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.”