Page 113 of The Fire We Make

Mel: Not you partying with the Kings

Joy: Not intentional lol. They caught me at the door trying to sneak my knife in

Mel: Girl

Joy:

Joy: April is cool but I don’t know the rest of them like that

Mel: It definitely seemed like it to me. I was almost bucket naked and Ace’s eyes never left you

Joy: Von had enough eyes on you for the rest of us

Mel:

Joy: That’s what I thought

Joy: They have a section at the top. Come join us when you’ve changed.

Mel hearted the message and Joy returned her phone to her clutch.

Beside Ace on the couch, she bobbed her head to the music. She didn’t know the lyrics to most of the songs but she enjoyed the beat and let the rhythm carry her.

Joy was catching the vibe but her eyes kept moving, her head stayed on a swivel, keeping watch of what was going on around them as she’d been trained to do.

On occasion, Joy and Ace’s gazes collided as they both got caught conducting their scans. They shared a knowing grin before getting back to it.

When Mel finally made it to the section, Joy hopped up to greet her and introduce her to everyone.

They all exchanged greetings before April proposed a group round of shots, allowing no one to decline.

One shot turned to four and before Joy knew it, she’d ended up out of her own seat and in Ace’s lap. His breath fanned the back of her neck whenever he spoke and his hardness pressed into her whenever he shifted.

Joy didn’t know how she’d ended up there or why she felt so comfortable but she had no desire to move.

Mel caught Joy’s eyes and she could see the questions swimming in them. Joy had no answers. All she knew was she didn’t feel like fighting whatever they had tonight.

Instead, she leaned back into his chest and turned to speak into his ear.

“I thought you were mad at me,” she said.

Ace’s brow quirked. “Mad?”

Joy nodded. His arm tightened around her waist.

“Why would I be mad at you?”

Joy shrugged. “Because of… our conversation. Because I left.”

Ace chuckled “I’m not mad.” Leaning forward, he spoke directly into her ear. His lips grazed the shell of her ear as he spoke. “You can run all you want, Rose, I don’t mind chasing.”

“Why?”

“Because I know that having you as my prize once I catch you will be worth it.”

Joy faced him and the look swirling in his eyes could only be described as possessive and borderline crazed and maybe that made her crazy because she liked it. That voice in her head, the thief of her happiness, reminded her that he’d made that promise under false pretenses. He didn’t truly know her.

She shooed that thought away. That was a sorrow for tomorrow. Joy smiled then leaned forward, kissing his cheek. The act was quick and tender.