Page 32 of His To Claim

My phone rings again, and I look down to see the same number flashing on the screen. It’s him.

I answer, slowly bringing it to my ear. “You’re gonna regret threatening me, Red, and I’ll be the one bringing you down,” he laughs that deep, raspy laugh I can almost feel along the skin of my neck. “And it’s gonna be worth the ride.”

Before I can say anything, not like I have anything left to say, he hangs up. I throw the phone and grab my shorts and underwear heading for the bathroom. I need a fucking cold shower.

It’s halfpast midnight and I’ve been lying in bed tossing and turning for the last three hours. The girls got back right after my shower, and we stayed up talking for a bit. They told me that Drake was being grumpy because he didn’t get to see me, and they gave me Kai and Jax’s numbers to add to my contact list. I chose not to mention the conversation I had with Ace. No need for them to ask questions.

After they left, I tried going to sleep but my mind just kept going back to all the conversations I’ve had with Ace. I’ve tried not paying too much importance to what his uncle has told me, but it must mean something if Ace is so sure that I have a connection tohim. My phone buzzes and I see Drake’s name pop onto the screen.

Dragon Man: Come down to the front of the girl’s house. I need to see you.

Me: It’s past midnight, Drake.

Dragon Man: It’ll be quick. Please.

I get out of bed and slip into my sneakers. It’s not like I was gonna sleep tonight, anyway. Dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, I throw on Drake’s hoodie and sneak out the front door. I make it outside without being seen.

A cool breeze hits me as I walk down the steps. Looking around the courtyard across me, I don't see anyone standing out here. I shoot Drake another text to make sure he’s still here.

Me: Where are you?

His response comes instantly.

Dragon Man: To the left.

I turn to the left of the building and see a hooded figure standing beneath the trees about fifty feet away. I’m ready to give him a piece of my mind for making me come all the way out here as I make my way over to him.

“This better be important, Drake. We can get caught sneaking around this late,” I say, turning to make sure nobody has followed us out here. But when I turn back around, I almost fall backward seeing it’s not Drake who’s standing before me. Ace stands across from me having no reason to look this fine in tight black jeans, a leather jacket, and a black beanie covering his hair.

His chest and abdomen are completely exposed showcasing all the tattoos painted across his chest and running up his neck. Fuckme, he’s gorgeous. My breath hitches and the smug grin that appears on his face tells me he’s noticed.

“Fuck no,” I say, turning around and heading back to the house.

I don’t get far before his arm comes around my middle, picking me up and turning me to face him. Chest against chest, his right arm wraps around my lower back.

I try my hardest to pull away, leaning my head back as far away from him as I can manage but he leans his face toward me, his lips a mere centimeter from mine. The smell of cinnamon and liquor on his breath teases me along with something fresh that smells amazing.

Ace licks his lips and I feel my heart pumping in my chest, my eyes trying to focus on his face but his lips are so close they’re all I can focus on.

I close my eyes to keep from reaching up and taking his lips in mine the way I so desperately want right now. “Let. Go. Of. Me,” I say between staggered breaths. For a second, he’s eerily silent. Only the sounds of my ragged breathing and accelerated heartbeat are heard.

“Make me,” he whispers, his hot breath warming my lips. I try to push him off me but all it does is cause him to grip me harder. When I open my eyes, I catch him smiling wide at the obvious tension between. His eyes are red, low, and hazy.

This fucker is high as a fucking kite.

I look directly into his eyes, losing myself for a moment in the deep dark blue that resembles the night sky, not sure of what I see in them. Desire? Hate?Or something completely foreign?

Releasing a deep breath, I lean in to him. “I told you the next time you laid a hand on me would be your last.”

“Then I’d better make it worth it,” he says, but before I can react, strong lips crash down on mine.

Ace hungrily claims my mouth, feasting on me like he hasn’t eaten in days. His right arm creeps up my back under my hoodieas he brings his left arm around and uses it to pull me in closer to him.

I try to resist but fuck, the way his tongue pushes into my mouth when I open for him, is too damn good. Our kiss is carnal, erratic, each one of us trying to take what we need, to forget who we are, why we’re here. Cold, rough hands move up and down my body and I move to place mine against his bare chest, feeling the way his heart beat races against them.

He moans into my mouth as my icy hands caress his heated flesh bringing out in me a need to be closer to him. I move my hands higher, gripping his shoulders tightly, and bringing his mouth down further.

A sudden breeze rustles through the trees causing some leaves to fall and it breaks me out of my daze. I push against his chest until our lips separate causing us both to stumble backward. My mind is in a haze, but I can see he feels it too. Looking up at him, I swing my hand around and slap him hard across his face making him falter back.

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