Ace let out a string of curses.
“Hey, what’s eating you up?” Sierra asked, coming out of the bathroom. She moved to walk past him, but he blocked her path. She looked up in surprise. “Ace?”
He studied her features, committing each of them to memory, not like he needed to do that. He remembered everything about this woman. Her stubbornness, and sheer refusal to quit. The way she took chances even when she knew she could get hurt. She constantly put herself in the line of fire and thought nothing of it. She was so brave, she amazed him. And he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
It was as simple as that.
He wanted Sierra Newman beside him every day…every single moment, for the rest of their lives. How did one convey all that with words?
“Sierra…” he paused and took a deep breath, letting it out in a rush. There was so much he wanted to say, but he had no idea where to begin. So he did the next best thing. He framed her face with his hands and kissed her.
“Guys,” Janey’s voice interrupted them.
Sierra pulled back, but Ace just wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
“Guys, I made us something to eat,” she said from the doorway.
“Thanks, Janey. I am hungry,” Sierra said.
Ace looked at her. “Really?”
“What? I haven’t eaten since breakfast and you know I like to eat.”
He gave a wry smile and shook his head. “That’s true.”
“Hey!” She slapped his hand, but her happiness was shining out of her eyes.
“Oh-okay,” Janey looked from Ace to Sierra. “I’ll just leave you two alone now. Come down when you’re ready,” she said and left.
Ace turned his full attention to Sierra. He drew her close till their bodies were touching.
“So you’re hungry?”
“For food, Ace,” she said, laughing. “Food.”
“Is that so?” He lowered his head and nuzzled the place on her neck, just above her shoulders. He felt her tremble. He ran his mouth over the sensitive spot on her neck, going up till he got to her ear. Then he sucked gently on her ear lobe.
Sierra’s knees buckled. She grabbed on to his arms and Ace held her tightly, keeping her steady. Her breathing had turned shallow.
“I’m going crazy here.” His voice sounded scratchy, even to his ears.
She closed her eyes and tilted her neck back, to give him better access. “Ace…” she murmured his name.
“I want to make love to you, Sierra.”
She pressed closer to him, moving subtly against his arousal. “Yes,” she whispered.
Ace ran his hands up her back and brought them down again, this time moving to her backside. He ran his hands over her ass then cupped it, bringing her into closer contact with his erection. She gasped in reaction.
He could feel the passion building. He wanted nothing more than to get rid of every barrier between them and sink into her moistness. The thought had his pulse racing.
Just then, Sierra’s stomach rumbled.
They paused.
“What was that?” Ace asked.
She buried her face in his chest and her body began to shake.
“Hey sweetheart. Why are you crying?” he asked, alarmed.
“I’m not…” Her stomach rumbled again. She lifted her head and that was when he saw the laughter in her eyes.
“Seriously?”
“What? I told you I was hungry for food.”
Ace groaned. “You will be the death of me.”
She pulled away and took a step back. “It is called the little death,” she said with a wink before hurrying out the door.
Ace followed more slowly still stuck on her reference to an orgasm. It is called the little death. Shit. He was so in over his head.
**
All four of them sat down to a dinner of stir-fry noodles. Sierra couldn’t believe how delicious the food was.
“Wow, Janey, we’ll have to keep you with us in Chicago,” she said.
Janey smiled. “I have a business back home, sorry.”
“Really? What do you do?”
Janey shrugged. “I run a flower shop.”
“But that’s great!”
“Really?” Janey looked skeptical.
“Are you not proud of your business?”
Sierra knew that it took a lot of courage and determination to run a business. She was too scared to even contemplate it and was in awe of anyone who actually ran their own business.
“I am. It’s just that…” she shrugged again.
“Takes a lot to run a business,” Ace said.
“It’s just a flower shop.”
“Are you bankrupt?”
“No.” Janey looked confused.
“Are you in the red?”
She frowned. “I actually make a good profit.”
“So what’s the issue?”
She finally saw what Ace was getting at and smiled. “My brothers think my business is a joke.”
“I’m starting to really hate those brothers of yours.” Drew spoke for the first time.
Janey put down her fork. “They’re not bad. They’re just very chauvinistic.”
“Hmmm,” Drew grunted, his attention focused on his food.
“It’s not just them. My fiancé wants me to sell the business as well.”
Everyone stopped eating.
“You have a fiancé?” Drew asked, his fork midair.
“I did.” She looked down at her plate. “He called off the engagement when I insisted on going after my sister.”
“Good riddance,” Drew said, going back to his food.
“Drew!” Sierra was aghast.
“No, it’s okay, Sierra. I think he might be right,” Janey said with a sigh. “Seeing you two together…it makes me wonder why I chose to settle.”
Sierra and Ace exchanged a glance.
“I don’t understand,” Sierra said.
“Anyone who spends any sort of time around you two can tell how crazy you are about each other.”
Sierra almost choked on a piece of cabbage.
“There’s so much love between you two. I…we didn’t have that,” Janey said sadly.
