** This beginning of this chapter contains sexual content. If you want to skip this part, skip the Clary POV and go directly to Jace POV **

Clary POV

I woke up with a splitting headache and tried to sit up, but quickly realized I couldn't. I looked down. I was still wearing my dress. Good, I at least knew I didn't have sex. I turned over and saw Jace sleeping peacefully next to me, looking like a golden angel. He had his arm over my stomach, holding me close. I sighed as I felt him stir, catching a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. "How you feeling?" he murmured in his husky morning voice. "Ughhh, I've been better. What the hell happened last night? Why do I look like a monster from a movie?" I said. My phone buzzed, letting me know I had a text. It turns out I had several. Are you okay? Alec told me what happened? Do you need anything? – Mag. I couldn't deal with him right now, so I ignored the text and didn't even open the others. "Alec is here?" I questioned Jace. "Yeah, he sorta knocked Sebastian unconscious for groping you last night." "What?! What happened? Where were you?" I was screaming, but I didn't really care. Jace sighed and told me the whole story. I wanted to throw up. He held my hand while I processed this information and then, seeing me calm down, continued. "And Nicole sort of assaulted me. She wanted to sleep with me. We came in here and she pushed me onto the bed. The bed… you were sleeping in." I could tell he was waiting for the anger, the jealousy. Instead, I chuckled. In response to his questioning glance, probably wondering if I was mentally scarred, I said, "Well, it's kind of funny you know. Nicole was forcing herself on you. Sebastian forcing himself on me. We were both a mess. And yet, we ended up in bed together." At that, he started laughing softly and hugged me to his side. We didn't officially belong to each other, but Jace was mine and I was his.

We laid there for a while, too sore and hung over to move. I was enjoying the moment. I couldn't deny my feelings for Jace anymore. He made me feel loved and warm. I never wanted to be without him. Ever since I was a kid, he was it. Even when I dated others, he was more important. He was my world. I grasped him closer to me in the bed and heard him whisper "My Cherry…" dreamily. I smiled and turned to face him. Sitting up a bit, I ran my fingers through his hair and he moaned quietly. God, it drove me crazy. I rolled over in his arms some more and gently pressed my lips to his. He froze – I guess my kissing him in the morning in bed was a shock. I pulled back. "I… I'm sorry," I stuttered. Before I could finish my apology, he pressed his lips to mine with passion. It started out gentle, but I rolled over so that I was straddling him and deepened the kiss. He licked my lips seductively, and I opened my mouth with a gasp. God, he was a good kisser. Even better than I remembered. He was driving me crazy! His tongue was doing amazing things in my mouth. I started to unbutton his shirt, grazing my hands along his chest as I did. He pulled it off and suddenly I was in heaven. It's not like I'd never seen his bare chest before. We'd gone swimming tons of times. We slept in the same bed when he wasn't wearing a shirt. But this felt different. Magical.

His hands moved to the zipper of my dress, pulling it down slowly, with a questioning look in his eyes. I nodded yes and slipped out of my dress. He rolled over so that he was on top of me again, fidgeting with his belt but never taking his beautiful, soft lips from my mouth. I needed air, so I pulled back, but silently told him not to stop. He moved his lips to my neck as he slipped out of his pants and tossed them away. He nipped at the pulse point on my neck. I knew I would have a hickey tomorrow, but I didn't care. I wanted the world to know that I was Jace's. I would never be anyone else's. We were in our underwear, flesh against flesh and we were moaning each others names. The grinding motion he was doing against my hips was making me crazy, I couldn't see straight. His hand went to my back and he unclasped my strapless bra. I threw it across the room. He stopped kissing me and paused, admiring my breasts. Then he moved his mouth and hands to them and I had never felt such pleasure. How could him kissing and touching me bring me more pleasure than sex with anyone else, ever? The few time I'd had with Raph were fine, but nothing like this. That one time at camp was awkward and miserable. This was heaven. I was gasping as I begged him to keep going. I felt beautiful and loved. This was so right.

