Ryan got serious. He walked to where Ace was standing and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You need to tell her that you are in love with her before it’s too late.”
Ace met his stare and in Ryan’s eyes, he saw the truth in his reflection. He did love Sierra, absolutely and irrevocably. He would do anything for her. He stepped back and Ryan’s hand fell to his side. Ace shut his eyes and opened them again.
He felt strange. He’d always thought that if he ever fell in love it would be like a huge boulder smashing him to pieces. But this felt nothing like that. It felt like swimming in an ocean with no anchor and no land beneath his feet, yet swimming with the absolute certainty that the waves would bear him up and keep him safe. It was like staring into the eye of infinity, feeling calm and excited in the knowledge that a vista of possibilities had finally opened up to him.
He could feel his heart beating rapidly. He wanted to find Sierra and let her know that he loved her. Taking a deep breath to find some form of balance, he gave Ryan a curt nod and left the room.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sierra stuffed the last of her things into her duffel bag; she didn’t really have much anyway. She left everything back at her house. She placed the bag on the bed and stared at it. Then with a sigh she emptied everything out on the bed and began to carefully fold them inside.
“You know they’re only going to get rumpled again.”
She smiled but didn’t turn back. She knew she was a bit anal about keeping everything neat and tidy.
“I know.”
She felt him stop right behind her. She could feel the heat from his body and it sent shivers of awareness up her spine. She felt suddenly self-conscious and it irritated her. She did not do self-conscious.
“You okay?”
Sierra cocked her head to the side and considered his question. When she began this journey she had known that it would place her life in danger. She had expected that. But she’d also expected to be all alone. A couple of months ago, she would not have dreamed that she would have Silver Shield fighting this with her. She dropped the sweater she was folding and turned to face him.
She saw the strength and confidence in him. Even though he was angry with Ryan, he hadn’t hesitated to offer to help with getting Lara back. That was what she loved so much about him.
At that thought, Sierra froze. She opened her eyes wide in surprise and her mouth formed a silent O.
I’m in love with Ace?
She thought back to the way she had longed for him while she was at the cabin, and how sure she’d been that he would come for her when she was tied up. She thought of the way her heartbeat sped up whenever he was nearby. The way she felt whenever he was with her…like she was centered and at peace. Exactly how she was feeling now.
OMG. I’m in love with Ace!
“Sierra?” Her eyes focused and she met his worried gaze. “What’s the matter?”
He lifted a hand to touch her arm and she felt the gentle caress deep inside her soul.
I’m in love with you, Ace.
She wanted to say it out loud, but she hesitated. She knew that he had strong feelings for her, but did he love her? She did not want to put him in a difficult position. She was also scared. She remembered the way Ray had rejected her and something inside her shrunk. She didn’t think she would survive if Ace rejected her. Well, she would, because she was a survivor, but it would be like moving around with a missing limb. What she felt was so consuming, so fierce. It made her feelings for Ray seem inconsequential in comparison.
He moved his hand to cup her face and she read the emotions in his eyes. Emotions she was scared to put a name to, just in case it was merely her hope reflected back at her.
“Ace.”
“Sierra.”
They spoke at the same time. They stopped and stared at each other. Then Ace pulled her into his arms and his mouth slowly descended. She had enough time to change her mind and pull back, if that was what she wanted. But suddenly, Sierra needed to kiss Ace almost as much as she needed to breathe. So she leaned forward and closed the distance between them.
She had expected a kiss like the ones they had shared earlier. Passionate. Hot. Aggressive. This was different. It was slow and intense, like nothing she had ever experienced before. She shut her eyes and got lost in the emotions that were swirling inside her. She pressed closer, wanting to feel as much of him as she could. He kissed her lips, taking his time to explore from one corner to the other. Sierra playfully flicked his lips with her tongue and Ace groaned in response.
He nipped her lower lip and she gasped at the shock waves that coursed through her body. Ace took advantage and deepened the kiss, his tongue slipping in to explore further. She lifted her hands to his shoulders and stroked his nape. She could feel his hands around her waist, pressing her closer to him.
She broke the kiss and nibbled on his lips, trying to catch her breath in the process. He trailed kisses down her cheeks till he got to her neck.
“You are driving me crazy,” he said against her skin.
“Hmmm.” Sierra shivered in reaction as he slowly kissed her neck. She could feel the passion building up. Slowly increasing in intensity. Everything faded away and the only thing that existed for her at that moment was Ace.
“I could kiss you forever,” he murmured, going back to capture her lips in another intensely, deliberate kiss that left her knees shaking.
He ran his hands through her hair. A light caress on her neck, down her shoulders. Then settled on her waist once more. They were straining against each other, and Sierra could feel the evidence of his arousal pressed against her thigh. She was crazy about this man and with each kiss, each stroke, each caress from him, she fell more beneath his spell.
They finally broke the kiss.
Sierra opened her eyes and gazed into his. She did not know what to say, even if she could find the words. Although, if she could describe what had just happened, she would call it soul shattering. She felt as though her heart had been stripped of its protection and she was standing there before him, raw.
