I've finally updated. So sorry.

Central Park was pretty. Green and lush, the grass swayed with the wind while the butterflies flitted from flower to flower, picking up nectar. Alec sat down on an empty bench, moody and depressed. Passersby glanced at him, but to them, he was just another young, handsome adult in a bad mood. A few girls that passed giggled in high pitched voices near him, but he didn't pay them any attention.

He wasn't interested in girls.

He was interested in Jace, his best friend. Alec frowned as he recalled Jace's voice, normally impassive and bored, take on a concerned tone while talking about Clary. Clary, who had almost died.

And Jace had saved her.

"Something happened to her, Alec. Something bad must have happened recently. What was it? Do you know?"

Alec's jaw tightened. Not recently. It'd been a while ago. "Yeah, but I'm not telling you. You'll use it against her. You'll break her."

That was only part of the truth. True, he was concerned for Clary. She was so strong yet fragile at the same time. Ever since she'd suffered her heartbreak, her heart had turned into ice itself to strangers. She'd only open up to her close friends.

But Alec was also scared that Jace would fall in love with Clary, even though Jace had protested against it. He'd seen the light in those golden eyes as Clary's name was mentioned. Maybe now he'd just want her in bed, but as soon as he knew Clary at heart, he'd never be able to let her go.

One thing would lead to another, and Alec would lose Jace completely. He wanted Jace for himself.

He loved Jace. Had loved him since high school. Jace had never noticed, and Alec didn't blame him. He could hide things well.

But Clary was something else. Alec knew he couldn't live if he had to survive day after day of watching Jace and Clary live happily together.

He needed Jace too.

…

"Claryyyyy, tell me," Jace whined, practically on his knees, begging her.

Clary grinned. Jace on his knees was a sight worth seeing. "Nope."

Scowling, he dusted off his jeans and sank back into his chair. "Fine. Then let's go onto our training."

"Oh, please. I thought you were joking about that." A nervous gulp.

The look on Jace's face said otherwise. "C'mon Clary. Practice on me. How hard can it be?"

Right, how hard can it really be? Clary took a deep breath. I can do this.

She placed her hand on Jace's thigh, immediately feeling shocks of electricity shoot through her whole body. Jace stiffened, his eyes trained on her every movement. She slid her hand up an inch, but then pulled it away. The sensation was too much to bear.

Jace's mouth twitched as he exhaled. "Is that all you've got?" He taunted.

The insult registered. Clary's hand clamped down on his thigh and, murmuring in a low tone, she shamelessly slid her hand up his thigh, leaning closer and closer so her breasts were in full advantage. And suddenly, she wasn't acting anymore. She felt it, the spark between them that held them entranced, staring into each other's eyes. The tension between them crackled like lightning, and Jace leaned into her touch, his leg hot and rigid under her rubbing hand.

And all she saw was his lips. Full and lush and soft, heading toward her. She wanted to take his bottom lip between her teeth and bite and suck it, to see if it was really as soft as it looked. She wanted to explore his mouth, to see how exotic and sweet he tasted. More than anything, she wanted to throw herself against him, her arms around his neck, and kiss him without abandon, until he was dazed and breathless.

He was so, so close. If she leaned forward an inch, their lips would meet.

Clary pushed off him, and she knew her face was flaming. "Good enough for you?" She said, trying to add a beat of defiance in it.

Oddly, Jace's cheeks were flushed too, and his eyes held lightning that wasn't there before. "Passed." He bit his bottom lip, tipping his head to one side and examining her.

Clary felt like screaming. She should be the one with those lips between her teeth. Her whole body screamed for him, the fire burning hotter and hotter, threatening to consume her. It took all her willpower to turn her chair stiffly around and stare blankly at the computer screen.

It was only when Jace left the room shortly after did she exhale and bury her face in her arms. "Jace," she groaned, closing her eyes.

"Yes?" A very low, very un-Jace-like sounding voice said.

"Nice try, Aline."

Aline pranced in, smiling like a too sweet lollipop. Her perfume was noxious. "What were you guys doing?"

"Nothing."

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "The things I would do to be you," she mused, sitting down on Jace's chair.

"Me?" Clary frowned. "You don't have to put up with a jackass coworker everyday."

Aline rolled her eyes. "Don't you get it? That's exactly why I want to be you. Hell, every girl here wants to be you."

Every girl wants to be me? Is she serious? Clary pinched the bridge of her nose. "Uh, you don't know the whole story."

Leaning forward in her chair, Aline tapped her perfectly manicured fingernails against Clary's knee. "I want Jace. And you are going to get him for me."

"Excuse me? Get him yourself."

Sharp thrusts of pain shot up her leg as Aline broke skin with her fingernails. "Got it?"

"Got what?"

In the blink of an eye, Aline's hand was gone and she had jumped up, furiously smoothening her black hair. "Hi, Jace," she sang.

Jace arched an eyebrow, and Clary, close to Aline, heard her breathy sigh. "Hi, uh, Aileen, was it?"

"Aline," Aline breathed, looking much like a hypnotized robot. "Clary has told me all about you."

Jace's eyes met Clary's over Aline's shoulder, and she was positive he was laughing at her. "Oh, really?"

Clary made the execution sign over her neck.

"Aileen," Jace said. "I'm kinda busy right now. Call me later."

Aline, not even noticing how he called her the wrong name, squealed, gave Jace a choking hug, and then bounced out of the room, blowing him a kiss. Rolling his eyes, Jace sat down, turning in his chair to face his computer screen, leaving Clary to stare at his back.

"Jace…"

"Shut up. I'm busy."

Scowling, Clary spun around in her chair. She rubbed her knee painfully. Jace was such an ass. A hot ass, but still an ass.

…

The man sat down in a chair across from the woman. She looked at him expectantly. "So?"

"Good. It'll be ready soon."

The woman smiled.

Okay, serious writer's block on this story. Ughhhhhh.

On the bright side, well, Aline's pouncing on Jace too eh? Three for one. And Alec's feeling a bit left out. Poor Alec.

Review please?