Well hello there my sexy sausages! Thanks so much again for all the lovely reviews, so here is the next chapter! Well, I did rate this story M for a reason, just saying. If it's not for this chapter, it's sure for another. Anyway, pure Clace for you all. Enjoy and drop me some more reviews? I'll update again when we have enough! Thanks! x

Clary knew there was no use sitting around waiting for her brother to attack. What good would it do? She'd go mad from the waiting.

The next day, she woke up first at the crack of dawn. Isabelle and Alec were camped on the floor while she had the sofa. Jace was still in her bed and she didn't have the heart to push him out, or guts to sleep with him because of her mother in the house. Where Luke was she had no idea.

But the boy was awake, stood in the kitchen making coffee. Clary smiled when she saw how bright his eyes looked. He seemed so much better.

"Morning there," Jace smiled, pulling out another cup. He rummaged around in a few draws until he found a spoon.

Clary smiled too, not caring her hair was a mess. His was too. It's… sexy, she just thought. Jace pulled off the morning look very well.

They took their seats in the kitchen, Jace shutting the door quietly with his foot as he handed Clary her coffee that she took with a thanks.

"How are you feeling?" she asked him with a frown. Jace chuckled, shaking his head. "I feel… alive is a good word. My head still throbs a little, but I can tune it out. I've not felt this good for ages."

Clary couldn't help but beam at that, getting to her feet with her coffee untouched on the table. A moment later she'd thrown her arms around his shoulders, hugging him tightly. Jace smiled into her hair, rubbing her back gently. "Just…" she sighed out. "I'm glad you're better. For now at least."

"You don't have to feel guilty anymore either."

Clary pulled away, but their noses were still almost touching. "What?"

Jace cocked a brow, leaning forwards and muttering out against her lips as his eyes flickered down to them. "I heard everything concerning your charming brother. See? It wasn't your fault all that happened to me. Not at all."

She didn't respond to that, simply crushing her lips to his coffee tasting own. Clary sighed against his lips, allowing him to slide his arms around her waist and pick her up, setting her down upon his lap where he could kiss her at a better angle.

"I love you, imaginary friend," Clary murmured against the boy's lips, swinging her legs around so she was straddling his hips, stomach pressed against his own. Jace chuckled at that, breaking the kiss long enough to breathe out, "as I love you, my imaginary friend."

The door clicked shut and Clary's lips froze upon Jace's own. "It's only the wind," he told her. "I opened the window."

Clary sighed softly, resting her forehead against his own. "Thank god. Mom wouldn't be impressed if she saw us."

Jace shrugged. "She can't say we've not known each other long enough to kiss. Plus she knew I was real…" he paused, raising a hand to brush the stray ginger strands from Clary's eyes. "I mean, who else were we supposed to fall in love with? Our fates were sealed from when we were mere children, Clary."

She had no idea how to reply to that, so Clary pressed her lips back to Jace's own. It was a soft kiss, but so full of passion that both their heads spun and Jace's hand took hold of her waist, fingers burying themselves into the silky smooth fabric.

"Come back to the bedroom with me?" he asked quietly against her lips. Clary froze. Jace, realizing just how he'd sounded quickly added, "I meant help me find more pillows? Not for… sex." He cocked a brow. "Unless you wa-?"

Clary tutted and clamped a hand over his mouth, whispering out, "my mother is in this house. And so are Isabelle and Alec."

Jace merely gazed at her with aureate eyes glinting playfully in the light. She slid a hand away and he instantly told Clary, "would you?"

Clary blushed, her cheeks going scarlet. "Jace it's what, four in the morning?"

"Perfect!"

"Shh-! And-" her cheeks went redder. "I would. But you seem to have forgotten one thing."

Jace just stared until Clary sighed out, "my brother." After that, he just frowned. "What about him?"

"Think about it. If we had… you know what, it wouldn't just be between us both."

"Oh."

"Understand now?"

Jace's eyes flashed with annoyance. "Yes I understand. But…" he paused. "I don't think he can hear at the moment."

