Jace hovers around me like a hawk as I munch on some Honeycomb. About halfway through my bowl I drop the spoon and spin around on my chair to look at him.
"You don't have to babysit me. I'm fine."
He has been doing this since we left the hospital, staying close enough to practically be my shadow. He never even left the hospital the entire two days I was there, despite my insistence that he should. Then when we came home I told him he should get some sleep, but he said he had gotten enough sleep at the hospital so he was fine. If I didn't think it was kind of adorable, I would probably find it annoying. I'm pretty used to fending for myself, so having someone to make me a bowl of cereal and actually care if I'm okay is new to me. He moves to stand between my legs and kneels on one knee, getting so close that our noses are almost touching.
"I don't have to do anything. But I want to be here with you. I want to help you out in any way I can. I just want to be close to you, especially now that you're mine." He brings his hand up to cup my cheek and I just about melt into his arms. My heart is racing as I lean into his touch. My eyes briefly lower to those luscious lips and I imagine how soft they must feel. When I look back into his eyes they are more intense and dark than I've ever seen them. The way he is looking at me arouses me and I can't help lean in, practically begging for his lips to be on mine.
The hand on my cheek moves to the back of my neck and he closes the gap between us. Electricity shoots through me as soon as our lips touch and the world around me falls away. His lips feel as soft as I imagined and they move expertly against mine. I run my hands through his hair because I've wanted to do it ever since I saw though beautiful golden curls. His kisses become more passionate and I moan from the pleasure it gives me knowing that he wants me as much as I want him. My moan must excite him because he picks me up out of the chair and sets me on the table before pressing himself against me and deepening the kiss. He sucks on my bottom lip and I moan again, opening my mouth enough for his tongue to enter and caress mine.
Just as I wrap my legs around his waist and pull myself flush against him, we are interrupted by someone clearing their throat in the doorway. Jace and I quickly push off of each other but relax when we see that it is only Izzy.
"By the Angel, Izzy, don't do that to us! We thought you might be Valentine," Jace exclaims.
"Then maybe you lovebirds shouldn't be doing this in the kitchen, huh?"
"What do you want Izzy?"
"Wow Jace, aren't you sweet today?"
"He's sleep deprived and and in desperate need of a nap. I'm afraid that's my fault." She takes my comment wrong and gives me a cheeky grin. "No not like that! He stayed at the hospital the whole time I was there and hardly slept!"
"Oh I know, I just love giving you a hard time," she winks.
"Okay, Izzy. Whatever you need you're going to need to make it quick. Clary is right, I need to get some sleep."
"Actually, I didn't come to see you. I came to see Clary."
"Me? Really?"
"Yeah, can we talk?"
"Uh sure. Let's go to my room." Before I leave I give Jace a kiss on the cheek and tell him that he better go straight to bed. Then I add quietly so Izzy cannot hear, "And if you're good and do as I say, I'll join you later." I wink and watch his jaw drop before I turn around and bounce off behind Izzy as she takes off towards my room.
When I enter my room Izzy is already sitting on my bed, looking around at the artwork on my walls. "Well it's about damn time."
"What? Was I walking too slow?"
"No, not that. You and Jace."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean it's been written all over his face since the moment I met you. He's never looked at a girl the way he looks at you, and he has always looked at you like that. You don't know him as well as I do, but I know you're different. You have the power to seriously hurt him, and I want you to know that if you do, I will hurt you. He is practically my brother and I care about him."
I am touched, but also scared of her. Not that I would ever want to hurt Jace, but now I'm downright afraid if it. "Is that why you came here? To tell me that?" Quickly her demeanor changes from the strong confident woman I've always seen her as to a much more shy, unsure version of herself. She starts picking at her nails and takes a minute to muster the words she wants to say.
"Actually, um, I wanted to come talk to you about Simon."
"Simon?" I sputter incredulously.
"Yeah, you guys are best friends and all. So I thought you might have some insight into his feelings? Feelings in particular about me?"
I nearly fall off the bed laughing. Is she seriously not able to see the way he looks at her? Well now that I think about it, I didn't know he liked me. I stop quickly when I see the hurt look on her face. "Sorry, I didn't mean to laugh at you, just the situation. Of course Simon likes you. I mean, look at yourself. He would be stupid not to. I don't think he has ever met a woman so confident, smart, and downright gorgeous before. Just like you said with Jace and I, from the moment I met you, I could tell."
"Are you sure? He hasn't made any sort of moves on me and it sounds like he only wants to be friends."
"Trust me, I know about that, and he is just too intimidated by you to say something. I'm sure he thinks he doesn't have a chance in hell with you, so I know it's not traditional but you'll probably have to make the first move. Invite him out on a date and I know he won't say no." A brilliant idea comes to mind and I get excited. "Actually, if you want to do a group something, my birthday is next week and my father always throws this elaborate carnival thing to show off how much money he has. I know he is already going, but you should see if he will go with you." I am beaming by the time I am done because, you know, I am just a fantastic matchmaker who is about to make something great happen.
"That's actually a really good idea. You sure he'll say yes though?"
"Positive! And if for whatever crazy reason he says no, tell me and I'll go beat some sense into him!"
"Haha, okay. Thank you Clary, seriously. For me and for Jace. He really needs someone like you."
