Building Faith (Long Beach Series Book 2)

by Dani Matthews

  Zoey is silent for a moment as she studies me. “All I want is for you both to be happy, Faith,” she says quietly. “I'm just worried that you're going to get hurt.”

  “There's always the chance of being hurt when you love someone. But I think it's worth it, because if I don't try, I'll always wonder what could have been.”

  “You're right,” she agrees as her eyes soften slightly. “That was my biggest fear with Caleb, and somehow, it all turned out just fine.”

  “Look, I'm not blind to his reputation. There are going to be hurdles to overcome—there's been plenty to deal with already. In the end, it's all worth it, Zoey. He's worth it.”

  Once again, Zoey falls into a brief moment of silence before asking, “You're both serious about this?”

  “Are you dense? Isn't that what I've been saying?” I joke as I try to lighten the situation.

  She rolls her eyes at me. “You're like the little sister I never had.”

  “And you're like the older, nosy sister I never had.”

  Her teeth flash as she grins. “All right, I'm going to quit nagging you.” I watch as her expression sobers up. “I can tell you that Caleb is not going to like this,” she warns.

  All my humor evaporates. “Ace told me that he's warned him off me numerous times.”

  “No offense, Faith, but if I'm doubting you guys can make it work, Caleb is going to as well. It's worse for him, he's your cousin. You're family, not just a friend. He's not even comfortable with you 'supposedly' hooking up with Logan. When he finds out is was Ace all along...” She shakes her head, her eyes turning worried. “He's going to see this as Ace taking advantage of you. He's also going to be furious that Ace went behind his back.” She peers at me pleadingly. “Are you sure that this relationship is worth it?”

  I look at her solemnly. “It's the same thing I asked Ace when I realized that this could ruin his friendship with Caleb.”

  Zoey sucks in a breath and slowly exhales, her eyes grim. “If Ace is willing to sacrifice a friend for you, then I guess it's as real as it can get.”

  “Are you going to tell Caleb?” I ask tentatively.

  Her eyes widen and she shakes her head adamantly. “No way in hell. I am not getting in the middle of that. It's your guys' job to tell him. You better tell him soon, cuz if he finds out I knew and didn't tell him, my ass is going to be in trouble along with yours and Ace’s. Not to mention it'll be worse if he runs into Logan. He's worried that Logan's going to lead you on.”

  “We didn't want to tell him until our relationship was solid...”

  Zoey gives me a warning look. “Tell him soon. The longer it takes you to tell him, the worse the betrayal.” She reaches for her purse. “I have to book, or I'm going to be late for my next class.”

  We both rise to our feet, and I feel bad that my lies have put her in such a precarious situation. “I'm sorry, Zoey. We never wanted to cause any trouble.”

  “I know that, hon,” she says as she pulls me in for a quick hug. “You and I are fine, no worries,” she assures as she pulls back and digs her keys out of her purse.

  “What about you and Ace?” I have a bad feeling that Ace is going to be in big trouble with Zoey.

  Her expression instantly hardens as her eyes meet mine. “I'll let you know after I have a word with him.”

  The moment Zoey leaves the café and is out of sight, I yank my phone out of my pocket and quickly text, Zoey ran into Logan last night. Not good. She's headed your way.

  Ace's response is almost immediate. Shit.

  I tuck the phone in my pocket and sigh inwardly. If Zoey had been a bit hard on me, I can only imagine how much worse she'll be on Ace.

  Chapter Thirty

  Ace

  I've been on the lookout for Zoey since I received Faith's text message earlier. Each time I’ve had to walk across campus to a class, I've expected her to track me down, but I have yet to see her. By the time I have to leave for football practice, I figure I've dodged a bullet—for now.

  That relief is short lived when I spy Zoey leaning against the front of my Hummer, arms folded across her chest like she's ready to do some major ass whooping. She catches sight of me, and I swear I feel her eyes shooting daggers at me.

  No, not at me.

  At my dick.

