Olivia let herself into her apartment and dropped her bag on the floor as she closed the door, locking it behind her. It had been one of those days and all she wanted was a glass of wine and a hot bath. She grabbed the bottle off the counter, not even bothering to get a glass as she headed for the bathroom, kicking off her shoes as she went.

Maybe a good session of self love would help get her mind off of things. Some bubbles and candles...a dirty little fantasy and an orgasm… yes, that sounds lovely she thought as she started the water and poured in a generous amount of bubble bath before pulling her phone out of her pocket and setting it on the edge of the tub while she stripped down, tossing her clothes in the hamper.

She rolled her eyes as her phone buzzed, assuming it was her mother once again demanding to know how her article was coming along for the weekly paper she ran. Olivia always wanted to be a journalist, and right after graduation, she was offered a job at the Herald, which she jumped at immediately. She felt proud to have the career she preferred, even if it was for her mother.

However, Olivia soon learned that as overbearing as Amy could be as a mother, it didn’t even compare to her as a boss who shared the same name as her mother. Boss Amy is terrifyingly formidable; relentless and demanding in her pursuit of a story with no care or qualm as to whom she may hurt, or anger, or offend. Honestly, how Olivia has managed to work for her as long as she has is a mystery in itself, one that not even she has the answer to.

But now, eight years later, the news in their town has gone stale. A big difference from when Olivia had started, and the town had been hopping with stories and scandals; from murders to cults to gangs and corruption. Now all that remained was one gang, the Bozers, or Bridge trash, as her mother so lovingly coined them while ignoring that she herself had grown up on the Bridge, and had, in her youth, been a part of their group.

And even though they were more of an MC than anything else now, her mother’s disdain for them has not wavered, and she continues her never ending mission to bring them down, completely dismissive of the fact that, at least to Olivia’s knowledge, they don’t really do anything wrong. But harmless or not, Amy had fabricated enough shit over the years to get the entire town thinking they were some evil force out to ruin Parkstone and corrupt their children.

Olivia didn’t agree with her mother at all and therefore stayed far away from any news pertaining to the Bozers. She didn’t want any part in defamation and written lies. She left that to her mother. Besides, Olivia kind of liked the Bozers. Granted, she didn’t know any of them and had never interacted with them, but they thrilled her. In a town full of pretentious idiots, they were unabashedly rebellious and took great pleasure in being shit disturbers. They were real; they did what they wanted and didn’t care what anybody thought, and Olivia was jealous of their freedom to live life how they saw fit.

Olivia wasn’t sure what turned her mother against them as Amy had always refused to talk about her past, especially when it came to the Bozers, but what Olivia did know...was that their leader, Ace Walker, was hot as hell, and there wasn’t a woman in Parkstone that didn’t lust after him in one way or another. He was the epitome of the bad boy fantasy, dark and dangerous with an air of mystery; and the fact that he was basically walking sex wrapped up in leather and sat atop a Harley definitely worked in his favor.

She had seen him earlier in the day when he had rolled into the HotSpot parking lot with all his buddies. They were standing around their bikes when she had left the diner with her and her mom’s lunch, and she had watched him as he leaned against his bike; booted feet crossed at the ankles, leather clad arms crossed over his chest, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, and that ridiculous hat he always wore on his head. He was a perfect combination of scary and sexy, and when he’d caught her looking, his mouth had quirked up in a smug smirk, making her flush red as she glanced away and hurried to her car. She had felt his eyes on her as they followed her out of the parking lot, and she was sure that he’d known exactly what she had been thinking.

Yes, Ace Walker was a great illusion...but in reality, completely unacceptable.

She was still too controlled to let herself go crazy. Too worried about how others will see her. Something that her mother had drilled into her since birth.

Always be at your best. Never let people see you crumble under pressure. Stand up straight. Control your thoughts. Control your actions. Control, control, control.

Maybe one day Olivia would get out of this shitty town and be a real journalist somewhere else. Or maybe just be whatever somewhere else. Olivia didn’t know why she stayed in Parkstone, there was nothing really keeping her here besides her friends, whom she loved and liked having so close, and her mom of course, who despite her craziness and control, loved her and she loved in return. Maybe one day, though, she’d break free and run from this hell hole.

Olivia lit some candles and turned off the light, leaving the bathroom in a peaceful glow as she lowered herself down into the bubbles. She leaned back and grabbed the bottle of wine, pulling the stop and taking a long drink before settling it on the edge. Getting drunk sounded good too. Something she only ever did in the privacy of her apartment when she knew she wouldn’t be seeing anybody. Got to keep up appearances, Olivetta. God, she was pathetic.

Her phone buzzed again, and Olivia rolled her eyes, grabbing it to see what her mother wanted, her brow raising in surprise as she noticed two different message notifications on her screen. The first was her from her mother, of course, which she dismissed, but the second was from a number she didn’t recognize and she swiped to open the message.

Finally, got that poem you wrote tattooed on my side.

“Picture file attached…”

Being the curious journalist that Olivia was, she clicked it open, and her breath caught, choking a little at what she saw because holy hell, what a side it was! She felt herself drooling as her eyes traced the lines of the chest on her screen, long and defined and adorned with a scrolling black ink. The man definitely had a fine body, and the sweats he wore sat so low on his hips that it would take only a little slip and she’d be able to see the impressive package he seemed to be handling. The thought making Olivia hot all over and her pulse pound, reminding her it had definitely been too long since her last tumble in the sack.

“Jesus,” Olivia muttered, gaping at the photo. She was disappointed that she couldn’t see his face because it had to be handsome...right? With a body like that?

“Seriously, Olivia?” she chastised, with a roll of her eyes. Who thinks like that?

She stared at the image for a few more seconds, his v-lines alone holding her attention for longer than what was probably considered normal. Well, Olivia had her fantasy for “self-love,” she mused with a grin.

Olivia bit her lip as she struggled internally before throwing caution to the wind and started typing.

I think you have the wrong number.

She watched the screen, grabbing a wine bottle and taking another drink as she waited to see if he’d reply. It took a couple minutes, but soon the chat bubbles appeared, Olivia smiled; a nervous anticipation fluttering in her gut.

Shit, sorry…

Olivia took another sip and let her eyes roam over the photo again. She set her bottle down and smirked. It was Friday night, and she had no other plans, so why not have a little fun? She told herself as she typed out another reply.

No need to apologize. In fact, you just made this woman’s Friday night a little more exciting.

Again, it took a few minutes for a response. Whoever it was, they clearly weren’t paying that much attention to their phone, which only made Olivia want to see if she could change that.

“Oh yeah? LOL…” came back his reply.

Definitely. Your tattoo looks great, by the way, and so does all the rest.

Olivia pressed send and held her breath. The chat bubble appeared almost instantly this time, and she smirked. She had his attention.

You think so?

Oh yes….there isn’t a woman in the world that wouldn’t find that attractive.

Well, I wouldn’t know about that…

Olivia bit her lip.

Trust me.

I can’t trust you. I don’t know who you are.

Well, the man had Olivia there.

Maybe if you showed me yours….

Olivia giggled.

Sorry Casanova, it won’t be that easy. LOL.

Ahh…that’s not fair. You saw mine.

