Page 45 of Broken Bonds

I huffed. “Well, just when I think you couldn’t possibly be more of a smart ass.” A small smile replaced the grim look on his face. “Yes, it’s from the accident. I spent months recovering in rehab, and I had to learn how to walk again. Ryan carried me everywhere formonths. Learning to walk was more painful than the accident itself.” Ace gently squeezed my fingers. “I never learned how to swim again. After all the nerve loss, I was afraid to do anything to hurt myself further. And now,” my voice shook, “I’m scared because my legs hurt so, so badly, and the doctorswarned us about this. I could lose the ability to move my legs if the nerve damage worsens.”

Ace made a small sound. I didn’t know what to make of it. “I’m sure you’ll be okay. I’m sorry for being an ass again. Sometimes, I can’t help it around you.” His lips twitched. “You bring out the worst in me.”

Just what every girl wanted to hear from an attractive guy.

“How about we go to sleep?” I asked, ignoring his dig. “It’s been a long day.” I slipped my hand out of his, scared of the butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Things between us were becoming dangerous. Too intimate. Too close. We needed distance.

He hummed before rolling onto his side to face me again. “I shouldn’t do this, but I think we both need it, Celine.”

“What—”

He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around me, cutting my words off. My head came to rest against his chest as he hugged me, his heartbeat racing just as quickly as mine. My breath shuddered from my lungs, my heart threatening to slam right through my breastbone.

He didn’t let go, and after a minute, I realized he had fallen asleep. Afraid to move and wake him, I closed my eyes, enjoying the steady, slowing beat of his heart and the warmth under my fingertips.

I let sleep take over, knowing I was safe. Ace would keep me safe just like he promised. Of that, I had no doubt.

It was too hot. My shirt was stuck to my skin, and my hair was wet at the nape of my neck. I could still feel Ace’s arm holding me to his warm body, and I couldn’tbreathe. Between the heatin the room and his body heat, I felt like I was suffocating. I had to get away from him.

I gently moved his arm and rolled away. My sticky skin hit the ice-cold floor, and I gasped at the shock. Ace grumbled a complaint as he slowly woke up, blinking blearily at me.

“Why is it so fucking hot?” he rasped, his voice thick with sleep. Why did he have to sound so fucking sexy?

“I don’t know, Sherlock.” I sat up, rubbing my dry eyes before looking around. We weren’t the only ones awake in the dark gym. Most of everyone else was, too, and they looked as grumpy and irritable as I felt.

“Why are you always so full of crap?” He lifted his head from the ground to scan the room before he settled his gaze back on me.

I scowled at him. “Why are you always so annoying?” He rolled his eyes as he stood to his feet and stretched. I heard his bones pop in protest as he twisted his neck and back. Oscar hobbled over to us from his corner of the big, dark room.

“Good morning! Did y’all get some rest?” I cringed at his chirpy voice so early in the day. I didn’t like morning people.

“Mornin’, Oscar,” Ace greeted in his deep, husky voice. “We slept better than the night before.” That was the truth. ‘What happened to the A/C?” Ace managed a polite tone as he ran his hand through his thick, black hair, making it stick up all over the place since it was damp with sweat.

“Well, folks, it appears that we’ve lost power, and the generator isn’t working right now. Some of the guys are looking at it now. Why don’t you catch some more winks? It’s still early in the morning.” I couldn’t possibly fall asleep feeling this hot, but Ace nodded and laid back down, seeming to like the idea. I gaped at him. How was he just going to go back to sleep when he was practically drenched in sweat?

Oscar hobbled away again, greeting people as he went. “You’re going back to sleep?” I asked incredulously. Ace looked at me and nodded before closing his eyes. “But it’s so hot,” I whined.

“Go to sleep,” he grumbled.

“Why?” I scooted closer to him and poked him when he didn’t answer.

He sighed and swatted my hand away, not even bothering to open his eyes. “Because princesses need sleep in order to be beautiful.” He smiled, opening his dark eyes to look at my reaction.

I curled my lip at him in disgust. “You’re an asshole.” I slapped his chest, and he laughed.

“Just because you keep repeating it doesn’t mean I’ll ever believe you.” He closed his eyes again. “Now, shut up. I’m tired from saving your behind.” He turned away from me and curled up on his side. Within a few minutes, his deep breaths evened out, and he was asleep. How the fuck…

“Fine, I guess I’ll sleep, too.” I laid back down beside him on my side, our backs touching. I saw the creepy guys from last night staring at me and shivered. Scooting closer to Ace, I turned around, my nose now touching his back, but I knew I was safer.

Closing my eyes, I saw Aidan staring back at me behind my closed lids. He was always in my head. I couldn’t escape my memories of him. Opening my eyes when I felt Ace move, I saw he had turned back over and was facing me. His eyes were open now, too. He looked haunted.

“Do you see Jack when you close your eyes?” I whispered, and he nodded. I swallowed thickly, hating that we were both haunted by our pasts.

He pulled me into his chest wordlessly and squeezed me in his big, strong arms. I knew this was wrong. I knew my heart was still broken from Aidan, and he clouded most of my thoughts,but I liked how it felt to be in Ace’s arms, even if I knew him breaking my heart was inevitable.

I liked that he understood what was going on in my head.

I liked that he was here with me.

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