“You
think
.”
“Damn right I think. So do me a favor and trust that I know what I’m doing.”
Roger didn’t say anything, but the heavy breathing I could hear over the line meant he was still worked up and not at all in agreement. Which was fine. He didn’t have to be. My life, my choices, and he needed to get onboard or keep them to himself.
“We’ll talk later,” he said finally.
“No problem.”
After ending the call, I paced in front of the trailer steps, tapping the phone against my thigh. I got what they were saying. Really, I did. And ordinarily I’d be the first one to say anyone in my private life needed to sign that shit, but things with Dylan just felt…different. I’d never been in a relationship that hadn’t started with some kind of formal agreement that forced trust between two parties. Those people didn’t keep their mouths shut because they wanted to. They did it because they had to or they’d get sued to the tune of millions of dollars.
I didn’t want to start things with Dylan on a false note, and I wanted to know that I could trust him and he could trust me, and that we were together for the right reasons. I wanted to know that the man I was choosing to be with was a man of integrity, and every part of my being told me that he was. And
that
was why I refused to make him sign an agreement. I was putting myself out there without a net, so to speak, but wasn’t that what everyone did when they made themselves vulnerable to someone else?
If falling in love was the single scariest act a person could make, then I was ready to take that leap.
17
JOIN THE JOYRIDE
AFTER ANOTHER GRUELING week in the tank, Ace and I had found little energy to do more than share a meal with one another each day before falling asleep on his couch or my bed. We weren’t overly picky whose house we were at, as long as there was food, a comfortable place to lie down, and enough quiet to sleep through the night. And yes, we’d spent every night curled around one another in some form. It was shocking to think that I had been in a bed with Ace and not ripped his clothes off, but that was just an indication of how tired we’d been.
I hated to admit it, but over the last couple of weeks we’d become experts at sneaking around, and if it had been for any reason other than not wanting to be splashed all over the tabloids, I might have had a problem with that. As it was, I could understand that Ace needed a little more time to see where we would go privately before anyone else weighed in with an opinion on our relationship—and that was exactly what would happen once news of Ace Locke dating hit social media and the press. Everybody would have an opinion.
I wasn’t naive enough to think I wouldn’t be put under the microscope. Hell, Ace had told me upfront this was going to be complicated. He’d warned me. But I wanted him anyway, and so far I couldn’t say I regretted the decision. Because Ace was so much more than I could’ve imagined. Don’t get me wrong, he was most definitely the sexy guy of my dreams. But underneath all of that muscle, and behind the fame and fortune, was a man who was struggling to find balance between his public life and a private one he seemed to, by some miracle of fate, want to make with me.
He was sweet and romantic, and the guy could move both between the sheets and on the dance floor, and every time I was with him I could feel myself falling harder.
God
, never in a million years could I have imagined that when I arrived in L.A. that I would wind up spending nearly every night with Ace. And I was selfish enough to want to keep that to myself a little longer.
Also, I’d be lying if I said the thought of being so scrutinized didn’t freak me the hell out. So, yeah, I was okay with the privacy. At least until I worked out exactly how I felt about dating one of the biggest celebrities in the world.
For now, though, I was standing in front of the small bathroom mirror in my apartment studying my outfit for the afternoon. Our reward for such an intense four days of work was a three-day weekend, and this morning after I’d walked into my apartment after a taxi dropped me home, my cell phone had lit up with Ace’s name.
“It’s been less than forty-five minutes since I left your bed. You know, the same one you passed out in. Don’t tell me you already miss me. I won’t believe you.”
Ace’s deep laugh rumbled in my ear. “Aww, did I hurt your feelings? It didn’t seem that way when your cock was rubbing the crease of my ass.”
“Well, if you’re going to sleep naked while I’m lying beside you, the least you should expect is for me to rub my weary body all over yours.”
“Is that right?”
