Here Comes Trouble

Chapter Nine - Jealously

Selena's POV

It doesn't take that long for Ryan to appear at the front door. Not even twenty minutes, I'm sure. Though it felt like a goddamned entirety, with all the awkward air going around.

After the stiff introductions, Cat and Maya barged into the house, dragging Justin along with them. And of course, Plain Jane was hot on his heels.

"If I hadn't known better, I would never believe you live here." Jace said, his voice thick and silky. The tone that always wraps around me, creeping into every crevice of my being. One side of his mouth quirks up, seemingly happy to all those who look on. But I've known Jace my whole life, know him better than I know myself, I can see the hidden question there, "Do you like it here? Better than home? Without me?" It's conquered with hostility, full of all the dominance you see in him at one glance.

My fingertips settle on the soft places where his neck meets his jaw. I smile cheekily and stand on my tip toes, "I don't know, I think it fits me. Don't you think?" He growls, eyes narrowed, and wraps his arm around my waist as he presses me against his chest.

He noses along my neck, lips against my ear, breath so hot and heavy, my head spins. "Mine." He commands, nipping at my collarbones and sucking dark spots onto my neck. It assaults every one of my senses.

I hate it when he says that. It makes me feel weak, angry and aroused all at once. It makes all the thoughts in my head cease, and focus absolutely on him and only him. I hate it because I've never felt like I belong anywhere except under Jace.

Not until...

"Yours." I promise breathlessly, and focus all of my strength on pushing him back. "Come on. I refuse to make out in front of all my neighbors."

He sighs, put upon, but let's me manhandle him through the door, none the less.

Justin sits between the giggly twins, blushing as they coo at everything he says. Currently he's going on about how he and Ryan have been best friends all their lives. I roll my eyes and march forward, tugging at the mess of curls on his head.

He looks up, obediently, the beginnings of a smile on his face, at the sight of my frown. "Lena, you finally made it inside." It's a challenge, blatant and jealous. Bitter satisfaction at my obvious displeasure. It's a game, one that we've been playing since the moment I walked through his front door. Anger nips at my mind, because he's winning. Fucking Justin Bieber is beating me at my own game.

"You sure look comfortable." I say, trying hard to keep the bitter out of my time.

"I am, thanks for noticing." It's a shit eating grin, satisfied and self congratulatory. It makes me want to slap it off his stupid dorky ass face.

"Sel, you never told me you surrounded yourself with this cutie." Cat giggles, pinching my arm.

"Must've slipped my mind." I say, shooting an entirely fake smile his direction.

Before anyone can say anything to further piss me off, I spin on the balls of my feet and march to the kitchen. Leaving Jace and Justin alone without my supervision probably isn't a good idea, but I need to clear the red fogging up my brain.

Sitting at the counter is Meredith, staring moodily at the bowl of fruit, and playing with her hair. It was so obvious how she felt about the Princess--longing looks, too loud laughs, over protectiveness--that I wondered how he missed it, sometimes.