CAUGHT RED HANDED-E

The next morning, when Verdun woke up, he was shocked speechless at the message scribbled on the leaves, lying next to Summer. Summer woke up grumpily when Verdun shook her incessantly.

`What the fuck?!', she exclaimed when her eyes fell on the leaves.

It read `GAME OVER, ACE WAGNER'.

Summer and Verdun packed up hastily and left to meet up with Ace. Enlil was following them closely behind using the wind energy as a distraction to avoid being caught.

He followed them to a warehouse, which was big. The mirrors were tinted black and there were security posts around the parameters. Sniffer dogs were let loose. He noticed 2 small towers at the corners of the warehouse which housed guards with guns. Whoever owned this place did not want to be known. After checking the ID and eyes of the couple, both ran inside.

Enlil was losing his patience because he had to hide on a roof of another warehouse, 3 blocks away. Just as he was about to give up and fly away, an expensive looking car rolled to the warehouse with tower. He flew closer and used a binocular to zoom in. He was astonished to see a familiar figure leaving the car, but quickly snapped a picture as a proof.

Enlil did not wait longer and left with a strong breeze of wind. Ace was notified by Verdun of their mission result and he ended his meeting sooner. As soon as Gordon reached the warehouse, Ace speeds walked towards their warehouse. His guards bowed to him only to be ignored.

Once he met up with Summer and Verdun, they showed him the leaves with the inscription, leaving him baffled. Did she find out? Ace asked for further tests to be carried out for any DNA sample on the leaves. His mind raced for an explanation, but his phone rang jolting him out of his train of thoughts.

`Ace, you and I need to talk', Astrid spoke, voice tight.

Ace dismissed his staff before replying `Darling, I'm busy right now. Can we speak-'

She cut him rudely` I can meet you up at your damn warehouse!'

She knows. And she is upset. He decided to cut his conservation short. 'Where?'

`Route 3. You alone. I don't want any minions' she was firm with her words, leaking no emotions.

`Okay'. He hung up and left his room to pick up a Harley Davidson Fat Boy 114 in deep red from his garage in the warehouse. He kept several cars and bikes there to ease his transport. Ace turned on the Milwaukee Engine and strapped an extra helmet for Astrid. He knew he was in big trouble with her now. Better to admit my mistake and make it up to her.

It took him 30 minutes to reach the bus stop, and he relaxed seeing her standing there with loose hair swaying gently to the wind. She wore a white tank top, with hot pink shorts which reached her mid-thigh. Her eyes shone with anger, the evening light casting a warm glow on her face, but she was far from relaxed.

`Darling...', he passed her a helmet and she took it from him. He offered her a hand to climb up, but she ignored him and sat by herself.

`There are people at the bus stop looking at us. Go to Route 7', she spoke near to his helmet.

`Can you sit closer, love?', he turned his head to tell her, but she just gripped his shoulder tighter.

Ace drove for 500 metres before braking and slightly lifting the back of his bike up, Astrid gasped, and fear took over her. She hugged him and her thighs pressed his legs tightly. Astrid waited for the fall, but when she opened her eyes, they were already on the freeway. Ace smirked silently. That idiot! He did this to make me sit closer to him.

She directed him to exit towards the adjacent forest before Route 7 bus stop and showed him a path that was almost hidden from plain sight. Pop used that track when he drove a van towards the forest.

She guided him patiently, avoiding major bumps or mud. He soaked in his surrounding, marvelling the beauty of the forests. He never knew Mellow Forest as well as Astrid. His curiosity was at its highest level. But he knew he had to do something to subdue her anger.

`Darling, how is your training?', he tried to test the water.

`Watch out, there is a dead tree trunk 450m ahead, can you go over it?', she disregarded his question.

`Darling, have you prepared for your exams?', Ace manoeuvred his Harley Davidson over the dead stump expertly, leaving Astrid startled. He was frustrated with the silent treatment and preferred her sweet mouth to say anything. As long as he gets to hear her voice.

They came upon a dense part of the forest and she guided him to park directly in front of her house. He did reluctantly but did not kill the engine. It was Astrid's house. Enlil built an enhancement circle around it, so it looked like dense trees grouped together, but if one had moved towards the direction of the tree, they will either be thrown away by gusts of wind or lose themselves in it.

Astrid could see her house door closed, perhaps they will release the enchantment soon, for Ace to see her house. As soon as she opened her helmet, Ace grabbed her waist and without warning pulled her in front of him to straddle him. She dropped the helmet with a thud and held his chest, dumbfounded as to what he was about to do.

`Ace,-' she asked before his lips closed her mouth. His warm lips were soft, and his kiss reflected his apology. He kissed her again and again as if seeking for forgiveness, one hand holding her back and another hand sneaking up from her thigh. She pushed his chest away initially, angry at his action, but her body had a mind of its own.

Her heart hammered against her ribs, passion coursing through and unknown to her she willingly opened her mouth and her tongue ventured into his. He tasted of cinnamon and she tasted every inch of his mouth, she kisses him back with anger and lust.

She was by no means harsh, biting his lips and tongue coaxing a growl from him. He allowed her to ravage his lips, his hands sliding up until he felt the edges of her underwear and that is when she moaned, succumbing to his lips and his fervour. He immediately closed the little distance between them and pulled her thighs closer to his hips.

When she moaned again, he got his signal and aligned her head to kiss her deeper, his lips firm against hers. He exhales through his nose, his hot breath further igniting her desires and she encircled his neck, tugging his hair in response, begging for more.

Love, unspoken pain of distrust and elation flowed from his rough and more impenetrable kiss. His insistent mouth, playful tongue and the constant licking of her lips, send wild tremors along with her system, jolting the bottom of her stomach to rouse a deep coiled feeling of love from her. She melted against him completely.

`ASTRID!', Grandpa Jones shouted at the sight of Astrid straddling Ace, his fingers inside her short pants which were pushed up and both kissing passionately.

Astrid's eyes flew open and she pushed Ace away, but he did budge. He grunted under his breath, swearing for interrupting his moment.

`Pop. Enlil. How dare you!', she pointed at Enlil who was laughing at her. `I can explain', she was as red as a tomato, beyond embarrassed to be caught kissing by none other than her grandfather. 

Ace Wagner held her up and placed her firmly on the ground, before pecking her lips one last time much to her shock.

`Young man, we have a lot to talk', Grandpa Jones was miffed by his boldness. Ace Wagner took in the view in front of him and blinked several times. Astrid smirked at him and folded her arms.

`Home sweet home, welcome in Ace', Ace grabbed her hands and intertwined his finger with hers before moving inside. Enlil closed the door behind them.