by S. Nelson
Chelsea buried her head in my neck, sucking and biting at my skin, and just as she tipped over the edge, her body locked up, and in doing so, she clamped her thighs against my sides.
I hissed, pain and pleasure striking simultaneously. I was just thankful my pleasure was the stronger sensation. Instead of stopping her, I gently inserted my hand between her leg and my wounded side, nudging her enough so there was a small space, the jolt of pain alleviating quickly.
“Keep going,” I urged, grabbing her ass with my free hand, and keeping her movements quick and rough until my orgasm barreled down on me. “Can I come inside you?” She didn’t answer, her warm breath cascading over the damp flesh of my neck. “Chels… I’m gonna come. Do you want… want me to pull out?”
She moved her mouth back to mine, latching on to my bottom lip with her teeth before giving me an answer. “Come inside me,” she panted. “I want you to fill me up.” Then she swallowed my grunts as I gave her what she asked for.
26
With our skin slicked together, I hummed my satisfaction into the crook of his neck. “That was….” I didn’t finish because the rest of my words escaped me. I purred and he twitched, laughing when I gently nipped him.
When I finally pushed myself upright, I gazed down at him, reveling in the sight of all his gorgeousness. His skin was flushed, much like mine, and strands of his hair stuck to his forehead. I never thought a sweaty man was sexy, but Ace defied the very notion. The muscles in his arm flexed when I tried to move my leg, his hand pressing against my inner knee. Looking down, I realized he tried to keep my thigh away from his side.
I raised myself up slowly and he slipped from my body. After hopping off the bed, I leaned in to inspect him. “Did I hurt you?” I asked. I’d completely forgotten he was injured the more I lost myself to the feel of him.
Instead of answering, he reached for me, but I backed away. I didn’t know why, other than I was frightened my selfish need was the cause of his possible damage.
“Come here.” I shook my head. “You better get your ass back on this bed.” His tone wasn’t stern, but the fierceness in his eyes told me he’d chase me if I didn’t comply, and the last thing I wanted him to do was overexert himself.
“Fine.” I walked around to the other side, his eyes following me the entire way. Now he was the one shaking his head. The mattress dipped with my weight, but I kept my distance, not sure what to do next.
“Woman,” he said exasperated. “I told you I’m not gonna fuckin’ break. Now get over here.” I complied because I didn’t want to upset him. Two scoots later and I laughed inwardly. This was probably the first time I went out of my way not to anger him. Any other time, depending on the situation, I’d purposely do exactly that. He grabbed me and tucked me into his side, kissing the top of my head. “That’s better.”
I didn’t say anything as I nestled closer, allowing the comfort of his body to quiet my mind.
He twirled a lock of my blonde hair around his finger. “What color you gonna do next?” The pink strands underneath were faded and I’d contemplated switching to a different color.
“Blue.”
“My favorite.”
“I know.” I looked up at him and smiled, surprised the easiness flowed so well between us. That could have something to do with the fact I wasn’t as angry as I usually was, or that I’d come to believe Ace truly did care for me. Either way, I relished in the gentle calm surrounding me. Surrounding us.
“You hungry?” he asked, his finger trailing my arm and giving me goose bumps.
“I could eat.”
“Okay, I’ll see what I have in the fridge.” He placed his hand on the bed and pushed himself up, leaving me behind to lie on the bed and glory in the sight of him yet again.
“I do love your ass.” Ace looked over his shoulder and winked.
“And I love… yours.” I thought he was gonna tell me he loved me again, but he didn’t, and surprisingly, I was disappointed. Returning his smile, I watched him throw on a pair of black sweatpants and saunter out of the room, my stomach rumbling with the upcoming thought of nourishment.
After I wiped away the remnants of Ace from between my legs, I grabbed one of his T-shirts from his dresser drawer, inhaling his scent as I made my way down the steps, stopping at the bottom when I heard him talking on his phone.
