On Borrowed Time (Men of Honor book 3)

by Rhonda Lott

  She shrugged her shoulders as if it was nothing. Ace had the strangest feeling that this was the beginning of their fight. He and Alana would face hell fire before bringing Bates down.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ALANA

  Alana rested her weary body against the wall. Ace’s keys rattled as he unlocked and opened his apartment door. The police drove them home and he sat silent during the ride. Was he still suspicious of her? Of course he was. All women were liars in his eyes and Alana was at the top of the list, with the word suspect printed across her forehead in bold flashing letters. Alana shook off the disturbing thoughts, as he let her inside. She placed one foot over the threshold and froze.

  “Oh my God.” Alana groaned and slapped her hand over her mouth. Someone had trashed the apartment. His furnisher smashed to bits, anything that wasn’t destroyed was flipped over and tossed around. Ace’s flat screen was a shattered jigsaw puzzle across the hardwood floor. Papers, movie disc, and mail made up a carpet of litter.

  “Son of a bitch.” Ace yanked her back outside. “Stay right here. I’m going to check it out.”

  Alana grabbed Ace’s arm, shaking her head. “Ace, they might still be inside.”

  “Oh, I hope they are.” He growled. “Don’t come in until I say it’s safe.”

  Ace was in soldier mode, his face emotionless, eyes focused and alert. Even in his heightened state of awareness, he was still a protector.

  Alana paced in front of the door while Ace searched his apartment. She jumped at every clink and rustle coming from inside. The way her day was going she fully expected another trap, a shootout, maybe the whole damn building might explode. Ace was taking a long time inside. She remained extremely exposed pacing around outside the doorway. What if the people who ransacked his place were waiting and watching them?

  “You got that hair clip on you I hope?” Alana jumped at Ace’s sudden appearance. “They trashed the entire place searching for it.” He ushered her inside.

  “I keep it on me always.” Alana said, surveying the destruction. Ace’s once neat and tranquil space was a jumbled ripped apart mess. They even flipped over the fridge, its contents smashed and scattered all over the kitchen. Alana’s stomach dropped. He stood there just this morning cooking breakfast for her, so relaxed and peaceful in his kitchen. Tears stung her eyes. His oasis was now a disaster area.

  “God Ace, this is all my fault. Bates wasn’t only trying to find the flash drive. He was sending you a message.”

  “I know. Come over here.” Ace led her by the hand into his bedroom. On the wall was a portrait of Ace and his dad. Alana backed away. A bloodstained knife was stabbed in the area of Ace’s heart.

  “Ace. That’s the knife. That’s the knife that killed Rosa.” Alana stumbled back and sank down on the bed, heart galloping. She closed her eyes, praying to wake up from her nightmare life.

  Ace sat and lifted her onto his lap. He rocked her silently back and forth. Alana held the tears in because crying wouldn’t help her. She’d cried an ocean of them already and yet her troubles remained constant.

  “Alana we’ll be alright, I promise. Bates is a bully, with a badge. He believes he’s untouchable, but he’s wrong.” Ace caressed her back as he held her close.

  Gazing at his handsome face, etched with a multitude of different emotions, she let herself relax a little. It felt fabulous having someone on her side for once. Ace was a protector by nature. Daddy Jackson raised a good man.

  “What are we going to do now?”

  “We grab what we can. I have a place for us to stay.” Ace tilted her face up with a finger under her chin. Tension tightened his already hard body. Ace was on a rapid countdown to detonation. It showed through his smoldering brown gaze and the coiled tension of his muscles.

  Alana stood and pulled Ace up with her. She went up onto her toes and kissed him. In Ace’s kiss was fierce passion, frustration and dark emotion. His hands molded to her ass pressing her into the heat of his body. Alana gripped him tighter, reveling in the harshness of his kiss, the desperate need that passed between them. The moment she met Ace this sexual tension began to build in her, one hot degree at a time. With so much danger surrounding them, Alana wanted to crawl inside his arms and never come out. She wanted him, period. Did that make her a hoe? Oh well, if it did then she would be the hoe queen, because she was going to have Ace Jackson.

  Ace backed off the kiss. He brushed his fingers across her lips. “Damn it Alana, you drive me insane every time I touch you. We have to get out of here. It’s not safe to hang around.”

