Ace's Key: Book 1 Read Free

presented my hand to his, he gently gripped it and took it
to his lips.
    Ace escorted me toward the back of the room. Along the way, we
passed a small stage where a gentleman was playing the acoustic guitar,
providing a soft and sultry background sound. Occasionally, Ace hummed along.
    We approached one of the alcoves to find Claire and Ashley deep
in conversation over almost empty glasses of wine. When we stopped just short
of the table, Ace stole the opportunity to slide his hand down and rested it at
the small of my back. His sensual, masculine scent tickled my nose and elicited
my sexual cravings. It felt wonderful to be aroused, and I couldn’t control the
smile on my lips.
    “Yup, you found them. Thank you, Ace.”
    “Aha, Ace is it?” Claire asked in a teasing voice.
    “Yes. Can I get you ladies anything? Mia?” His hand was still
resting in its place on my back.
    “Only water for me,” I answered softly. Who goes to a wine
bar and orders water?
    He raised his brow in contest to my order, but didn’t say
anything. Turning to my friends, he waited while Ashley mulled over the menu. After
she and Claire got their acts together and found their voices to order, he
softly touched my cheek.
    “I’ll be right back.”
    I took the opportunity to look around. Another full bar was
directly across the room from us, so this place was large enough for two bar
wells. Geez. I saw Ace getting wine glasses as well as a bottle of Perrier,
which had to be for me.
    I finally took a seat at the table, so I wasn’t standing there
like a dork-infested gawker. Ace returned with my water and poured the wine for
my friends. He didn’t say anything, just winked before disappearing.
    “Wow. That’s definitely a rebound creature. He’s obviously into
you, so you can do him and tell us all about it,” Claire uttered.
    I spewed my water. “Seriously? Filter!”
    “I can’t help it. He’s hot,” Claire confessed.
    “Yum,” Ashley agreed. “Besides, it would make Connor jealous.”
    “For starters, I’m done with Connor. I even bought a new bed
today. He’s history, so I’m not looking to make him jealous.”
    “But, you are looking?” Ashley raised her brow.
    I shook my head. It was obvious that the less they knew, the
better. Neither of my girlfriends were in serious relationships and were in no
position to give credible advice. Claire had been dating Nick for over two
years, but their relationship was mostly physical. She described it as Sex-tration .
When they got frustrated, they’d hook up for sex and magically work out their
issues. Sounded more like kinky, mind-therapy to me without much commitment. I
kept waiting to see who was leaving the fees on the bedside table. Neither of
them ever confessed to leaving money; although, I repeatedly teased them about
it.
    Ashley, on the other hand, was a proudly professed virgin. How
many twenty-eight-year-old virgins were there in the world? She’d watched her
twin sister get pregnant in high school with a loser boyfriend. With one failed
relationship after another, Brianna was a single mom to Tucker, who was ten
years old, and had to live with her parents in order to make ends meet.
    Ashley wanted to be a naughty girl, but she simply didn’t have
the courage to step up to the sex buffet. I’d bought her a vibrator for her
twenty-fifth birthday and embarrassed her terribly, but I think she was curious
enough lately that the right guy could get his wish.
    “You said you bought a new bed?” Ashley asked.
    “Yup, gave the cheatin’ bed to him and proudly told the
concierge to bill Connor for the storage fees.”
    “I think I saw the delivery guys. One of them was smokin’ hot.”
    “He’s a personal trainer. Gave me his card. You interested in a
little personal session?” I teased her.
    “God, no. He looks good; that’s all. He probably weighs 220,
and I’m half that. He’d suffocate me.”
    “Trust me, honey, I know you’d enjoy it and what a way to