15. Shadows
It was past midnight, and my house was completely silent. Everyone was asleep.
Everyone except me.
I was lying wide-eyed in my bed, covers pulled up to my chin, and terrified out of my mind, all because I had decided to watch some stupid horror movie. It wasn’t even that good, just insanely scary.
It didn’t help that it was taking Ace longer to arrive than he’d said it would. During my time waiting for him, I made the horrible decision to finish the final bit of my movie. Spoiler alert: they all died!
To try to take my mind off it, I completed my homework, frosted the cupcakes I made with my mom, and got ready for bed.
I turned on the lamp on my bedside table and grabbed my phone. It’s 12:38 a.m.?
Where the hell is Ace? His plane should have landed hours ago.
The vent in my room made a loud whirring noise when the air conditioning turned on, and I violently jumped under the covers of my bed.
I groaned. Okay, now I was teetering on the edge of pathetic. I was nearly eighteen years old, for god’s sake. I should have been able to watch a scary movie without worrying I’d wet the bed.
Looking back down at my phone, I quickly pulled up Ace’s contact.
He answered on the second ring. “Doe,” his deep voice soothed me immediately. “I thought you would be asleep by now. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. I just… You’re still coming over tonight, right?”
“Of course I am. I know it’s a bit later than expected, but the plane took a while to land. I would have texted you but I didn’t want to wake you. I’m driving to your house now.”
That was what I needed to hear. “Okay. I’m just glad you’re still coming over. I was getting a little
worried. You’re close?”
“I’m about five minutes away.”
“That…that’s good.” I picked at a loose thread on my blanket. “Drive fast, all right? I mean, don’t get into an accident or pulled over or anything…but try to get here quickly.”
There was a long moment of silence.
“Ace?”
“I’m here,” he replied. “It’s just, the last time I spoke to you, I was under the impression that you were upset with me. And now you’re begging me to drive faster.
“I know you miss me after we’ve been apart all day but I’m starting to sense something else is going on. You’re scared. Did something happen?”
I wasn’t sure how to answer that. He would know I was lying no matter what I said.
Instead, I just stayed silent.
He huffed. “I see you’re still determined to keep whatever you did this afternoon a secret from me.
Have it your way. I’m sure you’ll tell me eventually, especially since it obviously freaked you out.
“I’m almost at your house. Can you wait two more minutes or do you want to stay on the phone with me until I get there?”
I shifted. I wanted to stay on the phone with him but also didn’t want to admit how pathetic I was.
“I…I can wait,” I said.
“All right. I’ll be there soon.”
I flung back the covers and moved to stand by my open bedroom window, anxiously waiting for Ace’s
car to pull up in front of my house. mind, all because The already ominous night sky was starting to fill with storm clouds, and I could smell the precipitation forming in the air. It looked like it was about to thunder. y time waiting for I shifted my feet and wrapped my arms around my middle. A thunderstorm wouldn’t help with my current all-consuming fear of a dead woman appearing in the shadows of my room and sucking on my
toes.
Hurry up, Ace.
Just as I was about to grab my phone and call him again, a huge figure appeared in my window. I gasped and stumbled back in fear, tripping over and falling onto my back with a loud thud.
“Doe!” Ace quickly jumped through my window and crouched by my side, helping me into a sitting position. He wiped my hair out of my face. “Are you okay?”ars old, for god’s I nodded although my lungs were still screaming for me to regain my breath.
“Christ, your heart is going a mile a minute.” Ace adjusted his body so that he was sitting behind me, his legs on either side of mine, and gently pulled me back so I was leaning against him.ought you would He wrapped his arms around me and placed one hand over my chest. “Deep breaths, Doe. Calm your heart for me.”
He breathed with me, setting the pace by emphasizing the rising and lowering of his body. It only took a moment until I was calm again.
“What was all that about?” Ace asked with his lips against my hair. He was still holding me tightly.
I let my head fall back against his shoulder. “You scared me. I was watching for your car to pull up in front of my house, and then you just appeared in my window.
I wasn’t expecting it.
“Hope I didn’t wake anybody up.” I grimaced, thinking of my dad barging in here to find Ace and me like this on the floor.
