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Who was she becoming? Would she like this new person if she were to analyze her too deeply? She wasn’t sure. She’d been more than happy for Chloe when she’d fallen in love with Nick and had decided to marry him. Maybe she wasn’t so frightened to be in a relationship anymore because she was with the right person.
With all the danger going on, she had agreed not to go to her cheer practices. It was her last year, and she might get cut from the team for not showing up. That hurt her pride a lot. But having been attacked a couple of times now, and with the FAA finding evidence that their plane had been tampered with, Dakota felt lucky to be alive. Still, the lack of freedom felt oppressive.
Ace stepped into the room she was sulking in. She turned to him with a forlorn look on her face.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, carefully approaching her.
“I’m fine. I know Bill is waiting on you, so you should go,” she told him.
“I have time for a kiss,” he assured her.
Before she could even think about stopping him—which was actually the last thing on her mind—he grabbed her, knocked her off balance, and smoothly pulled her body against his. Even though they’d made love for hours the night before, one scorching touch of his chest against hers had her melting into him, her head thrown back to give him easy access to her lips.
Dakota didn’t even try to hide the sound of approval that escaped her tight throat. She loved the spark of life in his beautiful light eyes. The attraction between the two of them was beyond hot, and she didn’t see it ever fading.
“I hate walking away from you,” he told her before kissing the corner of her mouth, making her squirm against him. She wanted so much more than a light peck from him. “And I hate it when you walk away from me,” he added.
“But then you get to see me return,” she pointed out, her hand slipping into his silky hair as she caressed his head.
“True,” he said. Then he stopped trying to have a conversation and simply lowered his head, his mouth consuming hers in a kiss so hot, it was a wonder the floor didn’t melt. She clung more tightly to him as she got lost in his touch, her body swaying. Ace’s embrace was the only thing keeping her on her feet. She felt the evidence of his arousal against her stomach, making her squirm even more to draw closer to him.
Maybe she should just quit cheering, since she would most likely be fired anyway. Then she could have even more time with Ace.
As soon as she had that thought, she felt panic seep in. She’d promised herself her entire life she wouldn’t be one of those women who gave up their dreams for anyone. If a man couldn’t accept who she was, or didn’t think her life was as important as his, then she had no business associating with him.
Though she didn’t feel Ace treated her this way—at least not when there was no danger—she still pulled away from him. Maybe she needed to do some thinking. This thing between them continued to burn so fast and hot, she didn’t know how to think about it.
“You have to go. They are waiting,” she said when he leaned toward her again. He slowly opened his eyes, and though disappointment was obviously there, she knew they had to respect each other’s obligations.
“Sorry. That was supposed to be a quick good-bye kiss,” he said with a sheepish smile. “For some reason, the second I touch you, I lose all rational thought,” he added with a laugh. “You might actually be a witch who has cast a spell on me.”
“That might be the case. I have many talents I’ve yet to share with you,” she told him with a wink.
He stepped closer to her, and she took a retreating step while she laughed.
“You shouldn’t be allowed to get away with a statement like that,” he told her.
“Oh, but I am,” she said, taking another step back. “Because we will finish the conversation later . . . in the dark.” She winked at him again, enjoying the glow filling her, even if it did scare her at the same time.
Dakota watched him walk away and felt an ache travel through her. What she needed now more than anything else was a small break to be by herself.
Changing clothes, sh
e rushed from the cottage, glancing over her shoulder to make sure no one would stop her. She needed to take a walk and get her head clear before Ace came back. He was officially messing with her life if she couldn’t think of anything other than him.
She made her way through the quiet streets of Cooper’s neighborhood, knowing she couldn’t go too far. She didn’t want to get back late and then have to hear all about the dangers of being out on her own. It just wasn’t worth the lecture. But she figured she had a good hour or two to herself before she had to drag herself back and wait for Ace.
It wasn’t that it was a hardship waiting for him, it was that she wanted him around her all the time. Knowing that was what she wanted made it clear just how stubborn and foolish she was being. She wasn’t a weak woman, and she didn’t need to lean on anyone. But with Ace’s professional world leaking into his personal world, she was dealing with an element she’d only ever heard about. She’d never had any real-life experience with monsters before—not until they’d entered her house and threatened her because of her relationship with Ace.
She wasn’t too far from the house when she heard someone behind her. Fear trickled down her neck and sent a shiver through her. It was light out, and she was sure it was some person who was also doing nothing more than taking a stroll. She had nothing to worry about.
She continued telling herself this until she was grabbed from behind. She let out one high-pitched scream before her mouth was covered and true fear invaded her all over again.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Ace pulled back up to the house, cursing that he’d forgotten his phone. He needed to have it on him in case Dakota wanted to call. He avoided considering what it meant that he had to stay in constant contact with the woman.
He walked into the cottage and found her gone. He didn’t like that one little bit. She had to be at the house. He moved quickly up to the main place and found she wasn’t there, either. Where had she gone?
