Filed To Story: The Trap Of Ace Book PDF Free
As if he couldn’t help it, he brushed his knuckles against my cheek.
A breathy murmur left his lips, which I couldn’t decipher.
Subconsciously, I leaned into his touch, eyes not leaving his face.
Skin eager for more, only those strong arms around me didn’t suffice.
My heart longed for something as it basked under his scorching gaze.
The gaze I used to die for wishing it on me even for a second.
My vision burned at the soaring emotions slamming in my chest.
My Ace…
But then his voice broke my trance, bringing me back to the present, the reality.
“Still won’t talk to me, Rosebud?”
Gray eyes locked with my turquoise ones.
Rosebud?
So, he still remembered someone of that name existed in his life?
THREE: HIS ROSEBUD?
T he name that used to give me flutters in my tummy now only added fuel to something that smoldered inside me for years.
I didn’t want to be called by that name anymore.
“I didn’t think my Rosebud could stay mad at me for that long,” he drawled as I kept quiet, his eyes searching for something on my face.
My Rosebud?
Whatever you see on my face, Achilles Valencian, you won’t find the fifteen-year-old sister of your best friend there.
Because she died that night because of you.
And the irony was, it wasn’t even your fault.
“Don’t call me that!”
My voice came out much like a snap.
When he raised a brow, I tried to cool my nerves.
I couldn’t show him my anger.
And though how much right it seemed, he wasn’t at any fault.
He didn’t even know.
“I-I have a name.
And I’d prefer to be called by that.
I don’t like when someone calls me with nicknames,” I clarified.
The side of his lips quirked up.
“I know your name.
But you will always be Rosebud to me.”
He leaned in, his hot breath fanning my earlobe.
“Though this Rosebud of mine now bloomed into a beautiful rose.”
My heart stuttered.
Whispers of the past echoed in my mind.
‘Really?’
I brightened up like a Christmas tree.
‘That means you will marry me?’
He bit his lip, his eyes lit up with amusement.
‘I’m sorry, Rosebud.
But I can’t.’
‘Why not?’
I pouted.
‘Because it’s not the right time.
You’re still so young.’
‘Then when will be the right time?’
I gazed up at him with so much hope.
‘When you turn into a blooming rose from a rosebud.’
A shaky breath left my lips, a squeezing pain shot through my chest.
My eyes stung with forbidden memories.
He… remembered?
But then flashes of that night floated across my eyes.
My throat tightened, causing me to ball my fists.
I gulped, it felt like acid burning inside me.
I needed air.
Moving out of his arms, I pushed him away.
Surprise flashed across his eyes, and then something close to concern took over his features.
Not wanting to stay there any longer, I turned around and walked away.
As fast as I could without creating a scene.
“Rosebud!”
He called after me.
In my peripheral, I saw Tobias going to him, maybe to stop him from following me.
“Em?
Where are you going?”
Ignoring Warner’s question, I ran out of there and didn’t stop until I was at the serenity of the huge balcony.
Gripping the railing, I breathed in the cold night air.
Up in the sky, hung the half-curved moon, surrounded by gazillions of twinkling stars.
They winked at me, as if mocking me for my pathetic feelings.
A lone tear escaped my eye as the cool breeze touched my face.
And then I let some more fall free.
Tears that I’d been succeeding to hold in for years.
My hand clutched my chest as I felt the same pain it felt that night.
As if someone sliced open the old wounds.
Biting my lip hard, I attempted to stop those tears.
Seven years.
Seven freaking years!
And here I was, still mourning over the heartache I got as a punishment for my foolishness.
Seven years, and it still pained me physically to remember the loss.
I was still afraid of seeing him.
I was still a coward.
That’s why I tagged Warner along.
I needed support.
I knew one way or another, in these two weeks, I’d have to face him.
I’d been trying to escape him after that night.
I’d avoided him like a plague.
Even if it was impossible on some occasions to avoid him before I left LA, I didn’t look at him.
I couldn’t look at him because I knew.
I knew if I made the mistake to look up, he would see it.
He would see it all.
And he’d find out how pathetic I was for believing his words he said to a nine-year-old na?ve kid, not to break her fragile heart.
I thought, I’ll forget him if I go away.
So, I went to live in a different city.
I thought, if I dated other men, I’d forget him.
So, I dated a lot of men.
If I toughen myself up, I’d be able to wipe him from my memories.
But no.
Just one glance, and some mere words threw me back to where I’d been years ago.
All my attempts failed.
“Why?”
I whispered, my voice quivering.
Why can’t I just move on?
After all these years, why does it still hurt?
Fuck you, Achilles Valencian!
Fuck you for fucking up my life!
I wiped my face when I felt a presence behind me.
A glass of orange juice was held before me.
“Just give me a moment, Warner.
I will be inside in a while.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not your boyfriend.
He is enjoying his drink very much with your brother inside.”
I snapped my head toward him.
He followed me here?
Stormy gray eyes were dark with… anger, shadowed jaw was clenched.
His charcoal suit gleamed under the moonlight as he towered over me.
Even after these years, I could only reach his broad shoulders with my five feet four inches height.
And the way he pronounced the word ‘boyfriend’ with malice, didn’t go unnoticed by me.
I didn’t like that tone at all.
“Why are you here?”
I took a step back.
His proximity suffocated me.
He covered the distance I created between us, handing me the glass.
“Came to see if you’re okay.”
You didn’t come to see me all these years.
“You don’t need to be concerned about my well-being.”
I ran my free hand over my arm as chilling air kissed my bare skin.
A muscle of his jaw ticked.
Shrugging off his jacket, he placed it over my shoulders.
I tried to go away from his overwhelming presence but he held me in place and secured it around me.
His intoxicating scent filled my senses.
“I will always be concerned for your well-being, Emerald.
I can’t stop doing it even if I want to.
And I won’t.”
“Why?”
I looked up into his intense gray eyes.
His arms were still around me.
Why wasn’t I pulling away?
“Because I care for you.”
As a little sister?
A sourness rose in my throat.
“And why do you care for me?”
I asked.
My tone was bitter.
Leaning in, he nuzzled my hair, breathing me in.
A shiver ran down my spine.
Then he pulled away and peered into my soul, briefly glancing down at my parted lips.
“Let’s keep the answer for another day.
Let time unfold the inevitable of its own.”
Tucking a strand behind my ear, he turned around and strode away, leaving me there.
Cold and confused.
What did he mean by inevitable?
Whatever, I didn’t care.
Looking back up at the sky, I took a deep breath to calm myself down.
Composing myself, I sauntered back inside.