"That may be, but I'm pretty sure you know what tends to enhance your emotions… what if it bought down the barrier?" Clary sighed, nuzzling her nose into his cheek. "Would you truly prefer to rush things now, or wait for a time when we can relax?" her cheeks were growing more and more scarlet with every word. Oh god, Clary thought to herself. I'm talking about sex with Jace. Not… just that, but with him.

Clary had to admit though- she wasn't as embarrassed as she'd thought she'd be.

Jace stole a kiss from her lips. "I'd rather wait-"

"Good."

"-because then I can properly ravish you. Without any interruptions. I'd have you pinned down upon the bed, not a scrap of clothing on you. I'd kiss you until you were moaning my name against my lips." He paused. "Can you imagine that? My bare body…" his voice trailed off before he finally added, "and yours. I want to feel that, both of them pressed together. Moving together… Hot and heavy the entire night."

Clary's cheeks resembled the deepest shade of crimson possible. "Jace," she spluttered. "Can you…" she didn't know what to say. Jace's eyes were sparkling mischievously as he touched his lips to her jaw line, murmuring against it, "I won't lie Clary… I want you more than I probably should." He growled softly against her skin, adding, "I would have you here and now if I could. I've thought about it so many times. Too many times and I don't care. God I tried to get over you when we were merely friends inside our minds by sleeping with other girls, trying to fall in love with one of them, but nothing fucking worked. I'm yours, Clary. Every single broken part of me, every ounce of love that I have. It's always been yours. Everything."

"Jace…" Clary whispered in shock, but the boy ignored her words as his lips, so good against her skin, traveled to underneath her chin. She sighed in contentment, but then muttered out "Jace stop."

She didn't want him to stop. And he knew it.

Jace took hold of Clary's hips, standing up and placing her upon the edge of the table, crashing his lips back to her own. The table was pressing against her back as Jace pushed her gently down, but his lips were far from gentle. They were hot, hard and passionate. Clary had never been kissed like that before in her life. When Simon had kissed her, it had been more desperate than anything. But this kiss… where Simon's had felt wrong, this one felt so, so right. Clary couldn't help but gasp softly against his lips as she responded to them, letting her legs drape around his hips, crossing her ankles behind him as she pressed their bodies together.

Clary was attempting to hold onto her earlier words about waiting, but with her body pressed against Jace's own, and she could feel how hard he was underneath the jeans, she failed miserably. She could lie to herself and say she didn't want him, but the truth was she did.

Her fingers were shaky as they ran themselves over the front of his jeans, breath catching in her throat. Clary cursed her unsteady hands as she moved it to the top button, tugging it open. Jace's own hand was starting to pull down her pajama bottoms, but Clary whispered out, "Jace stop. I don't…" she didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to do? Sex in the real world wasn't something she knew much about. The emotions that were coursing through her were alien and strange. But she loved them. Especially since it was Jace who had caused them.

But before he could reply or relinquish his grip upon her, the kitchen door opened and the pair heard a "oh by the Angel-!"

Isabelle, whose eyes had been sleepy before she saw the sight of Jace straddling Clary upon the table, were wide. She stared for a moment before just backing out, telling the pair, "do continue." The door shut and Clary sighed, resting her head back against the wood of the table. "Great," she muttered, out of breath, raising her hands and resting them upon Jace's back. "Just great."

"Could have been worse," Jace shrugged, leaning down and brushing his lips to her own. "Could have been Alec. Or your mother."

Clary turned her head to the table, realizing with her cheeks reddening once more they'd knocked Jace's cup of coffee off the surface in their hurry to be all over each other. That was probably what woke Isabelle up. The sound of smashing China and coffee spreading across the floor. They hadn't noticed.

"I think she saw your boner," Clary told him innocently. She was expecting Jace to get off her without a word, not to press it against her, causing her to gasp in surprise.

"I think you felt it," he told her teasingly, causing Clary to groan and jab at his side with a finger, telling him "off. Now. We're not having sex on the kitchen table, or even tonight."

He was grinning playfully as he did so, taking the seat he'd vacated. Clary cocked her head lightly and slid off the table and onto his lap, knowing full well what it would do to him.