“Yeah, she’s stayin’ with me, so you and Maddie can live there for now. Yeah, she’s fine with that, too. Okay. I’ll tell her. Got it. I’ll go with you guys. Yup. See ya.” He ended the call and placed his cell facedown on the counter.
“Was that Linc?” I asked, walking into the kitchen, already knowing the answer because I’d been eavesdropping.
“Yeah. He called, so I figured I should fill him in about your place.” A loaf of bread, a package of deli meat and a jar of mayo were placed on the counter next to him. He looked from me to the ingredients and back again. “This is all I have. Hope you’re in the mood for a turkey sandwich.”
“That’s fine.” We just finished having sex, and I wanted to ravage him all over again. Damn the food.
His eyes danced across my face, then rested on my lips. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you starin’ at me like that?” He opened the packet and pulled out the turkey slices, slapping them on one piece of bread before spreading the mayo on top.
“Like what?”
“Like you either want to fuck me again or you’re contemplating tellin’ me somethin’ that might piss me off.” He kept his focus on his task, his shoulders tensing when I didn’t answer right away. “You’re not goin’ home. You’re stayin’ here.”
“I know.”
“Good.”
“Do you have a charger I can use?” I needed to check in on Riley and make sure she was okay, just for my peace of mind.
Ace’s posture deflated in relief, and it was then I felt guilty for being part of the reason of why he was so on edge. “Yeah, in the drawer over there,” he answered, pointing toward the fridge.
After grabbing my phone from my purse, I took a seat at the small kitchen table, pulling my leg upward and resting my foot on the chair, waiting for my cell to boot up.
“Oh, and by the way, it was the first one.”
“What was?”
“I wasn’t gonna argue with you about stayin’ here. I was thinkin’ about riding you again.” I smiled wide when he turned to look at me, dropping his knife and jumping to the side so it didn’t jab him on his bare foot.
“Deal. Right after we eat.”
I didn’t say anything, my attention pulled back to my cell, swiping the screen to locate the phone icon. As I tapped on it, a call came through. Spam. I didn’t answer, of course, and it finally clicked over to voice mail.
“Who was that?” He was next to me, placing the sandwich in front of me on a napkin.
“Probably telemarketers.”
“Why didn’t you answer?” he asked, the frown on his face indicative to a possible upcoming argument, even though it was unreasonable for him to be upset in the first place.
“Because I don’t feel like listening to some salesperson’s spiel.” My phone rang again, but my focus was on Ace and not on the screen of my device. On the second ring, he snatched the phone from my hands. “Hey,” I shouted. “What are you doin’?” I stood up and approached, but he didn’t move an inch.
“You can’t just answer my phone, Ace. That’s invasion of privacy.”
“I can and I will. It might be someone unsavory.”
“Unsavory?” I mocked. “Seriously?”
“One of those fuckers could’ve gotten your number and is calling you to scare you, threaten you. Have you noticed anyone following you lately?”
“Other than the guy you sicced on me.”
“Yeah, other than him?”
“No.” Of course, I hadn’t thought of the possibility of someone following me, but I was now. While I lost myself to the probability of th
at scenario, Ace finally answered the phone.
“Hello?” he gritted, his teeth clenched together after the greeting, and I used the word greeting loosely. “Hello?” He pulled the cell away from his ear and looked at the screen. “Oh, hey.” His voice calmed a fraction. “One sec.” He pushed the phone at me and walked back toward the counter.
“Hello?”
“Is this a bad time?” Riley asked, probably wondering why Ace answered my phone with such attitude.
“Yeah, actually it is. Can I call you back in a bit?”
“Sure.” She paused. “Are you okay?”
“I will be.” Another pause.
“Okay. Talk to you later.”
After we hung up, I sat there fuming. Just when we took a positive step forward, this happened.
“You happy now?” He didn’t respond. What the hell happened in the span of minutes that made him so upset? Was he that worried about me, enough to overreact to something so simple?
