Rockstar Romeo - Abbie Zanders Page 0,50

breathless. “I’ve been waiting to do that since we left LA,” he murmured.

Were his kisses getting even more potent, or was I suddenly afflicted with a case of vertigo?

It took a few moments for my vision to clear sufficiently to take in our surroundings. Thankfully, Jace’s strong arm kept a close hold on me while he reached into his pocket and dug out a key. Once we stepped through the door, he flipped a switch, and soft lights flooded a spacious foyer.

I drew in a breath. The place was stunning, like something out of an architectural magazine ad. All light wood and glass and marble and ... bare. Completely devoid of furnishing and decoration.

“What is this place?”

“Do you like it?” Jace’s voice echoed slightly in the empty space.

I turned in a complete circle. Through a series of arches, I could see that the far wall consisted of floor-to-ceiling windows. A graceful, curved staircase spiraled in a lazy half-circle to the second floor, where a balcony looked down over the foyer and sunken living room like a courtyard. There were additional arches to the left and right, but the rooms beyond were too dark for me to see.

“It’s beautiful,” I said honestly.

“Glad you think so. This is my place.”

“Your place?”

Seemingly pleased with my reaction, he nodded. “Yeah. I designed it. Well, it was a joint effort between me and my dad,” he said with obvious pride. “It’s where I come to get away from it all when I have the chance.”

I couldn’t think of a better place to do that. Beautiful, scenic, and remote, it was exactly what I would have selected for a secret hideaway. “Why is it so empty?”

Jace slid his arms around me and pulled me back against him, my back to his chest as he rested his chin on the top of my head. “It’s not finished yet. I’ve been working on it for the last fifteen years or so, on and off.”

“You’re doing everything yourself?”

“Me and my brothers,” he told her. “And Eric. He’s a general contractor. That’s how he and Jackie met.”

I was properly awed. Everything was so open and clean and airy, as if it were part of the natural world around it. It definitely needed a woman’s touch though. I was envisioning gauzy curtains and big, comfortable furniture.

“I’ll give you the grand tour tomorrow; you look exhausted. What do you say we head right to bed?”

He was so thoughtful. I was tired. I’d spent the last two weeks putting in sixteen-hour days to clear my desk before taking a week off, and as I’d said, my sleeping patterns had been erratic at best.

I was also relieved and pleased that we were staying here, as opposed to his parents’ house. It might have made for an awkward situation in terms of bed space and sharing. Yes, we were consenting adults, but I also wanted to show respect. Our nightly sexcapades weren’t the way to do that.

“That sounds wonderful, but I think I’d like a shower first, if that’s okay.”

Traveling always made me feel gritty, even traveling first-class. It had become a thing with me, ever since I’d spent six months living in a broken-down tour bus.

“Sounds great. Mind if I join you?”

“Mmm,” I said, turning to twine my arms around his neck and press my body against his. I’d come to need the contact, physically craving the feel of him. “Absolutely. I’ll wash your back if you wash mine.”

“How did I get so lucky?” he murmured, placing kisses on my forehead, my nose, and then my lips.

I was wondering the same thing.

~ * ~

I was in my happy place, snuggled against Jace’s warm body, when my ringtone pulled me back into the land of consciousness. It took me a moment to get my bearings, and I gasped when I saw the time. Then, I remembered we were in a different time zone, and that nine a.m. was really six a.m. to my West Coast self.

“Hey, Ross. What’s up?” My voice was still husky with sleep and the aftereffects of being thoroughly loved.

As tired as I’d been last night, I’d been unable to refuse Jace—really, why would I ever want to refuse him?—especially when he promised to do most of the heavy lifting. He’d made good on his promise, and I’d gotten to enjoy all the benefits. Not a bad deal, I’d say, though I was definitely looking forward to making it up to him later.

“Eva? What’s wrong? You sound tired. Are you sick?”

“No, Ross.