In a step, he’s in front of me, one arm wrapped around my waist and the other cupping my neck. Everything he does has purpose. Every movement he makes is for a reason.
“You should be scared. Whoever this shark is hurts people who owe him money. What do you think he’s going to do to a couple of twenty-somethings who saw his guys murder someone? We’re loose ends, Naima.” His voice is somber, his eyes going dark as he stares down at me.
He’s searching for understanding in my gaze, and he’ll get that. What he won’t get is agreement.
I lift my chin, a stubborn motion I got from my father. “I understand that, Ace.”
He nods, still holding onto my gaze. “And so that means you need to stay away. Hell…I need to stay away. It was me who found you last night, and I shouldn’t have.”
“You should have! Last night was…” My voice trails away.
I don’t know the right word. Wonderful? Life-changing? Amazing?
He blinks, those long lashes brushing against the skin beneath his eyes. “Yeah. It was.”
And then his arm tightens around me, because I’m staring into his eyes and then I’m falling into them.
“Shit.” It’s the only word he says right before his mouth crashes against mine.
We’re both breathing heavy when he pulls away, and then he’s walking toward my bedroom door. Just before he reaches it, he curses again and turns around, striding back to my nightstand. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he practically growls at me.
“Tell me your number.”
I recite those ten little digits while his fingers dab at his screen, and then he drops a kiss on my forehead. It’s gentle and soft, a direct contrast to his rough and hard demeanor right now. It draws a sigh from me.
He steps toward the door again, but I pull his arm around and force him to stop.
“Wait a minute. We need to be careful.” Some of these girls get up early, and Rose might be around.
I peek out my bedroom door, and when I’ve determined the hallway is clear I pull his hand and tow him down the hall. Peeking around the corner to the landing where the stairs are ,I hear Rose humming somewhere below. Placing a finger to my lips and holding out a hand for him to stay, I hustle down the stairs. When I reach the bottom and look down the hall, the sounds of Rose bustling around the kitchen send me racing back up the stairs for Ace. Grabbing his hand, we rush back down before I practically shove him toward the front door. He presses one last hard kiss to my lips.
And then he’ gone, leaving me staring at the spot where he stood.
I take my time getting ready for campus, thinking about little else other than Ace while I shower, pick out preppy, vanilla clothes and drag them on. Even Rose comments on the absent way I’m moving through the motions this morning as she hands me my English muffin stuffed with egg and bacon.
“Everything okay?” Rose leans on the countertop after passing me my breakfast.
“Huh?”
I’ve been checking my phone. Like a stupid girl. I don’t know why Ace asked for my number, but he made it clear he and I aren’t going to be a thing.
It’s not like I have trouble with rejection. If I’d been rejected by any of the guys on campus, I wouldn’t give a shit. But I care that Ace doesn’t want to see me anymore.
It hurts.
“Hmm?”
Glancing up, I find Rose staring at me, like she’s waiting for the answer to an unknown question. “What?”
She shakes her head, her short blond hair whipping around her chin. “Never mind, sweetie. I’m pretty sure whatever’s on your mind is gonna stay right there. And I’ll be here when you get home later today if you want to talk about it.”
Shooting Rose a quick smile, I offer a small wave as I head toward the front hallway and the door. “Thanks, Rose.”
The bright glare of early morning sunshine forces me to squint as I step out into the warm Southern fall air. It doesn’t get cold in Charlotte until December, and even then it’s not freezing temperatures. I turn my face up to the sun, letting the rays burn away my uncertainty and frustration about Ace. Our house sits on a wooded lot. The sunlight sprinkles through the trees, illuminating the brown leaves littering the brick path below the porch steps.
And standing in that dreamy, filtered light is Noah Locke.
He leans with a lazy, relaxed stance against his gleaming SUV, an easy smile lighting his face when he sees me. I have a WTF moment, coming to a stop to stare at him as my mouth falls slack.
“Noah?” My confusion coats the word as I stand frozen on the top step.
Pushing off the car, he wears a confident smile as he meanders toward me. “Surprised to see me?” His voice is light as he jogs up the steps, grabs my hand, and tows me toward his car.
My keys are frozen in my hand because I was planning on driving myself to school. Noah, movements smooth and sleek, opens the Escalade door and places his hands on my waist in order to hoist me up to the passenger seat.
Bracing myself so that my legs stay outside of the car, I face Noah and frown. “Stop. What are you even doing here?”
He situates himself between my legs and settles heavy hands on my shoulders. When he brushes a piece of hair out of my face, I stiffen. After last night, it’s blatantly clear that his hands aren’t the ones I want touching me.
“I want to get past the fact that you ditched me the other night. And I apologize for the stuff I said.” He stares at me, sincerity brimming in his eyes.
Guilt tugs at my stomach. I did go to the G-Ring with Noah. I can understand if he feels like I ditched him because
