Building Faith (Long Beach Series Book 2) (25 page)

We enter my apartment after the movie, and I still feel all tingly from Ace's heated kisses in the back of the movie theater. To be honest, I can't remember a single detail about the movie. Not that I care. I had more fun making-out with him like we were a couple of horny teenagers.

“Kick back and relax,” I tell him, motioning to the couch. “I need to get out of these heels and let Daisy out.”

Ace scowls comically. “You sure she has to come out?”

“You got her for me,” I point out with a laugh as I disappear down the hall.

“And I regret it all the damned time,” I hear him grumble.

I fight back a laugh as I pause outside the bathroom door. The other day, Daisy had curled up on his lap and Ace had allowed it since I'd teased him about being a meanie to the poor, little, innocent kitty. A door slamming in the hallway outside my apartment had spooked her, and she'd leaped off his lap, clawing his manly bits by accident. Yeah, Ace hadn't been very happy, and my ears are still burning from him cursing her to hell and back.

I reach for the door knob and hesitate. We've had such a wonderful evening, and I don't want it to end with just a little bit of cuddling. I think...tonight's the night I want to experience all of Ace.

I'm ready for it.

I lick my lips nervously and glance over my shoulder. Ace is still in the living room, and I can't see him thanks to where the couch is situated. I decide it's time to make a bold move and embrace the woman I'm beginning to become. I want him. Badly. It's time to act on it.

Feeling excited, I hurry to my bedroom and quickly unbuckle my shoes. I strip down as fast as I can and dig out the lingerie that I've been saving for this exact moment. My hands are literally shaking as I slip on the scanty bits of lace. Once I secure everything, I turn down the blankets on my bed, feeling thankful my sheets are clean since I'd done laundry earlier.

Nerves are fluttering in my belly, and I press a hand to my bare stomach as I breathe in and out deeply. I gaze around my room, quickly moving to turn on my lamp. There. Okay. I'm ready. God, I better be. If this gets awkward tonight...

As I grab my silk bathrobe and slip it on, I turn off the overhead light. I tie the waist of the robe securely before walking back to the living room.

Ace glances in my direction, and the second he sees me in the satin robe, he goes completely still. His eyes drop to my feet and travel up my legs, clearly noting the sheer, black stockings I have on. The robe covers me to the knees, so he can't see just exactly what I have on, but as his eyes darken with heat, I know he has an idea. He doesn't move as I walk up to pause about two feet in front of him.

I'm nervous, and my heart is thrumming in my chest. Tension fills the air as Ace watches me intently. I know it's up to me to let him know where this is going tonight. I try to hide the shaking in my hands as I keep my eyes on his while slowly untying the robe. It falls open, and I carefully shrug it off, allowing it to pool at my feet.

I stand before him in a dark, navy blue satin push-up bra with black, lace edging. It gives the illusion of cleavage, and I feel sexy in it. The panties that match are brief and ride up my butt in the back, but he'll figure that out soon enough. I am also wearing a matching garter belt that attaches to the black, thigh-high stockings.

Ace groans as his eyes roam over me hungrily. “Tell me I'm not dreaming.”

His reaction is empowering, and my nerves begin to ease. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he's liking what he's seeing. “Why don't you come find out,” I tease as I turn around, giving him a view of my nearly bare bottom.

I hear a heartfelt groan behind me as I saunter towards my room, giving my hips a little extra sway. I'm pretty sure he's going to take control of the situation, and I can't wait. My boldness will only go so far until the nerves kick in again.

I'm just stepping into my room when warm arms slip around me, pulling me back against a rock-hard chest. I go still in his embrace as his hands slide around my waist to lie flat on my stomach. Ace's lips move close to my ear and he murmurs, “You are the sexiest sight I have ever seen.”

I smile and turn my head to say something but his lips capture mine. There is no build up to the kiss. It's raw and deep, letting me know that Ace is definitely looking forward to where this evening is leading. As his tongue strokes mine, his hands grip my hips and tugs them back as he grinds into my lower back, allowing me to feel his erection behind his pants. My breath quickens slightly and Ace promptly ends the kiss.

