But then it would be over too soon, and he might not get another chance. The thought burned in his brain. She didn't want to fight what they had between them, but it could be a one-time thing.
Jason didn't think he'd ever get enough of her.
Chloe leaned forward, nuzzling his ear. "Stop thinking, Jace. Just feel." She rocked her hips.
Just feel. Easy to do when his brain melted and couldn't form coherent thought anyway. His mouth met hers, and his hands skimmed along her sides before settling on her ass, urging her to take him deeper. She moaned, her breath fanning against his neck. Breathing hard, each inhale and exhale brought his chest into contact with her taut nipples.
Chloe shuddered. "I like that, Jace. Makes me tingly all over."
Her words spurred him to up the pace. His fingers dug into the globes of her behind, and he thrust upward, his thighs nudging her forward with each stroke. Chloe made a gasping sound, her breathing going low and shallow.
She grinded against him "Ah, Jace. Almost there. So close."
Her internal muscles squeezed and released his cock, over and over, the friction increasing to the point he wanted to burst.
He caught her mouth in a hard kiss. "Come for me, Chloe. Let me see you shatter around me."
Chloe sat up, her fingers curling into fists on his chest, and she tossed her head back. "God, Jace. Don't stop. Almost… Almost…" Her hips moved forward and back, counterpoint to his.
He pumped harder, bumping her ass with his legs. "Gonna be close, Chloe. I can't… I have to… I need—"
She clenched around him, muscles tightening, drawing him in deep. "Now, Jace." Her fingers flexed, nails digging into his chest. "Come now." She shuddered and quaked, her words rasping out in short breathy pants.
An exquisite burn flared, catching fire and spreading out from the base of his spine. He lifted his hips, thrust two more times and came. Hard. The release so incredible his mind blanked and his senses took over, homing in on the pounding of his heart. Chloe collapsed, landing on his chest in a heap, her hair tickling his nose. He caught a faint whiff of her shampoo, some kind of herbal blend, and oddly, the scent calmed the chaotic emotions running rampage in his head.
His hands ghosted over her back, her skin hot under his touch. Wrapping his arms around her, he angled sideways, settling them more comfortably on the couch. His hand lifted, and he brushed the hair back away from her face.
Not sure what to expect, he met her gaze, the green depths clear and untroubled.
Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "That was…"
Chloe finished for him. "Intense." She reached up and dragged a throw from the back of the couch.
Jace nodded. "Yeah. Good description." His brain couldn't quite wrap around how great they were together.
Or maybe his conscience didn't want to let it.
Chloe draped the light blanket over them. "Stop it, Jace. Don't regret what we shared here. I won't." Her gaze lowered. "Even if I'm not sure what kind of people it makes us."
He wrapped an arm around her. "The not perfect kind." Oddly, the admission didn't bother him as much as he'd thought it would, but what about Chloe? "We're going to be okay, right? You and me."
* * * *
Chloe didn't answer right away. She didn't regret the sex. Hell, if honest, she'd admit it turned her world upside down. And the intensity gave her pause. Her heart and her emotions were all twisted up. She wanted a little time and space to get everything straight in her head. Were her and Jace okay? She had no idea. Because she had zero clue where to go from sex on the sofa.
She tilted her head back, holding his gaze for several long moments. "I don't know." She eased backward, sliding off the couch, wrapping the throw around her shoulders and snagging a second one from the back of a rocking chair. "I'm not trying to be a bitch here." She draped the blanket over Jace, hating to cover up all that naked flesh, but yeah, thinking straight required it. "I honestly can't answer because you turned my brain to mush." She nodded toward the bathroom. "Can we grab showers and talk after?"
Jace sat up, keeping the blanket around his midsection. "Yeah. I'll use the one by the spare bedroom." He rose, tucking the ends around his hips.
Chloe made her way through the master bedroom and dropped the throw at the bathroom door. Turning the water on in the shower, she gazed in the mirror while it warmed up. She looked the same, but she sure felt different. Knowing Jace cared deeply sort of made all the pieces click into place.