  As I approach her, I see that's exactly where her gaze is focused. Her eyes lift to mine with a coolness flashing in them that I've always hated. I can handle it just fine when one of the guys are mad at me—which isn't very often. But Zoey's a different story because she's a woman. Guys get over shit faster and don't analyze the crap out of arguments. We also don't typically hold grudges. The woman leaning on my Hummer can hold a grudge for years if she so wishes, and her tongue is lethal when she's pissed.

  “You just couldn't keep it in your pants, could you?” she asks in a derisive tone.

  A couple of girls are walking by in the parking lot, and we draw their attention momentarily before they continue walking on. I set my backpack on the ground near the tire of my car and meet her accusing gaze. “I tried. I really did, Z. You know Faith's special, she's unlike anyone I've ever met—”

  “So you fucked her because you were bored and wanted a new piece of ass to nail,” she finishes off in a patronizing tone that puts me on edge more than I already am.

  My anger begins to rise, and I try real hard to control it. “She is not a piece of ass. And I didn't fuck her. She's not just a fuck,” I grit out.

  Zoey still doesn't move from where she's casually leaning on the bumper. “Oh, excuse me. Sorry, I meant you had sex with her.” Her lips tighten as she gazes at me. “You know her past, Ace. She's naïve and innocent as hell when it comes to the likes of you. Is that it? Did her innocence turn you on? Was it worth having her only to inevitably break her when you cast her aside?” she taunts.

  A low growl escapes me as I take a step towards her, my fists clenching at my sides as I try to figure out how to deal with the raving bitch before me. “It's her past that drew me to her in the first place,” I say in a low, level voice as I pause directly in front of her. “While you and Caleb coddled her and treated her like she would break, I got to know the real Faith. I began to care about her long before we ever began sleeping together. As for casting her aside, it's not ever going to happen. She's mine now. Mine. So help me Z, if you try to ruin what I've built with her, I will take you down while Caleb watches,” I threaten as every bone in my body tenses over the need to protect Faith and her place in my life. I don't want to lose friends over her, but I sure as fuck will if it's the only way I can have her.

  Zoey stares at me and hurt seeps into her expression. “So it's like that now? Faith's in and I'm out?”

  I know exactly what she's referring to. Zoey's always been the most important woman in my life. She's understood me like no one else has thanks to her own fucked up past. When Zoey began to break from her PTSD, I fought like hell to keep her on her feet. I was there and not once ever gave up. We have a bond, but now that Faith is in my life, it's Faith that has become the most important person in my life. She's the one I'll protect at any cost—even if I have to protect her from Zoey.

  I draw in a deep breath and calm down, my fists slowly relaxing at my sides. I look her in the eye and say, “You'll never be out, Z. If you ever got in trouble and needed me, I'd be there in a heartbeat. But Faith is now a part of my life, too. I have a good thing with her, and I'll protect her from the inevitable shit that's going to rain down on us thanks to my reputation. If protecting her means protecting her from you, then so be it,” I say with brutal honestly.

  Zoey watches me pensively before she nods. “I get it. You don't have to protect her from me, you know that, right? I already spoke with her, and I left on good terms.”

  “So you come here and unleash your anger on me instead?” I ask sardonically.

  “Would you rather have it the other way?”

  “No. Better me than her. Quit the games, Z. What's the real issue
here?” I'm not surprised she's annoyed with me for daring to even go after someone like Faith—someone she clearly cares about. Yet, I feel there's more to this conversation. Zoey's fired up and emotional right now, and I haven't seen her like this in a long time.

  Her brown eyes fill with tears, and it's like a kick to my gut. Tears are something I'm not usually equipped to handle. Normally, I beat a hasty retreat when a girl's about to cry, but instead I make a move to reach for her. Zoey puts a hand up, warning me off. “Don't you dare. I'm not crying,” she denies flatly.

  I put my hands up in surrender, thankful that she's pulling herself together. “Talk to me,” I coax.

