"How's this look?" Clary asked as she stepped out of the bathroom door.

Jace felt his heart practically stop. No. It did stop and he could barely breathe. God, the things he wanted to do to her were ridiculous, and it was just by a change of outfit. He shifted on the bed, hiding his obvious discomfort and stared open mouthed at her.

For some reason, she felt the need to get ready but then again to not make a big deal out of it. Jace liked that. He liked the fact she didn't take two hours to get ready.

What she wore though… whoa. Her jean shorts were… short. Really short and cut off, the flares handing down her thin, pale legs. Her top was a simple white tank with a small leather jacket that hugged her frame perfectly. Her hair was down, curling and a bit hectic from the bun that she had it in before. And her shoes, a pair of knee high black boots that were sexy as hell. She looked like a sexy biker chick that shouldn't be messed with.

"It's uh," Jace coughed, clearing his throat. The obvious amusement on Clary's face was impossible to miss and he wanted to slap himself for looking like an idiot. "It's amazing. You - you look fantastic."

She smiled at the ground and leaned her shoulder against the doorway. "I was honestly expecting something sarcastic."

"I couldn't come up with anything even if I wanted to," he said slowly, his eyes still raking up her body.

"Is that a good thing?"

He nodded with a smirk as his eyes were glued to her legs. "Leaving me speechless? It's a great thing." He stood from the bed, his eyes never leaving her as he walked over and reached down, grabbing her hand. She was hesitant at first, he could feel it, but she let him take it in between his in the end. "I'm glad we get to do this." He kissed her knuckles, smiling down at her.

She looked up at him through her lashes. "You are?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You haven't exactly been kind and caring towards me since we met, so I just figured you were doing this because Isabelle put you up to it."

He should've known he'd get this kind of reaction, but he had secretly hoped that she would stop questioning him for the night. For once, he was finally letting his inside feelings go, the feelings that held him back. He was dropping the chains and letting them free, but she didn't seem to buy it how he hoped she would.

With a sigh, Jace looked down at her small hand in his own, flipping over and running his fingers along her palm. She took a deep breath, her eyes closing and he took the moment to look at her, to really look at her. To look at the few freckles that decorated her face. To look at the way her hair framed it perfectly, falling around her like a red curtain. To look at her lips, to take her in any way he could get. He – for some reason – wanted to memorize it, to memorize her features and never let it go.

"Isabelle might have mentioned it, but that doesn't mean I wasn't hoping and praying you'd say yes to me. Believe me, I was. I was nervous as hell standing outside your door."

She opened her eyes, curiosity and something else lighting her green glow. "I just thought you were delaying it as much as possible."

"Never. I was just scared."

"You? Scared?"

"Yes."

She frowned at his seriousness. "Of what?"

Jace glanced down again, studying her tiny hand in his. "All the consequences that there are when it comes to caring about someone."

Clary moved her hand to grab his, their fingers interlocking as he dropped his other one to his side. He was fascinated how it felt under his skin. She was hot, physically, like her touch was warmer and more calming than anything he'd ever felt. At the party, he felt it but this was different. This was everything.

She squeezed his hand. "Why?"

"I've… I've seen what the pain of losing someone can do to people. I've experienced it and it isn't pretty." He looked up and past Clary into the bathroom, remembering all the times in his past. "It's not something I like to think about."

"Someone… someone broke your heart?"

He sighed, knowing that question was coming. "Not in the sense you'd think of." His eyes met hers slowly, cautiously. His mind was telling him to back away and stop while he was ahead, but his heart and body told that part to fuck off. "It wasn't a girlfriend or a first love."

She only looked more confused after that. "What was it then?"

"How about we go eat?" he asked, stepping back and heading towards the door. He knew he was stalling, but he couldn't stop himself. He wasn't ready for that. "We can talk about that later."

Clary watched him momentarily before following, slipping through the open door he held for her. "You're not off the hook," she said, turning and walking backwards to talk to him.

He nodded, following her. "I know. That's just not something I care to talk about."

"If I tell you a secret, will you tell me yours?"

He shrugged as they reached the door to the outside world, yanking it open and gesturing for her to step out. "That depends."

"On what?"

"On how deep and dark you're demons really are."

She smiled like a child with a secret. "I've got some stories to tell you then, Wayland."

