20. Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Scarlet
I t’s been two days since Theo barged into Ace’s room and treated me like some high school girl in need of saving. The whole thing was infuriating. What’s even worse is that Ace cast me aside, telling me to get out as if this whole situation didn’t involve me. Since then, I’ve been avoiding them all—dodging their calls and ignoring Theo’s relentless texts. I can’t help but wonder what they said to Ace, especially considering he's now closed off to me.
But I can still feel his eyes on me. It’s maddening. Why can’t my brothers get it through their heads that I’m a grown-ass woman, not someone they need to protect all the damn time?
With drumsticks in hand, I’m in my hotel room tapping out a beat on the coffee table, my mind a whirlwind of frustration. Why is this so fucking hard? Why can’t they just stay out of my business? I’m dying to know what they said to Ace, to figure out where things stand, but I refuse to be the one to ask. I’m too angry, too hurt. Yet deep down, I know that if he touched me, kissed me, all this frustration would melt away in an instant.
After another killer performance last night, I should be riding high, but this shit just keeps looping in my head. My phone pings, and I glance at the screen to see another text from Theo. I ignore it. I know he’ll take my silence as a rejection, and maybe it might sting a little, but I need to make a point. They can’t keep doing this to me forever. I need to set some boundaries.
I’ve never felt this alone, and it’s infuriating because Ace and I were finally starting to bond. This time was different—different in the way we connected, in the way he opened up to me about the things I know weigh on him. It didn’t feel like just another casual hookup. Thinking back, I realize he didn’t give me his usual bullshit line about being nothing more than a quick fuck. And the way he looks at me now—it’s not just lust. There’s something deeper there, like he sees me in a way no one else ever has, like I’m the most beautiful thing in his world.
I know from what Ace told me the other day that he’s never really had love in his life—never had anyone who truly saw him for who he is, flaws and all. And here I am, feeling an undeniable connection between us, but I can’t shake the thought that it may never reach that point. I don’t even know if he’s capable of letting himself fall for someone, especially after everything he’s been through.
A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts, interrupting the rhythm I’ve been tapping out on the coffee table. I get up off the floor, leaving my sticks behind as I take a deep breath. It’s probably just Theo. I remind myself to maintain the distance between us, even though it hurts just as much to keep him at arm’s length.
I pull open the door, surprised to find Ace standing there. Hands shoved into his pockets, hair tousled and falling over his forehead, looking sexy as hell. Just seeing him causes my heart to race. His eyes sweep over me slowly, like I’m a goddamn feast, and it’s clear I’m affecting him. I see it in the way his tongue darts out over his bottom lip, like he’s fighting not to lose control. And honestly, that’s exactly what I want—I want him to completely come undone.
“Hey,” I say casually, turning away, feeling smug that I’m still wearing my tight sleep shorts and a snug top that barely covers my stomach. I know that if I glance back, his eyes will be on my ass. Instead, I head to the couch and sit down, deliberately avoiding his gaze, though I can still see him out of the corner of my eye. He walks over and sits beside me. That’s when it hits —the scent of him, a captivating blend of rich leather and cedarwood. It stirs something deep, making it hard to focus. All I want is to get lost in him, but somehow, I maintain my composure.
Both of us remain silent, waiting for the other to speak, the clock ticking away like a countdown. He runs his hand through his hair, tension radiating off him as he searches for something to say that might ease the silence. But after he told me to leave the room like I was nothing, I refuse to be the one to break the silence. I’m used to my brothers treating me like this, but I never expected Ace to do the same. It stings more than I care to admit, the realization that even someone I care about could dismiss me so easily.
Finally, after what feels like the longest, most awkward silence in history, he speaks. “I’m sorry about the other day, Scar, and I’m sorry I’ve been keeping my distance.” He turns his head, and I can see the truth in his eyes. “I’ve been an asshole, and I know it.”
“Yeah, you have,” I reply, not giving him an inch. My whole life, I've been treated like I don’t have a brain to make my own decisions, and having the man I love do that too, it hurts like hell.
“I just don’t know…” He lets out a sigh, and I can see the struggle written all over his face. He glances around the room before his eyes return to me. “I’m fucked up, Scar. I have no fucking idea what I’m doing or what I’m feeling.”
For a moment, the vulnerability in his voice tugs at something deep inside me, a flicker of hope igniting. “But you’re here,” I say softly. I can see it in his eyes—the flicker of something more, a hint that maybe he feels as I do. “What happened in the room once I left?”
“Just Theo and Nate letting me know how I fucked up and broke bro code.”
The sheer absurdity of it makes me roll my eyes. So what, because I’m their sister, any guy they know is off-limits?
“I did, Scar, big time. Theo gave me another punch to bring that point home. The fucker’s got a mean right hook, but I’d never tell him that.” He rubs his jaw, a smirk playing on his lips.
“It’s ridiculous how those two think they can control my life.”
“They’re just looking out for you, that’s all.”
“No, they want to control everything I do, and I’m sick to death of it. I can fuck whoever the hell I want, and it’s none of their business.”
I cross my legs, and catch the way his gaze drops, lingering just a little too long. He shifts in his chair, trying to get comfortable, but I can tell the sight of me in these tight shorts is getting to him. His eyes keep darting over me, and I notice the way his body tenses with every little movement I make. I can’t help but smirk, knowing I’m getting under his skin.
