🔥🔥🔥Warning❗️Fire alarm chapter coming your way!😏😉😘

My knee has been bouncing, my foot thumping a steady indent into the ground, for nearly half an hour. Screw the entrancing flames of the bonfire in front of me or the people dancing and drinking around me, I can't focus on any of it. Every few minutes I glance over my shoulder towards the parking lot, hoping to see her walking back this way. And every time I'm left disappointed and more irritated than the last.

Where'd you go, baby?

Lexi stormed out of the woods earlier with some other people and jetted for the parking lot. From here, I can't tell if her car is still there or not but I'm about to find out.

Pushing up from the folding chair I stole from Wild, I nearly send the damn thing flying back as I turn for the lot. I could grab one of the four-wheelers and make the trek easier, but I'd rather use the walk to cool down and get my thoughts in check. The last thing I need is to find Lexi over there and snap for no fucking reason other than the fact that I'm losing my mind.

"Aye!"

Damnit!

With a deep breath, I slowly turn around as Marcel wobbles over, his medical boot slightly weighing his leg down.

"Don't you dare take off and make me chase you, Hall?" Marcel threatens with a grin.

Biting my tongue, I force a smile on my face. "Not like you could catch me if I did."

"True." He nods before his eyes flick from me to the stretch of field I was heading for. "Going after her?"

"Maybe."

"I'm not gonna dog you if you are. Just thought I'd see what's up before you disappear too. I may have only been M.I.A. for a week but it feels like I've missed a year's worth of shit," Marcel says, his smile slowly fading away.

Briefly glancing behind me, I nod. "Yeah, you aren't the only one."

These last few days have dragged like a fucking snail, and I don't have any more answers now than I did a week ago. Other than Lexi feeling like she has to do whatever it is she's doing. But besides that, I'm still lost and each day that goes by something inside me splits and fractures more.

I'm going to lose it soon.

"How can you be missing shit? You've been here the whole time?" Marcel asks, his eyes narrowing as the gears turn in his head.

I ignore his question though, too ashamed or pissed off to admit just how far in the dark I am. "Have you talked to her?"

"For a little bit when we first got here but then you guys rolled up and I figured I should check-in."

I nod, looking back at the parking lot once again. "Well, you should talk to her. Maybe she'll tell you more than she's telling me."

He opens his mouth, another question already burning in his eyes that I don't feel like answering. With a pat on his shoulder and my feet already shifting to turn around, I cut him off.

"Look, I'm gonna go. Just check in with your sister and see what she says. I'll talk to you later."

I turn to make my move, but he calls out to me anyway.

"Jace!"

Stopping before I can even get going, I keep my back turned to him.

"If there's one thing I know it's that Lexi loves you."

I grit my teeth as another crack in my chest splinters.

Hope you're right, buddy.

"For her to be doing whatever the fuck it is she's doing, there's gotta be a damn good reason," Marcel continues. "I'm gonna try and figure out what's going on, but I need you to keep it together till then. If you lose your head, there's no telling what could happen. For all we know, she's in a hard situation that could only get worse if you blow up. So, as a friend and a brother, I'm asking you to get yourself under control, okay?"

I can't make that promise. I wish I could, but I'd be lying to both of us if I did. The angry beast that lives deep inside me won't be tamed. Not when its chains are already rusted and broken. I can fight it all I want but if something doesn't change soon, I will lose control.

It's inevitable.

And then he hits me with another bomb. "Maybe it has something to do with Caleb?"

I suck in a sharp breath as my body turns to stone; rigid, hard, and cold.

"Maybe she's just trying to find a way to deal?"

Looking over my shoulder at him, my face twists with anger as I force the words past clenched teeth. "With Derek of all people?"

Marcel shrugs in the corner of my vision but even he doesn't look convinced. "I don't know. I'm just trying to make sense of this. I never thought she'd do this."

That makes two of us.

"But...we all lost someone important to us and we haven't exactly been given a lot of time to mourn with everything else going on." He runs his hands over his face but even from here, I can see the loss shinning in his eyes. "Just give me some time to look into this. Alright?"

