"Help me tend him a bit. Is he bleedin' anywhere serious?"
Together they made sure nothing was going to kill the man within minutes. It was hard to see in the dark, but he might have been an Asian man, maybe 45 years old. His face was bloodied, though, so he could have been older or younger. His clothes were torn, but when Gabby touched him, she recognized the good quality of the cloth of his coat. If he was a homeless guy, he was one with a good tailor.
"Gabby, call 9-1-1 on your cellphone."
"Right. How will I tell them where in Central Park to find us?"
"Use your GPS app."
"Okay." She made the call and the police dispatcher said that officers would be there soon.
The poor man was groaning steadily now, still semi-conscious, and unable to answer questions. He was beat up badly. They waited with him until they heard noises and police radios in the bushes.
"Here! We're here!"
Uniformed policemen came into the clearing, and soon ambulance attendants arrived and the place was swarming with first responders.
Ace and Gabby shrank back away from the man as the EMTs stabilized him.
The next two hours were spent giving their accounts of the incident and providing information to the police. Ace made sure the attendants knew that if there weren't public funds to cover the man's medical issues, he'd be willing to help, and contact charities who might also donate. When they were excused for the night, it was almost midnight and they were both tired, their adrenalin spikes a thing of the past.
Once they were in Ace's hotel room, Ace pulled her into his arms and held her tight. "It's alright, li'l girl. I've got you."
Gabriella snuggled against him, breathing in his warm scent of cologne and Ace, and listening to his steady heartbeat. His jacket had a hole in the seam up near the shoulder, and her fingers found it, playing with the rough edges. She'd noted earlier that his knuckles were abraded and red. It appalled her that he'd actually fought the homeless man's attackers off all by himself. He could have been hurt, even killed!
"Do you always carry a knife in your boot?"
He nodded. "Except when I'm travelin' by air."
"Have you ever needed it before?"
"It's come in handy over the years."
Gabby raised her head and looked up at his face. His jaw was tight, but his eyes were warm on her as he stared down. "I hardly know you."
"We're workin' on that, sweetheart."
She pulled back and pushed her hair away from her face. A shower was definitely in order. "I need to wash up."
"Me, too. But we have a little unfinished business. You go get undressed and we'll have our discussion."
Something about the way he said it made it sound ominous. Was he going to say goodbye and take her home early? Had her behavior during the night's incident made her repulsive to him? No, he wouldn't have cuddled her like he did. He would have been cold, remote. But then again, she couldn't imagine Ace not being a gentleman, responding to a woman's needs for comfort and security, when it was needed. Only something awful could take away his chivalry.
"I'm not sure what we need to discuss, Ace, but I need a shower."
"Go get undressed."
"'K." A few minutes later, she'd folded her wrinkled dress and tossed her flimsy shoes in a corner of the suite's bedroom. Her underwear got put aside. Naked, she called his name, and he came into the room. He'd took off his jacket and rolled his sleeves up. His gaze wrapped her up like a fur coat, and she reveled in the burgeoning response on his face and down lower, in his pants.
Maybe he wasn't rejecting her early. Maybe he was going to say something incredibly romantic. Could he be in love with her? A little thrill went through her at that idea, accompanied by a thudding sense of dread. It would never work. She couldn't fall in love with him. She had too much going on, too many secrets, too much responsibility. There was no time for a real relationship. There might never be time.
"You're in trouble, li’l girl."
Gabby felt like someone had spilled ice water in her lap. "Huh?"
He came closer and took her upper arms in his hands, leading her over to the bed. "You didn't mind when I told you to stay under the light where it was safe. You came traipsin' into danger like it was a shoe store."
"I thought you might need help!"
"What were you plannin' on doin' to help me?"
"I had my pepper spray."
"Have you ever used it?"
She bit her lower lip, growing defensive. "No. So what?"
