Surrender lost souls mc.., p.30
Surrender (Lost Souls MC Book 2), page 30
“Holy shit,” I mumbled. My mouth hung open as Jace pulled a jewelry box from his pocket. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. My entire body shook with the adrenaline racing through my system, and I couldn’t decipher if I was happy about this or terrified that I’d just been cut out for good. Had I brought us all together to lose them both?
“Raine Eastman, would you do me the honor of marrying me and becoming my wife?”
The cameras zoomed in on her face, and Raine looked as shocked and confused as I felt. I could feel her brain working from here, which gave me hope that this wasn’t a plan of theirs that I was cut out of. It was horrible that I could even think that, but Jace always told me what he was going to do, and this was the biggest of big deals. Why had he felt the need to keep this from me?
Raine licked her lips, her face flashing with anger under the shock, and for the briefest of moments, I thought she would slap him and walk off the stage, but that wasn’t Raine. She might kill him after, but to make an even larger spectacle wasn’t in her DNA.
“Yes, of course, I will,” she said, and the entire place erupted with deafening cheers.
Grabbing the remote, I muted the television as they kissed and sat there staring as they cut to commercial
My head slowly turned to look at Kai as he looked at me.
“I’m going to kill him,” Kai and I said together.
Raine
I was beyond baffled and so angry that I couldn’t even form words as I stomped around backstage. I stared at the fancy ring on my finger, terrified to even ask how much it cost because it was definitely more than my house.
I stopped pacing long enough to get a deep breath in, but it didn’t stop the shaking. Oh my god, if Kai saw that…I cringed, knowing exactly what he would be like when he found out, even if he didn’t see it. I’d be lucky if I lived, let alone Jace. He was a dead man, and I could feel a panic attack threatening.
“Why?” I spun around and growled at Jace. He was leaning against the wall and looked way too relaxed. “Is this a game to you,” I asked, and a couple of the stage crew glanced over.
“Come here,” Jace said and took my arm. He smiled at everyone we passed, but I was too angry to keep up the act. Pushing through a metal door that led to a stairwell, he looked down before walking up to the next landing to make sure we were alone.
“Talk to me Jace. Help me understand what the hell just happened out there. I can’t marry you,” I said. It felt like I was going to combust. If I hadn’t known better, I’d have said I was melting on the stage. Yes, his words were beautiful and moving, but I didn’t even know if they were real. So much of what Jace did was staged. Was I just another act for him to gain sales?
“Why can’t you marry me?” Jace crossed his arms, his face the same perfect arrogant mask it always was.
“For starters, we haven’t had one discussion about this between us or all of us, and even if I wanted to hop on a plane and fly off into the sunset with you and never see Kai or Avro again, Kai would track us down and kill us both.”
“I never thought that. Okay, maybe I did, but we’d bring Avro, but not anymore. I’m not trying to cut them out.” Jace crossed his arms over his chest.
“Then what the hell is all this for? Is this just a way to one-up Kai and piss him off? Is that why you decided to bring me? Am I a pawn of drama for you to move around on a board? If it is Jace, so help me, god.” I was gearing up for a real rant.
Jace placed his hands on my shoulders and made me look at him. “Stop it, Peaches. Seriously, you look like you’re going to pass out.”
“Can you blame me? You just proposed to me in front of however many thousands of people out there, and I had no warning at all.”
Jace smirked, and it was too sexy for as angry as I was. “First, no one sees a proposal coming. At least if it’s done right, they don’t. That is kind of the point. Second, it’s millions cause everyone watching in their homes just saw too.”
My eyes narrowed into a glare, but my stomach flipped at the thought. “Oh god, I think I’m gonna be sick.”
Stepping away from Jace, I grabbed the cold railing and closed my eyes. The jittering inside my body wasn’t getting better, and it felt like my heart would jump out of my chest. My head swam a little, and I could feel the old panic attack wanting to rear its ugly head. No, I would not pass out. I was stronger than that now. Counting to ten very slowly, I concentrated on my breathing and the seconds between each breath. If Avro were here, he’d help calm me down. Oh no Avro. Wait did he know?
