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

It's been several days since I've seen Jace. Three to be exact since our date night. Three days of short text replies, four ignored calls and a video chat that barely lasted ten seconds.

He's busy.

I know this.

He said he had something he had to handle on Sunday but I didn't expect that something to last this long. And no matter how many times he sends me a text with "Don't worry, babe" or "I'll see you soon", here I am, still pacing a path across the girl's bathroom, worrying when I should be in class.

It doesn't help that Wilder and Derek have been out of school this whole time too. I'm not positive, but my gut is telling me it's connected and I've been praying that Jace didn't do something to get himself taken away from me forever.

Chewing on my bottom lip, I stare at the name on the phone in my hand, my finger hovering over the call button for several minutes now.

It's not that I'm scared to make this call. I'm just worried about getting anyone else involved. Especially family.

But I'm desperate and out of ideas. So with a deep breath, I press the button and bring the phone to my ear.

The first ring barely has a chance to finish before the line is answered. "Lex?"

"Hey, Kwan. How's it going?" I cringe at the anxiety in my voice and how horrible I am at trying to play it off.

"What's wrong?" he asks, quick to the point.

"Wrong? Nothing." I glance at my messy reflection in the bathroom mirror and turn away from the obvious lie. "Nothing's wrong. Just wanted to see how you and Mila were doing."

There's a pause and then the sound of screeching like a chair across the floor. "We're...good."

Look who's lying now.

I sit on the sink behind me. "Uh-huh. Did I catch you at a bad time?"

Another pause.

"No...no, no. I'm just...working right now. That's all."

My worry for Jace quickly expands, making room to worry for my future step-brother as well.

"Shouldn't you be at school right now?"

"I only had half a day," he answers, sounding more prepared than he was a second ago.

Knowing what I do about Kwan, I have no doubts he's brushed off whatever surprise my call might've caused him and gotten his story straight in his head. I could keep trying to pry but if his guard is up, I'm not going to get far.

But when he moves here, big sister mode is going into full force.

"Well, that's good." I push off of the sink and begin pacing again. "Um..."

"Noona...what's going on?" he asks with that serious tone no kid his age should have.

"I just...well the thing is..." I huff out a deep breath and grip the phone tighter as I force the words past my lips. "I'm worried about Jace, and I was hoping you might be able to help me."

Kwan doesn't even hesitate. "Not a problem. What do you need?"

Every muscle in my body relaxes a fraction. "I need to know where he is."

"Why? What's he done?"

I can't help smiling at his protectiveness. "Nothing...at least not to me. He had some business to handle and it's been three days since I've seen him. I just need to see he's okay with my own eyes."

"Lex..." Kwan's voice lowers as if he's worried about being heard by someone other than me. "If he's handling something it might be good to just let him do that. Don't put yourself in the line of fire if you don't have to."

"I have to," I answer without thinking but the words settle in my bones with how true they are. "Besides, I don't think it's anything major and if you find where he is and it seems off, then I won't go. But I need to at least know."

He sighs heavily but before he can say anything else, muffled words are barked in the background. Kwan gives whoever it is a sharp, "One second!" before his tone softens as he speaks to me once again. "Fine. I'll pull up his location and text it to you in a few minutes."

"It's that easy?"

"I might've installed a few chips here and there before I left. Your boyfriend should keep better track of his phone when he's working. You too for that matter."

My eyebrows raise to my hairline but deep down I know I shouldn't be surprised. I can't even find it in me to be bothered by this piece of information either. Not when it's working in my favor.

"Okay, sounds good." I nod.

"But, Noona," he says seriously. "Please don't get yourself into any trouble. I'd really hate to have to come down there and handle someone."

I don't bother asking what he means by "handle" someone. I have a weird feeling I don't even want to know. But since that's not going to be needed, I just nod again to my reflection in the dirty mirror.

"Not a problem, little brother. I got this."

"Okay...I'll text you in a minute. Take of yourself, Lex."

