Ace rolled his head to one side and attempted to move his hips while he grimaced in pain at the stabbing sensation in his left side. His head pounded like a bass drum and his stomach muscles screamed at his movement. Damn, when did the semi truck mow him down?
He pried open his eyes and blinked several times in succession to clear the haze, confused by the sight of chrome bars at eye level. He frowned and moved his gaze up and over them, onto a square machine that stood next to the bed. Zigzagging lines ran across the screen, several wires hung from the base, and soft, rhythmic blips sounded in the otherwise quiet surroundings while he traced the wires with his gaze back to his chest. Realization set in when he took a very careful deep breath and then slowly released it. Obviously he lay in the hospital but why and for how long?
Breathing past the pain, he reached for a bar and attempted to sit up.
“Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty.”
The sound of Thunder’s voice caused him to move his gaze onto the other man. “How long have I been out?”
“In and out for the last twenty four hours.”
Memories of the mission suddenly invaded his brain and his head pounded even harder. Ortega was dead, that he remembered. Still, he needed help to fill in the blanks.
“Where’s Carley?”
“She had an appointment to talk to the doctor and then an errand to run.” The captain smirked as he stood, stepped to the side of the bed, and handed him the remote control. “She made me swear on my weapon that I wouldn’t leave until she gave me permission.”
He chuckled and then immediately cursed the motion when his side caught fire. “Did that sonuvabitch hit me?”
“Bullet penetrated your vest – not your flesh.”
He pressed the button to elevate his head, stopping at a halfway sitting position. “I’m pretty sure my ribs are broken.”
Thunder nodded.
“Anything else?”
“You went out when your head hit the cement.”
That explained the headache.
“Did Carley witness the action?”
Thunder nodded again. “She’s made of stern stuff.”
Although the captain’s compliment somewhat relieved him, guilt still poked him. He hadn’t intended for her to witness anything other than Ortega’s demise. As soon as she made an appearance, a huge apology was in order – after he inspected her from head to toe to assure she was in one piece. And that couldn’t be soon enough.
“Where the hell is she?”
“Relax. She had a list of things to discuss.”
Of course she did. He settled back against the pillows and waited. He knew from experience she would address everything on the list before she returned. He grinned. The good doctor probably never saw her coming.
He glanced back at Thunder. “Has Montez showed his ugly mug?”
“Negative. Not a word. Everglade SWAT scooped the Cubans from the water after Chaos blew the boat out from underneath them but nobody’s had much to say.”
“What about Remington?”
“Home. Safe and sound after Carley cleared him.”
“Doesn’t look like his expansion project has a chance without Ortega.”
“Nope. But he claims it doesn’t matter. He collected payment in full up front and plans to use it to improve what’s already there.”
“Smart.” He very carefully took a deep breath. “How long do I have to lay here?”
Thunder shrugged. “I have no idea. Carley can probably clue you in.”
Almost on cue, the door opened and she breezed through the doorway. He squinted as she covered the distance between them.
“Ace! You’re awake!” She stopped beside the bed and placed a soft kiss against his forehead. “How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve been run over,” he admitted. “Are you limping?”
“No.” She dismissed him with a wave of her hand before she grasped his right biceps and squeezed. “I’m not surprised you feel badly. Your left ribs are broken and you have a slight concussion.”
“I’m sorry you had to witness all that, Carley.”
Thunder cleared his throat and stood. “I’ve done my time. I’ll see you two later.”
Ace noticed that the other man glanced at Carley and quirked an eyebrow, almost as if he asked permission.
“Thank you, Thunder,” she answered with a sweet smile.
As soon as they were once again behind a closed door, Ace covered her hand with his. “Seriously, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’ll have to admit, you scared me to death but I owe you my life, Ace.”
He reached to move her hair back from the side of her neck and swallowed hard. “My pleasure, sweetheart, but there’s something else I need to tell you.”
She nodded and began to draw lazy circles with her thumb on his skin.
“I love you.”
“And I love you,” she said on a breathy whisper.
She leaned over the side of the rail and touched her lips to his and he moved one hand to the side of her face, caressing her soft skin beneath his palm. Genuine, honest love pounded his heart. This woman was now a part of him and no way in hell would he ever change that.
He continued to move his lips over hers, deepening the contact while he practiced great discipline to keep from swallowing her whole. He slid his fingers deeper into her hair, tightening his hold, an act of possession more or less. She was his and he dared someone to challenge him. Desperate to continue the intimate contact, he groaned when she released a soft sigh and lifted her lips.
She covered his hand with hers and smirked. “Oh yeah, I can take you home if you’re ready.”
“I’m ready.”
He tossed the sheet from his body and then groaned when the swift movement brought pain.
“Let me.”
Carley moved the cotton back, lowered the bedrail, and then offered a hand. He slipped his hand in hers and then accepted her gentle assistance as she eased him forward to sit on the side of the bed.
