I don’t have time for a relationship. Our empire takes up too much of my life. Cash and Xander sure as fuck aren’t putting out fires every day, and Beckett’s been overseeing the expansions into the new buildings we recently took possession of. Honestly, until the other night, I hadn’t even cared about having sex on aregular basis, but then Ace appeared, and my dick hasn’t been soft since.
As my driver pulls in through the gates of my neighborhood, Lacey sits up a little straighter. “I thought we were going to your house?”
“We are.”
She turns toward me, her eyebrows pinched as she points toward a house as we pass it. “That’s whereIlive.”
My fingers go still in her hair as I stare out the window at the house that was built by the same contractors as mine. It’s a bit smaller, but this entire neighborhood was designed by a team of highly sought-after architects. There’s nothing cookie-cutter about these houses or the price tags that come with them. I assumed Ace did fine for herself, especially once she told me she’s a choreographer, but there’s no fucking way she makes enough money doing that to afford something here.
“I live here,” I tell her as the driver pulls down the long driveway that leads to a circular parking area.
She scans my house, her eyes sparkling almost as bright as the glitter she is covered with. Thank fuck she doesn’t have as much on as the other night. I still haven’t gotten rid of it all.
“It’s… wow. So beautiful.”
I climb out of the SUV and wait to help her, taking her hand in mine. “Thanks. You seem surprised that I live here.”
Ace smiles and looks up at me with that mischievous look in her eye. “I guess I didn’t picture a guy like you living in a house that looks like this. I think I expected everything to be black and modern.”
My chest expands, and I let out a soft chuckle. There’s something about her that’s so easy to be around.
“How long have you lived here?” I ask, sliding my thumb over the fingerprint reader and listening for the lock to disengage.
When we step in, she looks around, taking in the large, open foyer that connects to several different parts of the house.
“About a month.” She moves clumsily and sways as she turns to look at me, her eyes glassy. “What about you?”
“I bought this house five years ago when they were first built.” I move toward her and take her hand to lead her into the kitchen. For the life of me, I can’t remember seeing moving trucks recently, but I also come and go at strange hours. Still, my housekeeper is nosy as fuck and usually tells me about people moving in or out, but she hasn’t brought anything or anyone new up lately.
My palm twitches as I nudge her ahead of me into the kitchen, and her ass jiggles under her dress.
Fuck.
This one is hotter than the last.
The spaghetti straps and low neckline show off the swell of her perky tits, yet the pink silk runs down her body almost to her knees in a wrap with the waist cinched. As I watch her walk, I realize she’s limping again.
“Do your feet hurt, baby girl?” I ask, pausing to lift her onto the kitchen island.
Ace yelps and grabs my shoulders, giggling as I set her down. As soon as I push my hips between her knees, her smile becomes a soft pout while she studies my face. Then she hiccups and laughs again. “Oops. Sorry.”
“How many drinks did you have tonight, angel?”
She shrugs, holding up her hands, making all her bracelets jingle in the otherwise-silent room. “Only three. I’m fine.”
Leaving her where she is, I go to the fridge and grab a bottle of water and hand it to her, opening the cap before I pull my hand away. “Drink that. As much as you can.”
She’s watching me move around the kitchen, opening cabinets and finding what I need for a quick snack.
“You’re really bossy,” she murmurs.
After crossing the room, I take my place between her knees again and slide my hand up her chest, my cock throbbing as I wrap my fingers around the sides of her throat. The letters of her name on my knuckles are like a personalized necklace just for her. Maybe it is.
“You have no idea how bossy I am, but you’re going to find out tonight. Do you remember your safeword?”
Her brilliant green eyes sparkle as she nods, her breaths coming out in shallow bursts. “Red.”
“Good girl for remembering.” I pull open a drawer and take out a wide wooden spoon. Ace follows my movement with her eyes as I set the spoon on the counter next to her hip and then rest my palms on either side of her, blocking her in. “You apologized earlier for leaving without saying goodbye, which tells me you knew it was a naughty thing to do.”
