by Lucia Grace
And I don’t want to escape her. I want Ace. I’ve always wanted her, even when I let my past dictate every fucking move I made. But my want for her since we slept together, and my need to make her mine since the attack, has multiplied tenfold. My past be damned.
But making that happen is proving to be harder than I thought.
I thought once I got her in my space, and pulled out my charm, that she’d be putty in my hands. Fuck was I wrong.
She does nothing but avoid me. Every day. Every night.
She barely speaks to me.
She barely acknowledges me.
She barely looks at me when I speak to her.
For an entire week.
And it’s fucking killing me.
Want to know what else is killing me? Watching her walk around in her tiny as fuck sleep shorts and tight as fuck tank tops. Or when she wears those tight as fuck yoga pants with the loose fitting sweater that hangs from one shoulder, revealing a creamy shoulder.
A bare creamy shoulder.
Meaning—no—bra.
I groan at that thought and adjust my throbbing cock that has been as hard as stone ever since I walked her through the front door last week. I have a perpetual hard-on like some punk ass teenager and it’s driving me fucking nuts.
Running my hands over my face, I stand from the couch bound and determined to do something to change her mind about me. I fucked up after Em and Kayson’s wedding. And I don’t mean by sleeping with Ace. No. Sleeping with Ace, feeling her soft curves against my hard ridges, hearing her moans, tasting every inch of her skin, there could never be anything wrong with that.
It’s after. How I reacted. How I treated her. Then how I spent the following weeks avoiding her, like she’s avoiding me now.
But no fucking more.
I’m trying to let her heal, recover. I’m trying to give her space because I know pushing her will have the opposite effect. But fuck, patience has never been my virtue.
Standing from the couch, I turn off the TV and toss the remote onto the coffee table in front of me before walking down the hall to Ace’s room.
I knock on her bedroom door before calling out her name. “Ace, you in there?”
Smooth, asshole, where else would she be?
I have got to get a fucking grip.
I clear my throat and try again when she doesn’t reply. Knock, knock, knock. “Ace? You interested in grabbing some dinner?”
Still nothing.
Thinking the fucking worst, I don’t even think and open the door, walking right in. And I wish I fucking didn’t, only because I know I’m going to get a ration of shit for this. But it’s worth it. It’ll definitely be worth it.
Because out limps Ace from the bathroom door. Steam billowing out from behind her. Tight gray towel wrapped around her, just big enough to cover her perfect tits, pretty pussy, and round ass.
“Ahhh!” she screams. Her hand holding the towel to her hair to dry it, pausing midmotion, while the other goes to her chest to secure the knot already in place.
And I should probably attempt to cover my eyes or turn around, but I can’t look away. Not when she’s looking like every guy’s wet fucking dream right in front of me.
“Damon, what the hell?” she yells.
“Shit. Fuck. I’m sorry. I tried knocking and when you didn’t answer I thought—”
“That it gave you the right to just barge in here?” She huffs and tosses the towel she was using to dry her hair down into the hamper beside her before crossing her arms over her chest.
Her long, dark hair is in wet disarray around her face. Her cheeks and neck are flushed a delicious pink. Her arms and legs have a light sheen of moisture still clinging to them.
I was going to try and explain myself, but looking at her like this has me so fucking lost. I don’t ever want to be found.
Fuck.
“Did you need something?” Her tone does nothing to hide her annoyance at my intrusion.
I blink hard, bringing my thoughts from the gutter, and look into her deep brown eyes. “I was wondering if you wanted to grab some dinner.”
“Oh.” She clears her throat and fidgets a bit before limping over to sit on the side of the bed. Tugging down the edge of the towel resting against her thighs to keep from giving me a show.
One I’d pay my whole fucking salary for the next ten years to see.
I look at her, waiting on her answer. Hoping to fuck she’ll accept this time, but knowing she most likely won’t.
