In the cards a four king.., p.4
In The Cards: A Four Kings Security Short,
p.4
“Oh my God,” Colton said with a gasp, a hand going to his mouth.
Ace reached into his pocket and pulled out a large black ring box. “Will you marry me?” He opened the box, a bright white light beaming out from inside illuminating the giant rock encrusted in diamonds. It was big enough and bright enough to land a plane.
“Ace, that’s, um….” Colton bit his bottom lip between his teeth, and Ace chuckled.
“Garish and over the top?”
Colton winced. “It’s… lovely. It really is.”
Ace reached into his front breast pocket and pulled out the real ring, this one a simple silver band, the inside of which was engraved. “How about this one?”
“Oh, Ace.” Colton took the ring from him, his smile stealing Ace’s breath away. Noting the engraving, Colton met Ace’s gaze, his eyes wide. “What’s this? It looks like…”
“My heartbeat.”
Colton let out a soft gasp, and ran his finger lovingly over the lines.
Ace stood and gently took the ring from him, slipping it onto Colton’s finger. “As long as my heart beats, it’ll beat for you.”
Tears spilled from Colton’s eyes, and he threw himself at Ace, making him laugh softly as he caught him.
“I love you so much, Anston.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes! Of course it’s a yes.”
Everyone cheered and clapped, rushing them both to hug them and congratulate them. Quinn brought Ace into a tight hug, and Ace wiped a tear from his eye. “Thank you, guys, for agreeing. I didn’t want to do anything that would steal your thunder.”
Quinn pulled Spencer against him and kissed the top of his head. “Are you kidding? When you told us, we couldn’t have been happier. Colton’s amazing. I’m so happy for you, cousin.”
King stepped up to Ace and shook his head, the corner of his lips twitching in amusement. “You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?”
Ace shrugged just as Colton wrapped his arms around Ace and kissed his temple.
“I wouldn’t want him any other way.”
“You heard him,” Ace announced, pointing to Colton. “From now on, anything I do has been met with his approval, because that’s exactly how he wants me.”
King arched an eyebrow at Colton. “You sure you don’t want to take some time to think about this? You haven’t married him yet. Still plenty of time to bow out gracefully.”
“Hey!” Ace turned to Colton. “No backing out. You said yes, and that’s a verbal contract. There’s no getting out of it now. Your lawyer will agree.”
“If you say so, love.” Colton laughed at Ace’s put out huff and brought him in for a kiss. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
Ace’s grin was smug, as was his triumphant “Ha!” in King’s face. “Also, will you be my best man along with Lucky?”
King blinked at him. “You want me to be your best man?”
“Of course. You and Lucky. Lucky’s the brother I never had, and you’re my best friend. I can’t have one without the other standing up there beside me.”
King cleared his throat then nodded, his gaze on his shoes.
“Yeah?”
“Of course, you ass.” King brought him into a tight hug, grumbling in his ear. “You know I love you.”
Ace squeezed him. “I know. I love you too, man.”
King’s phone went off and when he looked at the screen, he lifted his narrowed eyes to Ace. “I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“It’s my sister,” King hissed.
“Wow,” Lucky said, patting King’s shoulder. “It took longer than I thought.”
King motioned between Lucky and Ace. “Whatever happens, I’m taking you both down with me.” He took a deep breath, released it through his mouth, then tapped the screen. “Hey, Bibi. You’re on speaker with me and the guys.”
“What the hell?” Bibi shrieked, making them all wince.
“I can explain.” King’s tone was quiet and soothing. “It was all Ace and Lucky,” he blurted.
Ace gaped at him.
“How the hell did they find out? How did you find out?”
King opened his mouth then closed it, the whole pool area so quiet you could hear their brain cells exploding as they processed Bibi’s words. “Wait a second. You really are pregnant?”
“I thought she was just gaining weight,” Ace muttered.
Bibi gasped. “Anston Sharpe, when you step foot in this café you are going to be served nothing but oatmeal for the rest of your life!”
“I’m sorry.” Ace threw his hands up. “What I meant was, um, you were glowing, and hey, I asked Colton to marry me and he said yes, so congratulations all around.”
“Aw, you’re getting married? That’s wonderful! You’re still eating oatmeal.”
“Damn.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” King asked, sounding hurt.
“Because we wanted to wait until after the first trimester.”
“We’re going to be uncles.” King’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “Excuse me, everyone.” He took the phone off speaker to talk to Bibi, thanking everyone for their congratulations as he walked off to speak to his sister in private.
Lucky put a hand to his heart. “That child is going to be so spoiled.”
“Agreed,” Ace replied. “Wow. This has been the best day ever.”
They all hung around a little longer before Spencer and Quinn turned in for the night, everyone agreeing they’d break the happy news to the family tomorrow. Tonight, Ace wanted Colton to himself and as they climbed into bed together after their shower, their bodies producing more steam than the water, Colton didn’t wait to pounce on Ace.
Ace loved that Colton hadn’t stopped smiling all night, or looking at the silver band on his finger. Inside their suite, the only light came from the moon, but it was enough for Ace to see every delicious curve of his husband to be. He still couldn’t believe it. Not that Colton had said yes, but that they were really going to do this. It might be quick, but to Ace nothing felt more right. He rolled Colton onto his back and trailed kisses all over his skin, worshiping his beautiful man with his mouth and hands.
Colton writhed beneath him, his long legs wrapped around Ace as Ace did his best to drive his man crazy with his tongue. When Colton was a beautiful trembling mess, Ace left him long enough to pour a generous amount of lube in his hand. He brought their mouths together, tongues exploring, tasting as Ace stretched Colton, loving all the little sounds he made.
