Ace (Playtime Series Book 1) by Gemma Arlington (distant reading TXT) 📕

I tried not to show too much amusement at the conversation, but it was a lot harder to control the laughter building up inside of me.

“I don’t think it really matters, but for what it’s worth, I bet he will think twice before

approaching another female the way he did me,”

I replied with a smile and went to turn away and return to my second floor bedroom, away from this party.

As much as I wanted to leave, something was drawing me to stay. Those big eyes of this stranger were drawing me in.

The smile, splitting his face, wasn’t bad either, in fact it was intriguing and as sexy as hell. The way it slanted slightly and mixed with his pearly whites, was just a little too tempting to turn from.

“What a pity you won’t reveal his little secret,” he laughed almost more than he should have.

I wondered if the two of them knew each other and if so, I bet this guy was after information to use against him.

“Why do I get the feeling that if I reveal his so called ‘little secret,’ that you will use it as ammo to tease him?” I remarked.

“It’s my job as a big brother to do just that,” he grinned.

“You can tell Freddie that my lips are sealed,” I advised, returning his grin.

“I won’t tell… my lips will be sealed,” he pouted. I had never seen a guy pout and the worst part was that he looked even sexier while doing it, if that was even possible.

I laughed a little and it came out more like a school girl giggle.

I needed to leave and retreat to my room. I wasn’t a partygoer, at least not this type of party; a bunch of young ones binge drinking, all because the band scored a cool recording deal.

I understood getting a recording contract was hard, and it was even harder to score one with Dash Records. I just hoped that this so called rock band knew what they were getting themselves into, because if I was now their manager, I wasn’t going to take any bull shit and I certainly wasn’t going to put up with any crap they threw my way.

“Good night beautiful stranger,” he called, as I headed upstairs towards my bedroom. I didn’t bother to look back down or say anything more, I didn’t know him and he didn’t know me. But that smile… I could easily lose myself in that smile over and over again and to me, that was just a little too dangerous to explore.

˜*˜

I woke the next morning knowing that the house was going to be in one hell of a mess. I didn’t want to clean, but then I couldn’t live in a house that was messy and neither could Hank. I showered, dressed in my usual attire and headed downstairs to assess the damage from the night’s festivities.

“Ace,” Hank called out, his voice husky and laced with sleep. I had just walked past his bedroom door on my way to the stairs.

“Morning Hanky,” I joked.

“You know I hate it when you call me Hanky,” he groaned, stepping out into the hall to stop me from going anywhere. Why he stopped me, I wasn’t sure, but I bet it had to do with the mess I knew I would see when I walked into the kitchen.

“Please tell me you’re going to wear more

than that down stairs?” he asked, raising an eye brow in question, before looking me up and down. I was wearing the same old thing I wore every morning, after I showered. My underwear covered up by my silk robe, what was so wrong with that?

I looked down at myself; the robe was slightly opened, revealing the underwear I was wearing.

I smiled, “Why?” I asked, looking back up at him, those big eyes giving me a little appreciation for the peep show.

“Hank, I wear this every morning and I don’t hear you complaining.  What’s different about today?” I asked with a pout, while fluttering some puppy dog eyes.

“Don’t,” he warned, “I’ll never complain about seeing you in whatever you want to wear, but be my guest, walk downstairs in that and see how far you get,” he chuckled, stepping out of the way and allowing me to continue to the kitchen. I turned to look at him and he had moved to the edge of the railing to watch me.

˜*˜

Hank

It didn’t take long for me to hear the screams. I laughed at first, but then decided I couldn’t leave her down there.

At least not with the band and the way she was dressed, they would want to eat her alive. In fact, if we were alone I might have eaten her alive… especially since she was wearing the cute little blue lace matching bra and panties that made me want to throw her over the dining table and enjoy the spoils.

Fuck this, I needed to find a woman and enjoy her instead. I couldn’t be thinking of Lacey this way, she was my roommate, work colleague and not to mention a sweet girl who had one hell of a temper if you ever crossed her. I wasn’t going to ruin what we had all because my dick wanted to play with her.

“Back the fuck off,” I heard her voice yell. Arrr dammit, I couldn’t stay up here and hide anymore. I took the stairs two at a time and made my way to the kitchen, knowing exactly who was going to be in the kitchen torturing Ace.

˜*˜

Ace

“Look, I already kicked some Freddie guy’s ass last night for trying his luck, you’re pushing it,” I warned, hoping this prick of a guy would back the fuck off. I now knew why Hank had