Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
“N o, no, no.” Maggie leaned forward, jerking on the Xbox controller.
She and Ace were in the middle of an epic battle of Skydrift Infinity, their colorful planes barreling through the fast-paced race.
He was sprawled beside her on the big couch, a half smile on his lips. His movie room kicked ass. The screen was huge, and a comfy, U-shaped couch sat in front of it.
“Got to move faster than that, gatinha .”
“I’ll show you faster.”
Her plane darted across some lava and she fired her weapons. He dodged, his low chuckle sending shivers through her.
She was totally blaming pregnancy hormones. It felt like everything he said, every shift of his body, she noticed. And felt it low in her belly.
She couldn’t afford to fall for him. The risk was far too great.
She licked her lips and focused on the screen.
Life had dumped scary on top of complicated. She was pregnant, and hadn’t had a chance to truly process that yet, and now someone was trying to kill her.
Dios .
“Maggie?”
She looked up and realized that she’d lost focus, and her plane exploded in a fireball. “Sorry.”
He paused the game and set his controller down on the coffee table. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
She pulled in a shaky breath. “Everything. I mean, I’ve had no time to process the fact that I’m going to have a baby.”
His gaze dropped for a second to her belly. “It’s a lot to take in.”
“And now someone is trying to kill me.” She shook her head. “I understood the risk I was taking when I was in the Navy. My helo was shot at, but this—” she flung an arm out “—being attacked on my own street, for no apparent reason…”
Ace grabbed her hand and squeezed. “We’re going to work it out.”
She had a sudden thought. He was going to guard her, be her shield. What if he got hurt? Her stomach tried to turn itself inside out at the thought.
“Ace…”
“Shh.” He slid close and pulled her against him.
She fit perfectly against his body, her head on his shoulder. Her gaze fell on the sexy tattoos on his arm, and her eyes traced over the ink.
“Tomorrow, we’ll go through anyone on your client list who doesn’t check out. My program’s crawling through the data. We’ll look into anyone with debts, with secrets.”
“It just doesn’t make any damn sense.”
He kissed the top of her head.
Heat curled through her and she slid a hand onto his thigh. What if, just for a little while, she could escape all this madness? Yes, she had to guard her heart, but that didn’t mean she had to deny herself completely, right? Just for one night, she could feel safe and wanted.
She felt his muscles flex.
“Maggie…”
She turned her head and pressed her lips to the side of his neck.
His hands tightened on her. “We aren’t doing this.”
She stilled. He’d kissed her yesterday. Was he suddenly turned off now, knowing she was pregnant?
She looked down, to see the bulge in his jeans. Her lips curled. No, that wasn’t it. She walked her fingers closer, but he caught them. God, she loved his hands.
“You’ve had a rough day, gatinha .”
God, he was being nice, noble. Those weren’t words she’d thought she’d ever use to describe Ace Oliveira.
“Yes, and coping just fine, thanks to you.” She nipped his neck. “You came for me when I needed you. You’re protecting me.”
He groaned and she ran her teeth and tongue down his salty skin, causing his groan to deepen.
“You don’t owe me anything for that.”
“I know.” She cupped his cock through the denim. “I haven’t stopped thinking about that night.”
With a harsh sound, he moved.
She found herself flat on her back on the couch, pinned under his hard body.
“Ace,” she breathed.
“I’m trying to do the right thing. You need rest.”
“I know what I need.” She gripped the side of his head and kissed him.
He paused for a second, then his tongue plunged into her mouth. She pressed up into him and purred.
She bit his lip. He had the sexiest lips. “What I need is to forget for a little while.”
He groaned. “You’re a troublemaker.”
She realized that she desperately wanted to be his troublemaker. Her heart did a crazy little dance. No . Sex only. This would end eventually, and Ace would head back to his carefree-bachelor life. She had to keep a tight lock on her feelings.
Life had taught her that it was better to protect yourself. People could bruise you so easily, like her dad often did, without even meaning to.
Stop thinking, Maggie.
That’s what she wanted. Just for a little while.
She pulled Ace’s head back to hers. The kiss was hard, their tongues tangling. She rubbed against him, and that hard cock pressed right where she wanted it.
Ace tore his mouth free. “I’m not fucking you.”
She frowned, desire leaving her edgy and restless. “Why not?”
“Because I’m being a good guy here. I’m putting you first.”
She pouted. “By leaving me all hot and bothered and horny?”
He shot her a sexy grin. His hair had slipped from its tie, framing his lean face. “You horny, gatinha ?” He stroked a hand down her side.
She arched up. “Yes.”
“Then maybe I can do something about that.”
Both his hands stroked down and unbuttoned her jeans.