She shakes her head and my heart bottoms out. “I’m good.” Squaring her shoulders, she looks up at me. “Thanks though.”
“Ace…”
“I said I’m good, Damon. And next time, try knocking a little harder.” She turns her back on me. Dismissing me.
Well, fuck, that plan backfired.
I turn without saying another word and shut her door behind me. Heaving a deep breath, I collect my thoughts and adjust my dick before walking back down the hall.
She may be able to hide from me now, but her time is running out, right along with my patience.
Damon walks through the door before I’m able to make it out of the living room and into the spare room I’ve been staying in the past two weeks. I’ve been avoiding him as best I can. Especially since he barged into my room the other day and almost saw my lady bits after my shower.
I don’t really even know why I am here anymore. At first it was because he made me stay. Even after my parents got home almost a week ago from their month long cruise, Damon insisted—more like demanded—that I remain at his place. He said it made more sense. I already had my stuff at his place, I was already settled, and he said so. I rolled my eyes at the last part, but of course conceded. As much as I didn’t want to be here out of spite, I wanted to be here even more.
It didn’t help that my parents agreed with him. As much as they wanted to be the ones taking care of me, they knew they’d be busy running the café and their house wasn’t really equipped for my recovery. The two-story cape-styled house had stairs all over the place and no spare room downstairs for me to take. I tried to say that I’d take the living room, but my parents didn’t think that was a good idea.
Neither did Damon.
So here I stayed.
I know it seems ridiculous, especially since all that has happened and all the time that has gone by since that night, but I just can’t bring myself to relax around him. Because if I do, then I know I’ll fall right back into this web of charm and intensity all over again. And that’s something I can’t allow myself to do. I can’t get my heart hurt by him again. I just can’t.
I’m standing there awkwardly, between the living room and hallway that leads to my room, busted during my getaway, while Damon just looks at me. A look crosses over his face that has me hobbling back the way I came. Initiating the conversation for the first time since I started staying here. “What’s wrong?”
He swallows harshly before speaking. His hands clenched at his sides. “Why don’t we go sit down?” He nods toward the living room. Posing his demand as a question. But he isn’t fooling me; it’s still a demand.
“I’ve been sitting here all day like a prisoner since you won’t let me leave. So if it’s all right with you, I’d rather just stand and you tell me here.” I cross my arms over my chest to punctuate my response.
He huffs a deep breath, like he’s trying to center himself. “Tracey, go sit your little ass down before I sit you there myself.” I just keep looking at him. “Please.” He stresses through clenched teeth.
Well then. The only thing that has me spinning around as best I can with one booted foot and making my way into the living room to sit my ‘little ass down’ is the fact that he called me ‘Tracey’, which means he means business. And he said please.
Sitting, I look up at him and give him a well-aren’t-you-going-to-sit look.
He sits. Right next to me.
Then he turns to me, bumping his muscled thigh into my kne
e. Blowing out another breath.
What the hell is going on?
“Okay, you’re really starting to freak me out now. What’s going on, Damon?”
“Wilkes had court today.” My anxiety spikes at the mention of Teddy’s name. I knew the day was coming when he would have to face a judge. I didn’t want to be there to relive what had happened, or to see Teddy’s face again if I didn’t have to, so Damon made it so I wouldn’t have to be there.
“Okay…”
“The judge released him on bail.”
My heart starts to jackhammer in my chest. That means… “Teddy’s free?” My hands begin shaking. The rest of my body follows. I’ve been handling my recovery well. Barely had any nightmares of the attack. I thought I was over it, that I was stronger than this. Stronger than what he did to me. I guess I was wrong.
“Hey, hey.” Damon soothes, grabbing my balled-up hands into his. His touch soothing my frantic nerves and heart. “It’s okay. You’re okay. I will not let anything happen to you. Do you hear me, Ace? Nothing. He won’t get near you. He won’t touch you.”