  Alana bit her bottom lip, the spicy sweet taste of him lingered there. Ace tossed some clothes into his backpack. Alana grabbed her huge purse carefully smoothing out and folding the two remaining outfits Dawn had given her to wear. It sucked not having anything of her own. Dawn was sweet to let her borrow some things, but they were snug on her. She remembered how this felt. When she was the thrown away child and had to wear whatever people gave her. Until Rosa and Ms. Kate became her family.

  “Hey, are you ready love?” Ace called from the bedroom door.

  Alana took him in. This gorgeous man, with the body of a gladiator and strikingly handsome face. He promised he would be there for her and keep her safe. Well, she wasn’t completely alone anymore, she had Ace. Love, he called her. If only that were true. Alana’s heart was heavy as she crunched through the shattered remains of Ace’s home. A woman like her didn’t become the love of men like Ace. Little nobodies from nowhere were fucked and forgotten. By some miracle, Ace was attracted to her. Would he be like all the others? Would he fuck her and forget her?

  ACE

  His old neighborhood melded in with the surrounding nature. Thick groves of trees separated individual homes. When he was a little boy, Ace imagined he lived in a cabin in a mystical forest. Dad chose this area of Atlanta because it was safe, close to the city and yet secluded from it. If a person didn’t know his precise location, they would have a hell of a time finding him.

  Ace glanced over at Alana as he turned off the main road and onto a side street with thick foliage on both sides. The trees curved overhead, giving the road the appearance of a green tunnel leading the traveler into another realm. Her hazel eyes stretched wide and twinkling in the fading sunlight. So adorable the way she fidgeted in her seat, head twisting this way and that way, taking in the unique surroundings with wonder and delight.

  “Ace it’s beautiful here. I can’t believe such a place exists within the city. To an intercity kid, this place seems magical.”

  “All part of the allure of Atlanta, Old southern charm inside a modern metropolis.”

  Ace pulled into his dad’s driveway. A huge oak tree stripped of its leaves, stood guard over the red brick structure that was his family home. He wasn’t emotionally able to live here, but he couldn’t sell it either. Too many joyful and painful memories lingered within. They had bought dinner from a fast food place, the both of them too tired to cook anything. Alana was out the truck, heading up the walkway, gazing longingly at the house. He chuckled to himself, she reminded him of himself long ago, engrossed in the magic of the place. They stepped inside, it was dark, cold and stale from being shut up for so long. Ace got busy flicking on the lights, turning the heat on, and depositing the food on the dining room table.

  “Hey, you want to shower first before we eat or just dig in?” Ace asked.

  “How many bedrooms do you have?”

  “Three.” Ace answered with a shrug.

  “Three bedrooms, huh. Can I sleep with you?”

  He stumbled to a stop, the question so unexpected and arousing, blood rushed to his dick. Ace spun around. Alana stood with one hip propped on the back of the sofa, head tilted. The day’s danger and turmoil had taken its toll on her, but in that moment, she was so damn sexy. Her mouthwatering curves filling out the black leather pants and her angelic face so full of uncertainty. His sexy fallen angel.

  Ace took a step towards her.

&nb
sp; Alana held up her hand. “Can we shower first?”

  He couldn’t form words because all the air had left his lungs. Alana, his wickedly tempting surprise. Maintaining eye contact, he stalked across the space separating them, lifted her up by the waist, and carried her to the bedroom.

  “Ace.” She gasped, voice warm against his neck.

  Her legs and arms circling him. She felt spectacular in his arms, pressed close where he could get his hands on her. She was hotter than Georgia red clay in July, and didn’t even know it.

  “Be careful what you ask for my firecracker. I’ve wanted you since….”

  “Since you hit me with your truck.”

  “No.” Ace stopped to open the bathroom door, placing her back on her feet in front of the shower. He turned on the water, then gazed down into those clear hazel eyes of hers. “Since the first time I heard your voice. When you called to meet with me. The sound of your voice intrigued me.”

  The master bath and shower were on the large side. He planned to use every square inch of it for their pleasure. Incapable of removing his hands from her sweet form, Ace trailed his palm down the front of her shirt, fingers grazing over the plump swells of her breast. He circled her nipples as they strained against the fabric, fighting to break free of their constraints. Alana moaned, pushing her breast into his caress.