Olivia laughed, the fact that he actually sent a tear emoji cracking her up. She had no doubt that he never had to work hard to get anything from a woman, and she wanted to make him writhe a bit, but before she could reply, he sent another text.

Maybe some other time.

Gotta run ‘wrong number’, sorry again for the mix up.

“Well, damn,” Olivia sighed, staring at the screen. She didn’t bother replying and scrolled back up to once again stare at his image. Well, she had no idea what he looked like, but with a body like that, she didn’t need a face. Although...maybe he could lend his face for the night’s self-love activities.

Olivia laid back and pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she let her hand travel down her front. A fine Friday night it would be indeed after seeing Mr. Sexy.

Ace put his feet up on the table tucked into the corner of the bar and leaned his chair back to balance on two legs, taking a long drag from his cigarette. He let the smoke out with a long sigh, glancing around the bar in annoyance. For a Saturday night, it was rather dead.

“What’s up, Walker?” Smokey asked as he threw back a shot of whiskey. “You look like you just fucked your mother.”

“Jesus, can you not say shit like that?” Ace sighed as he reached for his bottle of beer. “What does that even mean?”

“You look depressed.”

“I think if I was fucking my mother, I’d have bigger problems than depression,” Ace replied with an eye roll. “I’m just bored. Nothing’s been happening.”

“Nothing ever happens in this fucking town,” Smokey laughed, lighting a cigarette. “Why are you suddenly wanting shit to happen? We’ve been through enough. I figured you liked the quiet now.”

“I’m just...tired…”

“You probably just need to get laid or something.”

Ace let out a laugh. “Seriously, there isn’t even anyone I’d want to roll in the sack with.”

“Well, nobody you can have anyway,” Smokey said with a knowing smirk.

“Shut the fuck up,” Ace growled, regretting ever telling Smokey his ridiculous fantasy. The man constantly used it against him. “Hell, the closest I’ve gotten to getting laid in like forever is flirting with some random wrong number for a couple minutes,” he told as he pulled another drag from his smoke, and Smokey looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Come again?”

“I was showing off my latest tattoo and texted the wrong number. Apparently, I made some woman’s Friday night,” he said with a little smirk.

“She knew who you were?”

“Nah, it was just my chest, but it seemed to get her thrilled,” Ace laughed.

“So what happened? Phone sex?”

“No, I was meeting up with Tricia,” he shrugged. “She never replied after I said I had to run.”

“Oh well, was probably some lonely homemaker, anyway.”

“Maybe,” Ace chuckled. He had thought little about it and now he wondered if there was some housewife out there who was so bored with life that a text from a stranger was working her up.

“Well, let’s play some pool,” Smokey suggested, “Cause that’s about all the excitement I can offer you tonight bud,” he taunted as he got up.

“Yeah, be right there,” Ace called after him as he reached for his phone, which was vibrating in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the screen. It was the same number he had accidentally texted the night before.

Figure I owed you one…

There was a picture file attached and Ace opened it, the front legs of his chair making contact with the floor again as he sat up straight and bit back a groan.

“Holy fuck,” Ace sighed as he stared at the photo. He felt an actual twitch in his jeans and his mouth went dry as he beamed at the sexiest pair of wet, sudsy legs he’d ever seen. They were balanced prettily on the edge of a bubble-filled tub with candlelights.

He immediately wanted them wrapped around him.

Maybe Smokey was right.

He needed to get laid.

It took him a moment before Ace managed to form a thought that wasn’t complete filth, then typed out a reply.

Fucking hell, girl! Warn a guy first…

The reply was almost instant.

You’re welcome!

“Come on, Ace,” Smokey called from the pool table as he set up the game. Ace got up and wandered over as he typed out a message.

I don’t know how I’m supposed to concentrate on what I’m doing now that I have that picture in my head.

What are you doing?

Hanging with a friend, about to shoot some pool, and I’m most likely going to lose now.

Ace chuckled and put his phone in his pocket, grabbing the pool cue that Smokey handed to him.

“What are you smiling about?”

“Oh, nothing,” Ace said with a smirk as he set up to break. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and was suddenly annoyed that he wasn’t somewhere alone.

Olivia smiled as she laid her phone down on the edge of the tub. He wasn’t replying, and she figured he must have started his game, which led her to wonder at the game that she had just started. It felt good to do something a little crazy, and Olivia would definitely consider this absurd. She did not know who she was talking to, and wasn’t sure she wanted to know. She enjoyed the mystery. It was freeing almost; Olivia didn’t have to pretend to be something she’s not. She could just be herself. Not having to worry about her image or what she said because he didn’t know who she was, anyway.

Later, as Olivia was climbing into bed to binge some Netflix before bed, her phone vibrated and she grabbed it, smiling when she saw the number. The guy was back. Olivia bit her lip, opened the message, and giggled.

I got my ass handed to me thanks to those legs of yours. Never lost so bad in my life.

Sure, sure, blame the legs, mister.

Seriously, I couldn’t concentrate, sweetpea.

How could a pair of legs break your concentration, sir?

There was no reply for a while and Olivia was about to put the phone down when she saw the chat bubbles. She let out an awed breath at his reply.

Well, when all you can think about is those legs wrapped around you, you really can’t concentrate on any game…

“Oh my god,” Olivia gasped, a flutter of sexy excitement going through her stomach.

Well, I couldn’t concentrate at work all day because I kept thinking about your v lines… so I think we’re even.

What about them?

Women like those…

Oh yeah?

Are you telling me with a body like that, that no girl has ever told you how sexy those are? Or that she wanted to run her tongue along them?

Well….fuck….

Olivia really had no idea what she was doing and why she was being so bold, but damn, it felt good to just not give a shit. It was Saturday, and Olivia had spent the day trying to dodge her mother’s calls because apparently she didn’t believe in people having a day off, so now she just wanted to forget and have a little fun.

I got to ask...you’re not married, are you?

The question made her laugh.

No, I promise I’m not. Are you?

Free as a bird. I don’t suppose you want to tell me who you are?

I kind of like the mystery. It feels easier…

Ok, I guess…

Well, I mean, if you want to keep talking, that is.

Olivia quickly continued, suddenly feeling skeptical.

Hopefully, you don’t think I’m nuts.

Nothing wrong with nuts…

Olivia laughed at that and fluffed her pillow as she curled up, forgetting about Netflix all together.

I’ll just put you in my phone as ‘Legs’

Wow, what an honor…

It is an honor. I don’t have many contacts in my phone, and none that I don’t actually know.

You don’t have a lot of friends?

Yes, and no.

Olivia waited before questioning him on that interesting response.

Well, then I’ll put you in my phone as ‘Abs’.

Well, aren’t we original… haha!

Olivia laughed and made the contact. It felt strange and exciting all at the same time and she wondered what would come of this. Maybe at some point she would know who he is, but this worked for now. Like a friend without pressure of any kind.

Legs: You still playing pool?

Abs: Nope. Lost my pride and called it a night.

Legs: Sorry LOL!

Abs: I don’t think you are…

Legs: Well, now I get to talk to you, so maybe I’m not.