He threw the butter knife in the sink, the clanking sound startling me. “Fuck!”
“Listen, you can’t—”
“Eat your food,” he barked, cutting me off, his body bristling for a fight. If that’s what he wanted, then I could certainly oblige, his shitty mood ill placed and coming out of nowhere.
I picked up my sandwich and threw it at him, but it hit the cabinet in front of him instead. He whirled around in surprise.
“What the hell?”
“I lost my appetite.” The snark in my voice was enough to make him snarl at me. I stood so fast the chair squeaked across the tile. “I’m going to bed.” I marched out of the kitchen in a huff, but I didn’t get far before Ace grabbed me around the waist and lifted me off my feet. Gone was my anger, replaced with worry that he was gonna hurt himself. Pigheaded man.
“I might’ve overreacted but so did you. You’re not goin’ anywhere.” He carried me into the living room and put me back on my feet at the edge of the sofa, facing me away from him. “I could smack your ass for all your attitude.”
“My attitude?” He made good on his threat, lifting my shirt, and slamming his palm against my cheek. “Ow!” I jerked forward, but he hauled me back against him, dipping his head until his mouth met my ear.
“We’re not done here.” The gravel in his tone wasn’t nearly as angry as it was seconds ago when I tossed my food at him. Now, I heard desire laced around each word, his thickness pressing into the crease of my backside.
“What are you gonna do?” A jolt of excitement hit me right between the legs, the air from my lungs snatched from me when he pushed me forward over the arm of the couch, hiking up the T-shirt I wore and pushing my panties toward my ankles.
“You said you wanted to fuck me again.” I was gonna correct him and tell him what I said was “I was thinkin’ about having sex again,” but his hand met my cheek once more, the sting of pain making me twitch. He gave me two more swats, rotating to the other side, then kicked my legs apart.
“What are you doing?”
“Givin’ you what you want.” I looked over my shoulder and saw him wrestling with the waistband of his sweatpants while his other hand held me in position.
“A red ass?” I squirmed against his fingers, but he held steady.
“You know I love that color on you.” He winked, the corners of his mouth kicking up. Desire replaced his anger, and he was inside me before I could laugh or come back with a witty response.
Ace stole my breath with each punishing thrust, bending over me, and whispering in my ear, telling me how much he loved fucking me, how much he craved my pussy. His groans summoned mine to life, and I forgot all about the little tiff from moments ago.
The only thing I could concentrate on now was how he made me feel. I pressed back against him sinking my nails into his thigh, and when he thrust forward, I moved my nails to his glorious ass and dug in.
“Let me make you come.” I couldn’t speak above a whisper, but I knew he heard me because he suddenly stopped driving into me. And while I missed the feel of his strength, I wanted to do this for him.
Clenching my inner muscles and squeezing the length of him I started to move. Slow at first, then I picked up speed, rotating my hips when I crashed back down to the root of his cock.
Ace rested his hands on my waist, flexing his fingers but never making a move to control or switch the rhythm of our bodies. With my belly against the soft material of the couch’s armrest, I was at the perfect position for him to dominate me, but he didn’t.
“You’re drivin’ me crazy,” he growled. “You’re gonna make me… Uhhhh… yeah, faster. No, wait. Slow down. Slow down. Chelsea!” he shouted. “Slow the fuck down or I’m gonna come.” He continued to stand still while I milked his pleasure from him, quite literally. As his moans became louder, he cupped my swollen mound and teased my clit unmercifully, bringing me closer to release than I thought possible. I loved when we came together, but right now, he was closer than I was.
“Pinch it,” I moaned. “Yeah… now rub my clit. Faster. Gentle.” I flinched with the sensitivity. “Just like that.”
The air from his lungs came out short and choppy. “I’m comin’.” More heavy breaths as I continued to bring him over. I felt him twitch behind me, but it was the only movement he made, which was probably involuntary. As he came, his ministrations never faltered, and my orgasm ripped through me several heartbeats later.
