Page 16 of Breaking the Limits

“Thank you, but I could say the same about you,” I tease him as I run a hand over his chest, “I like the yellow.”

“I thought you might. I have to say it’s the brightest shirt I own now but it’s worth it.” He presses a kiss to my forehead before slipping his hand in mine and leading us out of his apartment and down to his royal blue Dodge Challenger Hellcat. After he helps me in the car, I watch him walk back around to the driver side. I feel like I’m in a dream, almost like I should pinch myself.

****

When we first enter JamesTown I can’t believe how different it looks. The walls had been covered in artwork that I’m sure Ace had done, of burlesque like poses. All the tables had been covered in red material and dusted with glitter. White, silver and gold balloons fill the ceiling. In the center of all the tables sit martini glasses filled with red pop rocks and feathers covering the brim of the glass with a feathered boa wrapped around the bottom of it. JamesTown has been made over from the hometown bar to a burlesque inspired party. I can’t believe my eyes.

Turning to Ace I wrap my arms around his waist. “Thank you. I can’t believe you did all this.”

His hands draw circles around my back as he presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Anything for you baby doll.”

As soon as I step away from Ace I am pulled into a warm embrace by Kenndrix who looks smoking hot might I add. She has gone way out of her comfort zone and chose a red and black corset dress with black wedges. I know it was more for me than her, but she is rocking this outfit with her curvy figure. “Can you believe how awesome this turned out?”

“I knew Ace and y’all were working on a party but I had no idea it was anything like this,” I tell Kenndrix.

For the first hour I walk around mingling with everyone that has got to come to the party. About half way through the night I’m snagged around the waist by Ace. He buries his face in my hair and whispers into my ear, “Dance with me.” I nod as he leads us to the dance floor.World in FlamesbyIn This Momentcomes on over the speakers, our song. I look up at Ace and know he is my future, as we dance around the floor to our song I can’t help but fall even more in love with him. I rest my head against his chest and listen to the beating of his heart. For the first time ever, I’m not so afraid to be in love with Ace James.

At the end of the song Kenndrix calls everyone’s attention as a cake with sparkling candles is brought forward. It’s a red and black corset shaped cake. I stand there while everyone sings happy birthday and snaps pictures then I lean forward and blow out the candles. When I stand back up Ace aims his phone at our faces and tells me to smile, that was the easiest thing to do.

****

It was getting pretty late by the time we finally left JamesTown. On the way home Ace takes a turn toward the beach which was the opposite direction of the apartment. I look at him with a questioning look. “One last surprise for my birthday angel,” he says. When we finally come to a stop he tells me to hold on. He goes to the trunk of the car then comes to my door. Opening it he leans in and hands me a pair of leggings and flip flops. “You may want these.”

I don’t ask why, I just slip them on under my dress and get out of the car. Ace takes my hand and leads me out to the beach, then I see them. Two beautiful horses standing over to the side with a guy holding their reins. I come to a stop because I can’t believe Ace remembered. It had been shortly after we gottogether, he’d suffered from another nightmare. We were lying in bed together trying to fall back asleep when he had asked me when I felt the freest. I had answered with the only answer I had. When we had moved to Texas my grandmother had a lot of horses and I loved them. I would go riding every chance I got. I explained to him how being on a horse held a sort of freedom to me. I remember him mumbling about how my description of horseback riding reminded him of how he felt when he was racing. He had said it so quietly and was asleep on his next breath that I figured he didn’t even remember the conversation but apparently, he did.

I tug on his hand, “You remembered?”

He looks at me like I was crazy for a moment, “Of course. I remember it all. Come on,” he says, pulling me toward the horses.

Once we were both on the horses we take off down the shore. It’s the best feeling in the world to be back on a horse with Ace beside me even though he looks like a fish out of water. He’s suffering through it without complaining just for me. Nothing means more to me than that right there. The love I feel for him in that moment is overwhelming.

****

Ace

Watching Kynlee tonight has made me feel very content. I have been on edge the last few weeks trying to pull together all of her birthday surprises. I had wanted this day to be one of the best she ever had. She truly deserves it. Kynlee has helped so much over the last few months that I just wanted some way to repay her. This night wasn’t nearly enough, but it’s a start.

I watch as her horse gallops down the shore with her long brown hair flying behind her, shimmering in the moonlight, her laugh along with the sound of the horses, are the only soundsalong the beach. Watching her in the moment I know that my mom had been right. I have found my angel in Kynlee.

Talking to Connor about saying the, “L” word had set me on edge more than I realized until just now. However, this night solidified that Kynlee and I were exactly where we need to be. We didn’t expect things from one another that we knew the other couldn’t give. We didn’t expect labels and words because our actions and eyes said it all. I never needed to hear her say she loved me because I knew it. I could feel it with every part of who I am and yeah it scares the hell out of me but I know she does. I just hope that she knows I feel the same way about her.

After an hour of riding the horses up and down the beach we call it a night. I help Kynlee off the horse even though she doesn’t need it. Taking her hand, I lead her back to the car. I haven’t been able to give her the birthday gift I had bought her yet and I figure now was a great time. I had wanted it to be just the two of us when I handed her the gift. I wanted to be able to watch her face, to see her reaction to it. I wanted no distractions in this moment.

As we near the passenger side door I stop us and turn her to face me. I slip my hand into my leather jacket and pull out the small velvet box. I hold it out to her and slowly she lifts the box from my hand. “Ace, you already did so much.”

I shake my head, “No baby doll, all that was just to celebrate you today, this,” I say pointing at the box, “Is your actual gift.”

She looks up at me with those brown eyes behind those dark lashes. “I already have you Ace which is more than enough for me.”

Leaning forward I press my lips to hers. “Thank you, angel, but you deserve much more than me in life. Now, open the box.”

Slowly, she pulls the lid back, her face lights up with surprise and delight. I know by her reaction I have done well. “Ace, it’s beautiful!” Inside the box is a sterling silver necklace, it is a pairof angel wings that form a heart. The wings are encrusted with white and black diamond and in the middle of the heart was the date we met in Roman numerals.

I pull the necklace from the box and work on fastening it around Kynlee’s neck, “Not nearly as beautiful as you are baby doll.”

Chapter 13

Kynlee

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