His hooded eyes gaze down at me. “As much as I am loving the sight of you in this, I want it off so I can see what is beneath it.”

I show him with my eyes that I am ready to take things further than I ever have before with him.

He smiles and then backs up a pace behind me. It's hard to crane my neck that far, so I turn my head forward as I feel his hand reach out and caress my back. I can't help but shiver slightly. My hair is brushed to the side, and those confident fingers trail down to where my bra is fastened. One second I am covered and the next my bra is on the floor at my feet. I am no longer shy about my breasts, and I feel my nipples go erect with the anticipation of him touching me there.

Ace has no urge to rush, and I like that we're going to go slow. His hands caress my back, and I can feel him tracing each and every butterfly tattoo. “I love these tattoos,” he murmurs, and then his lips tenderly kiss one near my shoulder. It covers one of my scars, and as he places his lip over each butterfly that hides a scar, I feel tears sting my eyes at his heartfelt gesture. Whether he loves the tattoos or not, he's showing me that what lies beneath the tattoos is what matters to him most. He kisses each one as if he could soothe away the pain that it brought me.

Ace doesn't speak. His lips finish soothing my scars and they trail to the base of my spine. I can tell that he's now on his knees behind me by the way his hands slide around my thighs, causing my breath to hitch.

“I love this ass. I could stare at it all fucking day and never tire of it,” he tells me as his hands move up to cup both my cheeks.

My lips curve into a smile. “I'm glad you like it so much.”

“I'm obsessed with it, and I want to see it bare. Time to get these off you.” I feel his fingers working to release each and every clip on the stockings. “I want you to wear this for me again sometime when I'm in the mood to enjoy it more. I'd like to fuck you in them, but not tonight.”

I like how he talks to me while he works on undressing me. I've always enjoyed the way he talks dirty, and it makes me wet every single time. As he unrolls the stocking down my left leg, I obediently lift it so he can slide the silk over my foot. He tosses it aside carelessly, then slides his hands from the base of my ankle all the way up to my thigh, giving me a full body shiver.

“Like that do you?” he asks as if we're having a normal conversation rather than about to have sex.

I stare at the bed and lick my lips with anticipation. “I always like it when you touch me.”

“Mmm. Just wait until it's my dick and not my fingers.” He slides the next stocking down, and I lift my foot. Both his hands now slide up my legs, and I let my eyes shut as I savor his touch. He makes quick work of the garter belt and it's tossed aside. His patience must be running out, because he doesn't torture me slowly like he had with the stockings. My panties are quickly dragged down my hips, and I step out of them.

Now there's silence behind me, and my face heats slightly. When he'd pulled them off, I'd felt the wetness trail down my leg with the fabric. I am embarrassingly turned on. Instead of commenting on the obvious, Ace's hands once again go to my butt. A soft giggle escapes me before I can hold it in.

His hands go still. “Did you just giggle?”

“Your fascination with my butt is entertaining.” A yelp escapes me as I feel his teeth playfully sink into my left cheek. His grip on my hips is the only thing that keeps me from turning around to confront him.

I feel his tongue soothe the tender spot. “If you're giggling and talking, I'm not doing my job.” With that said, his hand reaches between my legs to cup me, his palm pressing into my wetness as his fingers play with the small bit of pubic hair I keep trimmed. I gasp and go completely still. “That's better. I love that you're ready for me, and we've barely just started,” he says, his tone still light as if we're having a normal conversation.

I can't resist looking down to see his tanned fingers covering me. I watch as they slowly disappear, and I moan as one finger slides up into me. It's joined by a second finger, and I tense up slightly. I haven't had sex in a long time, and I already feel my muscles trying to accommodate the intrusion.

Ace groans from behind me. “You're even tighter than I thought you would be.” His fingers abruptly disappear, and then he's standing behind me, hands on my hips again. “Walk forward to the bed,” he orders.

