He wanted to explore those deep green eyes and linger over her gorgeous, curved red lips. He wanted to caress her nipples, tease her soft skin, and pleasure her pussy with his tongue.
He tried to concentrate on driving, but now that his cock was hard, it was almost impossible to watch the road. His mind was full of Emma tied and stretched out on the bed and that intoxicating, warm scent that rose from her slick hot skin.
He pictured himself walking back into the apartment and gently slipping his hand under the blanket. He’d look into her eyes as he touched her, teasing her with the softest grazes of his rough fingertips, leaving spider-light touches. Then he’d squeeze her hard and pinch a nipple between his fingers to hear her cry out with passion.
A car horn sounded right beside him, and he realized his car was slowly drifting into the other lane. He snapped the steering wheel to the side, breathing hard as he fought to get control of the car.
He was furious with himself. He’d never lost focus like this in his life, and he didn’t like it.
Ace kept his eyes on the road, and his hands tightly gripped the steering wheel, staring forward with a focus that drove every other thought from his mind. His thoughts continued leaping ahead, however, taunting him with the images of Emma’s beautiful body stretched taut across the bed as she struggled against the cables.
Finally, he pulled into a parking space and ran into the building. His mouth was dry, and his hands almost trembled. It was going to take all his strength to stop himself from hurling himself on top of her the second he entered the room.
When he slammed the door open, he could smell her, the aroma rising thickly all around him. With one foot, he kicked the door shut behind him.
“Emma?” he called.
No answer.
Ace scanned the room, terrified now that something had gone horribly wrong, especially when he saw the bed empty and the cables unwound. He cursed under his breath and punched the wall, barely holding back enough to not put a hole in it.
Her scent was thicker toward the kitchen area, so he ran that way. He was ready to destroy anyone who tried to take her from him, no matter who it was. He barely held back panic. Even though she was the Don’s grandniece, if someone was trying to start a war, they wouldn’t hesitate to kill her. His cheetah was trying to claw his way out. He wanted … no needed to find his mate. The idea that she was lying somewhere bloodied and broken filled them both with despair that brought on a fiery, blind rage. He’d kill anyone and everyone if she was dead.
As he bolted past the kitchen counter, he tripped over something huddled on the floor. He turned back toward it as he caught himself on the bench, barely staying upright.
His eyes widened as shock poured through him. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
It was Emma, hiding under the bench as if she was trying to hide from him. Somehow, she’d gotten free of the cords.
And she had her phone in her hand.
She’s trying to call for help!
Chapter8
Emma
It had taken Emma a long time to get out of the knots, but cords didn’t tighten together the same way rope did, and with a bit of force and determination, she managed to free one hand. Once that was done, the rest was easy.
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, and she had no idea how far away Ace’s place was, so she couldn’t possibly guess when he would return.
As soon as she was free, Emma grabbed her phone and ran to the kitchen, quickly scrolling to the number of her handler. She didn’t even know what to say ... or even if she wanted to be helped. It was the right thing to do, though. If she didn’t want to end up in more trouble, she really had no choice. Nothing good came from joining together a throw away family member to a man in a different mob family. It didn’t matter that her heart told her he was a good man who turned her body on every time he looked at her. That doesn’t work in mob families and especially if the Don you need to get permission from was her great uncle who could care less about her or her happiness.
Then she heard the door opening. In a panic, she knelt under the bench and tried to put the call through. It was hopeless. Even if she could make the call, she wouldn’t be able to talk, or Ace would find her immediately.
She heard his heavy steps charging through the loft, the loud cursing when he discovered she wasn’t tied to the bed anymore, then his furious charge to the front of her large room. He came running through the kitchen so fast that he tripped right over her.
There was a terrible moment as he looked down at her and saw her guiltily holding her phone. The silence between them seemed to stretch out for an eternity, and Emma’s nerves jangled so badly that her ears rang.
Ace moved in a blur of speed, his hand slicing the air to slap the phone from her hand. She shrieked as the impact hit her fingers and sent the phone hurtling into the nearby wall, where it cracked, and several pieces of the casing flew off.
“Fuck!” she cried, reacting without thinking. Ace growled. It was a sound that seemed to come from the depths of his being. The amber eyes shimmered gold, and he emanated menace like a wild animal about to pounce.
“I’m sorry ...” she shouted, but it was too late. He reached down and grabbed her arm, shaking her as he almost lifted her off her feet.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he yelled. All his fury, all his rage, poured out in one resonating torrent that made her shudder down to her very bones.
“I’m sorry,” she cried, not even sure what she was apologizing for. She reacted on instinct, literally leaping from one moment to the next. It wasn’t like she had a plan or was betraying him with any kind of malice.