“Sure is, hotshot. I mean, it was
hard
leaving your bed this morning.” I flopped down on my couch and kicked off my flip-flops.
“You should’ve woken me. I would’ve been glad to take care of that for you.”
I brushed my palm over the erection swelling in my shorts as I imagined the way Ace’s broad back and tightly muscled behind had looked when I left. “Nah, I needed a change of clothes and—”
“Some space?” Ace asked. He sounded hesitant, and it was that vulnerability that continually surprised me.
“No. I’d happily be in your space every minute of the day. But I need clothes to wear, and you’re a little bit bigger than I am, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“I’d say we’re about even, where it counts.”
Well, damn
. I loved that Ace was comfortable enough to talk with me like this. He’d done exactly as I’d asked. When we were alone, he showed me the
real
Ace. And that was the man I was finding harder and harder to resist.
“I’m going to take
that
as a compliment,” I said, remembering his thick length in my hand, between my lips, and sliding inside to take me.
“I’d certainly hope so,” he said. “Now stop distracting me. I actually called you for a reason.”
“You did? It wasn’t just to hear the sound of my voice? I’m disappointed.”
“You’re a flirt, is what you are. You always end up distracting me.”
“Always? Why…what are you thinking about right now, Mr. Locke?” He growled in my ear and I promised him I would zip my lips. “Okay, go ahead.”
“Why, thank you.”
I grinned at the put-out tone, but could hear the smile in his voice.
“Can you be ready in”—there was a pause—“an hour?”
I glanced down at my jeans and white t-shirt, and grinned. “Depends on what exactly you want me ready for. Do I need to get dressed up?”
“Nope. Jeans will be fine. There’s only one requirement.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
“Your leather jacket…”
I looked over to where it lay draped over the kitchen counter. “Mhmm. What about it?”
“You have some Aviators?”
I frowned.
What the hell?
“You know, the sunglasses.”
“Yeah. I know what Aviators are. That’s awfully specific, Ace.”
“I know. But trust me. Those two things are required.”
I opened my mouth to ask more, but before I could utter another word, Ace had ended the call.
ACE WAS AT my place a little over an hour later, and when he texted that he was waiting downstairs, I snagged my keys from the counter and spotted the plastic bag with several things I’d picked up the other day at the pharmacy. With high hopes, I grabbed a couple of the condoms and individual packets of lube and slipped them into the pocket of my jacket, and then headed for the door.
I jogged down the stairs, and when I spotted Ace’s Lamborghini parked at my curb with his window down and his arm resting on the doorframe, my heart skipped a beat. He was rockin’ the playboy image, and every single part of me responded. Ace looked positively sinful, and the snug black tank he was wearing showcased the muscles of his arm in the best way.
The sun was beating down on us today, and if it hadn’t been for Ace’s request, the jacket I was wearing would’ve been left behind. But I knew that once I was inside that sleek ride the AC would cool me down in seconds.
Well, that might be debatable, since I have to sit next to him.
After slipping into the seat, I waited for the door to lower.
“Hey,” I said, and when I caught sight of a chain hanging around Ace’s neck, I almost moaned aloud.
As if the guy isn’t hot enough.
For some reason, that sterling silver chain seemed to just push him over the edge into insanely sexy.
Ace’s window rolled back up into place as his eyes took a slow tour of my body, which had me squirming in my seat, and when they came back up to my face, he flashed an unrepentant grin, knowing exactly what he’d just done to me.
“Good afternoon.”
Jesus,
he really needed to stop looking at me like that. Sounding like that. And,
fucking hell
, smelling so unbelievably good. Especially if he wanted to actually go somewhere other than back up to my apartment, which clearly he did.
“Uhh…stop looking at me like that where people can see.”
“I’m not looking at you any way.”
“Yes, you are. And you better start explaining how exactly you think us going out together in broad daylight is okay.”
Ace shrugged. “We’re just two guys going out for some manly fun.”
