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  Ace hurried her out with a hand at her back. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Furious that he couldn’t stay to help her, Ace took pictures and left his deputies, Linc and Rafe, behind to search for slugs while he went across the street to Club Desire to investigate the damage there.

  Thankfully, Hope and Charity had plenty of help to clean up the glass. Two of their fathers, Garrett and Drew Sanderson, came to help, leaving Finn at the diner with their mother. Clay and Rio Erickson came over to help, shooing the women out of the way just as Law and Zach came through the door with Beau right behind them.

  Sloane, Cole, and Brett Madison took measurements to replace the windows while Boone and Chase did the same across the street at the men’s club.

  Since both clubs had been closed and, thankfully, empty when it happened, no one had been hurt, but Ace couldn’t tamp down his fury that this happened in his fucking town and how easily someone could have been hurt.

  The fact that no one saw anything but that several people heard what sounded like a truck roar by pissed him off even more. The shooting occurred in the early morning hours when most people had still been snug in their beds, and by the time they looked out, the shooter had gone.

  It took several hours before he could get back to Hope, long hours that he hated being away from her. Rafe and Linc assured him that the club had been cleaned up and was secure and that they’d sent Hope and Charity back to their apartment.

  Thoughts of what could have happened if either woman had been inside the club at the time some asshole shot the windows out ran through his mind all day. He fought a constant battle not to go to Hope, throw her over his shoulder, and hustle her off to his ranch where she’d be safe.

  In this mood, he had no business going to her, but he wouldn’t settle down until he saw for himself that she was okay.

  He’d make it a quick visit and then get the hell away from her. Having this happen while the intimacy of sleeping with her and holding her in his arms all night was still fresh, he didn’t trust himself at all. He’d wanted to scare her away, not terrify her with his dark mood and foul temper.

  The sun had just started to go down when he pulled up in front of the diner. He turned off the engine and just sat there, forcing himself to calm down before he went up to Hope’s apartment.

  He hadn’t slept much the night before. When he came out of the shower, he’d found her fast asleep and earned nothing more than a grunt when he’d tried to wake her to eat. While she slept peacefully beside him, he’d spent most of the night watching her. When she’d cuddled into him as though trying to get closer, he’d lifted her carefully to lie on top of him, hoping the movement wouldn’t wake her, not quite sure how we would explain that he wanted her even closer.

  He’d wanted badly to shower with her, had almost insisted on it, but the morning-soft, just-made-love-to look on her face tightened a fist around his heart. The intimacy of having slept with her and making love to her again hung in the air, and he’d desperately needed to get away from her to rebuild the fucking wall she kept knocking down at will.

  With her bubbly personality and devil-may-care attitude, she somehow lighted some of the dark places inside him and warmed parts of him that had been cold for longer than he cared to remember.

  Fear of what could have happened to her weighed like a jagged block of ice in his stomach. He could have lost her so easily, and she never would have known what she meant to him. His need to overwhelm her, to let her know that she belonged to him, to have her focused solely on him knotted his stomach even as it stirred his groin.

  Opening the door, he breathed in the cold night air, trying to force back the erotic images racing through his mind. If he did to her what he wanted to right now, she’d run screaming into the night.

  “Hey, Sheriff.”

  Whipping his head around, Ace stared into Hope’s beloved face. Unsettled that he’d been so lost in his thoughts that she’d managed to sneak up on him, he yanked her against him. “What are you doing out here?”

  * * * *

  Startled by his tone, Hope nevertheless snuggled into him. “I looked out the window and saw you. What are you doing sitting out here? Have you eaten?”

  “I grabbed a sandwich. I talked to Cole Madison. He said that they replaced the windows. Are you and Charity all right?”

  Hope grinned and tried to crawl into his lap, but the steering wheel prevented it. “Yes, we’re fine. It’s only glass. But Beau came over to check on Charity.” She jumped, startled when Ace grabbed her by the shoulders none too gently and stood, leaning over her threateningly.