Abs: So Legs, tell me about yourself…

Olivia chewed on her lip as she read the message. What could she say without giving away who she was? If she mentioned her friends, or what people knew about her, or that she worked at the newspaper, then he could surely figure it out...so really, keeping it very personal was probably the only way to keep her identity hidden.

Legs: I’m kind of a loner. I like to stay home and read a good book or watch a good movie. I work too hard and when I’m not working; I like my downtime. I’m not really up for parties and things like that.

Abs: Don’t have many friends?

Legs: Not many, but they are good friends. How about you? Tell me about yourself. Tell me something nobody else knows.

Abs: Ahh… going for the secrets. Haha.

Legs: Just a little one… pretty please…

Abs: All right, I love to read as well….and I write…

Olivia furrowed her brow as she read the text. Why would something like that be a secret?

Legs: Why is that a secret?

Abs: Well….if you knew who I was or saw the crowd I hang with, you probably wouldn’t picture me as the intellectual type.

Legs: Hmm….

Abs: That’s all you get?

Legs: I have a question…

Abs: Uh oh… should I be worried? LOL.

Legs: I guess that depends on your response. The first time you texted me by mistake, you assumed I was the person who wrote the poem that you got tattooed. May I ask who it was who wrote the poem that was important enough to make you ink it on yourself?

Abs: My sister. She wrote it when she was thirteen and I always thought it was wonderful. I told her I would tattoo it on myself one day and she never believed me.

He had a little sister, and tattooed her poem on his body...could this man be any more adorable?

Legs: That’s really sweet. Did she like it?

Abs: Yeah, she cried. Haha.

Legs: Awww, that’s sweet. You’re very sweet.

Abs: Shhhhh, that’s a secret too!

Olivia smiled and wondered how many people actually kept secrets that showed their true self from the people around them. Probably most she figured.

Abs: Hey, it was nice chatting but I have to go.

Legs: Ok, have a good evening!

Olivia put the phone away and curled up under the covers. She didn’t really know why talking to this stranger was so intriguing. Olivia realized the crappiness of the day had completely vanished because of him. She got the hint that he was a bit of a badass from all the blurry bits of tattoos that she could see in his photo, but also got the feeling that there was more to him than what he projected. Like her, he was someone who hid things about himself from the world and the people around him.

It made Olivia feel special, being one of the assumed few who knew he loved to read and write. She wondered what other secrets she would unveil as she fell asleep thinking about her mystery man.

Ace leaned back against the counter behind the bar as he reached for his phone that was buzzing away in his pocket. He smiled down at the screen as he read the message.

Legs: I had the worst fucking day. Save my sanity with something witty.

It had been two and a half weeks of texts every night, and Ace loved what had become of their fun routine. He still did not know who she was, but their connection was so strong that he felt as though he had always known her. She was funny and witty, and he wasn’t going to lie. He loved flirting with her.

Abs: I’m all out of wit tonight, but how about the fact that your text made me smile?

Legs: That’s so cheesy.

Abs: I thought you liked cheese.

Ace grinned at her eye-roll reply.

“You talking to your mystery lady again?” Smokey asked as he came up to the bar and sat down on a stool. “She’s about the only person making you smile these days.”

Ace shrugged and shoved his phone in his pocket. “I like this girl.”

“You don’t even know who she is,” Smokey laughed. “That’s fucking weird.”

“Maybe I like weird,” he shrugged again.

“How bored are you that you’re even entertaining this woman?”

“Hey,” Ace said pointedly, “this isn’t about me being bored, and I’m not doing this to ‘entertain’ her, jackass. I meant what I said, I like her, and like you can talk...what’s going on in your life lately that is even a bit interesting, huh?”

“I don’t know,” Smokey shrugged. “I hooked up with Hannah last week.”

Ace raised a brow as he grabbed a beer and shoved it across the bar to his friend. “How is that interesting? You do that all the time.”

Smokey shrugged again and took a sip of his beer, done with the topic. “You see the latest article that bitch Amy Martin printed?”

“Don’t remind me,” Ace sighed, running a hand over his face. He’d about had it with the woman. Always fabricating lies and trying to make the Bozers look bad for literally no reason. Whatever shit had happened back in the day while she was in the gang had made her bitter for life, and he had a feeling it had something to do with his father, but the man refused to talk about it.

“Where does she even come up with this shit? Now she’s claiming we’re the ones breaking into the smoothie shack every night? Why the fuck would the Bozers break into a god damned smoothie shack?” Smokey sputtered in angry disbelief.

“Maybe she thinks we’re thirsty,” Ace laughed.

“Maybe you should find that daughter of hers and get her to change her mother’s mind about us,” Smokey winked.

“Whatever,” Ace said with a roll of his eyes. “Let Amy write her shit. Nobody believes her anyway.” His phone vibrated again, and he hid his smile as he looked around. “Well, I’m going to call it a night. Nothing’s happening around here anyway,” he told his friend, giving him a parting slap on the shoulder before walking away.

“Tell the truth, Walker,” Smokey yelled after him as Ace headed for the stairs to his room. “You’re going home to sext with some chick.”

Ace flipped him off and headed up the stairs, pulling his phone from his pocket as he left.

Legs: Ok, I’m going to need some more cheese to go with this wine I’m having…

Ace laughed and sent a reply.

Abs: Don’t get too drunk, wouldn’t want you throwing up all over yourself.

Legs: I’ve never been that drunk.

Abs: Well, just in case. I can’t take care of you if you get sick, so put the wine down.

Legs: Awww, you want to take care of me?

Now back at his place, Ace pulled his shirt off and tossed it over a chair as he headed for his bathroom. He left Olivia hanging for a bit, smirking as he undressed completely and got into the shower. He wished he knew what she looked like, but she seemed to enjoy this whole not knowing thing. Ace got that the mysterious element added to the fun of it, but he really liked the girl and he had wondered if they would get along just as well sitting across from each other at a table at HotSpot as they do across a phone.

Ace got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist, then picked up the phone and saw that Olivia had sent a GIF showing an impatiently waiting cartoon blonde girl tapping her nails on a table while staring at a cell phone.

Was this some kind of hint? Was she blonde? God, Ace had a thing for blondes.

He teased her and took a body shot from above him, showing his fit self wrapped in the towel that rested low on his hips. Just like with all the body shots he had sent her before, he was careful to hide his Bozer tattoos and any other ink that might reveal his identity. Especially avoiding angles showing his left side, which had the word Walker inked down its entire length. He grinned as he sent it and went to his fridge to grab some water. Her reply was immediate.

Legs: I swear you’re trying to kill me…

Ace laughed when he read it. This was the fifth picture of his body he’d sent her since they had started chatting. He enjoyed teasing her, and was hoping it would lead to her revealing more of herself, but so far, she had continued to keep him wanting by only ever replying with pictures of her legs.

Not that they weren’t great legs, because they were. Hell, Ace had those gorgeous lines memorized and the sweet ache to have them wrapped around him increased every day...it was torture...sexy as fuck, but torture all the same.

Texting back and forth; Ace and Olivia chatted about their day and everything in between, with copious amounts of flirting thrown in. If Ace was honest, he was really starting to long to know who Olivia was, to get to know her more than just through words and pictures. There were times where he was tempted to press the call button just to hear her voice, to have that little something more, but he didn’t want to push anything, and he didn’t want to scare her off because he’d been telling Smokey the truth, he had really begun to have a thing for the girl.