No, it's not alright. Nothing is. I've lost my girl and...Caleb.

Just when we were finally learning to leave the past behind us too.

I'm left with two open wounds in the center of my chest and I just keep bleeding out. So, no, I'm not alright, and if I must hurt then I'm taking others down with me. Caleb's killers, Derek, and if I have to make Alexis feel my pain too just to wake her up then I will. I may be a Guardian but I'm not above playing dirty if that's the only option I have left.

But I can't say any of that to Marcel. So, I go with the only answer I have without fucking lying. "I'll try my best."

"Thanks, man. I appreciate it."

I nod and walk off, already feeling like I'm going against everything Marcel just asked of me.

Try my best? Right.

Turns out trying my best is jogging around the parking lot like I'm lost in a maze, my head whipping around in search of Lexi's car. After the second time around with no sight of it, the urge to hit somethings burns through my veins as I curse the sky.

I've got no other choice. I'm going after her.

While I climb onto my bike—thank fuck I was smart enough to bring it with only a handful of others—I send Kade a quick text telling him what's up, and then I'm off. It doesn't take me long to reach my destination, thankfully, and my race kicks up as I turn onto her street. The energy that's filling me is equal parts adrenaline, excitement, and apprehension.

Does she even wanna see me?

But all of that quickly drains away as I get closer. Through the shield of my helmet, I make out Lexi's house but it's not her house or the lights that are on that have my attention. Oh, no. It's the random fucking car parked out front, a black Mustang with silver and red stripes that I've never seen before. The fact her mom's car isn't here is only making matter worse in my head.

Sliding in behind the unknown car, I quickly park and toss my helmet onto the bars without caring if they fall or not. Every muscle in my body bunches and tenses as I storm towards the front door. When I lift my fist, I try to reign myself in and knock lightly but the sound of a dude's voice bleeds through the kitchen windows on the side of the porch and I lose it.

"Alexis!" I bang on the wooden door like an animal. "Open up!"

The voices inside go silent.

"I know you're here! Your car's in the damn driveway! Open the fucking door!" I continue to beat on her door until it finally opens up.

Lexi glares at me expectantly with narrowed eyes, one hand on the doorknob and the other on her hip. But I don't say a damn thing, not until I brush past her, walking inside and looking around the front hall like I'm going to find someone right away.

Where is he?

"Where is who?" Lexi asks, making me realize I've thought out loud without meaning to. "What the fuck is going on, Jace? You can't just..."

Cutting her off, I tip my head towards the door and the car I know is parked out front. "Whose car is that out there, Lex?"

"That's what this is about?" She shakes her head, with a hint of laughter in her gorgeous fucking eyes. "Oh my God."

"It's not fucking funny, Alexis! Derek is one thing, but someone else? There's only so much I can fucking take!" My voice sounds weak even as my words roar through the hall.

I'm gonna lose it. I'm gonna fucking break.

She shakes her head, reaching out to me as I stumble back. "It's not what you think. I pro..."

"Everything okay in here?" a male voice asks from behind me, cutting Lexi off, and confirming my worst fear.

My blood runs cold as I slowly turn around. Standing in the kitchen entrance further down the hall is some dude, dark hair, dark eyes, and dark clothes. But that's not what alarms me the most, it's the actual look in those pitch-black eyes that hits me. It's the look of someone who isn't scared, someone who's seen some serious shit, and maybe even done worse. It's the kind of look I've only seen in a few others—mostly Vipers—like they've either lost or are damn near close to losing their soul.

I look back at Lexi and even she seems stunned by the way this guy is watching me, but she quickly recovers. Shaking her head, she slides around me to stand in front of him. Fucking protecting him. This random guy I've never seen before who stands there like he owns the goddamn place!

Oh, buddy.

My hands clench into fists at my sides. "It's not what I fucking think? Fucking really, Alexis?"

"Aye, man, don't talk to her like that," the guy says, his eyes narrowing further as he steps up behind her.

My vision focuses on his hands, fucking daring him to try and touch her now that he's that close to her. When he doesn't, my attention flicks to meet his head-on.

"I don't know who the fuck you are, but I suggest you back the fuck up!" I growl, stepping closer.

