Page 16 of Casualties

“Thanks, but I’m not hungry.I think I just need some coffee.”Avoiding eye contact, I shimmy past Ace to the machine holding the cure to waking me up and curbing this headache.

“Suit yourself.”

I’m starving, but I refuse to give Ace the satisfaction of eating his cooking.When I say good morning to Morgan and Cass, they both raise their hands to wave as they grunt out what I believe is “good morning” while never moving their heads from the countertop.I shake my head, letting out a small laugh.You have to pay to play, party animals.

I grab a mug after searching the many cabinets, and pour a cup of coffee.Ace slides two plates across the counter to Cassie and Morgan, which motivates them to lift their heads up.I notice them side-eye each other.The right side of Morgan’s mouth pulls up in a grin.Cassie rolls her shoulders, a subtle wince crossing her features.Morgan continues watching her, but Cassie shifts her focus to her breakfast plate and starts eating.

“Alright guys, I’m going to take a shower.I’ll be down in a bit.”Ace starts to move toward the staircase when I shout back at him.

“Wait!I need to change back into my clothes from last night.”I realize I’m still wearing his t-shirt.I almost took it off in the middle of the night—just the smell of him surrounding me was causing me to toss and turn.I didn't get much sleep.

“After you, then.”He gestures for me to go in front of him as Cass and Morgan continue to eat their breakfast in awkward silence.

I grab my clothes off the floor, and as I stand I see Ace pull his shirt off in one swift movement.His back is to me, so he can’t see the shock on my face as I ogle his surprisingly large muscles.I knew when I saw him yesterday his body had changed over the summer, but seeing him without his shirt on is…fucking breathtaking.

He swiftly turns to face me, and the sudden move makes me stumble over my own feet into his desk.His cocky laugh is annoying—I know he caught me checking him out.I’m sure my face is ruby red from embarrassment.I roll my eyes at him, steadying myself before walking toward the bathroom.

“You can get dressed out here, I’ll be in the shower.”He stands in front of me, and I feel his fingertips tug at the bottom of his shirt I’m wearing.They slide along the side of my thigh, sending a wave of flutters through my body.I have goosebumps everywhere.Can you get goosebumps in your vagina?News to me.

“Um.Yeah.Fine,” is all I manage to get out.

“Are you cold?You have goosebumps.”His voice is raspy and low.It’s not helping the state I’m in.

“I’m.Uh.Yeah, cold.It’s cold.”What the hell is going on with me?It’s as if my brain is short-circuiting, and I am unable to form a coherent sentence.He is affecting me in ways I refuse to acknowledge.

He's so close, my face is almost touching his pecs.The scent of him invades my nose—it must be last night’s cologne.It smells like a mix of bergamot, pepper, and some sort of woodsy aroma.I make the mistake of looking up at him and see him staring down at me.I haven’t seen him look at me like this before.His other hand—the one not busy stroking my thigh—moves under my chin.

“You seem nervous, Ains.Is everything alright?”The slow way he speaks sends more chills through my body.But the spell I’m under breaks suddenly, and I push him back so I can stop breathing him in.

“I’m not nervous.If you don’t mind, I would like to get dressed.”I wave my hand to the bathroom, signalling for him to leave.There.My resolve is back and I think I’ve gained control of my emotions when?—

“Fuck it,” Ace snaps as he grabs me with both arms, hoisting me up by my butt.The breath escapes me as he presses me up against one of the walls of his bedroom.I don’t mean to, but my legs naturally wrap around his hips to hold on.

His lips go to my neck, but he doesn’t kiss me.He gently glides his lips from my neck up to the small space behind my earlobe in an agonizingly slow way.I feel his hot breath roll back down to my shoulder.If I thought my vagina had goosebumps before, they are on steroids now.I get a tingling feeling down below that causes my heart to race.He closes his lips on my neck and presses a light kiss.

He pulls his head back so that we’re face-to-face, and I meet his gaze with the same heated desire.

Is this really happening?Thank God I brushed my teeth.He’s going to kiss me.Wait, is he?Oh my God, brain, shut the hell up.

He starts to lean in, when a knock on the door makes us both freeze.

“Dude, Denny just texted.We need to head to the club ASAP.Is Ainsley there?She never came back downstairs.”Morgan’s interruption jolts me back to reality.What am I doing?I don’t want Ace anymore.I have never been so thankful for my brother than I am at this moment.

Ace covers my mouth with his hand, making it clear I am to not speak.

“Yeah, I’ll be down in a few.Ainsley took the bathroom first to change, so I’m just waiting for her to hurry up.”He throws his voice in a louder tone toward the bathroom, as if I’m really in there.

“Alright bro, I’ll meet you downstairs.We can give Mini Copeland and the She-Devil a ride home before we meet with the boss.”Morgan walks away and I hear the sound of his door opening and closing down the hall.Ace reluctantly lets me down one leg at a time, and as I start to slide down, I feel something rock-hard rub against me.

Oh.My.God.His penis is hard.Like, really hard.And big.Why the hell is it so big?That can’t be normal.

He pauses, holding me in place.His penis is nestled on top of my slit, and my panties are wet.Of course, I have to be wearing the thinnest pair I own.Thanks, Jordan, for that smart buy.He groans—actually groans—and I get this wave of…I don’t even know what to call it.I’ve never had feelings roll through my body that felt like this.

I don’t mean to, but a light moan escapes my lips while my other set of lips are busy being a traitor.My heart is racing, and I see his chest rise and fall with each heavy breath.Something like regret flashes in his eyes.He doesn’t have to tell me what he's thinking, I know he doesn't feel that way toward me.But if he doesn't, then why do all of this?

“Why did you do that?Are you playing some game with me?You know what?Don’t answer that, just go take a shower so I can go home.”My attitude is back in full force, because once again, Ace Maddox is fucking with my feelings.

“This isn’t over.Wewillbe having a conversation about what just happened,” Ace demands as he shuts the bathroom door behind him, leaving me no time for protest.

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