Thanks for continuing to read my story. I'm almost done writing it, but I do have a lot more to edit and post! Already planning my next story, so more to come on that once I finish this one.

I haven't gotten the gist of only writing from one perspective yet, so I apologize if I switch periodically during chapters… it is all in third person, just different viewpoints. I hope it's not too distracting!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy some much needed Clace fluff…

Chapter 7 –

Jace didn't let go of Clary's hand until they walked into Howl At The Moon, which, to Clary's surprise, was a seemingly ran-down biker bar in the heart of downtown Idris. Jace placed his hand on Clary's back as he led her into the bar and didn't remove his hand until they were seated at the bar. Once Clary took a look around, she was surprised to see that the bar was much nicer inside than expected, and even had a DJ who happened to be playing an old 2000's song, making Clary nostalgic. Clary instantly knew she would like this place.

"This is so not what I was expecting, but I love it." Clary beamed at Jace who had slid into the seat next to her. She crossed her legs, exposing the slit up her left thigh and his hand seemingly involuntarily reached out to rub up and down her exposed skin.

"I'm glad, Bat – the owner – is a cool guy. We ride together sometimes on the weekends. There's a lot of cool places not too far from Idris. Maybe you should ride with us sometime." Jace winked at Clary.

"What kind of bike do you have?" Clary leaned towards Jace, as she asked. She found she was genuinely interested and wanted to know all about this apparently "hot-shot CEO" with a bad-boy streak. Who knew I liked bad boys so much? Clary thought. She almost laughed out loud thinking how different Jace was from Sebastian, and she couldn't help but smile at the thought.

Jace scratched the back of his neck with the hand that wasn't rubbing Clary's leg and looked a little sheepish as he said "It's an ARCH 1s, kind of my first big splurge once I graduated. Might have been a little bit of a fuck you to my parents, if we are being honest."

Clary laughed a little as she leaned forward a little more and said, "I have no idea what kind of bike that is, but I'm sure watching you ride it would be hot as hell."

Jace let out a breath just as the bartender walked up to take their order. "Hey Jace, didn't know you were coming in tonight. What can I get you?"

"Impromptu date, Al. This is Clary by the way. Clary this is Alaric, the manager and also one of the guys I ride with."

"Nice to meet you, Alaric. I would love a double bourbon with a splash of Coke, and we are going to need two Vegas Bombs, since someone pulled me to the dance floor before I could partake last night." Clary said with a wink towards Jace.

He raised his hand higher on her exposed thigh as he teased "I didn't hear you complaining, did I?" He looked back toward Alaric, "Double bourbon is fine for me, no Coke, and make that four Vegas Bombs… gotta keep my girl happy." he said with a smirk.

Clary laughed and played with his fingers on the hand on her thigh. She looked into his big golden eyes which were dark with lust. "So, Jace… you haven't told me what it is exactly you do for a living…"

"Ah, I work in marketing at my Dad's company. Pretty boring stuff, which is probably why I need to fill my weekends with more exciting activities." He said with his signature smirk.

"Exciting activities like open houses at art galleries? Hardly seems rebellious enough… maybe we should liven the night up a bit. Although, I never did ask why you were at the event tonight. Maybe a certain glittery fashion designer tipped you off? I highly doubt it was Izzy, considering she adamantly warned me away from you. As you can see, I like to rebel a little, too." Clary said with a smirk of her own.

Jace laughed as he said "And thank God for that. I was genuinely worried Izzy would ruin my chances with her ridiculous rules, but I hoped that either you weren't very close – since I hadn't ever seen you with her before – or you are independent enough that you wouldn't give a damn what she said, anyway."

Clary laughed and removed her hand from Jace's to play with her hair. He immediately squeezed her thigh once and began rubbing circles higher and higher, causing her breathing to hitch.

"I definitely wasn't interested in her opinion, I've always been kind of a free spirit, I guess. Comes with being an artist, I like to think. As far as how well I know Izzy… we are actually roommates, although we just met like three days ago when I moved in with her." Clary said with a big smile as Alaric returned with their drinks.

"So, it's customary to toast with shots, what do you say?" Jace asked as he handed Clary her first Vegas Bomb.

Clary nodded and looked into his eyes, "How about 'to making our own rules – together.'" Clary said shyly.

