His cock was wedged inside her ass and twitched with the last vestiges of his release. Some of the semen had worked its way out of her ass with the forceful thrusts and was sliding warmly between her legs.

He lay there a long while, still inside her, as his breaths calmed and he quieted above her. He kissed her shoulder and then smoothed his hands down her arms and then down her sides.

“So beautiful,” he whispered. “And mine. You’re mine, Bethany. You belong to me. Only to me.”

She wasn’t going to argue. She was perfectly content to be his for as long as he wanted her. And she tried not to dwell on how short a time that might be.

Chapter twenty-seven

Jace rose quietly from bed, careful not to wake Bethany. She was sleeping soundly. She hadn’t stirred since he’d untied her and carried her into the bathroom to bathe and pamper her before putting her to bed. The moment her head had hit the pillow, she’d fallen asleep. Which was good because in order for him to pull off his Christmas morning surprise, he’d definitely needed her oblivious.

It had gutted him to hear she’d never had a Christmas tree, but what hurt him the most was that he hadn’t put up a tree in their apartment. Their home. He hadn’t even put one up for her in the other apartment she spent time in. Trees had been something he’d always done without fail for Mia when she was growing up. He’d taken her to see the lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Center. But when she’d gotten older and they had separate residences, he’d never bothered putting up a tree. It hadn’t made any sense when it was just him, and so he hadn’t even thought about putting up a tree for Bethany.

After they’d gotten home, and Bethany had fallen asleep after they’d made love, he’d made a few emergency calls and Gabe, Mia and Ash had come over with an artificial tree and ornaments and they’d quietly decorated it in the living room. Jace had left the lights twinkling so that Bethany would see them when she went into the living room the next morning. He couldn’t wait to see her face. Moreover, he’d make damn sure she never went without a tree again.

He went to his dresser and opened the top drawer, pulling out the small wrapped gift for Bethany. Then he returned to bed, glancing at the window as first light softly illuminated the room.

She was beautiful in the pale light of dawn. Her hair spread out on his pillow, her fingers clutching his sheets. In his bed. Which was where she belonged.

He crawled back into bed, putting the present between them as he propped himself on his elbow, content to watch her while she slept. He could wait. He loved to watch her wake up, her eyes all dreamy and content. Fogged with sleep, a soft smile on her face. It was the way she awakened every morning. As if she were grateful for every moment away from her old life.

It hurt him that she’d ever lived that life. He’d give anything to be able to erase it. But he couldn’t change the past. He could sure as hell change the future though.

After a few moments, no longer able to withstand the temptation, he reached his finger out to trace the soft lines of her face. He followed the curve of her cheekbone, enjoying the satiny skin.

Her eyelashes fluttered and her eyes opened, immediately finding his gaze. Her eyes were soft and oh so sweet, cloudy but welcoming as if she were the most content woman in the world. What man wouldn’t love his woman waking up with that kind of look on her face? Like there was no place on earth she’d rather be.

“Merry Christmas,” he murmured as he leaned down to kiss her.

“Merry Christmas,” she returned.

He pushed the box across the bed so it was right in front of her. “I got you a present. Well, it’s only one of the presents I got you.”

Her eyes widened. “Jace, we agreed no presents.”

She sounded genuinely distressed and Jace’s chest clenched. He put his finger over her lips to hush her.

“No, you agreed no presents. I never made any such agreement,” he said gently.

“But I have nothing to give you,” she said in agitation.

He smiled, his entire heart softening. “After what you gave me last night, you can honestly say that this morning?”

She flushed and dropped her gaze. He wouldn’t allow it, though. He tipped her chin up with his finger, forcing her to look at him again.

“Bethany, you gave me something more precious than I will ever give to you. You gave me your trust. You gave me yourself.”

Her cheeks went pink but pleasure sparked in her eyes.

“Now open this present. I wanted to give this one to you separately.”

She pushed herself upward so she could sit cross-legged in front of the box. She stared down at it as if it would bite her. Then she hesitantly pulled the bow from the top and tore the paper off.

It took two attempts before she managed to open the box and then she pulled out an intricate leather choker with a huge diamond teardrop in the very middle, designed to rest in the hollow of her throat.

He’d spent a lot of time searching for just the right piece of jewelry. It wasn’t just a necklace. Far from it. It was a stamp of his possession. A signal of his ownership. It was a . . . collar. Not that he would tell her that. Later. When she was more comfortable in their relationship. For now, he was content with the knowledge that he knew what it was and that she would wear it.

He’d looked at diamond chokers. He’d looked at beautifully rendered precious stones in an array of decorative patterns. But nothing had stood out as being something that suited Bethany. Until he’d seen the rustic leather design. He’d had the diamond teardrop added because it elevated the leather choker from simple to elegant and expensive. Something more worthy of the woman he considered his.

“Jace, it’s beautiful,” she whispered. “Will you put it on me?”

Even as she spoke, she held out the choker to him and when he took it, she turned, presenting her back to him. She reached back to lift her hair and he arranged it around her neck, securing it in back. It fit perfectly, snug against her slim neck.

When she turned back around, he was able to see the full effect, and it was magnificent. His cock swelled and his body surged to life at seeing his collar around her neck. She was his and now the world would know it.

The leather bands flowed in a delicate pattern, crisscrossing as they made their way around her neck. The diamond dangled in the middle, making the necklace look dainty and delicate. Just like Bethany. It was bloody perfect. She was perfect.

