MORNING AFTER-E

Astrid woke up holding her head. She got a splitting headache and her throat was parched. She looked at the unfamiliar surroundings and screamed. Ace who was wrapped in a towel, freshly showered, smirked. Game on, his wicked thoughts taking over.

'Ace?. H...how d..did I end up here?'

'You don't remember? ' he adjusted his towel lower and lazily walked towards her.

'I...I remember going to a club, drinking and…..someone…someone…, and you both sa…saved me,' Her heart thumped loudly when her eyes landed on Ace and his exposed chest in full view. Her eyes raking over his tattoos shamelessly before moving to his hips. My god, his tattoos are a work of art. So exquisite and detailed. Astrid was lost at the sight of the infamous tattoos.

'You don't remember biting me, groping or kissing me, Astrid?' He pointed to her bite marks nearing her.

`I…I ', Astrid as aghast. Fuck, she groped him?

The bed dipped slightly when Ace sat on it. He was impossibly close to her! How was she supposed to think with him so near to her?

`Why did you drink?', Ace put up a serious face.

`It was my first time...I am sorry. I did not know I was a lightweight',

`Don't go out clubbing with just anyone. Friends or colleagues were supposed to keep an eye on you. You were lucky yesterday. You did not cancel your call and told me where you were'.

`I did? But I don't know how….', she trailed. Where were they when she needed help? Ace was right about this one.

Astrid looked down at her fingers ashamed. She had a nagging feeling about him, about her change of clothes, asleep on his bed no less, and wanted to clear it off her head. Did she do more than sleeping next to him? She remembers vaguely of a late-night shower and soft warm bed. Wait there is no warm bed, but only a warm body. Her eyes shot up to him when it dawned to her that she slept with the Ace Wagner!

Ace held her fingers and traced it to his chest, letting her feel his chest muscles and her teeth dents. Astrid blinked, confused with her whirling emotions. I bit his chest! God damn, all over his chest! 

`I…I…am…sorry. D..did we…ummmm…d..do..more..?'Astrid could not hide her embarrassment and wanted to close her face with her palms. Ace did not allow it and held both her hands firmly in his.

`What do you think? You are wearing my shirt, sleeping on my bed, half-naked at that. And I just let you feel my chest, with your love bites on it'

Astrid's eyes widen in horror. No, this is not possible. Did she molest him? Talk about biting the hand that helps, she literally did that!

Ace chuckled softly at her horrified face. `Astrid, you did nothing I did not like. As a matter of fact, I wished you had done more',

Astrid crossed her legs, blood rushing to her cheeks, at his words. Ace inched closer to her. Astrid was ashamed and angry at herself. Just how did things go downhill from clubbing to his bed? She should not have gone clubbing with her co-workers. Hell, she should count herself lucky, Ace helped her. How many girls get drugged, used and killed out there.

She shivered, wondering how to face this awkward situation. Shall she thank him? Or ask him more on her behaviour yesterday?

`Do you want to hear what a wild kitten did yesterday?' he muttered hoarsely, British accent getting thicker. He completely kabedon her against the headboard.

Astrid shook her head. The next second she nodded. Then she shook her head again. Unsure, uncertain, if she was strong enough to hear what he had to say.

`She shushed me, boldly and nibbled me. But wait, she did not end there. Kitty cat had more tricks on her sleeves than Charlie from the chocolate factory', his thick accent drawled near her ears.

Astrid wondered if her heart would jump out of her chest. Her eyes went wide as soon as those words escaped his mouth. Dear God, I am officially screwed.

`And kitty cat pulled my pants, wanting to see my bird, groping it to emphasize her point' he whispered into her ear and could see her entire face, neck, and ear turning red like a tomato. Good, she should feel like how I did, he smirked.

`I can do more than show you my bird. I can indulge your curiosity with my bird, any way you want it and give you a taste of heaven', he inhaled her sweet scent. She smelled like him and he loved it.

