Dominant And Submissive

Sarah's P. O. V

Jace opens the passenger door to the black Audi SUV, and I clamber in. It's a beast of a car. He hasn't mentioned the outburst of annoying  me.. Bitch.

I glance at him. Jace is his usual polite, slightly distant self.

How confusing.

He starts the engine and reverses out of his space in the parking lot. He switches on the MP3 player. The car interior is filled with the sweetest, most magical music drakes 'in my feelings' playing . Oh wow… all my senses are in disarray, so this is doubly affecting. It sends delicious shivers up my spine that I felt like getting up and start dancing kiki as he drives. Jace pulls out on to Lincoln Avenue, and he drives with easy, lazy confidence.

"My taste is eclectic, Sarah,

He turns and gazes at me briefly. As if he's  reading my mind.  Dick.

The music is interrupted by the sound of a cell phone ringing over the MP3 speakers. Jace hits a button on the steering wheel.

"Alicanté ," he snaps. He's so brusque.

"Mr. ALICANTÉ , it's  Angelo here. I have the information you require." A rasping, disembodied voice comes over the speakers.

"Good. Email it to me. Anything to add?"

"No sir."

He presses the button, then the call ceases and the music is back. No goodbye or thanks. I'm so glad that I never seriously entertained the thought of working for him. I shudder at the very idea. He's just too controlling and cold with his employees. The music cuts off again for the phone.

"Alicanté ."

"The NDA has been emailed to you, Mr. Alicanté ." A woman's voice.

"Good. That's all, Reyna ."

"Good day, sir."

Jace hangs up by pressing a button on the steering wheel. The music is on very briefly when the phone rings again. Holy hell, is this his life, constant nagging phone calls?

"Alicanté ," he snaps.

"Hi, Jace, did 'you get laid?"

"Hello, Alex?  Oh, Damon– I'm on speaker phone, and I'm not alone in the car," Jace sighs.

"Who's with you?"

Jace rolls his eyes.

"Sarah Elaine."

"Hi, Sarah!"

Sarah!

"Hello, Damon."

"Heard a lot about you," Damon murmurs huskily. Jace frowns.

"Don't believe a word Izzy says."

Damon laughs.

"I'm dropping Sarry off now." Jace emphasizes my name. "Shall I pick you up?"

"Sure."

"See you shortly." Jace hangs up, and the music is back.

"Why do you insist on calling me Sarry?"

"Because it's your name."

"I prefer Sarah."

"Do you now?" he murmurs.

We are almost at my apartment. It's not taken long.

"Sarry," he muses. I scowl at him, but he ignores my expression."

He pulls up outside my duplex. I belatedly realize he's not asked me where I live - yet he knows.

Cell-phone-tracking, helicopter owning, stalker wouldn't. I wish he would kiss  me and make my elevator day dreams comes to reality. Dirty minded Sarah!.

I pout at the thought. I don't understand. Honestly, his surname should be Cryptic, not Alicanté . He climbs out of the car, walking with easy, long-legged grace round to my side to open the door, ever the gentleman - except perhaps in rare, precious day dreaming moments in elevators. I flush at the memory of his mouth on mine, and the thought that I'd been unable to touch him enters my mind. I wanted to run my fingers through his decadent, untidy hair, but I'd been unable to move my hands. I am retrospectively frustrated. Common Sarah Megan Elaine  it was not as if it was reality,  it was another day dreaming  shit. Ugh.

Izzy and Damon are sitting at our dining table. Thank heavens. I have plans for them. She has the most un-Izzy  ridiculous grin on her face, and she looks mussed up in a sexy kind of way. Jace follows me into the living area, and in spite of her I've-been-having-a-good-time-all-night grin, Izzy eyes him suspiciously.

"Hi Sarah ." She leaps up to hug me, then holds me at arm's length so she can examine me. She frowns and turns to Jace .

"Good morning, fucking prickhead ," she says to Jace, and her tone is a little hostile.

"Miss Inn," he says in his stiff formal way. He smiled  and hugged  Izzy,  long time babe.

"How you have change a lot,  we've  a lot to chat about Jonathan, Izzy said.

"Jace , her name is Izzy," Damon grumbles.

"Izzy " Jace gives her a polite nod and glares at Damon who grins and rises to hug me too.

Lol,  ain't you funny Sarah, I know her name is Izzy, he rolled his eyes  at me Sarcastically.

"OK,  Izzy, I'll  be waiting. He winked at Izzy,  making her blush scarlet.

"Hi, Sarah," he smiles, his blue eyes twinkling, and I like him immediately. He's obviously nothing like Jace, but then they're best friends, like brothers.

