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I nodded. “I had a nightmare. And then when I woke up and you weren’t here, I got a little freaked out. But I’m okay now.”
Ace’s expression hardened. “A nightmare? I’m sorry I wasn’t here, sweetheart. Do you want to talk about it?”
“It… I think it was in a hospital room. There was this strange man and…” I shook my head. “I honestly don’t really remember. It’s all starting to fade. It was unnerving though.”
He ran his thumb over the spot between my brows, smoothing out the wrinkles.
“Do you have a headache? Your brow always furrows like this right before you get a migraine.”
“Just a small one.”
Ace gently untangled me from his tree trunk of a thigh and scooped me up into his arms. Then he laid back down with me on top of him, chest to chest, just like we had been before.
“Thank you for taking care of Wes,” I whispered.
I didn’t think through my next actions as I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his in a quick kiss that made my mouth explode with sparks.
Ace’s body tensed beneath mine. I jerked back, horror racing through my nerves. I slapped my hand over my mouth.
Holy shit, I just kissed Ace. I just kissed Ace!
I wasn’t sure why I did it. I suppose so many days with such minimal physical contact had made me desperate to feel closer to him.
“I-I…I didn’t mean…,” I stuttered. My heart felt like it was beating out of my throat.
“I’m sorry—”
“It’s okay, Doe,” he said. “Don’t overthink it and start panicking on me now. Let’s just go back to sleep. We still have time before we have to get ready for school. You need rest.”
Before I could respond, he leaned down and started sucking on the bump on my throat, silencing and relaxing me at the same time.
My brain turned to mush, and all my thoughts and worries left my head.
And with his hand running up and down my spine, and him gently sucking on my throat, I couldn’t help but follow his instructions and fall back to sleep.
My panic would just have to wait until later.
***
My panic was officially here.
The kiss was the only thing on my mind from the moment my alarm went off.
Ace stirred beneath me as I reached from atop his chest to stop the beeping, then I let out a heavy sigh. I wasn’t sure if I should stay on top of him or get off.
Maybe you should just wait for him to tell you what to do since you basically threw yourself at him last night! Oh, how the tables have turned.
I was so embarrassed. I kissed Ace. And not only was my best friend my first-ever kiss, but he’d disregarded it completely.
At least he still had his arms wrapped around me even though he was obviously awake. That was a good sign, right?
“Doe,” Ace moaned.
I loved his morning voice, so husky and deep. I especially loved it when he said my name like that.
“Yeah?” I replied meekly, keeping my head on his chest. I couldn’t look at him.
“Please tell me you’re not still worrying about the kiss. I can feel how tense you are, and it’s eating away at me. It really wasn’t that big of a deal.”
I pushed my face into his neck, needing to be closer to him. “I’m sorry. Are…are you mad?” I whispered against his skin.
Ace stiffened. “Mad? You think I’m mad that you kissed me?”
I shrugged, still not looking at him out of fear of what I might find on his face. “I-I don’t know. You didn’t really say anything after it happened.”
I truly couldn’t gauge how he felt about it. He didn’t push me away. But he also didn’t pull me closer. And while he didn’t get mad, he also didn’t tell me he liked it.
He massaged the back of my neck. “I’m not mad, Doe. Far from it.”
I relaxed against him. “I didn’t mean to do it,” I murmured. “I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable.”
“You didn’t make me feel uncomfortable. I understand why you did it.
“And if driving myself crazy trying not to touch you means you kiss me again, then I’ll just have to stay away from you more often. That kiss was the only thing that made all of it somewhat worth it.”
“You didn’t mind?” I finally looked up at him.
“Did I mind feeling your sweet lips press against mine? Did I mind being your first kiss?” He chuckled. “No, I didn’t mind. Not even a little bit. I give you permission to kiss me anytime you want.”
My eyes were already straying to his lips as I remembered what they had felt like.
Does he mean, like, right now?
“So”—I swallowed—“you want me to do it again?”
His jaw flexed. “Only if you want to.”
That was not the answer I was hoping for.
I slumped in defeat and frustration, letting my body fall to the side so I was lying on the mattress, my legs strewn over him. It was all so confusing.
“Why can’t you ever just give me a straight answer?” I grumbled.
Ace laughed and patted my leg. “Don’t pout, baby girl. I already told you: tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you. You’re in complete control of this situation.”
I sat up on my elbows, frowning at him. “Of what situation?”
“Of our situation, of course.”
Right, because that makes so much sense.
With that, Ace lifted my legs and pushed himself off the bed. He was silent as he pulled on his jeans and shirt, getting ready to leave.
“Ace?” I asked, just as he finished lacing up his shoes.
He walked to my bedside table and grabbed his watch to strap it onto his wrist.
“Yeah?”
“Y-you can touch me again today.” Warmth climbed my neck. “If you want.
“I-I mean, I know you’ve been trying to be respectful and everything since I asked you to do that, and you really have been doing a great job.
“But… I don’t think I would m-mind if you touched me again… like you used to.”
The grin that took over Ace’s face was dazzling and huge and nearly took my breath away. The next thing I knew, he was lifting me in his arms, placing quick kisses all over my face.
“Fuck, you have no idea how happy you just made me.” He settled his forehead against mine, letting out a deep breath. “I’ve missed my Doe.”