`Shall I show you how the kitty cat sat on my lap?' Astrid held her breath, wondering what stupid things she did while drunk. She admitted, she liked the attention Ace was giving her. She liked the sexy drawl his voice made when he spoke to her. His British accent thickens whenever he talked dirty, like right now. 

Ace was not satisfied with her silence, he immediately straddled her being careful not to put his weight on her.

`Breathe. Damn, I am just talking. I bet I could make you wet with my voice alone', he spoke seductively to her. He got where exactly where he wanted her, willing to his advances. So she like him as well, he deduced correctly.

Astrid inhaled and Ace nibbled her ears and blew warm air behind her earlobe. She closed her eyes and sighed, instinctively tilting her head, giving him ease of access. Ace graced her slender neck with his nose, sliding it up and down the length of her neck and kissed her bruises. Astrid winced in pain and he let go of her with reluctance.

`Did I hurt you?' he looked at her neck and the bruises had turn blue-black now. Astrid shook her head. `I should have killed that bastard for touching you', 

`I need you to promise me something',

`Yes?',

`You are not to go clubbing anymore unless you are with us', Ace ordered.

`Why?', she asked timidly.

`Don't you think this is a lesson to remember?', 

`If you say so',

`I mean it. Promise', he held his pinkie finger out to which she took in with her own pinkie and promised him.

`That's my girl', he cupped her cheek and rubbed his thumb over it. Astrid's heart swooned at being called his girl. Did he mean it? Or was it a spur of the moment?

`Relax, here drink this.' Ace wondered if he went too far, seeing her shaking slightly. Perhaps the air conditioner was too cold.

Astrid drank the warm lemon honey water and stared at his chest again. She could not help herself but ask, `The words on your chest. What does it mean?'

`Show me?' Ace smirked.

Astrid knew what he was doing, and she played along. Her fingers trailed to the Japanese words and stopped there.

`Zephyr belongs to me.' He muttered.

`And this?', Astrid spoke softly, her fingers moving in the opposite direction.

`Divine, precious lady. So much of talking. Time for action now'. He grabbed her fingers and started kissing each, starting from the base to their tips, maintaining his eye contact with her. It was so sensual and stimulating, his soft lips kissing as if her fingers were her lips. Astrid felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Her left hand unconsciously, touch his face and he leaned on her hands, she mustered enough courage to prevent her mind from going into an overdrive of sentiments, and uttered `I need to pee'.

Ace chuckled and smooched her cheek, smiling into his kiss.

Astrid ran to the washroom and leisurely showered. She was glad he used her products; she felt a sense of familiarity. Astrid changed to her jeans and rummaged her bag but could not find a shirt. She peeked outside of the bathroom and saw the room empty. She tiptoed towards the walk-in wardrobe in her jeans and bra.

`Looking for something?' Ace breathed down behind her neck. She froze. His warm breath jolting her senses, making her hyper-alert of her surroundings. 

`Relax, Astrid', he placed soft kisses along her shoulders, looping her straps on his fingers, pulling at it away. 

`Ace', she placed her hand tightly over his, her voice trembled with fear. Not again, she still fears me. Ace released her straps, holding on her shoulders to keep her still. Soft, lavender-scented skin.

Ace teased her further by blowing hot air on her earlobe. She spun around and he caught her arms, pulling her close to him, eyeing her ample chest before moving up to see her inflamed face.

`Ace-' he cut her short.

`I am looking for a shirt as well, but I think we look good like this don't we?'. He kissed her earlobe and waited for her to protest, which she did. She pushed his chest away and crossed her chest, fuming by now.

`You…I don't have a spare shirt', she spat.

`You puked on it', Ace picked a pink shirt for her and threw it at her. She caught hold of it and wore it. It was too big for her and it kept sliding down her shoulder. Astrid modified it by gathering the corners of the shirt and made a tight knot around her waist exposing her midriff. Ace put on pale pink Tommy Hilfiger Polo shirt and did a once over at Astrid. Satisfied with her looks, he held her hands and guided her downstairs.