He pushed her out the door with his hand gently on her lower back, feeling the strangest need to touch her every chance he got. His hand immediately went to hers, encasing it again as they walked down the hall towards Jordan's car that he borrowed. "I don't think they can be all that bad."

"Oh, believe me. I will win."

"Now, we have to get one thing straight. Are we talking embarrassing stories, demons, or the worst possible things that have happened in your life?"

She shrugged. "All three?"

"This is some deep shit for a first date."

"So this is a date?" Her voice cared a bit of worry, contentment, and what he really hoped was happiness. God, if she was as ecstatic as he was right now, maybe this will work perfectly before it comes crashing to its inevitable end.

He twirled her like in a dance, and she immediately obliged, spinning on her toes before he resumed pulling her along. "Do you want it to be?"

"Do you?"

"Are you going to answer my questions with questions?"

She paused for a moment, and her eyes widened slightly. He knew that look. He knew that flicker in her eyes. Fear.

"Not that it's a bad thing," he added quickly.

She shook her head, looking away from him as they walked. "Sorry. I just thought of something that… yeah."

"Was it something I said?"

"It's nothing. Just me being a girl. Don't worry about it."

Jace stopped just as they reached the car, pulling her to face him. She didn't meet his eyes, no matter how much he wished she would. "Clary, look at me." She didn't. "You don't have to be scared of me."

He really hoped that she got the implication. He wasn't like Sebastian. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her in any way, shape, or form, especially if it was anything similar to that bastard. She deserved better than Verlac. Hell, she deserved better than Jace, someone scared to love to begin with, but not having her didn't feel right either. It was confusing to say the least.

She nodded, stepping back and opening the car door. She slipped inside quietly, shutting the door behind her. And after a moment's hesitation, Jace followed and hopped in the driver's seat, hoping he didn't just blow the whole operation.

The so called date was actually going better than Clary had expected.

She wasn't really sure why she was worried it would be anything like her dates with Sebastian, because it wasn't. Jace wasn't handsy at inappropriate times. He didn't feel the need to touch her ass and snap at her. They could bicker playfully without an actual fight breaking out. It was just fun.

He was so different. It was good, but hard for her to handle. Saying thank you after guys hold the door open for you isn't something she was accustomed to. Sebastian never helped her into her seat. He never helped her out of the car. He never held her hand. But Jace did.

The dinner he took her to was amazing, just like the rest of the date. It wasn't anything spectacular, thank God. A simple meal at a small diner, accustomed to going by the lake a few miles from the college and walking around, holding hands. It was peaceful.

They talked a lot too. Jace asked her all kinds of questions, many that she reciprocated out of curiosity. Things like:

How old each was when they had their first kiss.

How many people they've kissed. Jace won that by a long shot that almost made Clary uncomfortable.

What each other's talents were.

Weird habits that they did when no one was around.

Who had the worst pet peeves.

Where each other's dream house would be and what it would look like.

And plenty of Would You Rather questions came about. More of that than anything came out actually.

It was just a bunch of simple things, and she loved it. Simple was good in anything and everything. When things got complicated, things got messy, so if Jace wanted to take it slow and gradually get to deeper conversations, she was happy to wait. The smaller things you know about someone is what really builds a relationship anyway.

By the time they made it out of the moonlight and back to the room, it was almost midnight. Clary led Jace inside quickly, jumping up on the bed and patting the spot next to her.

He raised an eyebrow, probably surprised by her forward actions. Even though she hadn't said no to anything tonight, she didn't initiate anything. She wasn't sure how, so just patting her bed for him was a big step.

He took it instantly, hopping up next to her. She leaned her head against his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. God he smelled good. And he was so warm. And so muscly. And just gorgeous.

Jace chuckled, pulling her closer. "You've been holding out on me."

"Not anymore," she whispered. The next move was hers, and she knew that. She could do it. She wanted to do it. Jesus, she needed to do it.

She bit her lip, turning her head and looked up at him through her beautiful and long lashes. His eyes trailed down her face, over her lashes, past her nose to where her bottom lip was pulled between her teeth. His gaze did warm and strange things to her body.

Her resolve finally broke. "Come here."

He obliged, licking his lips once before she finally pulled him in and closed her eyes.

