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"He'll be here soon, won't he?" Erin asked me from behind the bar. She was working at Scars, and I'd seen her blossom into herself.
I looked down at my watch, "He said they would be arriving sometime after six, and it's six-fifteen, so yeah."
"Have a drink. Your nerves are making me anxious."
Ace had been gone for a few days with Gunner and Shane. They were at a bike show, showing off some custom work and I missed him.
We'd been seeing each other several times a week. It was always light, flirtatious and fun but ended with me going home. We'd had a few small pecks, but nothing of substance, and to be honest, it was driving me insane. He was like a drug. I thought about the times when I'd seen him naked and how I wanted him then, but had never actually gone through with it.
In hindsight, I understood why he was reluctant, but since I had the visual in my mind, all I could do was daydream about it. There had been this tension, and I couldn't understand why he didn't make a move.
Erin lined up a shot glass in front of me. "Here, it will take the edge off. She poured a clear liquid, and I immediately shot it back. I wasn't a huge drinker. I rolled my shoulders around like I was a fighter bouncing on my heels.
"So, want me to take your mind off of him?" Erin asked, wiping down the bar and collecting my shot glass.
I studied her, and I had noticed a small change in her recently, but I'd just thought it had to do with the self-confidence that working brought her.
"Reggie asked me out."
"He did?" I shrieked, "What did you say?"
"I don't know. I told him I had to think about it."
I bit my lip, "How did he take that?"
"He said he'd ask again tomorrow, which is today, and I really am freaking out."
"Do you think you're ready?"
"I mean, watching you makes me think I can do it. I mean, look how easily you've started to date again."
"Trust me, it hasn't been that easy. That's why we're stalled at dating and nothing else."
"Maybe he's waiting on you?"
"I'm guessing you're right, but I thought we were supposed to be taking my mind off of Ace."
Erin shrugged and moved down the bar to hand one of the guys a beer.
I thought about what she said. "Erin," I called. She walked back down to me after throwing away the bottle top.
"Don't compare yourself to me. We've all been through our own separate share of crap. We're all going to deal with it differently. If you're not ready, that's okay. Don't feel pressured."
She was silent for a moment, "The thing is, he's really cute."
I laughed. There was a certain charm about Reggie.
It was then, over my laughter, that I heard the pipes and knew that he was back. I briefly deliberated, if I should wait on my stool for him to come inside, but I was too excited to see him.
"Go!" Erin shouted at me, knowing I needed to get to him.
I bounced off my barstool, and ran out the front door.
"Whoa, sis," Gunner said, as I nearly knocked him over.
"Hey, Gunner," I called out while still on the move. Ace had just swung his leg over his bike and was turning to me when I launched myself into his arms.
His arms flew around me, and he squeezed, giving me such a welcoming hug. But a hug was all it was.
Ace chuckled, lowering me to the ground. "It's nice to see you too, Princess."
For some reason, this infuriated me. I didn't want it to just be a nice hug. I wanted a heck of a lot more than nice.
Once my feet were on the ground, he kissed the top of my forehead, still holding me close to him. It was intimate, just not as intimate as we should be.
We should be way past this. I think we'd been out maybe thirty times. We spent a lot of time together.
To hell with it. I knew how to get what I wanted. The new me didn't need to be shy. Maybe Erin was right, and he was waiting on me to show him that I was ready.
"Missed you, Ace," I spoke into his leather vest.
"I see that. Missed you too."
"Ace?"
"Yes, Princess?" he asked with amusement lacing his voice.
"Would you kiss me?"
"Whatever you want, Princess." He dipped his head low, and I raised my chin up. Our lips met in a soft, sweet peck on the lips, and then he was pulling back.
"No, I'm done with that, Mierda," I swore in Spanish. I wasn't going to let him pull away. Not this time.
I pulled him to me, and I kissed him. It was nothing like I'd ever experienced before. It was deep, and his lips parted as my tongue moved inside his mouth. It felt a million times more intimate than anything we'd shared. His hand moved to my hair, and he quickly took over. I wanted to meld my body to his. I could feel his muscled body against my own, and my hands began to roam. This kiss was everything. It was so much deeper than any kiss we've ever shared. My world felt like it was vibrant and filled with color. The two of us seemed more than just a kiss. When our mouths came together, it felt infinite. It felt explosive.
Ace pulled away, and his eyes seemed to darken even more than they already were.
"Get on, Princess." There was no humor to his voice. What there was, was a desperate need. "It's been nearly two years? Are you giving me the green light?" He looked at me, waiting for an answer.
I didn't use words. I didn't need any. He swung his leg over his bike, and I climbed on behind him, eagerly waiting for what would come next.
We pulled away, and it was only then that I registered several catcalls from a few of his brethren. I shook my head and laughed, then I squeezed my thighs tight around Ace. I bent forward and held on to him.