"You're nearly as likely to spray yourself in the face, unless you practice with it, Gabby. The wind can blow it back at you and you'd be incapacitated, one more person for me to be concerned about durin' a fight. Or you could have sprayed me by mistake, leavin’ me to fight those men with my eyes waterin’."
Wow. "I...I didn't know that."
He shook his head, and stood her by the bed. When his hands went to his belt, she knew she was in deep trouble.
"You're not going to spank me with that belt, are you? You're going to take off your pants and we're going to make love, right?"
He quirked a dark eyebrow at her. "What do you think?"
Her butt hurt already, just thinking about it. "I'm really sorry that I worried you. I won't do it again. Honest."
"No, you'll mind for a while, then probably need another whoopin’."
Her temper flashed. "There won't be 'a while'! You're going back to Texas tomorrow."
He shook his head. "The police want me to stick around so I can identify those robbers."
"Oh."
"Yeah, 'oh.'" He tossed his belt aside, and gestured toward the bed as he began to unbutton his shirt. "Climb onto the bed, li'l girl."
Relief washed over Gabriella. No spanking, only a reprimand. Joyfully, she crawled over the comforter and laid herself out at the center of the bed. She watched him undress, and her ardor grew. He was so solid, and hard in all the places she was soft and cushy. She loved the way they fit together.
Gabby held her arms out to him as he knelt on the bed. She couldn't figure out why he didn't look happy in anticipation of joining with her, but he took her in his arms and all confusion flitted away, replaced by excitement. She was wet and eager to be filled.
He fitted her knees around his hips and ran his cock over her wet center, teasing her with each stroke over her clit. But he didn't penetrate her, and she wanted it badly. Ace kissed her breasts, teasing her nipples, and slid down her body to nibble at her belly, then worked his way up to her mouth. Their kiss was harsh, his possession of her mouth brutal. Gabby reveled in it, taking as much as she was giving. Their escape from danger made her want to grab on and not let go.
Once again he slid down her body, kissing and nibbling as he went. When he got to her pussy, he got kissing-close and breathed on her. The warmth excited her more and she moaned, running her hands through his hair, encouraging him to taste her. Instead, he knelt up and spread her knees apart more.
"You've got to learn to mind me, Gabriella," he told her, raising his hand to bring it straight down to smack her pussy.
She cried out. The pain was sharp, both from the shock of the blow and because it insulted her tender nerve endings. "Ow! Ace!"
He slapped her again, and she tried to draw her legs together, but he was kneeling between them. She squealed and protested with each spank, and there were plenty for her to complain about. Her quim was on fire, her clit engorged and throbbing. Gabby couldn't quite tell if she was more excited or more anguished. The combination was potent, and she knew she was getting wetter, despite the misery of her burning pussy.
She sobbed and begged, but he didn't relent until she was in tears and thrashing.
"You gonna mind me from now on?"
"Y-yes, sir! I promise. Please stop. Please!"
He humphed, then leaned over her, his upper arms bulging as he held himself up. The little medal he wore was cool against her hot breast. His cock slid over her again, and it both hurt
and felt tremendous. She moaned.
"I think you liked that too much," he told her. "Next time I'm gonna use my belt instead."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
His lips hovered over hers, tickling her with his moustache. "Kiss me."
She raised her head, having to work at it as he stayed close but out of reach. She groaned as her neck stretched, but as she thought she'd have to give up and relax back on the bed, he took her mouth with ravening force, pressing her down. She wrapped her arms around him, and squeezed him as hard as she could. She wanted him as close as close could be. If she could have crawled into his skin to be a part of his body, she would have.
"Please do it," she whispered as he pressed kisses over her face to her ear.
He licked her ear and she raised her hips off the bed, trying to press him into her.
Ace rolled, leaning on one arm as he reached for the nightstand. He offered her a wrapped condom. "Don't wanna forget this."
Although she wanted to feel him ungloved inside her, she wasn't foolish enough to risk becoming pregnant. She shuddered at the idea of ending up like her mother. It took her less than a minute to unwrap the latex sleeve and fit it over him. She took the opportunity to stroke his hardness, her heart beating faster with each touch. He was so ready for her. And she was most definitely ready for him.