His lips were soft, warm, and formfitting to her own, moving against hers in synchronization. Her heart pounded in her chest, beat after faster beat, and her blood was speeding in her veins under the pressure in her chest. Kissing him was like she was drowning and finally had air, and tension she built up through the night faded out in waves, making her relax and only want more.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, refusing to let their lips separate and pulled at him. He followed her lead until they were lying among her sheets and pillows with her art supplies on the floor, his body on top of hers in the most delicious way possible.

This was happening. She couldn't believe it, just because she never thought it would've ever happened. She was hesitant, and he was too. But that didn't matter now. He kissed her harder, letting his hands roam her torso and her legs. This whole night felt magical, like it wasn't real. But it wasn't a dream, right? He actually had his lips on hers, his arms around her, his body covering hers. He was real.

"You're not who I thought you were, Jace," she said when they finally separated. Her hands traced his face with artistic touches. "You're nothing like who I expected."

He kissed at her thumb when it brushed over his lips. "Who did you think I was?"

"A jackass who was hot, knew he was hot, and exploits women because of it."

He flashed a bit of hurt across his eyes, but pushed it away before she really caught it. For a second she thought she imagined it. "What made you change your mind?" he asked.

She shrugged, looking all over him except for at his eyes now. "Isabelle helped, but I just realized over the past few weeks that Sebastian is the guy I need to stay clear from. It was like I had an epiphany today, and when you showed up, it only kind of confirmed what I was hoping for."

"So what does this make us?" He leaned forward, kissing her one more time before pulling back. He rested his weight on one elbow, using the other to trail down her arms and cause the skin to rise.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Do you know?"

He shook his head, looking up to meet her eyes for the first time since they first kissed. "But I do know one thing."

She moved her hands back to his hair, pulling him back to his original position. "Which is?"

"I don't want you with anyone else." He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I don't want anyone touching you." He pulled the collar of her shirt down, kissing her neck. "Kissing you." He kissed her collarbone. "Feeling you like this." He moved to kiss her forehead, keeping his lips there before sliding down to her ear and tugging on it. "Especially Verlac."

"Jesus. Keep doing that and he'll never get the chance again."

Finally! She said it. Getting the words out released a weight that had been pressing down on her for days. And once she said it, she realized how easy it was for her to let go. She should've gotten rid of Sebastian weeks ago!

"Your wish is my command," Jace smirked.

He leaned back down until his lips started to work their magic on her neck all over again. Her hands went to the bottom of his shirt, tugging it up as he made her a mess underneath him.

He got the message and pulled back, ready to yank his shirt up and off when his phone started ringing. They both froze, Jace with his hands on his shirt and Clary with her arms at her head as her breathing refused to catch up with her. Slowly, Jace gave her an apologetic smile and pulled back enough to get the phone out of his pocket, pulling it to his ear.

"Hello?" he asked, looking down at Clary as he spoke.

She had a brilliant idea, one that just came to her on the spot, and she realized how different it was. She'd never do something like this with Sebastian, but this was Jace. She wanted to. He made her felt brave, and the bravery turned into other things she'd never considered before.

So instead of waiting like a good girl, Clary sat up and moved to straddle Jace. He leaned back on his heels, looking up at her now with his eyebrows raised. The person on the phone was loud and yelling over pounding music, but Clary let her focus drift from that to the beautiful man in front of her.

Her hands found their way to the bottom of his shirt, lifting it up enough so she could push her palms against his abs. She started to trace them, rising up and down his skin. His breathing faltered. To add to it, her head dipped down and kissed at his neck, touching him and rubbing him while he tried to focus.

"Ye – yeah, I hear you man," Jace said with a musky voice that drove Clary insane. "Just tell me when and where."

Clary pulled his earlobe in her mouth, licking it slightly before letting it go and kissing down his neck again.

"Yeah, we'll see," Jace answered and tossed the phone to the carpeted floor.

At one moment, Clary was straddling him and the next, everything changed. She was pushed against the pillows, looking up at him with her wrists trapped in his hands by her head.

His eyes were almost black now, the lust more than obvious and his breathing giving away how much his self-control was fading. She smiled at the thought.

"Everything okay?" she asked innocently, batting her lashes at him.

Jace caught onto what she was doing, shaking his head at her. "You're not going to get away with that. You're seriously testing me right now, and I want to know what happened to the shy, angry girl that would've never just teased me like that."

