Chapter 9

“Did. He. Touch. You?” he asked again, but this time, his voice was deliberate, laced with something sharp and dangerous. 

Heat surged to my cheeks. “No!” The word burst from me too quickly and too desperately. “Not like that. He was just... helping me. I think. That’s all.” 

“You think?” Ace’s brows rose, his eyes narrowing. “Sabrina, you don’t even remember. How can you be so sure?” 

I swallowed hard, fingers tightening around the closed book in my lap. “Because I would remember if he did.” 

“Would you?” he pressed as his voice curled with doubts. “You were drunk. You said it yourself. First time drinking, wasn’t it?” 

I nodded slowly, guilt pricking at me. “Yes, I said that.” 

“Then how can you be so certain what did or didn’t happen?” 

My chest ached as his words were tugging at the loose threads of my memory, threatening to unravel everything. 

“I remember enough,” I said firmly and steadier this time. “I’m telling you, Ace. He didn’t touch me. He wouldn’t.” 

Ace’s eyes darkened. He leaned back, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “You don’t know him like I do. You see the well, put-together version he shows the outside world. But underneath? He’s a man, Sabrina. A man who’s used to getting whatever he wants.” 

I flinched, torn between defending Mr. Scott and staying silent. 

“I didn’t think he’s like that with me,” I said, almost too quietly, surprising myself at the conviction of my voice. “He... he was protective of me. He could have taken advantage of me if he wanted me, but he didn’t.” 

Ace scoffed, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. “Protective,” he repeated, almost mocking. “That’s what you’re calling it?” 

“Yes.” 

Ace stared at me for a long moment, his jaw working as though he was chewing back all the things he wanted to say. Finally, he leaned closer again, his voice low and rough. 

“I don’t like it,” he admitted. “The thought of him carrying you, being close to you like that. It drives me insane.” 

My breath caught with guilt twisting deeper. “Ace...” 

“He’s my father,” he snapped, bitterness seeping into every word. “And you’re my—” He stopped himself abruptly, biting down on the rest of it. 

My pulse raced at what he almost said, my heart thudding painfully in my chest. 

“Can we end this conversation?” I whispered, though my voice shook. 

His eyes burned into mine, filled with a mix of desire and something darker. “Sabrina... you know that I do not give a shit about what papers you signed or whatever vows he made you take. You accepted to be my girlfriend, and you’re mine.” 

I scoffed. “Girlfriend? Come on, Ace. I thought we were just playing back there. Really? Your girlfriend? How can I be your girlfriend if I’m your stepmom?” 

My hands trembled against the book in my lap, and I looked away... unable to bear the weight of his stare. 

“Ace, please... not out here. Not like this.” 

But he didn’t move away, instead, his hand brushed my arm, lingering just long enough to make my skin tingle. 

“So... what happened yesterday between us meant nothing to you?” 

“It’s too early for this, Ace. Please.” 

“Tell me again,” he said softly, almost pleading now. “Tell me he didn’t touch you.” 

I closed my eyes, summoning the fragmented memories. “He didn’t,” I answered. “I swear.” 

When I opened my eyes, Ace was watching me with a storm raging behind his gaze. Neither of us spoke for a while, then, slowly, he leaned back, his arm falling from the chair. 

“Fine,” he muttered. “But did you want to be touched? Because I know whenever a girl’s intoxicated... she either wants to be fucked, or she wants to sleep. So, which one was it?” 

He leaned closer to me, his hands gently cupping my face and rubbing my cheek softly as his nose brushed mine softly. I opened my lips to speak, but before I could, he stuck his tongue inside and kissed me. His left rested on the back of the chair just above my shoulders, and he pressed my head closer to his face. His other hand was around my tummy as he gripped my waist and pulled my body even closer to his. The kiss deepened. 

I was powerless to stop him. This was exactly what I wanted my so-called husband to do to me last night, but here I was again, with my stepson. A guy I've always liked, giving my body to him because he alone knows what to do with me, and was capable of pleasing me. 

He pulled away gently, his forehead resting against mine. “Wanna go upstairs?” he whispered. 

“Yeah,” I sighed, trying to steady my breathing. 

He stood up and stretched his arm out to me. I held my book tighter to my chest as I reached out to grab him. We walked out of the garden, hand in hand, as we went upstairs to my bedroom. 

“Are you sure it’s fine that we do anything here?” I asked as I placed the book gently on the nightstand. 

“Yeah... yeah. It’s cool,” he smirked, rushing to grab me from behind. My ass rubbing on his bulge. “I could fuck you like this... You want that?” 

“Ace... you’re way too forward with all this,” I smiled as I managed to escape his grip and sat on the edge of the bed. “Don’t you think we should talk some more? I mean, the whole thing is just happening so fast, I don’t know if I feel good about it.” 

He crouched in front of me, his hands resting on my knees. “What is it, Sabrina? You really don’t feel good about it?” He sat beside me, his eyes softening. “Okay, what do you want us to talk about? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable with our relationship... or whatever it is we’re doing. So, ask me whatever you want. I promise to be honest.” 

“You sure?” I sighed. 

He nodded. 

“Okay,” I exhaled softly. “Do you like me? I don’t mean like as in, oh yeah, she’s a nice person, I like her. I mean like as in you like, like me.” 

He cleared his throat. “Of course, Sabrina. I do like you. If I didn’t, we wouldn’t be this close. Why do you think I don’t like you?” 

“Well,” I bit the inside of my cheeks. “I just feel like you were quick to get physical with me—” My eyes widened. “—and trust me, I like that. Besides, I’ve always been physical with you... But it just feels different. I feel like you might think I’m easy or something.” 

“Oh, no...” He shifted closer to me, grabbing my arm and brushing my fingers softly. “Not at all, Sabrina. You are far from easy, believe me. Like you said, you’ve wanted what happened between us to happen, and I believe that’s the only reason why we did it that quickly. Because you wanted it as well. If not, it wouldn’t be that easy.” He smiled, brushing my hair with his fingers. “You are far from easy.” 

I smiled as he continued. 

“Do you know how long I’ve been trying to get your attention at school?” he asked. 

“Stop it,” I smacked his leg softly. “You’re lying.” 

“No, I’m not,” he shook his head. “I’ve been trying to talk to you for a while. I noticed how you always looked at me, it was as though you were casting a spell on me with those beautiful eyes of yours. Whenever I’d look around and my favorite stalker wasn’t somewhere hiding and watching me, I was concerned. I really grew to like you over time, even though we never spoke. But I do like you, Sabrina. Our meeting might not be as dreamy as I thought it’d be. I know none of us planned that it’d be through a marriage arrangement, but here we are. I just want to have you. I don’t care what's wrong or right. I want you.” 

I curled around him. “Ace,” I whispered, my fingers tracing idle patterns on his chest. “Hearing you say that... it means everything. You have no idea how that makes me feel.” I closed my eyes to catch my breath. “But I need you to know something too. I’m scared. We did rush into something physical, and while I really do care about you and have never felt attention like yours before...” I lifted my face to his, “...I don’t want to lose what we have by pretending there aren’t consequences. We’ll have to try to control ourselves even better.” 

He sighed, rolling his eyes with an evil grin on his face. “Okay then,” he said as he pinned me to the bed and got on top of me. “Right after this.” 

He lifted me softly to the headboard of the bed as he raised one of my legs and wrapped it around his waist. 

“What are you doing—” 

He kissed me, cutting me off mid-sentence, and I honestly can’t say I didn’t like it.