nodded her head. "Yes, I'm feeling rather ill." Her voice was cracking and robotic.
Jocelyn frowned down at her as she addressed her daughter. Jace glared at her to shut up from behind her back. "Yes," Her mother paused. "We've established this." She put her hand to Clary's forehead and cheek against which was heating in embarrassment now as she frowned. "Maybe, I should take you to the doctor's after all."
"No!" Clary immediately yelled as Jace put a hand to his head in exasperation. She faked a cough as her mother raised a nicely, plucked eyebrow at her. "I think I just need to rest." She said as she fluttered her eyelids. "I feel rather dizzy." She said as she dramatically slumped against Jace, who let out a nervous laugh at her wide-eyed mother.
"I'm sure she's right. Let her get some rest and then we'll see how she feels." He smiled nervously as he cradled Clary in his arms. "No need to rush to conclusions."
"I don't know. . ." Jocelyn said uncertain.
"Trust me," Jace said. "You have a big night tonight. I'll have Clary call me if she feels too ill and I'll take her to the doctor's if I have to." He said with a genuine smile that made Clary roll her eyes.
Jocelyn smiled fondly at the blonde "hero" as he walked toward the steps that led to her bed room. "Thank you, Jace. We're so blessed to have you in the family." Her mother walked toward the kitchen. "I'll tell Jon to go get ready and that you two won't be joining us."
Clary raised her head, cracked her eyes opened and watched Jace swallow hard blinking rapidly; he smiled to himself. His face was contorted in pain as she watched him; like the thought of being a part of their family was too precious and impossible of a thing to hope for. But didn't he get it? That's why Clary detested him so much! They treated him more like family than they did her.
He pushed open her door and closed it softly before harshly dumping her on her bed. "Hey!" She yelled as she bounced and almost fell completely from the mattress. "What the hell was that for?"
"What was that for?" Jace said with an angry expression. "Maybe it was for your little performance downstairs." Clary crossed her arms and glared at him with as much hate as she could muster. "You just couldn't shut up, could you? You just had to keep talking."
Clary narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, well not all of us can be such compulsive liars. Besides, I thought I did good."
"And here's the Oscar to the most awful liar and completely naïve person of the year." Jace said with a grand gesture. "Congrats, Red, you topped them all."
Clary rolled her eyes. "It went fine, didn't it? She believed us."
"No, she believed me. You almost ruined it for us." Jace said with unneeded emphasis. "Stick to art, baby, because acting not such a great background for you."
Clary gritted her teeth together and stood abruptly. "I already told you I'm not your baby!
Jace was in her face before she could even compute how he had gotten all the way from across the room so fast. He had her pinned for the second time that day; his eyes were hot and swirling with emotions she'd never seen before. His breath was mingling with her own as he huffed, her mouth parted in a gasp and Jace's hungry gaze lingered on her plump lips for a few seconds before training back on her. There was something dark about him as he looked down at as if he would swallow her whole; as if he were devouring her with a simple gaze. Clary could feel him everywhere; though the only thing that was touching her was his chest which was coiled with muscle and heaving against her own.
"For the sake of this exercise, you'll be anything I want you to be." Jace spoke low in a husky drawl she had never heard him use before. His lower lip almost touched her own before he took a step back. "Be ready because as soon as they leave the teaching will commence." He stopped at the door before throwing a smirk at Clary who was still heaving from her spot from earlier. "And I'm a very," He paused as his stare lingered on her. "Hands on type teacher."
He let out a laugh as Clary lumped on her bed with a huff. What was happening to her?
More importantly what had she gotten herself into?
Suddenly, Clary was feeling nervous; the butterflies in her stomach were trying their hardest to escape as she sat staring at her reflection in the mirror of her vanity. Her red curls were somewhat tamed today as she let her hand run down them. She wondered again and if, not for the first time, she should put just a little make-up on; just to seem less scary.
She scoffed and shook her head. This was absolutely ridiculous! Why would she put on make-up for Jace of all people? He held as much worth to her as a spider on her wall. She didn't care what he thought of her and she certainly wasn't going to try and impress him. They were simply finishing a deal. It was completely impersonal.