“Stay,” she told him as she turned and grabbed his t-shirt, jeans, and boots from a nearby chair. “Take a breath.”
He took an easy, deep breath as she lowered the shirt over his head and then very gently helped him to ease his arms through the openings. She set his boots on the floor beneath him, poked his feet through his jeans, and then pulled them up his legs.
“Lean on me to stand.” She gave him a sympathetic smile. “Your ribs are wrapped tightly. Just go slowly.
His head spun as he made the transition from sitting to standing and he willed his stomach to behave. Finally, his equilibrium leveled as she pulled his jeans over his hips, zipped, and then buttoned them closed. He grasped her shoulder and crammed his feet into his boots.
She bent to lace them and then stood. “Let’s get you home.”
“You’ve never been home with me.”
“True.” She urged him toward the door with a hand on his shoulder. “Good thing you’re going home with me.”
After Ace lost a very short-lived argument with a nurse over riding in a wheelchair to the car, Carley slid behind the steering wheel and grinned.
“I’ll warn you now, the welcome wagon is waiting at the house for you.”
“I figured.”
“Are you sure you’re up for that?”
“I’m fine, really Carley.”
Suddenly, a small, unintended gasp escaped her lips and she reached down to rub her ankle. She squeezed closed her eyes and hoped it hadn’t been obvious.
Ace’s tone told her differently. “What’s wrong?”
“Muscle spasm,” she mumbled.
“Carley, look at me,” he demanded. “Did Ortega hurt you?”
“No!” she answered truthfully. “I must’ve just turned my ankle.”
She gave him what was meant to be a reassuring smile as she started the engine and drove to her house. She bit her lip at the throbbing sensation in her leg, determined to hide it from Ace until the time was right.
Now was not that time.
Once she parked in the driveway, she was relieved to see both her friends and his had already arrived. Within minutes, they entered the house and she managed to barricade him with pillows while he lay on the sofa. While he and his teammates discussed the last few days’ events, she escaped to the kitchen to join her friends.
“Ow, ow, ow!” She hopped on one foot – the one without the pain shooting through the ankle – and finally plopped down on a barstool. She kicked off a shoe and cradled her foot in her hands.
Kat raised an eyebrow. “Problems?”
“I hope not,” she mumbled.
“Let me see.”
“Okay, but no touching.”
Sophie stepped beside her and rubbed her back while Kat leaned over to look at her ankle. “Did you tell Ace?”
“No, I was waiting for the right moment.”
“It looks fine,” Kat lifted her gaze and smirked. “Really good, actually.”
“I’m proud of you, Carley.” Liv lifted her wine glass in a salute. “You stepped out of your comfort zone and came through with flying colors.”
Sophie sighed and kept rubbing circles on her back. “I’m just sorry it’s so painful.”
Carley opened her mouth to admit to her friends exactly how much pain invaded her at the present time when a deep, smooth, male voice interrupted.
“Mind telling me exactly what’s so painful?”
Carley lifted her gaze from her ankle and onto Ace, braced in the kitchen doorway on one hip with both arms crossed over his chest. Suddenly pain faded into the background. Even wrapped with a beige bandage, his body tempted her. Without encouragement, her tongue left her mouth to swipe her bottom lip.
“Chaos needs a beer,” Kat said quickly as she flung open the refrigerator door, reached inside for the beverage, slammed the door, and then practically ran from the room.
Sophie cleared her throat and patted Carley’s back one more time before she, too, headed out of the kitchen. “I’m sure Rebel’s looking for me.”
“Thunder will send a search party in a matter of minutes.” Liv grinned and followed Sophie.
Traitors.
Carley swallowed hard and looked back at Ace.
“I’m sorry, what was the question?”
He winced as he pushed himself off one hip and ambled toward her. She briefly entertained the thought of running – he had no chance of catching her in his current condition – but quickly nixed it. It would only be a matter of time before he healed and then she wouldn’t have even half a chance of escaping him. Not that she really wanted to.
“I asked,” he said as he replaced her hands with his, “what is so painful?”
“Um, nothing really.”
“You told me you weren’t hurt.”
“I’m not.”
She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth as he very gently lifted her ankle. Almost immediately, the wrinkles on his forehead disappeared and he lifted his gaze to hers.
“I made a spontaneous decision,” she murmured.
His lips split into another wet-your-panties smirk. “Yes, you did.”
She moved her gaze back to her ankle, freshly inked with a black tattoo. The small playing card, complete with a bold cursive A in the upper left and lower right corner, covered only a small area of the skin above her ankle. Amazing how much it hurt.
He chuckled as he released her foot and then pulled her off the stool and into the circle of his arms. She placed her lips against the base of his throat, grateful to feel the beat of his pulse.
“There’s something to be said about spontaneity,” he said against the top of her head, “but I’m willing to bet you think twice next time.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
She lifted her head and grinned.
“Watch me.”