DAWN PAIGE GREY Young Adult Romance

Chapter 8 - Temptation Bites

Later that day Dawn found herself seated beside Jace in his fancy BMW with her sprained ankle neatly strapped up and her crutches on the back seat. Jace had insisted on driving her back to her hotel, allowing Annie personal time with her father. 

Dawn had refused the lift back to the hotel with Jace, saying that one of her brothers could come and collect her, but Jace had insisted saying the Sheraton was on the way to his office and he needed to pick up his lap top. 

“Jace, this is so unnecessary.” 

“Dawnie, it’s no problem at all really. It is honestly on my way to my office, so it seemed silly for one of your brothers to come when I was going that way anyhow. By the way, how many brothers do you have?” 

“I have five and I’m the only girl. I’ve been surrounded by men all my life.” 

“And your mother presumably.” 

“I never knew my mother; she died giving birth to me.” 

“Oh Dawnie, I’m so sorry.” 

“So am I Jace, so am I. Even though it was twenty two years ago now, it’s at times like this when I’m so confused that I really need her.” 

Jace swung the car into the Sheraton car park and turned to look at Dawn, “Confused?” He asked. 

“Yes, confused, unsure. Oh …. I don’t really know.” She said, sighing deeply and pushed open the car door. 

“Wait.” Jace said as he jumped out the car and ran round to her side. Carefully he helped her out and just as he was about to let her go and reach into the back seat to get her crutches, Dawn lost her balance and fell into his arms. 

What happened next took her breath away.  It was so out of character for Dawn, she was truly confused and very bewildered. 

Jace had caught her, wrapping his arms securely around her and supporting all her weight he steadied her and looking down at her was about to say something but her eyes swallowed him up in the depths of their chocolate brown. Her full cherry lips parted and he glimpsed the tip of her pink tongue. He could feel her breath on his face and without thinking it through he covered her mouth with his, gently at first, but when he felt her lips move beneath his in response, he deepened the kiss and slipped his tongue between her parted lips. 

As their tongues touched, Dawn’s eyes flew open and she pushed Jace away. Without letting her go he broke the kiss and just stared into her eyes speechless. 

“Jace, I ……” 

“I know …. You’re getting married in two weeks’ time.” 

“It’s less than two weeks actually, just ten days. Invitations have been accepted, the guest list grows every day and presents arrive daily.” Dawn spoke so quickly her voice ventured into a high pitch.  

Jace immediately thought she was becoming hysterical and shook her gently, “Dawnie, I understand, believe me I do. You don’t want to disappoint anyone. But if you felt what I felt, when we kissed …. Dawn, it’s never too late to change your mind.” 

Her head kept telling her not to look into his eyes, but her stupid heart said look, with every beat that pounded in her chest. As her eyes met his she felt as if she’d just plunged into the deepest blue ocean and drowned. She hadn’t realised she was holding her breath till her lungs threatened to burst and she exhaled loudly. 

“Dawn.” Jace spoke her name softly as he gently pulled her closer. 

Her natural instinct told her to slap him or push him away, scream at him, anything, just anything to stop him kissing her again, but her eyes, her lips, her body betrayed her as she melted into his arms. 

Before his lips claimed hers again she breathed a futile two words, “Jace, no.” But they were lost in his mouth as he devoured her lips in a kiss that sparked fireworks in her head and ignited a burning flame in the pit of her stomach. 

Dawn’s conscience cried out from the depths of her soul and bit her on the butt. She yanked herself out of Jace’s arms and pushed him away. “NO no Jace, please” 

“Dawnie, you can’t go through with this wedding. You’re not really in love with him.” 

“Jace, please, don’t do this. Don’t destroy my happy and make me feel guilty. I’ve loved Luke for years now; it was love at first sight.  He is my ying, I am his yang. This has to end here and now. Please Jace; don’t make me hate myself or you.” 

Jace stared at Dawn, unable to comprehend what she was asking him. “Dawnie, look me in the eye and tell me you’re in love with him and you don’t feel anything for me, that our kiss meant nothing to you. If you can honestly look me in the eye and tell me that, I promise to never try anything like that again. In fact I won’t ever see you again. I’ll make it my mission to avoid being in the same place as you at all times.” 

Dawn fought back the tears that threatened to spill and swallowed hard to keep the lump in her throat from jumping out of her mouth. ‘Mum, Mum, where are you. I need you so badly right now. What must I do?’ Her thoughts reverberated round her brain making her feel dizzy. 

Mustering up all her strength she spoke slowly and clearly, “Jace, I am in love with Luke and I am going to marry him on my birthday. On the 14th February I am going to walk down that isle and become Mrs Luke Loxton and not you or anyone else will ever come between us ever again.” 

With bitter determination she made a grab for her crutches, when Jace caught her wrist, “Here let me get them for you,” He said picking up the crutches and handing them to her, “What kind of a name is Loxton anyway. Dawnie Loxton, mhmm can’t see that working,” He said grinning at her, trying his best to dispel the awkward situation between them. 

“My name is not Dawnie, I’ll have you know. Now if you don’t mind I need to go inside and meet my fiancé for coffee. Thank you for the lift and good bye Jace.” Dawn clung to her crutches awkwardly, hoping to find some sort of support from the cold metal in her hands, something that could take away the dull ache in the centre of her chest, as she turned her back on Jace and walked away. 

As he watched her hobble into the hotel he called after her, “Dawn, if you need me, just call.” 

“I won’t need you Jace.” She shouted just before entering the hotel. 

When Dawn walked into the hotel foyer the cool breeze from the air conditioners helped to calm her frazzled nerves. It took every ounce of her will power to walk away from Jace, from his kiss that excited her beyond anything she’d ever experienced before.

Luke stepped out of the elevator and seeing her on crutches rushed to her side immediately. “Oh no Dawn,” He slipped his arm around her waist, “Honey are you okay?” 

“Luke, kiss me.” 

“Dawn …. What?” He stammered, looking at her with a confused frown creasing his brow.

“Luke, are you in love with me, really in love with me?” 

“Of course I am, I wouldn’t be marrying you if I wasn’t. What’s got into you Dawn, what’s wrong?”

“Luke, just kiss me, stop talking and kiss me.” 

After a moment’s hesitation Luke placed his hands on her shoulder and gently kissed her lips. The kiss lasted but a brief couple of seconds and Dawn felt suddenly cold and alone. There was no depth, no intimacy, no …… nothing.