  She gives me a sad smile. “Caleb's talked about you a lot lately since Faith came to town. He thinks of her as a little sister, and he's got it in his head that you'll break her permanently if you ever make a move on her. He won't forgive you for this, Ace. He sees you as someone who would overpower Faith and turn her into the girl she was when she dated Justin. He feels that with you, she'd lose herself completely, and then when you're finished with her, she'll be worse off than she was before. Did you know that he was there at the hospital after the attack?”

  “I know,” I say quietly as I run a hand through my hair.

  “He saw her broken once, and he doesn't want to witness it again. Like it or not, you have dominance written all over you.” Her lips tighten. “Have you tied her up yet?”

  Everything inside me goes still. I'm so fucking confused. After my conversation with Faith this morning, I've been thinking about it all damned day. The fact that she clearly wants it has me wanting it so bad that I can't hardly think straight. I've always considered Faith too innocent and sweet to handle that side of me. I've been scared to death of dirtying her up or scaring her. The more she pushes me to talk about it though, the more I'm having to admit to myself that it's something I enjoy. Hell, it turns me on like nothing else does. Just the thought of Faith spread-eagle and helpless while I love her body like it should be has me going hard. Her words keep floating around in my head. Ace, do you think I'd let just anyone tie me to a bed? I'm trusting you with my body, with all of me. She wants it to be all about trust, not distrust. And damned if I don't believe her. Can we really turn something that I've turned into a sick necessity into something that I can enjoy with someone I care about?

  I look at Zoey, realizing that I've put off answering her long enough. “No, not yet.” And there you fucking go. I'd said yet. I don't plan on touching her until I do that research she urged me to do. Then, if she's correct about everything she'd said, I'm going to give her what she wants and see how she handles it. She's extremely responsive when she's with me, so if she's not responsive enough, I'll know how she really feels about it. And if she goes up in flames while I'm lovin' that little body, then perhaps we can find a compromise where using restraints is concerned. I meant it when I told her I don't want our relationship to be defined by it. It also blows me away that she cares enough about me to want to know all of me, even the dark parts.

  “She's naturally submissive,” Zoey says grimly. “If it were anyone else, I wouldn't care. But Faith's past...”

  “I know.” I rub the nape of my neck, trying to figure out the shit that's rolling around in my head. “Her past has held me back a lot where she's concerned. There's a huge difference between me and her ex, though. I have no urge to control her outside of the bedroom. As for behind closed doors, I think it excites her,” I say slowly. “She's uncomfortable until I give her direction or tell her what to do. Maybe that's why we fit together so perfectly. She's a natural submissive to my dominant needs—but only sexually. Just the thought of Faith reverting back to the way she had been when she first arrived here makes me sick to my stomach.”

  Zoey rubs her temples as she thinks over what I'd just said. “I knew that when you eventually found someone, she'd have to accept your preferences when it comes to sex. It just scares me that it's Faith who seems to be the one you need.” She swallows hard and looks sad as her hands drop to her lap. “Caleb won't understand any of this, you know that, right? I didn't either until just now, but he'll never be open minded enough where your needs are concerned. He's going to see it as Faith being controlled again—which is what hurt her so badly in the first place. Caleb's going to cut you out of his life, and in turn, mine.” She shakes her head, eyes welling up with tears again. “Whether I continue seeing you or not, it'll put a strain on our relationship. I love you all. You're all my family, and I don't want to see it broken. It's the only thing that's saved my life in the past few years. Without any of you...”

  Without a word, I walk over and pull her up and into my arms, hugging her tightly. “You do what you gotta do to keep things alright between you and Caleb. You need him more than you need me,” I tell her as I run a hand through her hair.

  “But I want both of you,” she says, her voice muffled by my shoulder.

  “But I can't slay your demons for you like he can. He's the one that needs to come first.”

  She sniffles. “Have you... Does Faith know about your past?” she asks cautiously.

  “Yeah,” I say softly. “She knows, and she makes it better. I feel different with her.”

  She pulls back and looks up at me with watery eyes, a smile wavering on her lips. “Then don't let her go. Fight for her, and I'll try to reign Caleb in the best I can. He's always been so laid-back, but I've seen a difference in him when it comes to Faith. He's all protective, almost as if he considers you a danger to her in some way.”