"You too, Kwan."

And with that the two of us hang up, my nerves feeling slightly less wired than before as I leave the bathroom. But once I return to class and sit at my desk in the back of the room, my phone buzzes. I keep the device in my lap, hidden from any curious looks that might come my way, and take a look at the text from Kwan with an address to someplace on the edge of the warehouse district.

Ready or not, here I come, Jace.

The tiny rundown house nestled between crumbling abandoned buildings is not at all what I was expecting to find when I left school. The siding is so chipped and dirty, I can't even tell what color it's supposed to be and most of the windows are covered with cardboard or rotting shutters. If it weren't for Jace's bike parked on the side next to Wilder's, I would've thought Kwan got the wrong information.

But the proof is right in front of my eyes and I'm not backing down. I don't have any reason to.

It's just Jace.

That said, I still take a deep breath before climbing out of my car and walking up to the front door. Despite my nerves, I don't hesitate to knock on the door that looks as sturdy as the rest of this place.

The sound of someone moving inside instantly reaches me followed by the sound of multiple locks and I take a step back in preparation for whatever I'm about to find. A second later the door opens and a familiar shirtless blond is standing in front of me.

"Lex?"

I grit my teeth and shove past him. "Where's Jace?"

I know my anger shouldn't be directed at Wilder, but I can't help it. My frustration is at its peak and I need some answers, now.

Wild quickly shuts the door, locking a total of two deadbolts and three chain locks before turning towards me. "Um...how did you find this place?"

Looking around, I notice the inside is somewhat better than the outside. It's small and old, but clean. Minus a tower of soda cans on a rickety coffee table and three empty pizza boxes. Yet there's no sign of Jace. Not yet.

"Kwan helped me," I answer, already having permission from Kwan to give away his involvement along with an angry brother message he wants delivered to Jace. "Now, mind telling me where my boyfriend is at?"

Wild bares his teeth with a cringe before turning to face a hallway to his right. "Jace, you got company!"

My foot starts to tap against the carpet as I hear a door open from the hall and a second later Jace appears.

His big blue eyes widen as soon as they take me in. "Lex?"

"Yes, it's me. I'm here!" I shout, frustrated from days of being kept in the dark and having my name used like a question for the millionth time today. "What the hell is going on? What is this place? Why haven't I seen you in days?"

His brows instantly pinch with worry as he quickly crosses the room to reach me. "Baby, you can't be here!"

"Too bad 'cause here I am." I throw out my arms for emphasis.

He quickly takes my hands in his and shoots Wild a look that has his best friend hustling out of the room. "Lex, you gotta go home. You can not be here right now. It's not safe."

"Is that why you're here? Because you aren't safe?" All the anger in my body dissolves into thin air as my worries rush back.

What has he done? Is someone after him? Did he hurt someone...possibly Derek...to the point he could be in trouble?

Jace's eyes soften as one of his hands releases mine to cup the side of my face. "Baby..." he leans down, pressing his forehead to mine. "You can't just run into shit blind. What if there were others here? What if something was going down right now? Did you even think about that?"

I huff but relish in his touch. "Of course I did, followed by what the hell would I do if something happened to you."

"You're so fucking stubborn."

"Says the guy who's refused to give me any answers and disappeared for three days. What the hell did you expect me to do?"

His lips twitch with a smile. "I guess I should've known better."

"Damn fucking straight."

He presses a kiss to my head before straightening up and taking a deep breath. "How'd you even find this place?"

Letting go of his hands, I cross my arms again, my anger slowly simmering to life. "How about you tell me what's going on before I give you any answers?"

The loving look in his eyes quickly changes to something dark and serious. But there's also a hint of fear in those blue pools and I can't help wondering if it's for him or me.

He takes a step back and drags his hand through his hair. "It's a long story, baby."

"I have time." To get my point across, I walk over to a plaid couch and sit my ass down, crossing my legs like I'm at some kind of business meeting. "Well?"

