Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
“T ake it easy.”
Vander had also told her that they’d have the police do drive-bys, although that made Maggie feel less safe, not more.
At the top of the stairs, she hurried to the couch. “Sit down. I’ll get you a drink. And a snack. We missed lunch.”
Ace caught her hips. “Maggie.”
She sucked in a breath and met his gaze.
“Relax,” he said. “I’m okay.”
But he could’ve died. If the bullet had just been a few inches over, it would’ve caught his chest. She sniffed. If he died…
She was so damn in love with him.
It terrified her.
“Let me look after you,” she whispered. “I need to.”
Something moved through his gaze. He nodded.
She flitted around in his kitchen and made some sandwiches for them both—thick-cut ham, mustard, cheese. She poured some of his favorite guaraná soda.
“You have a job this afternoon,” he reminded her.
“Yes, but I’m in no condition to fly.” She sat beside him.
“I’ve already called in a pilot friend of mine, Penny.
We were buds from the Navy. It means that I don’t make as much, but she’s good and safe.
She’ll take care of my clients, and she flirts outrageously with Gus. He pretends not to like it.”
Ace smiled and shoved half a sandwich at her.
She nibbled it.
His phone pinged. “Text from Vander.” A scowl flowed over Ace’s face. “They questioned the attackers. They aren’t talking. They’re afraid of whoever hired them.”
“Damn. So that leaves us at a dead end.” With no idea who was responsible for Adrian Marks’ death, or who was trying to kill her.
Ace smiled darkly. “Vander’s put Rhys on the case and he’s a hell of an investigator. He’s digging into Mark’s life. And Vander’s got feelers out, so it won’t be long, and we’ll find these assholes.”
They finished eating, and Maggie saw Ace shift and wince. “Okay, pain pill for you.”
“I’m fine.”
“No.” She grabbed the pills that Ryder had given him. “Take one, then you need to rest.”
He arched a brow.
“You got shot, Ace.”
“It’s a graze. It’s fine.”
“Rest.” She glared at him.
Then he got a look in his eyes that she didn’t quite trust.
“I’ll lie down if you lie down with me.”
She eyed him. She was pretty sure he was up to something. “All right.”
He let her lead him to his bedroom. The room was bright and airy, with gleaming, wooden floors, and a large, wooden bed made up with a cream-and-navy cover. Above the bed, an interesting twist of metal hung on the wall.
Ace lowered the blinds, and when he pulled off the shirt he’d borrowed from a stash at the Norcross office, she almost swallowed her tongue.
He had a lean chest, and abs—not super cut, more toned like a swimmer’s. She knew that he ran in the gym regularly. That intriguing tattoo wrapped around his forearm, and God, it suited him.
“Maggie?”
Shaking off her daze, she kicked off her shoes.
“Those jeans won’t be comfy.” He lay back on the bed and closed his eyes, not even looking at her. “Take them off.”
She hesitated, then shoved her jeans down, leaving her in her panties and long-sleeved T-shirt. She lay down beside him. Hmm . She wasn’t sure she could rest. She was too highly conscious of him lying beside her.
Suddenly, he sprung up, his body covering hers.
“Ace!”
“Now I’ve got you right where I want you.” His fingers skimmed along her jaw, her lips.
“You’re supposed to rest.”
“I said I’d lie down. I’m lying down.” His hands skimmed her body and cupped her breasts.
She couldn’t stop her moan.
“These pretty tits are going to get bigger.” His eyes gleamed.
“Typical male.”
He pushed her shirt up and sucked one lace-covered nipple into his mouth.
Maggie moaned. It felt so good.
“Your arm,” she breathed.
“What arm?” He sucked harder.
“ Ace .” She slid a hand into his silky hair.
“It’s fine, Maggie. I know my limits.”
She shoved up, pushing him onto his back. “I’m going to make you rest.” She ran her hands over his chest. All that smooth, bronze skin, those intriguing muscles.
He arched into her touch. “Well, I guess I’ll stay lying flat on my back, if you promise to do exactly what I want.”
She narrowed her gaze. That sexy smile fogged her head. She tried to see through this deal of his. The man had trouble written all over him.
“Flat on your back?” she asked.
He nodded.
Heat flooded Maggie’s belly. He’d always made her feel so much. She could’ve lost him today. He could’ve died, been gone, all because he’d been protecting her.
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
“Hey.” He cupped her jaw. “We’re both right here, gatinha . Alive, breathing, together.”
Maggie was done protecting herself, protecting her heart.
If he did end up denting it, it would be better to have had him, for any length of time. To have brilliant, life-filled moments to remember, and share with their child.
“Okay,” she whispered.
His sexy eyes flared. “You’re all mine now, Maggie.”
Her heart skipped a beat. He looked so wicked.
“Take your shirt and panties off,” he ordered.
“Why?” she asked warily.
“I want you to climb up here and straddle my face so I can eat that pretty pussy.”
Her lower body clenched, blooming with heat.
“You promised,” he reminded her.
Licking her lips, she slid off him and onto the bed. She pulled her T-shirt off, then her bra, then she reached down and skimmed her panties down her legs. She was panting, her heart racing.
“Come here,” he growled.
She straddled him. She paused, rubbing herself on his sexy abs.
He growled again. “Tease.” He gripped her hips. “That’s not where I want you.”
Maggie moved up, not wanting him to hurt his arm. She sat with her thighs on either side of his head. He shot her a sexy grin, warm breath fanning over her.
Her belly clenched.
“So pretty.”
Then his mouth was on her.
Maggie unsuccessfully bit back a moan. Her hands clamped on the headboard, and she needed the anchor as he licked and sucked. His tongue plunged.
A long, low moan tore out of her. Sensation flooded her and it was hard to breathe.
