CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Jonathan came and went with a irregularity and it wasn't often that I spent my time in his room alone. We still hadn't crossed the full boundary of intimacy and I was itching to shed my virginity like it was a bad omen. But Jonathan seemed to be avoiding the subject.

I'd asked Jace about it, over breakfast which he'd choked on at my crudeness. Apparently Jace was only willing to remind me that Jonathan took what he wanted, with a force. But when it came to me it was different.

I felt uneasy around Jace still, I was concisely aware of something between him and Jonathan that was not right. That perhaps Jace's presence here was entirely given willingly. But I had yet to have the opportunity to call Jonathan out on it.

The water was hot in the bath, pipping to be frank but I revealed in the heat as I submerged myself fully into the warming water.

I was growing uneasy. I slept in his bed, inhaled the scent of him and longed for him as I got myself off to terrible, naughty images of him.

My thought pool was interrupted when Jonathan opened the door and took the moment to appraise my naked body. I blushed a little still uncertain of what to make of his affection towards me. But his stare was intent and his gaze ran the length of my body.

"Yes?" I quipped with some sass and his gaze stole dark for a moment.

Before I could banish him out with words of protest he was kicking off his shoes and striding towards the bath. I sunk deeper as he shed the armour and set down countless weapons, until he stepped into the bath tub causing the water to cascade out onto the floor.

His lips ghosted over mine at first and he inhaled my soaped skin.

"Get dressed. I'm taking you out" he revealed with a thick smirk suddenly letting go off me and stepping out of the tub. As he left the bathroom he deposited his clothes with him, drenched from his momentary plunge in the bath. I squealed in delight at the sight of his delicious bum being revealed just before he left out of sight leaving my bathroom door wide open.

I squirmed some more at the thought of him naked and moving over me.

I was doused in cold water as Jace appeared in the doorway and I screeched like a banshee. Kicking up water as I tried to cover my dignity.

"What the hell!" I gushed looking at his amused expression.

"You left the door open. I heard you squealing I thought you were upset" he shrugged keeping his eyes fixed onto my face. "I realise I was mistaken" he laughed and he stepped back over Jonathan's discarded clothes and I launched a container at his head but it was badly aimed and easily missed him.

I disembarked from my bath shortly after and pulled of a robe to protect what little modesty I now had left. I was clearly living with animals.

Sitting at the dresser I dried my hair quickly letting it fall naturally into place. I applied a healthy coating of makeup to try and draw out my pale skin and took out a matching set of underwear that were the same shocking red as the dress I was about to put on.

I had never been a seductress, but I thought I could at least try my hand at it this once. I found the dress strode away in the dark depths of a draw still with the price tag on. I'd never worn it. It was red, vibrantly show, it fitted like a second skin, drew in my waist and forced out my breasts and laced up at the back.

I had to wear that dress.

We were in a Downworlder Bar. I could establish that much.

Jonathan had bundled me into the back of a taxi with him and even produced Mundane currency for the driver. We'd driven for nearly an hour, and it was a ten minute walk in inappropriate footwear before we found an entrance through a dingey doorway.

Jonathan was taking my cloak and his eyes shifted uncontroably from my body to are fellow diners. The bartender, with red spiked hair, and stunning black eyes looked over me approvingly and winked which made Jonathan snarl.

"What are you wearing Millicent" Jonathan hissed, not meeting my eye. He was to busy trying to stare down any male, or female that took an interest in my shocking red dress.

"My new dress" I husked feeling goosebumps from his hand sliding around my back possesivley.

"I'd hardly call it a dress" he growled his hand skimming down to brush my arse.

"Buy me a drink" I whispered turning into his neck and blowing hot air behind his ear. "Jonathan" I added with a soft kiss on his lips.

Jonathan started towards the bar of the dimly lit space, pulling me along with my stiletoes clinking all the way.

I remained quite as we were served using the time it took to pour over the Downworlder bar which was like something from a movie scene. People were acknowledging Jonathan and I felt envy rise up within me at the sight of a few of his previous conquests trying to meet his eye.

A petite woman with skin bronzed and strong limbs strode towards us, her body encased in a black jumpsuit and with hair that seemed to fall into endless trundles down her back and around the swell of her breasts. Jonathan tensed at her approach as she fawned over him.

I stepped back self-consciously as the older woman tried to engage him in her topic. She husked about where he'd been, all I could focus on where her shocking purple lips moving with each word. She was not a Shadowhunter, but that certianly didn't mean she was Mundane.

Someone brushed my arm and I span whipping my head around.

"Yes" I whispered my eyes wild like an animal as I scanned over the tall figure that was broader than jonathan and thick haired with a rugged beard.

"So, your Millicent" he smirked looking me up and down in a way that left me under no uncertainty as to what he was thinking.

