My Alphas' Dark Desires - Chapter 348
Chapter 348: Say Please
****************
CHAPTER 348
~Valerie’s POV~
I narrowed my eyes, trying to sound unaffected. “That’s a pretty bold offer for someone who’s about to lose.”
Ace chuckled low, rolling his shoulders like a predator. “Oh, Princess, you really think you stand a chance?”
“Against you?” I raised my chin defiantly. “Absolutely.”
Before I could blink, someone walked in and handed me a folded bundle. I blinked down at it; it was a simple training gear. Ace smirked knowingly. “Go on.”
I muttered a quick thanks, changing swiftly behind the divider. The fitted top and shorts hugged me snugly, and when I stepped back onto the mat, Ace’s gaze swept over me shamelessly, heat flashing in his blue eyes.
“Better,” he drawled, amusement dancing in his eyes as he stalked closer. “Now at least you’ll look good when you lose.”
“Confident,” I corrected, squaring my stance. “Don’t confuse the two.”
“Oh, trust me,” he murmured, smirking as he circled me slowly, “by the end of this, there’ll be no confusion about who’s in control.”
I scoffed, pretending his words didn’t send a shiver down my spine. “Big talk for someone who’s about to get his ass handed to him.”
“Ass handed, huh?” Ace stopped just in front of me, towering, close enough that I could feel his heat. “Funny. Because last time I had my hands on you, Princess, you weren’t exactly complaining.”
Heat flushed my cheeks instantly. “That… That’s different!”
“Mm, sure,” he teased, lowering his voice, “keep telling yourself that.”
I clenched my fists, refusing to let him fluster me. “Shut up and fight.”
Ace grinned wickedly and, without warning, he lunged.
I dodged the first swipe, barely, and countered with a quick strike aimed at his ribs. He blocked effortlessly, catching my wrist and spinning me around until my back hit his chest.
“You’re fast,” he whispered against my ear, breath hot, “but not fast enough.”
I shoved my elbow back hard, making him grunt and loosen his grip. Twisting free, I ducked low and swept my leg under him. He stumbled but didn’t fall, catching himself on one hand like some damn acrobat.
“Cute move,” he said, lips curving. “Wanna try again?”
“You talk too much,” I shot back, charging forward.
For the next few minutes, we clashed: dodging, striking, countering. My lungs burned, my body buzzing with adrenaline, but Ace was relentless.
Every time I thought I had an opening, he read me like a book, blocking with maddening ease.
“You’re holding back,” he said suddenly, catching my kick mid-air and tossing me onto the mat.
I landed on my back with a soft thud, groaning. “I’m not holding back,” I snapped, rolling to my feet.
“Oh, you are.” Ace stalked toward me, sweat glistening on his jaw. “You’re scared of me.”
I scoffed loudly. “Please. I’m not scared of you.”
“Prove it.”
Before I could respond, he rushed me again, this time even faster. His movements blurred, and before I knew it, my back was pinned to the mat, his body hovering over mine, his breath ragged but steady.
“Round one,” he said smugly, his lips curling in victory.
I glared up at him, chest heaving. “You cheated.”
He raised a brow. “Did I?”
“You distracted me!”
“Princess,” he drawled, lowering his head until his nose brushed mine, “if you can’t handle a little distraction, how do you plan on winning?”
I shoved at his chest, but he didn’t move an inch. “Get. Off.”
Ace smirked, deliberately staying where he was. “Say ‘please.'”
My cheeks flamed. “Not a chance.”
“Then I guess we’ll stay here,” he said innocently, though his weight pressed me deliciously into the mat.
“Fine!” I snapped. “Please.”
Satisfied, he rolled off me slowly, deliberately brushing his hand along my waist as he stood.
I scrambled up, scowling, trying to ignore the way my heart raced. “Round two. This time, I’m winning.”
“Sweetheart,” he said, stretching lazily, “you can’t even lie convincingly.”
“Watch me.”
This time, I didn’t hold back. I darted forward, feinting left, then lunged right. Ace blocked, but barely. I spun behind him, locking my arm around his neck and using my momentum to slam him into the mat.
His grunt was music to my ears.
I straddled his hips, pinning his wrists down triumphantly. “Round two’s mine,” I declared, panting.
For a moment, he just stared up at me, without saying anything.
Then, slowly, a grin curved his lips. “You’re sitting on me, Princess.”
I froze, realising exactly how I was straddling him. Heat rushed to my face. “T-This isn’t what it looks like.”
“Oh, it’s exactly what it looks like,” Ace murmured, voice low and rough. “And if you think I’m complaining, you’re wrong.”
I scrambled off him so fast I nearly tripped, glaring when he laughed. “Shut up!”
He sat up smoothly, wiping a bead of sweat from his temple, his grin wicked. “One round each. The last one decides everything.”
I steadied my breathing, focusing, refusing to let him mess with my head.
Big mistake.
As soon as I lunged, Ace dodged like lightning, spinning me around until my back slammed against his chest again.
His arm hooked around my waist, pinning my arms to my sides, his lips brushing my ear.
“You hesitate when you’re flustered,” he murmured, “and that’s why you lose.”
Before I could react, he swept my legs from under me, lowering me to the mat gently but firmly.
His weight settled over me, and my wrists were pinned above my head. His breath was hot against my cheek, his blue eyes blazing with victory.
“Round three,” he whispered. “I win.”
I glared, trying to ignore how close he was. “You’re just…” I didn’t know what to say, so I clamped my lips shut, more like biting on my lower lip.
“And you’re mine,” he shot back without hesitation.
My breath caught. “A-Ace…”
He leaned closer, his nose brushing mine. “You agreed to the rules, Princess.”
“Y-Yeah, but—”
“No buts.” His smirk turned downright sinful. “I won. That means…”
“That you get to decide,” I finished flatly, though my pulse pounded.
“Exactly,” he murmured, his lips grazing my ear. “And what I want…”
I swallowed hard, heat pooling low in my stomach. “W-What do you want?”
His hand slid from my wrist to my jaw, tilting my face toward his. “You,” he said simply.
My heart stuttered.
Before I could process, his mouth crashed onto mine, fierce and claiming. I gasped, his tongue slipping past my lips, stealing the air from my lungs.
The kiss was wild, desperate, and I melted against him despite every protest my brain tried to muster.
When he finally pulled back, I was breathless, dazed, my lips swollen.
“That,” Ace said huskily, “was my prize.”
I blinked up at him, speechless, until I found my voice. “You’re… you’re impossible.”
“And yet,” he said softly, brushing his thumb across my bottom lip, “you can’t stay away.”
I shoved at his chest weakly, but he didn’t budge. “We’re supposed to be training.”
He grinned, lowering his head until his lips grazed my neck. “Who says we’re not?”
“Ace…” I tried to sound firm, but it came out breathless.
“Relax, Princess.” His voice was velvet, smooth and dangerous. “I’m just… testing your stamina.”
I smacked his shoulder lightly. “That’s not what this is, and you know it.”
He chuckled darkly, pulling me into a sitting position without letting me go. “You did well, though. Better than I expected.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Was that supposed to be a compliment?”
“Yes,” he said, tilting his head. “Don’t get used to it.”