"Stop!" Lex yells, throwing out her arms and placing a hand on both my chest and his, pushing us away. "Stop! This is all so un-fucking-necessary!"

I can take this guy. I'm twice his size, even if he does look confident as hell. He almost reminds me of both Wilder and Kellin in the fact that he's not built like a train and yet an air of competence surrounds him. But I know I can take him if I have to. Fuck his assurance and that homicidal look in his eyes.

"Jace! Are you listening?" Lexi grabs my right hand and wraps it in both of her's. "Please, calm down. This is not what you think. I swear."

My gaze briefly disconnects from his to look down at her pleading hazel irises. I'm a second away from getting completely lost in her sapphire speckled moss and cedar eyes when someone clears their throat.

"What in the world is going on out here? Who swears what?" an edgy but bubbly feminine voice asks.

Snapping my concentration from Lexi's mesmerizing stare, I glance up to see a girl standing behind the mystery dude. She casually leans against the frame of the kitchen entrance, but she watches me with the same alertness as the guy.

They have to be related. Same black hair, lean figures, same wide dark oval eyes, and the same cocksure attitude. Though admittedly, the chick doesn't hold the same eerie essence as the guy.

"Jace," Lexi says softly as waves a hand at the two behind her. "This is Kwan and Mila."

Where have I heard those names before?

"Carl's kids," she adds.

My stomach drops as I instantly throw my head back to stare at the ceiling and suck in a sharp breath. "Shit."

"That about covers it," the girl, Mila, says with laughter in her voice before heading towards the stairs. "Oh yeah. This visit is gonna be one for the books. I can see it now."

Reluctantly, I drag my attention back to Lexi, prepared to meet a stormy rath in her eyes. But instead, she's looking over at the guy, Kwan.

"It's okay," she tells him softly. "We're good now. You don't have to stick around just for me. I'm sure you're tired."

With those words, he fails to contain a yawn.

"Alright. Just let me know if you need anything." He nods and shoots me another death glare before following his sister up the stairs.

Lexi doesn't even look at me. With an exaggerated huff, she stomps away but she doesn't tell me to go, so I take that as an invite and follow after her. By the time I step into the kitchen, she's already cleaning up a mess of bowls and ice cream toppings from the island. The only bit of light to guide her is the one above the stove while everything else is dark, completely shut off.

"Want me to hit the switch?" I ask, pointing to it on the wall next to the entrance.

She shakes her head. "No. I have a migraine. The dark feels better."

Biting the inside of my cheek, I nod and walk over to lean against counters. I watch silently as she rushes back and forth from the island to the sink, the fridge, the trashcan, all while refusing to look at me. It's the silent treatment and lack of eye contact that eats at me, but I know she's not immune to the tension between us. It's in the way she moves, fast and shaky.

However, I was the asshole just minutes ago and I'll own up to that.

"I'm sorry," I say, finally breaking the silence.

The corners of her mouth turn down as she throws a container of sprinkles in the cabinet and slams it shut. "I appreciate the apology, but I am not the only person who deserves to hear that from you tonight."

"You mean Kwan."

"Yes!" She snaps, spinning to face me head-on, her eyes burning with fury. "The twins are going to be my siblings, we are going to be family, and that means a lot to me. You know that. You've known it since I found out about the engagement and then you storm in here and act like a possessive lunatic. It's not only embarrassing but hurtful that you would even think I'd have some random guy in here like that!"

My mind is a mess of contradicting emotions. Her words make me feel like shit for how I acted but they also stoke the flames that have been threatening to consume me for days now.

"What do you want from me, Lex? You want me to run up there right fucking now and tell him sorry? 'Cause I will if that's what it'll take, but you can't blame me for losing my shit with everything that's been going on!"

Stubbornly clamping her mouth shut, she turns away from me at the island, her hands white-knuckling the counter's edge. Silence hangs between us once again but just when I think I'll have to speak up, again, she drops her head with a sigh.