I thought Damon’s pigheaded demand that I remain imprisoned at his house was nonsense before. But now, I couldn’t be more thankful. I know without a doubt, despite everything that’s happened between Damon and me recently, that he will always keep me safe.
I turn to him then. Shocking him, and myself, when I bring my arms around his neck and bury my face in his neck. “Thank you,” I whisper against his warm skin.
Gosh, how I’ve missed this.
Strong arms band around my lower back, pulling me awkwardly over his thigh to press me closer to his chest. He doesn’t say a word. Just holds me. Knowing I don’t need anything else.
Pulling back, Damon raises his thumbs to my cheeks to wipe away the few tears I hadn’t realized slipped out. “You okay?” he asks quietly. I just nod my head.
“So what does this mean? Teddy’s release?”
Damon’s nostrils flare as he takes another deep breath before speaking. “It means that the fucker gets to walk since his dear old dad took out a second mortgage on his house to get the money needed for bail. But nothing changes, Ace. The restraining order you had filed after the attack is still in place. He can’t come within a hundred yards of you. If he does, you call me, then the station, and I’ll have his ass locked up faster than he can say ‘bail’.”
My fear of running into Teddy again must register all over my face because Damon pulls me across his lap, careful of my booted foot, and settles his arms around me again. I don’t even protest. It’s like these last couple of months of avoidance and awkwardness never even happened.
I settle my face back into the curve of his neck and lay my cheek against his shoulder. Enjoying the comfort and safety of being in his arms gives me. I sigh against his skin and his arms tighten around me.
He turns his head and places his full lips by my ear. “I swear to you, Ace. He won’t touch you. Never again. I will kill him before that ever happens.”
And I know deep down that he would.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Ace’s wide, doe-like eyes flash to mine at being caught.
“Uh. Um. I-I was ju-just, uh, cleaning the ta-table.” She clears her throat to stop her stuttering before continuing. “Yeah, just cleaning the table,” she reiterates before she actually pulls the sleeve of her sweatshirt over her hand and starts wiping it over the side table by the door.
I cock an eyebrow at her ridiculousness. “Cleaning the table? With your sleeve?”
“Uh huh. Yep. Softer fabric. Doesn’t scratch the table.” She continues to lie.
“Then why are you gripping your car keys like your life depends on it?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. She stops abruptly and huffs.
“Because they do.” She stresses. Almost yelling. “I need to get out of this prison you’ve locked me in. I’ve barely been out of this house, and I’m about to lose my damn mind.”
“About to?” Seems like she already has.
She glares at me. “Funny.”
I drop my arms and shove my hands in the pockets of my uniform slacks. Trying to stave off the need to spank her ass red and discreetly adjust my cock that’s turned painfully hard at her sarcastic remark. My jaw tics and she sees it, then stands taller and gives up her charade.
“Cora is all by herself at the café. She called me because the temp my parents hired during my absence is running late, and my parents are both at a business meeting with their lawyer. It’s midmorning, our busiest time. She needs the help. And since I’m fine there is no reason why I can’t go in to help her out for a few hours. It’s been three weeks since the incident. The walking boot is off. Dr. Rask said as long as I took it easy I could go back to work. You know this since you were there.”
She crosses her arms over her chest, lifting her tits higher, momentarily distracting me from what she’s saying. But she’s right; I wouldn’t let her go alone, so I do know what her doctor said. But that was before Wilkes was walking free. Before she let me comfort and console her. Before she was back in my arms last night, scared out of her mind. And that’s exactly why I tell her no.
“No.”
Her head snaps up at my one word reply. “No?”
“No.” I nod simply. “Dr. Rask may have said you could go back to work on limited duties, but that was before Wilkes was released and you lost your shit when you found out. You may have a restraining order against him, but I won’t take that chance. Not with you.” Her eyes soften at that. “And since I’m getting ready to head to the station for my shift, I won’t be able to be there to watch out for you. So no. Cora will be fine until the temp can make it in.”