"Hi, Damon," I smile at him, and I'm aware that I'm biting my lip.

"Damon, we'd better go." Jace says mildly.

"Sure." He turns to Izzy and pulls her into his arms and gives her a long lingering kiss.

Jeez… get a room. I stare at my feet, embarrassed. I glance up at Jace , and he's watching me intently. I narrow my eyes at him. Why can't you kiss me like that? Damon

continues to kiss Izzy , sweeping her off her feet and dipping her in a dramatic hold so that her hair touches the ground as he kisses her hard.

"Laters, baby," he grins.

Izzy just melts. I've never seen her melt before – the words comely and compliant come to mind. Compliant Izzy , boy, Damon must be good.

Jace rolls his eyes and stares down at me, his expression unreadable, although maybe he's mildly amused. He tucks a stray strand of my hair that has worked its way free from my ponytail behind my ear. My breath hitches at the contact, and I lean my head slightly into his fingers. His eyes soften, and he runs his thumb across my lower lip. My blood sears in my veins. And all too quickly, his touch is gone.

"Laters, baby," he murmurs, and I have to laugh because it's so unlike him. But even though I know he's being irreverent, the endearment tugs at something deep inside me.

"I'll pick you up at seven." He turns to leave, opening the front door and stepping out on to the porch. Damon follows him to the car but turns and blows Izzy another kiss, and I feel an unwelcome pang of jealousy.

"So, did you?" Izzy asks as we watch them climb into the car and drive off, the burning curiosity evident in her voice.

"No," I snap irritably, hoping that will halt the questions. We head back into the apartment. "You obviously did, though." I can't contain my envy. Izzy always manages to ensnare men. She is irresistible, beautiful, sexy, funny, forward… all the things that I'm not. But her answering grin is infectious.

"And I'm seeing him again this evening." She claps her hands and jumps up and down like a small child. She cannot contain her excitement and happiness, and I can't help but feel happy for her. A happy Izzy … this is going to be interesting.

"Jace is taking me to San Francisco this evening."

"Cali?"

"Yes."

"Maybe you will then?"

"Oh, I hope so."

"You like him then?"

"Yes."

"Like him enough to… ?"

"Yes."

She raises her eyebrows.

"Wow.  Sarah Elaine , finally falling for a man, and it's Jace Alicanté your highschool crush – hot, sexy billionaire."

"Oh yeah – it's all about the money." I smirk, and we both fall into a fit of giggles.

"Is that a new blouse?" she asks, and I let her have all the unexciting details about my night.

"Has he kissed you yet?" she asks as she makes coffee.

I blush.

"Once."

"Once!" she scoffs. "yes once,  in my. Day dreaming land" I added.

I nod, rather shame faced.

"He's very reserved."

She frowns. I hate you Sarah,  you and your day dreaming life again.  She grasp.

"That's odd."

"I don't think odd covers it really," I murmur.

"We need to make sure you're simply irresistible for this evening," she says with determination.

Oh no… this sounds like it will be time consuming, humiliating, and painful.

"I have to be at work in an hour."

"I can work with that timeframe. Come on." Izzy grabs my hand and takes me into her bedroom.

.

The day drags at Lindsey's even though we're busy. We've hit the summer season, so I have to spend two hours restocking the shelves once the shop is closed. It's mindless work, and it gives me too much time to think. I've not really had a chance all day.

Under Izzy's tireless and frankly intrusive instruction, my legs and underarms are shaved to perfection, my eyebrows plucked, and I am buffed all over. It has been a most unpleasant experience. But she assures me that this is what men expect these days. What else will he expect? I have to convince Izzy that this is what I want to do. For some strange reason, she doesn't trust him, her own Big time celebrity , maybe because he's so stiff and formal, and no longer the sweet nerdy Jonathan Christopher,  but he's now the big boss Jace Alicanté .

She says she can't put her finger on it, but I have promised to text her when I arrive in San Francisco . I haven't told her about the helicopter or should  I say private boarding Airplane? , she'd freak.

I also have the Kelvin issue. He's left three messages and seven missed calls on my cell. He's also called home twice. Izzy has been very vague as to where I am. He'll know she's covering for me. Izzy doesn't do vague. But I have decided to let him stew. I'm still too angry with him.

Jace mentioned some kind of written paperwork, and I don't know if he was joking or if I'm going to have to sign something. It's so frustrating trying to guess. And on top of all the angst, I can barely contain my excitement or my nerves. Tonight's the night! After all this time, am I ready for this? My inner goddess glares at me, tapping her small foot impatiently. She's been ready for this for years, and she's ready for anything with Jace Alicanté , but I still don't understand what he sees in me… mousey Sarah Elaine - it makes no sense.

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