Stepping into the shower, she pondered if she and Jace could be together without having it blow up in their faces. She wanted to see if they could manage. And keep it low-key because they had Marc to consider. He might have been the catalyst for sending Jace her way, but it could still be a minefield to navigate. Geez. What would the elder McIveys think? Her face flamed. She had a decent relationship with both… or used to. She'd deal with whatever fallout came.
She lathered up and rinsed off. Feeling a little more settled, she cut the water flow and grabbed a towel. Tucking it around her, she quickly finger-combed her hair, slicking it back away from her face. She threw on a pair of shorts and tank top, tossed the towel on the rack in the bathroom and went back out to the living room.
Jace stood in the middle of the space, surveying the myriad of boxes she'd packed up. He'd put his fatigues back on but hadn't buttoned them up all the way, and they hung low on his hips. He turned to find her gazing at the broad expanse of his back and lifted a brow.
Caught, she offered a smirk… and an explanation for the packing. "I applied for housing on base." She didn't add more.
Jace shot her a look. "I'd offer the use of my place… but I'm sort of going to need it."
Another piece clicked, and Chloe responded. "The new post? You transferred in for it?"
Jace nodded. "Yeah. Filled out the paperwork yesterday." He shrugged. "So… unless you wanna move in with me…"
Chloe gave a derisive laugh. "Yeah, wouldn't that be ninety-seven shades of awkward." She met his gaze. "Breaking up with Marc and moving in with you right after? I don't think so, Jace. Let's not give your parents any more reason to hate me."
Jace made his way to her and grasped her hips. "Look, Chloe. They're not going to hate you. And they can't judge us, either. I know Marc's told you about their knockdown, drag out fights." He snorted. "I used to think the MPs came to the block parties for fun. I didn't know they showed up to make sure my mom and dad behaved."
Chloe shook her head. "They were young then. And they stuck it out. I can't think they won't believe I should've tried harder with Marc."
Jason shrugged. "Maybe they will. But it'll pass. And the only reason they're still married is because my dad spends a lot of time off-planet." He heaved a sigh. "And when I break the news I'm thinking about mustering out after I finish this stint, my dad will shift his focus completely to me."
Chloe eased away and tugged Jason toward the couch. "You're thinking of using the new position to transition out for a civilian contract?" She sat down, settling back against the cushions. "A bold move. But perfect for you."
Jason sank down beside her. "Do you think so?" He turned toward her. "I haven't made any decisions yet, but I figured this would be a good test run. See if I like the work."
Chloe propped her feet on his knees. "It's a smart choice. You'll be working with a foot in both worlds. What better way to explore your options?"
Jace nodded. "That's what I thought, too. It'll let me make an informed decision." He grabbed her feet, squeezing them. "But I'm leaning toward getting out, and that brings me to… what's next? For us." He started a deep massage along her insoles. "I'd get it if you said nothing. Wouldn't like it, but I'd understand."
Chloe disagreed. "No, you wouldn't. Because we have something here, Jace. I don't know what it is yet, but it's there." She continued. "As for the future, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna stay in. As much as I bitch about it, I love teaching and watching new recruits find their wings. I don't think I'll be going anywhere, considering the best training facility is right here."
Jace blew out a long and slow breath. "So… you'll give me a chance. Give us one?" He reached out and hauled her forward, settling her beside him. "Because I think I could spend the rest of my life with you, Chloe."
She loved him. She truly did. She didn't know how or why she let it happen, but it didn't matter. Not now. The awkward… would be a little intense, and she honestly didn't know how everything would play out.
The future she pictured sat right beside her. She didn't have to be in a hurry to reach out and grab it.
She met Jace's gaze. "I wanna be with you. Here and now. Can we take it a day at a time and let the future unfold how it will?"
Jace nodded. "Yeah, we can do that."
Chapter Fourteen
A horrible, obnoxious pounding woke Jason from a dead sleep. He stumbled out of bed, made his way through the living room, and yanked his door open.
"Geez, Marc. Do you realize what time it is?"
Marc nudged his way into the apartment. "Rough night?" He waved a bag of bagels. "I brought breakfast."
Jason yawned and started the coffeemaker. "What has you up at the crack of dawn?"