Jace follows but instead of sitting down beside me, he crouches down in front of me and grabs one of my hands again, his thumb rubbing a soothing path on my skin. "We needed answers from Derek about what he's been doing with Kellin and the Vipers."

"Did he give you any?"

Jace nods. "He gave us enough. Then...well...Wilder and I went and left the Vipers a little gift. We figured we should lay low after that."

"Seriously?" I quickly sit up. "So they could be looking for you?"

"Which is why you shouldn't be here. You need to go home."

"And what about you?" I nearly shout.

"I can handle myself."

"Why is it only you and Wilder here? Where are Kade and Travis? Do they know what's going on? What about your uncle or the rest of the Guardians?"

Jace holds up a hand to stop my rapid-fire flow of questions.

"I don't want anyone else involved right now if I can help it."

"Jace!"

He licks his lips, his eyes giving me that serious look again. "Alexis, I'm serious. I got this. This place belongs to my dad and he swears it's safe. I'm good here until I get this figured out."

"And how long is that gonna take?"

"Look, I'm not even here for me," Jace begins but before he can say anything else, someone clears their throat from across the room.

Jace curses under his breath as I look up in time to see Derek walking toward us.

"Why am I not surprised you found your way here?" Derek asks, keeping to the shadows of the room as he gets closer.

I shrug, not wanting or needing to give him answers. But as he sits down on the other end of the couch, just a foot away from me, the low light from the one lamp in the room finally illuminates his face and a gasp falls from my lips.

The left side of his face is covered in dark purple bruises and his eye is so swollen it can't even open. His eyebrow and lip are busted too and I swear it looks like his cheek is somewhat caved in.

Before I can think better of it, I shift across the couch and reach out to lightly check the damage with my fingertips. "Holy fuck."

A low growl emanates from where Jace is still crouched but I'm too caught up in inspecting the busted face in front of me to respond.

Derek winces from my touch but his lips still manage to lift into a small grin as his eyes flash to the growing ball of tension in front of the couch. "I didn't realize you cared so much, Lex."

My attention shifts from his injuries to actually looking at him with a glare. "You wish. Now...what happened?"

"Why don't you ask your boyfriend."

I glance at Jace from over my shoulder and raise an eyebrow at him despite the increasingly pissed-off look on his face.

With a dead stare and a snarl, Jace answers, "He can blame himself for that. Fucker should've cooperated."

With a roll of my eyes, I turn back to Derek. "Did you even try to clean any of this? Alcohol, peroxide, soap, something?"

That infuriating grin tips his mouth again.

"Stop smiling, this isn't even about you," I snap, tempted to slap him across his bruised face.

But I'm not lying, my concern isn't for me. This damage is Jace's handy work. He messed Derek up bad just as I had feared and if Derek's mom sees his face and convinces him to snitch, Jace could be in a lot of trouble. Maybe if I can clean some of it up and do the best I can to get it to heal with as little scarring as possible, Jace will be okay. Besides, if Derek is still here that means he must not want to go home right now anyway. If he stays long enough, his face could be mostly healed by the time he does leave.

"Is there a bathroom in this place?" I ask whoever is willing to answer.

Derek nods toward the wall directly behind the couch. "Right there."

"Let me go see what I can find."

I get up from the couch, ignoring the sharp glare Jace has locked on me. He's lucky I don't shoot him a look of my own.

I mean why the hell would he do something like this? Does he really think I fake-dated Derek for my own benefit? I did it for him! To protect him from being thrown behind bars! Even if the risk wasn't what I thought it was, I still did what I had to to keep him out of trouble, and now he's going to throw himself right back into the fire.

Trying my best not to stomp my feet, I enter the tiny hallway off the living room and walk through the first door on the left. I'm shocked to find a rather big bedroom with an ensuite that's in better condition than I'd expect for a place like this. But my search in the mirrored medicine cabinet above the sink comes up empty. If this is some kind of safe house, then its supplies stock is shit.

