Chapter 102: 102 ~ Mira
I stepped out the next morning, rolling out my suitcase.
I didn’t fight him the previous night because I was too jet lagged and tired. But if Jace thought he was going to trap me here like he did the last time. He had another thing coming.
"Where’s Jace?" I asked the chef setting up a full table for breakfast. I thought he’d be at the table because when I knocked on the door to his bedroom there was no answer.
"Good morning ma’am." She said.
"Good morning. Where is your boss?" I asked impatiently.
She looked scared as she looked behind me.
"He’s right behind me isn’t he?" I asked with a deadpan look. She nodded frantically.
How he always snuck up on me like a panther, I would never understand I thought as I sighed and turned around to face him.
His eyes went straight to my suitcase before coming back to my face.
"Where are you going?" He questioned.
"To my apartment."
"I thought we agreed you’d live with me."
Why on earth did he look confused? Was he kidding me right now?
I huffed. "No. You thought about it and once again brought me here against my will. I did not agree to it. And no, Jace, I am not doing any of this bullshit with you."
"Mira-"
I clamped my fingers in a gesture that meant he should keep his mouth shut.
Yes, my heart was thumping. I was telling a very dangerous man to keep quiet while I talked. Me of few years ago would have thought this was crazy but that girl was gone. Long gone.
I continued. "You have no right to hold me against my will. And if you try to keep me here, I have the police on speed dial and even if you can evade them, I have journalist friends. You don’t want a scandal of this magnitude do you?"
I couldn’t believe I was actually blackmailing, the Jace Romano. It seemed like I’d lost my mind.
But surprisingly, he seemed impressed. His brows arched and his eyes lit up in something that resembled pride and amusement all at once.
I kept my neutral expression as he hovered around me, clapping slowly.
"I’m so proud of your growth sweetheart. You are not the same woman I met few years ago." He drawled.
"You finally get the memo." I retorted with a bored expression.
"I always have. I just wanted to see how far you would go."
He seemed amused and it irked me even more.
I watched him fold his arms and lean back, devouring me with his eyes like I was one of the meals set on the table behind me.
I wasn’t even dressed up. My face was bare of makeup. I was dressed in a frumpy lounge wear that was in the suitcase he made them pack for me so there was nothing special about my outfit that made him look at me like that.
I felt heat creep up my cheeks so I looked away. This was exactly why I needed to stay as far away from him as possible.
"Okay Mira, let’s make a deal."
"Why would I want to make deals with the devil?" I asked with a sigh of exasperation. This man never knew when to stop.
He chuckled darkly, leaning dangerously close. "Good thing you realize you’re married to the devil."
His whisper in my ear sent slight waves of sweet shock running through me.
"Step back." I shoved him slightly, still playing defiant despite the fact that he was messing with my senses, not just with the scent of his cologne but with the warmth radiating from him as he stood so close to me.
"Every time you get feisty like this, it makes me want to bend you over and spank you till my name is the only thing you can pronounce correctly."
Jace didn’t care that we were not the only people in the room. No matter how low his rumble was, I was sure his staff heard exactly what he said.
I swallowed.
"Do it then," I retorted casually.
His eyes darkened.
In one swift move, he lifted me over his shoulder. I yelped.
"What the hell are you doing?" I screeched.
"Exactly what you dared me to."
There was no point struggling with someone with hulk like strength but I fought anyways as he walked towards the stairs.
A gasp eluded my lips when he spanked me.
"Stay put." He ordered in that deep no nonsense baritone that commanded authority.
Somehow it worked on me and I actually listened.
He took me straight to his bedroom.
Once he set me down on the floor, he clicked the locks behind him.
"Don’t even think about it." I warned him, trying to run out even when I knew it was impossible.
"You know you’re not going anywhere until we finish what we’ve started." Jace said, eyeing like a snack.
I scoffed unable to form a retort as I looked around his room. It was different. It didn’t have that gloomy vibe his room in New York had.
It had a brighter theme and was less dark than his usual style.
"I made it look this way because I was tired of all the darkness." He said, aware that I was looking around.
He continued. "You were the only light I had in my life Mira. And when you left, I couldn’t handle the darkness on my own anymore."
I immediately turned to him. Our eyes locked and I saw the sincerity in them.
There was something his softened gaze did to my heart. It was one of those moments when Jace looked more human to me than all those times he posed as someone tough and rigid. Right now, he wasn’t the Don Romano. He was just Jace. My Jace...
I looked away again. The moment had become too intense.
"I’m sorry for everything Mira." He said barely above a whisper.
I watched him swallow hard.
This was a moment that could change everything.
But I didn’t know what to say. Here I was, plotting a revenge for a man that I still had a soft spot for. A man who seemed to love me and be genuinely sorry for all he had done to hurt me.
What I was about to do would probably further complicate things but right now, I was throwing caution to the wind. I would worry about the rest later if necessary.
I closed the gap between us, stood on my toes and covered his lips with mine.
I felt him relax as he held me close.
Our tongues fought for dominance as our lips joined repeatedly.
"I love you Mira," he said breathlessly as we pulled apart for air.
It was on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to blurt it out that I loved him too. But I wasn’t sure I was saying the truth at that moment because I was still so conflicted, so I said nothing back.
"What’s the deal you wanted us to make?" I asked instead.
"I won’t force you to live with me. You’re an adult and I should not treat like a property."
I grinned before I could stop myself. "Talk about character development." I teased him.
"I’m being serious baby,"
My heart fluttered at the endearment.
"Baby?"
"You’re my baby." He maintained as he nuzzled my face.
I found myself giggling like a little girl.
"Okay back to the deal."
"There’s more?" I arched my brow.
"Yeah. I need you to come over. Often."
"By often you mean every day huh?"
"Not really but if possible, yes! I wanna see you every minute of the day."
I grinned cheekily. "Don Romano, when did you get so cheesy?"
"Only for you, beautiful." Jace kissed my knuckles.
My stomach grumbled just then.
"We should get breakfast. I’m starving."
"Now?"
"Yes. Now."
"I thought I had a promise to fulfill."
My eyes trailed down to see his visible erection. I swallowed hard as heat crept up my neck. It had been so long. To be honest, I really wanted to unbuckle his belt and have him bang me until I forget my name but that would be too easy.
I was supposed to make him work for it.
"Baby steps, Romano." I said in a teasing whisper, placing my hand around his bulge, teasing him even further.
He hissed. "Fuck, Mira."
"Hmm," I bit on my lower lip, digging my hand into his joggers, rubbing it over his briefs.
"Don’t tempt me woman."
"What if I want to?" I retorted, enjoying how his pupils dilated and the wanton desire in his eyes sprung forth.
I kissed him again and he hungrily swallowed my lips while I played with his cock with one of my hands while the other held his face.
"You’ll be the death of me." He said when I pulled my hand away.
I smirked. "I know."
"Take a cold shower, Jace. You need it."
I said as I unlocked the door and stepped out of the bedroom.
I heard him cuss again and my smile widened as I walked away.
Oh, I had him wrapped around my finger, alright.