Book: My Alphas' Dark Desires
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CHAPTER 346
~Valerie's POV~
Ace gasped dramatically. "You didn't just—"
"Oh, I did."
"You're evil," he accused, pouting.
The next time I tried to tease him and ate the icecream, he moved faster. He caught my wrist, leaned over, and kissed me before I could react, stealing the ice cream right off my lips.
I froze, shocked, tasting both chocolate and him, and by the time I remembered how to breathe, he'd already leaned back with a smug grin.
"Eyes on the road!" I squeaked when I realized his hand was still on my face while the car veered slightly.
"Relax," he chuckled, finally gripping the steering wheel again. "I've got you."
I wasn't sure if he meant driving or… something else entirely.
Instead of focusing on his words, I picked his parfait now that my icecream was finished, scooped another spoonful of his parfait and held it out for him this time.
Ace didn't even hesitate — he leaned forward without taking his eyes off the road and opened his mouth expectantly like a spoiled prince.
"See?" I teased, carefully placing the spoon in his mouth. "Behaving for once."
He hummed exaggeratedly as he chewed, one hand still casually resting on the steering wheel. "Perfect girlfriend privileges," he declared, licking his lips like he'd just tasted heaven.
Rolling my eyes, I grabbed another spoonful but instead of offering it to him, I slipped it straight into my mouth, ignoring him again.
"Hey!" he gasped, turning to glare at me in mock betrayal. "You're stealing my parfait!"
"You already finished half of it yourself," I shot back with a smirk. "Besides, you ate my ice cream. I'm just having a nice taste."
I scooped another spoonful and ate it.
"That's not the point," he countered, his eyes narrowing dramatically. "This is a breach of trust, Princess."
Before I could respond, Ace did something insane. Without warning, he released the steering wheel, slammed his foot lightly on the brakes, and grabbed my face.
"Wha—Ace!" I started, but the words were swallowed as his lips crashed against mine.
I froze, shocked by the suddenness of it — his warm breath mingling with mine, the sweet taste of parfait on his tongue as he stole back what I'd taken. My brain blanked completely as his hand slid to the back of my neck, holding me there.
By the time I realized what was happening, he deepened the kiss, his tongue brushing softly against mine as if daring me to respond.
And Goddess help me… I did.
I melted against him, responding instinctively, amidst my laughter, tasting a mix of strawberries, yoghurt, and him.
Then…
HOOONK!
A loud blaring horn jolted us back to reality. I pulled back sharply, breathless, whipping my head around to see a sleek black car pulling up beside us.
The driver, a middle-aged man in a suit, glanced over at us with the most judgmental glare I had ever seen. His lips moved, probably muttering something about "reckless teenagers."
Before I could so much as stammer an apology, Ace leaned forward from his seat, smirked at the man, and just to be extra, he kissed me again.
I made a muffled sound of protest, trying to push him away, but he only tightened his hold briefly until the man's car sped off.
The driver's face must have been an entire stormcloud of annoyance.
When Ace finally broke the kiss, his grin was pure sin. "What?" he asked innocently, eyes dancing with mischief. "He started it."
"Ace!" I smacked his arm, half embarrassed, half flustered beyond saving. "We're in public!"
"And?" He gave me a lazy wink. "If you're mine, Princess, I'm allowed to show you off."
I groaned, covering my face with my hands, as another car honied and sped past us, but I couldn't stop the small, traitorous smile tugging at my lips.
Ace chuckled lowly, finally focusing back on the road, this time pressing harder on the accelerator as the car purred beneath us.
And as the road opened up into a lonely stretch framed by dusky skies, I couldn't shake the gnawing thought that maybe… just maybe… this "first date" was going to change everything between us.
My pulse wouldn't steady, no matter how much I tried to pretend otherwise.
The fading sunlight streaked across Ace's sharp profile, gilding his cheekbones in molten gold and shadow. Goddess, he looked unfair like that — effortlessly beautiful, his messy hair catching the breeze, one hand loose on the wheel while the other drummed idly against his thigh.
Every now and then, I caught him glancing at me from the corner of his eye, like he knew exactly what I was thinking and the effect he had on me while silently daring me to admit it.
"Stop staring, Princess," Ace murmured suddenly, voice deep and low, dragging me out of my thoughts.
I blinked, heat rushing to my face. "I'm not staring."
His lips curled lazily, dangerous in its softness. "You are."
"I'm not," I snapped — way too quickly.
"Mhm." He hummed knowingly, leaning back in his seat, eyes still on the road. "If you say so."
I huffed, rolling my eyes, and turned toward the window, pretending to be fascinated by the blur of trees whipping past. But my chest still felt tight… and when his hand drifted from the gearshift to rest on my thigh, I instantly forgot how to breathe.
I stiffened, my gaze dropping to where his warm palm settled against the bare skin just above my knee.
"Ace…" My voice came out softer than intended. Almost breathless.
"Relax," he murmured, thumb brushing lazily back and forth in slow, teasing strokes. "I'm driving. Doesn't mean I can't touch my girlfriend."
My brain short-circuited at the casual possessiveness in his tone. Girlfriend. The word still felt strange, almost foreign — but the way he said it, so confidently, made it impossible to argue.
I tried to focus on the road ahead, but his thumb's slow circles were unraveling me thread by thread. In the next moment his fingers moved higher up my thigh.
"Ace…" I tried again, quieter this time, but the warning in my tone was weak — even to my own ears. "This is dangerous."
Ace's lips tilted into that wicked, self-assured smirk that always spelled trouble. "Exactly what makes it fun."