Chapter 8

The dress was lovely. I loved the way it showed my curves. I loved the way it exposed most of my sensitive skin. Still, I felt nauseated that I was dressed like this only for Ace and not for Elijah or even anyone other than Ace.

The Lady led me down the stairs where Ace was waiting to receive me at the landing, made a few saucy remarks and disappeared into a door by the East Wing of the building.

When Ace grabbed my hand, led me into the passenger’s seat of a Range Rover and drove out of the mansion, I tried to take my mind off the fact that I would be alone with him once again for several minutes. Maybe hours.

I swallowed the bile in my throat.

Of course, it was a fancy restaurant. A five-star restaurant.

I still would like an explanation from Ace on why he brought me here for a date.

He led us into the cozy, empty restaurant. There wasn't a soul there and it brought me to the realization that Ace must have reserved the whole restaurant.

For a moment, I imagined I was here with Elijah for our fifth year anniversary and once I had noticed he reserved the whole restaurant to have our moments to ourselves, I cupped his cheeks and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

But, Elijah could barely afford one reservation in such a restaurant, not to talk of the whole restaurant. And the man beside me was Ace, which brings me back to reality.

At some point, a man had walked up to Ace, exchanging words with him in Italian and Ace had inked his fingers with mine.

I felt a rush of adrenaline looking at our entwined fingers.

My stomach twisted in pleasure as his delicate fingers played with mine.

Wait, did I say pleasure?

The man, bald, sturdy and short, led us into a room even more cozier. It overlooked the busy Brookline road through a floor-to-ceiling window and the table at the center of the room was already filled with different Italian dishes.

My stomach grumbled and I realized I have only taken cupcakes in the past twenty four hours.

“I figured you might need more than a meal from my cook since you've barely taken a bite since yesterday.”

Ace pointed out immediately we made ourselves comfortable on the seat opposite each other.

I forced out a smile and grabbed a fork to dig in. Then, I realized Ace chose not to eat and instead, chose to stare at me.

When I glanced at him, his gaze was pinned on mine and the lust in his eyes was back. I pressed my thigh together, feeling an ache in there.

After a while, I felt the need to return my gaze back to his and when I did, they remained there. Those few seconds of our gaze locking felt like hours, no, days. Our gaze pinned on each other, none of which refused to break the contact.

Ace finally did, grabbing a fork to taste a meal.

“Do you know what got me attracted to you?”

No, actually.

“Your eyes. You had such pretty eyes and they made me melt when they regarded mine.”

When they regarded him? Was it back at the casino when I witnessed him beheading a man? How could he fall in love at that moment?

“Ah,” His teeth grabbed a piece of meat from his fork. “Your smile as well. They look so pretty but it's a shame I haven't seen them since you became my bride.”

My smile? How did he know what my smile looked like? Had he been stalking me?

“When would I see them?”

Maybe when you get the hell out of my life.

I pulled out a fake, dry smile. Ace chuckled, feeding on a crab.

“Those are fake. I meant real ones.”

Ah. So, he could tell the difference. Well, thank goodness he knew he stole my happiness.

“I hope you understand this decision was the best, Brielle.”

He sipped wine from a glass.

“See, I love you and this is my only option to keep you safe.”

“Keep me safe?”

My voice felt foreign to my hearing as if I hadn't spoken for days.

“You would understand later, Brielle. Eat up.”

I managed to steady my trembling hand as I grabbed my fork. In my attempt to reach for the wine bottle, my hand lost control and my fingers slipped into a sauce. I scrambled to wipe it off with a salvet paper but there was none on the table.

“Let me, please.”

Ace took my sauce-stained hand, holding it in his.

I watched as he brought it to his lips and pressed his soft, cold lips on it, his gaze never leaving mine.

Then, he did the most cutest thing any man had ever done to me. He guided my sauce-stained fingers into his mouth, one after the other, sucking the sauce off it, slowly.

The feel of his lips on my fingers made the ache between my thighs return and I rub them together again, nibbling on my bottom lip.

Ace pulled them out, flipping my hand and swiping his tongue along my sauce-stained palm.

I stared at his tongue, the way it twirled around my palm had me wondering how good he would be at tongue-fucking.

I shut my eyes, twirling my head back as I enjoyed the pleasure of his tongue on my palm.

Then, I realized I was enjoying it.

I jerked my hand from his grip instantly and got up.

His gaze followed mine and a smirk touched his lips.

Was he enjoying it?

“I-I need to use the restroom and probably grab a salvet paper.”

I slipped out of the room, gathering air immediately. I stepped outside as if the room had denied me of any air making its way into my lungs.

He sucked on my fingers and I enjoyed every bit of it. Damn! What is wrong with me?

I took the elevator downstairs, walking up to the man that had led us upstairs, through the elevator, immediately I sighted him.

I tapped him gently and he swirled around.

At a first glance, he looked troubled, creases formed on his forehead. But, his gaze finding mine, the creases settled and I was wondering if I had hallucinated.

“We would need a salvet paper, please.”

I asked politely, accompanying the request with a smile. It was a genuine one and I figured that I was happy. At least, for that moment.

“You should have rang me up instead of having to come down. I will get it immediately.”

The man disappeared into a hall and I sighed, thinking back to what had transpired between Ace and I a few minutes ago as I waited for him.

He pleasured me by just sucking off sauce on my fingers. How embarrassing.

However, that move was so sexy. It was a simple gesture but it had affected me more than all the make-out sessions I had with Elijah.

Jesus, what am I saying? Shut up, Brielle!

“Brielle?”

The familiar voice called.

And it didn't belong to Ace, it didn't belong to the man that had disappeared into the hall to grab me a Salvet paper, either.

Yet, it was dangerously a familiar one.

I twisted around, meeting Jasper’s gaze immediately I did.

Jasper, Elijah’s brother and an FBI agent.

Shit!