Dropping my head against the cushion, exhaustion nipped at my heels. I would’ve been fully content to stay in this position until morning, my limbs like jelly, but he helped me to stand, pulling me back against his warm chest.
“That was amazing. I love when you use that move.” He turned my head to the side to find my lips, sucking my bottom lip into his mouth before dipping his tongue inside. “You know what I love best though?” he mumbled against my mouth. I remained quiet because his question didn’t require an answer. “You can’t just stomp off when you’re pissed at me, and trust me, I’m gonna upset you quite a bit because we always seem to butt heads.”
I finally found the strength to utter a few words. “But I can still throw things at you.” Half of my mouth curved up.
“Only if what you’re throwing is soft.”
I did feel bad about hitting him in the head during our last big fight, but to be fair, we were drunk. And I quickly learned alcohol and anger were never a good mix.
“Deal.”
Ace turned me to face him, clasping his hands behind my back, looking deep into my eyes, and making me feel genuinely wanted, which was so much more than just desired.
“I’m happy you’re here with me.”
“Me too.” My honesty didn’t shock me as much as it would’ve even a day ago, and while I continued to be nervous about our new commitment and arrangement, I was excited to see what happened next.
27
“You almost ready?” I yelled up the stairs, huffing when she still hadn’t come down yet. I needed to drive her to her place so she could change for work, then pick her up later and take her back there so she could start packing up most of her stuff. Linc and Maddie would be temporarily moving in there as of this evening. He’d already hired the team to come by late tomorrow morning to install the security system. “Chelsea!”
“I’m comin’. Keep your pants on,” she shouted as she jogged down the steps and rounded the corner. “Or don’t.” She wiggled her brows, tossed her purse over her shoulder, and walked right past me toward the front door.
“What? No kiss good morning?” I reached her in two long strides.
“I gave you a kiss when we woke up, then again in the shower, then again before you came down here. How many do you want?”
“All of them.” I grabbed her face and tipped it up as I lowered mine, ravaging her mouth for the fourth time in an hour.
“You can be sorta sweet when you want to be.” She laughed, pecking my lips quickly before opening the front door. I didn’t have time to enjoy her uncharacteristic
ally good mood this morning because I was too focused on the stupid decision she made by attempting to walk out the door without making sure no one was outside. I’d checked the cameras positioned in the front of the house ten minutes ago and everything was clear, but a lot could’ve changed in the short time that passed. Call me paranoid, but I needed to make sure she was safe above all else.
“Hey!” I yanked her back into the house and behind me before slamming the door.
“What’s wrong?” Her brows scrunched together as she tried to peer around me.
“You can’t just walk outside without me making sure everything is clear.”
Chelsea closed her eyes for a full four seconds, shaking her head and pouting her lips. On a big sigh, her focus was back on me. “Are you serious?”
“Deadly,” I growled, pointing to my wounded side for emphasis. Her attitude changed instantly.
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” My voice was less stern. “Just don’t do it again.”
To make light of a serious situation, she ran her finger suggestively down my chest. “Are you my personal bodyguard, then? Because I can be very tough to deal with, but the rewards for doing so are out of this world. Just ask my boyfriend.” She parted her lips before nibbling on her bottom one, her eyes hooded, looking at me like she wanted me to bend her back over that damn couch.
“Stop lookin’ at me like that or I’ll put you on your knees, woman.” I sealed my mouth over hers, stealing the air from her lungs for my own, but when she tried to deepen the kiss, I pulled back. “We don’t have time.”
“Then stop teasing me.” She pouted and I believed it was the cutest sight I’d ever seen. Not two seconds later she moved around me and reached for the door handle again.
“What the hell, Chels?” My raised voice startled her until I pointed to where her hand was.
“Stop distracting me, then.” She stepped to the side and not so patiently waited for me to check that the coast was clear before we exited the house.