Clasping Chelsea’s hand after we said our goodbyes, I led her to the door and outside to my vehicle. “You’re gonna need to drive if that’s okay. I’m still a little dizzy.
“Of course.” She took the keys from me, but before she opened the door, I stopped her.
“It’s a little messy in there. The front’s not as bad but just don’t look in the back.”
“I’ll be fine. Now get in.”
I couldn’t even imagine how much it was gonna cost to get my car detailed.
Did they charge extra for removing blood stains?
37
I couldn’t stop looking over at him, afraid he was gonna pass out even though the only thing he complained about was a touch of dizziness. Addy had assured me his wound, although requiring stitches, was superficial.
“I’m fine. Now keep your eyes on the damn road, woman.” The corner of his mouth lifted, and while he wasn’t angry, I imagined he was frustrated, but hopefully not with my constant attention.
“You know, if you wanted me to fawn all over you, you could’ve thought of a better way,” I teased, needing to relinquish a smidgen of worry before I fell too far into anxiety I’d never climb free.
“And what way is that?”
“I can’t say for sure, but I’m certain it has something to do with sex.” My grip on the wheel tightened, but I wasn’t sure if it was the topic or my reservation at having broached the subject of his injury. After several deep breaths, all traces of joking aside, I peered over at him, my gaze lingering too long to be safe.
“I can’t tell you anything.” He met my eyes, then looked straight ahead. “I wouldn’t even if I could because I don’t want you to worry.”
“How did you know I was gonna ask?”
“Because I know you. Better than you think.”
The remainder of our trip was in silence, me consumed with the possibilities of what could’ve happened, while Ace typed text after text to who I could only assume was one of the guys.
“Home sweet home,” he uttered, opening the door as soon as I killed the engine. But I didn’t move. I couldn’t. I wasn’t prepared for what came next. Inside the vehicle I was safe from heartbreak, from danger, from my own morbid thoughts of what might happen. “You comin’?” Ace peered over at me, his right foot planted on the graveled ground while his other twisted along with his body when he turned toward me.
“I’m scared.”
He pulled my hand from the wheel and snaked his fingers through mine. “Me too.”
I nodded, swallowed, and released two heavy pent-up breaths. “Okay.” I handed him his keys.
What did I agree to? To share his worry? To forge ahead into the unknown? To agree to continue to be with him even though danger seemed to be lurking around every corner?
We walked side by side up the front steps, his hand resting on the small of my back, the warmth from his palm soothing despite the sprinkle of reservation enveloping me. After he unlocked the door, he stepped inside, but I hesitated, planting my feet firmly on the porch.
“What are you doing?”
The only thing I could do was shake my head while taking a step back. “I can’t.”
Ace’s chest puffed out and he stood tall. “What do you mean you can’t? You can’t do what?” The slight flare of his nostrils and crook of his brow screamed he was preparing for bad news. He reached for me, but I retreated once more. “Chelsea.” My name was said on a warning. “Come here.” His tone softened but only a fraction, his own unease heightening mine, even though I was the sole cause for his.
“I don’t think I can do this.” My words were unexpected, sounding foreign to my surprised ears.
“Yes, you can. You’re stronger than you think.”
“I’m not.”
“Then let me be strong enough for the both of us.”
I remained frozen in place, unsure of how to proceed. The image of someone coming after me made my chin quiver and my bottom lip tremble, but it was the thought of losing Ace that drove a nail through my heart.
“What if they get me?”
“They won’t.”
“What if they kill you next time?
“That won’t happen. I promise.”
“Stop making assurances you can’t keep,” I shouted, the blood in my veins heating. “You told me you’d be prepared next time.” I pointed in the general vicinity of his thick skull, pun intended. “You obviously weren’t.” I drew from my anger because it was a much better place to derive from than fear.
“I don’t care about myself anymore, Chels. I only care about you.” He stepped onto the porch with me, crowding my personal space and hovering over me.
“If you cared about me, you wouldn’t put yourself in harm’s way. How do you think I’d feel if you got seriously hurt, or killed?” I stole my eyes from his intense gaze. “That would destroy me.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why?” Against my better judgement, I swung my eyes back to his, the words I wanted to blurt resting on the tip of my tongue, and from the sparkle in his eyes, he knew it, which was why he kept pushing me.
“Why would my death destroy you?”
“Because.”
“Because why?” He stepped even closer, his chest pressed against mine. “Come on, Chels. Don’t chicken out now. Tell me why.”
The beat of my heart slowed.
My palms became moist while my mouth dried out.
The air in my lungs stuttered as I tried to release it.
It was now or never, and after giving myself an internal swift kick in the proverbial ass, I parted my lips.
“Because I love you. There, are you happy?” I tried to sound snarky, but the grin on his face made me relax enough to mirror his expression.
“Very. Say it again.” Ace wrapped his arms around my waist and bent down to kiss me. “Please.”
“You’re lucky I said it once. Don’t push your luck.” Leave it to me to tell the man I adored that I loved him for the first time during this type of encounter. But I supposed he wouldn’t expect anything less.
“Please,” he repeated, sweeping his tongue through my mouth before pulling back.
“Take me to bed and maybe I’ll tell you again.”
I kissed him back with all the passion, love, need, and urgency I held deep in my soul, the connection between us stronger than it was even an hour ago.
I’d waited my whole life for someone like Ace, and the threat of him being taken from me had pushed me to acknowledge my true feelings for the man.
Now, I just had to make sure he lived long enough for me to show him he was it for me. If I had to strap him to the bed to ensure his safety, I was willing to go that far, and while he might fight me on some things, giving him my heart allowed me to make some demands he might consider to be unreasonable.
He wanted me to agree to be with him, once and for all.
He told me he loved me.
He wanted to protect me from harm.
But was he willing to compromise, to push back against the club from time to time to make sure he returned home safe and sound to me every night?