Building Faith (Long Beach Series Book 2)

by Dani Matthews

  “Can I make you come, Faith?”

  I nod with anticipation, but then doubt as I look around the bathroom. “Here?”

  He gives me a lascivious smile. “Fuck, yeah. I want you to watch what I do to this little body. I want you to see how much it turns me on.”

  “Oh.”

  He chuckles lowly. “Yes, oh.” His eyes narrow on my own as his thumbs begin to work over the pert, little tips of my breasts.

  Pleasure shoots straight to my core, and I gasp. It feels amazing, and my breath quickens as he determinedly rolls my nipples in circles with his thumbs. I can feel my body tensing and going on high alert as I lean into him slightly while I enjoy his ministrations.

  In the past, Justin had played with my breasts, but it certainly hadn't turned me on as much as Ace's touch does. My head tilts back to rest on his shoulder as my eyes grow heavy-lidded. I feel his index fingers join his thumbs, and now he's rolling both sensitive tips between his fingers. My lower body squirms restlessly, and I moan as the pleasure intensifies. I want more. It feels so good...

  “I'm going to touch you, Faith. I'll keep my hand over your panties, okay?” I hear Ace breath in my ear.

  I'm beyond talking, so I nod as my head lifts so I can watch as one of his hands leaves my breasts and slowly trails downward and over my stomach. He expertly unsnaps my shorts, and I watch as he pulls them down so that they crumple at my feet. I nudge them aside with a toe as his tanned hand skims over my lower belly and then down over my pubic bone. It settles between my legs, and I wonder if he can feel how wet my panties are.

  “Still okay?”

  I tear my eyes from his hand over my white panties to meet his gaze in the mirror. He's watching intently to make sure I am fine with continuing on. I nod.

  “Part your legs more.”

  I do as he asks, feeling shy, but I'm riding on a rush of arousal, so I'm more than willing to comply with what he wants. My eyes drop to watch his hand.

  His fingers move against me as if searching for something, and it feels really good. Ace suddenly groans. “You're fucking soaked.” His hips arch into my back, and he rubs his erection against me. I can't help but let out a soft moan as I realize he's as turned on as I am. His finger finds my sensitive little bud between my folds, and he begins to rub in rhythmic circles over it.

  I'm gone in an instant.

  I'm barely aware of the whimpers that escape my parted lips as I lean my full weight against Ace's bare chest. My head drops back, eyes closing as I give myself up to the feel of his finger working over me. My hips begin to rhythmically thrust in time to his touch. All my earlier modesty has fallen away as I accept the pleasure he's giving me.

  “Yeah, that's it, Angel,” he growls in my ear as he begins to fondle my left breast with his free hand.

  I'm panting now, and everything he does to my nipple sends heat down to my core, causing my body to wind up tighter. I thrust against his finger harder, and he rubs that sensitive bud in faster circles. My body tenses and tingles, and I feel like I'm so close to the edge of something...

  My lower body suddenly explodes in a fiery mass of intense sensations, and I cry out as I savor the exquisiteness of it until eventually, I slowly come down from it. After I draw in a couple of much needed breaths, I realize Ace's hand is still cupping me between my legs, and I wonder if he can feel the little aftershocks that still rock my inner muscles down there.

  My eyes slowly open up, and I lift my head from Ace's shoulder to meet his gaze in the mirror. The expression on his face is one of complete masculine satisfaction. “Now, you know you've had an orgasm.”

  I flush slightly as I remember how I'd lost myself to the feel of that wondrous build of sensations, my hips greedily grinding against his hand in search of the release I'd needed. I feel suddenly embarrassed, and my eyes drop while my teeth sink into my lower lip. He'd just watched me fall apart in his arms. Oh my God. I can't believe I did that. That we did that.

  Screams come from the living room's surround sound down the hall, startling me. Reality hits me in the face like a cement truck. What have we done? I feel Ace's hand slowly drop from my between my legs, and his other hand leaves my breast. I swallow hard and dare to glance up at him.

