So damn pretty.
“Do you trust me, Ace?” She holds out a hand to pull me to my feet.
Standing so close a breath wouldn’t fit between us, I stare down at her. The truth is, I’ve always had a hard time trusting people. Counts and Carson are the only people who’ve made it past that barrier.
“Yeah.”
I don’t know why. But it’s true. And I just promised myself I’d never lie to her.
“Then stay with me tonight.”
I start to shake my head, opening my mouth to tell her no, when she puts her index finger against my lips and gives me a quick toss of her head. “Ace…I’m not ready to let you go yet.”
She’s dangerous.
Maybe more dangerous than the loan shark. Because at that moment, I know I’ll never say no to her.
Twelve
NAIMA
I don’t know why I asked him to stay. It was out of my mouth before I really thought it through. But I couldn’t not ask him to stay.
Maybe part of it is the growing feeling of dread creeping over me. His wary glances all around us cause it to settle deep in my bones, warning me that danger is imminent.
It’s not because I feel sorry for him. I know Ace is a guy who can take care of himself. He doesn’t need to stay with me to be safe. But I’ve been worrying about him for two days straight, wondering if I’d ever see him again or if he was all right.
So this is just for my own peace of mind.
And because he’s so damn beautiful. I just want him in my bed.
All night.
And I’ve never, ever felt that kind of desire before. It’s eating me up, swallowing me whole.
Leading him through the downstairs foyer, we head up the thickly carpeted stairs. I’m not even worried about being seen, but Ace’s apprehension is clear in the way his muscles have tensed up and from the cautious expression on his gorgeous face.
We’re not allowed to have male overnight guests in our sorority house. Rose lives with us, her bedroom downstairs in a separate suite. She doesn’t hound us at night, checking to make sure we’re following the rules, though. She treats us like the adults we are, but the rules of our sorority are clear: appearances are everything, and propriety is to be upheld at all times in the public eye.
Once we’re in my bedroom, I shut and lock the door before leaning against it. Ace surveys my room, his eyes bouncing everywhere like he’s trying to see everything all at once.
“You don’t have to worry.” My tone is soft and gentle. So unlike me, but with Ace I naturally adopt the softer role. With other guys, I was always on my guard. Even with Noah I never felt safe enough to relax. I was tough and in control.
Always tough.
But Ace doesn’t look at me like I’m some kind of obstacle to be conquered. He doesn’t look at me like he’s starving for a taste.
He looks at me with lust in his eyes, sure. He’s a man. And hell, I feel the same way about him. His body is ridiculous, the way his clothes fit him makes my mouth water. The way he carries himself, his confident swagger that says he needs nothing and no one, makes me want to be something he does need.
But he also looks at me like he’s seeing the person beneath all my hard and brash. He looks at me like he sees through the walls I built with both hands. He looks at me like he sees the woman I really am, not the one to fit his current wants.
And I never realized how much I craved that kind of look from a man until I met Ace.
He looks at me like I mean something.
“Why’s that?” His tone is low as he starts to stroll around my room.
He stops at my dresser where there’re several pictures in frames. A few of my sorority group photos. And three of Bryn and I throughout the years…smiling and laughing, making silly faces. I’m the only person my age I know prints out pictures and frames them. But when a moment means something to me, I want to freeze it and capture it forever.
Moving to stand beside him, I stare at the array of frames, seeing what my life looks like through his eyes. “Because I may live on a college campus with a bunch of sorority girls, but I’m an adult, Ace. I’m in my senior year here, and I’m perfectly capable of deciding who I want to spend the night in my bed. I’ll just have to get you out sometime before our house mom starts her office hours in the morning.”
He turns toward me and nails me with a wicked grin. “House mom? I thought those were only in the movies.”
Rolling my eyes, my face heats and I stare harder at the pictures. He nudges me with his shoulder, letting me know he’s only teasing. My heart flutters in my chest, a tiny bird that’s been caged for so long it’s aching to be free.
“Why aren’t your parents in any of these shots?” There’s nothing in his voice but pure interest and curiosity, but the question slices through my armor all the same.
I shrug, trying to shake off the pain. “Because they’re never around.” My voice catches, and I can’t believe this is happening. I don’t get emotional, not around anyone. Not even Bryn. But here I am, an overwhelming urge to cry sweeping through me, all because Ace asked about my parents.
His arm goes around me, and I lean into his embrace. It’s just natural. It feels so good. I breathe in deep shuddering breaths.
“You’re so strong,” he murmurs. “I know that about you, even know I don’t know you yet. But I want to. And you don’t have to be strong around me
