this was
going to end up. By Gavin and Riley’s reactions I knew that a lot
of people wouldn’t approve. But as Ace’s lips trailed down to my
neck I tried to close my eyes and push back all the negative
thoughts, no matter how much they seemed to be fighting against
me.
Chapter
14
The rest of the afternoon went on as if the
whole world had changed, but Ace and I were the only ones who were
part of the new one. He held my hand as we went through our e-mails
and would run his fingers through my hair when I thought too long
on a problem. There was something in me that always had harbored
feelings for Ace, but once it was out in the open it was hard to
keep my thoughts from wandering to anything other than the feel of
his hands on mine.
Behind closed doors I wasn’t so worried about
what people thought about us, but when it was time for lunch, my
nerves started to get the best of me.
“You ready to face our adoring fans?" Ace
squeezed my hand when he noticed me staring blankly at an alien’s
dating site profile.
When I didn’t answer he let out a deep
breath. “I’ll go in ahead of you. You just do whatever you feel
comfortable with. I'll try not to get angry this time."
He let his gloveless hand graze the side of
my face. “We can just keep this between us as long as you’d
like.”
I didn’t watch him as he stood up, slid his
gloves back on, and walked out of the door. I sat another few
minutes, counting the beats of my heart. I didn't know what to
expect when I went back into the cafeteria. What people would
people say about my running out of the room, or how would Ace
really react if Gavin said anything again at all?
When I got through the lunch line, I scanned
the tables. Ace wasn't looking in my direction when he sat down.
Instead, he was busy talking to a group of his friends and acting
like he was completely engrossed in the conversation. I looked over
to the interns’ table and saw Jen waving wildly in my direction.
Cautiously, I edged toward the table and set my tray down next to
her.
“Hey Jen." I forced a smile, but just as I
sat down I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Riley with
her hands on her hips.
“What do you think you’re doing?" I didn’t
answer her. She tapped her clogs on the floor. “Maybe you should go
sit with your boyfriend.”
I looked from Riley, then back to Jen. “You
know what? I think I will." I smirked in Riley’s direction and
picked up my tray, heading toward Ace’s table.
Everyone’s eyes in the cafeteria's were on me
and a hush fell over the room. I guess everyone else had heard
Gavin's rant that morning, or no other human had dared to sit at a
table full of Caltians. I only concentrated on Ace. I put my tray
down and sat as close as I could to him, placing his hand in mine,
before laying our intertwined hand on the table between us. Ace
raised an eyebrow and looked down at our hands. His eyes rested
back on me as if he was asking, are you sure ?
“I’ve never been good at keeping secrets.” I
looked down at our hands, and then turned to face the cafeteria
crowd. My gaze fell on each table as they pretended not to notice
my stare. "And if anyone's got a problem with us dating then they'd
better find another alien center to hang out at!" I yelled.
I wasn't speaking to anyone in particular,
but I focused right on Riley and Gavin, who couldn't help but let
the fire ignite in their eyes. It was going to take a lot more than
their glares to bring me down.
****
I spent the rest of lunch meeting and
chatting with Ace’s Caltian friends who had also served in the
military. They seemed to be fascinated that I knew so little about
the alien world until I came to Circe. Ace’s hand never left mine,
not during lunch, not while we walked back to the office, or while
we worked. But as soon as the workday ended and we saw Jen standing
outside of the office doors, we decided it was time to let go.
“I’ll see you at dinner?" He raised
going to end up. By Gavin and Riley’s reactions I knew that a lot
of people wouldn’t approve. But as Ace’s lips trailed down to my
neck I tried to close my eyes and push back all the negative
thoughts, no matter how much they seemed to be fighting against
me.
Chapter
14
The rest of the afternoon went on as if the
whole world had changed, but Ace and I were the only ones who were
part of the new one. He held my hand as we went through our e-mails
and would run his fingers through my hair when I thought too long
on a problem. There was something in me that always had harbored
feelings for Ace, but once it was out in the open it was hard to
keep my thoughts from wandering to anything other than the feel of
his hands on mine.
Behind closed doors I wasn’t so worried about
what people thought about us, but when it was time for lunch, my
nerves started to get the best of me.
“You ready to face our adoring fans?" Ace
squeezed my hand when he noticed me staring blankly at an alien’s
dating site profile.
When I didn’t answer he let out a deep
breath. “I’ll go in ahead of you. You just do whatever you feel
comfortable with. I'll try not to get angry this time."
He let his gloveless hand graze the side of
my face. “We can just keep this between us as long as you’d
like.”
I didn’t watch him as he stood up, slid his
gloves back on, and walked out of the door. I sat another few
minutes, counting the beats of my heart. I didn't know what to
expect when I went back into the cafeteria. What people would
people say about my running out of the room, or how would Ace
really react if Gavin said anything again at all?
When I got through the lunch line, I scanned
the tables. Ace wasn't looking in my direction when he sat down.
Instead, he was busy talking to a group of his friends and acting
like he was completely engrossed in the conversation. I looked over
to the interns’ table and saw Jen waving wildly in my direction.
Cautiously, I edged toward the table and set my tray down next to
her.
“Hey Jen." I forced a smile, but just as I
sat down I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Riley with
her hands on her hips.
“What do you think you’re doing?" I didn’t
answer her. She tapped her clogs on the floor. “Maybe you should go
sit with your boyfriend.”
I looked from Riley, then back to Jen. “You
know what? I think I will." I smirked in Riley’s direction and
picked up my tray, heading toward Ace’s table.
Everyone’s eyes in the cafeteria's were on me
and a hush fell over the room. I guess everyone else had heard
Gavin's rant that morning, or no other human had dared to sit at a
table full of Caltians. I only concentrated on Ace. I put my tray
down and sat as close as I could to him, placing his hand in mine,
before laying our intertwined hand on the table between us. Ace
raised an eyebrow and looked down at our hands. His eyes rested
back on me as if he was asking, are you sure ?
“I’ve never been good at keeping secrets.” I
looked down at our hands, and then turned to face the cafeteria
crowd. My gaze fell on each table as they pretended not to notice
my stare. "And if anyone's got a problem with us dating then they'd
better find another alien center to hang out at!" I yelled.
I wasn't speaking to anyone in particular,
but I focused right on Riley and Gavin, who couldn't help but let
the fire ignite in their eyes. It was going to take a lot more than
their glares to bring me down.
****
I spent the rest of lunch meeting and
chatting with Ace’s Caltian friends who had also served in the
military. They seemed to be fascinated that I knew so little about
the alien world until I came to Circe. Ace’s hand never left mine,
not during lunch, not while we walked back to the office, or while
we worked. But as soon as the workday ended and we saw Jen standing
outside of the office doors, we decided it was time to let go.
“I’ll see you at dinner?" He raised
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