Abs: Like you with your legs? I dream about those beautiful limbs…

Legs: Limbs? LOL you make me sound like a tree.

Abs: Trees are wonderful for climbing.

Legs: Christ…

Abs: You religious? Cause I can make you reach heaven if you’ll let me.

Legs: Oh God!

Abs: I can probably make you say that as well if you like.

Legs: Shut up, you’re making me blush, you idiot, plus once again, that was cheesy as hell.

Ace laughed as he flopped down on his bed, settling against the pillows.

Abs: What I’m really wondering is how a girl with legs like yours is home almost every Friday and Saturday night. Is there really no other guy in your life?

Legs: No, I promise, I’m currently single as can be. And I could ask you the same thing, how are you single? I mean, if you think my legs should belong to someone, why isn’t that sexy six pack taken?

Abs: I don’t know. I’m picky, I guess.

Legs: Really? Maybe this sounds shallow, but I know as a woman, if I was out to get laid, I’d probably be looking for what you’re presenting. I bet women approach you all the time.

Abs: They really don’t. I’m not saying I never get hit on, but I guess I’ve learned to present a demeanor that isn’t welcoming.

Legs: You don’t want women to approach you?

Abs: Most of the time, no.

Legs: Are you gay?

Abs: LOL, hell no.

Legs: I wasn’t trying to be mean or anything, I’m genuinely asking.

Abs: I’m pretty sure I think about your legs around me far too often to be gay…

Ace let out a frustrated sigh when she responded with another shot of her legs, this time showing a hint of pink panties on the hip.

“Damn,” he muttered, wiping a hand over his face. He sent her a text.

Abs: Ok, that’s fucking hot, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve seen those, you got to give me a little more cause I’m dying here LOL… and you’ve got to see all of me from the neck down...

Legs: I’m too shy…

Abs: I promise nobody will see this but me.

Abs: And now I feel like a perv…

Abs: Never mind, forget I asked.

The laughing emoji she sent him made him relax a little. He felt a little desperate for more, but didn’t want to seem like a creep.

Legs: Maybe tomorrow…

Ace smiled and shook his head. Legs confused him sometimes, sassy and flirty and bold, and then suddenly shy. Well, really, what was the rush anyway? They had all the time in the world; it seemed.

“Do you think this is a bit weird?” Olivia asked her best friend Shelly as they sat at HotSpot having lunch.

“Do I think it’s weird that you’ve been texting some guy for a month now and don’t know who it is?” her friend returned with a laugh. “Yes, it’s weird. Like what’s the freakin’ point?”

“I don’t know,” Olivia sighed. “It’s easy I guess. There is literally no pressure, no expectations. I’m pretty sure if he actually knew who I was, he’d run for the hills.”

“Why the hell would he do that? You’re literally the best catch in town.”

Olivia rolled her eyes at that. “I’m Amy Martin’s daughter...the very reason that guys normally dump me. My mom’s nuts, Shel. No guy ever sticks around ever because of her.”

“You just haven’t found the right one yet. You need a real man, one with enough balls to stand up to your dragon of a mother instead of running the other way,” Shelly insisted, waving away her friend’s concern. “Anyway, you will not find him while texting some random stranger you know nothing about.”

“That’s not true,” Olivia argued. “I know a lot about him already.”

“Like what?”

“I know he loves to read and write, and that he has a side he hides from his friends, or at least that he doesn’t show many people. I know he loves burgers. I know he loves his sister and doesn’t get on that well with his dad. From what he says, it seems like he has some sort of rep or persona in public that is the opposite of who he really is.”

“And that’s supposed to be a good thing? That he lies to everyone?”

“It’s not that he lies,” Olivia defends with a shrug. “He just has things he does when he’s alone that he doesn’t share with anyone. And he’s so sweet Shel, he’s always asking if I’m all right, and how my day was. It’s almost like he tries to take care of me, at least as much as he can over text. He makes sure I’ve eaten, reminds me to get rest, and always says he’s honestly happy to hear from me when I message him. I think people see him as this tough bad boy, especially if his tattoos and things he says about life are anything to go by, but on the inside he’s smart, and funny... And he’s just so gentle and kind.”

“Ok, I believe you,” Shelly laughed. “Let’s just hope your prince charming doesn’t turn out to be a gang member or more deadly,” she adds, looking at Olivia with a raised brow.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean...going by your description, sounds like he’s a Bozer.”

Olivia’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, can you imagine? My mother would have a stroke.”

“Seriously though, what if he is?”

“Honestly, Shelly,” Olivia huffed, “Is there any Bozer that you could think of that would be a sweet, gentle soul on the inside?”

“I don’t know, but that Ace Walker is hot as fuck. Does he seem like the gentle soul sort of type?” Shelly asked with a smirk.

“He may be hot, but he’s also intimidating,” Olivia said with a chuckle. “He dominates every space he’s in, and I feel completely unnerved and overwhelmed whenever I just see him across the street. His glare alone could someone send someone to their grave...Dangerous, that’s what Ace Walker is, not a compassionate soul.”

“Yeah, you’re right...but you’d still do him,” Shelly smirked.

“Totally, without a doubt,” Olivia agreed, and they burst out laughing and ducked their heads when the other patrons looked their way. “Anyway, back to my sweet mystery man who can’t possibly be a Bozer…”

“Tell me something,” Shelly interrupted. “You’ve been chatting for basically a month now. How have you not revealed something to give even a hint at who you are?”

“I don’t know,” Olivia shrugged. “We don’t talk about our friends or family, and if we do, we don’t mention names. We rarely talk about work besides to say that it was a good day or a shitty day. We talk about hopes and dreams, wants and desires, books and movies, and how we feel about different things...things that make us real and who we are, things that a stranger would never know or be able to connect with us.”

“And there has been no clue to you as to who this man is?”

“Not really. We seriously give none.”

“Okay, this is beyond crazy.”

“It isn’t,” Olivia insisted. “I don’t even care. He’s just so much fun... and his flirting makes me so wet.”

“God, Olivia, you’re totally into this guy and for all you know, he could be some weird old pervert.”

“He’s not a pervert! And I have enough body shots to know he’s not old. Besides, he told me he was twenty-six.”

“Oh well, as long as he told you that...” Shelly said with an eye roll. “He could have found pics on Google.”

“He didn’t,” Olivia insisted. “This all started with an innocent wrong number. He was just sending a pic to his sister. He had no way of knowing who would receive it by accident.”

“Well, it’s still weird,” Shelly sighed. “I hope you know what you’re doing, and you should at least freaking meet the guy soon, not alone, of course, but like in a public place. That way, you’d at least know if this was all worth it or a waste of time. Plus, if his body is as hot as you say it is—since you won’t show me the damn pic, then you should definitely get on it.”

“One day,” Olivia said, chuckling, “I’m just not ready yet...for all I know, this person hates Olivia Martin.”

“I seriously doubt anyone hates you.”

“Well, we’ll know eventually, I suppose.”

“Just be careful, okay Olivia? If you like this guy a lot and he suddenly disappears, it might hurt a little.”

