If he heard the door open, he gave no sign.

I was a little surprised by how sincerely he considered my request. I could almost hear the argument between the devil atop one of his shoulders and the angel hovering over the other. As an enforcer, Jace took his vow to my father very seriously, and for him to even consider endangering his connection to the Pride meant that he wanted…what he wanted from me very, very badly. That realization was almost enough to make me reconsider my plan. Involving emotions added a dangerous edge to our little game. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt. I just wanted a little liberty.

“We’d catch you,” he said final y, meeting my eyes as he brushed a strand of hair from my face with warm fingertips. “You know we would.”

His words faded into silence for a moment, as I debated how to answer in front of the secret listener. In the end, I decided it didn’t matter. Daddy was the only person I was worried about, and he was above spying, even on me. “Yeah, but I might get a long weekend out of it.” I smiled up at Jace. “And even if I don’t, I’l be making a statement.”

He snorted. “Saying what, that you’re stupid, or just plain crazy?”

“That I’m an adult.”

“You want to prove you’re an adult by stealing my car for a joyride?”

I sighed. He would never understand, but at least he listened, unlike the others. “I’l take what I can get. What are you driving these days, anyway?”

“A Pathfinder, and it’s new.”

“Great, so we’re on?”

He hesitated, searching my eyes, and I used the opportunity to practice my innocent look. He smiled.

It was working. He was going to say yes. I knew it. And final y he nodded.

Yes!

“You’d better come through if I win,” he said, his hand just above my elbow.

“About that…” I tugged on the hem of my shirt, avoiding his eyes.

He took my chin in one hand, lifting my face until I had to look at him.

“Backing out already?” His tone was casual, but again his eyes didn’t match. He was disappointed and trying to hide it.

“No.” I jerked my chin from his grasp. “I’m not backing out. Just…clarifying.”

But man, I didn’t want to clarify, because that meant stating out loud what I was agreeing to, which would make it official, with no room to wiggle out of my promise.

And I just couldn’t look at him while I promised to sleep with him.

I’d never considered myself shy until that moment, but our wager had made me reconsider several things, including Jace himself.

“Okay, clarify away,” he said, running his hand slowly up and down my bare arm. Goose bumps popped up al over, reminding me that even if I lost, I wasn’t really losing. This was Jace, and if I was truly honest with myself, I’d have to admit I’d always kind of wondered…

That was enough honesty for the moment. I was much better at manipulation.

It was a natural gift.

I made myself meet his eyes, strengthening my resolve to win the race. If I had trouble looking at him, how was I ever going to go through with anything more?

“If I lose…Wel , I mean…” I glanced away, trying to gather my thoughts, but again he tilted my chin up. He grinned, clearly flattered that thinking of him along forbidden lines had me so flustered.

“You’re talking about one time, right?” I asked, blurting it out al in one breath, before I could chicken out again. “A one-night stand, of sorts.”

“Standing, huh?” he teased. “What are they teaching you at that school?”

I flushed, and could actually feel my cheeks burn.

He ran one knuckle down the side of my face, leaving a cold trail in its wake. “I was just kidding, Faythe,” he said, but his wistful tone made me doubt his words. I cringed inwardly, wondering how I always managed to bury myself so deep in trouble. Daddy would kil me if I started something with Jace. Ethan’s best friend was a great enforcer and practical y a member of the family, but my father had made it clear early on that Jace was not suitable husband material for his only daughter. And neither of my parents understood a relationship, for me at least, that led to anything less than marriage and lots of babies.

Jace’s knuckle followed the line of my jaw, then trailed down my throat to the hollow between my collarbones, sending a fresh wave of shivers through me. “Once it is, if that’s what you want. After that, it’s up to you.” He paused, tilting his head down to catch my eyes. “It’s up to you anyway. We can forget the whole thing right now, if you want.”

I seriously considered it. Real y. But if I said no, I’d be turning down my best chance of escape. Daddy wouldn’t let me have a car, for the same reason he’d instal ed bars on my bedroom window: I was a flight risk. So, if I wanted freedom, it would have to come behind the wheel of someone else’s car, and everyone knew better than to leave their keys unattended.

Digging deep inside myself, I recovered my determination to win. I needed those keys. “No. I’m stil in.”

Jace’s smile brightened his whole face, turning his eyes into blue stained glass, lit from within. “Great. Let’s get the race out of the way so we can get down to the good stuff.”

I blushed again, and something low and sensitive clenched. I couldn’t help it. I had no intention of losing, but I was only human—wel , mostly human, anyway—and subject to the same temptations as the rest of my gender. And what a temptation Jace was.