Worry suddenly set in. "You didn't like it?"

"Jesus, of course I did," he sighed, dropping his head to touch hers. "But you can't do that to me."

"Why not?"

"I can't handle it."

"Is that why you're hands are cutting off my circulation?"

He released her instantly, pulling back and apologizing a thousand times in ten seconds.

"Calm down, jeez. I was teasing," Clary smiled, leaning up to kiss him. "So, who was on the phone?"

"A party call," he answered, kissing her back in the process.

"What party?"

"A cabin party. Like the one we were at the night we met."

Clary pulled back, running her hands through his hair slowly. "Did you want to go?"

He shrugged. "Only if you'll be my date."

If he thought she was going to say no, he was insane. No way in hell would she deny herself a Sebastian free night with alcohol, accompanied by strangers and the blonde God above her.

She nodded enthusiastically. "Let's go."

For once, Clary was actually enjoying herself at one of these parties. She didn't have to search the crowd for her date, because he never strayed more than a few feet away before rushing back to her whenever some bloke thought it was okay to try to grab her. The fact that Jace felt the need to show she wasn't on the market made her jumpy inside.

"How many have you had?" his voice asked in her ear as she finished… her fourth drink? Was it three or four? Maybe five?

She shrugged, setting the empty red solo cup on the counter and turned. "Who knows?" He opened his mouth to retort but she drunkenly pushed her finger against his lips. "Let's go dance."

That was probably her best idea ever. Heavy bass songs were playing throughout the cabin, and Jace was one HELL of a dancer. He knew just how to hold her hips, how to bend his knees to her right level, how to push her back to his chest and how to make her feel secure, wanted, sexy, and needed all at the same time. God, he was amazing.

Her hands snaked up her body around the mass of people, sliding over her leather jacket, past her shoulders, up to Jace and into his golden curls. She pulled him down, his chin touching her shoulder, and he kissed it lightly while grinding against her.

"You really do look amazing," he said.

He kissed up and down her neck, wrapping his arms around her until his hands pressed against her abdomen to pull her back harder. Her body was pressed as tightly to his as possible, pleasure rippling from him to her.

"And you feel even better, Clary."

She felt amazing, personally. The alcohol was doing wonders for her. Nothing was spinning out of control yet, her inhibitions were fading and she was able to have fun without thinking about how much of an idiot she was. And Jace… well, he definitely was making her sore right now, flying higher than a kite in excitement.

They moved together with perfect ease, bending, sliding, and grinding in accordance like fit puzzle pieces. Jace kept whispering some of the sexiest things she'd ever heard in her ear, causing her to squirm in his grip. But she got him back, using her body to turn him on in ways she didn't even realize she knew. Guess living with Isabelle taught her a thing or two.

"Damn, Clary," one of the guy from the basketball team exclaimed when they saw her dancing with Jace. "I forgot you could move like that."

"I guess my dancing career didn't fade like I thought it would, Will," she smiled back. Her body was pulled a little tighter against Jace's. She didn't want him to think she was interested in anyone but him, so she reached back up and stuck her hand in his curls, making it obvious that she was with him.

Will noticed, nodded, but smiled anyway. "I'm glad to see Sebastian didn't ruin you. Have fun."

"Yeah," Jace said with a bit of sting in his tone, watching the guy walk away.

She turned instantly in Jace's grasp, feeling a bit angry at him. "You've been fine all night, and now you're acting like a jerk. Why?"

Jace sighed, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to him. "I didn't like how he looked at you."

"Seriously?"

"Every guy here wants you, Clary. That makes me nervous. I've been fighting them off of you all night."

She took a deep breath, calming her alcohol crazed emotions and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Will doesn't want me. Trust me. He's had his eyes on someone else. You shouldn't be nervous."

He shrugged, pulling her tighter when a slower song started to play. It wasn't that slow, but he just held her to him, chest to chest, and swayed with the beat instead of the sexual dancing they did earlier.

"I'm not the best when dating," he finally said, kissing the top of her head. "I don't want to screw it up, and I get jealous easily. It's not the best combination in this kind of setting."

"Then why did you want to come?" Her cheek pressed against his chest, feeling his heart beat under her skin.