Ace lifted his head to listen. “Your dad shifted a little bit, but everyone is still asleep.
Nothing to worry about.”
I tilted my head back and gawked at him. “There is no way you could hear that from here.”
Didn’t he say he could hear my heart beating too? The man is delusional if he thinks his hearing is that
good.
He shrugged. “Agree to disagree.”
Ace skimmed over my hairline with his nose, breathing in deeply. “I’m sorry I scared you. I parked the car behind your house so your parents won’t see it when they wake up.”
Oh. I suppose that makes sense. I felt a bit silly now.
“Is there anything else you wanted to tell me?” Ace pushed.
We both knew I was still keeping something from him, but I wasn’t about to ruin the peaceful moment we were sharing. I would keep my secret a little longer.
“Nope,” I replied. “I got nothing.”
“Hmm,” Ace hummed in suspicion. “C’mon.”
He stood and helped me to my feet, then I wrapped my arms around his waist and nuzzled my face into his chest, needing to be as close to him as possible. the precipitationJeez, I think I missed him even more than I had realized. I surprised even myself with my behavior, yet I couldn’t stop myself.
Ace stood there for a second, too shocked to return my embrace. He was probably just as put off by my sudden need for affection as I was.
But eventually, he gripped my hips and pulled me closer, running a soothing hand up and down my back. Shivers traveled along my spine. His touch felt so unbelievably good.
A moan escaped my mouth, and it said something about how much I needed him that I wasn’t embarrassed.
“Doe.” He attempted to pull away, but I pressed myself closer, not ready to leave his arms just yet.
“Doe.” He tried again.
I shook my head, brushing my cheek against his soft shirt. “Please don’t make me let go. Just hold me for a little longer.”
“I’m not going to let you go, sweet girl. I just want to look at you while I talk to you.”
I pouted but finally gave in, leaning back just enough for him to peer down at me.
He framed my face in his hands, studying me silently.
He frowned. “You watched that horror movie I told you not to watch, didn’t you?”
Well, fucking hell. He could tell that just by looking at my face? This man was far too perceptive for his own good.
I tried to stuff my face back in his chest to avoid answering, but he tightened his grip on me so I couldn’t.
“Doe,” he said, his tone thick with warning.
“Ugh, fine. Yes,” I finally admitted, slumping against him in defeat. “And I don’t want to hear you say it was a bad idea because I know. I regret every second I spent watching that stupid movie.
“Please don’t be mad. I don’t want to fight. I should have listened to you.” I was really laying my apology on thick.
“Yes, you should have. Am I safe to assume that you did it to get back at me?” is hearing is thatI looked down, unable to meet his gaze. How did he just know everything? I was an idiot for thinking I could ever keep anything from him.
“Well, it’s not like I didn’t deserve it after what I put you through today.” He petted my hair away from you. I parked themy face. “And I think you understand now why I didn’t want you to watch it.”
He gestured down to where our bodies were touching and I was gripping onto him for dear life,
terrified he was going to let me go.
I nodded. “So, you’re not mad?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m not mad. I am, however, very tired.” He cupped my jaw in his big palm and brushed his thumb over the bags under my eyes. “You’re tired too. Let’s go to sleep.”
A strong sense of relief worked its way through my muscles. Sleep sounded wonderful.
He led me to my bed and pulled the covers back. I climbed in first, lying on my back so I could look at zled my face intohim.
For the first time ever, I didn’t feel the urge to roll my eyes or berate him when I caught him looking at my behavior, yetmy breasts through the fabric of his shirt that I wore to bed nearly every night.
I knew he loved it when I wore his clothes, and I may or may not have put a little bit more thought than as put off by myusual into what I would be wearing to sleep tonight.
I had no bra on and made zero effort to cover myself up as he took in my pointed nipples.
His gaze traveled down to my pink and red polka-dot panties, at which point his eyes darkened and that strange and enticing purring noise started up in his chest, making my limbs feel weak.
A sense of giddiness overcame me. I wasn’t really sure why I was trying to seduce him. Maybe I just wanted to prove to myself that I could.
