I look between them. “Did something happen?”
“Morning, Prez.” Ace saunters up to the little gathering and gives Rook his usual sarcastic smirk, and a nod at Ghost.
I’m about to ask him if he knows what the hell is going on between Rook and Ghost, when movement distracts me. It’s Camile walking toward us, up the path from the house she’s staying in.
The morning sun hits her, the shiny strands of her dark hair catching the light. She takes my breath away. She’s wearing a short, casual dress in a change from her much loved jeans, and her tan, lean legs look incredible.
“You ready?” Ace asks her with a grin.
She nods then glances at me, and there’s something in her gaze I can’t name.
“What are you guys up to?” I ask, trying—and failing—not to experience a shot of jealousy at the easy way Ace gets to spend one-on-one time with her.
“Getting some breakfast, for us and the snails,” Camile answers.
“Snails?” I demand. “What fucking snails?”
“Ace has rescued some snails.” She smiles. “We’ll ask in the canteen for any vegetable cuttings.”
I can’t suppress the shudder that rolls over me. “Where are they?” I ask patiently.
“In the house.” Camile shrugs.
“Your house?”
“Yes.”
“I was worried rats or something might eat them in the barn,” Ace says. Then he scratches his head. “Although the cats should stop the rats.”
“Cats? Plural?” Ghost stares at Ace. “I thought it was one cat, and her kittens?”
“It might be two cats now… and the kittens,” Ace admits.
“Jesus fucking Christ, it’s not a zoo,” Ghost explodes.
Ace holds Ghost’s gaze. “Ghost, you seem tense. I thought you’d be in a good mood this morning.”
“Why?” I demand, looking between them again, knowing I am missing something.
“It’s just a lovely, sunny day is all, and you’re about to go on a ride-out.” Ace shrugs. “A really good ride-out, planned bymoi.”
“I like you speaking French.” Camile giggles at his one, badly accented word, and hangs off his arm, staring up at him adoringly.
I’m starting to hate that fucker.
“Are you drunk?” I ask her, deliberately being an asshole.
“We’re drunk on life, aren’t we, baby?” Ace slings his arm around her shoulder as if she’s his and his alone and kisses her cheek.
The rage and possession that swells up inside me is so strong, it’s all I can do not to reach for the piece strapped to my side and shoot him in the face.
That’s not good. Not good at all. Sheshouldbe with Ace; they suit one another. He can keep her safe. He’s more than psychotic enough to be her guard dog. I’m pretty sure Rook is regularly involved with them, too. Maybe I’ll take the kid to one side when we stop for a break on the ride today and ask him what the deal is with Ghost.
I could ask Camile, but she’ll give me her big, wide-eyed look, then I won’t be able to resist her any longer.
God knows how I am still managing it. She’s a constant occupation of my thoughts. I jerk off to the memory of my lips at her throat and my fingers in her pussy in the dark bar. I think about how she looked when she came at my command. I dream about her and wake up hot, and sweaty, my limbs all tangled in my sheets.
Yeah, I’ve got it bad, and worse, it’s not just lust. I’m getting deeper feelings for her. Real ones.