Stronger Than Heaven

Chapter 5

The light from the candles around the bedroom danced across her face as she walked towards him. The tension in the room dispersed and suddenly, it was just the two of them. "Right now..." she said softly. "I want you."

The look that burned in his eyes was unfathomable. She had managed to break every single wall he had worked so hard to build up and here he was, vulnerable and exposed - and he didn't care. He had waited so long for his moment. He relaxed under her touch and he stared at her lovingly.

"I love you," she whispered. He reached up to hold her wrist as her hand gently caressed his face, his gaze never leaving hers.

"I love you, Clary," he whispered back. "And I'll love you until I die. And if there's a life after this, I'll love you then too."

Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it would jump out of her chest. There was nowhere else she would rather be than right here with him, even if the world outside was crashing down on them. She could no longer explain what was in her heart in that moment, so instead she pressed her lips against his in a passionate kiss that sent them both spiraling.

Jace led her to the bed, unzipping her jacket on the way. She tugged at his grey shirt and pulled it over his abs, his chest, and over his head. She took a moment to take him in - all chiseled muscle, tousled hair, and those eyes... He was truly so beautiful. Her beautiful tragedy.

Gently, he reached down and helped her out of her T-shirt, revealing a light purple bra underneath. She felt the edge of the bed against the back of her legs and she sat down on the mattress, never taking her eyes off of him as she pulled him closer to kiss his stomach. His jaw clenched and he let out a sharp breath as her warm kisses went from his belly button down to the top of his jeans.

"Clary," he whispered, tangling his hands gently in her hair. He watched as her slender fingers unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his jeans, and pulled his zipper down. Of all the things that he loved about her, it was her compassion but also her fiery confidence. And this... this side of her was doing all kinds of crazy things to him. He groaned as she pulled his jeans down. Her kisses trailing his stomach continued as she hooked her fingers on the band of his underwear and pulled, revealing all of him. "Oh God," he groaned softly, his hands grabbing at her hair as her lips found the top of his...

"Hello, Earth to Clary!"

Clary blinked and suddenly, she was at the art institute, a paintbrush in her hand hovering over an easel. She looked around for the owner of the voice that snapped her out of her reverie and her eyes focused on Sam, one of her students who always wore oversized glasses and oversized cardigans. "I-I'm sorry," Clary finally said, giving her head a shake.

Sam laughed. "Where'd you go? You completely stopped painting for a few minutes and just... had this blank look on your face."

Clary blushed and she cleared her throat. "Um... just envisioning this piece is all."

Sam nodded, but still looked suspicious. "Alright well... I just wanted to let you know that my piece is complete and if you could come give me some feedback."

"Um - yes, yes of course!" A little flustered, Clary put her paintbrush down and smoothed out her shirt. Get it together, Clary, she said to herself, shaking the... rather intimate thoughts of Jace out of her head.

These daydreams... these visions... were becoming more and more vivid, as if she'd lived them in a different lifetime. Where were they coming from? And why was she remembering them now?

-

"We have to tell Simon."

"Izzy, no. I don't think that's a good idea."