“Janey…” Sierra didn’t know what to say to her. Yes, she was in love with Ace, but she had no idea if he felt the same way about her. Although for a minute there before Janey had interrupted them in the room, she had felt as though he wanted to say something. Still…
Just then two phones beeped. Both Ace and Drew pulled out their phones. While they were busy with the phones, Sierra reached out and covered Janey’s hand with hers. The other woman looked up with sad eyes.
“It’s going to be okay,” Sierra said gently.
Janey squeezed her hand in thanks.
“There’s a TV in the den,” Drew said.
Both men got up.
“Hey what’s going on?” Sierra asked.
“Rusty asked us to turn on the TV. C’mon.” He held her hand and pulled her to her feet. Still holding hands, they moved to the den.
“For the first time in more than three decades, a sitting US Senator faces trial for corruption, fraud and tax evasion. James Hugh Coleman, representing Illinois’ sixth congressional district will be on trial for bribery. He is accused of influencing military contracts on behalf of a wealthy benefactor in exchange for lavish gifts, including luxury vacations and substantial political contributions…”
They watched the rest of the news in shock. Apparently, the FBI had been investigating the senator for several months. The evidence against him was considerable. Sierra could feel her heart beating. She could not believe that they’d done it. She tuned back to the news.
“…several accounts found offshore containing millions of dollars…”
Sierra heard words like tax evasion and investigating source of income… but her mind was no longer on the news. She suddenly felt cold. Without a word, she stood up and walked out. She heard Ace ca
ll her name, but she kept walking and did not stop until she got to the bedroom. She went to stand by the windows. It was getting dark already.
“Sierra.” She heard Ace stop behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and she sank into his embrace.
“I should be happy. Delirious with joy,” she said. “But all I feel is empty.”
Ace turned her around so she was facing him. He ran his hands up her arms. “You’ve fought long and hard for this.”
“I know…”
She could not explain how she felt. She thought of her dad, her brother and others like him who had lost their lives because of the senator. The whole thing just seemed so pointless.
“At least we’ve got one enemy out of the way. Maybe our lives will go back to being normal.”
Although she had no idea what that meant anymore. Her life before now was sans Ace. She could not imagine any normal that did not include Ace.
“C’mon,” Ace said, leading her to the bed. “Come, let me hold you.”
He pulled back the covers and gently pushed her to sit on the bed. He squatted down and removed her shoes.
“Lay back.”
He waited till she was lying down then pulled the covers over her. He went to the other side of the bed, kicked off his shoes and lay beside her, on top of the covers. He reached over to the bedside table and turned on the lamp that was there. The illumination cast a shadow on the room, giving it an intimate feel. Next he gathered her, covers and all, into his arms.
She scooted closer to him. “This feels nice,” she said with a sigh.
“Hmmm.”
They lay that way for a while, then Sierra sat up.
“What’s up?” he asked in surprise.
She pointed to him. “What’s this?”
“What?”
“Why are you on top of the covers?”
“I want you to be comfortable.”
“Well, I’m not.” How did he think she could be comfortable being so near to him, yet so far away? She needed to touch him. To feel his body next to hers.
“I can’t have you in my arms that way and not make love to you, Sierra.”
Sierra leaned close to him, her lips barely an inch from his. She could feel his breath on her skin and she found it intensely erotic.
“Make love to me, Ace.”
He did not move. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Yes.” She had never been more sure in her life. She wanted Ace with an intensity that took her by surprise, one she accepted without question.
He pushed himself up till he was leaning on one arm. Without a word, he lifted his hand and brought it to her hair. Sierra felt her hair fall in waves.
“You are beautiful, Sierra.”
Sierra never wore her hair down. She always had it in a tidy knot or braided down her back. Some of the hair came to the side of her face and she tried to push it back, but Ace caught her hand.
“Leave it,” he said.
He brought the hand to his mouth and without taking his eyes off her, placed the little finger in his mouth and sucked.
Sierra felt the pull deep down in her abdomen. She sucked in a sharp breath. Her eyes suddenly felt too heavy and she shut them.
“Open your eyes, Sierra.” Ace’s voice was deep and husky, filled with desire. “I want you to see how much I want you.”
She opened her eyes and looked at him. His pupils were dilated, his desire plain for her to see.
He worked his way through each of her ten fingers. By the time he got to the last one, she was panting. She curled her toes in an effort to reign in the force of the desire she felt.
“Ace,” she moaned his name.
“That’s right, baby.” He sat up. He touched her hair, the caress sweet, gentle, almost possessive. “I’m going to touch every inch of your body. Then when I’m done, I will kiss you all over. Very slowly. I will lick you up there till you beg me to stop, and then I’ll lick you some more.”
His hands moved over the space between her thighs, not touching anything, but the effect was equally as erotic.
Sierra moaned again. She could feel the pressure building inside her. She needed this man, and she needed him now.
“Have you ever had an orgasm from that?” he asked.