  “It’s not only glass. You could have been hurt, damn it. Don’t you take anything seriously? If you’d been inside the club—”

  Hope shoved at him. “I wasn’t, though, was I? Nobody was. Jeez, I could have been struck by lightning when we had that thunderstorm last week, but I wasn’t. Lighten up, for God’s sake.”

  Ace lifted her off of her feet, shook her once and with a curse, put her back down. “You don’t fucking get it, do you? This is all some kind of game to you. It’s not. You could have been hurt. Or worse, damn it. Do you realize how easily you could have been taken away from—fuck it.”

  Hope grabbed his arm when he would have turned away. “Taken away from you? Is that what you’re afraid of? Is that why you keep me at arm’s length and refuse to give in to what you really want? You think I’m going to leave you like your mother left your father, don’t you?”

  Ace shrugged off her hand. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I gave you the kinky sex you wanted, didn’t I? Isn’t that what you wanted from me, Hope?”

  She gasped at the cold blade of pain that sliced into her stomach, but it paled in comparison to the anguish in Ace’s eyes. With sudden insight, she realized he was doing his best to push her away. Again.

  “You know better than that, Ace.”

  The big, bad, sheriff had a weak spot. Her.

  She’d spoken with Law and Zach while they helped her clean up today, and they’d told her that he didn’t let himself get too close to anyone except his father and brothers, keeping all women at a distance.

  Fucking them was one thing, but the intimacy of actually spending the night wrapped in each other’s arms was something entirely different.

  Once she looked back at his actions from that perspective, things made a lot more sense.

  The fact that he tried to protect her from his dark desires only reinforced her belief that he loved her. He still didn’t believe that she desperately needed him just the way he was, and she knew by the look on his face she didn’t have much time left to convince him.

  Knowing how much it would piss him off, she kept her tone playful. “You liked playing games, too, didn’t you, darlin’? Why don’t we go back to your house and play tonight? Law and Zach already told me they have plans for tonight and won’t be home until late tomorrow morning.”

  Ace shook his head grimly. “No. I just came by to check on you. I sent Linc home early to get some sleep because he’s going to be working late tonight. I’m going to relieve him at three in the morning, so I’m going home for a bit. I’ll be busy with trying to find whoever’s doing this. Maybe it’s better if we end this now.”

  If she didn’t know him so well, she would have fallen to her knees in agony at his dismissal. Understanding his motive, she nodded. “Sure, Ace. Anytime you want to play, let me know.”

  The stunned look on his face at her easy acceptance and the flash of pain that followed confirmed what Hope already knew. Clearing his throat, he quickly masked it, his features becoming granite-hard.

  “Goodbye, Hope.”

  Hope didn’t move as she watched him drive away. Her heart was heavy as she stood staring at him until he went out of sight. Only then did she run inside to call Law.

  * * * *

  Almost forty-five minutes later, she shook with nerves as she pulled up to Ace’s house just as Law
and Zach were pulling away. She got out and closed her door as quietly as possible and ran up to Law, and jumping up on the running board, she leaned in to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”

  Law chuckled. “He took a shower and went straight to bed. He should be asleep by now. Hopefully he heard the truck and not your car, but we’d better get out of here before he wakes up or wonders what’s taking us so long to pull out.”

  Zach smiled. “Good luck, honey. We won’t be home until noon tomorrow.”

  Hope waved them off and made her way to the front door, thankful that Law and Zach had left the porch light on. She stepped from the narrow walkway onto the wooden porch, wincing when one of the steps creaked. She froze, barely breathing as she waited to see if Ace would come running out with his gun. When he didn’t, she continued, thankful that none of the other boards made any noise.

  Lady Luck must have been on her side because the screen door didn’t make a sound as she slowly opened it. She didn’t have as much luck with the front door, but she hoped the slight sound hadn’t been enough to wake him.

