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Fuck, that hurt so much. It cracked my heart open, but I knew right then something happened inside of me. A piece of my soul became his, and I don’t ever want it back.
“Don’t hurt him, Ace,” my voice is soft. He is a warrior, but I think I’m his queen. I think we both know it, and he’s spent the last four years fighting it.
“He forfeited the right to his life the moment he put his hands on you. No one touches what’s mine. No one hurts you. No one makes you bleed. Not without answering to me,” his voice is rough. His chest heaves, a wild look in his eyes.
“He’s just a kid.” I’m not sure if that’s the right thing to say. When Ace doesn’t answer, I add softly, “Please.”
Ace growls, sounding again like that wild animal, but he drops Cody to the ground. “If I see your face in this town again, I’ll take you apart piece by piece.”
Cody gasps and writhes on the ground. I don’t think he’s hurt. Ace is not only strong, but he’s also a former soldier. If he’d wanted to end Cody, he could have done it before I even had a chance to react.
Impatience flickers across Ace’s face. “Get going now before my restraint snaps.”
Fortunately, Cody does have some semblance of self-preservation. He’s on his feet and heading for his truck before Ace has the chance to make another threat.
Now that I know Cody is safe, my face throbs. I bring my fingertips to my cheek and pull my hand away, noting the sticky blood. I whimper at the sight. I’m not squeamish, but I’ve never liked seeing blood.
Something in Ace’s expression softens, “Let’s get you patched up.”
“I have a kit in the back room,” I murmur, suddenly uncertain of myself. I’m not used to feeling this way around anyone. Well, anyone except Ace. He’s always the one that tangles my thoughts and makes it hard to breathe. To focus. To concentrate.
No one touches what’s mine. No one hurts you. No one makes you bleed.
He puts a hand on my elbow. The rough callouses on his fingers dig into the sensitive flesh of my arm, and I like the feeling. I like how hard and rough he is, yet his touch is gentle. He guides me toward his truck.
When he opens the passenger door, I expect him to reach for a medical kit. Instead, he puts his big hands around my hips and lifts me into the truck. He moves my body easily even though I have generous curves.
Ace puts a hand on my knee. “Stay.”
I love the idea of him issuing commands and telling me exactly what he wants me to do. Would he be like that in the bedroom? Would he tell me to spread my legs and show him my pussy?
He returns a second later with a medical box. He sets it on the floor and rifles through the contents with ease. I don’t think he was a medic, but he did save my dad’s life.
“Don’t tell him about this.” I don’t know what happened the day he saved him. There’s a lot I don’t know about my dad or Ace. They’re both so quiet and stoic. What little I do know has been cobbled together from whispered conversations when my mom was alive.
He snorts, but when he reaches for my face, he’s gentle. “The kid doesn’t deserve your protection.”
“It’s not him I’m protecting. It would break Dad’s heart if he knew the kid he took in and treated like a son had been stealing from him. It’s better if he thinks he ran off.”
Ace grunts but makes no promises. He finishes tending to the spot, putting a butterfly bandage there. I doubt I needed one, but it still makes me feel warm inside. “Thanks for putting me back together again.”
He cups my face, and our breaths mingle as we share the same air. For one wild moment, I think he’s going to kiss me.
I wet my lips and wait. My heart is pounding painfully in my chest. My palms are clammy. My body is tingling. From the look in his eyes to the hot skin of his palm, I feel his heat everywhere.
The sound of crunching gravel as another vehicle approaches the store breaks the spell. He drops his hand, and the moment is lost.
I go for an easy, unaffected smile. I’m not sure if I’m doing it right. I’m not sure of anything at this moment except that I want Ace’s lips on mine. Need them. “Sounds like I have customers.”
“You should close up early today.”
I gesture for him to step aside. When he does, I’m not disappointed. This whole day hasn’t been a big disappointment, reminding me of all the stupid girlish hopes I’ve managed to push down over the last few years.
Once again, my world has tilted on its axis. I’d almost convinced myself that my pesky crush was over. Then Ace had to go and do this. He had to defend me and look so damn hot doing it. He had to patch me up, put his hands on me, and make me feel cared for. “I’m fine. It’s fine.”
I’m not fine. It’s not fine.
With every step toward the parking lot, I can feel his eyes on me. I can’t look back. I won’t look back. It will shatter me.
