Cara
When someone tempts you with an offer like the one Ace just offered me, it’s almost too hard to refuse. One dance and I won’t have to work day and night to attend college. I won’t have to choose between books or food. It’s a no-brainer to say yes, but something heavier weighs on my mind, stopping me from telling him yes.
One dance cannot be the only thing he wants, and while I’m willing to do a lot of things for money, I don’t know that I’m willing to sleep with this dark and dangerous man, no matter how handsome he might be.
My cheeks burn in anticipation of my next question.
“One dance? Are you sure that’s all you would want?”
Ace arches a brow. “What makes you think it would be more than that?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. My tuition costs a lot. Surely a dance isn’t worth that price.”
Darkness flashes in his eyes, and he plucks a piece of hair off my shoulder, his gaze moving from the strand to my face. “Do I look like a man who cares what the price of something is? If I want to pay you half a million dollars for a dance, then I will.”
Gulping, I nod my head, letting the social class difference sink in. I don’t know Ace very well, but I do know he isn’t a man to be messed with. A moment of silence passes between us, and Ace drops the strand of hair and pulls back, the loss of heat from his body leaving me cold.
“Can I have some time to think about it?”
Ace nods. “Of course. You can think about it all night while lying in your bed tonight.”
Shocked, I nearly leap off the couch. “You’re letting me go?”
A wicked grin that makes my stomach tighten and my heart race splits his face. “Oh no, I’m not letting you go. You aren’t getting away that easily. I’m returning you to your home for the evening.” The joy deflates right out of me. I should know better than to hope for something so far out of reach. Ace shoves from his chair, and I follow a second later, shamelessly staring at how perfectly his tailored dress slacks hug his ass.
I have to stop letting my hormones control my thoughts.
Turning around, he smirks and offers me his hand. I skirt my eyes away, even while knowing I was caught with my hand in the cookie jar.
Neither of us says anything on the walk out to the car. Ace’s men avert their gazes as we pass, and I tug at the bottom of his shirt, wishing I wore something less exposing.
The sound of the SUV unlocking makes me jump, and Ace’s strong hand comes to rest on my hip, steadying me. His touch is like a healing balm on my soul.
“It’s okay. You have nothing to be afraid of. No one here will hurt you.”
The need to retort, no one but you sits heavy on my tongue, but I swallow the words down instead. He helps me into the SUV and then walks around to the driver's side. I shiver in my seat, the cold leather seat not helping my predicament.
Ace turns up the heat and presses a button on the touch screen console. He pulls out of the empty parking lot, and I realize we’re in the middle of nowhere.
I try not to think of how bad tonight could’ve gone.
“What are you thinking about?” Ace asks, almost like he can read my thoughts.
“How bad tonight could’ve been…”
“You mean it wasn’t bad after all?” The hint of humor in his voice cuts right through the lingering tension.
“I mean, if you subtract the hood over my head and being kidnapped, I would say it wasn’t half bad.” I let out a little giggle.
I can see a faint smile on Ace’s lips from the streetlights that let slivers of light in as we pass. As we drive, I realize I didn’t tell him where to go but that he’s headed toward the university. I don’t remember telling him that I was staying in the dorms, but I’m not surprised he knows. It’s stupid to feel comfortable around him, but I do. I sink deeper into the leather and allow myself to relax the rest of the drive.
When we pull up to the dorms, I frown.
“Well, it was nice to meet you, even if it was under the circumstances that it was.” I grab the door handle but pause when Ace’s hand lands on my thigh, stopping me from moving.
That look of pure darkness he showed when I first met him is back on his face. He gives my thigh a squeeze that’s not painful but jarring.
“If you tell anyone what happened tonight... I’ll have to kill you, Cara.”