Random City of Fallen Angels Fan Fiction Chapter

"So, you're telling me you're a..." Clary blushed, desperately hoping her face wasn't as fiery red as her hair.

"A virgin?" Jace prompted. "Yes, I am." He pursed his lips as if in deep thought and said slowly, "Considering the only two people I could possibly have done it with are Alec and Isabelle–and there's only one I would actually favor more than the other, except the fact that I hadn't done anything with her because Isabelle is like a sister to me…well, that doesn't really give me a lot of options, does it?"

Clary felt as if her entire body was on fire. "Oh." She couldn't think of anything else to say. It was hard enough to fathom the fact that Jace was a virgin, let alone the fact that she suddenly became hyperaware of how completely alone they were in his bedroom.

"Clary?"

Jace's voice was just above a whisper, and yet it seemed to swirl all around her, embracing her. "Yes?" her voice, however, was hoarse with anxiety. He just smiled that irritably adorable lopsided smile of his, rested both of his hands on either side of her hips and pulled her closer to him until his forehead was touching hers, then sternly said, "I hope you don't get the wrong impression. Clarissa"--Jace never addressed her by her full name unless he was either mad or being serious--"I swear that by all means necessary, I won't force myself onto you. If you aren't ready or if you just don't want to ever do it, whatever the reason, I won't push it. I respect you, really. I want to make sure that you know that."

Clary was oddly touched. She could tell Jace was being sincere and didn't need to look into his mesmerizing molten gold eyes to know that. Her gaze flickered upwards and met his. She swallowed a shaky breath, surprised that her lips and throat were desiccated. Slowly, she rose up on her tiptoes and tilted her head back. She closed her eyes, already knowing that his lips would soon meet hers--and they did.

What happened next stole Clary's breath away. Jace had somehow managed to scoop her up in one arm while his other hand fisted her hair and gently lowered her onto his bed, never once parting his lips from hers. All of this happened in the blink of an eye, but the torrent of emotions that overwhelmed Clary prevented her from noticing.

The only emotion that was prominent amongst the sea of them was the intense passion that blazed inside of her. All she could focus on were the places where Jace touched her skin, as if he left burns on her body simply by touching her.

He untwined his hands from her hair, which she was sure looked like an absolute mess but didn't care, and tentatively lowered them until they found the hem of her shirt. She opened her eyes when he stopped kissing her and looked up at him, only to see him looking back at her, expectantly. She was about to ask him why he stopped when a sudden knock on the door sobered them both up. Clary immediately shoved Jace away and sat up just as the door opened by a crack to reveal…

…Alec, and he wasn't alone.

Isabelle coughed in order to poorly disguise her giggle but Clary couldn't bring herself to laugh when she saw the look on Alec's face. For a second, he had a feral-look in his eye, the kind that you could only see on someone who felt as though he had lost all that he had except one thing and was desperate enough to do anything to get it back. But of course, it was gone in a second, which made Clary question whether or not she was hallucinating.

"I told you to leave them alo--" Isabelle started, but when Jace groaned in what sounded like pain, she suddenly appeared in front of Clary. "Jace?" Isabelle sounded worry as she leaned over to see what was wrong with him. When she turned him over, he mumbled something, which made Isabelle laugh.

"What did you say?" Clary asked. She watched Jace massage his jaw as he calmly said, "Next time you don't want me to do something, use your words, not your actions." When Clary harrumphed, Jace grinned, "I'll promise I'll listen and obey, Master."

"Nice to know who wears the belt in this relationship," Alec snickered as he sauntered over from the doorway, "but I'm afraid Isabelle and I aren't here to socialize. We have some serious news."

"Oh, so we're doing take-out again?" Jace said innocently. "Darn, I was hoping Maryse was in the mood to cook, but since the recent events I can see why she wouldn't." He jerked his thumb over to Isabelle and rolled his eyes. In response, Isabelle shoved him onto the ground put her stiletto on his shoulder. She leaned forward, a wicked grin on her lips and said, "You better watch yourself Jace, or tomorrow morning you might find it a little difficult to open that pretty little mouth of yours."

With that said, Isabelle stepped off Jace and dragged her brother with her. She threw a "See you downstairs in a few" before disappearing down the hallway, leaving Jace and Clary alone once again.

The awkward silence was unbearably stifling and Clary could feel the blood rush back into her cheeks. Jace finally got up, dusted himself off and offered Clary a hand as well as a friendly, slightly hurt smile. When Clary accepted his hand, his smile deepened and looked more sheepish than she'd ever recalled possible. "I really am sorry," he whispered, pulling her into his arms. He kissed her forehead and when he stepped away, he held her an arm's length away and examined her. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

She nodded her head, but she felt her throat constrict. She wasn't damaged physically, but emotionally, she was a wreck. Was it not even five minutes ago that she was so swept away by Jace that she was willing to give herself up completely, not even considering the consequences in doing so? And the look that Alec had given her --if he actually did, she wasn't sure--had sent such an unwelcome shudder down to her very core. What was wrong with him? She sure hoped that she wouldn't have to put up with any more of those cryptic looks. But what truly had rattled her up was what would've happened, could've happened, if Alec and Isabelle hadn't so rudely interrupted. She shivered, and not from any sudden drop in temperature.

Jace looked at her in concern, but said nothing, which she greatly appreciated. He respected her and even trusted her to make the right decision on her own if she did not wish to bring it up to him. It was only when she would ask him for help did he know something was truly bothering her. But she did not want to burden him with her petty worries. So she put on a weak smile, lied that she was only concerned about what kind of food the Lightwoods had in store for them and allowed Jace to lead her into the kitchen. Because it seemed to be the right thing to do.