CALMING THE BEAST INSIDE

Living with Ace

Chapter 8

Bolting upright in bed I wrapped my arms around my legs burying my face against my knees as I sobbed.

A gentle hand against my shoulder startled me & had the person responsible reassuring me "It's alright Kitty Kat It's just me" Harley whispered near my ear while rubbing my shoulder, I turned my head burying my face against her shoulder while sobbing.

She didn't push me away & hit me, & she didn't bother asking why I was crying, I think it was obvious why I was crying, hell she probably heard me crying in my sleep which explained why she was out here with me now.

As my tears slowed & I grew tired Harley gently moved away & helped me to lie back down before moving to lie beside me.

She turned so that she was on her side facing me & gave me a concerned look "do you want to talk about it?" I hesitated then shook my head "no, but thank you" I whispered.

She nodded like she understood that it wasn't something I was ready to talk about, I was grateful for that & I was even more grateful when she closed her eyes giving me a tired smile & whispered "I think I will stay here & sleep with you rather then trying to make it back to my bed" I knew what she was doing & it made me smile as I closed my eyes & with her lying beside me fell back to sleep with no more nightmares.

When I again opened my eyes the sun was up & Harley's voice along with others were coming from the direction of the kitchen.

Hesitantly I sat up & turned my head until I found them sitting around their small kitchen table talking in hushed voices, well Harley and Grog were, Jace was just sitting there with his arms crossed looking very moody.

He must have sensed me looking at him because suddenly I trapped in his scary intense gaze; he held my eyes until I grew more & more uncomfortable & wanted to shout then he spoke to the others "Kitty is awake."

Harley stopped talking mid-sentance turning to look at me with a warm smile on her lips "good morning sleepy head" I gave her a shy smile in return when I finally managed to pull me eyes from Jace's "morning" I said in a quiet voice.

She patted the empty seat beside her "come on, come & have some breakfast but I have to warn you Jace cooked & the mood he is in this morning is just as dangerous as whatever he cooked."

Grog gently punched Jace's shoulder earning a death glare from him that had him quickly muttering an apology before he focused back on eating.

Slowly I got out of my bed & made my way over to them & took the seat Harley had patted; I kept my eyes down not wanting to meet Jace's angry eyes.

Harley gave an angry sigh making me flinch thinking she was angry with me but it was Jace that she spoke to in a cold angry voice "if you are just going to sit there glaring at Kitty Kat & making her uncomfortable then maybe you could make yourself useful & do some housework instead."

Jace gave an angry scoff "like hell I will, I cooked even though it wasn't my turn so you & dickhead there can clean the house."

Grog made a sound of outrage "hey dickhead right here & can hear you" Jace didn't even spare him a look "if Kitty doesn't like me staring at her then maybe she should put some actual clothes on & fix that horrible hair of hers."

My cheeks warmed & I realized he was right, I was sitting at the table with two males with only short shorts & a tank top on & I hadn't brushed my hair either.

Muttering an apology I jumped up from my seat meeting Harley's eyes "um where is the bathroom?"

Harley pointed down the hallway "third door on the left, don't go one to many or you will end up in Grogs room & if you don't go far enough you will end up in the spare room which is their workout room."