“Anston, please.”
“How can I deny you anything?” Ace lubed up his painfully hard cock and lined himself up with Colton’s hole. He continued to kiss Colton, their kisses growing more desperate as Ace pushed inside Colton, slowly sinking inside Colton’s tight heat. Ace slid his hands up Colton’s arms, raising them above his head and lacing their fingers together, their bodies moving as one.
“Don’t ever stop loving me,” Colton pleaded, his blue-gray eyes holding Ace’s gaze. “Promise me.”
“I promise.” Ace sealed his promise with a kiss that made Colton tremble in his arms.
Colton gave himself over completely to Ace’s lovemaking like he always did, the room filled with his soft pleas, declarations of love, and the sound of their bodies coming apart. Every gasp, every roll of Colton’s hips, brought Ace closer and closer to the edge until a snap of his hips had Colton crying out, and Ace tumbled into the abyss, his entire body shaking from the force of his orgasm.
“Oh God, Ace.”
“That’s it, baby. Come for me. I want to feel you coming apart for me. Only me.”
“Always,” Colton whispered, his voice filled with emotion.
Ace moved inside Colton until he was too tender, and slowly he pulled out, lying on Colton, and humming at Colton wrapping his arms around him. They lay together, the air conditioning cooling their heated skin. Ace had no idea how long they lay like that, but at one point he figured he should move before they were permanently stuck together.
After cleaning them up, he climbed under the covers beside Colton and pulled him close, a sigh of contentment leaving Ace as Colton snuggled into him.
Colton ran his fingers over the dips and curves of Ace’s chest. “I was thinking Colton Sharpe had a nice ring to it.”
Ace turned onto his side to face Colton and took hold of his hand, holding it to his heart. “But what about Connolly Maritime? It’s your legacy.”
“Yes, and taking your name won’t change that. You, our family, that’s the legacy that matters most to me.”
“Really? You really want to take my name?”
Colton’s smile was stunning. “I do.”
Ace liked the sound of those two little words coming from Colton’s lips. “You are an amazing man, you know that?” He kissed Colton, savoring the taste of him, the warmth of him, the softness of his skin. He promised himself he would never take this man or what they had for granted. When he pulled back, his heart was ready to burst. “Colton Sharpe. I like the sound of that.”
“Me too,” Colton said, kissing him. “When we met, did you even for a moment think we’d end up here?”
Ace couldn’t help his smile. He was the very definition of a lovesick fool, and he didn’t care one bit. “It was all in the cards.”
Colton shook his head with a chuckle, and Ace kissed his brow as they settled down to sleep. Maybe Ace hadn’t known he’d end up here with Colton back when they’d met, but he’d known from the very moment he laid eyes on Colton that his life would never be the same again. They were opening a whole new chapter in their lives, and Ace couldn’t wait to see what adventures awaited them next.
* * *
Looking for more Four Kings Security shenanigans? Check out Jack and Fitz’s book Stacking the Deck, the first book in the Four kings Security spin-off series, The Kings: Wild Cards!
A Note From the Author
Thank you so much for reading In the Cards, A Four Kings Security Short. If you haven’t read the Four Kings Security series, you can find it on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. Want more Four Kings Security adventures? Check out Jack and Fitz’s book, Stacking the Deck, the first book in the Four kings Security spin-off series, The Kings: Wild Cards! Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
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Also By Charlie Cochet
FOUR KINGS SECURITY UNIVERSE
STANDALONE TITLES
Beware of Geeks Bearing Gifts
FOUR KINGS SECURITY SERIES
Love in Spades
Be Still My Heart
Join the Club
Diamond in the Rough
THE KINGS: WILD CARDS SERIES
Stacking the Deck
Raising the Ante
Sleight of Hand
LOCKE AND KEYES AGENCY SERIES
Kept in the Dark
* * *
THIRDS UNIVERSE
THIRDS SERIES
Hell & High Water
Blood & Thunder
Rack & Ruin
Rise & Fall
Against the Grain
Catch a Tiger by the Tail
Smoke & Mirror
Thick & Thin
Darkest Hour Before Dawn
Gummy Bears & Grenades
Tried & True
THIRDS BEYOND THE BOOKS SERIES
THIRDS Beyond the Books Volume 1
THIRDS Beyond the Books Volume 2
THIRDS: REBELS SERIES
Love and Payne
* * *
PARANORMAL PRINCES SERIES
The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard
The Prince and His Captivating Carpenter
The King and His Vigilant Valet
SOLDATI HEARTS SERIES
The Soldati Prince
The Foxling Soldati
The Soldati General
COMPROMISED SERIES
Center of Gravity
NORTH POLE CITY TALES SERIES
Mending Noel
The Heart of Frost
The Valor of Vixen
Loving Blitz
Disarming Donner
Courage and the King
North Pole City Tales Complete Series Boxset
STANDALONE TITLES
Forgive and Forget
Love in Retrograde
AUDIOBOOKS
Check out the audio versions on Audible.
About the Author
Charlie Cochet is the international bestselling author of the THIRDS series. Born in Cuba and raised in the US, Charlie enjoys the best of both worlds, from her daily Cuban latte to her passion for classic rock.
Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found devouring a book, releasing her creativity through art, or binge watching a new TV series. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.
Website: www.charliecochet.com
Email: charlie@charliecochet.com
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Charlie Cochet, In The Cards: A Four Kings Security Short