"I'm doing the best I can, Jace. I...I might even have an idea worked out to try and fix this shit but I have to be careful." Closing her eyes, she sucks in a deep breath. "You should go. If Derek finds out you were here, he'll..." She bites her lip to keep from finishing that thought while she squeezes her eyes tighter.

I get what she's saying, and it reminds me a lot of what Marcel said earlier. That I could wind up making all of this a lot harder for her, and that's the last thing I want.

But I'll also be damned if I leave here because it's what he wants. Fuck Derek and fuck what he wants.

I want my girl. I want to feel her in my arms, taster her lips, and feel her touch on my skin. I want to make her feel safe, be the reason she smiles, hold her tight, and never let go. And I know she wants that too. I can feel it radiating off her; want, need, desire, love. She's craving me just as much as I'm craving her, and it's killing us both. That's why she still has her eyes tightly shut, she can't bear to watch me walk out that door. But I couldn't walk away right now even if I wanted to. Not when her heart and body are silently calling to me, pulling me in like a moth to a flame.

No matter what, Alexis and I have always been like magnets. Drawn together whenever we're close, and this time is no different.

My feet move towards her before I even realize it, closing the painful fucking distance between us until I'm standing behind her, flushed with her back. An instant shiver runs through her, and satisfaction tugs at the corners of my mouth.

"Open your eyes, baby," I lean down to whisper in Lexi's ear. "I'm not going anywhere just yet."

She tries and fails to bite back a whimper as she shakes her head. "No. You have to go but I can't...I can't watch you walk away. Not this time. I've already had enough for one night."

The ache in her words tears at me until I lose control. But it's not like before, with rage and anger fueling my veins. No, this time it's my need for her snapping like a fucking twig. A compulsion to put both of us out of our misery if only for a little while. I need it more than I need to breathe, to just drown in this intense connection we've always have and remind myself that we haven't lost it. That I haven't lost her.

I grip Lexi's waist with both hands and softly push against her until she's completely trapped between me and the island. With nowhere for her to go, my mouth finds her neck, kissing and tasting her skin like the sweetest treat in this kitchen.

Her head falls back against me with a small moan. "J-Jace...please, don't make this harder than it has to be."

"Too late for that." I nip her ear. "I've been hard for fucking days and there's been no relief. I need you, baby."

To prove my point, I thrust forward, letting her feel every inch of me against her backside, already hard as a goddamn rock. My cock presses against the zipper of my jeans to the point of leaving behind painful indents but when matched with the way she feels against me, it's an intoxicating kind of torment that fills me.

Lexi tenses for a moment, her eyes shooting open wide as the back of her head rests against me and the tip of panic pricks my thoughts.

She's gonna push me away.

But just as quickly as the fear in her gaze appeared, it fades away. Closing her eyes, she relaxes against me, pushing her ass back to feel more of me.

"You said no relief?" She asks in a breathy tone that nearly does me in.

I spin her around, forcing her to face me as I push her back against the island. Grabbing her hand, I lead her touch to the throbbing hard-on trying to break free.

"What do you think?"

A coy smile tips her lips as she continues to rub her hand up and down my length through my jeans. "What about my panties you stole?"

A growl resonates from the back of my throat. Lexi's flirtatious and teasing side has always been a turn-on for me, one of my biggest weaknesses.

"Temptress," I rasp, leaning down to lightly pull her bottom lip with my teeth.

She mewls at the contact before I lean my forehead against hers, breathing in her air.

I knew that move in the closet the other day was going to stick with her. Just as I'm a goner for her secretly seductive side, she's always loved the filthy things I say to her when I'm at my breaking point and feigning for her.

"You're not getting those panties back, babe," I answer.

"That's not what I asked."

I can't take it.

Moving faster than expected, I find her jaw with my mouth and create a trail of heated kisses. "You wanna know if I used them to stroke my cock?"

She whimpers her response and nods.

"Fuck yeah I did. So much so those lacey little things are nothing but worn-out scraps now and all that's done is make me crave you more." I nip the soft spot below her ear that turns her to putty in my hands. "You gonna let me steal another pair tonight, baby?"

But my girl always has ways of surprising me, like now, when her hands go for the buttons of my jeans and she asks, "What do I get in return?"