  I can't help but frown. “I've also noticed that.”

  She sighs. “Do me a favor? Give me a heads up before you tell him so that I can prepare for the world to go to shit?”

  “I'll let you know.”

  She nods, then gives me a squinty look that I can't decipher. “This is not my business, but if you're going to introduce Faith to your kind of kink, you'd better do it slowly and be gentle.” Her eyes narrow with warning. “Don't think Bev hasn't told me some of the stories of what you've done to her, and I know Faith isn't ready for something like that.”

  I think of Faith's admission about some dirty fantasies that I have yet to learn about. I'm beginning to think that Faith's got a naughty side to her that's never had a chance to develop thanks to that dick of an ex. I look forward to unearthing everything she's hiding or too scared to admit. I want to get to the point where there is absolutely no secrets between us.

  Nothing.

  I want it to be just her and me and nothing in between.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Faith

  I slowly wake up and yawn as I stretch my body out slightly, my knee brushing one of Ace's legs. My eyes open, and I turn my head to peer at him. I find that he's lying on his side beside me, his head propped up on his hand as he gazes down at me.

  “Morning,” I murmur with a smile.

  His eyes slowly roam over my face and the corner of his lip quirks up slightly in his usual half smile. “Morning.”

  It's Saturday, and I don't have to be to work until ten, so this is one of those few mornings where we don't have to rush around. “What are you going to do today?” I ask as I admire how sexily rumpled he looks. Ace is spending most of his nights here with me. We've been lucky so far that we haven't been caught. Every morning there's the chance that Caleb might be leaving his apartment when Ace is sneaking back to his own.

  He shrugs his bare shoulder. “I'll probably hit the gym, run some errands. If Jeremy's not working, I'll probably hang with him. I haven't seen him around lately since I spend most of my time here.”

  Daisy picks that moment to uncurl herself from my left hip and stretch. When she's done, she simply walks across my body to stand on my chest while I wince slightly. I'm naked but for the sheet, so her little kitten claws are like tiny little needles. “Hey, baby,” I coo as I grab her and cuddle her close.

  Ace snorts with disapproval. “I can't believe you let her sleep with us.”

&nbs
p; “She's not that bad and she’s harmless,” I say with a laugh.

  He gives me a look. “Really? Because I distinctly remember being balls deep in you last night and looking down to find that we had an audience. Total mood kill.”

  A giggle escapes me as I remember waking up to Ace's mouth on my lips, his hands running over my body. I'd been more than willing for another round of sex. Ace had indeed been muttering under his breath as he was thrusting into me from behind, but I'd been too caught up in what he was doing to my body to care much about what he was saying. “If she'd killed the mood, I don't think we would have finished having sex,” I point out as I set Daisy aside.

  Ace's eyes turn oddly serious as he gazes down at me. “Faith? Is there something going on that I should know about?”

  I'm taken aback by the sudden change of topic, and I stare up at him with surprise. “Why do you ask?”

  “You were whimpering in your sleep last night. I was going to wake you up, but the minute I pulled you close and said your name, you settled down immediately.” His eyes are troubled as he searches my face. “You said you don't have nightmares too often, so why now are you having them almost nightly?”

  I feel horrible lying, but I still have no intention of telling Ace about Oliver yet. I just want things to be calm between us, especially after our conversation yesterday morning and our confrontations with Zoey. Ace hadn't said too much about what Zoey had said to him, but he had assured me that Zoey won't say anything. He also warned me that we're going to have to tell Caleb soon. Now that Zoey knows, it puts her in the line of fire if Caleb reacts badly to the news.

  “I don't remember having one,” I murmur in response to his inquiry about my nightmare. “Maybe I have them more often than I thought, but I don't remember them in the morning.” I guess in a way that could be possible, so it's the semi-truth. Some people remember their dreams and some don't. I usually have no recollection of what I dream unless it's one of the bad nightmares that I'd had repeatedly after the attack. Those are impossible to forget.