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"I used a hundred dollars," she whispered "I’ht it would be quicker I didn’t want to be gone long because I knew you’d worry So I took a cab there and back I tipped Maybe I shouldn’t have But I knohat it’s like to need ood tips"

She was babbling and it hurt himent

"Baby," he whispered

He pulled her to hiainst his body

"Baby," he said again "Tell me why you went Tell me why you couldn’t discuss this withher with hied until she perched on his lap He wrapped both ar by her expression, he still had a long way to go before she willingly stayed

"I had to tell him to be careful," she whispered "I didn’t want those men to hurt him and I knew he couldn’t pay them back And I had to tell him aboutus He’d worry when he didn’t see me I basically disappeared and I didn’t want him to think I was dead or that I’d just moved on and left him"

Jace knew the matter had been taken care of but Bethany didn’t And noas curious--genuinely curious--why she’d left the cash he’d given her here There was enough in that envelope to have paid Jack’s debt and yet she’d left it behind

"There was enough cash in that envelope to pay Jack’s debt," Jace said quietly

Her voice was barely a whisper "Yes, I know"

"Why didn’t you take it to hiainst hi else, her shoulders slu in her eyes

"I’d never do that," she said softly "It wasn’t my ot hiive it No reservations What’s mine is his But that e of you that way You’ve been so good to me, Jace I don’t want to repay that kindness with deceit, even if what I did today is just that"

Jace sighed "Jack’s debt is paid off The er interested in you or Jack They have their money and that’s all they cared about That’s why I told Kaden and Trevor that I wasn’t sure I’d need the you out"

Her gaze became troubled and her lips turned down into an unhappy frown

"What did you do, Jace?" she whispered

"I took care of the matter"

She shook her head "No It wasn’t your problem I don’t want you involved"

Tears were shiny in her eyes and his heart squeezed as she fought theruffly "I did it because those sons of bitches came after you for thein this world to keep you out of hare my mind on that score, so save your breath"

He slid his fingers along her jaw and then feathered the tip of one over her full lips

"Now that we have that out of the way, there’s more we need to discuss But I want to have this particular conversation with you naked In the bedroom You focused solely on me and me on you"

Her eyes widened and her cheeks remained pale and she stared intently up at hi, Bethany?"

It was a test Not because he was being an asshole But he needed to know he had her trust He was about to take a huge step forward in ould be a very de relationship He had to know she could handle that He couldn’t hold back er

She licked her lips and dipped her chin, but he wouldn’t allow her to look away He wanted to see every thought that flickered through her eyes Every reaction Every doubt and every question

"Are you still angry with me?" she asked softly

Her eyes were troubled and she looked worried

"I’ain, not at you Our relationship is what’s frustratingsoin confusion "Why are you holding back?"

He groaned "Because I don’t want to scare you away, baby It’s going to be intense Overwhels slow because I want to take care of you Make sure you’re with me every step of the way"

"I’m with you," she said quietly

"No, baby, you aren’t Not yet"

"Then tell me Show me How can I knohat it is you need froiven, Jace, but you aren’t taking And I need to be able to give you soive you except me, and you don’t want it yet"

"I want it," he said fiercely "There’s nothing I want more But, baby, you have to be sure about this We’ll still take this in steps, but tonight we’re going to take a big one if you’re ready for that"

"Hoill I ever know unless we try?" she whispered

His senses went on red alert His entire body tightened and savage satisfaction gripped hio into the bedroom," he said in a measured voice

Calht Couldn’t let hi all her trust in hi by my bed Wait for me there"

Chapter twenty-one

Bethany slipped the clothing fro it on the dresser before going to the thick rug by the bed She hesitated a long moment as she stared down at the floor

She knew the significance of kneeling Of waiting for Jace to conal of her sub her to subhts went back to the first night The night she’d had sex with Jace and Ash When Ash had very bluntly laid out the ter with them They were dominant men, but Jace was perhaps more so Ash seemed to be more laid back while Jace wasintense

Had he been fighting his nature the entire time he’d been with her? Had he held back his true self for fear of frightening her away?

Her mood softened He hadn’t ramrodded her Okay, so he’d definitely been forceful and dee to it and she had the is would be that much more intense