Tattoos: COMPLETED ✔

Chapter 71

"I'll drive you," Jace says when I tell him I have to leave for work. For the first time in a while I'm working the afternoon until closing shift.

"It's fine. I can drive," I tell him reaching for the keys.

He snatches them off the table before I can and says in a gruff voice, "I'm driving." He grabs my wrist and pulls me after him before I can protest.

Traffic is utter hell today, and it takes us almost half an hour to get there; it's a good thing we left early.

"Wait," he says, grabbing my sleeve after I thank him for the ride and reach for the door handle.

I sit back down and turn to face him. He's staring straight ahead, one hand clutched tightly around the steering wheel and the other holds loosely onto my sleeve.

"Hey," I say softly, reaching over to turn his head toward me. "What's up?"

He stares at me for a beat, his expression unreadable, before he shakes his head. "Nothing," he says, smiling, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Come here."

Jace pulls me over the counsel, and I straddle his lap, but even as his hands run down my back and stop at my waist, it doesn't distract me enough to know something's wrong.

I start to ask him about it, but he pulls me against him abruptly and presses his lips down hard against my own. I resist only for a second, but I'm soon lost in him as he tangles his hands into my hair.

He pulls away when we both run out of air, and rests his forehead against mine as we catch our breath.

"You know I would never do anything to hurt you, right?" His voice is low and his eyes are expectant.

"I-"

Beep. Beep.

I'm cut short from two short honks, and I glance over Jace's shoulder to see an impatient driver in a mini van.

Jace smiles. "You better go before that guy gives us a love tap on the back of my car."

I laugh and just when I start to push open the door, the guy behind us honks again, making me jump. Jace rolls his eyes at the guys impatience, and it makes me smile because not ten minutes ago Jace was yelling profound language at anyone that was driving in front of us.

"See you tonight," I tell him, getting out.

"I'll be here to pick you up," he says, handing me my purse.

I grab it from him and hurry to the doors before that guy can honk again.
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It's almost closing time, and I'm rearranging a few books on the shelf, when suddenly, I'm turned around and pushed back roughly against the shelf.

My first thought is Tobias, but when I see it's just Jace, I relax and let him kiss me.

"What are you doing in here?" I ask, only pulling back because I don't want a customer, or worse my boss, to come around the corner and see an employee getting hot and heavy with her boyfriend.

"I missed you."

"You couldn't wait..." I grab his wrist and turn it towards me to see the time on his watch. "Five minutes?"

He smirks and presses his hips against mine. "Nope."

I laugh and push against his chest, but he just grabs my wrists and pins them down.

My laughter dies down a bit when I remember how he was acting in the car.

"Can we talk about earlier?" I ask softly, careful not push him too far.

"What do you mean?" he says, but I know he knows exactly what I'm talking about.

"Jace..." I say trailing off and tilt my head to the side.

He sighs. "It was nothing, it's just that I-" His expression changes. "I wanted to know if you've heard from Tobias?"

"Should I have?"

He lets go of one my hands and runs a hand through his hand. "No, but-"

"But I would have told you. I can't believe you would even ask me that." I'm slightly hurt that he still doesn't trust me enough to tell him.

"I didn't mean to upset you. I-" he starts to say but trails off, seemingly lost for words.

"Can we just stop talking about him?"

Jace nods and then smirks as he cups my bottom. "Good idea, let's talk about how good your ass looks in these leggings," he says, and I feel his hand start to dip down into my pants.

I manage to shake loose of his hold and keep him arms distance away. "I need to lock up. I'll meet you in the car?"

He pouts, and it's probably the cutest thing I have ever seen. He eventually nods, and I watch him walk away until he disappears around the corner.

Sighing, I do a few last minute book restocking before locking up for the night.

I head outside to find Jace parked right in front of the store, engine running.

My attention is on my belt buckle when I ask, "Do you want to go out tonight?" I ask, finally able to clasp it after fumbling with the seatbelt in the dark for a few seconds.

"It's up to you," he says, but his voice is off.

"If you don't want to, that's fine. We can just go home-"

"That's not what I said," he snaps, suddenly sounding angry. I don't know what to say to his sudden change in mood, so we sit in silence. "So do you want to go out or not?" he asks, impatient.

"Not if you're going to act like this."

He turns to face me suddenly. "Act like what?" he asks, but it's more of a statement. His voice is rising, and I've had enough.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You've been acting weird all day. Fist, you seemed upset, but then you were kissing me and saying you would never hurt me. And then you bring up Tobias for no apparent reason, and I leave you alone for two seconds, and you're suddenly angry." I take a deep breath and run a hand through my hair. "I have had enough of your mood swings."

He seems surprised by my outburst, and he opens his mouth but snaps it shut.

When he does finally talk, he's staring straight ahead, away from me. His voice is defiant, and it's like he's trying to convince himself more than me.

"Nothing is wrong with me."
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm going go try to update everyday until I finish this book, but no promises. Comment and vote and it might help motivate me!