When I close the cabinet, I'm not surprised to find Jace standing in the doorway directly behind me. Those deadly eyes hold mine captive in the mirror as he leans against the frame with his arms crossed over his broad chest.

"What are you doing, Alexis?"

My gaze narrows back at his reflection. "Trying to clean up your mess so we can keep you out of trouble."

He cocks his head to the side. "You sure about that? 'Cause, you looked pretty fucking concerned about your old boy toy."

"Seriously?" A sarcastic chuckle breaks free as I turn around to face him and lean my ass on the sink. "I couldn't care fucking less about him and you should know that by now."

Jace pushes off of the door frame and slowly prowls closer. "You were getting close to him."

"I was checking the damage."

The closer he gets, the darker his eyes become. I've only seen that kind of darkness in his eyes on a few rare occasions, and the only time it was directed at me was when I had convinced him I wanted Derek.

Maybe I shouldn't have gotten all in Derek's face. Maybe doing that brought back some old memories for Jace that I hadn't considered. But I truly am only worried about him and keeping him out of trouble and by my side.

I don't know what I'd do if I lost him again.

"Why worry about it? Why worry about him?" Jace asks as he stops right in front of me, towering over me with that dark cloud swirling above his head.

Most girls might be afraid of this side of him but I'm not. I know he's only acting this way because he loves me that much. Because seeing me touch another man bothers him this much. He'd never hurt me though. I know it deep down in my bones.

Peering up at him, I try to control the irritation in my voice. "Like I said, I don't care about him or anything that happens to him. But I do care about what you do and how your actions can separate us. Call me selfish, but I want to keep you forever, even if that means cleaning his beaten face."

Jace chews on the inside of his cheek a moment, his breathing becoming heavier as his eyes briefly break from mine to scan my body. I hadn't even realized what I was wearing as I came over here; a too-tight tee and one of my short skirts that drives him crazy with a pair of thigh-high stockings and my heeled boots. Maybe it was a subconscious decision but I can feel the aftermath of that choice now.

The only thing touching me is his gaze but it's enough to create a fire low in my stomach. I squeeze my thighs together to try and relieve some of the building pressure between my legs. Of course, Jace's penetrating eyes don't miss a thing, lighting up with a new fire in those sapphire depths. His hands grab hold of my hips and push me further onto the sink, forcing my legs to drop open for him to step in between and close the last bit of space separating us.

"Prove it," he says in a sensual husky tone that already has my core tightening.

But as much as I love giving him what I want, a little game of cat and mouse is fun too.

I lean against the mirrored cabinet behind me and tilt my head back to gaze up at him through my eyelashes. "Prove what?"

His grip on my hips tightens. "Don't play with me, Alexis."

"But playing is so much fun." I pout, resisting the urge to smirk as the fire in his eyes grows to rival the flames of hell.

Maybe I'm crazy to push him when he's clearly balancing some kind of line, but again, I know he'd never hurt me. Not any more than I would want him to that is. So, with that thought in mind, I press my luck and bring my feet to perch on the edge of the sink, forcing my skirt to fall down my thighs, flashing a small peak of my black lace panties as my legs open wider for him.

Jace's tongue sweeps across his bottom lip as his attention falls between my legs. "Fucking hell, Alexis."

I almost worry he's going to try and keep control of himself but when his eyes flick back to lock with mine, I know I've gotten what I wanted.

His control snaps like a twig and before I know it, he's picking me up from the sink. He carries me into the attached bedroom with my legs wrapped around him, and his hands already full of my ass. But instead of going for the bed, he slams me against the wall, his hard dick already pressing into my core, fighting to break free of his sweats.

His mouth clashes with mine, hungry and demanding with his kisses but it doesn't last long enough. "I'm not fucking playing, Alexis. Prove to me that I'm the only one you want."

I whimper, needy and no longer willing to tease him. "Baby, you should already know this by now. Why would I even come here if it weren't for you?"