Mmm, she loved those clever hands of his. Ace had long, talented fingers.
He shifted, pulling her jeans and panties off. Maggie was soaked, her breath already coming in little pants.
“Look at you,” he murmured, stroking her thighs. “All long and sexy.”
She wrinkled her nose. “You mean straight up and down.”
He cupped her hip. “You have curves where it counts.”
The look in his eyes left no doubt that he liked what he saw. He pushed her shirt up, hesitated, then he pressed soft kisses to her flat belly.
Oh . The hit of emotion shocked her. He was kissing right over where their child was growing.
He moved lower, pushing her thighs apart. “The sounds you made when I fucked you have haunted my dreams.” He stroked his fingers up her thighs.
“ Ace .” Her hips jerked up.
“When I was away, I jerked off, thinking about you. You taking my cock, stroking my cock, sucking my cock.”
Maggie moaned. “So let me have it.”
“Not yet. First, I’m going to spend some time with this pretty pussy.”
He lowered his head.
Oh. God .
He licked her, and her head shot back into the cushions. He held her thighs apart and took his time driving her crazy. Every lick was designed to stimulate.
He bit her inner thigh. “You like me licking you, gatinha ?”
“ Yes .”
“You taste like fucking heaven.”
His tongue stabbed into her and she gripped his hair and moaned.
“How about when I suck you?”
She panted. “Sucking is good, too.”
“Hmm, let’s see.” His tongue swirled around her clit. Her cries turned garbled, and then he sucked.
“Ace.” She bucked and jerked.
“Maybe you need my fingers, too?” He thrust two inside her.
Her cries turned frantic now, pleasure growing so huge that it was hard to breathe. He kept thrusting, his mouth back on her clit. The pleasure arrowed through her, and then her world exploded.
She screamed his name, tugging on his hair.
When Maggie opened her eyes, she felt too damn lazy to move. Little aftershocks of pleasure were still rippling through her.
Ace leaned over her, a smug masculine look on his face. His lips glistened.
“It’s not conclusive if you preferred the licking or sucking. I might need to conduct a few more tests.”
She laughed. God, when had she laughed during sex with a guy? For her, it had always been about a quick, fun tussle, then she’d be on her way.
A guy had never held back his own pleasure, and taken his time to see what she really liked.
“Bed for you.” With that announcement Ace rose, then scooped her up off the couch.
Maggie was tall, and Ace was lean, but he carried her with ease. There was strength in that rangy body of his.
She snuggled into him as he carried her down the hall to the guest room.
“You’re going to sleep now, knowing you’re safe.”
He sat on the bed. She looked at the bulge in his jeans. “You could stay.”
“We both know we wouldn’t be sleeping if I stayed.” He smiled. “I’m going to jerk off in the shower, picturing you clenching on my cock.”
Her womb spasmed. “Ace.”
“Sleep well, gatinha .”
* * *
It was a scream that woke Ace.
He leaped out of his tangled sheets and grabbed his Glock off the bedside table.
In just his boxers, he sprinted out of his bedroom, his blood pumping. The alarm hadn’t gone off, nor had his external sensors. No one could be inside.
He raced into Maggie’s room. She sat in the middle of the bed, shaking and breathing harshly.
“Maggie?” He scanned the room. There was nobody there.
He didn’t get a reply. It was like she didn’t see him.
He set the gun on the bedside table and snapped on the lamp.
She was staring ahead, almost hyperventilating. Then she started slapping her arms. “I’m on fire,” she cried.
Ace slid into the bed and pulled her close. “You’re fine, Maggie. You’re all right. You’re at my place.”
She pulled in a shuddering breath and blinked. “Ace?”
“I’m here, baby. Just hold on.”
With a sob, she buried her face in his neck. She wound her arms around him and held on tight.
He stroked her back. She was only wearing a tiny, black tank top and panties.
Ignoring those luscious, long legs, he kept stroking her, murmuring soothing words in her ear.
After one more shudder, she relaxed. “ Dios .”
“ Deus in Portuguese,” he said, trying to lighten the mood. “Nightmare?”
She nodded. “The bomb went off, and I was on fire.”
“It’s a normal reaction.”
She made a sound. “I’m fine. I don’t need to fall apart over it. I made it.”
“Give yourself a break, gatinha .” He looked into her face. She had the crease of the pillow on one cheek, and her hair was a little mussed. She looked as cute as hell. And if he told her that, she’d probably bite him.
She shook her head. “I was never allowed to fall apart, or cry. Dad said he was raising a tough daughter.”
Ace frowned. He was liking Leo Lopez even less. “You want to cry or scream, go right ahead.”