Ace

by Kim Faulks

  And all I could do was watch the smooth skin of his lips as they parted and moved. Words meant nothing, there was only the way he tasted, the way he felt—the way his eyes shone as he looked at me.

  I tilted my head, moving close to lick. Teeth followed, grazing smooth skin, soft though, just enough.

  Wouldn’t hurt Ace…wouldn’t eat Ace…not his belly…not his mouth.

  Heat rose, filling me with need. My nipples tightened, lightning spread out, moving through my body to settle deep.

  “Jesus Christ, Ghost,” he whispered on a shudder as I dropped my heels to the ground, and sank lower.

  I didn’t want to touch fabric. My fingers delved under to warm flesh to find a hard, raised line, like Ace had been hurt. I stared at the thick raised scratch that ran along his side and around.

  His hand stilled against my hips. There was no rubbing, no urgency.

  No nothing as I leaned in and pressed my lips to his body. He trembled with the contact and lowered his head as I found every crooked edge.

  My tongue snaked out. I tasted salt, tasted Ace, tongue followed the line as I pressed my nose between his legs.

  His body pulsed underneath, pressing into cloth and my face. The sudden hiss of breath made me still. “Not hurt Ace.” My words were a growl. I found his gaze and tried to ease his fear. “Not hurt…not hurt, Ace.”

  He gripped my arm and lifted, dragging me against him until he found my gaze. “I’m not scared, Ghost. I know you’d never hurt me…I’m just…I’m just…”

  Lips moved. Words spilled. And yet all I could do was ache like I’d never ached before.

  I waited for Spirit to move in. I waited for Spirit to heal.

  But there were no fangs, no coat sliding against my skin. There was only heat that settled in my chest and between my thighs. He pressed into my body, muscles trembling, straining to hold back. “I’m not scared. I’m so fucking into you. You understand me? No, of course you don’t. What the fuck am I doing?”

  He trapped my wrist, pulling my hand to his chest. Thud…thud…thud. Heart throbbed hot against my palm. “Like a hunt,” he growled softly. “Like a kill.”

  I dropped my gaze to the thunder under my palm, and then leaned in pressing my face into flesh, licking hard fabric. I moved fast, grabbing his wrist, and drew his hand to my own. His fingers slid against warm skin, sliding under my top to capture my breast. “Like a hunt.”

  Stars exploded in his gaze as he held mine.

  Slowly now he moved his hand, rolling my nipple against hard callouses. The peak hardened, slipping between his fingers. He pushed the fabric aside. Cool air met warm flesh. A shudder escaped, but I wasn’t cold…I wasn’t anything but need.

  His gaze found my body, watching his hand as he gently kneaded, touched, and then stilled.

  There was no flinch of pain as he moved in close and dropped his head. His breath so hot against my skin, sliding over the trail his fingers made. I dropped my head backwards, letting him take what he wanted.

  I wasn’t the hunter here, and I wasn’t prey. This was Spirit, this was soul together as one.

  His tongue found my nipple, hard teeth teased across the top followed with a soft lick.

  My fingers trembled as I reached for his shirt. I needed skin, skin on skin. I needed warmth. I needed everything. I snagged an edge and then gripped his belt, holding on as his fingers skimmed my hip and gripped my ass.

  He was everywhere, touching, kissing—and still it wasn’t enough.

  Never enough.

  “More,” I growled. “More.”

  Lips tickled my breast as he chuckled. “You are an impatient one, aren’t you?”

  He lifted his head and straightened, moving fast to grasp the bottom of his shirt, and lifted. His body shone under the moon’s rays. Claw marks covered his body, from the jagged line around his side, to marks across his chest.

  His shirt dropped to the ground behind us. He scanned the darkness, and then the river. But I was watching, always watching, always scenting. No one would hurt Ace—I raised my fingers, touching the raised flesh across his body—no one would hurt Ace ever again.

  I dragged his hand to my chest and pressed over the throb as I pressed my hand over his. His eyes shone, tears glistened as I lowered my body to the ground.

  He followed, sinking into the soft pine needles and eased backwards. I slid one leg over his, straddling his hips, hands to chest, making him understand.