"I wanted you to have fun tonight. I just forgot that every guy is as hungry for you as I am. And the fact that they've seen you in ways I haven't pisses me off."

"What do you mean?"

"They've seen you carefree and relaxed. No worries. Living life. I want that."

"Actually, they've seen a lot more than that."

Jace yanked her back, staring down at her wide-eyed. She could see the gears working in his brain, trying to calculate exactly what she just said. It was amusing to say the least.

But she didn't want to give him the wrong impression. "It was truth or dare," she clarified. "Will dared me to give Jem the stripper lap dance of his life last year. Naturally, I was shit faced and did it. A few items of clothing might have come off, and I might have tried to turn him on out of amusement."

"She succeeded too."

They both turned at the sound of Jem's familiar voice to her ears. He stood near them, surrounded and getting bumped by moving bodies as he finally made his way to their space. She could feel Jace sizing him up, tensing under her touch. This might not have been the best time for Jem to agree with her on something.

"She made me hard as hell," Jem added, sipping from his cup. He winked at Clary momentarily, brushing his white hair out of his eyes before looking at Jace. "Hey, man. I'm Jem." He stuck his hand out in greeting.

Jace didn't take it. "Jace."

"Wow. You're friendly."

Jace's look hardened even more. "I'm not exactly kind to people who talk about how Clary made them, and I quote, 'hard as hell'."

She sighed. "Jace, it wasn't like that."

"It was a dare, man," Jem clarified. "I swear that it didn't mean anything."

Jace didn't loosen up. "It better not have."

"I just heard that we had the old Clary back from some of the boys outside and wanted to come say hey. We've missed the fun, exciting you."

"Well, you're not getting another lap dance if you're wanting one, so get going," Jace snapped.

Clary's mixture of annoyance and alcohol was not about to handle this part of Jace.

"Okay, enough." She turned, glaring at him. "Come with me, jackass." She grabbed his hand, pulling him away from Jem before a fight broke out between the two. It was the first time she'd be able to have fun without Sebastian finding out and yelling at her, and she wasn't about to let Jace ruin it.

She yanked him harder when he resisted, probably coming up with something else to say. Eventually she found the stairs, pulling him up and into one of the many spare rooms. The sound of people and music faded to a lull roar as they were cut off by walls, and she was thankful for the quiet to get her mind straight.

"Well, that was quicker than anticipated," Jace smirked after she closed the door.

No. He did not just say that. She slowly turned, and when he registered the pissed off expression she had, she hoped he realized what a mistake he made.

And he did. "Okay. Shit. Clary, I get that probably wasn't the best way to handle your… friend."

"You think? Jace, you were a total asshole. Jem didn't deserve that."

"He stared at your ass as we walked away! He was basically panting."

"Like you don't?"

He looked like she slapped him in the face. "I'm attracted to you! I'm supposed to do that."

Her blood started to boil. Even though he admitted the attraction, she still felt the annoyance. Why couldn't guys just learn to leave things alone? They always have to get all macho and prove who is better.

She rolled her eyes, leaning back against the door and crossing her arms over her chest. Her stare was hard and demanding on his, and the alcohol was making her braver than ever as she was starting to sober up as well. She wasn't going to let this go lightly. Jace wasn't going to have a power over her like that.

He seemed to notice almost instantly. His body was tense, but he was fidgeting. "Okay. This isn't helping much, is it?"

"You think?"

"I don't know what to do at this point," he explained, dropping his arms and looking directly at Clary. "I'm used to girls coming and going. I'm not used to… you. I don't know how to handle how I want you."

"What does that mean?"

Jace pulled at his hair, visibly frustrated. "God, just you being you might actually ruin me."

Clary was starting to get as frustrated as he was. "You're not making any sense. Would you just spit it out?"

"Losing you scares me! That's all I got. It scares me. You scare me."

His outburst was accompanied by his body moving so fast she barely caught it. He somehow had himself in front of her before she could register it, looking down at her with his hands on the door to either side of her head. They didn't touch at all, but the heat was already seeping from one and into the other.

He sighed, looking down at her. "I've never cared about losing a girl. I've never gotten attached, but I've only kissed you a few times and losing you scares the hell out of me." His forehead touched hers, and she felt her resolve falling slowly by his touch. "Everything about this scares me. I don't want to get hurt, but I couldn't imagine you being with anyone else. And when Jem looked at you, I just wanted to beat his face in."