My dick twitches with excitement as I groan and stop screwing around. I slam my lips to hers and pull her so close she loses her grip on my fly. But all I can think about is her lips on mine, tasting the sweetness of her mouth and more. It's a dizzying urgency that has me losing all sense.

Without holding back, I force my tongue past her plump lips and growl when it connects with hers. But I'm not the only one feeling this dire demand to throw caution to the wind and just succumb to this pull between us. Lexi's movements are just as desperate. Her mouth matches mine, her head turning to deepen the kiss as she clings to me like she could fuse us together forever. When her hands slide up my neck to tangle in my hair, the sensation for more grows.

In a heady chaos of lips, teeth, and tongues, I manage to pull off her t-shirt and toss it to the ground. She's left in nothing but her bra and a pair of PJ shorts that look two sizes too small for her thick ass. I grab hold of one cheek in my hand and squeeze hard, making her arch into me while I imagine sinking my teeth into the tantalizing flesh.

Before I can think, I'm moving down her body. I suck and kiss every inch of skin I can, and when I get to her tits, I pull on one of her hardened nipples through her bra with my teeth.

"Jace!" She moans, shaking against my touch.

And fuck if I don't almost just come in my jeans from hearing my name on her lips, wanting and lost in the way I make her feel. The way only I can make her feel.

But I need more.

More, more, more.

I continue my exploration, feathering light kisses across her taut stomach. When I finally fall to my knees in front of her, I lightly nip her hip bone and pull her shorts and panties down in one go.

She sucks in a sharp breath that only spurs me on more.

Grabber one of her legs, I toss it over my shoulder opening her up for me like the best fucking dessert in the world, and look up. My eyes meet her hooded lust-filled gaze, her chest rising and falling rapidly with each panting breath she takes.

"Try to be quiet, baby. We don't want anyone to hear," I instruct, my voice ragged and thick with hunger.

The island will act as a barrier in case someone accidentally walks in, which is a real fucking threat that I'm too gone to fully give a shit about. But at least we can try to be discreet by keeping the sound of our dirty encounter down.

Alexis bites her bottom lip, swollen from my kisses, and nods. It's all the permission I need, but as eager as I am, I've never been one to give up the chance to tease her.

As tense as she is with pent-up frustration, Lexi keeps herself wide open for me, no signs of shyness, letting my gaze dine on her beautiful pink perfection. I run a finger through her slick warmth, smirking at her sharp intake of breath. But what I find practically steals all my ability to breathe.

"So fucking wet, Alexis," I growl, my attention flicking up to find her watching me, those hazel irises darkening more by the second. "Hold on tight."

She grabs the counter behind her, and I'm gone, diving in to run my tongue along her center. Her sweet taste floods my tongue and I lose my mind. The beast inside me that's been starving for her is set free, wild, and reckless.

My mouth closes around her clit, and her hips buck against me, greedily demanding more. But I'm just as greedy as she is. I nip, suck, and lick at her most sensitive spot until her body is humming with tremors. Just when I can feel her pulse racing through her pussy, I pull back, refusing her that release so soon, and lavishly lick down to her core. My heated tongue slips deeper inside of her, burrowing to her succulent essence, and showing her exactly how I'd fuck her in case she forgot.

"Oh, God, Jace," she softly cries and releases the counter with one hand to grab hold of my head, her fingers lacing in my hair.

Fuck.

My cock grows impossibly harder, turning my jeans and boxers into a vice. It's too fucking tight.

As quickly as possible, I finish the job she started on the fly of my jeans and shove both them and my boxers down far enough to free my aching cock. I grab the base and slowly start stroking myself while moving back to her clit and slipping a finger inside of her.

When another moan leaves her mouth, louder this time, I look up from between her legs. My eyes tell her 'not again' but deep down I'm grinning like the fucking Devil. Yeah, we could get caught. It's a very real possibility. Yet I love how she can't hide from me, how her body responds despite the danger. She can't help herself and I know that's my doing. A fact I'm fucking proud of.

A crease forms between her brow and her hand flies from my hair to cover her mouth. She's so fucking close. Her leg trembles on my shoulder while the other is locked to keep from collapsing while I continue to feast like a starving animal and fuck my fist.

