Page 61 of Steal My Breath Away

I strummed a few chords on my guitar, filling the empty space between us with sound. “What’s going to happen now?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “Things have become messy. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Messy is where I live.”

Ace picked his way across my paper-strewn floor to sit beside me. “I came here to protect you, but I don’t know if I can do that anymore. It might be better if I leave and let Maverick take over. I can’t be objective.”

No no no.It was one thing to be annoyed and unsettled, another thing entirely to be alone. I tried to play it cool when inside I was bracing for the worst. “You seemed pretty objective when you tossed me in the closet.”

“But you didn’t stay there, bug. This doesn’t work if you don’t trust me.”

“I trust you to keep me safe.” It wasn’t the trust I suspected he wanted, but even though he’d explained why he’d hurt me, and he’d shown me that he was committed to making up for the past, it was a long road back to the kind of trust we used to share.

Ace dropped his elbows to his knees. “It’s a start.”

“I also need you to trust me,” I continued. “I’m not that little girl you told Aditi about who was always getting into trouble. You don’t need to protect me from myself. I’m not going to unnecessarily put myself at risk, but I need to be part of the conversation, so I can make an informed decision.”

“I’ll do my best,” he said. “But if danger is imminent, I need to act, and there won’t always be time for a discussion.”

My heart leaped into my throat. “Does that mean you aren’t going to leave?”

“Not unless you want me to.” He took my guitar and placed it on the nearby stand. “But I would like to work on earning back your trust.”

I leaned against his shoulder, soaking in his aura of calm. “How?”

“I have an idea.”

I looked up and grinned. “Is sex involved?”

“Possibly.” He pulled me into a straddle over his lap. “Would you be good with that?”

“I suppose so.” I gave a noncommittal shrug. “I do like sex with you.”

He slid his hands under my nightshirt and cupped my bare breasts. “I do like this easy access.”

“Then you’ll love what I don’t have on under my shorts.” I ground against the bulge in his jeans. Never in my life had I reacted to a man the way I reacted to Ace. Somehow, we’d turned a serious talk into sexy times and I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be spending another sleepless night writing songs on my cold, hard floor.

Ace slid my shirt over my head and tossed it on the bed. “This is one of my favorite sights,” he said, cupping my breast and gently running his thumb over my nipple. “You without clothes.”

“I’m still wearing some clothes.” I wiggled on his lap again and he let out a groan.

“Not for long.” Lifting me from his lap, he helped me to the bed. “Lie down. Hands above your head. Hold on to the bars.”

“This sounds like it’s going to be serious sex and not shake-the-furniture sex.” I wrapped my hands around the cool bars of the headboard. I wasn’t a fan of the wrought iron design—too harsh and austere for my taste—but in that moment I could appreciate the functionality.

“It’s very serious,” he agreed as he slid my shorts over my hips. “I’m going to make you come so many times you lose count.”

“I can count pretty high.”

Ace’s dark eyes gleamed and his nostrils flared like a predator on the hunt. “Don’t tempt me.”

“I am tempting you. Maybe you should finish taking off my shorts and get started.”

“I think you’re getting confused about who’s in control here.” He removed my shorts and tossed them on the floor. “Spread your legs.”

His commanding tone sent shivers down my spine, but I did as he asked, curious to see how far he would go and how much I could take. My nipples were already tight with desire, the ache for his touch almost unbearable.

“Don’t move.” Ace sat beside me and leaned over to give me a kiss, overwhelming me with his powerful body, and yet his hand was gentle as it smoothed over my curves, his fingers soft as they feathered up my inner thigh toward my throbbing center. The constant motion focused my senses completely on him and the heat that followed his touch.

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