Ace's Key: Book 1 by Abbie St. Claire Read Free Book Online Page B

me.
Normally, I could fuck and forget, but something told me that last night had
changed momentum for me.
    I had to make a quick trip back to Italy before the holidays
for personal reasons. I’d hoped Mia would say yes to my invitation. I sent her
a text.
    Come with me
    I waited for her to respond, but she ignored me. Maybe she
couldn’t handle a casual situation. My behavior would appear to many as callous
and something purely selfish, but I never begged for anything or anyone. If Mia
Kennedy wanted to find me, she knew how and if she wanted to be with me… She
had my key.

 
     
     
    Chapter Ten
     
    Mia
     
    After avoiding everything and everyone on New Year’s Eve, I
spent the holiday listening to the news in the background, while I created an
account on the local Meetup. I’d heard folks at the office use it for various
get-togethers.
    Photography of architecture was a big hobby of mine. I found
Meetup had a group for inspiring photographers, and I signed up for a few
classes. It was a welcome change.
    But as hard as I tried, I couldn’t erase the feel of Ace’s skin
on mine or the feeling of emptiness without his cock in me. I wore out my
vibrator, trying to achieve even the simplest of orgasms to no avail.
Frustrated, I went for a run. When I returned, I saw the furniture delivery guy
leaving my building with that just-been-fucked look. He didn’t notice me, but I
watched as he retrieved his car from the valet and was shocked to see him leave
in a Range Rover.
    Unable to keep a smile from crossing my face, I rang Ashley’s
bell.
    “Good morning,” she mused with that same just-been-fucked look.
    “Well, make that afternoon, honey.”
    “What. Time. Is. It?” she pouted.
    “Almost two o’clock. You two been at it this whole time?” I
teased her.
    Her eyes opened wider and looked as though they were going to
explode from her face. “I, uh…what…um…what are you talking about?”
    “I just saw him leave. How was it?”
    “We didn’t have sex.”
    “Really? You trying to hold back from me? I think maybe he’s
still panting while waiting on his car at valet. Let me go ask him.”
    “ Stop! Don’t you dare.” She laughed. “Okay, we didn’t do
the deed, but we did play around, and he spent the night.”
    “Define ‘play-around’,” I uttered through laughter.
    “He went down on me several times, and it was so hot, so
freakin’ amazing.”
    “And what did Mr. Hotandamazing get in return?”
    “Two fabulous blow jobs. I’m learning that I like this stuff.”
She grinned.
    We discussed the evening, and she told me Claire and Mason had
a great night as well, according to the text she’d received. I hadn’t heard
from anyone, so I knew I’d gone to the top of Claire’s shit list. I needed to
rectify it. Just as I had forced her to get over Nick, she was trying to force
me to come to terms with Ace, and as painful as it was to think about, she was
right. Either see him or move on.
    That was what the photography was about…an opportunity to move
on, meet new people, and do fun things.
    “Hey, get a shower. Dinner at my place tonight. I’m going to
run to Eatzi’s. We can carb-out on pasta and wine. Sound good?”
    “Delish, I’ll let Claire know.”
    “You know what, let me do that. I owe her an apology anyway for
last night. See you at seven-ish.”
    I showered and headed to Eatzi’s, a local Italian market. I
hadn’t been gone long when Claire finally decided to call me back. Seemed she
and Mason hadn’t called it a night and were still together. She agreed to come
to dinner, and apparently, her sex-filled night made her forget she was mad at
me.
    I had my basket full to the brim with fresh bread, pasta, and
all the trimmings, including Tiramisu. With the addition of two bottles of my favorite
wine, my arms overflowed.
    “Do you need some help with that?” A deep, accented voice
emitted from behind me.
    Immediately, I recognized the accent and turned to see the
gorgeous,