“I know, but at least I won’t know who he is, so it’s not like I’d have to see him on the street every day,” Olivia joked.

“Well, there is that…”

That evening, Olivia started their chat with a very important question.

Legs: Have you ever had a one-night stand?

Abs: Well, good evening to you too…

She laughed at his quick response as she settled against her bed pillows. That was one thing she had forgotten to tell Shelly about...the fact that she never had to wait for a reply to her texts. It was like he was waiting for her, and would usually answer her almost immediately now.

Legs: Sorry, I was just talking with a friend and we were talking about fantasies and who we would sleep with if we had the chance, and I’m wondering if you’ve ever done that.

Abs: Which? Sleep with someone I fantasized about or had a one-night stand?

Legs: Both, I guess.

Abs: I’ve had 2 or 3 misguided ones, but I’ve never slept with anyone I actually fantasized about.

Legs: Why do you say misguided?

Abs: Because it only ever happened when I was really pissed off about something, and got drunk as fuck, and well, I never do anything smart when I’m drunk.

Legs: So you don’t get drunk a lot?

Abs: No, I like to stop before I’m past the point of smart decisions LOL. Have you had any?

Legs: One. And while I was not drunk, I was pissed off, and I just wanted to do something my mother would hate.

Abs: So some lucky prick got to feel those legs because your mom made you angry.

Legs: Not really, we barely got undressed, and it was over within 5 minutes.

Abs: Wow, LOL.

Legs: Yes, mind blowing, it was not. Let’s go back to the fantasies...who do you fantasize about?

Abs: Oh, come on, you can’t ask me that…

Legs: Okay, let me phrase it a different way… If you could sleep with anyone, one night, no strings attached sex, who would you sleep with?

Abs: I can’t answer that. LOL.

Olivia let out a laugh as she read Ace’s message. Now she was even more curious and decided that she definitely needed to know.

Legs: Come on. No judgment, no matter who it is, I promise.

Legs: Is there one person you’ve fantasized about and wanted to sleep with that you would most likely never date?

Abs: Sigh, yes….

Legs: Do tell…

Abs: I can’t! It’s weird telling you something like that. I can’t tell a girl about a fantasy that isn’t her.

Olivia smiled. She knew he liked her, but she enjoyed it when he admitted it.

Legs: I swear, I won’t laugh or get upset or think it’s weird. I’m just genuinely curious. One person you’d love to sleep with?

Abs: You…

Legs: Stop it LOL!

Abs: What I do?

Legs: Maybe one day, if you answer my question…

Abs: Damn it!

Legs: Haha…let’s keep it simple and to the point. Who’s your fantasy fuck?

There was such a long pause that Olivia thought she may have pushed too hard, but she couldn’t help it. Her curiosity was killing her. She held her breath when the chat bubbles popped up.

Abs: Olivia Martin...

Olivia almost dropped her phone, and she shot up to a sitting position, staring in shock at the screen.

“What the fuck?” she sighed.

She was so surprised that she didn’t even know what to respond with. Her heart started pounding and she couldn’t help the thrill of excitement that went through her. Ace wanted to sleep with her and yet did not know he was actually talking to her. Olivia didn’t know if she should feel bad or joyful, as this information took things to a whole other level.

Then she frowned, her brain racing. At some point, if this kept going, they were probably going to meet. How would he feel knowing that it was actually Olivia Martin he was talking to? Olivia didn’t know what to think, so she just tucked it away for now and brought herself back to the conversation.

Legs: Why Olivia Martin?

Abs: I just want to dirty her up a little LOL.

“Jesus,” Olivia groaned, falling back again and squeezing her thighs together. Why the hell was this getting her all hot and bothered?

Legs: Why do you think she needs dirtying up?

Abs: I don’t know, she’s just this perfect little princess...never a hair out of place, and seems kind of stuck up. I just want to mess her up a little, loosen that damn ponytail.

Olivia frowned. Stuck up? She wasn’t stuck up! She thought, her frown intensifying.

Abs: Shit, you’re not friends with her, are you?

Olivia took a deep breath, choosing to shrug off his assumption as it’s not like he knew it was actually her he was talking to. But that didn’t keep her from wanting to know why he thought that.

Legs: No, you’re good, LOL. But I’m curious though. Why would you want to sleep with her if you think she’s stuck up?

Abs: Well, for one, she’s pretty, she always has been, and two, her perfection irritates me….and it just makes me want to do some dirty shit to her…

Olivia’s last statement made her blood warm, but it was his first one that had her enticed…The guy thought she was beautiful? That she had always been beautiful... just who the hell was this?

Legs: You’ve obviously known her for a while. Have you ever talked to her?

Abs: No, I’ve never talked to her….I just know her from around town. Everyone knows who Olivia Martin is.

Legs: And just how long have you wanted to dirty her up for?

Abs: Probably since I was sixteen.

“Holy shit,” Olivia murmured. Who the hell was she talking to? This guy has wanted to sleep with her for the last 4 years?

Legs: Well, why haven’t you ever spoken to her? And if you’ve never actually talked to her, how can you say she’s stuck up or that you wouldn’t ever date her?

Abs: It’s just...we’re from two different worlds, I’m afraid. I’m pretty sure she’d run screaming in the other direction if she knew any of this… LOL.. No way in hell would she date a guy like me. I’m not at all like the company she keeps...and I guess that’s why I assume she’d be stuck up, as that’s the normal reaction I get from girls like her. I highly doubt I’m her type, she’s probably into fancy dinners, and suits and shiny shoes, and I’m more of a burgers, jeans and boots kind of guy...

Wow, Olivia thought. This guy really doesn’t have a clue. If he only knew how much she despised stuffy restaurants, and suits and shiny shoes. Give her junk food, a pair of jeans and some Vans any day. And she already knew he had a rough guy exterior. That didn’t matter to her. Who he was as a person was exactly the guy she wanted. She didn’t care what if he had money or what he wore.

Legs: And yet she’s still your fantasy fuck….Why?

Abs: I don’t know, I guess I’ve always wondered how wild she might be if I peeled her out of those damn hot ass sweaters…

“Oh my god,” Olivia sighed, suddenly hating her rule of not saying who they were.

Abs: Your turn… now that I’ve thoroughly embarrassed myself…

Legs: You’re asking if I have a fantasy fuck?

Abs: Yes, and don’t say you don’t because everyone has one. Now out with it.

Legs: It’s too embarrassing, and I know for a fact that you’ll laugh because it’s such a cliché...oh there goes another girl wanting to fuck the bad boy….

Abs: I’m intrigued, continue…

Legs: Ugh...

Abs: Out with it… who would you like to wrap those gorgeous legs around?

Legs: What the fuck? LOL, that’s a horrible question. In case you haven’t noticed, I like you too, and this is just weird.

Abs: Quit stalling…

Legs: Fine….

Legs: Ace Walker.

Across town, in a small apartment over his bar and bike shop, Ace Walker almost dropped the beer he was drinking as he laid sprawled out on his couch. He knew well that there were a fair amount of women who wanted to sleep with him, but what he hadn’t been aware of was that he was talking to one of them.