"Alexis," he growls as he grabs a fistful of my hair and forces me to look him in the eyes. "Prove it to me."

The darkness has mixed with the fire in his eyes, completely consuming him from the inside out. It shouldn't turn me on or make me dampen my panties more than they already are, but it does. There's something about knowing how I affect him this way. That it's only me who can turn him into this beast. And I'll give him anything he wants for that, even if it's proving to him that he's it for me over and over again.

My hands reach for his neck, my nails raking along his skin as they travel up into his rich dark locks. Once they've found a good enough hold, I pull him to me with all my strength and slam my lips to his. I don't bother working my way up from slow and steady to heated and raw. No, I dive right in, my tongue plunging past his lips to wrap with his. The satisfying rumble that travels through him like thunder has my insides twisting with anticipation.

Using the leverage I have, I grind myself against his solid length, moaning as pleasure zips through my body. With each twist and turn of my hips, my eyes roll back further in my head. The pleasure only intensifies with Jace's own words of blissful encouragement.

"Fuck, baby," Jace groans as his mouth leaves mine to travel along my jaw. "How can you make me feel this good when I'm not even inside you yet?"

I roll and snap my hips, pushing myself as close as my lace barrier will allow. "I was just thinking the same thing."

"Does it feel good, baby?" he whispers in my ear.

"Yes."

"But you still have a job to do, don't you?"

My eyes snap open and meet his. "Such as?"

Jace's lips lift to one side with that predatory grin that makes me melt in the palm of his hand. "You're not done proving your point yet, sweetheart."

With that, he places me back on my feet, chuckling at the pout forming on my face.

"Take off your shirt and bra, but leave everything else," he instructs.

Without a thought of rebelling, I pull my shirt over my head and toss it onto the floor, followed by my bra. "Now what?"

His eyes eat up the view of my half-naked body before he nods to the large four-post bed against the wall.

I don't bother asking questions, opting to follow orders instead, and slowly walk towards the couch, excitement bubbling low in my gut for whatever he has planned.

Jace keeps close behind me, and once I reach the bed, he's on me, his front glued to my back, hand wrapped in my hair, and tugging my head to the side as his mouth attacks my neck.

My legs instantly turn to jello, ready to give out just from the pleasure his touch creates. But before I can turn around to face him or move for the bed, his hold on my hair shifts, his hand wrapping around the back of my neck as he lightly pushes me forward.

"On all fours, Alexis."

It's such a simple command but a moan still escapes me at just the thought of what he's suggesting.

Crawling onto the bed, I look back at him with a grin. "Like this?"

With that hungry gaze devouring me, he bites his bottom lip and loosens the pull string to his sweats. "Lower, but keep that pretty ass in the air for me."

His words already have me panting, but I do as he says. Bracing my forearms on the soft mattress, I lower my upper body and arch my back, making sure to have my ass high in the air. Heat pools between my legs the second the bed dips with his weight from behind me.

"Do you have any idea how crazy it makes me to see you touch another guy?" Jace asks, his voice deep and gravelly.

His hands slowly trail up the side of my thighs, reaching under my short skirt until his fingers hook into the waistband of my panties.

"How crazy it makes me to see you touch him?"

He rips the thin material from my body so fast, I'm left breathless

"To see you care and worry about him?"

My head jerks to look at him from over my shoulder. "I already said it wasn't—"

My words are silenced with a solid slap to my ass that has me both gasping and moaning with surprise and...need. There's a biting sting, sure, but I can't deny the way that one slap already has me leaking down my thighs. I also can't help but wonder if he left a mark...his mark...branded on my skin like a physical claim.

God, Lex, you might have some issues.

"You like that, temptress?" Jace growls, his body heat reaching my bare skin as he moves closer. "You like being punished?"

I don't know how to answer that. My brain is telling me a sane person would say no but my body is screaming for me to say yes.