"What's it to you" I sassed feeling Jonathan was now long since forgotten.

"I work with Jonathan" the man shurgged looking over my shoulder to the woman that was surely entwined with him.

"Buy me a drink" I stated and the man cocked an eyebrow. He wasn't my type, not really attractive but he was as good as I had. And if he knew Jonathan, I assumed I could losley trust him.

"Your like he said" he chuckled, with his hand out to grab the bartenders attention. I didn't respond, simply bit on my lip and moved up onto the barstool.

Soon I had a hand in my drink and the man was sat beside me, keeping me at a comfortable distance.

"He's watching you" he assured and I tried not to look smug.

I knocked back the foul tasting liquid and turned towards the stranger.

"He brought me out here, for a date" I laughed. "Great date huh?" I smiled bitterly.

"Jonathan can't escape his past, or his future" he shrugged as if that sentence was supposed to be simple.

"I'm going to go. Thanks for the drink …" I ended softly looking up questioningly for his name.

"You don't need to thank me Millicent" he nodded and turned to escort me from the building. It was rapidly busying and the firm arm on my elbow led me safely out of the space without any ruckus.

"I will let Jonathan know you've left" he assured.

"Don't bother!" I snarled. "He can go and stuff it" I cried bitterly, feeling the anger rising up within me like a fever.

"Jonathan, I mean, Sebastian…" the man corrected himself quickly. "…Does love you Millicent, I'm quite sure" he finalised with a nod and walked away back into the bar.

I wanted to march back in there and tell Jonathan to go and screw himself.

I wanted to hail a taxi and go back to bed.

I wanted to pull this stupid dress of and burn it.

Then I wanted to burn him.

Then I wanted to kiss him, and hold him, and have him tell me he was mine only, ever mine.

Night was falling rapaidly and I held firmly onto the coat as a layer of protection. With no money and a lack of direction I was wondering somewhat aimlessly through the backstreets. If luck was on my side I had mused that Jace would be about and find me.

Surely Jonathan would have sent him on my trail, or perhaps he'd even worked out for himself things would not end well between us.

I was walking with an angry stomp and my breath was hot and my face flushed. Women like me were considered vulnerable, us Mundanes. Jonathan had reminded me often of my own fragility. I was a target walking with a bullseye on my back.

Keeping my head ducked I walked on, realising I was going to be forced to get myself out of this mess.

"Where the hell have you been!" Cried Jonathan his face torn with anger as he stormed towards me at such a speed all I could do was back myelf up toward the door I had just entered from.

"Walking home" I hissed daring to meet his black eyes.

"You left the bar" he accused his hands coming up to pin the side of face, drawing me into his heat.

"Well you weren't exactly good company" I seethed.

"You were jealous" he smirked.

"Of course I was jealous!" I seethed. "Mission accomplished Jonathan. You embarrassed me. Humiliated me. What do you want now? Just leave me alone" I sighed pushing at his arm but he remained stubbornly in place.

"Why were you jealous Millicent" he husked his eyes fighting to keep my attention before I looked away.

"Because … because" I broke off with a headshake. "We arent having this conversation" I muttered pushing at his chest half-heartedly.

"We are" he rebuked.

"We arent" I inisted sinking down the wood panelling and to a curled up ball on the expensive carpet.

"My plan was to get you drunk. Really drunk, to see you let yourself go. And then I was going to take you back here and just lie with you, all night. Talking utter crap until you fell-asleep, and I would just lie by your side and listen to you breathing. Watch you. Your glorious Millicent, you underestimate my obsession with you. I am addicted to you Millicent, you complete me" he announced.

"Well that's just dandy" I laughed. "But you didn't. You were to busy getting your next fix of arse Jonathan to give a dam about me" I sliced through him standing up to my full height and drawing closer towards him.

"But that's fine" I snarked. "Because me, and my little red dress arent going to be giving you anything. You can just keep on dreaming, and screwing girls you can pretend are me. We are over" I inisisted.

"You can't live with out me Millicent!" He roared grasping me firmly.

"No Jonathan, you can't live with out me" I corrected shoving at him with all the force I could muster so he dropped his hold on me.

I kept my head high as I walked towards the staircase my blood pumping around with a delicious rush.

"Millicent" he called and I paused mid-step to look back at him, at his pitiless eyes, so empty.

I like to think he moved towards me, but I fear I could have thrown myself at him. Either way we were locked in a embrace and I was kissing him relentlessly.

The dress was tearing.

He was carrying me up the stairwell, and when he lay me softly onto his mattress I knew what I wanted to come next.

Authors Note:

I've been slacking a bit with this story admitedly, and have been experiencing some writers block! But alas I am trying to push forwards. Hope you enjoyed the update.

AnUnexpectedAdventure thanks for supporting the story!