He’d been very careful not to bring the Bozer’s up in any conversation for fear of giving away who he was, and now here she is, telling him outright that she’s fantasized about wrapping those fucking legs around him (a thought which makes his body feel like it may just explode) and if they weren’t still doing this secret identity bullshit, he’d invite her straight over because he was without a doubt, more aroused than he’d been in a very long time.

And now...well now he needed info, he decided as he typed out his next question.

Abs: Why Ace Walker?

Legs: The ultimate bad boy fantasy, I guess, LOL, a little scary...a little dangerous, and oh so fucking hot….

Legs: I’m sorry, was that weird, me saying that?

“God no,” Ace muttered.

Abs: Not at all. I told you about my fantasy. It’s only fair… You think Ace Walker is hot?

Legs: Every girl in town does.

Ace didn’t care about any other girl except the one he was currently talking to and dying to learn the identity of.

Abs: That’s it? You just want to fuck the bad boy?

Legs: Well, it is a fantasy, right? And I’ve heard things that have piqued my interest, and like I said, he’s hot, he’s scary and dangerous, but hot LOL. And great in bed, from what I hear, but completely unsuitable to date unless you wanted to piss off your mother.

“Okay, who the hell have I’ve been talking to?” Olivia asked herself.

Abs: Who says he’s great in bed?

Legs: Just things I’ve heard, you know, girl gossip.

Abs: And for how long have you been wanting to fuck this Ace Walker?

Legs: Probably as long as you’ve wanted to fuck Olivia Martin.

Ace coughed as he choked a little on his beer, putting the bottle down on the coffee table before he stopped breathing. Who the hell was she? Had they spoken before?

Abs: So...have you ever hit on him? Because with legs like yours, I’m sure you wouldn’t have any trouble getting his attention.

Legs: God no, I’ve never even talked to him. He kind of scares the hell out of me…and it was just a fantasy. Besides the fact that he’d probably shoot me down, I honestly find him intimidating, and I don’t know if I’d ever have the courage to approach him. Plus, he’s a gang leader, and like, I don’t know any gang leaders personally but I feel that they probably aren’t boyfriend material... and he likely has women lined up next to his bed that are way more his type, he wouldn’t be interested in someone like me.

Ace started laughing as he read her reply. God, if she only knew how utterly sad his sex life was, by his own choice, no less. It bothered him she didn’t think he was boyfriend-material, though. What the hell would she say if the day ever came that she found out who he was?

That was a problem for another day he decided, as for now Ace couldn’t get it out of his head that the legs he wanted wrapped around him actually wanted to be wrapped around him, and he let out a groan as he felt he was hard as rock.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

Abs: Well, I’m sure he’d throw them all aside if he saw those legs of yours.

Legs: I think you give them too much credit, and damn, you need more to look at...

A picture came through a moment later, and Ace stopped talking. Olivia finally sent one...a pic from the neck down and holy fuck, she was sexy. She was wearing tiny white ruffled pajama shorts and a tiny little camisole that revealed a good amount of cleavage and her sexy stomach. Ace’s body clenched when he noticed her peaked nipples straining against her shirt.

Abs: Where do you live?

Legs: LOL!

Abs: Seriously...you’re killing me here, girl!

Legs: I figured that I’ve made you wait long enough.

Abs: Well, your body is fucking amazing and just so you know, I’m totally perving over it…

Legs: LOL, that’s fine, I perv over yours every day since I’ve seen your picture, buddy.

Abs: Ok, I need to calm myself down a little… now tell me, how was your day?

There were bad days, and then there were days where Olivia wanted to expunge her mother from her life. This was one of those days. She felt stuck, like her life was going nowhere and all she got from her mother was being told to suck it up. Life wasn’t a bowl of cherries. Pull yourself together or you’ll never find a man. What her mother didn’t realize is that she was the reason that Olivia couldn’t hang on to a man.

She flopped down on her bed and glanced at her phone, seeing a text from her mystery man and not even that got her out of her funk. He was the only thing in her life these days that made her happy and the only reason she hadn’t run off to New York yet. She was twenty-two years old and the only thing keeping her sane was a man with no face, and no name...a man whom she was falling for...and that realization didn’t make her feel any better because the person she was falling in love with didn’t know who she really was...and if he did, would he accept her? Could he love her back?

Olivia sighed as she grabbed the phone and read the message.

Abs: How was your day, hon?

She smiled and bit her lip, tears stinging her eyes. It had been a month of talking and he had called her hon a few times now, and it honestly felt like a warm hug every time he did it.

Legs: It was okay, I guess…

Abs: Hmmmm, that doesn’t sound convincing.

Legs: I’m sorry, just dealing with some things.

Abs: You want to talk about it?

Legs: No.

Abs: Hon…

Legs: I’m sorry, I’m just not feeling it tonight, I think I’ll just go to bed… I promise I’ll text tomorrow.

Ace didn’t reply, and Olivia put the phone down and hugged her pillow. It was nights like these where she wished he was actually beside her so she could wrap her arms around him instead of a pillow.

A few minutes later, her phone rang, and Olivia jumped in surprise. She looked at the screen and her breath caught when she realized it was him. They had never spoken, so if she answered, this would be once again, taking whatever they were doing to the next level. She hesitated for only a moment before taking a deep breath and accepting the call.

“Hello?” Olivia breathed out, her voice sounding a little shaky.

“Hey you!” Ace greeted softly.

She didn’t know what to say and, after a brief pause, Ace spoke again.

“I know this is against the rules or whatever and I’m sorry for just up and calling, but I wanted to make sure you were okay and I couldn’t be sure of that over texting.” His voice was husky and soft, caring... and Olivia felt her heart flutter in her chest.

“It’s okay… I’m okay.” She knew she didn’t sound convincing, and suddenly she wanted nothing more than to have his gentle voice soothe the ache of anxiety that was rippling through her.

“You don’t sound okay…”

Olivia felt like her heart was going into overdrive at the deep tone of his voice. “I will be…I just had a bad day....but finally getting to hear your voice after all this time is helping,” she said.

“Yeah?”

Olivia could hear the smile in his voice, the teasing lilt, and she pressed her thighs together. How the hell could a man she didn’t know get her riled up so quickly with just a word?

“Yeah” she confirmed.

“Well, I still think you should talk about it. Get it out,” Ace demanded. “I have all night if you need.”

“You’re very sweet.”

“So you keep telling me.”

“Is there something I can call you?” Olivia asked, feeling weird that she had no way to address him.

“Well, I guess since we’re still not sharing names, you can just call me sir.” Olivia let out a giggle and Ace sighed into the phone. “I don’t know how I’m going to survive this,” he muttered and Olivia bit her lip, snuggling further into her pillow. “Okay, tell me about your day.”

“Yes, sir…”

“Fuck, no….never mind, you can’t say that….” he groaned.

“I’ll just stick to Abs then,” Olivia laughed. “I know it’s dumb and basic, but you’re in my phone as that and it’s what made me want to keep talking, so it works.”

“All right then, Legs, tell me about your day.”

“Well, I’m just…” Olivia sighed, not sure where to begin. It was a little different talking this way. Voices held emotion, and she wasn’t sure she wanted him to know how upset she was.

“It’s okay,” Ace said softly. “Just talk about it…”

“My mo—my boss,” Olivia quickly corrected. “My boss is really hard to work for. I never feel like anything is good enough.”

