The Trap Of Ace

Chapter 25

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 25 – We’ll see?

This infuriating man!

“I’m just letting you hug me because you needed it. Don’t think of something else. I’m still mad at you for what you did up at your penthouse…” My cheeks flamed at my slip of tongue. Why did I need to mention it right now?

My lips tingled recalling the earth-shattering kiss on his bed.

He put his nose into my hair. “And don’t think I forgot what you did last night. It was a really reckless move. And about kissing you,” he rasped, arms tightening around me, “I don’t regret a second of it. I’ll do it again and again even if you don’t like it!”

A gasp slipped through my parted lips as he placed an open-mouthed kiss on my neck and then on my throat.

“And I know, you loved it,” the deep husky voice of his said, brushing his lips on my jaw.

My heart raced down my chest as hot desire shot through my veins the touch of his scorching mouth. A tug in my lower region made me want to seek those sinful lips again, the same lips that were on mine just this morning. My skin burned with his bold touch over my curves.

But even if I wanted to b**n in his flames for the rest of my life with pleasure, with all the strength I’d in me, I untangled myself from him and stepped away.

I couldn’t do this again. I couldn’t let my control slip again. I’d to go.

When I turned around to run, his arms again shot out to me. Holding my shoulders, he pulled me back against him.

“Stop running away from me, my rose. We both know what we want. Stop escaping the truth,” he murmured in my ear, stroking my mid-section.

His touch was making me unable to think. My body reacted to him strongly every time he touched me, my mind warned me to keep distance, but my heart longed for him every time he was away. His closeness was a sweet poison to my brain. Because it loved it even if it made it numb.

Keep it together, Em!

“I’ve to go. Leave me,” came out my b**e whisper.

He pulled me more into his powerful arms. “Never. I’ll never let you go!”

Huh? He’ll keep me in his office forever?

“I’ve work. Let go!” I huffed.

“No work today. It’s your free day.”

“What? Why?” I turned to look up at him.

“It’s been a long day for you and even a terrible night last night. So it’s your off day.” He brushed some tendrils away from my face. He was so close…

“Can you keep some personal distance? Move!” I wiggled, slapping on his strong arm.

Amusement etched into those grey eyes. “Why? My closeness bothers you, Rosebud? It makes you all hot for me?” he teased.

My eyes widened. The arrogance!

“Not at all! I don’t feel anything! Now let go!”

“Only on one condition.”

My eyes narrowed. “No conditions!”

He shrugged. “Then no leaving.”

I groaned. “Fine! What’s it?”

The corner of his lips twitched as he kissed my forehead. My heart stuttered at the gesture. “Have lunch with me?”

When I didn’t answer, he continued.

“Let’s talk. And I even ordered your favorite dish.”

At the mention of food, my stomach growled. I didn’t even have breakfast this morning in a hurry.

I tried to ignore the amusement in his eyes. What? Everyone had tummy.

“Okay. But only because I’m hungry.” My turquoise eyes challenged his stormy grey to say instead.

Nodding his head, a smile spread across his face. A genuine one, which I saw very rare. Only when with me. “Only because you’re hungry.”

***

I stared at the cheesy garlic shrimps with extra sweet and sour sauce before me. Exactly how I liked to take it. Not a usual combo, but it used to be my favorite.

Our favorite.

Whenever he used to visit our home, he’d brought it for me. It was our regular thing after our chess matches.

“You remembered?” I whispered, looking up at him.

Leaning forward, he put some prawns on my plate and then poured the sauce onto it. “It’s not possible for me to forget even a single thing about you even if I want.”

The look in his eyes was so intense it left me breathless.

I’d to avert my eyes. I couldn’t let him see the moisture that old memories fetched in them.

Picking a prawn dipped with the sauce, I put it into my mouth. Exceptional! Just as I remembered. The sweet and savory taste blasted on my tongue.

A moan left my mouth as I grappled another one. “It’s so good!”

I’ve missed it so much. In these years, in the process of avoiding him, I’d avoided everything related to him as much as possible. Even this sweet and sour heaven. It awakened too many memories.

A smile danced across his lips as he watched me, still not touching the food. “You’re not eating it with your hand anymore.”

Embarrassment rose up my neck to my ear. I used to hate using forks to eat them. Using my fingers, it was easy to lick the cheese and sauce. I’d do the same right now, but self-consciousness held me back.