He pulled my lacy underwear off me quickly and it was followed by his boxers. He moved his mouth to my lips, and the kiss was soft, gentle, and full of love. "Are you sure?" He was giving me an out, a chance to stop. "Yes," I said, breathless. He moved his hand to his end table, I guess that's where his condoms are. I didn't want a barrier between us. I gasped, "Jace, no. I'm on the pill. And I trust you. Please…" I begged. I never beg. God, this is crazy. Before I knew it, he was staring me in the eyes and sliding into me. I gasped, the pleasure was overwhelming. We both moaned and he began to rock his hips into me, thrusting at the perfect speed. I began rocking my hips up, matching his rhythm. He changed angles, and suddenly my most sensitive spot was being rubbed and stimulated with every thrust. After what felt like seconds, I was flying. My walls were clenching around him and I kissed him with more love than I thought was possible, moaning his name into his mouth. I knew he was getting close, his movements were frantic, so I whispered "Jace, come with me. Please. I love you." That was all he needed and we both flew over the edge. When it was over, he kissed my face, my neck, my shoulder, my breasts, and finally my lips – all without disconnecting our bodies. "I love you, too, my Cherry" he said so quietly that I could barely hear him. He pulled out of me finally and grabbed me into his arms, holding me closer than ever before. I drifted to sleep listening to his heart beat and praying that it would never end.

Jace POV

I woke up and my Cherry was gone. Was it all a dream? I glanced down and realized it was definitely not a dream. I was naked and Cherry's dress was on the floor, wrinkled. Where was she? All the sudden, my bathroom door opened and out walked my Cherry who was wearing my tee-shirt and humming softly to herself happily. She clearly thought I was asleep. "Hey" I said. Her head snapped up and she smiled the most radiant smile I've ever seen. God, she was so perfect. How did it take twelve years for this moment? I should have made her mine as soon as I met her. "Hey, you. I was trying to find a hair brush, I have sex hair." She giggled and it was adorable. I pointed to my dresser and she grabbed the brush, running it through her hair quickly, with such grace that I couldn't help but stare. Then she walked over to the bed and sat next to me. "So, you're wearing my tee-shirt… it looks better on you than me," I joked. "I just want you to know that I plan on keeping this shirt forever," she said smiling. "I wouldn't have it any other way!" I replied, excited by the possibilities that tee-shirt brought with it. I really needed to get my head out of the gutter, but I couldn't help but rub my hand comfortingly along her thigh.

"Jace, what happened between us earlier was…" she didn't finish her sentence. I was panicked. She was not going to make me regret this. I love her. I know I do. And she loves me. There's no use hiding it. I sat up, starting to speak, wanting to stop her from ruining everything. She put her finger to my mouth, quieting me. "Jace, what happened this morning was the best thing that ever happened to me. I never knew how much I loved you. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize this – but I love you too much to just be your friend. I love you so much it hurts. And I know you probably don't want a relationship, I mean, you like to play around with girls and I can't do that. So I want you to tell me. If you want to just be friends, I will handle it. I promise. I'll be sad as hell, but I will be your best friend even if that's all I am." She quietly cried and I raised my hand to her face to wipe her tears. She wasn't looking at me, but at the pillow behind me. "Cherry…Cherry." God, she was zoned out. "Clarissa Adele Morgenstern," I finally murmured. She snapped out of it and stared at me intently, bracing herself for the emotional blow that she thought was coming.

"My beautiful Cherry. Do you remember the day we met?" She nodded, so I continued. "Well, I knew as soon as I saw you that I didn't want to be just your friend. Hell, I told my mom and Izzy that I was going to marry you when we grew up. And we did grow up. Together, always. At first, I really thought my childhood crush was gone. Then I got older, and the feelings got stronger. It wasn't easy, restraining my feelings for you. I didn't want to lose you, and you saw me as a player. I wanted to be a player, to distract myself from you! I saw what that kiss did to you a few years back. I never wanted to hurt you, so I promised myself that I would be your friend. But you were the only girl I had affection for. I found myself wanting to hold your hand, hug you, cuddle with you. I wanted to be with you all the time. And I was mad when you wanted someone else. Jealous of you liking another. I wanted you to like me. You were mine, and I was yours. But finally, I am determined. I can't hide it anymore. We are seniors. Soon we'll be going to college and I cannot do this without you. I need you. I love you, Clary."

Tears welled in her eyes and she smiled. "You called me Clary." That's all she said. I knew why, "I needed you to know I was serious. I love you. You're my best friend. I want you to be my best friend, my lover, my girlfriend, and one day my wife and the mother of my children." At that, she started sobbing and smiling, kissing me all over. After a few minutes of us cherishing the moment, I got a text. It was from Izzy. You and Clary have explaining to do. Meet me and Si at Taki's in half an hour. I saw something interesting earlier and now I'm traumatized. I showed the text to Cherry and she smiled. We got up and I got dressed. Cherry crawled out the window and into her bedroom quickly, still wearing my shirt. Twenty minutes later, she crawled back through. She was wearing a sweatshirt and cut off jean shorts. Her hair was in a high pony tail. She looked just as stunning in that as she did last night in her dress. I kissed her roughly, letting her know what I thought about her and making a promise - later. Then we ran down the stairs and got into my Mercedes, speeding down the road to Taki's.