Broken Bonds (Unbreakable Bonds #1)

Chapter Forty-One

chapter forty-one

ACE

SIX MONTHS LATER

“Bro, have you even showered yet?” Ryan asked, disgust coloring his voice. Judgemental fucker.

I snorted as I headed into the locker room of the gym at school. I couldn’t afford to take on a gym membership on the money I made right now. Between school supplies, rent, truck payments and maintenance, and also setting aside money each week to be able to take Celine out every weekend, funds were a bit tight. Whatever extra I had left over each week from my bartending tips went straight to savings so I could one day buy a house for me and Celine.

That girl had become the center of my entire universe. How I survived a year without her, I had no idea. Because I could barely stand to be apart from her now. Most nights, she stayed at my place, and we fell asleep in each other’s arms.

Having her curled up against me, my body spooned around hers, always brought me the best night’s sleep. She was everything I needed, she was worth every hardship, because I started and ended every day with her soft smiles.

“You’re the one who called me,” I told him, trying to catch my breath. “I thought it was something important.”

Ryan and I had been working on mending our relationship. I knew he was sorry. He’d only said it two dozen times or so, but I needed to be able to find the ability to trust him again. He’d turned his back on me, didn’t trust me to take care of his sister, let her date a douchebag that beat the shit out of her, and then he’d lashed out at me for leaving—after he pushed me away—but he’d done the same damn thing.

We had a long road ahead of us, but he was trying. So, I would to—if for no other reason than for Celine.

I’d do anything for that woman. I was pretty sure if she told me to go jump off the Empire State Building, I’d do it. No questions asked. No hesitation.

“Uh, no,” Ryan muttered. “Not important. Just…” he sighed. “Amber and I had another fight.”

I winced. They’d been having a lot of those lately. The time apart and the distance and Ryan’s inability to be able to contact her consistently was putting a strain on their relationship. Hell, this was the first time I’d heard from him in three weeks. He was deployed at the moment, which made it hard for him to contact home. And I knew Amber understood that, but I also knew it probably didn’t make it easier for her.

“I’m sorry,” I told him, meaning it. “I know shit’s rough, man.”

He sighed. “Most days, I wished I’d never enlisted,” he confessed, surprising me. “I thought I could prove something out here, but I just let everyone down. And now Amber and I are standing on the tattered remains of our relationship, clinging to what’s left.” He blew out a soft breath. “I don’t know if we’re gonna make it through this.” Defeat and disappointment lingered in his voice. He loved her just as much as I loved Celine.

“If it’s meant to be, even if you two split up, you’ll find your way back to each other,” I assured him. Hell, Celine and I had. I was pretty sure the universe would always force us back together. She and I were two halves of the same whole.

“I—” He broke off, murmuring something to someone in the background. After a moment, he sighed. “Ace, I have to go.”

“Sure. Hang in there, man.”

After shoving my phone into my gym bag, I showered and dressed in my slacks and black button-down, slipping my feet into my non-slip shoes. After grabbing my phone back out of my bag, I shouldered it and unlocked my phone, quickly typing out a message to my girl.

Me: Headed into work. See you tonight?

Celine: Of course. I’ll be in bed waiting for you.

I grinned at her message, my heart so light, it felt like it might fly away.

Me: ??????

Me: I love you.

Celine: LMAO I love you, too, Asshole.

It was almost four in the morning by the time I walked through the door of my apartment. The building was quiet, and the parking lot was full. I lived in a building with mostly older people and families, which worked for me. The kids next door played loudly, but it was nice to hear happy kids. Sometimes, it made my heart ache for Jack, but for the most part, I was okay now. And I had Celine’s family to thank for that. They were paying for my therapy.

Celine’s parents had become basically my own, too, over the past few months.

When I stepped into the bedroom, Celine was curled up under the blankets, her shoulder bare, her lips softly parted in sleep. Immediately, my cock thickened at the sight of her, and I released a quiet groan. This had become our routine on the nights I worked late. If she was clothed, she only wanted to be cuddled—nothing more. And if she was naked, her body was fair game to me.

I stepped into my connected bathroom and shut the door before flipping on the light. Showering quickly, I washed the night off me so I no longer smelled like beer, liquor, and fried food. I made quick work of brushing my teeth and finger-combing my hair before turning off the light and slipping out of the bathroom.

Celine had rolled over, one perfect breast exposed. A soft snore left her lips, and I chuckled beneath my breath, dropping my towel to the floor. She’d yell at me for it in the morning, but I’d sweeten her up with breakfast and coffee and a quick orgasm that would make her smile at me like I hung the damn moon.

Sliding beneath the blankets, I slid my arm over her bare stomach before pressing my lips to her shoulder. I slowly moved lower, pressing soft kisses to her breast before wrapping my lips around the stiff peak. A soft moan was my reward, and I moved to her other breast, giving it the same attention so I could hear another of those breathless sounds.

“Ace…” Celine groaned, her thighs parting so she could cradle my body between them.

“Hey, baby girl,” I murmured, dipping beneath the blankets so I could kiss down her body. She softly sighed, wiggling beneath me, always so eager for my touch. My mouth. My cock.

God, I loved this woman.

She moaned loud and long when I gripped her inner thighs and flicked my tongue over her clit. She arched her hips, riding my face as I fucked two fingers inside of her, easily spreading her open as I worked her clit with my mouth and tongue. She was so wet for me already. Fuck, I couldn’t get enough of her.

She whimpered and gasped as I worked her over, loving the taste of her as much as I loved those sweet, addictive, needy sounds she made. When she finally came undone, I flung the blanket back and surged over her, licking into her mouth as I fumbled with the bedside drawer to grab a condom.

“Ace, please,” she begged, her nails digging into my back as I ripped the condom wrapper open with my teeth.

“I’m working on it, princess,” I rasped, precum leaking from my tip as I glanced down at her beautiful, curvy body while I worked the condom over my thick, throbbing length.

Finally, fucking finally , I notched my cock at her slit, and she lifted her hips, forcing my tip inside of her. I groaned, kissing her again as I sank fully inside of her. She moaned into my mouth, her legs wrapping around my hips, her ankles hooking at my back.

We moved fluidly together like one being. Our kiss turned messy until it eventually just became us panting, moaning, and groaning into each other’s mouths. Her walls fluttered around me, gripping me so tightly I could hardly breathe, and then my hips were falling off rhythm. I groaned, fucking my tongue into her mouth as I spilled inside the condom.

“ God ,” she groaned, her hair clinging to her sweaty face. I grinned down at her. “I keep waiting for the sex to stop being so good, but it just…” she sucked in a deep breath, “keeps getting better.”

I chuckled and eased out of her, gazing down at her body. I couldn’t believe she was mine. That most nights, I got to hold her in my arms. Make love to her. Be her man.

After disposing of the condom and cleaning Celine up, I slid back under the blankets, spooning her and holding her in my arms. “I love you,” I murmured into her hair.

“I love you, too,” she said softly, her voice already husky with sleep. “Breakfast in bed in the morning?” she mumbled.

“ Mmm ,” I hummed, nuzzling my face into her sweet-smelling hair. “We’ll see, princess. I need sleep first.”

But she and I both knew I’d bring her breakfast in bed just because she asked. I’d just take a nap after.

I’d do anything for this girl, and she knew it. I was completely wrapped around her finger.