He looked hurt that I’d not considered it.
“Is that so weird?”
“A little? I never thought you felt that way about me. I never thought you would think of us as an ‘us.’” I used air quotes.
“Well, you’re wrong. I’ve thought about it for years.” Jace’s confession shocked me to my core.
It’s finally happening.
“But how do we make this work? You live on the road, so do I.” My mind was a whirlwind, I wanted to do it, but it seemed so impossible. “We both have a lot going on.”
Jace lay back and punched the pillow lightly. “Yeah. I know it probably won’t be easy. We’d both need to figure it out.”
“I wouldn’t want there to be anyone else, Jace.” I propped my head on his chest, feeling the hard planes of his abs. “I wouldn’t want to share you.”
“Well, if it means anything, there’s never been anyone that I’ve cared about since I met you. Maybe ever.” He wrinkled his brow as if he were surprised to hear himself say it. “But, okay. I get it and can say the words. No one else. We’d be exclusive.”
“And we shouldn’t tell anyone yet.” I poked him in the chest.
“Why not?”
“Let’s be stealth. Just until you and I figure out what’s going on here.”
“Oh-kay. How in the hell will you come with me to the shows then?” He trailed his hand from my shoulder blade down to my breast. He was obsessed with my boobs. Not that I minded.
“I’ll just have to get a few disguises together to keep you on your toes.” My mind began to whirl with the possibilities.
“Hmmmm.” Jace hauled me on top of him and guided the bulbous tip of his cock into me. “Just thinking of you in costume makes me want to be inside you.”
“You’re insatiable.” I canted my hips and squeezed.
“So are you.” He thrust up. “I can’t help that I love watching you ride me.”
Too soon it was time for him to leave and time for me to go back to my flat. Armed with a calendar of our chosen destinations, I scheduled some appearances and booked some of my flights. We would see each other for one or two days about every week/week and a half. I couldn’t believe it, after all this time, Jace and I were kind of a couple. I just wished we didn’t have to be a secret couple. But, circumstances necessitated it. At least for now.
My first stop was in London, where LTZ played two shows at Wembley Stadium. Jace left a key to his suite for me at the Savoy hotel. In return, I greeted him naked in the giant bathtub when he got done with his show. We made love until dawn.
Replicating our Barcelona experience, I dashed out in the morning and bought us both British flag T-shirts and ball-caps, and we were able to ride around on the hop-on, hop-off bus unnoticed. That night, with my VIP All-Access pass, I watched the second show from the soundboard. Best-laid plans. My Twiggy-inspired wig and shift dress was a tad too conspicuous and I nearly got caught by Zane backstage.
My disguise did inspire some Austin Powers moments at the hotel. Jace told me that Ty and Connor, who were in the neighboring suites, had teased him for weeks by calling out, “Yeah, baby!” every time he walked by.
The band had four days off in Paris after they played to a sold-out crowd at Stade de Paris. We took full advantage because they never had much time off. The reason for the break was so Carter and Zane could take Ty to a wellness resort outside the city.
A few days prior, Jace showed Ty a picture of Zoey with her law school boyfriend on Instagram. By the next morning, Ty woke up in bed with some woman after blacking out from drinking. Not remembering it was the very last straw. The tortured singer finally wanted to get some help.
Having now witnessed his antics firsthand in Ireland and London, I was glad Ty was dealing with his issues. I truly wanted him to get back on his feet.
In even better news, Connor made plans with a mystery woman in Provence. For the first time in forever, Jace had no one to take care of and we were both free from any responsibilities.
But the best news was the Paris dates happened to coincide with my twenty-third birthday. Jace pulled some strings and arranged for us to have a private tasting dinner at L'Ambroisie, a fancy three-Michelin star restaurant. Before dinner, he took me shopping for a birthday outfit and I chose a peach-nude Chanel dress and gorgeous Dior sandals. He outfitted himself in a dark-brown Dolce & Gabbana suit with some funky wing-tipped dress shoes. We dined on the most decadent food I’d ever tasted, and I felt truly grown-up for the first time in my life.
Afterward, we walked hand-in-hand through the romantic Paris streets. Jace’s hair was pulled back in a ponytail, emphasizing his gorgeous green eyes and chiseled jaw. When the heavens opened up and we found ourselves in another downpour, he still looked more relaxed than I’d ever seen him.
Spreading his arms out wide, he shook out his hair and laughed. We were soaked and my new dress was ruined, but nothing mattered in that moment. On a quaint bridge overlooking the Seine, I launched myself at him and our mouths crashed together.
It was in that moment that I knew, without any shadow of a doubt, that I loved him.
I loved Jace Deveraux with all my heart.
When we arrived back to our opulent suite at Hôtel Barrière, we made love all night. In the morning, sitting on our veranda overlooking the Arc de Triomphe, the look in Jace’s eyes told me all I needed to know, he was feeling it too.
“Poppy,” he whispered and clasped my hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing it.
My breath caught. “Yes?”
“You’re so incredibly beautiful,