  She set her purse on the sofa before quietly removing her shoes and jacket. Biting her lip, she decided that it would be better to get undressed out here where she wouldn’t wake him.

  She wanted him to wake up to find her naked in his bed, her lips on his cock.

  The arousal that simmered ever since she talked to Law earlier strengthened as she undressed, and she couldn’t wait to surprise the sheriff.

  * * * *

  Ace heard his brothers leave and turned to his side, knowing that he wouldn’t get any sleep tonight. Thoughts of Hope kept his cock hard, his mind racing, and made sleep impossible. He’d made the right decision in not having her come here tonight, though. Seeing those broken windows and the slugs that Rafe found made him want to wrap himself around her to protect her from the rest of the world. His rage at what could have happened made him want to fuck her long and deep, to feel her quiver around him, hear those sweet sounds she made. He needed to feel her wild in his arms, safe and happy and very much alive.

  She belonged to him, and he hadn’t even been able to stay to help her clean up.

  Fuck.

  Pounding the pillow, he shifted again, becoming still when he heard a creak. He’d lived in this house for twenty-five years and knew that it came from the second step to the front porch.

  Sitting up, he tossed the sheet aside and silently retrieved his gun from the nightstand. The rage inside him turned to ice when he heard the front door open.

  They seldom locked doors around here, but they’d started several months ago when trouble came to town. Evidently, Law and Zach had forgotten to lock it when they left and someone had been waiting outside.

  He stood, automatically sidestepping the creaky boards in his bedroom and moved silently to the door. Luckily, his eyes had long ago adjusted to the darkness and he knew where every stick of furniture was in his house.

  Cracking his door open, he listened intently, pausing when he heard what sounded like the rustle of clothing. He barely managed to stifle a laugh when he heard a thud and softly spoken, but inventive cursing.

  Hope.

  He’d know that voice anywhere. The extent of his relief nearly brought him to his knees. Clenching his jaw, he turned to open the drawer of his dresser, put the safety back on, and place his gun inside. Holding his breath, he eased the drawer closed again and moved to stand behind it. He should have known she’d given up too easily. If he hadn’t been so angry, he might have seen it, but he’d been ready to believe the worst. After all, he’d been expecting it, hadn’t he?

  His own fierce arousal and the dark mood that plagued him tonight guaranteed a night she would never forget.

  He drew in a breath as the bedroom door slowly swung open. He was more than ready for her.

  * * * *

  Naked and already aroused, Hope tip-toed into Ace’s bedroom, holding her breath as she silently approached the bed. She couldn’t even see her hand in front of her face and had to feel her way, hoping like hell she didn’t run into anything else. Her toe hurt from hitting it on the leg of the sofa, and she didn’t want to wake Ace by hitting it again on the bed.

  Taking small steps, she reached out a hand in front of her, groping for the bed. She smiled in anticipation as her hand touched the quilt.

  A hard band came around her waist, lifting her off her feet, scaring her so badly she screamed for Ace.

  “What do we have here?” His deep voice vibrated in her ear, sending a shiver through her.

  With her heart pounding nearly out of her chest, she slumped against him in relief, her pulse tripping when the fact that he held her against his hard naked body penetrated. “Damn it, Ace. You scared the hell out of me. I thought someone broke in.”

  His other hand slid down her body from her breasts to her slit. “Someone did break in. A very naked someone broke into my house in the middle of the night. I’m going to have to deal harshly with her.”

  She wiggled against him, her thighs already coated with her juices, gasping as he slid a finger into her. “Yes.”

  “I didn’t want to subject you to my mood tonight. You just couldn’t leave it alone, could you? This is your last chance to get the hell out of here.”

  Dropping her head back against his shoulder, she wiggled her bottom against the hard cock pushing against it. She braced her feet against his knees as his finger began to move. “I want all of you, Ace. Not just bits and pieces. I can handle you, Sheriff, in all your moods. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “We’re gonna have to see about that, aren’t we. If you stay, you’re going to give me every fucking thing I want.”

