Craving my mom best friend

Chapter 5

Arielle POV

"Dinner tonight," Ava chirped from the kitchen. "Just us, you, and a couple friends. You are staying, right?"

I looked up from my tea, startled. "Dinner?"

She nodded, tossing veggies into a pan. "Yeah. Jace's home. You've been so quiet lately. I thought it'd be good for all of us."

I forced a smile. "Yeah. Sure. Sounds... great."

What I didn't expect was to hear Dylan's voice just an hour later.

"Hope I'm not crashing the party," he said, stepping through the front door like he belonged there.

My stomach flipped.

"Dylan?" I blurted, stepping into the hallway.

He grinned at me. "Ava invited me. Said it'd be nice to reconnect."

I glared at her from across the kitchen. She just winked.

"I thought you two had potential," she mouthed.

God, no.

The air shifted the moment Jace walked in.

He froze when he saw Dylan standing next to me, his hand hovering near my lower back.

I stepped away quickly—but it was too late.

Jace's eyes darkened.

His jaw tightened.

His possessiveness didn't scream. It seethed.

⸻

Jace

What. The. f**k.

Of all people.

Dylan.

Smug. Casual. Standing too close to her like he knew what she tasted like.

I watched his hand graze hers under the table as we ate. I saw how Arielle stiffened, how she looked away.

But she didn't stop him.

And that was enough to make my blood boil.

"Jace, pass the wine?" Mom asked, oblivious.

I grabbed the bottle, handed it over, never taking my eyes off Dylan.

He laughed at something Arielle said. She gave him a tight smile.

Fake. Forced.

And yet she leaned in when he whispered something in her ear.

My fork snapped in my hand.

Everyone looked at me.

"You okay?" Ava asked.

I forced a calm smile. "Yeah. Just... not hungry anymore."

I got up from the table.

She followed me ten minutes later.

⸻

Arielle

"Jace, what the hell are you doing?" I whispered, shutting the guesthouse door behind me.

He didn't look at me. Just stood by the window, fists clenched at his sides.

"You brought him here."

"I didn't invite him."

"But you didn't tell him to leave either," he growled. "You sat there. You smiled. You let him touch you."

"Because we're not a thing," I snapped. "You don't own me."

He turned slowly, eyes burning.

"No," he said, voice low. "But I should."

I took a step back.

His gaze dropped to my chest—rising and falling fast under my sweater.

"You're trying to forget what happened between us," he said. "Fine. But don't you dare let another man touch what you've already given to me."

"You think I'm something you can claim?" I hissed.

"I already did."

He took two steps toward me.

I backed up.

"You're obsessed," I whispered.

He stopped inches from me. "Damn right, I am."

His hands pressed flat against the wall on either side of my head, caging me in.

"You let him touch you again," he growled, "and I won't be polite next time. I won't care who's watching."

"You're being—"

"I'll drag you out of his arms, Arielle. Right there in front of my mom, your friends, the whole damn world—because you're mine."

I slapped him hard across the chest, breathing fast.

"You don't get to say that," I gasped.

"You already let me."

His lips were inches from mine.

"You want me to stop?" he asked, voice rough.

I didn't answer.

"Say it."

I stared at him. Silent. Trembling.

"I thought so."

⸻

Later that night

I tried to sleep.

I couldn't.

I could still feel his heat. His voice. That look—like I was his oxygen and he'd suffocate without me.

I hated how much I liked it.

I hated how right he was.

I was unraveling, and he knew it.

That terrified me more than anything.

⸻

The next morning

I stepped outside for air.

That's when I saw it.

Taped to my windshield. A single note.

He's not who you think he is. And he's not the only one watching you.

No name.

No signature.

Just a warning.

I spun around, heart thudding. The street was empty. Too quiet. Too still.

And suddenly, Jace's obsession didn't feel like the most dangerous thing anymore.