"Answer me!" Jace snaps as he cracks another slap across my ass.

My body jolts and relishes in the feeling. "Yes! Fuck yes!"

"Mmm, that's a good girl." He groans and shifts closer, allowing the head of his cock to brush against my soaked pussy. "Now...do you want the chance to prove your point or walk away? 'Cause I'm not gonna take it easy on you, baby. I'm not sure I even can once I start."
His next words come out sounding softer than before, unsure even. "I'm not in a good space and I don't wanna hurt you."

My heart melts at his honest confession, and the fear and self-doubt laced in his words. I thought he needed me to prove how much he means to me, and maybe he does, but I also get the feeling he needs to exorcise some inner demons too. But again, I know he would never really hurt me and if this keeps him from unleashing those demons on someone else, then so be it. I can take whatever he dishes out.

Looking back at him again, my eyes lock with his. "Do your worst."

Those dark blue eyes blaze to life, and without another word, he grabs my hips with both hands and slams into me. My body jumps forward and a scream flies from my mouth with the sudden intrusion. But he doesn't give me a second to adjust or accommodate his size, pulling all the way out only to plunge inside again.

"Fuck!" I shout, my hands fisting the bedding beneath me as my body shoots forward.

"Uh-huh, don't you fucking run from me," he says, grabbing my hips and pulling me back only to do it again, harder.

My next sounds of shock quickly morph into a sensual moan as the bite of pain mixes with pleasure. There's something about the pain he delivers that feels so fucking good. If this is what he calls torture, then I'd gladly accept it every day for the rest of my life.

"More!" I moan, raising my ass higher for him.

"And here I thought you were a good girl," Jace's rugged voice calls to me as he thrusts deep inside of me. "But you're no better than me, ain't that right, baby?"

"Y-yes."

"Just as filthy?"

"Yes!"

"Just as depraved?"

"Yes!"

"You were made for me," he says as his body lowers to cover my back.

His lips trail and nip a path across my shoulder blades, and while one of his hands laces with mine, our fingers tangled together in the sheets, his other grabs a handful of my hair. Our breaths come out as one, our bodies moving as one. Every thrust of his hips sends a new wave of bliss through my system, and there's just something about this position, him fucking me from behind that has him reaching deeper than I ever thought possible. I swear I can feel him everywhere.

But there's still anger in his movements, and though I don't think all of that anger is my fault, I know he needs to get it out of his system.

"Harder," I pant, the side of my face smashed against the bed with his hand on the back of my head. "Fuck me harder!"

Jace growls, his grip on my hair tightening as he pulls all the way out before completely slamming back into me. "Is this what you want?"

"Yes! More!" I arch my back as much as possible, begging for everything he wants to give me.

"Is that why you came here when you knew you shouldn't?" He asks, drilling me into the mattress, his dick throbbing inside of my dripping heat. "You came here for this cock, didn't you, Alexis?"

"Yes," I moan, my eyes rolling back.

But just as I feel my orgasm building deep down, my body is pulled from the mattress as Jace moves us onto our knees, my back flush with his chest. One of his hands skates down my stomach, reaching to play with my swollen clit as he continues to thrust from behind. The other hand goes in the opposite direction, gliding up between my breasts until his fingers wrap around my neck. There's no hesitation like the times before and with that knowledge, I feel a sense of comfort.

If he's confident in his moves then that must mean he's confident in both himself and me. He knows I trust him but most importantly, he thrust himself. At least at this moment.

"I love you," Jace whispers in my ear. "But sometimes I wish you'd fucking listen."

"I do listen. If I didn't, we wouldn't be going at it right now."

A growl rumbles past his lips as he both pinches my clit and tightens his grip on my neck. The mix of sensations has my head falling back to rest against him as my moans soar to the ceiling above us.

"I told you I'd be back. I told you to wait, and be patient. But you had to come here."

"I missed you," I confess, struggling to keep my eyes open through the onslaught of pleasure wracking my body.

