“I could have made you very comfortable, and the wait time would have been pleasant for both of us. Now you’ll have to stay there for God knows how long.”
He muttered in a gruff voice, and Emma wasn’t even sure if he was talking to her. The shock had finally caught up to her, and now that she couldn’t move, the adrenaline racing through her body had nowhere to go. She trembled and fought back her tears.
“Please, please just let me go. I’ll do anything, anything you want.”
Emma glanced up at him, practically hypnotized by those shimmering, deep-amber eyes. His face was very tense, his mouth set in a hard line. A muscle jumped in his cheek.
Is he made of stone? Does he even want me?
“Don’t tempt me,” he whispered.
In those words, she heard a powerful desire, something that ran bone deep in him. It was unnerving because he kept his impassive gaze and hard eyes, but his voice was full of longing.
It tugged on her heart, not just her lust. Something was there, desperation, maybe. As if he needed her.
After a moment of silence, finally, he broke. His face twisted as if he couldn’t hold it a moment longer, and those beautiful pale-gold eyes slid down her body. His lips parted, his tongue coming to the edge of his mouth. He breathed far more deeply as he drew the air into the back of his nose.
Ace took a step closer to the bed. His eyes lingered on her breasts, ran down her body as if caressing her skin, and finally fixed on her exposed pussy.
His eyes dilated, and his breath rasped, getting faster and faster until he sounded like a racehorse coming off the track. Fear rose in her again, backed by such powerful arousal that it was made irrelevant.
Just take me!
His beautiful eyes snapped back to her face as if he had heard her words. She gasped, feeling dizzy again.
He knows I’m horny. How can he know?
It didn’t matter how ... it was obvious he knew. The cold, hard look returned to his face as he struggled to control himself, but his eyes continued to smolder with lust and a raging, unstoppable desire.
Fuck. He does want me. He wants me so badly, he can’t even stand it.
Ace closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and held it for several seconds. When he opened his eyes, he was back in control.
“Business first, then pleasure,” he said firmly. “I’ve got a job to do. I can’t be distracted. I have to leave you just for a short while. If I’m hanging out here, then I need some things.”
“Leave me,” she cried. “What do you mean leave me? You just said you can’t go until those guys come back.”
He nodded. “I did, but I doubt they’ll be back so soon. I need to go now.”
“What if they come back and I’m tied to the fucking bed?” she shrieked.
Ace laughed softly. “Stay quiet and hope they don’t notice you. I won’t be long ... I’m fast as lightning, remember?”
The nerves finally piled up, and she started shaking. Panic flooded her. She couldn’t believe he was leaving her alone.
Ace frowned when he noticed her shivering, and he pulled the blankets up over her body. His touch was soft and gentle, almost nurturing.
Why is he taking such good care of me?
“Are you comfortable?” he asked as he stood back from the bed.
“As much as possible, I’d say.”
“Good. Do you need to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water before I go?”
She shook her head, feeling numb and miserable, as well as insanely turned on.
“No, I’m okay.” Emma’s voice was soft, and it wasn’t just nerves or stress. Ace might be holding her captive, but he currently showed her more consideration and care than her own family ever had.