  I’d never leave him. Never hurt him.

  Ghost would kill the world—just to keep Ace safe.

  Heat flared between my legs as his body pulsed underneath. I moved my hips, gently rocking, pressing harder into his, finding the place where the ache waited. His hands slipped, fingers dug into flesh as I ground my body against his.

  Harsh breaths slipped free. But this was quiet. No words were needed, not when our bodies said all we needed to say. I dropped my hand to his waist, tugging on the band of his trousers.

  His lips curled with a smile. “There’s a button, and a zipper, see?” His hand slid over mine, popping something free. Metal glinted in the moonlight, jaws opening to reveal another layer.

  My lip curled at the sight, and a growl slipped free.

  A throaty rumble of laughter filled the air. He gripped my thigh with one hand as he lifted his head from the ground. One swipe and he brushed my hair, sliding the strands across my shoulders, and pulled me into him.

  My lips met his. Hungry now, taking more as he gripped my body. His tongue probed my mouth, just enough before slipping away. I followed, probing his mouth, and the ache flared.

  He broke the kiss, easing away just enough to whisper. “Gotta do this right. You’ve never done this before, have you?”

  My gaze narrowed. I watched his mouth as he answered. “Yeah, I didn’t think so.”

  His hand fell to my spine as he moved slowly at first, driving his hips high and into the place where I needed him. But there was only air as he held me against him and twisted. My ass hit the ground, shoulders followed and then my head.

  “Besides,” he murmured dropping his gaze to my exposed breast. “This way is more fun.”

  Twigs scratched my scalp as he slid his hand from underneath my body. The tips of his fingers danced, running a line across my collarbone, to my throat.

  A growl rumbled in the back of my throat, soft, light…impatient—making him smile.

  His gaze found my breast, his touch followed before he jerked his gaze to mine. “There’s just one thing I gotta say. I don’t do casual. I’m not saying this is all or nothing, I’m just saying that I’m in, I’m all fucking in, unless one day you decided otherwise.” He swallowed hard as Spirit moved close.

  Here was the child. Here was the pain.

  “Cause if you did that would sting…yeah, that would fucking sting.”

  I reached for his face, finding his ache with mine. “Ghost never leave. Ghost here.” I touched his lips and then found his heart. “And here.”

  His hand was already there, pressing against the throb of my heart. “And Ace here.”

  His breath left on a shudder. “That’s good,” he murmured dropping his body. His lips brushed my breast. “That’s so fucking good.”

  The lick was sudden, finding the tight nub of my nipple as he moved lower. He dragged the bottom of my top higher, and moved down. Soft kisses found my belly. I didn’t worry, didn’t fear—not anymore. Ace wouldn’t hurt me, wouldn’t eat my belly, only kiss—only touch.

  He gripped the ends of the tether and slipped the knot free. My pants slid lower, leaving nothing but bare skin behind. The night air reached in first as he worked my pants lower, unsheathing one leg at a time. Cold lapped the fire between my thighs. He stilled, taking in my body as my pants slipped free.

  “God have mercy,” he growled, his eyes found mine. There were no longer stars in his gaze, only animal—only hunger. “Mine.” He staked a claim and lowered his mouth.

  His breath delved in bet
ween the soft thatch of hair between my legs.

  “Mine,” he whispered as his fingers found me, trailing along the crease to where the storm waited. Lightning cracked as he slipped his finger to the hard nub. His mouth followed, licking, tongue pushing in harder, soft and wet.

  I dropped my head backwards and stared at the night sky as he sucked. My breath stuttered, my eyes closed as a tremor raced, moving deeper; fingers worked sliding lower, finding the entrance, and a whimper tore free.

  “That’s the way.” His breath ticked, bristles from his face scratched sending a shudder deep inside. He dragged his tongue deeper, fingers tender, finding every part of me.

  Desire glistened on his lips as he rose. His hand left my body long enough to shove his trousers down low. I lifted my head from the ground, staring as his muscles rippled with the movement.

