Page 66 of All I Feel

Then he ran his tongue along the seam of my lips, a silent demand for access. When I parted my lips and allowed his tongue into my mouth, I realized I didn’t know what I wanted.

Because this was better than what I believed existed. I never wanted it to stop.

Out of some primal instinct that took over and consumed me as my tongue tangled with Ace’s, I lifted my hands andfinallydrove them into his hair. Ace rewarded me with a deep groan and a squeeze on my leg before that hand drifted up toward my hip. That movement had me tingling between my legs. And so, it was no surprise that a moan escaped me.

At that sound, Ace framed my face in his hands and held me steady while he tore his mouth from mine. For a moment, neither one of us said a word. I was too busy attempting to catch my breath; Ace appeared to be deep in thought. Finally, he said, “That would’ve been a shame.”

“What?”

“You were fearful that we’d never experience that again, and I think you had a right to feel that way. If we never got to do what we just did, it would’ve been a crying shame.”

I dropped my forehead to his. “That kiss felt very different than the first one.”

Ace’s thumbs stroked over my cheeks, and he gave me a peck on the lips. “Of course, it did. God, Tessa, I didn’t think you could get any better.”

A wave of confidence washed over me at his words. While I never thought Ace would ever say anything to purposely make me feel bad, he wasn’t a liar. So, I could trust that he wouldn’t make something up just for the sake of saying it. He meant what he said.

I smiled at him, scratching the back of his scalp. “As scared as I am about where things might go between us, I don’t think I’ve ever felt safer with a man than I do with you.”

“You’ll always be safe with me, Princess. Whether we’re together or not, that’s one thing you’ll never have to fear.”

Even without those words, I knew that was the truth and leaned my body into his.

Ace took my weight and kissed my cheek. “What time do you have to be at work tomorrow?”

“That’s a strange question to ask in this moment, don’t you think?”

He shook his head, his lips twitching. “No. Because you don’t have a car right now, so I need to know what time I’ve got to be back here in the morning to pick you up. And the answer you give me now will tell me just how much time I’ve got left to carry you over to the couch, where I can kiss you again.”

My body shivered. Ace didn’t miss it. “I’m actually off tomorrow. I was supposed to have another wedding to do, but the groom called it off when he learned the bride had been sleeping with his best friend.”

“Wow. That sucks for him.”

“Yeah,” I agreed, squirming in his lap.

“But it means excellent things for me.”

“Oh? Tell me about those things.”

Ace slipped an arm beneath my knees and wrapped the other around my back. Then he stood and carried me into the living room. Lowering me gently to the couch, he brought his big body down beside mine and hauled me against him, so there wasn’t an inch of space between our bodies. Only then did he speak. “I’m going to spend a little while holding and kissing you on this couch tonight. Then I’m going to go home, so you can get some sleep. But I’ll be back first thing in the morning, so we can spend the entire day together.”

I smiled against his lips. “That sounds wonderful.”

“Good. Now, I’m done talking for a while.”

“Me, too. Kiss me, handsome.”

Ace didn’t delay. He touched his lips to mine and kissed me.

EIGHTEEN

ACE

“Look over there!That’s the fifth one!”

I thought I should have more self-control, more restraint. But it was possible I was going to lose my mind soon.

As promised, I’d arrived at Tessa’s place bright and early this morning. For some foolish reason—perhaps the fact that I’d told her I’d be there early—I didn’t prepare myself for Tessa not being ready.