13. Sheri
13
SHERI
To my disappointment, he reverses his path, hands moving back up my torso. This time he bypasses my breasts and continues over my shoulders, kneading and massaging my back. He stops to lavish attention on my ass. He slides a finger down the seam, and I jolt, then moan when he gently probes my rosebud.
It’s not something Maverick and I ever tried, but standing in the shower with warm water caressing my body on one hand and Ace worshipping on the other, I would be open to trying. But he doesn’t linger there too long before moving down my legs.
I’m ready to melt into a puddle when he turns me around and I find him on his knees.
“Be a good girl and put your leg over my shoulder, sweet cheeks.”
Heat pooling low, I comply with unseemly haste, bracing against the tiles so I don’t slip. Ace blows a stream of air across my pussy lips, and a shiver wracks my entire body.
“Hold on,” is all he says, his voice gruff. And then he lays his lips on me.
Lord have mercy.
I don’t know where this man learned to do the things he’s doing with that tongue of his — and maybe I don’t want to know — but damn. Fifteen out of ten would recommend — the moves, not the man. Because I intend to hang onto him for as long as I can.
A moan, so low and deep I don’t recognize my own voice, escapes from somewhere deep down in my diaphragm. My core tightens and the muscles start to constrict as I feel my orgasm build. I feel surrounded by Ace — a hand on my ass, fingers in my pussy, mouth and teeth teasing my clit, until I’m about ready to go out of my mind.
But when he sucks the tiny, engorged nub into the warm, wet cavern of his mouth and pulls strongly? I forget everything. I’d be hard pressed to remember my own name at this point. His mouth rhythmically pulling, his fingers teasing the Holy Grail spot, has my legs shaking and weak. There’s a very real risk my legs won’t hold me up for much longer. All I know is, if I should collapse in a boneless heap on the floor, I’d be A-okay with that. Because mama mia.
My orgasm blows through me like a hurricane, leaving me completely wrecked. My legs begin to buckle under me, but Ace is there to catch me. And before the delicious tremors can dissipate, he thrusts into me, my pussy muscles contracting around his rock-hard shaft.
I wrap myself around him like a vine and hold on for dear life. He sets a fast pace, and I can feel another orgasm build. But, before I can go over the edge, I feel Ace’s body go rock solid beneath my hands.
“Fuck.” His curse is uttered in a harsh tone, and I’m a little confused, before he enlightens me. “Got so caught up in you, I forgot a fucking condom.”
It takes a moment for my brain to catch up. “It’s okay, babe. I’m on birth control. We’re safe.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. You can come inside me. It’s okay.” My words have barely cleared my lips and he’s burying himself deep inside my body.
“Yeeeessss,” I hiss as sensation floods my body, headiness fizzing through my veins.
Sliding his hands up my back and over my shoulders to grip me close and tight, Ace drives into me like a man possessed. And all I can do is hang on, a willing participant in this race to the finish line. Back to trembling on the precipice of pleasure, Ace cries out his release, and I want to cry for missing my second chance at this final orgasm.
But I should have known he wouldn’t leave me hanging. This sweet man is all about caring for others. Sinking his teeth into my shoulder, his hips keep that delicious cock of his pistoning in and out me, pushing me ever closer to free fall.
And then he hits just the spot, and I see fireworks explode behind my closed eyelids, feeling my body go weightless as one of the most powerful orgasms I’ve ever experienced rips through my body, leaving me breathless and limp in his arms.
Ace secures me in his embrace, ensuring I won’t fall, and lowers himself to the floor of the shower. For a long time, we sit there, simply holding each other and working hard to catch our breath. I rest my head on his shoulder, and he rubs a hand up and down my spine, lulling me into drifting outside myself.
The splash of suddenly cold water on my back brings me back to earth, and myself, jarringly. Unable to prevent it, a squeak of surprise issues from my lips.
“I guess that’s our sign it’s time to hop out of the shower,” Ace says through a laugh.
“Yeah, I guess.” I can’t help but laugh with him.