Jace touched my shoulders, but I shrugged him off and stepped away. “Don’t touch me Jace.” Turning around, I backed away from him until the cool of the concrete stairwell touched my back. “Did Avro know what you were planning?”
“No, no one did because if you want me to be honest, I hadn’t planned it myself.” My mouth dropped open, and I lifted my trembling hand to look at the ring.
“None of that was real? You made me cry and say yes to a proposal in front of however many people, and none of it was real?” I growled and grabbed the ring to yank it off my finger.
Jace reached out and stopped my hands, cupping them in his. “Stop. I mean it, Peaches. I want to tell you what’s going on, but I refuse to talk to this version of you.”
“Version of…” My nostrils flared, and I opened my mouth to give him another piece of my mind, but he pushed me up against the wall. The impact shocked me, but not as much as the kiss that followed. I should’ve been used to the demanding, lightheaded kisses that affected every part of my entire body. My lips moved like he had willed them while my hands gripped his tux jacket.
Every nerve ending was alive and on fire with his touch. I moaned as he deepened the kiss and pressed his body into mine. The air was stolen from my chest as he rubbed his trapped cock against my stomach.
“Fuck I want you right now,” Jace growled, his lips still touching mine. “Don’t ever take that ring off. I meant every word I said, and it stays on your finger as long as any part of you wanted to say yes. Do you understand?”
I nodded, not sure I could even speak.
“I do love you, Raine. I know it’s soon, and I get all the what-ifs and other factors like Avro and, yes, even Kai, but I wouldn’t have proposed if I didn’t want to marry you.”
Pushing himself away from me, he placed a hand on either side of my body, trapping me in place. It reminded me of the first night we met.
I took a shuddering breath and had to look away from his intense stare to think straight. “Then why Jace? Why now? Why like this? Why not tell even Avro? I don’t understand.”
Jace lowered his voice. “Allen got wind that I’ve been shopping around to replace him. I didn’t like what he was planning and had been arranging for the band lately. Things have been tense. I expected not to see eye-to-eye all the time, but this was different. I wasn’t comfortable with the things he wanted me to do.” He looked over his shoulder to ensure no one could hear and whispered. “He wanted me to pretend I’d gotten drunk and got this other girl pregnant.”
My mouth fell open. “He what? Who?”
“Doesn’t matter who, I never let him get that far. I shut him down and told him to forget about it. He’d mapped out how we’d live together for four months, and then she’d pretend to lose the baby, and we’d part ways. It would make a big splash, but this is just too much. A few risqué photos are one thing. This shit he was coming up with was next level.” Jace shook his head. “He said as long as it sold records, he didn’t care, that everything was repairable, and I could play the part of a broken hearted, wannabe dad.” He held out his hands. “I was livid. I mean, that is just…no. Not just for me, it makes a complete mockery of all those who have lost a child. Fuck.”
“Shit, I’m sorry. Why didn’t you say anything?” I placed my hand on his chest, and his eyes softened.
“I don’t lean. I deal. I fix things when they need to be fixed. That’s who I am.”
There was a whole lot of telling off I wanted to do, but one thing at a time. “So what does that have to do with tonight?”
“After speaking with the guys, we agreed I’d make a few calls and get someone else lined up. I don’t know how he found out, but he threatened that if I left him, he’d dig up anything he could on you and release it publicly, making it impossible for us to be together. I know he’d do it too. I could see it in his eyes. I don’t know when he turned the corner from having morals to none, but I wasn’t following him down that street.”
Jace rolled out his shoulder and walked in a circle as he took a few deep breaths. It was easy to see how this was getting to him, and I couldn’t blame him. This had to be picking at old memories of his family.
“I decided on the plane, which is why I never spoke to anyone. Besides, even if I had thought of this before leaving, Avro is already dealing with enough. Kai would never have let you get on the plane, and I was unsure what you’d do.”
