Margaret

I had to calm my nerves and was now starving, so, I needed to eat something pretty quick.

Whoever owed this place didn't really have much food except eggs, some meats and veggies, but I wasn't about to be ungrateful.

My plan was to eat, take a shower, and go to sleep, and hopefully forget about the painful proximity of Ace's presence.

Something about being closer to him made me lose my cool.

And my cool was lost the moment he pressed himself against my back. Shivers shoot down my spine at the contact, and though innocent, I couldn't really disregard it, or forget it for that matter.

"Here you go." He smiled with dimples shown on his face. How did I not notice them before? My brain short circuited, and I responded the best way I could.

"Uhh, thanks. Do you want some eggs?"

"Yeah. Will there be enough for you?"

"I wouldn't be asking if there wasn't." I teased him.

He smiled at that, and went to sit at the sofa, turning on the TV.

"There is still hot water if you want to freshen up."I thanked him .

I scrambled what I could and placed it in front of us.

"You know, a real gentleman would ask if he can help with cooking." I wanted to tease some more, bordering rude, but he seemed to be lost in thought, and kept staring at the screen.

"What is wrong?" I asked.

"I have no idea how to move from this now, and frankly, I am terrified."

"What do you mean?"

"Well...obviously my father wants me dead, and its only a matter of time until he succeeds. And if something were to happen to you in the process..."

"Do you have any idea why he would want you dead?" If he knew, he wouldn't answer.

"Ace, I can only help you as much as you help me. Please." For the first time in a long time, he met my eyes.

"I have something, that could potentially change the society functions, and it might not agree with him, lets just leave it at that."

"I see... but why would you want to change the society that you benefit so much from?"

"It is not because of the society or if I am a good person or not. It is more to bring him down to his knees, and to pay what he did."

Anger was apparent on his face, not pointed at me, but it was clearly felt.

"I understand."

Air was heavy, and we sat in silence. I popped a pill even though the post off would only happen a week from now.

 When I moved my gaze to see him, I could see that he was already observing me. 

Ashamed, I got up barely touching the meal and had the urge to remove myself from his inquisitive gaze. He took my hand, gently but firmly.

"I am not judging you if that is why you want to leave."

I am not judging you. How lovely those words sounded .

He still wasn't releasing my hand, and I didn't make an effort to pull it out. His thumb started caressing the knuckles of my hand, and electricity was shooting through my skin with this simple gesture.

„I don't know why you're so uncomfortable around me, and you said on multiple occasions that you don't want to have anything to do with me...but..I hope that you will deem me as a friend eventually, enough to trust me with this."

He got up and stood in front of me now, not releasing my hand.

„As hard as it is to believe, I am not perfect as well, and that is fine."

That made me laugh, and he smiled, giving me the kind of look that disarmed me.

„ I have done things, and will continue to do things that I am not proud of, but I think that is what makes me human. And sure, I will have to live with my choices, but they are mine in the end, no one elses, and I will stand by them."

He then proceeded to take my hand closer to his lips, kissing the same knuckles that he was caressing, and putting other hand over it, rubbing it in a gentle manner. Needless to say, the tiny electrical shock caused by the contact of his lips on my skin made me breathless.I wondered how is it possible that his touch was so soothing? Men that paid for me never made me feel this way, and god knows I am far away from a virtuos woman.

What if he finds out about my past? I don't even need to go that far back because present would be enough to put anyone into a state of pure nausea. He would be disgusted for sure. My thoughts manifesting their hands, pulled mine away from his.

„I...I need to go to freshen up. Do you mind." -Which wasn't really a question. He seemed a bit hurt by my sudden change in stance, but he remained composed, and nodded in response. Once I finished with bathroom, I found him laying on the sofa, uncovered, half-asleep. My heart was breaking a bit at the sight.

„Ace...hey Ace..."I woke him up gently, his eyelashes fluttering now.„You will need energy tomorrow go to bed. I will take the sofa."

„Naah. You will need it more, so you take it."

„I wasn't asking."

„Neither was I." Here we go again.

„Ace, if you don't go, I promise I will jump on you here and break every bone on your body."

„Tempting. I would like to see you try." 

Peeking at me with one eye, he smiled. If I didn't know any better, I was dealing with a teenager.

„Ace, I don't have time for this."

„I am waiting. 

"For what !?"

„For your jump."

„You think I am joking?"

„I know you are not." He grinned with a genuine bemusement, and that worked on me too because, even if I tried, I couldn't help but smile.

„Fine, you asked for it."

„Yes I have."

„Don't go crying later."

„I wont."

So, I did just that, jumped torso first on top of him, and the breath escaped his lungs. Before I knew it, his arms were around me, capturing me and fixing me in.

„I don't feel no bones broken, do you want to see for yourself?"

I tried wriggling out, but he wouldn't let me. Albeit, I wouldn't need to use much of a force to break free, nor did he have such a strong grip on me to truly keep me there.

„You were lucky; I went easy on you."

„My, my, so kind of you Your Highness."

Our faces were right in front of each other, sharing the same breath. My eyes didn't know where to look at first, the curve of his mouth, his unfairly curved eyelashes , or his dimple. As if pulled my an opposite magnet, my face slowly moved closer to his. 

This is wrong.I couldn't face him anymore, and he noticed so he loosened his grip.

„What are you so afraid of? Why are you restraining yourself so much around me?"

I could make an entire PowerPoint presentation.

„I find you attractive. I really do."

„But?"

„I need time."

His hands fell down, and he didn't try anything anymore, but he gazed at my face as I were some hurt cat. Sympathy or kindness, I couldn't tell.

„Very well. I will not make any advances anymore towards you. You will have to make a first move if you want me."

„That is fair." I smiled.

„Are you sure you got it in you?" He teased now. I just nudged him with my elbow.

„So, neither you nor I will move from this sofa huh?"

„Looks like it."

„Well, if you promise to behave, you can go to bed with me."

He was in shock, now checking his watch.

„It hasn't been a full minute since I told you that you need to make a first move, and wow...I must commend your speed."

I rolled my eyes at that.

„I suppose you muted the part where I said "If you promise to behave"

"„Oh you said that? My, there must be something wrong with my ears then."

„I will only offer this once. Take it or leave it."

„Fine, geez. No need to be grumpy."

I took the biggest shirt I could find, but once again, being a tall woman that I am, it simply looked like a medium. I think I shaved two or three days ago,(thank god for the stockings) so the hairs must have been coming on. Therefore, short things didn't really work for me, so I opted for long skirt. I found myself dumbfounded because I cared. As if something is going to happen. My daggers and Maryam's drawing were safely sheathed under my pillow, and so was his gun, under his.

„Well, good night."

„Good night Margaret."

My name rolling from his lips in the darkness, was a melody on its own.