As she notices what I'm doing with my free hand, a groan resonates from her heaving chest. Seeing me beat off turns her on, her face flushing with desire. Her eyes threaten to roll back in her head, but she fights it, holding my gaze as I lap at her. I slide a second finger inside her tightness and thrust faster. Fastening my mouth around her sweet nub, I fucking growl from the increasing flow of her pleasure coating my tongue, and the vibration shoots into her, sending her right over the edge.

With a muffled gasp behind her hand, her body arches, and those mesmerizing hazel eyes pop open wide. Alexis shakes like her body is a live wire and her hips roll, riding my face with each wave of her orgasm.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" She quietly chants when her hand falls and the last tremors slowly subside.

But I'm not done. My cock pulsates in my hand with the need to come.

Surprising the hell out of Alexis, I drop her leg and quickly stand, only to turn her back to me once again and push her against the counter. A startled breath flies from her lips before turning into a slow moan that sends shivers down my spine. I'm dying to bend her over, fist her hair, and slide into her welcoming pussy. The image so tempting and taunting as it fills my head. But I can't.

For one, I didn't bring a condom. I never thought for a second tonight that I would be where I am. And for two, I meant what I told her the other day.

I'm not going to fuck her unto she's fully mine and willing to admit it to the world. Only then will I completely give in to what we both want, and not only fuck her but make love to her until I'm all she can remember.

With that in mind, I continue pumping my dick, the tip of it playing with her ass while I hold her as close as I can.

"Jace, please," Alexis begs.

"Not this time, baby," I rasp in her ear before kissing along her neck.

"You sure?" she asks with a shuddered breath before she presses against me. "I want you, Jace. I want you so fucking bad. I miss...it all. You. Us."

"Alexis!" I growl, nipping at her skin and making her moan.

I know she's lost in a haze of longing, but I also know she means every fucking word, which makes denying her all the more harder.

Keeping one hand on my cock, my other wraps around her body to revel in the feel of her skin. Splayed wide, my fingers skin her stomach, slowly sliding up. When I reach her breasts, I cup one, squeezing and groaning before finding her nipple and rolling it between my fingers. The move pulls another soft groan from her throat, making me smile against her neck. But when I move my hand further up and reach her collar bone, I feel the faint remnants of a memory that feels like it was years ago rather than just mere weeks.

A rumble vibrates in the center of my chest as I trace my bite mark on her flesh. It's nearly healed, the skin no longer bruised and the indent so slight that no one would notice unless they were looking for it. But I notice. I always will. Even when it's completely gone as if it never existed, to begin with.

"Jace," Lexi whispers, opening her mouth to say more before quickly shutting it.

A sharp pang hits me, but I try to push it down, continuing to kiss her heated skin. "I know, baby."

And I do. I know we both wish things were different. That we could go back to those days instead of hiding in the darkness of her kitchen trying to take what little salvation and happiness we can find in each other.

One day. Soon.

Shoving those thoughts away, I spin her back around and slam my mouth to hers. I take what I need, and she freely gives it to me as my release races closer.

Alexis wraps her hand around mine, stroking my cock with me, joined together. Sparks begin to simmer in the base of my spine and I grit my teeth, feeling each sensation heighten. My temptress pushes me to the edge, kissing my throat and teasing my pulse with her teeth until she reaches my ear.

"Come for me, Jace."

It's a move I've used on her before, but my-fucking-god does it work in reverse. Her voice calling to me like a fucking siren is the final straw and do as she says, I come...hard. Throwing my head back I bite down on my fist, fighting back the savage roar that's trying to escape from my throat as I cover Lexi's stomach with my release. She doesn't complain though, a satisfied smirk gracing her beautiful face while she continues to slowly pump every last drop from my dick.

Finally spent, I lean down to gently take her lips with mine. "Fucking amazing, baby. As always."

A blush creeps across her cheeks before she quickly darts around me. "Thank you. You weren't bad yourself."

"Ha-ha, real funny Alexis."

Her grin grows wider. "We need to clean up."