“Son of a bitch. I can’t believe Allen did all of this.” I groaned, annoyed with myself for not talking to Jace about my gut feeling at the concert. “He was questioning me and promised to find out if I was a gold digger at your concert. Said if I was, he’d ruin me.”
Jace glared, and I swallowed hard. “Why didn’t you tell me? I asked if he threatened you, and you said no.”
I shrugged. “Honestly, I figured you’d blow a gasket. Then he’d have all the ammunition to want me out, make you look bad, or both. I hoped it was better to let the heat die down and have it blow over. Maybe he would end up excited about us. I should’ve said something, but I thought I was protecting you.”
“Guys like Allen don’t blow over, not unless you beat them with a big stick first.”
“I see that now.”
“Anyway, I decided to get ahead of him and his plans. I fired him just before they announced the award winner. Now if he digs up shit, he will look like a petty, bitter ex-employee that just wants to stir up dirt. The millions that were watching will have our back. They will crush him. Having fans has its difficulties, but in a situation like this, there is no one better to have at your back than millions devoted to you.”
“But this is a gimmick. Won’t your fans just see through what you’ve done if Allen does do something?”
Jace stood up straight but cupped my chin. “I didn’t have time to prep anyone, and yes, this was much faster than I would’ve done if given the option, but it’s not a gimmick. You and what we have are not a joke to me, Raine. I’d be honored if you married me, and I mean that. It’s not just placating or pretty words. Avro has always been part of my heart, and now you are as well, and I’m not letting that go. Not for Kai, and definitely not for fucking Allen.”
It was not lost on me that he used my name, not Peaches. Butterflies took flight in my stomach, and I tried to picture myself as Mrs. Everly. I smiled and wanted to go all mushy. I mean, who wouldn’t? But there were other people in the relationship to consider and there was a gnawing of guilt that was marring the happiness.
“Look, the thing is that no matter what I said out there, we can’t get married for any reason without talking to Avro and Kai. We can play it up for the media if you want, but they would be crushed. Not only do I not want to do that to them, but if I’m getting married, I want all of you to be involved,” I said.
Jace stepped back and rubbed at his chin. He looked so serious with the furrowed brow and intense stare.
“You’re right, I feel the same, but I’m just trying to figure out how to play this.”
I grabbed his hands, and they felt so hot compared to mine.
“We don’t need to figure it all out now. We can talk about it on the plane and then speak to the guys when we get back. As for right now, we’ll go out there and pretend all is normal. What I’m saying is, you don’t need to fix it all tonight.”
“You’re amazing, and I know why Avro fell so hard and why Kai has never stopped. I wasn’t certain I wanted anything in my life to change, but you’re worth every second of it.”
I couldn’t stop the blush from spreading. “I can’t believe the first time you told me you loved me was on national television.” He smirked.
“You always remember your firsts. There is no way you’ll ever forget that,” he said, tipping my head up and dropping his mouth to nip at my lower lip. “I wish I didn’t have one more award to wait for because I’ve been dying to get you out of this dress all night.”
“Now, if it were Kai, he’d have just done it in front of everyone.” I teased and loved that, for once, I was getting to poke at him.
Jace’s lip curved up. “Don’t tempt me ‘cause I’m all for it. You must know by now that I love when people watch. Let them drool. Let them hate. I don’t fucking care. It all turns me on.” Turning my head to the side, he kissed my jumping pulse. “Maybe I should. I’m not sure how I will top that first award speech, and that would definitely do it.” He nipped at the sensitive skin, and I shuddered in his hold. “What do you think, Peaches? You want to be my naughty girl and let me fuck you on stage?”
“No amount of begging or pretty words is going to make that happen,” I said and then sucked in a sharp breath as his hand easily slipped between the high cut split in the dress, his fingers sliding between my thighs. “Even if you proposed again, I wouldn’t do it,” I panted as his finger rubbed little circles, teasing me.