  Knowing him well, Hope turned her face to kiss his jaw. “You don’t expect me to make it easy for you, do you? If you want my submission, tough guy, you’re going to have to earn it. You’re going to have to take it.”

  He withdrew his finger from her slit, running it up the center of her body and leaving a damp trail. “With pleasure.”

  Shaking with excitement, Hope squealed when he turned and sat at the edge of the bed, tossing her effortlessly over his lap. Without a word, he started spanking her, several sharp slaps in row.

  Hope shrieked, kicking her legs. “Why are you spanking me?” It disconcerted her that she couldn’t see a thing. She might as well have been blindfolded.

  Ace paused to rub the cheeks of her bottom, spreading the heat and making her squirm on his lap. “I don’t have to have a reason, now do I, other than I love this tight ass. This belongs to me, doesn’t it?”

  She reveled in her vulnerable position, but it wasn’t enough. Knowing his mood, Hope couldn’t even begin to fathom what kinds of things he wanted to do to her, but her absolute trust in him compelled her to push him. For both of them. Their savage needs had to be assuaged, and neither of them would be satisfied until they both let loose completely. She wanted, needed, him to take what he wanted from her and make her submit to his every demand.

  With her lust for him damned near raging out of control, burning hotter as the heat from his spanking spread to her slit, she did something guaranteed to awaken the dominant beast inside him.

  She bit his leg. Hard.

  “You brat!” He spanked her harder, several sharp slaps all over her bottom until she let go. “You’re really in trouble now. I swear, you would pull a lion’s tail.” Standing, he lifted her over his shoulder and stormed around the bed, tossing her unceremoniously onto it. With a hand on her belly, he held her in place as he flicked on the small lamp sitting on the nightstand and started rummaging through the drawer. “You’re gonna learn not to pull this shit with me.”

  Hope fought him, her lust spiraling out of control as he made short work of tying her hands above her head. “That’s what you think. I’m not scared of you.” She struggled to free herself of her bonds, knowing she’d be seriously disappointed if she managed to do it. The entire time, she watched Ace as he went to the closet to retrieve a duffe
l bag.

  He brought it back, dropping it on the floor beside the bed and started taking things from it and placing them near her feet. “Let’s see what a smart mouth you have when it’s full of cock.”

  Hope smirked. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You threatened that before, and I didn’t even get a taste. You’re full of shit.”

  The stunned outrage on his face was priceless. His jaw clenched as he reached into the bag again. “I’m fucking every hole you’ve got tonight. You’re gonna be using that smart mouth to beg before long.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “No, darlin’. I’m gonna fuck you.” He overcame her struggles with alarming ease, attaching both of her ankles to a spreader bar, effectively keeping them about three feet apart.

  Hope shrieked, thrashing and hitting at him as he untied her wrists. The struggle caused the bunched-up quilt to rub against her slit and made her even wilder. She slapped at Ace’s bare chest as he held one of her wrists to attach a cuff to it. Seeing the hook on the cuff, she knew what he planned and fought harder.

  “Let go of me, you son of a bitch.”

  Ace chuckled as he lifted the spreader bar with one hand and attached the cuff to it. “You had your chance and you didn’t take it. After tonight, you’re not going to be so quick to provoke me.”

  Her wrist and legs had been attached to the same spreader bar, rendering her nearly immobile. Desperate now, and with her slit leaking more moisture than ever, she punched him in the stomach with her other hand before he could catch it in his.

  Ace chuckled again. “You fight like a little girl.”

  Hope cursed as he managed to attach the cuff to her other wrist and hook it to the spreader bar. “I’m going to get even for this.”

  Ace yanked the pillow out from under her head and stood, placing it on the edge of the bed. “I’m scared to death. Come here and we’ll see if we can’t do something about that mouth.” He tugged her easily to the side of the bed and placed her head on the pillow. He held the spreader bar high, controlling both her arms and her legs with one hand.