To push him further, I let my hand slide slowly up my thigh, brushing against the edge of my shorts. I shift my position, making my shirt rise a little higher to reveal even more skin. His gaze follows my every move, and I notice his clenched jaw as he fights to maintain his composure.
Leaning in slightly, I let my fingers trail teasingly along his leg. Before I even reach the top of his thigh, I can see how rock hard he is beneath the fabric. I glance up at him, catching that raw, unfiltered desire burning in his eyes.
“Scar,” he breathes, and even though he knows he shouldn’t go there—especially with Nate and Theo aware of us—that heated look in his eyes tells me he’s desperate to. Desperate to lose himself in me, and that’s exactly what I want.
I close the distance between us, sliding onto his lap and straddling him, my body pressing against his. I drag my nose down the side of his neck, as his hands grip my hips, holding me firmly in place. “I don’t care what they say, Ace,” I murmur, my lips brushing against his skin. “If I want to fuck you, that’s between you and me—not them.”
I pull back to search his face, my heart racing as his nostrils flare. His eyes roam every inch of my features, and God, I want to see this man come apart at the seams, to shatter into a million pieces. With that thought spurring me on, I grind against him.
“Scar,” he says, and I feel his fingers digging into my skin, more possessive on my hips.
“Do you want to fuck me, Ace?” I ask, my voice steady despite the intensity of the moment. I don’t care anymore; I can see the war raging inside him, the way his breathing shifts. Those dark eyes grow heavy with lust. I can feel the tight band of his self-control weakening, so I push him further. “I want you to fuck me, Ace.”
His jaw tightens, and before I can register what’s happening, a surprised squeal escapes me as he grabs me and lifts me effortlessly, getting up from the couch as if I weigh nothing.
His grip on me remains unyielding as he strides toward the bed, his intense gaze fixed on mine. As we move, his lips crash against mine with a fierce, urgent need, and I can feel the raw hunger radiating from him. I cling to him, desperate to feel more, as he pulls me closer and lowers me onto the bed. Our breaths mingle, heavy and uneven, every touch and kiss setting my skin on fire.
“Stay fucking still,” he says, his voice low and commanding. It’s not a request; it’s an order—one I’m not stupid enough to disobey. He shifts off me, peeling my tiny shorts away with effortless ease, followed by my shirt. I lay there, breathless, watching as his jaw tightens and his eyes scan my body, taking in every curve and contour, before pausing on my pussy. My chest rises and falls with quick, frantic pants as he spreads my legs wide. I can see the tension in his face, a mix of desire and restraint.
A shiver races down my spine as his fingers trace a slow path along my body, lighting up every nerve. My heart pounds in my chest, his intense gaze never wavering. Each touch pushes me closer to the edge, winding me tighter, drawing soft moans from my lips. The hunger he stirs in me is overwhelming, and the need building inside feels like it’s about to break loose, impossible to contain.
His fingers trailing down the sensitive skin of my inner thighs. Up and down, slow and deliberate. When he zeroes in on that one spot that makes me gasp, he lingers there, teasing me just when I least expect it. It’s like he’s learning my body, mapping out all my pleasure points so he can exploit them in the most deliciously wicked ways.
My breath catches, and I bite down on my lip, trying to stifle the moan threatening to escape. The heat between us is unbearable, and I squirm beneath his touch, my hands gripping the sheets as I struggle to stay still. Every nerve is on fire, and all I can think about is how much I want him to push me over the edge, to lose myself completely in him.
“Ace,” I breathe out, feeling his fingertips graze softly over my pussy, igniting a need for him that swells to almost unbearable levels. A whimper of frustration escapes me when he suddenly shifts course, trailing his fingers across my hip bone, deliberately avoiding the spot that’s beginning to throb with desire. “Please.”
I bite my lip so hard it hurts, and just when I think I might burst, I finally feel his touch where I ache the most. My thighs tremble as he outlines the shape of my pussy, each stroke sending ripples of pleasure through me. The tension builds, and I’m lost in the heat of the moment, craving more of him with every fiber of my being.
Without warning, his movements come to a rapid halt, and he leans in closer, inhaling my scent like he’s savoring the moment. The intensity in his eyes speaks volumes, a silent promise that has my heart racing and my body aching for him.
“Ace,” I gasp, squirming as he trails his tongue up the length of my slit. His eyes are locked on mine, and the sensation makes an unintelligible sound escape my lips. I grip the top of his head, urging him on as he shifts directions, moving his tongue in slow, torturous circles. It’s a delicious blend of pleasure and frustration. I exhale sharply, my body craving more, and when I look down at him, I catch a glimpse of the small smirk spreading across his face. Then, without warning, he blows hot air across my pussy. The sensation is mindblowing.
My entire body ignites when he begins licking and sucking on my clit. I whimper and writhe beneath him, pleasure lighting me up from the inside, building and building until I can barely contain it.
“Oh God,” I moan, shamelessly grinding against his face, craving more. His tongue applies just the right amount of pressure, flicking and sucking in all the right ways, changing direction just when I think I know what to expect. Damn it, this guy is about to make me melt from the inside out with the pleasure he’s giving me. I know that in about ten seconds, I’ll be losing my fucking mind.
I moan loudly, grinding harder and quicker against his face, taking exactly what I need as he pushes me over the edge. My orgasm crashes with such intensity that it takes several moments for me to recover. When I finally come back to my senses, I notice his penetrating gaze. It’s predatory, and I see the smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth, radiating arrogance—as if he knows exactly what he’s done to me and he’s reveling in it.