Ace’s nostrils flare. Fire ignites in her eyes. Her face flushes red with anger. “It wasn’t a request, Damon.” She spits my name like it leaves a terrible taste in her mouth. “It was a courtesy explanation. That’s it. I’m going in. Period. No matter what you say. Teddy won’t be a problem. The whole damn town knows what happened to me, so along with the restraining order and that fact, he won’t dare come at me. I’ll be fine.”
“If it’s just a courtesy then why were you trying to sneak out?” I cross my arms over my chest again. Trying to keep my anger in check at her response.
“Because I knew you’d act this way,” she huffs while throwing her arms to her sides and slapping them against her thighs. “I knew you’d try to tell me I couldn’t go. But newsflash, Damon, you aren’t my boyfriend. You aren’t my anything. So you can’t keep me here if I don’t want to be.” She blows the hair that fell into her face out of the way before continuing on her tirade. “I appreciate you letting me stay here, even though you demanded that too, but despite that I still appreciate you watching out for me and giving me my space to heal. But I’ve let you boss me around long enough. I’m going to work to help Cora and you can’t stop me.”
I slowly walk over to her. Like a predator after his prey. I have three weeks of pent-up want and need stirring in my veins for this girl and Ace is about to be on the receiving end of it.
Her breath hitches when I back her into the table, the scene of the crime. My arms caging her in on either side of her hips.
“I can’t stop you, huh?” I whisper, lowering my head to run my nose along hers, then across her cheek to her ear. “You sure about that?”
“Uh huh,” she breathes out. Her sweet breath fanning across my skin. I can practically taste her.
She angles her face after I drop a light kiss right below her ear before dragging my lips back toward hers. Kissing her skin is like coming home.
I lift my hands to her shoulders and slowly drag them down her arms. Her breathing picks up speed.
“There’s nothing I could do to change your mind, sweetheart?”
I can hear her swallow after a breath stutters past her lips. Her tongue sneaks out to wet her lips, anticipating my kiss. It has me almost caving and doing just that. Claiming her lips in the kiss I’ve been craving
to give her since that day back in the storage room of the Coffee Press.
Almost.
I grab the keys from her hand and step back quickly. Out of the line of fire that’s sure to come.
“You son of a bitch,” she yells. Quickly coming out of her lust-filled haze. “You just used your sexiness against me and stole my only chance of escape.”
She stomps her foot, she actually stomps her foot while still leaning against the table, before getting to both feet and taking a step toward me.
I quickly pocket her keys and take a second to get myself under control. “You’re staying here, Ace. And that’s final. Keep the security system on and don’t answer the door for anyone, because the only other person that should be coming here is me. Got it?”
She just stares at me.
I grunt at her lack of acknowledgement. “I said, you got it?”
“Seems I don’t have any other choice.”
Damn right.
I glare daggers into the back of Damon’s stupidly sexy head as he walks out the front door. Effectively slamming the door on my figurative cell. Asshole.
I can’t believe I fell for his play. Using his charm and my feelings for him against me to snag my keys. But really, it’s Damon. Of course I fell for it.
But what do I do now? I need to get out of here before I rip all of my hair out. I’m so frustrated I could scream.
I was determined to not let what Teddy did to me rule my life and keep me from living. And working at the Coffee Press is my pride and joy. My parents started the café when they first moved here. Ever since my first day of baking with my mom, when I was just a little girl, I knew I wanted to help run the place, too. That’s why I need to get out of here and get back there. Because I’ve never been away from the shop for this long before.
I start to pace the hallway when an idea comes to me.
Sam.
I walk as quickly as my still sore ankle will allow me into my room to grab my cell phone. Bringing up her contact, I tap her number and wait for the call to connect.
“Whaddup, hot stuff? Officer Dimples still keeping you hostage?”
“Interested in a jailbreak?” I ask in place of my hello.
