Then I get in, laying my body right on the edge, nervous but not uncomfortable. I haven't slept in the same bed as a man for over four years. I don't know what it feels like anymore. What if I snore? Or worse? What if I grope him? What if I try to cuddle him? God. The possibilities of what I may do when sleeping are endless.
Before I can think too much more about it, an arm stretches across the bed, curling around my wrist, and then before I know what's happening, I'm being jerked closer to Ace. I gasp, and scramble backwards a little when he lets me go. "I don't bite," he murmurs. "Seriously, anyone would think you've never had a man in your bed."
"It's been a while," I tell him.
He glances at me. "For me, too."
Oh.
Suddenly, I feel better. So much better. Because he gets it. He understands. He might not be showing it in the way I am, but he knows exactly what I'm talking about. My body relaxes, and I study him as he pulls out his phone and sends a couple of text messages. "You're doing the staring thing again."
"That's because you're nice to stare at," I admit.
He glances away from the phone and looks at me. He doesn't say anything, he just takes me in for a minute, and then looks back to his phone. Already my eyes are getting heavy. I try to keep my focus on him, but having someone in my bed, knowing I'm safe, knowing that nobody can get in this room without Ace knowing, has my body relaxing for the first time in weeks.
Before I know it, I'm asleep.
But I could swear I hear him say in a low, whispered tone, "You're nice to stare at too, sweetheart."
But I think I'm dreaming.
* * *
I wake in the morning and there is something big, hard, and warm running up the entire length of my body from behind. For a moment, I panic, and then I remember that Ace was in my bed last night, and chose to sleep with me. I shift a little, but he's wrapped himself around me. One arm is slung over my waist, one of his legs is tangled through mine, and I can feel his breath tickling the back of my neck.
He's spooning me!
My heart races and for a long, long moment I don't know what to do. Should I move? Should I just stay here and enjoy how incredible it feels to have a man so close to me, wrapping me in his warmth? I shift, and I don't miss the hard length pressing against my bottom. Oh. My. God. Morning wood. My cheeks burn and I try to suppress the random giggle that climbs up my throat, but I can't hold it back.
It's so out of the blue, so completely strange, but it bursts from my mouth loud and cackling.
Ace shifts behind me, and that length rubs against my bottom, only increasing my giggles until I'm laughing.
"Are you laughing?" he murmurs in that sleepy, sexy voice all men have when they wake in the morning.
"You … " I inhale, trying to keep it together. "You have … "
"Morning wood."
I burst out into more hysterical laughter.
He obviously doesn't think it's funny.
"What is so funny about that?" he grumbles.
"You just … you just … I just … "
I can't breathe.
This is so embarrassing it's funny.
"All men get it, Hartley," he grunts. "No big deal."
No big deal.
Oh God.
I lose it. I'm crazy. It's official.
"No big deal, huh?" I say between pants of laughter.
"Jesus Christ," he grumbles. "You've lost it."
"I'm sorry. I don't even know why. I just, I don't know, it's funny."
"Still can't see how."
No. Neither can I. But do you think that'll stop the laughter?
He places a hand on my hip and thrusts forward. My laughter is strangled in my throat as a burst of pleasure shoots right to my core. My mouth drops open and holy crap, I think I might need a new set of panties.
"Now who's laughing?" he growls into my ear, before rolling away, leaving me aching in a place that hasn't ached for so many years.
Well.
Okay then.
I roll and watch as he climbs out of the bed, shoves one big hand into his boxers and adjusts himself, and then leans down and picks up his clothes. I lick my lips, and swallow a few times because my throat is dry. God, he's gorgeous. My body tingles as it recalls the very recent feeling he gave it, when he thrust that long, thick length against me. I shudder.
Get it together.
I force my body to move and slide out of the bed, throwing my legs over the side. I stand, not glancing at Ace again as I grab a robe and pull it around myself, before disappearing out of the room and into the kitchen. I turn the coffee maker on just as Ace comes out, fully dressed, running his fingers through his hair.
"Want a coffee?" I ask him.
"What are your plans for today? Do you have to work?" he responds, ignoring my actual question.