Jace growled softly at her, narrowing his eyes. "Now who's playing dirty?"

"You love it," Clary smiled innocently, settling herself atop him. She was sure that his boner wouldn't go down anytime soon, feeling smug. Jace stood up, keeping a tight hold on Clary's hips as he hitched her up onto his own. "Time you went back to bed," he told her. Clary was grinning playfully at him, tutting out as he opened the door with his foot, "this must be hurting you."

"It's agony." Jace leaned forwards, whispering into her ear as they walked past Isabelle who was fast asleep again and Alec who was still out for the count, "you've no idea how much I want to lock your bedroom door shut and tear those pajamas off you." His breath tickled her ear as he added, voice even softer, "I'd keep you there until you were screaming my name. A writhing mess underneath me. Or I could bend you over the kitchen table, which works too. But I'd like to see your face and be able to kiss those lips of yours."

Clary felt her heart start to race, the words, "and then what?" escaping her before she could stop them. Her cheeks were red again. They'd reached her room and Jace pushed it open with a foot, stepping inside as he answered, no longer whispering. "Mmmn. There's a lot of things I'd like to do to you. Well-" he dumped her down upon the bed, hitching a leg up so he was sat upon her legs. Clary could see the playful but devilish smirk about his lips as she leaned back. "Well," he said again, his hands skimming up her body, pushing her shirt up a fraction so a section of smooth stomach was bare. Jace's lips touched it gently, the boy satisfied when her stomach seemed to contract at the feel of him there.

Clary groaned gently, hearing him mutter against her stomach, moving down a fraction, "use your imagination. Especially with my lips down… here." His words were innocent enough, but the meaning behind them was anything but and Clary knew that. The temptation to let him prove his words true right there and then was beyond tempting, but she knew they couldn't. Not this morning. Isabelle had seen them and had enough sense to ignore the situation and go back to sleep, but her mother wouldn't.

As his lips traveled down even further, Clary's hands shot down, taking his face into them and making him look at her. "Not. Tonight," she told him firmly. "And getting me all flustered when we can't is cruel."

"I'm a cruel person," Jace winked, grin downright mischievous. It was the kind of grin that would have made any girl sell their soul for. Simply for a night with him. Or be near him.

Clary couldn't deny that. Tonight, that morning, whichever it was, he really was being cruel. Her body was crying out for him, to be touched in a way she'd never been before. And she couldn't have it. All she felt was frustration, wanting to tear his clothes off him herself. Clary wanted to wind her hands into that golden hair…

Jace suddenly sighed, pulling his face from Clary's hands and laying his cheek atop her bare section of stomach. He started speaking, but Clary wasn't sure whether it was to no one in particular. Himself. Or her. His words were almost a growl. "I just want one fucking night without anything happening. One fucking night where I'm sane and we can be normal. Is that too much to ask for? Are we really that cursed?"

Clary frowned at that, staring down at the boy. His golden hair was hiding his expression, but she could tell he was pissed off. And maybe a little upset but he'd never show it. Never ever show it. She sighed, raising a hand and brushing his hair back- their moment wanting each other's bodies was gone in a snap. Clary knew she should have expected something to happen.

"It's fine Jace."

"No," he snapped, sitting up and shoving her hand away. It's not okay. It's never, ever been okay. We will never be normal. Just… we are fucked, Clary. I'm fucking mad. Insane. I even just ruined tonight with this… mood. This freaking bastard inside my head. I don't want this insaneness to become associated with how I love you. That it's this making me want you, because I swear it's all me that wants you. God I want your body so much it hurts sometimes. What I want… I just want… There was a crazed look about his eyes, and a moment later, Clary realized something.

"Jace," she muttered in a worried voice, taking his face between her hands once more. "Did you just-? I heard that inside my-?"

