Penny
Idon't know how long I last in bed before I'm jolting awake. Feeling too warm and cold all at once, I'm thankful Leliah doesn't stir from her spot next to me. Shivering, I swipe away the sweat on my brow and try to slow down my pounding heart.
Looking around, a piece of me expects to find something lurking in the darkness. I'd locked the door before settling, just in case. Even though I felt safe, my brain told me it's the right thing to do.
I shouldn't trust Ace so easily. Not when I don't know anything about him. Not when I know the scars on his knuckles weren't earned from playing at tables at the casino.
Sighing into my hands, I try to convince myself that everything is okay. Yet, my inner thoughts aren't reassuring enough. Carefully leaving the bed, I pad over silently to the window. Looking through the slits of the blinds, there's nothing outside but the parking lot at this dead of night. At this hour, the moonis all that's left to light up the world, illuminating everything beneath its full gaze.
Pulling back, I hesitate to return to the bed and try to fall back asleep. It hadn’t been a pleasant dream that had jolted me awake, after all.
Turning to the locked door, my hesitation only grows. Telling myself that I'm only stepping out to double-check everything is okay, I silently creep out of the room.
It doesn't take much to find Ace. He's spread out on the couch, wearing nothing but a shirt and a pair of boxers. The television is playing some late-night talk show, but the volume is so low that I can barely hear their comedic lines.
Moving forward, I check the windows and the peephole in the door, holding my breath. Everything is clear, and I'm just getting myself worked up because of nothing.
I should really get more sleep. Especially if, just in case, I end up in a similar state as earlier. Back on the street, back to looking for someone who can help me.
Trying to drift back in the direction of Leliah, I find myself stopping near the end of the couch. Against my better judgement, I gaze down at Ace while he sleeps so peacefully.
Even without that smirk, he's insanely handsome. He's quite the opposite of Johnny, now that I think about it. Never thought someone covered in ink could pique my interest, yet here I am, inching closer to see the images permanently marking his skin.
Carefully, while flicking my gaze to his face to gauge any reaction, I lightly skim my fingers against the arm that's about to fall off the couch. If he stirs even slightly, I'll bolt back to bed before he realizes what I'm doing. In the meantime, I soak in the warmth radiating off of him.
My fingers drift higher and higher until I'm grazing his shirt. It should be the finish line to my exploration, but it's more of a passing point as I go higher toward his neck.
Heat blossoms across my cheeks as I acknowledge what I'm doing. Taking advantage of my savior while he's sleeping, I barely graze his stubble before stopping myself.
I can't entertain this.
Before I can pull away, a gasp slips past my lips as tattooed fingers suddenly engulf the back of my hand before pressing my palm against his cheek. Despite his face remaining a blank slate, his thumb strokes my knuckles.
"I'm sorry," I start, my voice raspy from sleep.
His eyes then crack open, and his mouth curves into a tired smile. Not meant to pull me in, but it does anyway. "Don't be. I love waking up to a beautiful view."
There he goes again, saying such compliments that I haven't heard in a long time. Now my heart is pounding for an entirely different reason.
Releasing my hand, my touch lingers before he slowly sits up. Giving me room to sit, I don't move. He then lifts his arms and curls his fingers, offering me something else entirely.
I've only felt safe once meeting Ace. There's something about him that reassures me that my safety is important to him. So his beckoning me to step between his parted knees is a decision I make without thinking. It feels scarily natural for him to guide me onto his lap before he curls those inked arms around my body.
"You should be resting, sweetheart." Murmuring the words into the crook of my neck, he breathes in deep and then sighs. "Nightmare?"
Nodding my head, I'm thankful he doesn't outright ask me to recall it. Instead, he takes my silence as meaning I don't want to talk about it. Humming under his breath, minutes trickle by as we stare at the screen.
How long am I going to allow myself to sit on this man's lap before reminding myself of all the reasons why I shouldn't be?
Therearereasons why. They're just not coming to me right now in my tired state.
"I need to get back to bed," I murmur, surprisingly not feeling the paranoia I normally carry around with me. Must be the heat surrounding my body that has my defenses knocked down.
"You can settle right here until you calm down, and then return to her." Mumbling the idea, he reaches down to stroke my thigh. Instead of pushing his hand away, I lean into the pleasant feeling it brings.
I've only feltbadfor as long as I can remember. I'd like to feelgoodfor a few minutes. Even if it's at the hands of someone potentially dangerous.
Leaning against him, my eyes shut as his mouth grazes where my pulse races. "Just for a little bit. Then I'll go back."
