I hovered near the hallway, arms wrapped around myself again.Without him standing close the fear crept back under my skin, cold and invasive.
Ace turned toward me.His gaze softened a fraction when he noticed the trembling I tried to hide.He stepped close again, his hand brushing my chin upward.
“You’re coming home with me.”
Every part of me agreed before my brain caught up.
“I -- what about my things?”
“They’ll still be here tomorrow.You’re not staying another second.”
No room for arguments.No room for doubt.His protectiveness felt like a fortress built around me.
He took my hand, warm and strong, and led me to the door.I grabbed only my purse, fingers numb as I clutched the strap.We moved through the hallway like shadows -- quick, careful.He kept me in front of him but close enough he could reach me in a heartbeat.
The stairwell groaned under our steps.My breath puffed out short and shallow.Ace’s presence kept me from breaking again.He watched everything.Eyes tracking corners, shadows, exits.Dominance rolled off him in waves.
Outside, the street had returned to normal noise -- a car passing far down the road, someone’s TV playing somewhere.A trick.A lie.Because fear still waited, hidden.
Ace guided me to his bike.Chrome gleamed under the sunlight.Leather seat cold against my fingers as I steadied myself.He handed me a helmet, fastening the strap himself.His knuckles brushed my throat and a pulse jumped under skin neither of us could ignore.
“Stay close.Hold on tight.”His voice dropped quieter, like a vow spoken in darkness.
I climbed on behind him, knees bracketing his hips.My arms slid around his ribs.He reached down, covering my hands, pulling them tighter against him.
“Good.”
The engine roared to life -- loud, angry, alive.He looked over his shoulder once, checking I was secure.Then we shot forward.
Wind slapped my cheeks and tore through loose strands of hair.The world blurred.Streetlights streaked past as Ace pushed speed limits toward his territory -- a place where danger wasn’t welcome.His back was solid beneath my hold, every muscle coiled, ready to strike.
I pressed my face against him, eyes closed against cold air, letting the vibration of the bike drown out the leftover panic.I inhaled the scent that clung to him -- smoke, leather, a faint hint of something earthy and warm.Safety had a smell.I’d never known that until now.
He rode like demons chased us.Maybe they did.But none would ever get through him.
He didn’t speak until we pulled up to a small house inside the Savage Raptors compound.
Ace killed the engine and swung a leg over.He held out his hand.I took it before my mind could form a doubt.He tugged me close, his hand settling against my lower back as he walked us to the door, unlocking it fast.
Inside, he guided me toward the living room, always one step ahead but close enough his arm brushed mine.My pulse hadn’t slowed.Fear lingered.But something else stirred beneath it -- adrenaline, gratitude, desire I didn’t dare name.
His door clicked shut behind us.The locks slid into place.Then he turned, arms crossing his chest as he looked me over again.A silent evaluation.
He’d nearly lost me to panic.He knew it.
“I don’t want you scared like that again.”His voice dropped to a growl that curled heat low in my stomach.“Someone fucked up today.”
“What if --” My throat tightened.“What if he found me?”
Ace stepped closer.His fingers tipped my chin up.My heart slammed.
“He isn’t getting near you.”
A promise.Deadly.Absolute.
I swallowed, not sure what to do with the surge of emotion that climbed my chest.Relief so big it hurt.Trust I shouldn’t give so easily.Attraction that only grew sharper the longer he held me in that gaze.
“I don’t have to stay here.”The words came thin.A test.A shield.