Taking the quickest shower in history, Ace hurries to wash his body while braving the now ice-cold water. And then, through kisses, pets, and laughter, we manage to get ourselves dried and dressed.
“Coffee?” I ask as we exit the guest room.
“Yeah, I’d love some.”
Mugs in hand, we settle in the living room, falling into conversation that’s always come easily and naturally to us. We’re making final plans for our weekend away, relaxed and comfortable in each other’s company, when his phone rings.
Checking caller ID, he grimaces, and my body tenses.
“Hey, Merlin.” Ace listens for a bit, his face creasing in irritation. “Yeah, okay. Will do. See you shortly.”
I want to cry as he tucks his phone back in his pocket.
“You headed out again?”
“Yes,” he says, regret in his eyes. “I’m sorry, sweet cheeks. Our high value target has blipped on the radar again, and we need to go.” He leans over to drop the sweetest kiss on my lips. “I’m really sorry, babe. I think we’re going to have to cancel our weekend away after all. Again. Something about this mission tells me this trip isn’t going to be as quick as the last.”
At his words, a feeling of foreboding settles into my bones, and I want to cling to Ace and never let go. To beg him to stay here with me and never leave. But this isn’t my first rodeo, and I know how things work. So, plastering a fake smile on my lips, I get to my feet and escort him to the door.
When we reach it, he takes me into his arms, wrapping them tightly around me and holding me close to his heart. Something in the way he’s holding me communicates that he’s feeling a similar sense of unease. There’s nothing solid to base it on, and yet I can’t shake the feeling. Reluctant to let go, I cling to him until he drops a kiss on my head and gently untangles my arms from around his neck.
“I have to go, sweet cheeks. I don’t want to, but I don’t have a choice. Uncle Sam calls, and I’m obliged to answer. You know that.”
“Yeah, I do. I just wanted to hold on for a little longer. You know?”
“Yes, ma’am. I do.” He pauses a moment and then hits me right in the solar plexus. “You’re the only person I’ve met that’s ever made me question my career choices. Never before have I ever wanted to shirk my duties, say to hell with it and suffer the consequences, just to be able to stay with you.”
“Ace — wow. Um, I — I don’t know what to say.”
“Nothing to say, sweet cheeks. Other than I love you, and I will try my level best to come home to you, safe and unharmed. More than that I cannot promise.”
Hugging him to me one last time, a lump the size of a boulder lodges in my throat, I whisper in his ear. “I love you too. You’re in my thoughts and prayers. Be safe.”
With one last toe-curling kiss, Ace opens the front door and walks to his vehicle. Only looking back once before he climbs in and, with one last wave, drives away.
With an unbearable ache in my chest, I make my way over to the sofa to call Karen to let her know the weekend away is off. I’m guessing something in my voice clues her in that all is not well in my world, but thankfully, she doesn’t grill me about it. She simply offers to take the boys anyway since hers are looking forward to having their friends there.
“Sure, we can do that. Thanks so much, Karen. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie. The boys are always welcome here. And, honestly, you sound like you need a break — a little time for Mama, and I gotcha girl.”
I quickly say goodbye when my phone beeps an incoming call in my ear. Glancing at the screen, I can’t say goodbye quickly enough .
“Ace.”
“Hey, babe. I’m about to board, but I couldn’t leave without telling you one last time that I love you.”
“I love you too, baby. Hurry home to me.”
“Take care, sweet cheeks. I’ll see you soon.”
Ending the call, that’s when the tears finally come. My world feels so uncertain at the moment, and now I have this God-awful sense of impending doom. Like something bad’s going to happen and I don’t know how to deal with it. I can’t even talk to Leila about it.
With a teary sigh, I curl up on the sofa and give into the tears until my nose is redder than Rudolph’s and my throat is raw and scratchy. Noticing the time, I heave another heartfelt sigh and roll my ass off the sofa to rinse my face so I can go fetch my children.
All I can do is pray that Ace will come home to me, safe and uninjured. And will this knot in the pit of my stomach to go away.