  “I gotta see you.”

  He unbuttoned and unzipped every article of clothing that kept him from feasting his eyes on all her promised secrets. That body of hers, so lush and alluring, tempting him to rash and dangerous desires. In no time flat, she was standing gloriously nude in a pile of discarded clothes. Alana, his voluptuous tan goddess. Heavy, perfectly shaped breast capped with dusty brown nipples extended and begged to be licked, to be bitten, and sucked by him. Narrow waist emphasizing her full hips and her dark, neatly trimmed pussy. Ace felt his dick expand and throb in his jeans while every cell in his body craved her.

  “You’re beautiful, Alana.”

  “You don’t have to say that Ace. I’ve seen the pictures of you with your dates. Bates had you tailed for a while now. There is no comparing me to those women. Each one of them were beauties with model bodies. I’m nothing like that.”

  “Baby, I excel at telling a woman what she wants to hear. I’ve had plenty of practice. You’re not like those other women that’s true.” Ace pulled his shirt over his head, still focused on her face. “To me, you are more than beautiful, you’re a treasure. Your emotions are right there on that lovely face of yours and to me, that’s more alluring than all other women.”

  Alana had her arms folded across her chest, body shaking slightly. Ace dropped his jeans and her eyes traveled down, stopping at his cock. She drew in a small breath, placing her palm on his chest. Ace didn’t think he could get any harder, but he was so wrong. Her lips tugged up at the corners and that tiny diamond in her cheek twinkled. Fuck, he had to get his hands all over this woman. He simply had to.

  Ace opened the glass door and stepped under the hot spray of water. Alana remained outside watching him. For a second he thought she had changed her mind. Reaching out his hand to her, Ace tilted his head and waited.

  ALANA

  He was the picture of perfection with the water caressing down his beautiful brown, perfectly chiseled physique. Thick muscled pecs displayed tattoos of the numbers 13 on one and 07 on the other. He had abs, so well defined that she wanted to run her fingers over the deep grooves to make sure they were real. She had a hell of an imagination, but her most explicit fantasy didn’t come close to the man standing before her, beckoning her to come to him. Fucking Ace Jackson, the definition of male perfection, hers for the taking. Alana’s heart was pumping and her feet were rooted to the bathroom floor. How could a man as glorious as Ace desire her? The evidence of his attraction stood proud and pulsing between his thighs. This spectacular male was reaching out, inviting her into his arms. He wanted her just the way she was, all full figured and plain faced, unspectacular her. She wanted to jump for joy, do cartwheels and somersaults. Yes, because that would be so sexy, Alana.

  Slipping her fingers into Ace’s hand, she stepped into the shower. She slid her wet hands up his powerful shoulders to link them around his neck. Strong arms engulfed her, turning them so that the spray of water hit her back. With a devilish grin, he bent his head and captured her lips in a kiss that was ten times hotter than the water beating against her. Alana moaned into his mouth as his tongue danced across hers, wet and rich, causing pleasure to pool in the center of her, spiraling outward, sensitizing her skin. It was almost painful in its intensity, the raw electrifying attraction that coated them, gripped them in bands of rippling need. Strong, confident hands raked trails of fire down her back before anchoring onto her ass and bringing her flush against his bulging muscles. His erection thick and hard sandwiched between them, pulsing hot against her belly.

  “Damn girl, you taste so delicious.” Ace groaned.

  One of his long fingers trailed across her crease. Alana held on to him and rubbed her pussy against that teasing finger. Going down on one knee and lifting one of her thighs over his shoulder, he spread her wide for his private viewing. Gripping her ass, Ace ran his tongue across her lower lips, sliding through her over-sensitive flesh, finding her pulsing clit. His thumbs opened her up for his enjoyment, stroking and licking with his sinfully agile digit. His deep moans vibrated into her tender, throbbing nub, bringing tears to her eyes and ungodly groans and pants from her throat. Her orgasm churned deep in her core, raging forward, insistent, gnawing. Ace pushed two fingers inside her as his tongue abraded her clit mercilessly. The fury of her orgasm hit with electric force, pushing outward from her violently clasping pussy to shake her limbs and wring a rough unending scream from her that echoed off the walls of the shower. Her heart galloped, the madding thunder within her core continued to pulsate.