She grabs a washcloth and dampens it in the sink behind me before cleaning herself and then tossing me another so I can do the same and then tuck myself back into my jeans. But when she reaches for her clothes, I quickly snatch up her panties first.

Dangling the blue lacey material from the tip of my finger, I smirk. "I wasn't kidding. I'm taking these."

Lex rolls her eyes but the gleeful spark there and the smile on her lips is exactly what I needed tonight. Even now, with things as messy as they are, she still lights up my whole fucking world.

"What're you doing on Christmas?" I ask suddenly, a plan forming in my head.

She sets her shirt on the counter and slides on her shorts. "Presents with the family, probably an early dinner. After that, I'm not sure. Normally I'd go to Marcel's and visit but they're driving out of town to see family this year."

"So, would you maybe be able to sneak off with me for a little while?"

I give her my best puppy-dog eyes, something that hasn't really worked since I was a kid, but she laughs anyway and nods.

"Yeah, I think I can spare a little bit of time." Her smile falters just a little. "But...we have to be careful. I'm still not free yet."

The darkness that's always hanging over our heads slowly crawls back into place.

"I know." I nod, struggling to hold onto this moment of happiness as long as I can. "But you got a plan right?"

She sighs. "Yeah. Not sure how great it is, but it's all I got right now."

"Let me help."

She shakes her head and steps back. "No way."

"Lex..."

"No!" Snatching her shirt from the counter she sends me a warning look. "I'll tell you everything the second I can, but I need you to stay out of this for right now. I can't risk..." She chokes up, her eyes shining with a new wave of anxiety. "I just can't. Not now."

I want to fight her on this so bad but I also don't want to ruin what little bit of bliss we were able to find tonight. So, against my better judgment and the monster raging in my head, I nod. "Alright. For now."

Lexi releases a deep breath of relief that's quickly cut short as we hear the sound of the front door unlocking.

"Shit!" She scrambles to pull her shirt over her head. I quickly help her, tugging it down once her arms are through before she lightly pushes me away. "Go! My mom can not see you here right now."

I raise an eyebrow at her. "Your mom loves me."

"Yes, she does, but she's not going to love finding us standing in the dark with the smell of sex surrounding us and that pattern of marks on your neck."

My hand flies to my neck with surprise and a slight spike of pride in my girl—always my girl—as I laugh. "Did you fucking mark me?"

She smirks. "Maybe."

"I'll get you back for that," I tease, leaning in and planting a swift kiss to her lips just as footsteps sound from down the hall. "I'll just put them somewhere only I can see."

That threat makes her smile again, her eyes now open and unafraid of watching me leave. It's the last and most beautiful view I get of her before sneaking into the dining room, through the living room, and out the back door. It's also that look on her face that has me beaming all the way to my bike.

Only once I get on and grab my helmet, my phone pings from my pocket. I pull it out and narrow my eyes at the message on the screen.

Unknown: Is this Jace?

What the fuck?

I quickly fire off a reply.

Who's this?

Only the fucker doesn't answer my question, responding with one of their own.

Unknown: Had fun at the bonfire tonight?

💘____________________________________💘

So, how was that little bit of heat for you lovelies?

Honestly though, what did you all think?

Do you think Marcel will be able to figure out what's going on? Do you think Jace's emotions are getting the best of him? Could he maybe be giving in to the darkness some? What about that stand-off between Jace and Kwan? Do you think Jace overreacted? And what do you of his vision of Kwan? Do you think Jace should've left when Lexi first asked him to? Most of all, what did you think of the spice between Jace and Lexi? Think they'll be okay from here on out? Think Lexi should let him help with her plan or continue to play it safe for his sake? Any ideas about his Christmas plans? And finally, who the hell was texting Jace?

You can leave your thoughts in the comments and if you like what you read, please hit that star button! I look forward to hearing from all of you!

P.S. Sorry this chapter was a day or two late, these kinds of steamy scenes always seem to take me a little longer than usual to write.

As usual, the teaser for chapter 13 will be posted on my Instagram and Twitter in a day or two. Keep an eye out for that!

Until next time, loves! 💜 xoxo