Her excited parents and complaining brother had left not 2 minutes earlier and for some reason, Clary was sitting on the edge of her seat. Jace's earlier words seeming to play over and over again her in mind without fail. The way her body had reacted to the husky and suggestive tone in his voice did nothing to help either as she bit her lip. She didn't know what was happening to her. This was Jace they were talking about; the same boy she had watched eat sand and the same boy who had told her she had gotten her period for the first time. Same boy who used to give her wet-willies in the morning to wake her up and who knew she had slept with a night light on until she was 10.
She had lived her most embarrassing moments with Jace's eyes as witnesses. He was like having another brother; so why was it that the thought of his mouth against hers was making her tummy hot? Was making her spine shiver in anticipation and making her abdomen clench in excitement? It just wasn't making any sense.
"Alright," Jace said as he opened her bed room door with a flourish taking Clary by surprise as she jumped. "Let's just get this over with."
Clary rolled her eyes and tried to pretend that the drop in her stomach was disgust, not disappointment. "Well, don't sound too excited." She said with as much sarcasm as she could muster.
Jace smirked as he walked toward her with the slow and confident walk Clary always hated but now found was making her uncomfortable and uneasy. But that was a normal feeling with Jace; he always made her feel those things. Like her heart was popping from her chest and her lungs were running out of air; she hated those feelings. "Why? Because you're practically bursting with excitement yourself?" Jace said just as sarcastically with a shake of his head; his golden mop of perfect curls tousling around his sharply sculpted face.
Clary sighed as Jace sat beside her; his body turned toward her ready and waiting. "You're right, let's get this over with." She leaned forward quickly and closed her eyes; wanting the humiliation and uncertainty to all be over.
"Whoa, hold your horses, Clary." Jace said as he leaned back quickly with a smirk. "I know how eager you are to be kissing pure perfection but there are some things we have to cover before the kissing can even commence."
Clary blinked as she leaned back; his earlier cocky statement was ignored as she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Jace cleared his throat as she turned toward him in complete attention. "Well, first thing is you have to know if this other person wants to kiss you at all."
"They aren't just going to ask?"
"What is this? The 1700's? No one asks permission to kiss anymore, Clary." Jace shook his head in exasperation and they had only begun the lesson. "Wow, you weren't kidding. You really do have no idea what you're doing."
Clary felt her cheeks burn with mortification as she scrunched up her nose in anger. "God, you're such a dick. I changed my mind; I have no interest in learning this from you."
"Oh? And who exactly is going to teach you what I am?" Jace said with a smirk as Clary crossed her arms. She knew he was right; the only reason she had asked him in the first place was because he was her last option. He knew it and so did she.
Clary sighed in defeat before turning back toward him. "You're right; I'll be less difficult."
Jace let out a sigh himself. "And I'll be less cruel." He gave her a small smile before he got another look of concentration on his face. "Alright, back to what I was saying, you have to know if this significant other wants to kiss you or not. There are some bland signs that they do or don't and it's all in their body language."
"How do I know they even like me?" Clary said with a tilt of her head; her red hair falling over her shoulder as silky as water and swirling with flames.
Jace furrowed his eyebrows for a moment before adjusting his position on Clary's plush bed. "Well, they could lean into you or brush your hair away from your face. Maybe even touch your cheek lightly." He shook his head before smirking. "But that's not what we're talking about. We're discussing if someone is about to or wants to kiss you or not."
Clary nodded as Jace continued. "First, they'll lean in close to you. Like this." As he spoke he brought his body closer to hers; she could almost feel the heat that radiated through Jace's tight black long-sleeved shirt. "Next, you'll find them staring at your lips when their talking to you." He said as he glanced down at her lips; which parted under his gaze as if they had a mind of their own. Jace swallow thickly as his voice grew slower. "Then they'll tilt their head to the side slightly as they bring their face closer to yours."
He was only an inch away now; his soft lips looking even more like velvet from only inches away. Clary was again reminded of how perfect he was; not a blemish in sight as she waited. Her body unable to move and her heart beating far too fast to be safe. She wondered absentmindedly if he could hear her heart; it seemed to be like thunder in her own ears. She felt her hands get clammy and her body shiver as her eyes stared into his; bottomless oceans of caramel glaze, a hot sea of golden lava.
"And then what?" She whispered her eyes fluttering shut; her voice making a tone she had never used before. It broke Jace's concentration as he brought his head back harshly.