“You don’t need to be embarrassed, Rosebud. It’s just me. I want you to be yourself when you’re around me,” he said, taking my fork from my hand.

When I didn’t proceed, still hesitating, he also put his fork aside and picked a prawn using his hand.

I watched him with surprise. He never used to use his hand while eating. He thought it was d***y. But now… Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“What? You want me to finish them all alone?” he asked, when I ogled him like a dumb.

Shaking my head, I happily dug in using my fingers. Now it tasted even better.

“Since when did you start eating with your hand?” Taking a piece of pepperoni pizza, I queried.

Glancing up, he watched me with a strange emotion in his eyes, while sucking the sauce off his thumb.

My eyes fell onto his wicked mouth before I shifted my attention on food again.

“Since it started to help me in keeping me sane.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing. Why don’t you taste those baklava? My chef is from Turkey, so it’s the authentic recipe. Here, take some. You’ll love it.” He put some of the dessert on my plate, clearly changing the topic.

I’d so many questions preserved for him, and here he wasn’t even answering the simple thing.

“No, thanks!” I snapped, my temper suddenly flaring. “I’m full.”

I pushed the plate away.

His brows furrowed. “What happened to you all of a sudden?”

“Nothing. Why don’t you eat those baklava? I’m sure you’ll love it,” I phrased his line.

He pressed his lips together. “I don’t need to eat them to know if I’ll love them. I do love them. Now will you tell me what’s wrong?”

I wanted to ask the questions I did to Tess, but I didn’t know how to approach, and that is wrong.

Looking away, I replied, “Nothing is wrong. I’m done, so I gotta go.”

“You won’t leave without having the dessert with me and answering my question.”

“Excuse me? And who’re you to order me that?”

He titled his head. “Your boss.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh yeah! I forgot. No one can deny the king here. Only he can order around people, not the other way.”

“Nobody except my queen.”

My gaze snapped up to his, his stare intense. Pushing the dishes away, he tugged my onto his lap, emanating a gasp out of me.

“And as you’re my queen, you’ve every right to order and deny me around, my Rosebud.” My breath hitched at my throat and heart pounded down my chest as I stared at the significance in his eyes. Cupping my face, he spoke, “I’m sorry if anything I said displeased you. I didn’t mean it. I’d never do anything intentionally to hurt you.”

“I- I’m not you queen,” I mumbled, not knowing what to say.

Placing a kiss on my forehead, he peered down into my soul. “You are. You can deny anything you want, you’ve the right to do it. But you don’t have the right to deny this one thing. So get that into your beautiful head. YOU ARE MY QUEEN. My every f*****g thing. My world.”

I let out a shaky breath as a fierce emotion slammed into my heart, making me breathless. His every word was like an arrow to my heart, breaking the bricks one by one of the wall I made around it all these

years.

I wanted to ask why. But I feared I wouldn’t be able to handle his answer.

“I- I want to ask something,” I said, not trusting myself to break out if I didn’t move the topic.

He sighed. Kissing my eyelids, he nodded.

“How did you know that Liza was the one who put the d***s into Caleb’s car?”

“Like you suggested at that board meeting, I had people look into the recent activities of the staff having direct connection to the projects. And I just got the reports after we returned from the police station.” His features tightened. “And Liza’s phone records raised suspicion, she was also one of those people who went to Caleb’s house this morning. So it was pretty clear that it was her. And your proof just confirmed it.”

Nodding, I took in the information. Then something else caught my mind. I wanted to ask him about it since then.

“Are- are you okay?” I bit my lip.

A crease set between his brows. “Why do you ask that?”

Clearing my throat, I said, “You were disturbed regarding something since this morning. And I can tell it’s not just Caleb, it’s something else. What’s it?”

Silence.

“Your reaction was strange when I told you it was d***s in that packet.” I still remember how he flinched away from the packet.

His jaws clenched as his grip tightened on me.

“It’s a very vile thing, Emerald. People should stay away from it as much as possible,” he replied, eyes hard.

What you’re hiding from me?

“Any other questions you have for me?” he asked, brushing his fingers on my cheek.

My heart skipped.

This is the chance, Em. Say it. Ask him.

“Will you tell me the truth if I ask?”

He watched me for a moment, and then gave a slow nod.

“I- I want to know everything, Ace. Everything that I should know. Everything that’s hidden from me,” I whispered. “I- I want to know what happened that night, seven years ago.”

He stilled.

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