  I reached, wanting to touch as he touched, and taste just as he tasted. Savage need reared in his gaze, still he eased backwards, letting me trace a line down his chest to his stomach and then the fine trail of hair that reached lower.

  He was hard and thick. Soft hair tickled my fingers. Slick skin was warm against my palm. I closed my fingers, sliding down the length to the base watching as he shuddered.

  He closed his eyes, arched his spine. Breath faster now…power, so much power. Energy swirled between us as I clenched his body and slid again. A soft moan echoed from his mouth. Impatient now, just as I was.

  His body wept, a tiny tear slipped free as I clenched my grip and followed the pulsing vein underneath.

  “Jesus, no more, or this isn’t going to be what you need. You trust me, right?” He lowered his body, hands on either side of me, pushing my shoulders to the ground. “You trust me?”

  Trust? I nodded as he moved between my legs.

  “Up here, okay,” he growled, his finger curled under my chin and lifted my focus to his eyes. “I need to watch you, need to see you. Just to make sure you’re okay.” His body pressed harder, finding the place slick from his fingers. “Breathe, Ghost. Breathe.”

  He pushed in, finding the heat with his own. Desire raced, lifting my hips from the ground. Heart pounding now, slamming against the inside of my chest.

  A flare of pain cut sharp. A sting…and a whimper followed. But he never stopped, only slowed, riding the cruel wave with another, turning pain into heat and need once more.

  He dropped lower, pressing his chest against mine, hips curled, thrusting slower until fire licked. Hungry now…so very hungry. An ache flared through my mouth, canines lengthened.

  “That’s it, honey. That’s what I want to see. My Ghost.”

  I widened my thighs, arching to meet his body as slow thrusts turned brutal.

  Blood pounded in my veins, punching harder, moving deeper as his blows picked up pace, moving with a frenzy…and I realized I was wrong.

  This was a hunt.

  I gripped his waist as the storm exploded, tearing a cry from my mouth.

  This was a kill.

  He growled burying himself deep as fire raced, stealing the thoughts from my mind—stealing everything. His breath was a hurricane against my ear. I couldn’t think, couldn’t feel. Terror reared until he lifted his head, and then there was only fire, only desire…and something more.

  Something deeper down where Spirit lingered.

  “Are you okay?” Concern flared, dulling the lick of heat in his gaze. “Did I hurt you?”

  Hurt me? I searched my body. Pain was gone now, barely a memory. But I was different, power was different, like a door now opened. I shook my head and relief flooded his face, smoothing that crease in his forehead. He dropped his head against mine, cheek to cheek. “That’s good. That’s so fucking good.”

  He moved, sliding out and for a second panic filled me. I grasped his bicep, wrenching him close. He dragged his head high. “It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere. We’ve got plenty of time. Plenty of time to do whatever you want.”

  My grip eased. He left me aching now, but it was a different ache…a longing, like hunger after winter. I could never eat enough, never touch enough…never have enough.

  He dropped his body beside mine, pulling me in close. Arms wrapped around me tight. “Just rest for a bit, and then we move okay? When you’re ready.” His harsh breaths slowed. “Always when you’re ready.”

  His scent invaded, searing into memory with every heavy beat of my heart. He quietened, inhaling slow and deep, dozing while I listened for movement in the trees. Panic raced the more I listened. Human…the word resounded. Ace was human, and that made him fragile.

  I tightened my grip and he moved closer sliding his hand across my chest, protecting me. His body was warm, leaving me alone with the chill. I’m just saying that I’m in, I’m all fucking in, unless one day you decided otherwise.

  His breaths slowed as I whispered. “I’m all in too.”

  26

  Ace

  The sharp call of a bird wrenched me awake. Darkness still lingered, but there was a lightness to the air, a hint of the day to come. I shifted against the ground. Pine needles scratched my back, twigs clawed my ass. The last few hours came back with a rush.

  Ghost naked underneath me—her hand clasped over my heart. The dead mercenary thrown at my feet, his neck slashed open by wicked claws…and the ghost child—the boy—me, finding me in the belly of this damn forest until all the pain and the hurt from my past burst like a dam.