“So why don’t you quit?”

“I don’t know, it’s just...it’s complicated,” Olivia said, her voice quivering. She couldn’t help the tears that filled her eyes when the day’s anxiety came back. “And she has a way of playing on my insecurities and making me feel like I wouldn’t make it anywhere else if I wasn’t working for her.”

“Well, it sounds like you’re not thrilled working for her, and I’d bet that she needs you more than you need her. Hell, she’s probably saying that shit because she knows how great you are and doesn’t want you to leave,” he whispered. “You shouldn’t let her do this to you. I don’t know what you do for a living, but from what I know of you, I think you’re probably good at it.”

“Thank you,” Olivia whispered tearfully, feeling her heart clench a little.

“Don’t cry, hon. Please…” The softness of Ace’s voice shot straight into Olivia’s heart, and she longed to have him here holding her. She was dying to tell him who she was, but she knew that her mother was public enemy number #1. She was terrified that that would scare Ace away.

“I kind of wish you were here right now….” Olivia sighed.

“Tell me where you are. I’ll come right over… I’m not joking.”

“I’m… I’m not ready for that yet…”

“I know, it’s okay,” Ace said softly. “I’m sorry if you feel like I’m pressuring you.”

“No, you’re not at all.”

“Okay, then… I rather enjoy hearing your lovely voice….”

“Yeah, huh…” Olivia smiled. “I’m actually surprised we didn’t talk sooner.”

“Well, I’ve wanted to for a while already, but I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it. I guess I could have just asked,” Ace chuckled.

“Oh well, at least we’re here now. So how was your day? Do you have anything you need to get off your chest?”

“Not really, same as always. Business is doing good, nothing to complain about.”

“Nothing?” Olivia sighed. “You’re making me jealous. You always seem to have good days. It doesn’t seem like anything ever gets you down.”

“Well, that’s not entirely true,” Ace disagreed. “I have days where shit doesn’t go right all the time. In fact, today a customer thought he could pull a fast one on me about a price I had quoted and if my partner hadn’t been listening and noticed it, they have swindled me for a few hundred dollars.”

“Oh, well, that sucks. I’m glad your partner caught the guy. What distracted you?”

“A pair of sexy legs…”

Olivia laughed.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up girl, you almost cost me a few.”

“It’s not my fault you’re looking at pics while you’re working,” Olivia insisted.

“I wasn’t. I just think about you all the time…”

Olivia felt her heart race...who was this man?? This owner of the deep voice and sexy body who people saw as a badass on the outside, but was really just a teddy bear on the inside?

She did not know, but he just confessed that he couldn’t stop thinking about her, and Olivia wanted so badly to just say fuck it and call him over, but her fear wouldn’t let the words leave her mouth.

“Oh,” Olivia said instead, unable to keep the smile out of her voice. “I think about you all the time, too.”

“What do you think about?”

“Well, I wonder who you are, what you look like from the neck up. I wonder if you’d still like me if you knew who I was?”

“No question.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do,” Ace said firmly.

“How can you be so sure?” Olivia asked.

“Because I know you,” he replied softly. “I know so much--not everything, of course, but I know enough. Like what movies and books you love, and what your hobbies are. I know your hopes and dreams, and what makes you sad, or cry, or laugh. I know you’re bloody brilliant, and that you have a wit, and sass, and a sense of humor that rivals my own. I may not know your name, Legs, or what you look like, but I know your heart...and even though I do sometimes try to picture who you are or what you look like, I don’t think it matters at this point...not to me.”

Ace could hear Olivia’s shaky exhale over the phone, and it took a moment before she spoke.

“Wow...that was quite the speech for someone who insists he isn’t sweet,” she chuckled softly.

“Only for you, hon.”

“So...what do you see when you try to picture me?” Olivia asked curiously.

“I don’t know exactly,” Ace chuckled. “I try not to focus on details, but I imagine a kind face, maybe some dimples, a beautiful smile, bright eyes….”

“Oh boy,” Olivia said with a quiet laugh, “I sure hope I don’t disappoint.”

“Did I get any of it right? Am I close?”

“Well, I guess I have a kind face. I don’t know. I’ve always thought I was kind of plain, but people say I’m pretty. Slight dimples, and I have had compliments on my smile and my eyes. So you did all right,” she admitted.

“Promise me I’ll get to see your face at some point…” Ace sounded vulnerable and Olivia nodded, forgetting he couldn’t see her.

“I promise,” Olivia whispered. “I think about you too, trying to picture what you look like. I see all the tattoos, the fit body and I know you’re a bit rough around the edges, not some squeaky clean, hair always slicked back kind of guy. You probably have nice eyes. They are the window to the soul, after all, and some scruff because you don’t like shaving all the time, and I think you probably smirk a lot,” she added. “Sexy smile, of course…”

“Oh, of course,” he laughed. “I don’t know about the nice eyes...to people close to me, maybe, but I’ve heard my looks aren’t all that welcoming to some. It’s a defensive thing, it keeps people out of my space. You’re right about the scruff, though. There have been times where I haven’t shaven in a few days, but I’m shaved now.”

Olivia grinned, biting her lip as she imagined the feel of his skin on hers. “Tell me the truth, do women hit on you a lot?” she asked.

“Um….”

“Tell me.”

“Yes, the ones that I don’t scare off, that is,” Ace admitted and Olivia laughed.

“So you’re hot then?”

“Oh, smoking,” he joked, and Olivia imagined him rolling his eyes.

“Okay, so we’ve established that you’re shaven now, hot and a little scary, and I’m kind and sweet with dimples….sounds very much like opposites attract,” Olivia stated with a giggle.

“Hey, whatever works,” Ace said, the smile clear in his tone.

A while later, they said goodnight and Ace put the phone down with a smile on his face. Her voice was feminine and sweet, just like he’d imagined it. He’d been wanting to call her for a while now and decided he had waited long enough when she hadn’t wanted to talk this evening. Truth was, he looked forward to their chats all day, and he was so disappointed that he decided it was worth the risk. Olivia had said she thought she was simple, but Ace had a feeling that she would be exactly how he expected and he couldn’t wait to see her.

“God, if she only knew,” he muttered as he lay back.

Ace Walker, the head Bozer; a man with a reputation...the man people were afraid of, badass and rough around the edges just like Olivia thought...

“Badass,” Ace laughed. Little did anyone know that in the privacy of his apartment, a girl he had never met was turning him into a marshmallow.

“How long has it been since you’ve had sex?”

“Damn girl,” Ace laughed on the other end. “You sure know how to open a fresh topic.”

They had been doing voice calls for a week now and Olivia was getting addicted to the gentle warm tone of Ace’s voice...the husky laughs, the teasing lilts, and the soft growls when she teased him. She was ready to climb through the phone and wrap herself around whoever was on the other end.

“I’m just curious,” Olivia giggled. The truth was that she was getting beyond frustrated with all the teasing and flirting. She had spent almost every night lately touching herself while imagining it was Ace, and it had reminded her that she hadn’t had sex in forever.

“I’m not sure. It’s been a while,” Ace agreed. “Even a while before me and you started talking.”

