Page 18 of Fugitive Flirtation

I know it was only yesterday but time is irrelevant. I don’t need weeks, months, or years to know that he’s the one.

Our bodies entwined, we move together in a dance as old as time. He picks me up as if I weigh nothing and we stumble from the couch to my bedroom. Our kisses grow more urgent with each step, as if we’re trying to devour each other whole. As we reach the edge of the bed, Ace gently lowers me onto my soft mattress, his eyes never leaving mine. The way he looks at me, with a mixture of desire and tenderness, makes my heart race and my breath hitch in my throat. He takes a moment to drink in the sight of me, his gaze filled with a hunger that makes me feel desired and cherished all at once.

With a gentle touch, Ace begins to undress me, his fingers tracing the lines of my body as if committing them to memory. I feel cherished, adored, and for the first time in a long time, truly seen. I close my eyes, savoring the warmth of his touch, the way his fingers linger a moment longer on my hip, the way his hands mold every curve and line of my body. As we lay skin to skin, the connection between us deepens, transcending the physical and becoming something far more profound. It’s like a tidal wave of emotion crashing over me, washing away all the fears and uncertainties from my life.

Ace’s touch becomes more tender, and I respond in kind, my hands roaming over his muscular frame, reveling in the feel of his warm skin against mine. I’m drawn to the strength in his shoulders, the way his muscles ripple beneath my touch, the way his heart beats against my chest, a steady rhythm that grounds me in the moment. Our breaths mingle, our hearts beat in sync. He is the one. The man I’ve been searching for my entire life. Someone who sees me, truly sees me, someone who loves me for who I am even though he barely knows me. It makes no sense and yet it’s perfect.

In the height of our passion, Ace’s voice, rough and laden with emotion, whispers sweet nothings into my ear, promising love and devotion. I find myself clinging to him, my body shaking uncontrollably as the intense wave of release washes over me. In this moment, I surrender myself completely to the exquisite sensation and the man who holds me close.

Later, we lay tangled in the sheets, our limbs entwined as we bask in the afterglow of our lovemaking. Ace’s fingers trace lazy patterns on my skin and I feel truly at peace. I’m filled with a sense of hope and dream about possibilities I never considered before.

As I gaze into Ace’s eyes, I know that I’ve found my safe haven.

“I love you, Alicia,” Ace murmurs, his voice filled with a sincerity that brings tears to my eyes.

“I love you too, Ace.”

Ace smiles. “You deserve to be seen, Alicia. You deserve to be loved and cherished, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you know just how much you mean to me.”

As we drift off to sleep, wrapped in each other’s arms, I know that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be, with the man who holds the key to my heart.

13

Iwatch Alicia as she unpacks a large box in our bedroom, her curvy form moving with an effortless grace that never fails to captivate me. Her chestnut hair is pulled back in a messy ponytail, a few strands escaping to frame her face in an enticing way. She looks up at me and smiles, her warm brown eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief that sends a familiar thrill through my body. Once more, I’m reminded of just how lucky I am to have this remarkable woman in my life, and I return her smile with one of my own, undoubtedly looking like a lovestruck fool. But I don’t care—she’s worth every ounce of vulnerability I’ve allowed myself to feel.

I grin as Alicia gestures to the empty box, the last remnant of her old life packed away. “Welcome home, baby.”

She walks over, wrapping her arms around my waist and leaning into my chest. I hold her close, breathing in the familiar scent of her shampoo that I’ve come to crave. It’s still hard to believe that just a few weeks ago, I was chasing her down as a bounty. Now, she’s here, in my house, in my arms, right where she should be.

“Ever since my father died, I never thought I’d find a place where I truly belonged,” Alicia murmurs, her voice muffled against my chest. “But here, with you and the Iron Tornadoes, I feel like I’m finally home.”

I tilt her chin up, gazing into those warm brown eyes that first captured my attention. “You are home, Alicia. This is where you were meant to be, with me, with us.” A sense of contentment washes over me, a feeling I haven’t experienced in far too long.

She smiles that radiant smile that never fails to make my heart skip a beat, and I can’t resist leaning down to capture her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. The taste of her lips, sweet like honey, sends a jolt of electricity through my body. As we reluctantly pull apart, her eyes sparkle with a mixture of affection and mischief that always manages to disarm me.

The rumble of motorcycles outside signals the arrival of my crew, a reminder that our moment of intimacy must come to an end, at least for now. With a roguish wink, I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, silently promising that we’ll pick up where we left off later tonight.

“Sounds like the boys are here,” I chuckle. “Ready to face the welcoming committee?”

Alicia laughs, that beautiful sound filling the room and warming me from the inside out. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Hand in hand, we head outside to greet the members of my crew we invited for a housewarming party. They’ve all taken to Alicia like a sister, welcoming her into the fold with open arms. Ice, the club president and my longtime friend, engulfs her in a bear hug, lifting her off the ground.

“Good to see you, darlin’,” he says, setting her back down. “You keeping our boy Ace in line?”

Lisa, Ice’s wife and the closest thing I’ve had to a mother figure since mine passed, winks at me. She’s taken Alicia under her wing since she arrived earlier this week, and I think she’s grateful for her guidance.

She’s destroying our image. Lisa told Alicia that the wilder we looked on the outside, the softer we were on the inside. Like huge marshmallow bears.

Alicia grins, nudging me playfully with her elbow. “I’m doing my best, but you know how he can be.”

The guys laugh, and I join in, reveling in the sense of camaraderie and acceptance. It feels right to have Alicia here, to see her fitting in with the people who mean the most to me.

As the afternoon wears on, we sit in the backyard, sharing stories and cold beers. Alicia leans against me, her head on my shoulder, and I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her closer. This is what I had been missing. With the Tornadoes, I had found this sense of belonging, of brotherhood, a family I could trust. But there was still something missing—until Alicia came into my life.

Now, with her by my side, I feel a sense of wholeness and contentment that I haven’t experienced before. Her presence brings a warmth and comfort that soothes the jagged edges of my past. With her, I can find some sort of peace and happiness, a haven where we can escape the chaos of the outside world, if only for a little while.

When we’re alone, I savor the quiet moments, cherishing the way her body fits against mine, the soft scent of her hair, the gentle rise and fall of her breathing. It’s in these tranquil times that I can let my guard down, allow myself to be vulnerable. With Alicia, I’ve found someone I can trust—a rarity in my line of work.

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