After Izzy leaves I sneak across the hallway and carefully open Jace's door. As I requested, he is sound asleep in his bed. I tiptoe over to his bedside and gently sit on the edge of the bed next to him. I can't help but admire him. He looks so peaceful laying there. After staring at him for an embarrassingly long amount of time, lingering especially long on his perfect muscles that are exposed where the blanket is only pulled up to his waist, I decide I don't want to disturb his peace and start to get up to leave.
Suddenly Jace's arms surround my waist and I am quickly pulled on top of him. I squeal in surprise as Jace nuzzles my neck and pulls me against his rock hard chest.
"Jace! Stop that tickles! Ah, let go!"
"Nope you tried to get away, so now I'm not letting go!" I giggle and settle on his chest as he stops nuzzling and looks up at me. He tucks some loose hair behind my ear and rests his hand on my cheek. "How did I get so lucky?"
"You? How did I get so lucky? You're like a damn model. Like what the hell? You are solid rock!" I exclaim as I poke his chest.
"Believe it or not, you are beautiful Clarissa. And smart, funny, creative, fiery, and just plain irresistible. You have an effect on everyone you meet and I've been falling for you from the moment I flashed that little light in your face in the castle basement. But I don't deserve someone as good as you. I'm, well, I'm not a good guy."
"Why would you say that?"
Concern crosses his face. I can tell he is afraid to continue, but thankfully he does.
"I'm not good to girls. I've never gone for anything serious, just flings with bimbos who only see my good looks and want nothing else. Ever since my dad died, no one has ever gotten to know me, not that I've let anyone try. I tried to push you away too, for many reasons. But you wouldn't let me. You saw me as something more than a pretty boy. You saw me. And I love that about you. You see the best in people, even someone like me who doesn't deserve it."
"Don't say that. You deserve whatever you want in life. You deserve someone who wants you for you, because you are a great guy. Though, I'll admit, the looks are a nice perk," I wink. My phone starts ringing in my pocket and I reach to get it.
"Nope!" Jace says as he flips me over and pins me down.
"No, stop! Let me answer my phone!"
"I got it, don't worry," he teases as he reaches in my pocket with one hand while holding both of mine in his other.
He looks at the collar ID briefly before answering. "Well hello there Maia." I give him the stink eye. "Yes, this is Jace. How can I help you?" he responds with a cocky smirk. "Where is Clary? She is, well, detained at the moment."
"Jace give me my damn phone! And let me go!"
"No, she is unable to talk, can I take a message?"
"I'm going to beat the shit out of you when you-"
"Shh, darling. I'm trying to listen to the riveting details of a party we are being invited to. Now, don't be rude!"
"Party?"
"Uh huh, yes that sounds fun. We'll be there! Meet us here at 6? Okay I'll tell her. Okay, buh-bye now." He ends the call and throws the phone over his shoulder.
"Hey! What the hell!"
"Ooh, you are in trouble!"
"What? Why?"
"Apparently you were supposed to tell her something? About us?"
"Oh shit. Yeah, she called us getting together days ago. I was supposed to tell her if she ended up being right. Heh. Oops. Now tell me about this party!"
Still holding my hands above my head, he lays his body flush against mine so I can feel all of his rock hard muscles press into me. I gulp as I try not the let my face show how flustered I am by this.
"We are going to a party tonight. You'll have to start getting ready soon, but first you are all mine."
"Oh yeah? And what, pray tell, are you going to do with me?"
"A little bit of this," he whispers in my ear before kissing down my neck. I moan softly. "And a little bit of this," he whispers while running his hand slowly down my side. "And a lot of this." He takes my mouth with his and kisses me softly at first. The kisses quickly become more intense and he releases my arms and rolls me on top of him again. I straddle his body with my legs, deepen the kiss and let his tongue consume me.
I get lost in his kisses for an unknown amount of time, but eventually I come up panting when I feel something harden below me. I sit up, my face surely becoming red as a beet as I stare down at him surprised.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I think I got a little carried away."
I slide off his lap and lay next to him. "It's okay. I guess I got a little carried away as well. I should, uh, probably start getting ready for tonight," I sigh. I get up and head towards my room, but I stop in his doorway. When I look back he is sitting up, watching me leave. I smile softly before saying, "I think we should also keep this all pretty low key. I really don't want the media getting wind of this because then our parents will find out and that is, well, super awkward."
"Yeah, I totally understand. As far as anyone knows, we are just going to the party as friends. But don't you forget, we are definitely more than that."
"You too Blondie. I don't want to see you giving attention to the countless girls who will be staring at you!"
"Back at you. With boys I mean. If you want to get cozy with some girls though," he winks.
"You are such a guy. Now I'm going to make myself look extra hot, just to mess with you."
"That is so not fair!" He shouts after me as I take off for my room. I text Izzy and make sure she is coming, then ask her to bring me something sexy from her closet since I know nothing in my closet will really do the trick. Oh this is definitely going to be fun.
I'm so sorry I just stopped updating for so long! I had a serious case of writer's block and I was just stuck, on top of being rather busy with Thanksgiving and getting ready for Christmas. Hopefully I'll get the next chapter to you much sooner!
Please review!