“I do love a challenge, Peaches, but you’re right. We shouldn’t get arrested. At least not tonight. We need to spread out the firsts.” Moaning, my hands gripped his shoulders as his finger pushed into me. “Such a good girl not wearing any underwear.” Jace sank his finger deeper, and my hands gripped the material of his jacket into my fist. I couldn’t even care that it would wrinkle the material.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” I said. “What if someone sees us?”
“Then they’re going to get a show ‘cause I’m not waiting any longer to be inside this sweet pussy of yours. Unzip my cock and pull it out,” Jace ordered, his finger never stopping the teasing assault driving me crazy.
“Jace, I don’t….”
He stopped any complaint as his lips crashed down on mine, and his finger pressed as deep as it could go. I turned into a panting mess as he added a second finger and swallowed my moans.
“Do it, Peaches, unzip my cock. I know you want it. I will keep you in this fucking stairwell until I get to celebrate with my new fiancé.” He smiled. “I’ll miss the rest of the awards if I have to, and then I’ll tell the media why.”
“Are you blackmailing your new fiancé already,” I asked, sucking in a ragged breath. He knew exactly what to do to push me toward that sweet bliss and hold off just enough that I couldn’t quite get there.
“Call it gentle persuasion.”
“This is insane.” It might have been, but my hands released the tight hold on the jacket to slide down his body. I already knew he was going commando, it was the deal he talked me into making before we left the hotel, and there was no way he could’ve walked back out there now. His pants were tented, making it hard to get the zipper down.
I didn’t have to reach inside once they were unzipped. That was all the encouragement his cock needed to spring free. I wrapped my hand around that silky, hard length, and Jace groaned.
“Fuck I love it when you touch me, Peaches.” My thumb ran over the tip and took the droplets of precum to play with the ring. God, I loved the feel of it. I really wanted all the guys to get one. “Yeah, just like that, fuck, that feels good.”
Jace pushed harder into my palm as he pressed me up against the wall. My eyes closed as he slowly fucked my hand until I was begging for more.
“Please Jace.”
“Please what, Peaches?” His lips grazed my ear. “You want me to fuck you right here? Spread this tight pussy open and make you cum all over me?” I shivered and moaned. “You’re my good girl, aren’t you?” I nodded. “Are you going to let me fuck you right now? Say it, Peaches, tell me you want me.”
“Yes, I…oh God,” I moaned as his fingers picked up the pace.
“What was that, Peaches? I didn’t quite catch what you said.” I would’ve told off the arrogant, smirking jerk if I could think straight, but I’d been reduced to nothing more than the feel of his fingers and the need coursing through my body.
“Yes, I want you to fuck me,” I blurted out, the words running together. I expected him to make me repeat it, but he pulled his fingers out, and I couldn’t stop the excited trembling as he sucked the fingers into his mouth. Everything he did was precise and with intent, and I couldn’t look away.
“Gimmie your leg,” he said, tapping the one with the slit. I lifted my leg, and his hot hand gripping my thigh made me moan in anticipation. “Move the dress off to the side.” Jace’s voice dropped, the words coming out like a growl.
My already racing heart tripled in time as I pulled the shimmery material away. I could hear someone talking and getting close to the stairwell door, but if Jace heard, he didn’t care. Stepping forward, he teased me for just a second before thrusting in with a groan that vibrated through my body. I buried my face in the crook of his neck and pressed my lips together to keep from yelling out.
As the voice got closer, I realized someone was talking on the phone, and then the door opened. Jace looked over his shoulder, his already dark and intense expression turning into a snarl.
“Get the fuck out, now,” he commanded, and I shivered at the tone. I was quickly learning to love this side of him. I couldn’t see the person for Jace’s body, but the door immediately closed. He turned his heated stare back to me. “Wrap your arms around my neck and hold on, ‘cause I’m not holding back.” I moaned as I did what he asked. “Fuck I love it when you squeeze my cock like that.”
His mouth and the things he said always made me so hot. I was already so close to the edge that it wouldn’t take much to push me over. I locked my arms around his neck as he lifted me just enough that my toe was almost not touching the floor. His deep thrusts stole my breath away as I clung tighter to him.
