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But am I? The thought of him with someone else makes my stomach churn.
Jace places his arms on either side of me, caging me against the bar, and leans close so that his mouth whispers in my ear. “Tell me, Mallory, was it the idea of me having her pressed up against the wall?”
Images flash through my mind. Jace with the bartender. Jace with me.
I grip my glass until my knuckles turn white.
He’s loving this. And part of me is, too.
“Confident in yourself, huh?” I manage to choke out.
He chuckles, pressing himself against me and dragging his finger along my collarbone. "It has nothing to do with that," he rasps. "It's in the way your skin prickles at my touch, and your ragged breaths the closer I trace along your waist."
I’m desperately trying to hold on to my senses.
The alcohol swimming through my veins loves the attention he’s giving me, and Jace knows it. He’s counting on it.
Maybe for just one night, I could be the old Mallory… consequences be damned.
No. I can’t. I shouldn’t.
But I want to.
I look into Jace’s eyes, seeing the desire there. The promise of a night I’ll never forget.
"Sweetheart, I can't take my eyes off you. I'm dying to be with you. Let's get out of here, just you and me - what do you say?" he whispers urgently."
I struggle to breathe when his heated gaze softens over me.
My resolve crumbles as I drink in the sight of Jace Brooks. So much for keeping things professional - my body's got other ideas.
"Your place or mine?" I whisper.
His grin is triumphant as he takes my hand. "Yours."
Holding me close, he leads me to the rear exit, where his driver is already waiting to escape from any pesky paparazzi.
As we step into the cool night air, reality hits me like a splash of cold water.
What am I doing?
Jace’s hand is warm in mine, tugging me gently towards his waiting car. I hesitate, teetering on the edge of a decision that could change everything.
“Last chance to back out,” Jace says softly, his eyes searching mine.
I open my mouth to say no, to be the responsible Mallory I’ve worked so hard to become. But the words won’t come.
Because in this moment, with the city lights reflected in Jace’s blue eyes and the promise of a night I’ll never forget hanging between us, I realize something that terrifies me more than any potential consequence.
I don’t want to say no.
1
Mallory
Three Months Later
My hands shake asI reach for the door handle of Sweet Surrender's office building. I take a deep breath, smoothing down my blazer one last time.