Her mind went blank. She was close to orgasm just from his words. She remembered his question and shook her head. She had never peaked from oral sex. She didn’t know how to tell him that she’d never even experienced it before. But she had dreamed about it. Oh, how she dreamed.
She shivered with need at the thought.
“Once I lick up all your juice, I’ll begin again until you are begging for more.” He was also breathing as heavily as she was.
“Then what?” Was that her voice? So husky with desire.
He leaned closer until their heads touched. “Then, I will sink into your heat and we will make love slowly. I’ll listen for each sigh. Every moan. We’ll make it last until we can’t take the pleasure any longer.”
“Ace?”
“Hmm?”
She stroked his face with one finger, inhaling his masculine scent.
“We’ll do that later, okay?”
“Hmmm…”
He seemed distracted. She touched her lips to his. She kissed him. Once. A second time.
“Right now I need you,” she murmured against his lips. “Hard. Fast. Now.”
Suddenly she couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt, slanted her mouth over his and kissed him with all the passion that was burning inside her.
Sierra wanted to touch him badly. Needed to feel him. She quickly undid the buttons of his shirt, her hands trembling. Thankfully, he’d gotten rid of the jacket he’d worn on the trip down from Chicago. Buttons done, but there was a tee shirt beneath the shirt. Another barrier.
She slipped her hands beneath the tee shirt and felt him shudder. She broke the kiss and scooted closer. Her mouth followed the trail of her hands, placing hot kisses all over his broad chest. She got to his nipples and swirled around them with her tongue.
“Shit,” Ace swore.
Sierra couldn’t say how it happened, but he got rid of her clothes pretty quickly. He stopped and stared at her.
She could hear him breathing deeply.
“What…Ace, what’s the matter?”
Ace stared at her chest then his eyes moved to her face. She saw passion and awe in them.
“You are perfect,” he said.
He cupped her and she moaned. She could feel the moisture between her legs.
He took one peak into his mouth.
“Ohhh…” The pleasure was almost too much.
“Your clothes…” she gasped.
He moved to the other peak and she shuddered in response.
“Ace…clothes…touch.” She was incoherent.
He broke contact and she almost wept at the overpowering sense of loss. It didn’t last long though. Soon he was back and this time, there was no barrier between them. It was skin on skin.
She saw that he was holding a condom.
“Let me,” she said, reaching for it. But he shook his head.
“If I let you do this, it will be all over too soon.”
She dropped her hands, saying nothing in reply. She watched him slip on the rubber, his hands shaking at the effort.
There was nothing slow or leisurely about their coming together. It was hard. Fast and furious. Intensely passionate. But it was also tender and emotional.
It was everything and nothing like Sierra had ever experienced before. She was completely caught up in the moment, in Ace and how he made her feel.
She was cresting a wave. She tried to prolong the moment. To delay her orgasm. But it slid past and ripped through her with a force that had her screaming.
“Sierra. Sierra.” Her release triggered his. He closed his eyes, shaking as he peaked. Continuously chanting her name as his seed pumped out.
Afterward, she felt his weight on her, and w
elcomed it. She wrapped her arms around him as tears leaked out her eyes. She could not explain how she felt. It was the most emotional love-making she’d ever had.
She felt him move and tightened her arms around him.
“I’ll crush you,” he said.
“Just give it a sec,” she needed to hold him. To let her love for this man course through her.
Ace rolled suddenly and she was the one on top of him now.
“That’s better,” he said, staring into her eyes. “That was…”
He seemed to be searching for the right words and she understood perfectly. She could not find the words to describe what had just taken place either.
“Wow. It was wow,” he said at last.
“Wow is about right,” she agreed.
She folded her arms on his chest and rested her chin on them so she could look up at him.
“You’re incredible, Ace Moreno.”
He smiled. “I could say the same, Miss Newman.”
I love you. She wanted to say it. She wanted to, so desperately. But she held back. Still, she allowed what she was feeling to show in her eyes.
Ace shifted and they were both lying on their sides, facing each other. He kissed her. The kiss was different. It was tender. Almost like he was trying to tell her something. She looked into his eyes and her heart skipped a beat.
“Ace—”
“Sshhh…” He brushed his mouth over hers. “I could stay like this forever.”
Her breath hitched. She knew exactly what he meant. In here, in this wonderful bedroom, it was almost as though they were the only ones in the world. Everything else had faded into the background.
Then she remembered the senator and everything came crowding back.
“You’re thinking, aren’t you?”
“Hmmm…” She lowered her gaze and used her finger to draw circles on his chest.
“Any regrets?”
Her eyes flew up in surprise. “Hell, no.”
“So how soon can we do it again?” He wriggled his eyebrows at her.
Sierra laughed. “As soon as you’re ready, sailor.”
He shifted and she felt his erection nudge her thighs.
She opened her eyes wide in surprise. “Wow, that was fast!”
“It’s you, Sierra. I can’t seem to get enough of you.”
Silver Shield Security Box Set Page 22