"Then, ahh," He said his hand scratching the back of his neck. "You would kiss."
Clary opened her eyes slowly before blinking. "So, why didn't you?"
Jace jump in surprise at her forwardness. "What?"
"Why didn't you kiss me?"
"Well," Jace said running a hand through his hair. "There is more than one way to kiss someone."
"What!" Clary yelled as she let her body fall back on the bed in exhaustion. Jace's earlier lesson had taken a large amount of energy out of her from her own restraint not to attack him or from her body's reaction she didn't know. But neither thought pleased her in the slightest. "We might as well stop while we're ahead. I'll never be able to learn more than one; I didn't even know there was more than one way to begin with."
Jace let out a laugh as he leaned over her; his hair falling around his face adoringly as he looked down at her. "It will be easy. Instinct will take over and you'll be fine."
Clary scowled up at him. "You said the same thing when I was learning to ride my bike."
"And you ride like a pro!"
"After I rolled down the hill in Central Park and hit a park bench launching me from the bike seat."
Jace let out a noise as he waved his hand. "Details. Details."
"You also said that about snowboarding, canoeing and extreme paintballing." Clary said with another scowl. "And I suck at all three of those."
"Okay, so I may have been wrong a couple of times—"
"You also said it about karate, surfing, skateboarding, rock climbing—"
"Okay!" Jace said with a frown. "So, I've been wrong a lot; it's not my fault you suck at basically everything. But kissing is different; kissing is something that is conditioned in you. You'll be fine at it, trust me."
Clary stared up at him with a frown. In truth, she did trust Jace. He may have been annoying and always around but he had never once hurt her or even tried to for that matter; if anything he had been just as protective of her as her big brother was. She sighed sitting up slowly as Jace moved from his position hovering over her.
Frowning she rubbed her hand across her forehead before propping her elbow on her knee and cradling her face in her hands. "Go on." She said as Jace let out a chuckle, reaching for her hand that enveloped her entire face and pulled it away.
She looked up at him in a mixture of humiliation and exhaustion. "Alright, the first type of kiss is called a peck."
Clary furrowed her eyebrows. "It sounds like you're going to poke me with your nose."
Jace pursed his lips together as he glared at her playfully. "Ha ha; a bird joke. How original."
"Shut up." Clary said as she turned toward him; just noticing that he still held her hand with his. "I'm just nervous."
"Don't be." Jace said meeting her gaze intensely. "Just follow my lead." He spoke softly as he brought his head closer to hers. "All you have to do is let your lips meet mine. It's quick and painless, I assure you." He said with a smile and Clary found herself smiling in response.
She glazed down at his descending lips and her stomach did a flip in anticipation. His scent had consumed her senses; he was all she saw, a blindingly hot gaze of molten gold. His velvet voice wrapped around her nerve endings making her feel giddy and alive. This would be her first kiss; the thought didn't depress her like she thought it would. Jace wasn't so bad.
And as the thought left her head; his lips softly planted themselves on hers and the world exploded. She gasp softly making Jace shutter and bring his hand up to cup her cheek. She didn't really know what she was doing but it seemed to be second nature to tilt her head slightly to the left; making her face fit completely with his, like two puzzle pieces coming together. It seemed like everything was heightened; her heart pounded against his chest as it climbed up her throat and the butterflies in her stomach had surely turned to wasps as they flew in a frenzy around her stomach. His scent, which if she had to guess sunlight smelled like, invaded every part of her; wrapping her in a warm glow.
And as soon as it had begun it came to a grinding halt as Jace pulled back with a deep breath. "See," He spoke in a husky tone; his voice slightly breaking. "I told you you'd be good at it."
Clary's eyes fluttered open; she didn't even really remember when she had closed them, her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks as she gazed up at him. "Yeah." She said breathlessly.
Jace gazed at her for a moment; before blinking furiously and standing quickly. "Well, I think that's enough for today." He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. "We'll finish the rest of your lesson later."
Clary furrowed her eyebrows as Jace all but ran from the room. Adding to the overall confusion of the day.
Hmmmm, I wonder what's wrong with Jace? And the feelings Clary feels around him? Are they really so bad? Or is she mixing them up with different feelings?
Thank you so much for reading! I love you all !