"You can't do that," she shot back with a stern voice. "Jace, I have friends. I'm not going to let you control me. I've been down that road, and I don't want the pointless arguments with you."

He nodded. "I know. I'll be better. I promise. And I'm sorry."

She reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck to let him know that it was okay. She wasn't over it, but it was okay. Her head went to his chest, her forehead pressing against it as he pulled her away from the door and into him.

"You're apologizing to him," she mumbled after a few minutes of silence.

He chuckled, the sound vibrating throughout the room. "I will tomorrow."

"Why not now?"

He pulled her back to see her face. "You're being demanding."

"That's because you–"

She didn't get any more words out before she was suddenly cut off by his lips. There was no warning, no slight pause. One second she was talking, and then her eyes fell shut at the pressure and pleasure throughout her whole body. Why did she like the fact he shut her up like that? Was she supposed to?

She sighed into his mouth as he pushed her back into the door, their bodies lining as their mouths assaulted one another.

This was heaven. There was no other way to describe it. Every nerve ending in her body was alive, and where touched her nothing but heat and a burning desire remained. Her skin was reacting to every little thing he did. She didn't bother fighting it. There was no point. Hell, every part of her wanted him in every way possible. And maybe it was the alcohol, but she didn't want to stop. Ever.

Jace reached down, grabbed the back of her thighs, and lifted. Her shorts were short enough so that his hands touched her bare skin, his fingers dancing along the outside of her thighs as their hips aligned, her ankles locking behind his back.

They didn't speak when Clary broke away, slipping out of her jacket on her own accord as Jace watched her.

His eyes had darkened tremendously. Instead of the usual golden hue, they were darker and started to turn almost black. It was fascinating how he could change like that, and she itched to draw it. But when she tossed the leather jacket to the floor, she realized that she wanted something more instead.

Jace turned when she started to kiss on his neck, walking a few steps until she felt the sheets press against her back. He settled on top of her, pulling back from her assault to start one of his own.

She turned her head, giving him more access to her skin. His lips were addictive and every time he went to move to another spot, even for a split second, she missed them. But then he sucked a part into his mouth, right where her shoulder met her neck, and she all but cried out.

He chuckled into her skin. "Found it."

And he spent the next minute or so playing with that spot, moving his hands across her body where her tank top rolled up just to add to the pleasure. She knew that there would be a mark there the next day, knew that he was trying to prove a point, and she just couldn't bring herself to stop him. Her sweet spot was her weakness, and he found it on the first day. She was screwed, and happily accepted that fact.

She was a mess beneath him, squirming to get away while simultaneously attempting to get closer and closer. Her heart was pounding and her hands gripped his shirt with strength of the God's when he kissed her sweet spot on more time before pulling back, a smug smile on his face.

"Shit," she breathed out, looking up into his eyes. She was sure hers were glazed over. Her heart rate started to slow from his mile per minute pace but was still faster than it should be.

His stupid grin only got bigger. "You like that?"

She glared at him, his arrogance showing through. "Just take your damn shirt off."

She tugged against the material, pulling it up. He reached behind him and pulled, yanking it out of her grasp and off his head before sending it to some unknown spot on the floor. He shook his hair out, making it messy and even hotter than before.

Her hands and eyes went to his chest, touching and seeing the perfection that he really was. He pulled back using him arms to push himself up, watching her as her eyes watched her hands softly touch his torso. It was so hard, so curved and ripped, but so soft at the same time. How was that possible?

Not only that, this was just so different. She was never allowed to touch Sebastian like this. He was never one for much affection. All he wanted was something that would benefit him and not waste his time. Clary just figured that's how it always was with guys, but Jace let her do what she wanted, which was just trace and follow the lines of skin with her artist eye. It was something she'd always wanted to do since she saw him.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, cocking his head slightly to the side. The angle made some strands of hair fall in his eyes, which was both sexy and cute.

"How bad I've always wanted to do this."

"This… as in?"

There was more to that question than she'd like to admit. Did she want to go all the way? Yes. Would she? Maybe? She didn't know!

She stuck to the simple answer. "I've never had this kind of… experience."

He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing in the process. "What do you mean?"