"Starting our very own Clary and Jace rebellion? I love it." Jace said as his eyes sparkled. In that moment, he couldn't think of anything more perfect… except maybe…

Before he could stop the thought, he had leaned forward into Clary and captured her lips with his gently. His free hand gently pulled the back of her neck towards him and his fingers twined in her curls during their brief - but explosive - kiss. He was intoxicated by her taste and smell that reminded him of strawberries, and he decided it was the best taste and smell he could ever imagine. He didn't think he would ever get enough of this intoxicating woman, so he forced himself to pull away, running his fingers through her hair and letting out a long deep breath. When he looked into her eyes, he saw a look of what he could only describe as awe.

"How do you do that?" Clary whispered softly.

"Hmmm?" Jace mumbled as he pulled away from her fully and released her hair.

"Kiss me with so much passion that I can't think of anything except the fireworks going off in my brain."

Jace let out a soft breath, "So you feel it, too?" Clary nodded, as he continued, "I don't know, Clary, I've never felt anything like that before. All I know is that kissing you is different, and I don't think I ever want to stop." Fuck, when did I become so damn soft? Jace wondered. Oh, yeah, maybe four years ago when I met the woman of my dreams.

Jace was drawn out of his thoughts by Clary handing him his shot and saying, "Fuck the old toast." Clary raised her glass up as Jace did the same and she said, "To living for the fireworks, Jace."

"To living for the fireworks, Clary." Jace agreed as they took their shots without breaking eye contact.

Clary and Jace spent the next two hours drinking and laughing like they had known each other forever; like they were two souls destined to find each other in each lifetime.

They found that they were both pretty good at darts, and that they were both extremely competitive. To fuel the competitive fire, they placed small bets on silly things like, "who could hit the double-bull first" or "I bet you can't hit a 15 on one throw". They started out wagering small things like shots or drinks, which quickly turned to kisses, which quickly became more and more heated as the drinks kept flowing. After Clary lost her last bet and was forced to give Jace a thirty-second lap-dance, she decided it was probably best to end the night before things got too out of control.

She wasn't sure why she didn't want things to go further yet, she just had a feeling that tonight wasn't the night for that.

"Shit. I totally forgot I drove to the event tonight. My car is in valet, and I sure as hell can't drive." Clary said while leaning forward into Jace and wrapping her arms around his neck. Jace was seated on a bar stool and Clary was standing in between his legs, when she leaned forwardit felt like every inch of her was pressed up against Jace and he involuntarily let out a groan at the contact. He had just calmed down from the damn lap-dance.

"Do you want to crash with me, and I can bring you to get it tomorrow? I Uber-ed here, so we can always get a car back to my place, if you want." Jace said huskily, as he moved a piece of hair behind Clary's ear and breathed in her scent.

"Actually, I think I want to go home tonight… alone." As she uttered the words, she could see Jace's face fall and his body tense at the thought that she didn't want to be with him. Realizing she had given him the wrong impression, she moved her hands to his face and forced him to look in her eyes as she said, "I'm having an amazing time with you, Jace…and I don't really want to take things slow per say, I just feel like tonight has been so perfect, and I kind of just want it to end just like –"

Jace cut off Clary's rambling with a deep kiss that made her toes curl and made her want to take back everything she had just said. Okay, I do want this… a lot, she thought. She moved to deepen the kiss further when Jace pulled away.

"It's okay, Clary… I get it. As much as I want everything with you, I also want the time to be right. There's no need to rush. But you have to promise me that we can see each other soon, or I won't be able to let you go."

"Tomorrow night, or I guess it would be tonight, come over and let me make you dinner. We can hang out without a crowd and see if there's still a spark when we are alone."

Jace laughed out loud and shook his head, "Are you really still doubting our spark, babe? I would love that, but what would Izzy think?"

"Jace, haven't you learned by now that I really don't care what anyone else thinks? Especially about us… it's really none of their damn business." Clary said with conviction.

Jace smiled even wider as he kissed her chastely and said, "You are so perfect, babe. Okay, tomorrow night, your place. Here, put your number in my phone, so I can text you when I'm on my way." Clary did as he said and made sure to text herself, so she had his number, as well. "Now let's get you a cab and I assume Izzy can bring you to your car tomorrow?"

Clary, still too struck by him calling her "perfect" just nodded and smiled as she wondered when the other shoe would drop. No one can be this perfect, right?