Page 25 of Ace

“This is serious, you know.Those guys play for keeps.”

“I know.And I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to get you involved in something dangerous.”I paused, running the events of the yesterday in my mind.“I guess I didn’t think past escaping from the shooter.”

Ace smoothed a lock of hair away from my face.“Don’t feel bad.I’m glad you came to me.The club will take care of this, and then we can work out the future.For now, you stay here where I know you’re safe.”

“Did I ever say thank you?”I ignored his assumption that I’d do what he decreed, or that we had a future.

“Not necessary.”He slid onto the bed beside me, stretching out to full length.“Turn over.You don’t want to sleep on your hurt side.”

I did as I was told, for once without complaint, and was rewarded when I felt his warm body mold itself against my back.I could feel the hard length of his cock pressing into my butt, and suddenly I wasn’t sleepy anymore.

Ace’s hand slid around my waist.I hadn’t bothered with a bra, and he reached up to fondle my breast.I let out a low moan, and he chuckled.“I love how sensitive you are.”He scored his thumb across my nipple, and my breath caught in my throat.

I heard footsteps outside in the hallway, and a muffled conversation.The realization that what Ace and I were doing could be clearly heard by anyone wandering down the hall jerked me out of the lustful haze.“I can’t do this.”

“Do what?”Ace’s hands paused in their exploration.

I struggled to sit up, to extricate myself from him.“I can’t stay here.Like this.With everyone able to hear what we’re doing.It’s degrading.”I took a deep breath, willing him to understand.

“You can’t go home.”Implacable iron was in his voice.“Not until we know it’s safe.”

I knew he was right.Going back to my place would be tantamount to suicide.“We could go to your place?”More of a question than a statement.

Ace was silent for a long moment, and I regretted blurting that out.Just because we had sex, I had no illusions.It’s not like we were suddenly an item, despite what the rest of the bikers thought.We were just scratching an itch, and when it was satisfied, we’d go our separate ways.Asking him to take me to his place was over the line.

I opened my mouth to apologize, but he cut me off.

“That might work.Shadow already has a security system in place, cameras and all that shit.Yeah.We can do that.”He shifted to capture my gaze.“You’d be stuck with me though.Just me.Here you have Mom and the other guys to talk to.”

“I’ll survive.”The thought of being closeted with Ace didn’t frighten me.Maybe a few days of isolation would help to get him out of my system.

A wry smile curved his chiseled features.“I can see you’re thrilled with the idea.”

“It’s just…” I gestured at the door.“I’m used to some kind of privacy, and here everyone knows exactly what we’re doing.”

“If we go to my place, they’re going to assume that’s what we’re doing.Not much difference.”To his credit, he said that with a straight face.

“But they won’t get to listen.Besides,” I tried to voice my feelings.“I’m used to living alone.Quietly.No one else.This is just too much all at once.”

He held up a hand to stop me.“I get it.After Joker checks out your side, we can move your shit to my place.I’ll have the prospects go check it out, establish a perimeter.”

“Establish a perimeter?”My brow furrowed.

“Sorry.Military talk.Make sure there’s a safe zone around the house and set up patrols.”He touched my neck, a feather light caress.“These guys are serious bad guys.They know who you are and where you work.So far, I’m not sure they’ve connected you to me, but when they do, they will come after you with both barrels loaded.Unless we get to them first.”

“Or the cops pick them up.”I had to hope that was still an option.

“I wouldn’t count on that.They probably have one or two in their pocket.”

“Oh.”That hadn’t occurred to me.How had my life gone from boring, nothing but work and school, to this in less than a week?No wonder my head was spinning.

A knock on the door interrupted our discussion.

“You guys decent?”Joker asked.

“Yeah, come on in.”Ace let go of me and levered himself off the bed.

Joker stepped into the room, his medic’s bag hanging from his hand.“And how’s my favorite patient today?”He exchanged a hooded look with Ace.

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