Vulnerable.
Ace groaned and pulled her to him in a tight hug. “Don’t look at me like that, Sierra.”
“What?” Her voice was muffled by his chest.
“We need to get going and all I want to do is carry you to that bed.”
She shivered at his words. She wanted nothing more than to lay on that bed with him, but he was right. They needed to be on their way. With a sigh, she pulled away and took a step back. She could still taste the kiss and without thinking, she placed her fingers on her lips.
Ace groaned again. “What are you doing to me?” He drew her close and kissed her. Then he kissed her again before gently pushing her away.
“I’ll be at the front desk,” he said and walked out, but not before stopping at the door to glance at her.
Impulsively, Sierra blew him a kiss. He laughed, shook his head and left.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Ace glanced at the woman beside him. She looked lost in thought.
“Hey,” he nudged her with his shoulders, “are you okay?”
Drew and Janey were up front while Ace and Sierra were riding at the back. Tamika should have been with them, but at the last moment, plans changed and she was off with Ryan to retrieve his sister. Somehow, Rusty had found some app that was able to hack into the phones that had contacted Ryan. They had watched the video with Ryan’s sister and had been able to trace the location it was coming from. It was all very mysterious to Ace, the things that could be done with technology. Almost made him want to get rid of all his devices.
“I just feel so bad for Lara,” Sierra said, thinking about Ryan’s sister.
Ace placed his arm around her and drew her to him. She leaned against him, her body melding with his.
“She’ll be okay,” he said, dropping a kiss on her hair. He closed his eyes briefly as her familiar scent hit him. He really loved the way she smelled.
She moved her head so she could look at him. Very gently, she traced the scar by the side of his head. “Does it hurt very much?”
He caught her hand and brought it to his mouth, his eyes never leaving hers. He wanted her to see what she meant to him, how much having her in his arms this way affected him.
“It’s better now.”
“Hey, you two! Do you mind?” Drew said in disgust.
Sierra giggled. Ace had never heard her giggle. In fact, if anyone had asked, he would have said she was incapable of giggling. The sound was so delightful, it brought a smile to his face.
“Drew, I think I’m going to introduce you to my friend, Alicia.”
“Been with one woman, been with them all,” he said dismissively.
“What?”
Sierra’s mouth fell open. She sat up and glared at Drew.
“Did he just say what I thought he did?” Janey turned to look at Sierra, shock written all over her face.
Drew met Ace’s gaze through the rearview mirror and winked. Ace hid his smile.
“I’m confused!” Sierra also sounded shocked. “What the hell are you saying here?”
“Tell me, what’s the difference?” he demanded. “Say between you and Janey? You’re both beautiful women and you’re both looking like you want to knock me out with the nearest heavy object.”
Ace couldn’t help it, he chuckled. Sierra turned to glare at him. “Are you laughing?”
He threw his hands up in surrender. “What? Hell, no.”
“Janey, looks like you and me are going to be hanging out a lot.”
Janey smiled. “Hmmm, they deserve each other.”
“Damn straight.”
Ace drew her back so that she was resting once more against his arm. “You’ll be hanging out with me,” he whispered into her ear.
He felt her tremble in his arms and knew she was every bit as affected as he was, but all she said in reply was, “Hmm.”
He dropped a quick kiss on the side of her neck and she slapped him on the leg. “Behave.” She shifted so she could glare at him. He saw the desire in her eyes and marveled at how attuned to him she was. He had never been with a woman who was so responsive to his touch. Before she could figure out what he was up to, he took her hand and placed it on the front of his jeans.
“Feel what you do to me,” he said in her ear.
He heard her sharp intake of air. She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it firmly.
“Any sign of trouble?” he asked Drew in a louder tone.
“Nah. Helps that Tamika and Ryan served as a decoy.”
Ryan had sent a message to the senator’s people. When he’d left the building with Tamika, they’d tailed after them. As for the Abrantes, Ace had seen a car watching the Silver Shield HQ. He had recognized two of the men he’d seen at El Torero the other night. So they’d made a plan to make use of disguises to fool the men. Then they had left the compound through a secret gate at the back of the house that was not known to many people. They had then driven around the block and made their getaway. It wouldn’t be long before they realized that they’d been duped and come looking for them.
Sierra gently applied pressure to the front of his jeans and he bit his lip to stifle the groan. He shut his eyes, then opened them. He could feel his need for this woman building up. He wanted her in a very bad way.
“What are you doing?”
She reduced the pressure, then firmly rubbed her palm over him. Down, then back up.
“Jesus,” he muttered under his breath.
“What was that?” Drew asked.
Ace dragged air into his lungs and expelled it in a rush. He had to clear his throat before he could speak. “Nothing.” He clasped Sierra’s hand and held on tight. “I can’t take much more.”
She did not reply, but he could feel her hand shaking. She was also as affected as he was. He brought down the window to let in some air. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could go without making love to her. He wanted to, desperately.
