Ace's arm is wrapped possessively around my middle, his body heat leeching away the cold. He looks blissfully happy in his sleep. His eyelashes brushing the tops of his cheeks while his mouth parts with every exhale.
A feeling like contentment settles over me despite my plaguing thoughts, and I realize I've never felt like this. Not growing up. Not at Kingston. Not while I was on the run. Never.
It's a foreign, heady sensation, one that's quickly replaced by dread.
Kyle is still out there looking for us, with endless resources at his disposal. He's already tracked down the rest of our friends from Kingston, which means he can track us too.
And if Kyle doesn't get us first, I'm afraid I will. No one's stayed with me this long. They always tire of my baggage, making me feel too damaged. Too much. Too broken to be truly wanted.
As if he can hear where my thoughts have turned, Ace stirs, pulling me closer into him.
"Good morning, little doe." Ace mumbles, sounding still half asleep.
"Good morning."
It must be my tone that has his eyes popping open to study my expression.
"What is it?"
I pull my bottom lip into my mouth with my top teeth, a bad habit that I can't seem to quit. Ace's intense stare and soft caressing touch on the spade he placed on my body has me confessing. "I'm stuck in my head, worrying about things."
His fingers continue to lazily trace the design above my hip
“What about?"
I don’t even know how to begin untangling the intricate web of worries that writhe inside of my brain like its own entity, so I just breathe out a sigh of frustration. Ace rubs my body, patiently waiting for me to respond. I like that about him.
“It’s a little bit of everything.” I finally say, as he starts massaging a knot that’s taken up residence between my neck and shoulder. Closing my eyes, I melt into the sensation.
“Go on.” His low voice encourages, thumb digging into the tender muscle. His touch is soothing. Intoxicating.
“I just feel… overwhelmed. Kyle is still out there.” His hand stalls at the mention of his brother before resuming. “And I feel like we’re in this bubble that’s about to pop. Like the happinessI’ve been feeling is about to be ripped away. I don’t even want to think about the bills that I need to start paying.”
“I told you not to worry about that.”
Shaking my head I sigh, “I’ve already been away from my job for too long.”
His nostrils flare and I can only imagine what he’s thinking. This is it. This is the moment that all my other love interests have blown up about my chosen profession, so I brace myself. Waiting for the inevitable shoe to drop.
“What if I joined you?”
I’m not sure I heard him correctly. “Join me?”
He runs his hands down my naked body. “I’ll keep my mask on and you can wear one too if you want. But that way you can make money on your terms, but the world will know just who you belong to.”
My mind spins. There’s a whole corner of the market that caters to couples, so it’s not a horrible idea. Still, his acceptance has caught me off guard. I was preparing myself for an argument, and now I don’t know how to respond.
“Let me get this straight. You want to go on camera with me?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying, little doe. I don’t care who the hell sees me fucking you, as long as I’m the only one who gets to fuck you.”
My mouth hangs open and he chuckles at me, tucking a stray chunk of hair behind my ear. “As for Kyle, we keep training until you feel ready. I’ve been keeping tabs on his movements, and he’s laying low for now. The papers reported on his injury you gave him, only he said he got it from some mugging attempt and used it as a way to spew vitriol against immigration.”
“That hateful motherfucker.” Rage ignites behind my ribs, wishing I could bring him to justice, but I know I’m nowherenear ready. I’ve barely gotten the hang of hitting the target when shooting.
“How about you wear a mask, and I wear a blindfold?”
“Deal. Now, Come on, let’s get you caffeinated. Then we can talk more about how I’m going to fill your cunt up with my cum.”