  The expression on his face mirrors my own. Reality has just closed in around him. He looks shocked, and I swear a hint of fear flickers in his gaze before his entire face shuts down. He backs away from me, and I instantly feel abandoned.

  I know he regrets this moment almost as much as I do, and I can't stand to look at him anymore as I avert my gaze. I don't regret that he'd shown me what my body could do, but I do regret that it may very well spell the end of our friendship. I quickly bend down and grab my shorts off the floor. I yank them on, desperate to get away from him as fast as I can.

  Ace clears his throat awkwardly. “Faith...”

  “It's late. I have to check up on Daisy,” I say in a mumbled rush as I avoid all eye contact with him. I grab my bra off the floor and cross my arms over my breasts as I move around him to hurry into the living room. The movie is still playing, and I quickly grab my shirt and yank it on over my breasts before I crumple my bra in my fist.

  I glance towards the hallway and see that Ace is standing there as still as can be. Thanks to the shadows, I can't see his expression, which means he can't see mine, either. I swallow hard and manage to say, “Good night, Ace. See you later,” before I rush from his apartment.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ace

  I stand frozen near the hallway as I watch the door shut with a finality that has my chest aching. She just left, and all I could do was stand here and watch her go. Screams come from the TV's surround sound, finally pushing me into motion.

  I walk over to the coffee table and pick up the remote, stopping the movie. I can't help but hurl the remote across the room as hard as I can out of frustration. It cracks loudly as it connects with the wall before dropping to the floor. The silence in the apartment is now deafening.

  There's a part of me that wants to rush off to Faith's, but instead, I let my head drop forward as I run my hands through my hair.

  What the hell have I done?

  I thought I had the attraction under control. It's been a little easier to control the past few weeks as I've gotten to know Faith more, and it's not just sex that's on my mind when I'm around her these days. I find myself enjoying our conversations. She's so easy to be around, and I'm fully aware that I've been developing strong feelings for her. I'm not the type that hovers near my phone constantly in hopes of hearing from someone. I don't fucking wake up with the same woman on my mind, and I certainly don't go to bed wondering what she's dreaming.

  Hell, I've been alone in my bed for weeks because of her. The last woman I had sex with was the night I met Faith, and I'd needed to relieve the boner I'd been sportin' that entire evening. Not only have I been passing up sex, but I've been working hard to gain Faith's trust. Then there's this thing with her ex, and it just eats the ever livin' shit out of me. I've never asked about anyone's ex-boyfriends before, and I certainly haven't imagined the ex's face in place of the punching bag at the gym. If he wasn't rotting in prison, I'd probably track his ass down and kill him for what he's done to Faith. The fact that he messed with her head and would let her think so negatively about herself is what really gets to me.

  “Fuck.”

  I walk over to the couch and drop down onto it as I rub my face warily. I had everything under control until I stupidly retaliated tonight with that damned tickling. There hadn't been an ulterior motive when I'd made the move, but the second Faith betrayed her attraction to me, I'd felt my restraint crumbling. It was right there, clear as day on her face that she wanted me to kiss her. One look is all it took, and I pussied out and went for it.

  If only I could have ended things when she got skittish about her tits. I should have, but that's not how I roll. There's no way I would have let her out of the apartment thinking that her tits are unattractive
because they happen to be small. I'd wanted to show her just how sexy they are. I like how they're small and pert, with nipples that are just begging for attention. I had to prove to her how much they drive me crazy.

  My fucking dick took over tonight, and I was thinking with the wrong head. I should have stopped with her tits—I fucking knew better. But nooo, I had to go further, because I want to be the memory she has when she remembers her first orgasm. That arrogant asshole inside me wanted to make sure she never forgets who woke her body up to pleasure.

  I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees while I let my head fall forward. I stare moodily at the living room carpet. The best thing I can do is give Faith some time to sort out her feelings. I know enough about the opposite sex to know they think and overanalyze every goddamned thing. I've also been around Zoey and Caleb enough to know that if I push Faith into a conversation she's not ready for, things might get said that can't be taken back. Caleb's learned not to push Zoey until she can make sense of her thoughts since that is one female that'll cut you down with that tongue of hers if she's pissed. I've been on the receiving end of it more times than I care to count.