Or maybe I wanted him to act on his lust and touch me again.
He took his sweet time studying my body and smirked when his eyes finally met mine again. Without saying a word, he reached down and took off his shoes and socks, never breaking eye contact.
Then pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his toned abs, which were sculpted to perfection. I licked my lips, and my breathing became labored.
All my shame escaped me as I watched with rapt attention as he continued to undress, slowly unzipping his jeans and letting them fall to the ground until he was standing before me in only his boxers.
My mouth went dry when I noticed the outline of his hard cock. It was straining against the fabric.
Holy fucking shit.
Marta was right about what she had said about large men.
Dear lord, was I turned on. The pulse between my legs was becoming nearly impossible to ignore, and I had no idea what to do about it.
I certainly wasn’t going to tell Ace—not when he was standing there, looking like a Greek god. It was unfair for a person to be that good looking, especially as he never worked out and ate like shit.
I was certain I would never compare to his level of beauty. And not because I was insecure; I knew I was fucking hot. Any guy would be lucky to have me.
But Ace was something else entirely. He was practically a whole other species.
My eyes slowly traveled back up his body, and I noticed for the first time that he was watching me iot for thinking Ishamelessly check him out, sporting the biggest shit-eating smirk I had ever seen in my life.
I swiftly averted my gaze, flames of red racing up my chest and neck. I had never been so unabashed in y hair away frommy perusal of his body before.
What is he thinking? Does he mind?
The satisfied smile on his face told me he didn’t.
Ace crawled toward me on the queen bed, his movements slow and graceful and completely mesmerizing.
Once he was next to me, he gently grabbed my chin. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?” His deep voice made my insides quiver. “Any idea at all?”
My tongue dipped out to wet my dry lips, and my libido did a little dance when I noticed Ace tracking the movement with hungry eyes. “Um…no?”
I decided then and there that I wanted nothing more than to drown in the blue of his eyes. ht him looking atHe dipped his head and, for a moment, I thought he might kiss me, but then he abruptly released my chin and shot me a dazzling grin. He fell back onto the bed next to me. more thought than“You can look at me as much as you want, Doe. You never have to be embarrassed. I am just as much yours as you are mine. This is a two-way street. Remember that.”
He crossed his arms behind his head and shut his eyes, sighing deeply. He looked so content. I liked darkened and thathim this way: calm and happy and loving.
“You know,” I said softly, “when you say things like that, you make it sound like we’re a couple or
something.” I let out a nervous laugh.
“Hm, do I?”
Ace seemed unbothered by my comment. I tried to take that as a win. I mean, at least he wasn’t put off by the idea of us as a couple, right? I would take indifference over disgust any day.
Positive thoughts, Doe, I told myself. ~Think positive thoughts.~ I wished I had a camera to capture the moment when my heart felt so full and everything was still so uncomplicated and simple.
Oh, how quickly things can change.slowly unzipping
le to ignore, and I
n so unabashed in
My tongue dipped out to wet my dry lips, and my libido did a little dance when I noticed Ace tracking the movement with hungry eyes. “Um…no?”
I decided then and there that I wanted nothing more than to drown in the blue of his eyes.
He dipped his head and, for a moment, I thought he might kiss me, but then he abruptly released my chin and shot me a dazzling grin. He fell back onto the bed next to me.
“You can look at me as much as you want, Doe. You never have to be embarrassed. I am just as much yours as you are mine. This is a two-way street. Remember that.”
He crossed his arms behind his head and shut his eyes, sighing deeply. He looked so content. I liked him this way: calm and happy and loving.
“You know,” I said softly, “when you say things like that, you make it sound like we’re a couple or
something.” I let out a nervous laugh.
“Hm, do I?”
Ace seemed unbothered by my comment. I tried to take that as a win. I mean, at least he wasn’t put off by the idea of us as a couple, right? I would take indifference over disgust any day.
Positive thoughts, Doe, I told myself. ~Think positive thoughts.~ I wished I had a camera to capture the moment when my heart felt so full and everything was still so
uncomplicated and simple.
Oh, how quickly things can change.
