CHAPTER 16

The thought immediately ran through his mind. A wild imagination spurred up, wet tiles, a figure wrapped in a towel, and the faint scent of perfume.

Luci saw the confused look on his face, and her smirk deepened.

“Ah… now that look,” she purred, turning the edge of the bed slowly, approaching Jace, “that’s the look you had when I stepped into the room from the shower.”

Jace said nothing.

She continued. “Do you remember how you watched me from the mirror, thinking I didn't notice? The way your eyes followed my legs?” she asked, getting closer to him. “The way your lips parted? You didn’t say a word, you just looked. Like you couldn’t believe what you were seeing.”

Jace remained silent, staring ahead, numb. His eyes followed Luci's every movement, tho.

She was now just two steps away from him.

Luci took a step towards him, then another. She now stood right in front of him. She leaned closer, her voice softened to a whisper. “Do you remember when I leaned over the bed to rub cream on my legs?" She traced a finger over his shoulders.

Jace's shoulders stiffened under her touch. "You came over my back, pressing your heavy crotch on my back," she laughed wickedly. "You slipped your hand under the towel?” She chuckled. “You gripped your fingers over my butt, pulling the towel down."

Jace tried to take a step back, but was met with the edge of the side drawer. "You rubbed your large hands over my butt, feeling the softness. You wanted it so much, you could feel the desire behind your grip."

Jace gulped hard. "Inch by inch, you pulled my towel off slowly. Your eyes trailed left me stark naked in front of you.”

Jace inhaled sharply, his face remained unreadable, but his body visibly stiffened. Luci moved closer, her hands resting gently on his chest now. Her palms flat over his beating heart.

“And then…” she whispered, leaning closer to his ear. She looked up into his eyes. “You pressed me against you, kissed me with so much hunger, like you haven't tasted lips so good in a long time. You told me you couldn’t wait anymore.”

Jace’s jaw twitched, feeling very uncomfortable but Luci didn’t stop.

“You kissed me,” she said, running a finger over her lips, “slow and deep. Your hands gripped my hips. You turned me around, bending me over the bed, and…” she smiled wickedly, “you had me, Jace. Not once, but twice.”

Jace’s hands curled into fists as Luci's voice dropped lower, seductive and slow. “You went so gently at first, so careful. Then you growled my name and started pounding into me like—”

“Stop!” Jace snapped, his voice like thunder.

Luci blinked.

He stepped back.

“No,” he said, shaking his head, his voice was laced with fury. “No. I don’t believe you. I wouldn’t do that.”

“You already did,” she said calmly and smiling smugly. “I thought you’d remember at least some of it, but… I guess it’s easier to pretend.”

Jace staggered backward, nearly knocking the drawer down. His mind swirled with different thoughts. Nothing made sense. How did he go from dressing for a dinner with Clara to waking up next to Luci? How had he lost control?

He couldn’t remember drinking. Couldn’t remember kissing. Couldn’t remember choosing her again.

But Luci’s words kept replaying in his mind.

Bent her over. Pressed her close. Kissed her with hunger.

His breathing quickened as he imagined Clara's hurt.

He wanted to scream. Now all he saw was Clara. Her face. That sexy dress she wore the night before. Her eyes were filled with excitement.

Her lips were trembling when she said, “Let me think about it.”

And the quiet, silent sobs she must have cried when he didn’t show up.

He had wanted that dinner. He had planned it. He had rehearsed the words he'll speak to her over and over. He had picked the flowers himself.

So, how the hell had he ended up here?

Luci leaned in, standing on her toes, her lips just inches from his. “You remember now… don’t you?” she whispered.

But before she could close the gap, Jace snapped out of his thoughts.

His hand flew to her shoulders. With renewed energy, he shoved her away—hard.

Luci stumbled backward, falling onto the bed in shock.

“GET OUT!” Jace roared..

Back in Clara's apartment

She pushed herself off the wall and staggered to the fridge. She opened the fridge door and pulled out the untouched box of pizza. The slices inside were frozen and stiff. The look had changed but she didn’t care. It didn’t matter anymore. Her pride could starve, but her body couldn’t.

She slid the box into the oven, turning the dial until the heater got to work. She leaned back against the counter and calmly took short breaths. Her hands still trembled slightly, and her mouth felt dry.

It took five minutes, five long minutes, for the aroma to return—cheese and pepperoni, a delicious aroma. She pulled the box from the oven carefully, ignoring how the heat stung her palms.

She grabbed a bottle of soda from the fridge, also unopened from the previous night, and walked slowly into the living room. Each step was a little steadier now, and the sight of food added strength to her bones.

She dropped onto the couch slowly, slightly painful, too. Her knees bent painfully like she’d just finished a marathon.

Her chest rose and fell in brief motions as she set the food on the small table and leaned back, resting her head against the cushion. One deep breath at a time, trying to reduce the pressure as much as possible.

After a while, she reached for the first slice.

It burned her fingers slightly, but she didn’t care. She brought it to her lips and took a bite. A small, slow bite. Her body reacted with instant relief. A wave of peace rolled over her body as her tummy groaned in anticipation of more.

She chewed, not tasting much as the pizza had clearly lost its taste. She didn't enjoy it, but she kept on, feeling the calming effect of eating something, first time in nearly a day.

Another bite, then another.

She ate slowly, carefully, letting the warmth of the pizza fill the emptiness inside her. One slice disappeared, then a second and by the time she reached for a third, she was beginning to feel whole again.

She glanced down at the box. Just three, but it didn't feel like she had eaten the rest. The numbness still lingered heavily over her body.

She leaned back on the cushion, deep down, she knew.

Even with the calmness settling in her belly, even with the satisfying taste of food on her lips, there was something else lacking inside her. The pizza wasn't enough and she knew it. She had thought of doing the needful when she first felt the pain, but whether it was the pain or the numbness, something stopped her.

She stared at the slices, then closed the box gently. She leaned back, her fingers tightened around the edge of the cushion, and her breath caught just slightly in her throat.

She still had to do it. Still had to do what her body had been whispering to her. But between the waves of nausea, between the crumbling ache and the dizziness, lay fear.

She knew she had to do what she had dreaded to do all this time