  I know Faith is about as opposite of Zoey as one can get. But yet, I can't ignore what my gut is telling me. If I haul ass over there and try to talk with her, she's going to be on the defensive and likely blurt out stuff when she hasn't had the chance to pull herself together.

  If we're going to salvage this mess I've made and remain friends, I need to make sure that we both have time to think over what happened, so we can remain level-headed during our next conversation.

  My eyes shut, and I let out a deep, heartfelt groan. I know there's a chance I lost her tonight. I'd realized it the second she'd gotten embarrassed as reality had set in. We've crossed a line that's going to be damned difficult to put behind us.

  It's always going to be there.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Faith

  It's been two days since I left Ace's apartment after the bathroom incident. Two very long days of checking my phone every chance I get. Every time I see no new messages from him, my heart aches a little more than it did before.

  I still can't believe it even happened in the first place. I never thought that Ace would want to be intimate with me in any way. I mean, I know he thinks I'm attractive, but I think most guys find a lot of girls attractive. One can look and appreciate all they want. I'm guilty of it myself with Logan. I'd admired how cute he was, and I had certainly enjoyed looking at him. I just figured Ace's obvious attraction was harmless. I might be crushing on him pretty bad, but I assumed those thoughts had probably never crossed his mind.

  My body warms as I remember the things he'd said in my ear. The knowledge that he has thought of me in those ways has me utterly floored. Someone as hot as Ace Wellington finds me sexy. Unbelievable.

  As much as I'm thrilled to know this, I'd give anything to turn back time. Even if that means never experiencing what he'd given me in his bathroom. If our friendship ends because of it, I'm going to be crushed.

  I feel the sting of tears behind my eyes as I gaze blindly at the book I'm pretending to read in the empty book shop. It's slow today, so I'm in the back reading on my break since I'm not hungry. I blink back my tears and sniffle slightly.

  “Faith? Hon, what's wrong?”

  I'm so startled that the book falls out of my hands and hits my knee before falling to the hardwood floor. I look up to find Zoey standing above me, frowning. When did she arrive? I didn't even hear her.

  Zoey gracefully bends down and picks up the book. She holds it out to me, her brown eyes scanning mine. “Were you crying?”

  “Um, no. I think I'm developing a cold. My nose has been running all day,” I lie as I take the book from her hands.

  Going by her expression, she doesn't believe me. She turns and grabs the other plush chair and drags it over near mine. She sits down, adjusting her skirt over her thighs. “Okay, spill. It's just us girls, and I promise not to share.”

  I look down at the murder mystery I'd been reading and debate whether to tell her or not. She's a close friend of Ace's, so she might have an idea where his head is at.

  No, I can't.

  She's warned me not to fall for Ace multiple times. Her warnings echo in my head, and I find myself wondering if maybe Ace had pitied me. Is that what the incident in the bathroom had been about? He'd wanted to prove to me I'm sexy, but had his heart been behind it or was he just enjoying the physical closeness of being around a nearly naked woman?

  Tears burn my eyes again, and I blink them back in hopes that Zoey doesn't notice.

  “Aw, honey. I figured something was up when you turned down our invitation last night to hang. You sounded bummed over the phone. What did you do this weekend? Did you go out with Logan again? I'm telling you right now, if Logan hurt you in any way, I'm going to chop off his dick and feed it to him until he gags,” Zoey announces with a hint of relish in her tone.

  Good Lord. I look up at her and immediately shake my head, wanting to save Logan from Zoey's wrath. “I haven't seen Logan since our date. He hasn't called me,” I insist as I wonder how often Caleb fears for his manly bits when they argue.

  Zoey shakes her head. “All he's good for is sex. If he calls you, screw him, then forget about him. He's a lot like Ace and Jeremy. All he wants is ass. Now, tell my why you're crying if this has nothing to do with Logan.”

