Page 190 of The Fire We Make

“Come here, baby,” he requested again, rolling his chair back and holding a beckoning hand out to her.

Reluctantly, she stomped over, then lowered into his lap.

Ace kissed her cheek tenderly, watching as the action made her melt into him. When she was soft and pliable, he kissed her lips.

“I missed you too,” he whispered against the shell of her ear.

Joy smacked her lips. “No one said that.”

Ace chuckled. “Mean ass,” he mumbled against her cheek. “You don’t have to. I know you. I’m sorry for not communicating. I didn’t leave or abandon you. I’m right here.”

“What did have to handle that didn’t include me?” Joy asked, side-stepping the emotional onslaught of his reassurance.

“I had to talk to Pops.”

“About…” Joy trailed off and Ace nodded, not needing to elaborate.

Joy had been ready to put Isaac down the moment they received confirmation that he was behind the sabotage. But, Ace had informed her of the approval needed to take out another Council member—starting with his grandfather, then the vote of the Council.

“Oh. Well that’s good.” She looked away staring out at the morning sun reflecting off of the skyline. “You’d tell me, right? If you changed your mind and didn’t want to deal with me and all my shit? You’d tell me?”

Joy looked up at him, bracing for his answer.

Ace’s chest constricted. The woman on his lap, mean and fierce as she was, was still just a sad girl who was afraid of being alone again.

Part of Ace wanted to gas the jet and pay her father a visit just for the role he played in it.

Ace took her neck in a soft grip. “I’ll never change my mind, Rose. Have I not shown you well enough how much I want you? Hm? Do you need me to remind you what you mean to me?”

Joy’s lips pulled up in a smirk. “Yes. Remind me.”

Ace needed no further instruction. He wasn't a man of many words so instead, he pulled her face down to his and planted a kiss on her that he hoped conveyed the weight of his affection for her. He tightened his grip on her throat, a physical representation of how he planned to hold onto her. Tight and without remorse.

A knock at the door startled them and reluctantly, they pulled away. Joy tried to raise out of Ace’s lap, but his arm around her waist kept her planted there.

“Adonis,” she hissed.

“Shh,” he hushed her with a quick peck on her lips.

“Come in!” he called.

Jess entered a moment later and if she was shocked to see Joy sitting on her boss’ lap, her expression didn’t show it.

“Mr. King, your 9:30 is in the conference room,” Jessica popped her head in to announce.

“Thanks. We’ll be down in a moment,” Ace acknowledged her with a nod.

Jessica excused herself and Joy hopped up. “Okay I’ll let you get back to work,” she announced.

“You’re coming with me.”

“Me?”

“Yes ma’am. It’s a new client consultation. They heard about your phenomenal work and requested you personally.” Ace said, his tone and smile dripping with pride.

Joy’s own grin couldn’t be contained.

“Okay let me grab my things from my office and I’ll meet you in the conference room.”