“Really?” Olivia smiled, happy at the fact that since they had spoken, there had been no other girls in his life. It made her feel like he was just hers.

“Yup, you’re the only woman in my life at the moment. How long has it been now, a month?”

“I think so,” Olivia said slowly, counting in her head. “Yeah, a month.”

“Wow, that’s kind of crazy. How have we kept our identity a secret for that long? No slip-ups or hints anywhere? What the hell have we been talking about?” he laughed.

“Flirting mostly,” she laughed.

“Well, how long has it been for you since you last had sex?”

“About a year,” Olivia told. “My last relationship, it lasted about six months, but just didn’t work out and I’ve had nobody in my life except you since then.”

“Yeah, I think it’s been almost a year for me, ten months maybe… I’m trying to think when I broke up with my last girlfriend.”

“Was it a long relationship?”

“No, only about four months.”

“What went wrong?”

“There was just no spark beyond the sex, if I’m being honest...no connection. I couldn’t have a down-to-earth conversation with her. We just didn’t click. Not like with you and me.”

Olivia couldn’t contain herself. “So you’re saying that we have everything down, and all that’s left is to meet and see if we’re good at the sex part, then,” she teased.

“Oh trust me honey, we’d be good at the sex,” Ace asserted in a near growl.

“How can you know that?” Olivia laughed.

“Well, okay, don’t think I’m a pervert, but I’ve spent so much time over the last few weeks thinking about all the things I want to do to that sexy body of yours that I’m scaring myself.” Ace laughed, “And I promise you, girl, if you ever let me get my hands on you, you will be good and delighted.”

“Damn,” Olivia breathed, her body tingling at the notion. She felt the ache simmer low in her gut, and she shifted and pressed her thighs together.

“Tell me you’ve thought about it too, so I don’t seem like such a sicko,” Ace almost pleaded.

“Yes,” Olivia revealed in a whisper. “I think about it a lot.”

There was silence for a few moments. Olivia could hear his breathing and it seemed to match hers, a little throaty and heavier than usual.

“Tell me,” Ace whispered, the rough timber of his voice like a caress over her skin, and she almost moaned into the phone. “Tell me what you think about.”

Olivia’s heart was pounding in her chest, and she bit her lip as she faltered. She knew where this was going to go if they went on. They had been playing this game for weeks, the flirting always stopping just before it dipped into phone sex territory...but this time it felt special, and it seemed like they were both needy enough to take the jump into it.

“I’m sorry,” Ace said abruptly. “You don’t…”

“I think about you touching me,” Olivia quickly interrupted, not wanting him to stop because Ace thought she was embarrassed. She heard his gasp catch at her admission before he let out slowly.

“Where do I touch you?”

“Everywhere,” Olivia panted.

“Baby…”

Olivia felt a jolt go through her at the sensuous way he said it. It was unfamiliar. She felt it deep in her core.

“You don’t know how much I want to touch you,” Ace continued.

“Will you tell me?” Olivia urged, her voice coming out in a whimper.

“Can I see you?” Ace asked smoothly.

Olivia looked down at herself and took in the pajama shorts and little camisole she was wearing. It wasn’t exactly the sexiest thing she had, but it was her. She thought for a moment about quickly changing, but decided she didn’t want to profess to be something she wasn’t. There was already enough hiding where their identities were concerned.

“Okay, hold on,” Olivia replied. She turned on her camera and had to calm herself for a minute when she realized her hands were shaking. Olivia positioned it so her body was in the shot and paused for a moment before pulling back a little further, including her chin and mouth in the frame, her lips slightly reddened and moist from biting on them, and a few wisps of her hair visible against her neck curve. She took the photo quickly and sent it before she lost her nerve. Olivia could tell exactly when Ace received it because a soft groan reached her ear.

“God, you’re…I’ve dreamed of your mouth…” Ace sounded like he couldn’t breathe and Olivia shuddered, feeling every word like it was a shock on her body. “You look so good…”

“I’m not wearing anything racy,” she said.

“Tiny shorts and a top with cleavage spilling out? That’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in a long time.”

“You’re just saying that,” Olivia insisted, clenching her thighs together.

“Baby, if I was there…” Ace paused mid-sentence.

“Don’t stop,” Olivia pleaded.

“Fuck.”

“What?” Olivia sighed, barely able to form a thought as images flooded her brain. And they hadn’t even said anything yet.

“I want to hear you say that when your legs are draped around me, and I’m buried deep inside you.”

“Oh my god,” Olivia moaned, her hand moving to squeeze her breast that was suddenly throbbing to be touched.

“I want to do so many things…”

“Tell me.”

“I want to taste those lips,” Ace said gruffly. “I want to know if they’re as sweet as they look. I want to run my tongue along your skin. Behind your ear, along your neck, across your chest.”

“I can feel it,” Olivia sighed, her hand running over her skin, following the path he laid out. “I want to touch you, too. I want to trace your tattoos with my fingers, the lines on your stomach with my tongue.”

“Shit,” Ace whispered. “Are we doing this?”

“Yeah, I think we are,” Olivia returned, wanting more than anything to keep going, her body throbbing with need.

“I’ve never….I’ve never actually done this before,” Ace said.

“Neither have I,” Olivia declared.

“Can we… I mean….can I tell you what I want you to do?”

“Yes...” The word coming out in a breathy murmur as Olivia gripped the phone.

“Do you think….Fuck… I want to ask something, but it might be too much.”

“What? You can ask me whatever you want.”

“I want to see you so badly baby, I want to watch you do what I tell you to do…”

“Oh…”

“You don’t have to show your face. Just set the phone up, so it just shows your body. From the side is fine. It’s perfectly okay if you don’t want to. I promise I won’t be upset.”

“No, it’s okay, I want to…” Olivia said promptly, feeling her body tremble at the thought of Ace watching her. “Give me a minute.”

“Okay…”

Olivia cut off the call and set her phone on her bedside table, using her charging stand to hold it up. The camera showed a side view of her body from the neck down, and while Ace wouldn’t exactly be able to see all the dirty details, it would be sexy enough to do the job. Olivia figured as Ace would have a clear view of her bosoms and just a hint between her legs. She settled back and took a steadying breath before she reached over and hit video chat.

Ace waited anxiously, wondering if Olivia would call back. He realized he was asking a lot, but he ached to see her move and respond to him, and he was about ready to lose his mind, as their conversation had gotten sexier.

He set his phone up so that if she called, she’d be able to see him from the neck down, careful to pick the side that didn’t show his surname tattoo. Honestly, he was almost at the point of saying fuck it and just telling her who he was and letting the cards fall where they may. He didn’t get to think too long about it, however, as her video call suddenly came through.

Taking a deep breath, Ace pressed the accept button, and as soon as the video popped up, that same breath instantly left him as his body hardened in a rush. He had a side view of Olivia and her body was unreal, which he already knew, but seeing her laid out on her bed like that, her hand clutching excitedly at her top as her already-pebbled nipples strained against the fabric had Ace choking back a groan. A picture was one thing, but seeing her chest rise and fall in real-time with her breathing was another.

“Hi,” Olivia murmured and Ace almost begged to see her face.

“You’re so sexy,” Ace said heatedly, his eyes traveling her body and cursing himself for not having one of those phones with the giant screens.