Ace was hungry and he was determined to take his fill of her. His mouth found her clit, sucking hard. She rocked against him.
“Yeah, gatinha . Ride my face.” His tongue stabbed deep. “You taste like heaven, Maggie.”
She couldn’t think. She was just a mass of sensation. Ace’s hands clamped on her hips, urging her on as he sucked.
Then she fragmented into a thousand, pleasure-soaked shards. She screamed his name.
When she could see and hear and think again, she was on her back on the sheets, a very pleased Ace at her side, smiling at her.
“So fucking beautiful.” His hands slid up her thigh. She quivered. “I love how you give me everything in bed, Maggie. Now, I want more.”
* * *
His cock hurt. He was so damn hard for her.
His gatinha .
His Maggie.
Her taste was on his tongue. Ace let his gaze run down her slim body, and pretty pussy, bare except for a patch of dark curls. He slid his hands up her thighs.
“Your arm,” she said breathlessly.
It was throbbing a bit. Hmm . That meant he needed to get creative.
He slid off the bed, then gripped her and pulled her to the edge. She let out a gasp.
With his good arm doing most of the heavy work, he lifted her.
“ Ace .”
He quickly crossed the room to his dresser and set her on the edge. He cupped her breast—so high and firm. She was still flushed from her orgasm.
He ran a hand over her body, then slid a finger between her legs and inside her. She moaned, so wet and tight.
He flicked open his jeans.
“Maggie, I got tested the other week.” His voice was gritty. “It’s part of our regular Norcross health check.”
She licked her lips. “And I can’t get any more pregnant.” She gripped his cock and stroked. “And I’m healthy.”
Ace groaned, wrapped a hand around her neck and pulled her forehead to his.
They were close, intimate. It wasn’t how he’d ever fucked before. He wrapped his other hand around hers. Together, they guided his cock to her, sliding the head through her damp folds.
Ace thrust deep.
“God, Ace.” She threw her head back.
“ Maggie .” She was tight and hot around his cock.
“You feel so good deep inside me,” she murmured.
Ace started moving. He tugged her closer, running his tongue along the shell of her ear. “Damn, gatinha , it was like you were made just for me.”
He couldn’t stop. He increased the speed and power of his thrusts.
“Yes, Ace.” She rubbed against him, taking him, driving back against him.
He angled his hips, hoping each slide would hit where she needed it.
“God, yes .” Her body clenched on his cock, her nails scraping down his back.
“ Christ .” He powered into her.
One of her hands twisted in his hair. She whimpered, then she was coming.
Fuck . He leaned back so he could see her face, watch as she shuddered through her pleasure.
Sensation hit him like lightning. He grunted, sinking into her soft flesh. He groaned through his release, his muscles straining.
The orgasm was long and hard. He slumped against her, and pressed his lips to the side of her neck.
Maggie tugged on his hair and kissed his mouth.
“Your arm okay?” she murmured.
“ Gatinha , all I can feel is you. Wet and tight on my cock.”
She bit his lip.
Ace slid a hand under her ass and lifted her. He managed to get them to the bed.
“You going to rest now?” she asked.
He grunted and pulled her tight against his side.
* * *
Ace must have drifted off. When he woke again, it was getting dark outside.
And warm lips were moving across his abs.
“ Querida .” His voice was gritty.
“Shush.” She wrapped her fingers around his cock and stroked. “I’m driving now.”
A groan rumbled out of him. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She raked her teeth over his hipbone.
He looked at her. She was watching his cock as she pumped him.
“ Gatinha , you going to suck it or just look at it?”
She bit his stomach this time.
Then she shifted… And closed her mouth over the head of his cock.
She sucked him deep and Ace almost lost it.
He didn’t look away, couldn’t. She worshiped his cock with a sexy look of delight on her face. She drew back, then bobbed back down, cheeks hollowing.
Sensation sped through him. He’d never had a woman who liked sucking his cock as much as Maggie did. That night they’d spent together, she’d sucked him off three times.
He slid a hand into her hair, his hips bucking. She pulled off and spent some time licking him.
He kept his gaze locked on her face. Shit . He wasn’t going to last.
She closed her lips tight, sucking hard and moaning.
Enough .
Ace pulled her off him.
“ No ,” she cried.
He pulled her up until she straddled him.
Her lips parted. “Yes.”
He stroked between her legs, and her body jerked. The head of his cock was lodged just where he wanted it.
Before he could say anything, she sank down.
She took him deep, to the root, and he groaned.
Maggie pressed her hands to his pecs.
“Ride,” he ordered.
Her hips moved.
“Get there, Maggie.”
She moved faster, taking him deep. Her whimpers urged him on, winding the desire in his gut harder.
She ground down and he moved his hand to find her clit. Her sharp gasp was sweet, sweet music.
Her fingers dug into his chest, her moves turning jerky.
Those liquid-dark eyes met his. “Ace.”
“I’ve got you, gatinha . Find it.”
Trust and desire on her face, she let go.
Her cries filled the room as she came. He kept working her clit. He slid his hands to her ass and pulled her down hard on his cock.
She moaned again and Ace came. He groaned, his body flooded with pleasure.
Fuck. Shit . He sat up, cupped her face and kissed her.
They came down together, petting and stroking each other.
“I hope your arm’s okay.”
“I have arms?” he said.
She giggled. A giggle from tough, saucy Maggie Lopez.
“Hungry?” he asked.
She arched a brow. “For food or more sex?”
“Food this time.”
“What do you think?”
He squeezed her butt cheek. “That I’d better feed my woman.”
Her smile wavered. “Your woman?”
“Yeah.” Maggie was his. He just had to get her to trust him enough to believe it.
Her smile came back, brighter than ever. “Yes, you’d better feed me.”