A/N: Let's go clubbing!

CLARY

I've learned in the past few days that Jace and I are the type of people who detest talking for the sake of talking. We thrive in a comfortable silence. But now as we saunter slowly down the streets to "Paris' most hip and happenin' club" (Magnus' words, not mine) we're locked in a cycle of tense, uncomfortable conversation.

Magnus skips ahead, arms linked with Alec as he drags him along behind. I teeter alongside Jace unused to the height of the heels and the buzz of alcohol.

I stumble but before I have the chance to react Jace has wrapped his long, musician's fingers around my elbow to save me. The skin on skin contact burns me and I jerk away from him, falling in the process. This time he curls his hand around my waist, laughing under his breath. I shiver and he releases me immediately.

"Are you cold, Fray?" He asks softly. I shake my head hurriedly but he begins to slide himself out of his leather jacket. I shriek in protest and he freezes, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"No, no," I mumble, striding away from him. "We are not doing this whole flirtatious, you-give-me-your –leather-jacket-and-I- go-weak-at-the-knees thing. I'm not going to be another one of your conquests .I have a boyfriend. A boyfriend I love very much."

There's a heartbeat of silence. Jace grasps my arm again but not in the gentle way he does to right me. This was cold and purposeful. He spun me around to face him and his eyes matched his grip. "I don't know what illusions you're under Fray but I'm not doing anything flirtatious. I was being nice and that is all. I certainly wasn't trying to come on to you. I don't want you."

He lets go of me gently but he might as well have thrust me to the floor from the emotional recoil I feel from his verbal slap. I watch him stalk ahead in open-mouthed confusion. What was I thinking, accusing him of coming on to me? We all knew that was never going to happen.

I dip my hand into my purse and fumble for my lipstick. I reapply it meticulously before following the group once again.

JACE
I'm a douchebag. I'm a complete and utter asshole and I know it too. I hurt Fray for no reason than to assure myself. I could see it in those jewel green eyes that had me pinned like a butterfly. Instead of the sharp Fray I normally saw there was a sea of hurt. It was when she accused me of coming onto her that I had to push her away. Just to ensure there was no attachment between us.

Alec wisely chose not to comment on my murderous expression once we reached the overflowing line at the entrance of the club. It only took Magnus a sparkly wave of his hand to grant our immediate access. I am immediately grateful for my best friend's taste in men as I charge toward the bar. The place is swarming with tight, sweaty bodies in the fluorescent purple light. It's bright and flashy, the sort of place Magnus and I would thrive. I throw down a tequila shot. I have no idea where Fray is, nor do I care.

An hour later that's not true.

I amble over to where Magnus and Alec are wrapped around each other and flop into a black leather loveseat. Alec is perched on a pouffe with Magnus astride his lap. I ignore their smooching and shake my damp curls. Wild dancing and sever alcohol intake can really work up a sweat. My thoughts are cloudy with only a single green eye clearing through the fog.

"Hey," I shout at the lover-boys over the din. "Where's Fray at?"

They steadfastly ignore me.

"OY," I roar, louder.

Magnus indicates the dance floor without breaking contact with Alec. I scoff but look in the direction.

The floor is a writhing mass of bodies but her flame curls stand out a mile. Her eyes are alight and her smile impossibly wide as she grinds against some French fucker. My alcohol fogged brain growls and I lurch from the chair and into the swarm of people.

A stunning blonde in a slinky red dress slides her hand along my chest as I pass but I shove her off more roughly than I intended. My thoughts are filled with a flame that can't be doused by a slutty blonde. I reach Fray and her boy-toy launching myself between them. Fray gapes at me, alarm etched on her face.

I don't spare the Frog bastard a glance as I grasp Fray's hand and manoeuvre her through the crowd to an exit. She protests violently and I can hear her scream my name over the din of the club. Eventually I'm left with no choice but to stop. Instead of letting her escape like Fray expects when we've stopped at the bar, I slip a hand around her waist and hoist her over my shoulder. Nobody spares us a glance, save for the bar tender who raises his glass to me.

I make my way to the side entrance and kick the door open. I step into the warm summer air as Clary shouts at the handful of smoking patrons in the alleyway to help her. Some ignore her, some laugh at her but none help her. I let Fray slip into a standing position, breathing heavily and unsure why I brought her out here.

She sinks against the brick wall, defeated and begins disentangling a curl that has become stuck in the sinful lace of her dress. I shove my hands in the pockets of my jeans, uncomfortable and confused.

Her head snaps up suddenly and her jewel-green eyes pierce me. "What did you bring me out here for Jace?" Her voice is quiet and even as if her spark had been dulled. I think of the grin she wore dancing with her eyes alight with pleasure. I want to ignite that passion in her more than anything.

"I brought you out here because… because." I don't know what to tell her because I don't know myself…

"Forget it Jace," She sighs and straightens, heading for the door. As the scent of sweet lime and raspberry encases my senses and a drifting curl slides along my cheek a single clear thought crosses my mind. My hands are around her waist in seconds, thrusting her against the wall.

Stop. Stop. My conscious screams at me. I can tell my ferocious grip is hurting her but she doesn't seem to complain. Her piercing gaze traps me and I lean close to her so that I can feel her erratic heartbeat through the thin fabric of her dress. I'm drowning in her scent and her lips are the only thing that can save me. I brace my hands against the wall and skim my nose along her hair and neck. I swore to myself that I would never kiss her, never become attached to anyone again but with Fray I'm like a moth to a flame. There is no restraining this want, this need for her but before I have the chance to surrender my mouth to hers she has slid one hesitant hand around my neck, the other resting gently in my hair.

I groan, powerless to her innocent charm. Her breathing is laboured and all it takes is one sigh of my name before I crush my lips to hers.

The contact is like the first swig of alcohol after a year of abstinence leaving a pleasurable burn in my mouth. Several moments of feverish ecstasy ensue, her soft plump lips syncing in perfect rhythm with mine as she eagerly responds to my touch. The soft combination of her skin and leather coats me as her hands roam freely down my biceps, all the while deepening the kiss. My hands move to grasp the soft swell of her ass through her short skirt. She grips my shoulders as she raises her legs and locks them around my waist.

This draws me closer than I ever thought possible. My erection strains against my jeans as she writhes against me. After several moments or possibly centuries we break apart, gasping for air. Kissing a girl has never left me breathless before and I drink in her expression, savouring the moment.

Her eyes are ignited with passion, the eyeliner smudged and smoky but only adding to her allure. Her cheeks have a satisfied glow and her lips are swollen from kisses, my kisses. She is silent as her breathing returns to normal and as I press my forehead to hers the silence is broken by my utterance of a single word.

"Clary."

A/N: I'm so nervous about the reaction to this chapter. Let me know what you think.