"And that was a good enough reason?" He snaps before briefly nipping at my ear. "You think I didn't miss you? Didn't crave you? Didn't need you?"

"Then just be happy I'm here, damnit."

Jace's reply is a savage grunt as he picks up his pace, his hips pistoning as he chases our highs and his fingertips work magic between my legs. Our bodies are slick with sweat as we meld into one, and despite his words, I know he's happy to have me here. Even if it's for selfish reasons he'd rather not admit to.

Maybe I'm selfish too. Maybe I should've waited. But in this moment, having him buried to the hilt inside me, his heart beating against my back, I can't find it in me to feel bad for being selfish. Especially when that heavenly high begins to build in my core, my body humming in anticipation.

"Fuck, baby, I'm gonna come!" I say, shaking in his hold.

"Not yet!" He snarls, quickly nipping at my neck. "Not until I say so, got it?"

I whimper, no longer able to keep my eyes open as I resist the urge to rock against him in search of my release.

Jace pounds into me while keeping me upright and against him, his grip firm on my neck as he continues to play me like a violin.

"I am happy you're here," he admits, his mouth moving over all the little bites he's left along my neck and shoulder, soothing the sting with a tenderness only he can possess while still fucking me like a beast. "But I hate that it means you're also closer to him."

My eyes snap open at the mention for the very reason I'm supposed to be proving myself right now.

"Tell me again that you weren't worried about him," he pleads softer this time.

I shake my head and press my trembling body against him more. "I wasn't. I s-swear."

"Tell me you don't care about him."

"I don't. You're it for me."

My words seem to strike like a match, reigniting Jace's energy with a vengeance. His hips slam into me again and again, his dick filling me to the point of blinding pleasure. My need to come becomes unbearable, the evidence of it leaking down my skin, dampening both my skirt and the bed sheets.

"So fucking wet," he groans against my skin. "You wanna come, temptress?"

I nod, a slew of whimpers and moans falling from my lips uncontrollably.

His hold on my neck drops before he's pushing the back of my head forward, bending me over again as he keeps my hips and ass high for him to continue his torture.

"Say it!" He demands, slapping my ass.

My breathy need comes out in a gasp from the sound and feel of his hand across my ass. "I wanna come!"

"And who's gonna help you with that, baby? Who's fucking this tight little pussy right now?"

I don't need to see his face to know I'd find that predatory grin on his lips right now.

"You!"

Another crack across my ass, only on the opposite side this time. "I want a name!"

The burning brand on my skin is followed by Jace pulling all the way out and ramming back in, nearly sending me flying to the other side of the bed.

"Jace!" I shout, my orgasm just on the edge, making my legs weak and struggling to support my weight.

"And who does this belong to?" His hand reaches around to play with my clit again, toying with the sensitive bundle of nerves. "Who do you belong to?"

"You! Jace!"

"Louder, I don't think he can hear you out there!"

He drills into me with the force of a jackhammer, making me feel him all the way in my ribs as if he's trying to brand my insides just as much as my outside.

"I belong to you, Jace! Only you!" I shout at the top of my lungs and am quickly rewarded with one word from my tormentor...

"Come!"

His hips snap as he bites my neck, sending a wave of pleasure crashing over me like a tsunami.

My release comes with a soul-tearing scream that could shake the walls of this tiny house. I convulse and curse as Jace's own orgasm hits, filling me up as he groans my name into the air. His own release just spurs mine own more, milking it for all its worth while jolts of blissful decadence shoot through every nerve ending in my body. The two of us ride it out together until we're both breathless and shaking.

The second he pulls out, my body collapses on the bed.

"Shit, Lex." Jace hurries to help me up, taking my limp body into his arms and moving me to the pillows at the top of the bed.

I knew I was tired before even coming here but now I'm completely spent, my eyes fluttering with the need to close.

"Fuck, baby, I'm sorry," Jace says as he carefully helps me out of what's left of my clothes. It's sweet but I hate how helpless I feel.