My heart picks up speed, and I'm finding that I like this controlling side of Ace. He knows what he wants, and I'm more than willing to give it to him. This is a different Ace than the one that had tensed up on his bed that night. This Ace knows he doesn't have to hide anything from me. He can be himself and know that I'm not going to do anything that would make him bolt.

I step forward to the bed, and Ace's hands stay on my hips. When my knees touch the edge, I wait for his next request.

“I want your knees on the bed.”

Very carefully, I ease onto the bed and straighten up so that I'm kneeling with my ankles and feet dangling off, my back still to him.

“Good girl. Spread your legs a bit so I can stand directly behind you.”

I wonder if my entire body is flushing as much as my face feels like it is. I part my knees more and immediately feel Ace move up behind me so that my feet dangle on either side of his legs. His warm hands tug me back against his still fully clothed body. I feel weird being completely naked in front of him while he's dressed, but it's also got me more than a little excited.

Warm hands drift up to my breasts, and they immediately begin to massage them while his fingers briefly flicker over my nipples. I gasp and shift restlessly against him. “So sexy,” he murmurs as I feel his lips touch the side of my neck. I instinctively arch my neck under his lips, giving him further access as my lashes drift shut. His tongue licks and plays with my skin, his teeth lightly scraping as his fingers now play with my nipples, rolling them between his fingers.

“Ace...” I moan as my hips press back into his. I'm aching for him to touch me between my legs.

“What do you want?” he whispers in a silky voice against my throat.

“Touch me. Please,” I say softly.

His hands stop toying with the sensitive tips of my breasts. “Touch you where?” he asks deliberately.

“You know where,” I plead, not wanting to say it out loud. I might be slowly coming out of my shell, but I still retain a little bit of shyness.

“Say it, or I won't do what you want,” he challenges.

My teeth sink into my lower lip. “Touch me...between my legs. Please,” I finally manage to say.

“So polite,” he murmurs. “I like it, but I'll like it even more if I can get you to talk dirty back to me.” His hands promptly leave my breasts, and one hand slides down between my legs. A finger slides through my slit, making me shudder. His free hand settles flat against my stomach, urging me to lean against his body. My head falls back to his chest, my eyes shut as that finger trails over that little, tight bud of nerves. At the first touch, my hips instinctively jerk. Ace's hand presses my lower body against his, not allowing me to move as his finger rubs small, seductive circles across the most sensitive part of my femininity. A whimper escapes me because I'm so close already. I can feel everything coiling up tightly in my lower belly.

“You're always so responsive,” Ace says lowly as his second finger joins the first. He presses them harder against the little bud, and his ministrations speed up. My breath hitches as I try to press my hips against those skillful fingers, but he won't let me move.

“C'mon Angel, fly for me,” he coaxes.

My release rips through me with no warning, and I cry out, shuddering in his arms. His fingers continue rubbing in circles, making me ride out the exquisite sensations rippling through my core. When I finally catch my breath, I am leaning limply against Ace.

“Fucking sexy. One of these days, I'm going to get you on that bed with your legs spread wide so I can get up close and personal with that little pussy of yours.” His words cause my inner muscles to clench again. “I'm overdressed. You okay to support yourself?”

“I'm good,” I say, my voice slightly husky. I pull myself out of his arms and slowly turn on my knees so I can watch him.

Ace stands there still fully dressed, and his eyes drop down to the flesh between my thighs. I hold myself still and let him stare at me even though I instinctively want to cover myself. I purse my lips and wait to see if he's going to say anything. When my eyes drop to his hips, I'm immediately distracted by the big bulge behind the fly of his pants. I will finally get to see him.

“Ah, Faith. You're so much better than I imagined,” Ace tells me softly.

My eyes dart up to his, and our eyes connect. The honesty in his gaze has my heart aching for his body to make me his in every way, and more than anything, I wish his heart were mine as well.