"Sebastian never let me… touch him like this. He was a little too forceful for the softer part of a relationship."

Jace tensed above her at the mention of his mortal enemy's name. She didn't really blame him. The last thing she wanted was to bring his ass into the bedroom right now, but Jace asked.

"He was gentle at times," Clary continued, not even sure why she kept talking. Probably the booze's fault. "We'd cuddle and whatnot if he was in a good mood, but normally he'd just want whatever felt good to him, and he never really cared about how I felt. I never got to do this kind of thing." She put her hands on both his pecks, feeling his heart under them. "And I'm kind of glad."

"Why?"

"Cause I'll get to do with you first."

He smiled, touching his forehead to hers. "Can I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"You remember the day I fought Verlac at practice?"

She thought back, and remembered it vividly. That was the day she finally walked out on Seb, fought against him and left. "Yeah."

Jace sighed, pulling back to look back down at her. His eyes weren't the darker colors anymore. The golden had made its way back, curiosity and concern showing through. "I don't want to upset you by asking this."

She suddenly got really, really nervous. "Okay?"

"I have to know why you decided it was okay to sleep with someone who treated you so badly."

She jerked back, dropping her hands from his chest. His accusation was there. She heard it, and it hurt. "What are you talking about?"

"Sebastian said–"

"I never slept with him! Are you crazy?" Without thinking about it, she pushed him off of her. He collapsed next to her on the bed, staring at her with wide eyes as she jumped up, wrapping her arms around her torso from her spot by the bed. "I've got some dignity, Jace."

"Clary–"

"Is that how you think of me?" she demanded, turning and staring him down. "Do you think I'm a slut or something? That I'd just drop my pants so I didn't have to be alone?"

"What? No!"

"Then what the hell did you mean by it? You sure believed it pretty damn quick."

He pushed himself up, reaching out for her. "Clary, I'm–"

"No." She swatted his hand away with all the force that she had. Her anger was spiraling, not even sure where it came from to begin with. "Don't touch me. Answer me."

He dropped his hand to the bed. "I will if you gave me a chance."

"So what? I'm overreacting now?"

"Kind of."

"Jace," she warned.

"Okay." The brokenness in his voice almost broke her as well, but she kept her ground. She couldn't falter just by a little thing as a voice change. "I wasn't making any accusations. Sebastian said that you slept with him at practice, and that's why attacked him because he was talking bad about you. How was I supposed to know if it was true or not?"

"You could've asked me."

He chuckled, although the situation wasn't very humorous. "I just did and you flipped out on me."

The realization of the fact she might have over reacted a bit calmed her down. She took a deep breath, putting her head in her hands. Instead of just faltering her anger stance, she let the walls come tumbling down. "I'm a mess."

He laughed, and she felt his hand wrap around her wrist. This time, she didn't pull away. "Clary, you're intoxicated. If anything, you're a hot mess which, I might add, isn't a bad thing."

She finally looked up and met his gaze when he pulled her hand down, and the smile on his face caused all of her worry and stress to fade.

"Now, come here."

She did. Her body morphed to his on the bed, her hand on his chest, rubbing circles as he lied on his back with her head on his shoulder. She was acutely aware of his arm wrapped around her, that hand dancing across the skin at the top of her shorts.

"Did he really say that?" she asked after a few moments of silence, tracing the same patters on his arm that he was doing to her hip.

He sighed. "Yes. I'm going to kick his ass again too."

"Jace, don't."

"Why not?"

"You'll get kicked off the team," she reminded him. "Coach said that he's sick of it. He's not scared of losing you if you're the one that causes the problems."

"And that's a bad thing?"

She nodded, snuggling back into him. Her hand slid down to the top of his jeans, and the grunt that came from his throat was somehow satisfying to her. She didn't exactly mean for that to happen, but the sound was intoxicating. She wanted to do it again, but didn't. Biting off more than she could chew might not be a good idea yet.

"I don't want you to get kicked out of school for stupid reasons," she said, reaching back and twining her fingers with his on her hip.

She felt him smile and dipped his head, his nose brushing the skin at her shoulder as he planted a soft kiss on her shoulder blade. "He doesn't deserve to get off free when people believe what he says."

"I only care about how my friends think of me. And how you think of me."