"Good girl."
She wrapped her arms around him once again and whispered in his ear. "Do I get a reward?"
"You don't deserve one."
"No, but I'm bad in a good way."
He chuckled, poking inside her an inch. She tightened her legs around him and raised her hips, taking in another inch. Her pussy throbbed from the spanking and wept from desire.
He pressed himself a little deeper, teasing. "You ready?"
"Yes!"
Another inch. "You sure?"
"Oh God, Ace! You're killing me."
"Just checkin’."
She groaned and tried to press him into her with her hands on his butt. "More! Don't be mean to me."
"You scared the bejesus out of me tonight, li'l girl. Don't do it again."
"I won't! Oh, please!"
He slid in all the way and they both moaned. "Oh, yeah..." he whispered in her ear. He started pumping his hips, drawing out his strokes for a while, alternating his rhythm until she was mindless with the building pressure. Tension strained his body under her hands, as his strokes came faster and faster. Her hips were pressed hard into the soft bed as he pinned her there.
"Oh God, oh God, oh God!" It felt like her body burst. Like her soul parted from her and slowly came back. It was, by far, the greatest pleasure she'd ever had. His groan of satisfaction as he throbbed his release inside her, made her heart melt. For a moment, for a precious, precious moment, she belonged to him and he belonged to her.
Chapter 5
Ace watched Gabby pad into the bathroom, and the shower started to splash as he was on the phone with his father, Leo Journey. Leo was characteristically unaffected by the fact that Ace was going to have to stay in the area for another few days.
"Don't worry, son. Queenie has the Boot Camp covered, and I can handle the ranch. I will admit that I'm gettin' too old for this shit, but my retirement plan involves a pine box."
Ace laughed. "Q sounds kind of irritable about the new neighbor, Dad."
It was Leo's turn to chortle. "She'll manage. I like Mazie."
"Q thinks you hate him."
"That's because I let her think I do."
"You are a puzzle, Dad."
"When you find the missin' pieces, you let me know, 'k?"
He chuckled. His father had a fine sense of humor. Ace hoped he was a spry when he was nearing seventy.
"Son, did Trey call you? He and Liv are in New York for a few days. Got in last night."
"There was a message on my voicemail when I checked it this mornin'. I had the phone off while I talked to the police last night. I haven't listened to the message yet. What are they here for?"
"Some charity dress-up thing. Liv's foundation is getting' an award."
"Wow. That's great. I'll call him—"
"Ace!" Gabby called in a sing-song voice from the shower. "Come scrub my back, please? I promise you won't regret it."
Leo's ears were as good as ever. "Do I hear a woman, son?"
"Er...yeah. I need to go."
"I'll bet you do."
"The police said a couple more days ought to do it. I'll let you know my travel plans."
"Sure as shootin', son. Y'all have a good time scrubbin' that back."
Ace's face went hot, and he was mighty glad his father couldn't see through the phone. "Take care, Dad."
They rung off and Ace made his way into the shower. Gabby was there, rinsing shampoo out of her hair.
He gave her breasts a slippery squeeze and she wriggled. She was so beautiful with her long hair streaming over her shoulders, and her thick dark eyelashes shadowing her cheeks. He teased her nipples until she opened her eyes. Her look was dreamy, sexy as hell. He was hard as a rock.
Gabby ran her soapy hands down his torso and over his cock. "You brought me a present!"
"The family jewels."
She grinned. "I've always liked my jewels big and hard."
"Always?"
"Well...I use the term loosely."
He pulled her to him. Talking about any other man having her made his blood boil.
Her bottom was perfect for his hand and he held her in place while he rubbed himself against her belly. Her hands never left his rod; he might let her stop that, in about a million years.