My head hurts Clary. It hurts so much… I don't want… I didn't come onto you because of what- I mean I just- for gods sake. I -

He couldn't finish or make sense and Clary knew she was right. The barrier hadn't even lasted a day. He realized too a moment later and just gave up, burying his face into her neck. Jace's next words weren't mental. "I'm sorry. I am just so, so sorry. I didn't mean to say all that about wanting you. I mean, I do want to have sex with you but I made it sound like I wouldn't give you a choice and that wasn't what I…" he growled at himself, unable to find the right words to explain himself.

The girl sighed in defeat, glancing to the bedroom door that was very nearly closed. She lay down, Jace still with his face in her neck.

Clary lay there with Jace's head resting on her chest now, listening to the steady thump of her heart. She was stroking his hair back gently, the dawn creeping through the curtains, causing it to shine like spun gold where it hit it.

She'd never imagined her Jace to be so beautiful. So heartbreakingly beautiful, and yet so broken at the same time. Her brother had pressed and pressed down on him so much that he was beyond depressed. Beyond just simply sad.

But he had her. And Clary didn't plan on leaving him.

She pulled the covers up over them both just as Jace muttered out, "it's back up for now."

Clary snuggled closer to him. "Feeling better?"

"I think… it's tied to my emotions. I wanted to kiss you and it got so out of control with lust. By the Angel so out of control. When I got mad it fell." Jace was frowning now. "Jonathan wants to break me. Me in particular. He didn't target you, he targeted me." He froze and Clary frowned. "Jace?"

"So why don't we believe that he's done it?" Jace told her slowly. Clary shook her head. "I don't understand."

Jace sat up, eyes glinting in the sunrise like pools of molten gold. "The barrier will fall down tomorrow night for sure. Around then. What if we use that to our advantage? Jonathan has no idea what's happened while it's been up. As in… he just knows a moment ago. When I was angry. When I…" he paused. "I hated you a moment ago and couldn't help it. I hated life. I wanted to… die. I would have ignored your words and just… taken you here. What if he thinks I've truly gone insane like he wanted me to? We can lure him in. I can hold onto myself long enough to do this."

Clary understood now. "A trap," she said slowly. "That's… we can't pull that off. That's impossible."

"Oh yes we can," Jace told her confidently. "He'll come and find me, gloat at my madness. Probably even try to kill me himself. Which is perfect." His smile was sharp, like a seraph blade. "I'll ram a dagger into his heart. He wants to stop his suffering, I'll do it for him. In a way that benefits us."

"This is madness. You won't even be able to stay yourself long enough for that!"

"Do you trust me?" Jace asked, eyes serious. "And I mean completely. Not… you can't have doubts. None at all."

Clary nodded. "I trust you."

"Because you won't like what I have to say. I cannot tell you any of the plan. If you think of it… he will know. You already know too much. When this goes down, I want you asleep or unconscious. Just some way that he won't know. He can't connect with you."

Clary just stared. "Are you saying," she went slowly, "that you expect me to let you walk into the literal lions den?"

"I can't tell the others. If they know, they'll act different, even if pretending. No, they have to believe I'm mad."

"You are mad!" Clary snarled, slapping his chest. "This is insane! I won't let you do it."

Jace chuckled, catching her lips to her own. They were angry, trying to pull away, but still he held on for a few seconds longer. He just needed to kiss her, to apologize for the things he'd said. As he pulled away, he told Clary softly, "if this goes to plan, just think Clary; this torment will be over." Jace grabbed her shoulders, staring into her emerald eyes. "If Jonathan dies, the link breaks. Don't you know what that means?"

Clary nodded, gazing back. There was a determination about him that she'd never seen before. She did trust him.

"Hey," Jace mused, waggling his eyebrows. "We can still have crazy sex even when I'm better. Pretty sure I can replicate that."

Clary gave up, shaking her head and lying back down, tugging him down with her. If her mother wanted to give them grief about sleeping together, she didn't care.

All she wanted was to sleep with him. Just for one night. Cuddled up together. And him as Jace. As normal Jace. Free from the torment of her brother.

"I refuse to let you do this," she muttered into his chest.

There was silence until he replied quietly with, "you can't stop me."

Clary knew she wouldn't be able to. Which was what scared her the most.

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