Torn into Pieces(Rewritten)

Chapter 42-Alexander

I woke up before the sun had fully risen, the room still draped in the soft, early morning light. My first instinct was to shift and stretch, but the warmth against my side kept me still. Ace was curled up against me, his body pressed close, his head resting on my chest.

I took a slow breath, letting the comfort of the moment wash over me. There was something peaceful about waking up like this—Ace's soft breaths in rhythm with mine, the feel of his skin against mine. It grounded me in a way nothing else could.

I glanced down at him, my eyes tracing the marks on his waist, the faint handprints I'd left during last night's rough session. A flash of guilt ran through me, even though I knew Ace had enjoyed it. We'd talked about boundaries before, and he trusted me not to push too far. Still, seeing those marks made me wonder if I'd been a little too rough.

But then again, he'd begged for it.

I smirked a little, remembering the way he'd teased me all day yesterday, sending those filthy messages while I was trying to work. The way he'd practically demanded I punish him when I got home. He knew exactly what he was doing, and damn if I didn't love it.

I turned my head slightly to get a better look at him, my fingers gently brushing through his messy hair. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, his face relaxed, lips slightly parted. It was a far cry from how he'd looked last night, all flushed and needy under me, moaning my name like he couldn't get enough.

The memory made something stir in me, but I pushed it down for now. Ace needed his rest after last night, and I was content to let him sleep for as long as he needed. There was no rush to get up, no urgency to start the day. For once, we could just be.

I settled back against the pillows, letting my hand rest lightly on his waist, my thumb absentmindedly tracing the faint marks there. The room was quiet, the only sounds the distant hum of the city outside and Ace's soft breaths beside me.

My mind wandered as I lay there, thinking about how far we'd come. It wasn't always like this. In the beginning, things between us had been... complicated. I wasn't used to having someone like Ace in my life, someone who challenged me, pushed me in ways I hadn't expected. It took time for us to find our rhythm, to figure out how to navigate each other's boundaries. But once we did, everything seemed to fall into place.

Now, I couldn't imagine my life without him.

A soft sigh from Ace pulled me from my thoughts. He stirred slightly, shifting closer to me, his arm draping over my stomach as he nuzzled against my chest. I smiled, my hand moving to gently rub his back in slow, soothing circles.

He was still mostly asleep, but I could tell he was starting to wake up. His breathing changed, becoming a little more erratic, and his fingers twitched against my skin.

"Morning," I murmured softly, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of his head.

He let out a sleepy hum in response, his eyes fluttering open just a fraction. For a moment, he looked dazed, like he wasn't quite sure where he was. But then his gaze met mine, and a lazy smile spread across his face.

"Morning," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep as he shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable again.

"Go back to sleep if you're still tired," I said, keeping my voice low. "We don't have anywhere to be."

Ace let out a contented sigh, but instead of closing his eyes again, he stayed where he was, his head still resting on my chest, his arm still draped over me. He seemed to be in that half-awake, half-asleep state, and I didn't mind it at all.

For a while, we just stayed like that, not saying anything. I kept my hand on his back, my fingers moving in slow, absentminded patterns, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing. It was moments like these that I cherished the most—the quiet, intimate moments when it was just the two of us, no distractions, no expectations.