Marc shrugged. "Never went to sleep last night. Too keyed up."
Jason cracked a smile. "Buying a house can do that to you."
Marc filled the toaster with bagels. "It's huge, bro. Never thought I'd own a home."
The coffee finished brewing, and Jason poured three mugs. He added cream to Marc's and left the other two black.
Marc lifted a brow in question, but Jace held up a hand. "Wait for it…"
"Ah, God. Coffee." Chloe crashed into the kitchen. "Need some. Now." She wrapped her hand around the mug and tilted her head up to catch Jason's lips in a hard kiss. "I love you."
Marc laughed. "You love his coffee." The bagels popped up, and he snagged them, buttering the warm surfaces.
Chloe leaned back against Jason's chest. "That, too. Yes." She grabbed a half of Marc's breakfast and plopped down at the island bar. "You wanna do lunch with us, Marc? We're headed for the river walk."
Marc shook his head. "Nah. Gotta pick up Rachel. She's coming in on furlough for two weeks."
Chloe shot Marc a wry glance. "How is the wife? She have you packing up stuff for the move yet?"
The stupid grin Marc wore at the mention of his marital status made Jason so damned happy for his brother. After six months of awkward moments over Jason and Chloe being a couple, Marc met Rachel and told everyone he planned to marry her. Ten months later, he did. And Jace got to be the best man.
Jason lifted a brow. "Only two weeks. Not a lot of time to get settled in a new home. In her case, the R&R should stand for raring and ready to go."
Marc shrugged. "See… here's the thing. She thinks we're doing the whole deal over her leave." A sly smile crossed Marc's face. "She doesn't know it yet… but it's done. The guys from my unit came over last weekend, and we got my place and hers sorted and moved everything into the new house." He preened. "I'll be taking her there after I meet her transport."
Jason gaped. Marriage definitely agreed with his brother… enough to make him take initiative on his own. A month after the wedding, Rachel got deployed, and Marc had to handle the final details on the closing for the house. And apparently, it also had him doing things to make his new bride happy.
Pride filled Jason, and he clapped Marc on the back. "Way to go." He poured another cup of coffee. "Why didn't you say something? We'd have helped out."
Chloe snorted. "Exactly when, Jace? We just got back from training your old squadron on the new simulators you developed." She hopped off her seat and gave Marc a huge hug. "Rachel's gonna love you more than she does now." Chloe paused and narrowed her eyes. "You didn't, like, hang pictures or put stuff away, did you?"
Marc laughed. "Oh, no. No way." He winked. "I figure we'll want to do all that stuff together, you know."
Chloe smiled and eased into Jason's arms. He knew exactly what her thoughts were. Marc had finally found the perfect someone. The one woman to make him stop and think and wait for the right moment with everything.
Chloe didn't say it out loud, she didn't have to, but she'd found the right person, too. Jason pressed a kiss to her forehead and thanked the universe he'd gone to see her the day Marc punched him in the face.
She still wanted to take life a day at a time, and Jason had no problem doing so. Why would he complain? His work challenged him. Chloe made him happier than he'd ever been. They'd settled in… shared their days and nights, traveled together, talked about everything under the sun…
And most of all, best of all…
They never got bored.
The End
About the Author
Currently a writer and editor by trade, ML Skye, also writing as Skylin O'Thomas and Skye Ritchey, can usually be found on IM or browsing the web while the TV plays in the background. She credits her parents for developing her fascination with 'what if' scenarios.
Growing up, she watched a mish mash of science fiction, westerns, and military dramas and read about other worlds and distant times along with contemporary romance… thanks to her mom's reading group—a wild, wacky bunch with diverse tastes that never failed to entertain.
She started writing short stories in grade school, switched to poetry in high school, and got sidetracked by a myriad of jobs and starting a family. But the writing called again and now she gravitates toward the genres she grew up loving, combining them with sensual and erotic romance set in different times and places. Meeting her husband on a blind date—after swearing she'd never go on one—ML Skye decided to never again say never.
'What if' couldn't exist if she did.
She resides in Ohio with her husband and children.