SOBER-PART 2-E

`You need to feed her something, otherwise she will end up with gastric tomorrow', Hadwin finished buttering up several slices of bread and placed them on a plate.

`Man, she is a fireball when drunk', Hadwin commented before sprinting to his room.

Ace looked at his watch and it showed 12.30 am. He kicked his room door open using his feet and placed Astrid on the edge of his bed. Ace squatted in front of her and held her chin. Her glassy pale brown eyes stared at his eyes and lips.

`You need to clean up, okay?' Ace did not want anyone else to touch her. He wondered if he should wipe her clean with a towel.

Ace pulled his singlet out and stripped his pants, leaving his boxers on. He held his hand for her and guided her to the bathroom.

'Ace, I can do it myself', Ace stopped in his tracks and told her not to lock the door. Astrid was somewhat sober, after emptying the contents of her guts earlier.

Astrid groped the shower knob and turn it on. Hot water showered much-needed clarity into Astrid. She winced when she soaped her neck. The bruise was turning deep red now. Astrid finished her shower in no time and wrapped a towel around her, stepping out into the room to look for her clothes. Didn't I bring my bag of clothes with me?

`Astrid? You can change in the wardrobe'. Ace gently pushed her to the wardrobe and slide the door close. He did not want to see her getting dressed in front of him. He had enough for today. If he saw a naked Astrid, he knew both of them would regret it tomorrow morning.

Astrid wore her undergarments and picked the closest t-shirt from his wardrobe and settled herself on the couch in the middle if his walk-in wardrobe. She slept in a fetal position; her knees close to her chest. What a night, she thought. She smiled when she recalled the Wagner brothers helping her. She ought to thank them tomorrow. Soon her muddled head gave in and she slept.

Ace took a long bath in the jacuzzi. Shit, she is too quiet! He thought suddenly and completed his shower as fast as he could, exiting the bathroom to look for her. She was not on his bed or the couch. He noticed he walk-in wardrobe door closed and pushed it open only to find her coiled like a snake. Fuck, she must be exhausted. Who wouldn't be?

She was wearing his t-shirt with no shorts and he could see her shapely legs. His fingers traced the length of her thighs, knowing full well he shouldn't but his hands seem to have a mind on their own. He climbed into the couch and gently lifted her before placing her on his bed. He left her to sleep on the couch. She whimpered at the loss of heat, and he stopped in his tracks to turn his back to look at her frowned eyebrows, the V in the middle of her brows slightly indented. Ace was in turmoil, should he sleep beside her or not?

Astrid's hand started sweeping around the bed looking for the heat source. Fuck, it. Just this once. Ace sighed and climb into his bed, allowing her to snuggle against him. Her breasts were pressed against her chest, her heartbeat breathing steadily.

It was at that moment Ace realized that he is falling hard for her. Ace wrapped his hands around her and pulled her closer to him, leaving no space in between them. He kissed her forehead and whispered in his deep voice 'You will be punished for tempting me like this'.

Ace did not forget her bruise so he took a tube of medical cream and applied it, softly. The bruises should fade tomorrow, he thought. Ace stared at her face, brushing her hair away from her face, his long fingers touching her face, memorizing it. His thumb swiped across her lips, feeling her velvety soft lips under his touch. 

He took a deep breath, exhaling and stopping his intrusion of her face. I should know better. He sensed her heartbeat. It was at a relaxed pace. He never told a soul, that he retained some traits of the original vampires, the ones without mutilations. How or why he never knew. 

Ace knew the one trait that he mastered well enough was to honed his hearing to hear the heartbeat of other people. He used it to weed out the liars from the truth. Another peculiarity was his anger. An unknown amount of rage and fury course through his veins when he reached the limit of his patience. That is when his eyes change to the colour of amber, fire.

Only his father knew about the latter condition, though the doctor said it was harmless, he put Ace on antidepressants in the beginning. Ace slowly weaned himself off it, knowing full well, just how addictive these drugs can be.

Ace knew one thing for sure, he liked this girl on his bed a lot than he thought he did. She seems different. Not once, did she see him as the rich guy he was. She saw him as he is, Ace Wagner. And he knew not many girls, heck he can't find one that won't drool over his looks or his money at this time. Yet, she remained aloof, even going as far as fighting with him over a simple meal. 

One nagging feeling remains in his mind. Did she even like him? Was she afraid of him? Will she love him and all his faults and his misgivings. Like the constellation in the sky, this girl is dots of mystery to his eyes, but not impervious to him, where he knew he can connect the stars and make it whole. That way he will trap her forever in his Nebula and never let her go.

He pulled the cotton satin comforter over them. She did not eat the bread, he noted before dozing off. Tomorrow, he is going to test the waters with her. Nudge her, prod her to see if she corresponds to his charms. Any small hint he gets and he will take it as a yes. The corners of his lips turned upwards and he slept in slumber, his own thoughts draining him.