Chapter 9

9

ACE

I suppress a groan, determined not to awaken the sleeping beauty. Once again, I woke up to Libby plastered to me. Not that I’m complaining. I don't want her to wake up. I enjoy my time just feeling her body pressed against mine. I can watch her openly. I didn’t know sweet torture was a thing, but here I am. I have been experiencing it for the last week.

The first night here, Libby and I watched a movie in bed. It’s something we’ve done a lot over the last week. She’s enjoying it immensely. I love watching all of her different reactions. It’s actually teaching her a lot about how people interact with each other. And they say television will rot your brain.

We’d both dozed in and out at times. When night finally came and it was clear she couldn’t stay awake any longer, I said I’d take the couch. Libby protested, saying she was smaller. I told her my mother, rest her soul, would have my hide if I allowed her to sleep on the couch. So Libby suggested we share the bed. That it was big enough. It is a king. Not that it matters. She always found her way over to me in her sleep.

She was embarrassed the first few times she woke up pressed against me. I shrugged it off and downplayed it. I told her I didn’t mind her cuddles at all. Not a lie. It's all part of my plan to get her used to my touch. I want to get Libby comfortable with me so she never wants to leave. Each day I get more of that, but I’m worried it’s about to come to an end.

The blizzard had subsided for a day, but another one quickly followed. Now that one is dying down. I know the town is already starting to plow the roads and get things back on track. That means Winter is going to be coming here soon.

I know the sisters are excited to see each other, but I have a feeling Winter is going to want to take Libby back home with her. I have noticed with their conversations and stories that Libby tells me that Winter might be her sister, but she takes on a mama bear role with her too.

“Ace,” Libby mutters in her sleep, burying her face in my neck.

I close my eyes, ignoring my dick. I want to soak this in. She always smells so damn good. That sweetness she has covers her inside and out.

How the fuck am I going to handle her leaving? I can’t demand she stay. As much as I would want to, I know that’s not right for her. Libby has been told what to do her whole life. I don’t want her to think I’m like those men at Heaven’s Temple. It would kill me if she thought of me in that light. Plus, I think we’re making progress on her leg. With the stretches and rubdowns I've been giving her, it's becoming less noticeable. She also mentioned that the pain is not as intense as it used to be.

There is no way Winter can rub her deep tissue if her hands are as tiny as Libby’s. There's absolutely no way I would even consider allowing my brother to do it. I’d break all his fingers, which would upset Winter, and that would upset Libby.

Libby's body gives a small shake, a giggle bubbling out from her. "Why are you growling?"

"I wasn’t." Was I? I do a lot of things I’ve never done before since she came into my life. Her being in this bed sleeping next to me is on top of that list. So I wouldn’t be surprised if I had been. I do have barbaric thoughts when it comes to her. I have thought many of them to be animalistic. Yeah, I’m going fucking crazy, but I don’t care.

"You were." I can hear the smile in her voice. "Why?" Libby asks again.

"You get enough sleep?"

"Hey." She slides over me, sitting up and straddling me. Her hands come down on my chest. I don't think she has a fucking clue how sexual this position is, but she is up high enough on my stomach that her ass doesn't rub against my dick. "Don't do the thing where you ask a question to not answer mine." Her bottom lip puffs out. I want to sit up and suck on it.

I bring my hands to the top of her thighs, resting them there. Again, no reaction from her.

"I do that?" I give her a playful smirk. Yeah, I do. I don’t want to lie to her, and there are some things I don’t think she is ready to hear. Like how I want to bury my cock inside of her and bond her to me for life. How I want to see her belly round with our child. And many, many other thoughts that I need to keep to myself.

“Come on.” She rocks on top of me. This girl has the potential to ruin me. Hell, I already am. All I'll ever want is her. The need for her only intensifies with each passing day. I slide my hands up her soft thighs farther. “You can tell me things. I tell you lots of things.”

That she does. I notice my girl has two modes. Either really quiet or talking nonstop. I enjoy them both. I could listen to her talk all day, but I also like that we can fall into a comfortable silence together.

“I’m not sure you’re ready for that.” When I let my fingers brush the inside of her thighs, Libby sucks in a deep breath.

“Sure I am.” Her tongue comes out, wetting her bottom lip. “I’m considered an adult, right?” If I didn’t know better, I'd think she was trying to kill me. She’s pushing my self-control to its boundaries. The crazy part is, she doesn’t even know it.

“Yes,” I grunt. Her skin is velvety under my touch. As soft as rose petals.

“So then, tell me.” Her eyes drift downwards. I want them back on me. “I don’t like not knowing stuff.” Well, shit.

“I’m a man, Libby.”

“Trust me.” A small laugh leaves her pouty lips. I had never paid attention to a woman's mouth before. Hers I’ve memorized. I have used those memories trying to burn the lust I have for her off in the shower so that I don’t cross a line Libby isn’t ready for yet. “I am aware you are very mannish.”

“Mannish?”

“More than I have ever seen before.” Her fingers dance across my bare chest. “I mean, like, your size, not just ah?—”

“Nakedness,” I fill in for her. Libby nods her head. “Even that made you blush, babe. That’s why I don’t think you are ready to know why I’m not telling you certain things.”

“Oh.” Her mouth forms a perfect O shape. Again, those damn lips. So many dirty thoughts flash through my mind. “But I want to know about those things too.” Her ass shifts, a small wiggle.

Fuck me. Is my girl getting turned on? I’d noticed her doing that same shift when we watched a movie and an intimate scene would come on. It could be something as simple as a kiss and she would get fidgety. I bet if I reached my hands between her thighs she’d be wet for me. Fuck.

“Libby.” I slide my hands back to the outside of her thighs and up under my shirt that she has on. She doesn’t stop me as I grip her hips. “Need you to be real careful right now.” Whatever is left of my self-control is waning. I won’t be able to hold out much longer if she continues down this path.

“Because you’re a man?” Her tone carries a hint of challenge. I only grunt a response. “Like I said”—her fingers trail down my chest and down between her own thighs—“I know.”

“Libby.” My hold on her hips tightens. My fingers grip the soft, delicate skin, which I have no right to touch, but I do.

“Would you kiss me?” She lifts her head. “Like we saw in the movie last night?” Fuck. I love this confident, rebellious, take what she wants side to her.

“I can’t kiss you that way, Libby.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders drop. I sit up. I have to move her hips backwards as I do. Her pussy lands directly on top of my cock. Her eyes widen at my sudden shift.

"That kiss you saw last night was barely a kiss. I’ll want more.” I don’t think I could stop at a simple peck. I’m too greedy, and my control is a splinter's edge.

“Really?” Libby resets her hands on my shoulders. “Would you do the thing where they slip their tongues into the other's mouth?” She begins to wiggle her tiny ass once more. I grip her ass, stilling her movement. “’Cause I think I’d really like that.” When her eyes drop to my mouth and she licks her lips again, I’m done for.

Nothing could stop me from kissing her now. I just pray that I can stop at only giving her my tongue.