“I want you to always wear it,” he said in a low voice. “Never take it off. Promise me.”

Her eyes widened, but her face was flushed with happiness. “I promise.”

He leaned forward, taking her mouth, plundering it with his tongue until they were both gasping for breath.

“Put on one of my robes so you don’t get cold. I’ll go turn on the fireplace and you can open the rest of your presents.”

Her lips twisted into an unhappy frown. “I wish you hadn’t gotten me presents.”

He grinned. “Tough, baby. You need to get used to the fact that I’m going to spoil you at every opportunity. Getting you Christmas presents is my present. Seeing you happy is the best gift I could ever ask for. Watching you opening the stuff I bought for you will make this the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

She surprised him by launching herself into his arms. She tackled him and knocked him flat on his back on the bed. She hugged him fiercely, peppering his face with kisses.

“Thank you. You can’t know what this means to me,” she whispered.

He smiled tenderly up at her as he smoothed the hair from her face. “Not as much as you mean to me. That I can guarantee.”

He patted her on the ass and then said, “Now, let’s get up. You have a surprise in the living room.”

She heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Jaaace.” His name came out as a plaintive wail but he only grinned and rolled her off him.

“Come on. It’s Christmas morning. Time to get your ass out of bed so we can celebrate.”

She grinned, her eyes lighting with excitement. Regardless of the fact that she’d been adamant that he not get her presents, there was no way in hell he wasn’t going to make the most of their first Christmas together.

He handed her a robe so she wouldn’t be cold. He didn’t want her dressed because he planned for them to spend the day in bed right after she saw her tree and opened her presents.

Pausing only to pull on pajama bottoms, he tugged at her hand and guided her into the living room.

She came to a full stop when she saw the tree with hundreds of white lights and the presents piled underneath. Tears immediately filled her eyes and her mouth fell open.

She turned to him, her expression one of joy and surprise. “How did you do this? Oh, Jace, it’s beautiful! I love it!”

He tugged her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “Merry Christmas, baby. Now go open your presents.”

She all but ran to the tree like an eager child on Christmas morning. His heart ached to think of her never having this experience, but he was damn glad he could be the one to give it to her.

“They’re so beautiful I don’t want to open them,” she said in a hushed, reverent tone.

He laughed. “The fun is ripping the paper off as fast as you can.”

Needing no further encouragement, she ripped into the packages, exclaiming in delight as she uncovered each one. Her favorite were the shoes. He’d bought her an array of sexy, high-heeled, sparkly shoes. Of all the things she’d loved when he’d first taken her shopping, the shoes had gotten her attention the most. She’d looked at several pairs wistfully and then flinched at the price tags.

Second on her favorites list was the huge basket of gourmet hot chocolate in a variety of flavors, from milk to dark chocolate.

After she’d opened all the gifts, she launched herself into his arms and they ended up on the floor, him flat on his back laughing as she peppered his entire face with kisses again.

He gazed up at her, taking in her beautiful smile and the joy burning bright in her eyes.

“Have to say, this is the best Christmas ever,” he said softly.

“Wait, that’s my line,” she protested. “And how can you say that? I didn’t get you anything!”

He shook his head solemnly. “All I wanted is right here in my arms. You smiling and looking at me like I just handed you the world. There’ll never be a better present than that, baby.”

Chapter twenty-eight

Bethany stirred as Jace slipped from underneath the sheets. He leaned down to kiss her forehead and he murmured, “Sleep, baby. I have to go into work today. You can stay here.”

She sat up, pulling the sheets to cover her breasts. It was an absurd notion that she should try to hide herself. She’d spent most of Christmas naked. In Jace’s arms. He’d made love to her until they’d both fallen into an exhausted sleep.

But now she felt self-conscious and a little nervous. Her hand fluttered to the choker he’d given her and she traced the lines of the leather design with her fingertip.

She didn’t feel comfortable staying in Jace’s apartment all day when he wasn’t there. None of her things were here. It was Jace’s place. Definitely a bachelor pad. It looked and smelled all male. And while she didn’t have much, at least the apartment she was staying in looked feminine. She was comfortable there. It was starting to feel like something of her own.

“Actually, I thought I’d go back to my apartment if you’re going in to work,” she said quietly.

He frowned but recovered quickly. “If that’s what you want. I’ll swing by after I finish at the office. We can spend the evening there if you want.”

She nodded. Despite her having her own place, they hadn’t spent a night away from each other since they’d met. In fact, other than the time Jace spent at work, they’d been inseparable.

“If you want, I’ll drop you off on my way to work.”

“I won’t make you late?”

He smiled. “I’m the boss, remember? I can go in whenever the hell I want.”

“Okay. I’d like that.”

“Give me five minutes in the shower and then it’s all yours.”

She watched him walk naked toward the bathroom, all his masculine beauty and rough edges on display. His hair, which was tousled from their endless lovemaking, only made him look all the more delicious.

He paused at the doorway of the bathroom and glanced back, his eyes glittering with fire, almost as if he’d known the direction of her thoughts. Then he grinned, his face transforming. She caught her breath because his smile was extraordinary. He didn’t smile often. He had a darker look about him. Almost always serious. Brooding. But when he smiled, she couldn’t breathe.

She sat up when he disappeared inside the bathroom. He’d left the door open, though. An invitation? She licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry.

If they showered together, they’d get done in half the time. Or maybe not. Because if she got in with him, they wouldn’t just shower.