  And pain. I sat upwards and felt the bite of the morning air. So much fucking pain. My trousers were gone. My shirt gone. I probed my knee, skin slipped against the joint, not tight anymore. The swelling barely noticeable. I tested the movement, pulling my knee high and felt a small ache.

  What the Hell did Ghost do to me?

  I lifted my gaze to the thick coat draped across me. Silver bristles sparkled under the soft glow of the moon. I shuddered with the cold, pulling the fur higher and the heavy skull followed. Movement came at my right. Her pale skin shone as Ghost reached for me, sliding fingers down my arm. “I’m all in, Ace,” she whispered. “All in.”

  And the realization of what that meant to her hit home. She’d rescued me, saved me, fed, and clothed me. She’d killed…for me. She found that damaged kid inside and gave him a voice, she helped him heal.

  I looked to my damn knee and understood. It’d never been about my body, her healing had been about the shit that haunted me. My mother, Stitch…the fear that one day Alpha would be gone too, and I’d be alone. Always alone.

  I want you to move in, and not the half-there fucking shit you do. I want you there, all the fucking time. I want you to be me…you hear me? You hear what I’m saying?

  I’d never been there, not really. I left. I pushed those I cared about away from me, until I had no ties to any place or anyone, because it was easy that way. It was always easy that way. The pain of being vulnerable, of being weak had never been soul threatening…until now.

  Ghost moved in, closing her hand over my own. Long strands of her hair touched my chest as our bodies met. Her lips were soft, so fucking soft, and I knew then all the running and the leaving was over.

  The shift in perspective was subtle.

  But it would leave behind a path of utter devastation to the world I once knew.

  She would never be alone.

  She would never be hurt.

  Because I’d be there, every day…every damn minute. I’d be everything she ever needed—my fingers sank into the fur across my body—just as she was everything for me.

  The bird called out once more shattering the connection. She eased away, ending the kiss and rose, like a soldier, ready for war.

  I slipped the coat from my body and reached for my clothes, yanking on the trousers, laced my boots, found my shirt as she settled the silver fur around her shoulders.

  Day was coming now, rushing toward us like a faceless enemy. I tested my leg, and clasped my holster tight around the joint. “You ready for this? We have to move fast. I’ll…I’ll tr
y to keep up.”

  She glanced to my leg and nodded.

  My chest tightened with that first step. It was corny, and so fucking lame. But we made a new pack here, we made the kind of connection I’d only ever dreamed of. You couldn’t fall in love from one day. I knew that, knew it like I knew the sun was rising before my very eyes.

  But still…the magic stayed—her touch stayed, closing around my heart as she took the first step. Ghost moved so damn quiet as though she was a ghost herself, carving a path through the edge of the forest and toward the river.

  You couldn’t fall in love.

  It wasn’t possible.

  It just wasn’t.

  The water rushed, the current too fast to cross and yet she stepped down from the bank and scanned the river’s edge. Fragments of my memory surfaced. Ghost surging through the water. Ghost fighting to get away from savage snarls behind us. Wolves…wolves snapping at my feet, her desire for survival greater than their need to kill.

  “Wait,” I watched the rapids smash against the rocks. I could barely see the riverbed from the swirl. “I’ll get swept away.”

  She held out her hand, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. I took a step toward her, and clasped her palm with mine. No words were needed. This was my new life now, fighting the current, fighting the wolves—different animal—but they were all the same beasts.

  The icy water stung my skin, hungry tongue lapped higher as we surged deeper. My boots slipped against the slick bottom, the force of the rush drove against my knee. So I kept moving, kept fighting one slow step at a time as we carved a path through to the other side.

  The water reached higher, climbing along my thigh to my waist. Still she gripped my hand, her strength never once hurt, her feet never once slipped. Inch by inch we drove harder, until the water reached my waist.

  Slate gray eyes sparkled as she pulled me close. Her lips were parted, breath a rush as she whispered. “Hurry. Wolf…wolf come.”

  She wrenched her head toward the sunrise. I tried to find a footing long enough to look. Then I found him, big, hulking, hiding in the shadows at the edge of the trees.