  “I'm just feeling emotional today.”

  “Oh...Aunt Flo's visiting, huh?” she asks with a sympathetic look.

  “Aunt Flo? Oh! Yes, I took some Midol earlier, and I'm still waiting for it to kick in,” I say as I grab on to the excuse.

  “You should go on the shot.”

  “What shot?”

  “Depo. Love that stuff. I don't get my period at all anymore.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, you should look into it.”

  “Maybe I will.”

  “You want to hang tonight? Maybe rent a movie and pig out on ice cream? Caleb works at the center tonight, so I'm on my own,” she offers.

  Just the idea of watching a rented movie has me thinking of Ace. I think I'd rather be alone tonight. “I'm just going to curl up with a good book for a while and then go to bed early,” I tell her lightly.

  Zoey looks disappointed until she brightens. “Okay. I guess I can probably get Ace to go out with me. I haven't seen him much lately, so it'd be nice to catch up.”

  Just the mention of Ace's name has my chest tightening. I wish there was someone I could talk to. Ace is avoiding me, and I'm too scared to make the first move. If only I could get some advice from a guy's perspective. Unfortunately, Caleb's the only other guy I'd be willing to go to for advice, and I'd likely go to him if it weren't for the fact that Ace is friends with him as well. If I went to Caleb, I'd run the risk of him going to Ace about what I said, which might make things worse.

  * * *

  I can't believe I'm calling my brother for advice on Ace. I'd come home from my shift, and the idea started rolling around in my head as I'd made myself dinner. Going to Ben for relationship advice is definitely a first for me. I never talked to him about my issues with Justin. Of course, when I was dating Justin, Ben wasn't even living at home. He'd been at college and had his own life to live at the time.

  The phone rings on the other end, and I wait patiently for someone to pick up.

  “Hey Faith,” my brother greets after the third ring.

  I smile at the sound of his voice. Since Justin's attack, we've grown closer. I settle on the sofa and watch Daisy play with the catnip mouse on the floor. “Hi. How's Della?”

  “She's doing well. I think if she gets any bigger she's going to throw a tantrum and pull all her hair out. Every time they weigh her at her appointments, I end up making numerous runs to the grocery store for comfort food. Which doesn't really help the weight issue, if you ask me,” he adds in a low whisper.

  I burst out laughing, and it scares
Daisy so bad that she runs off down the hall and out of sight. “Don't you dare tell her that,” I warn.

  Ben snorts. “You think I'm stupid? I value my life.”

  “Any names yet?” I ask hopefully.

  “No.”

  “I'm sure you'll figure something out, preferably before the baby is born,” I tease.

  “I've already got mom breathing down my neck, I don't need my little sister nagging me, too,” he grumbles.

  “Duly noted,” I say lightly.

  “You don't have anything to worry about. He hasn't gone anywhere,” Ben says quietly.

  “Who?” I ask before I realize I'd completely forgotten about Oliver. For a brief second, I'm stunned. I've completely pushed Oliver out of my head since I started spending time with Ace.

  There's a surprised silence on the other end of the line. “What have you been doing that's made you forget why you're there in the first place?” my brother asks suspiciously.

  I sigh inwardly. This is not how I wanted to start this conversation. “I've been a little distracted lately,” I admit cautiously.

  “What else are you doing out there besides getting tattoos? Do I have to start checking in with Caleb to see what you're up to?”

  “No! Ben, I'm not doing anything wrong. I just...need some advice.”

  There's another long pause on the other end of the line. “Advice on what?”

  I realize Ben might go to Caleb about my call, and now I'm beginning to regret calling him in the first place.

  “Faith?”

  It's too late to back track. “This stays between you and me, right?” I ask, needing confirmation that he won't hang up and call Caleb as soon as we're finished with our conversation.

  “What? This conversation? Now I'm getting worried, Faith. What kind of advice do you need?”

  “The kind that should stay just between you and me. I don't want you to share any of this with Caleb.”