Chapter 1. Morning Sparks

Eleven Years Later

The early-morning sun was on a mission to blind me the moment I woke up. I groaned and shoved a pillow over my face.

Ace shifted behind me, hugging me closer to his chest and nuzzling his face into the back of my neck. Sparks raced down my spine.

This was how I woke up most days: dressed in one of Ace’s shirts and a pair of panties, with Ace wrapped around me like a koala and a warm feeling in my chest.

I wouldn’t have it any other way. It felt like he was guarding me from the rest of the world, like I was wrapped in a cocoon of his protection.

“Ace,” I said, elbowing him to get his attention, “what time is it?”

He didn’t reply, simply tightening his arms and nudging one of his legs between mine. I couldn’t tell where my body ended and his began.

I groaned again, lifting my head so I could look at the clock.

“Oh, my gosh!” I yelled. “Ace, you need to get out of here! It’s almost seven thirty!”

Ace didn’t