  Ace pushed to his feet with that wicked grin of his in place, he thoroughly washed her body with slow gentle strokes. Alana tried to reciprocate, but her arms were as useless as wilted vines. Ace only chuckled, rinsed them both then lifted her out the shower. He wrapped her in a towel, gave them both a quick dry job, then taking her by the hand led her to the bed.

  “Alana, you’re in charge from here on out. I’m yours to command tonight. Whatever you want, I do.” Ace told her, his eyes burning that sexy bright brown that held her entranced.

  “Really, why?”

  Ace removed her towel and sat on the edge of the bed. “Because, it can be deeply erotic to be controlled by your partner.” He gave her a wicked half grin. “And because, I got a feeling you’re got a sexy dominatrix hidden inside, just waiting to take charge.”

  Alana took him in for a second. He was a large man, riddled with tats and sexy as hell, sitting there waiting for her to take charge. A tingle spread through her. The vast number of things she pictured doing to him were endless.

  “Give me your dick Ace, right here on my tongue, then you don’t move a muscle. I’m going to suck that big dick of yours and if you as much as squirm, I’ll stop. Got it?” She said, sinking to her knees.

  His eyes went from warm brown to dark pinpoints of desire. “Fuck yeah.” He growled. “That’s what I’m talkin about.”

  Alana’s nipples pebbled, her pussy clenched. He fisted his straining shaft and stroked it across her lips. Alana opened and drew him inside. Ace groaned behind clenched teeth, his body remaining rigid on the bed as she slid her tongue around the head, then up and down the sides of his jutting cock.

  All of her focus was absorbed in pleasing him. She payed close attention, noting how he moaned when she scraped her teeth along his shaft, how he inhaled sharply when she sucked hard on the down stroke then twirled her tongue around his dickhead on the upstroke. As she took his thickness deep into her mouth. His muscles bunched and his jaw clamped down, but still he didn’t move. Alana enjoyed her power over him, desire clawing at her. Working on his throbbing member, she stretched her lips to take hi
m in. It was worth the effort, as his hissed curses and tormented groans increased in volume and filled the room. The flavor of spicy, salty male titillated her taste buds. He was delicious. His taste alone triggered a blazing need in the depths of her center.

  His hands had a death grip on the blankets, as he employed impossible control not to pump his hips to the rhythm of her manipulation. His cock hardened, a steel rod pulsing with life. Ace grunted her name as the first jets of his orgasm hit the back of her throat. She took him all in. Ace strained and arched off the bed as he emptied himself into her. Alana didn’t stop pulling at him until he had nothing left to give.

  “God babe, you… fuck…” Ace labored to breathe and talk.

  “Yeah, I know.” Alana laughed as she climbed into the bed. “But I’m still in control, so sit your sexy ass up against the headboard. We’re just getting started.”

  ACE

  He pulled himself up the bed. She cupped her pussy. She crawled up facing him. Alana allowed her thighs to fall open and the glistening petals of her sex were revealed to his hungry eyes. His cock jumped to attention. She had drained him dry and yet his dick was already pumping full of blood again as he took in the mesmerizing sight of her tracing the plump lips of her pussy. Moans of delight fell from her lips as the tempo of her strokes increased. Eyes glazed with excitement, shimmered brightly as she watched him pump his cock. Ace was torn, continue enjoying the sight of her masturbating or rip her hand away and plunge into the heaven that glistened and beckoned to him.

  “Now take hold of that impressive cock of yours Mr. Jackson. I want you to stroke it back to life, but keep your eyes on me.”

  That statement alone sent shockwaves of urgency straight to his cock. He shook his lust-dazed head, consumed with the sight of her. Alana was amazing, confident, daring in her demands. She held nothing back. No longer claiming that plain Jane persona. She was a goddess, leaning back on one arm, her breast taunt, nipples dusky pink and pebbled. As she stroked herself, little sighs and sexy soft moans escaped her lips, a fine sheen glistened her skin and the sweet smell of lavender filtered through the air. Ace breathed the scent in deep as he pumped his dick, matching her stroke for stroke.