"I can do it," I say, climbing out of the bed.

The second I stand, I nearly hit the floor but Jace is there in the blink of an eye, holding me up. He must know I need to do this because he doesn't carry me the rest of the way to the bathroom like I know he's dying to do. Instead, he supports me as I find my footing and cross the room.

Jace brings me a set of his clothes and while I clean myself up and get dressed, he does the same before disappearing back into the bedroom.

I try my best to tidy my appearance in the mirror, watching through the door behind me as Jace strips the bed of the sheets we dirtied. But as he leaves the room, the sound of chatter catches my attention,

"What the fuck are you doing out here?" Jace's harsh tone snaps. "Eavesdropping you creepy fucker?"

A scoff. "Please, like I need to stand out here to hear you two."

Derek.

"I was just heading back to that tiny closet you call a guest room," he says next.

Jace's familiar growl emanates from the hall. "You could always leave if you don't like it."

"And risk those snakes finding me? Yeah right. I'll stay here for now, even if the walls are paper thin."

Silence spreads and I almost poke my head out of the bathroom to see what's going on. Did they go their separate ways or are they in the middle of some caveman-style showdown with glares and bared teeth?

I don't have to wait long for an answer.

"You didn't have to do that you know," Derek says with less bite in his voice. "I'm fully aware of who she belongs to."

"Then consider it a reminder the next time she crosses your mind," Jace replies quickly, less harsh but no less serious in his message.

"What I said the other day...about caring for her in my own twisted way...I know those feelings aren't returned."

"Damn fucking straight they aren't."

"Stop being a bruting fucking asshole for one second and take this for what it is," Derek says, irritated but with a pinch of....defeat in his voice. "I'm waving the white flag. I'll do everything I can not to think about her anymore. Like I also said the other day, she never was mine. I know that now."

Another beat of silence before Jace finally answers. "I still don't trust you."

"Well, that makes two of us."

Their words sound harsh by nature but there's something there just below the surface, an understanding between them maybe. It's not that I need Jace to get along with Derek, but I can't ignore the sense of relief that fills my chest. At the very least, I don't think Derek is an issue for us to worry about anymore, not when it comes to him trying to come between us that is. It might be a small win but it's a win nonetheless and I'll fucking take it after the last few months we've had.

Hey, loves! Apologies again on the wait, though I don't think this one was quite as long as the last one, so I'll count that as a win here. 

I'm not sure if I mentioned this in the last update, but I've officially become a Wattpad Creator and because of that, I think I'll be able to stay on track to finish DME soon. Writing has been a bit of a struggle but I have to post something at least once a month so with that in mind, I'm gonna try and focus on DME before looking into any of my other ideas. Of course, I'll still be continuing the Guardians series as well, but I might try and rewrite a good portion of the next book before posting right away. We'll see how that goes since I'm so impatient anyway.

Anyways, I wanted to give you all this fire alarm chapter that has literally been planned since the beginning of DME, especially since it might be the last fire alarm chapter for a while. Some sh*t is about to go down, I'll just say that. Hope you all liked it though!

So....how was the heat this time around?

Were you happy to see Kwan brought back into the story, even if it was through a brief phone call? Any ideas on what he was up to? What do you think about Lexi going to the safe house? Did her concern over Derek's injuries come off as concern for him or for Jace? Do you think Jace overreacted? And whether he did or didn't, did you enjoy it anyway? How was the steam this time around? Were you surprised Jace rubbed it in Derek's face? Do you think he should have done that? Do you think Lexi is right about not worrying about Derek anymore? And finally, what do you think is going to happen next?

As usual, 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!

I'll do my best to post a teaser for chapter 31 on my Instagram and Twitter before the full release here, so keep a watch out for that! (It didn't do a teaser for this chapter but that's because I didn't want to make you all wait any longer.)

Until next time, loves! 💜 xoxo