I was about to tell him the exact kind of
manly fun
I enjoyed when he shook his head at me
.
“In other words,” he said. “I’m not being seen overnighting it at your place, and I’m not taking you back to mine or anywhere else incriminating.”
“So I shouldn’t stick my tongue down your throat while we’re out?”
“Well…at least not until we get to where we’re going.”
“Color me intrigued.”
“I see you followed my instructions,” Ace said, and then reached across the console to finger the lapel of my jacket.
I raised an eyebrow at him. “They were requirements, as far as I was aware. Not instructions.”
“Same thing.”
“Not really. A requirement is something that is compulsory, a necessary condition. An instruction is a direction or order. Which we both know I don’t always follow well.”
Ace leaned my way, and as his cologne washed over me, I inhaled and shut my eyes.
“Oh, I don’t know about that. Every instruction I’ve given you, you’ve been very—”
“Careful,” I warned, as my eyes snapped open.
He flashed his perfect smile at me and said, “Eager. You’ve been very
eager
to follow.”
I looked at his lips and desperately wanted to kiss them, but I knew the rules out here. Even if we were in a car with windows so dark you couldn’t see inside, someone might be watching. And it was hard to say you were just going out with a buddy or friend when you were caught with your tongue in said friend’s mouth.
I cleared my throat and put a hand to his chest, pushing him away from me before I did something stupid, like grab that chain, yank him forward, and maul him.
“Stay over there, please.”
“Why? Can’t keep your hands to yourself?”
My eyes narrowed on him and I made a show of putting my hands under my thighs. “I am quite capable, thank you very much. Now start talking. Where are we going?”
Ace turned the key, and as the car roared to life he grinned and glanced at the seatbelt by my shoulder. “You might want to buckle up, buttercup. I’m about to take you on a joyride.”
I reached for the seatbelt, and as it clicked into place, Ace made a U-turn and headed toward the main road.
A joyride, huh?
Just what the hell did he have up his sleeve now?
* * *
AN HOUR AND a half later, I was making the turnoff toward our final destination. Dylan had asked question after question as we made our way farther away from Burbank, and as the long stretch of desert became the only thing we could see for miles, he twisted in his seat to face me.
I glanced his way as his eyes narrowed, and I was curious if he would work out where I was taking him. So far, I had given nothing away.
“Driving me out into the middle of nowhere, huh?” he said when I returned my eyes to the road ahead. “If I was a paranoid man, I would worry there might be a shovel in your trunk.”
I let out a bark of laughter at his words.
“What? You think that’s too far-fetched? I mean, I don’t know you
that
well. And the last time I saw you naked, you were passed out cold in your bed. Maybe you think I have incriminating photos and are taking me somewhere to dispose of me.”
I gave him an incredulous look, and the mischievous grin Dylan flashed my way made my dick twitch.
“Incriminating photos, you say?”
Dylan’s eyes trailed down over me and he bit his lower lip behind his top teeth. That look heated the blood coursing through my veins to match the blistering temperature outside the vehicle.
“Yeah. Your skin, all smooth and taut over your broad shoulders and that ass.” He sighed as though imagining what he was talking about. “Photos of your naked ass would sell like hotcakes.”
I was aware that his words should probably cause panic at the possibility that he did indeed have the photos he was alluding to, but somewhere deep inside me I knew he was playing me. Joking around. And it was that sixth sense that made me realize saying no to Logan and Roger had been the right move. “You’re full of shit.”
“Am I?”
I nodded, positive I was right.
“What makes you so sure?”
The way you’re lookin’ at me,
I wanted to tell him as I gave him another quick sidelong glance. It was there in the possessive gleam of his eyes. That look was territorial. Those green eyes conveyed one word—
mine
. And I knew there was no way he was into sharing what was his.
“Just a feeling I get.”
Dylan then reached down to the crotch of his jeans and adjusted himself, and hell if that wasn’t hot.
“I think your feeling might be right.”