Water sluiced down her side and over his arm as he turned her and started to caress her between the legs. She encouraged him with sighs and hums, and he took that as an invitation. Gabby was so slippery and ready, it took him two minutes or less to have her moaning and arching against his hand, coming sweetly to meet him.
Once she'd recovered, she slid down his body to her knees and took him in her mouth. The heat of her around him brought his senses higher and he guided her head in the rhythm he liked best. He felt like the king of the world while the pressure built. He had a beautiful woman at his feet, he was warm and comfortable, life's troubles were at bay for a time. And, damn, but it was good. She slid a soapy finger in his ass and he came hard, like a schoolboy with his first woman. It was a little embarrassing, but Gabby didn't seem to mind. When he'd recovered his breath, he helped her stand and wash off the soap and woman liquor between her legs.
He was mindful of her lack of sexual experience, but he had to ask. "Where'd you learn that trick with your finger? Did you do that with your ex-boyfriend?"
"With Jerry?"
Jerry. He might have to punch the guy out. It was good to know his name.
"You liked it, huh?" She smiled. "I read it in a book. I never did it before."
Ace tried not to be skeptical. "In a book."
She nodded, her face showing innocent pleasure. "A romance book."
Ah. He wondered if that's where other women he'd known had learned it. Maybe they all read the same book. Apparently, they were...descriptive. It didn't bear examining at the moment. "We need to get movin' along, sweetheart. I have to be at the police station in less than an hour."
"I need to get home to my mother. She's going to be so worried."
"You called her last night. She'll be fine. The aide was goin' to call for a relief person for this morning, right?"
"Yeah. But the expense—"
He smacked her on the rump and turned off the water. "We're not discussin' it. Out."
* * *
The police station was bustling when Ace arrived. Detective Cambridge kept him waiting for a few minutes, but apologized as he led Ace through a maze of offices and cubicles.
"Have a seat, Mr. Journey."
"Thanks." The chair was aluminum and plastic, reminding him of the chairs in Gabby's basement. That reminded him of spanking her there, and brought on a smile.
"Is something funny?"
"No." He schooled his face into something more appropriate.
"I have some mug shots here on the computer. Do you mind looking at them? We brought a guy in last night who fit the description of one of the perps you saw, so we're getting him into a lineup. That takes a while to get organized, so if you could look at the pictures while we're setting things up..."
"Yeah. I'd be glad to. I want those guys caught."
The detective indicated the swivel chair in front of the computer monitor. "Why don't you sit here?"
"Sure." Ace examined the pictures carefully and thought maybe he could identify one of the thugs. Maybe it was the one with the watch cap. He'd clocked the guy with a punch to the jaw, so he'd gotten a good look at him, but without the cap it was hard to be sure. The detective was happy to take it all down, however. Ace was dismissed to a waiting room until the lineup was ready for him.
While he was waiting, Ace pulled out his phone and listened to his voicemail. Trey had called to let him know they were going to be in town. His youngest brother had made the reasonable assumption that they were going to be missing each other, since Ace had been scheduled to fly out this afternoon, but when Ace called him, he seemed relieved to find him still in town.
"Save me from shoppin', brother."
Ace grinned. "Liv's got you carryin' packages, hm?"
"Worse. She's meetin' up with New York girlfriends and they're gonna have lunch and go shoppin'. Liv wants me to tag along, but damned if I'm gonna play rooster at a hen party."
"I hear ya. I have to deal with the police for a while longer, but how 'bout if I call you around lunchtime and we can find a baseball game on the tube at one of the bars around here?"
"Sounds like a plan. Good luck."
"Yeah. Thanks."
Ace waited almost an hour, and by the time they called him to come to the little dark booth with its one-way window, he was impatient and bored. Worse, none of the fellows lined up for his scrutiny looked like any of the guys from the night before. That suggested that he might have to do this again. He couldn't help but wonder why being a good Samaritan was so much hassle. It was little wonder that people were so hesitant to aid their fellow citizens.
Ace-High Flush Page 6