"I'm different now?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

The bed shifted as he pushed himself up on his elbow, Clary's head rising and falling to the pillow in the process. The feelings she got when he looked down at her weren't normal. These were intense, a fire that was growing, and might be out of control sooner than she'd like to admit. Not tonight, but soon.

He touched her cheek, tracing her jawline before running his thumb over her lips. "You're different for me too, Clary."

She smiled up at him as he lowered himself once again, connecting her mouth to his again that night, and she was pretty sure she never wanted it to end.

But it did when the door burst open.

Jace barely pulled back when two new bodies stumbled into the doorway, slamming it behind them and cutting the music off from downstairs once again. They guy pushed the girl up against the wall, their mouths assaulting each other vigorously. The level of obliviousness they had was ridiculous.

"We could have some fun with this," Jace whispered, his face barely two inches from hers still.

She turned her head from the other two, looking back at him. "How?"

"All you have to do is–"

"Mmm, William," the girl moaned, catching Clary and Jace's attention.

And Clary couldn't stop herself from the intoxicated laugh that came out. Jace noticed immediately, pushing his hand against her mouth to keep her quiet. It only made it more amusing to her, her laugh getting harder and her eyes shut as she tried to hold it in.

"Shh," he whispered, chuckling to himself when he kissed her neck. "Be quiet, Clary. Jesus, you'll blow our cover."

"Will, baby, please," the mystery girl begged. "I need you."

"She needs him," Jace teased, causing Clary to shaking with laughter.

"I know, babe," Will cooed. "I know."

"Do you have a condom?" the mystery girl asked, jumping when Will picked her up and slammed her against the door. "Please tell me you do."

Will nodded, spinning to bring his girl to the bed. "Don't worry about that. I– what the fuck?"

Clary and Jace lost it at that point, laughing and smiling on the bed when they were finally noticed. Clary tucked her face into Jace's neck when he collapsed on top of her, hiding her burning face from her friend while Jace's was buried in the pillow.

"No warning, huh?" Will demanded, dropping his girl to her feet and glaring. "Seriously, Clary?"

They couldn't answer, couldn't breathe, couldn't stop laughing. She just gripped Jace and shook with laughter, glancing at Will once before losing it agian.

"Come on, Will," the girl begged. "Let's go somewhere else. Hurry up."

It was a few seconds until the door opened and closed again, leaving Jace and Clary in their amused heap on the bed, bodies intertwined. He slowly pulled back after they calmed down, looking down at her with a spark in his eyes.

"I like your laugh," he smiled bluntly.

She blushed, darting her gaze from his intense one. "Will is never going to live that down. I'm so telling Jem."

"You sure do know a lot of people, don't you?"

She nodded, twining her arms around his neck. Jace's bare back was smooth and hard, her hands sliding over his skin easily. She liked how he felt. Liked how he hovered over her with just the right pressure. Liked how he caressed her cheek and smiled down at her.

She liked Jace, officially.

"And, that was the Will from earlier, by the way," she mentioned, seeing the realization dawn on Jace's features. "He was the one that… you know… dared me to give Jem the stripper dance."

Jace nodded, his smile fading from his lips. "Oh, right. So I hate him."

"No you don't."

He gave her a stupid look. "Yeah. I do."

"Jace, you can't hate all of my friends." She reached up, touching her lips to his frown, holding there until she felt him respond.

He kissed her back softly, his free hand that didn't prop him up going to her hip, tugging her into him. "I don't hate Isabelle."

"You hate Simon."

"Well, yeah. He's an idiot," he said, kissing her cheek and jaw.

"And Maia?"

"She hates me back. It doesn't count." He covered her mouth with his again, tugging her tank top up slowly and surely.

Clary shrugged, accepting that those two would forever hate each other. Something about the tension between Jace and Maia wasn't fixable, so she didn't let it bother her.

Instead, she focused on the man above her. The man that touched her softly, carefully. The man that kissed her like he really cared, not that he just wanted her. The man that was actually curious about her art, her life. The man that got along with her best friend.

The man that, as of now, she wanted all to herself.

Date 1: Complete!

Tell me what you think! Good? Bad? Too fast? Too slow? I don't know. Review and give me your beautiful opinions. I hate to sound like this, but the more reviews I get, the more motivation I have to write.

Stay tuned for more later :)