**
The safe house was a beautiful five-bedroom house in one of the suburbs outside Chicago. It took them a little over an hour to get there. Sierra had fallen asleep and Ace shook her gently when they got there. She blinked and stared at him in confusion.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, putting a hand over her mouth as she yawned.
“We’re at the safe house.” He dropped a kiss on her head. “C’mon, sleepy, let’s get inside.”
She yawned again as she opened the door and stepped out. Sierra gazed at the house in delight. “Oh, it’s lovely!”
“I can’t get over it, either.” Janey said in awe.
“It belonged to Mrs. S’s family,” Drew said, pulling out the keys.
Sierra turned back to the car to get her bag then realized Ace already had it. She reached for it, but he pretended not to see her outstretched arm and instead placed a hand on the small of her back, leading her up the steps and into the house.
Drew took the room downstairs. Sierra popped in to look at it and sighed at how lovely it was. She walked to the windows and drew open the blinds.
“Hey!” he protested.
She glanced back and saw him drop his duffel bag on the bed. “Are you allergic to sunshine now?” she wanted to know.
He winked, “I can only fully manifest in the darkness.”
Sierra rolled her eyes. Then went back to staring outside. There was a beautiful garden at the back, complete with a trail that led to what looked like an enclosure. She would have to explore that later. She closed the blinds and turned back. There was no sign of Drew, but his bag was still on the bed.
“Huh.” She needed to find a room.
Upstairs, she peered inside the first room and found Janey there.
“This place is so lovely. I feel like I’m on a vacation,” the other woman said.
Sierra nodded. “Under different circumstances, I might even have been able to relax.”
“I know, right?” She sighed. “I haven’t heard from anyone at home.” She sank down on the bed. “I know I’m doing the right thing. If I went missing, I would want someone to come after me.”
Sierra crossed over to where Janey was and sat down beside her. She placed her arm around her shoulders in a hug. “You are doing the right thing, Janey.” She paused, “What sort of name is Janey anyway?”
Janey’s head popped up in surprise. “What?”
“I’ve been thinking about it… Not Jane, or Janine or even Janet—”
“Ugh, I hate that name.”
Sierra nodded. “I know.”
Janey smiled then and gave Sierra a tight hug. After some moments, she drew back and wiped a tear from her eye.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Whatever for?”
“I was getting depressed and you made me smile.”
Sierra stared at her for a brief moment, then smiled. “You are very welcome. Now I need to go find my room.”
“You mean you need to go find Ace,” Janey said with a sly smile.
Sierra blushed, much to her annoyance. But she laughed as she stood up. “You know it, sister.”
She left Janey chuckling.
She found Ace, and her duffel bag, after searching two other rooms. He was going through his phone and he looked up when she entered. She stopped just inside the door.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey.”
“Ah, I was looking for my bag.”
He nodded at it where it was on the floor, just beside him.
She waited a beat, then went to pick up her bag. As she turned to leave, he caught hold of her hand.
“Where are you going?”
She frowned. “To find a room.”
“Okay,” he let go of her hand.
Her heart sank in disappointment. With a sigh, she walked out of the room. She paused at the next room. It looked like the master bedroom. She hesitated at the door.
“Yeah, I prefer this one al
so.”
She spun around and bumped into Ace. He reached out and steadied her. She noticed that he had his backpack with him.
“Ace?”
“Didn’t I tell you?” he asked in surprise.
Sierra shook her head slowly.
“We’re staying together. In the same room. On the same bed.”
She felt the effect of his words right down to her toes. She smiled, suddenly feeling happy.
“Okay,” she said with a shrug and walked into the room. It was strange. Here they were, on the run from folks that wanted to kill them. And she had never felt happier. What a strange life it was.
Chapter Forty
“Okay?” Ace walked in after Sierra. What did she mean by okay?
She placed her bag on the bed and drew the zip. “Yeah,” she said, throwing an amused glance his way.
He leaned against the doorjamb and watched her. There was something about her that was different. He couldn’t really place it. She seemed happier and peaceful, but she also had that look people had when they were trying hard to keep a secret. She took out her toothbrush and some toiletries and walked to the bathroom.
Ace looked around him. The master bedroom was quite large. It was the size of some apartments in the city. It had wrap-around floor-to-ceiling windows. It was his first time at this particular safe house, but he was aware that both the windows and the panes had been upgraded and were now bullet resistant.
He wondered if Sierra would still want to remain in Chicago, or if she would rather move to one of the suburbs, like the one where the safe house was located. He liked Chicago and his house, but he knew with deep certainty that he would follow this woman to the ends of the earth.
The realization shook him. For several years, his only family was Silver Shield. He had lost everything. His parents, his sister, then his grandmother. He’d had no one. Absolutely no one that he could say belonged to him, Ace Moreno. Until now.
He knew he belonged to Sierra completely. But did she feel the same way about him? He thought she did, but he couldn’t be too sure.
He ran his hands through his hair. He hated feeling unsure. He was just going to ask her outright if she loved him. But, what if she said no? Or worse…that she didn’t know?
Silver Shield Security Box Set Page 21
