Page 135 of Jace
I glance around and note the antique credenza against the far wall. Unlit golden candelabras are set upon it, with taller ones poised around the room, waiting to glow.
But it’s the large, low, black leather platform nearer the opposite wall, by the billowing gold velvet curtains, that fills me with questions. Especially after what I witnessed of Alena’s initiation. My curiosity is piqued by a black silk sheet, draped over something tall by the platform, and the red leather box beside it.
“This is yours.” Jace redirects me. “Your throne beside mine: I’m going to make you a queen on it.”
The heat in his tone shoots straight between my thighs. “Make me? How?”
“That’s what we need to discuss.” He sits on his throne, guiding me to settle on his lap. I fit like Jace is my home.
Gesturing across the semicircle, he explains, “For the first part, everyone will be here. My mom and Sasha and?—”
“The first part is the ceremony, right?”
“Right. It’s modeled after a Russian Orthodox wedding, and Sire will perform it.”
I search Jace’s lapis eyes, no longer too ashamed to ask anything. “Will it be consideredourwedding?”
He caresses my face, his thumb gently brushing my cheek. “If you want, yes. Or if you want to do it later on the beach, or in Sire’s church, or at a?—”
“My courtyard,” I blurt out. “I mean… I’ve done bridal shots there, under my giant pergola with white jasmine in bloom, and have secretly wished it was me. I never had a wedding or even wore a wedding gown. All I had was a rushed courthouse fiasco, wearing blue jeans and flip-flops, because my father hated my ex. If only I’d listened to him, I?—”
Jace pulls me into a kiss, silencing my past. It feels like forever ago when he’s my future.
“In your courtyard,” he murmurs over our lips. “We’ll have a small ceremony with family and friends, and you’ll wear my bride’s beautiful dress.” I blink back happy tears, and he grins. “Don’t cry yet, Smokeshow. I gotta ask you first.” He softens, tracing one of my tendrils. “We’ll save it for after your initiation. Okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, that feels right.”
“But for now”—his brows crinkle—“I need to ask you how we should handle the Nash and Alena situation.”
It takes me a moment to catch on. I’m still getting used to his secret society. “Oh, you mean because Nash is Alena’s dad, and sex is an ick-factor times a million if?—”
“If nothing.” He huffs certainly. “Those lines are never evenwitnessedwith us. After the ceremony, Mom will leave. Sasha too. But we have to decide between Nash and Alena; who should stay for the second part of your initiation?”
I don’t want to disrespect their traditions, even the erotic ones. “What have you done in the past?”
He shrugs. “We haven’t. Alena was just initiated. She’s never been to one as a queen.”
“Then she should be here.” I sit up taller. “I want Alena included. I mean, we already shared something with Nash and Vale.” Jace stirs beneath me. “And I assume we may share it again someday?”
His gaze dips to my nipples, pearling under my pale-yellow cotton dress. My body can’t lie; of course, I want to do it again. He licks his lips. “Their home is just across the river from ours. We can join them whenever we want.”
“Really?”
“I mean…” He catches his assumption. “Ifyou want to live there.”
Live there?
Suddenly, I’m struck with inspiration, ready to start everything new and blurting out, “You know what I want to do?”
He beams. “Smokeshow, I’ve been waiting a fucking year for you toalwaystell me what you want to do.” He fondles my hip. “Because it’s all I want to give you.”
“Do you want to help me turn my home into an art gallery?” He’s visibly shocked, so I explain excitedly, “That’s its history: a house for women artists. We could feature photography and folks who don’t usually get seen. Activist art. Marginalized art. We could offer fully funded artists’ residencies with my father’s foundation, and?—”
“Damn, woman.” He cups my cheek. “You’re so fucking beautiful when you’re inspired. Your eyes light up like the sun is in your soul, and you want to shine on everyone.”
He’s right. I feel it. What I’m destined to do with my father’s legacy. It’s not to follow the rules; it’s to break them. They weren’t made for freedom anyway.
“So, you’ll help me?”
