CHAPTER- 27

                                    

                                          
Ace POV:
She's bleeding.
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks as I stared at her peaceful face, nestled so close to mine. 
I wanted to wake her, to tell her what was happening, but she was sleeping so soundly, so undisturbed. 
It was as if the pain hadn't caught up to her yet.
It was 2 in the morning when I stirred from sleep, my throat parched, and reached for the glass of water on the nightstand. 
But as I moved, something caught my eye—dark spots on the side of my waist. Blood. 
My first instinct was to check myself, but then I noticed more on her inner thighs.
My gaze drifted back to her, a wave of concern washing over me. This girl doesn't even know she's having her period. 
Her head rested on my shoulder, but it kept slipping into the curve of my neck.
So yeah, her neck was awkwardly propped against my collarbone, and her face was half-buried into the crook of my neck. 
I couldn't bring myself to feel disgusted by the blood. 
I mean, why would I? It's just blood. 
I've seen far worse things, things that would make most people's stomachs turn, but this—this didn't bother me. 
If anything, it made me feel something I couldn't quite put into words. There was no logical reason to be repulsed by it. 
It was just a part of her, something natural.
"Hmm~" A soft whimper slipped from her lips, so faint yet so audible in the silence of the room. 
She shifted closer to me, her small, warm body pressing against mine. 
Her breath, hot and steady, fanned across my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. 
One of her hands rested on my upper chest, her fingers barely gripping the faint hairs of my chest as if she was seeking comfort even in her sleep.
I swallowed hard, feeling my chest rise and fall with each shaky breath. 
My heart, traitorous as ever, started pounding in my chest, louder and faster than before. 
The soft, rhythmic sound of her breathing only amplified the sensation, making me acutely aware of every inch of her against me.
Godammit.
Any remnants of sleep were gone now, replaced by an overwhelming awareness of her presence. 
The room seemed to close in around us, the night air thick with the scent of her— an intoxicating blend of her natural scent mingled with the faint traces of sweat and something uniquely hers. 
It was a scent I'd grown accustomed to, one that now had the power to drive me to the edge of sanity.
And as much as I wanted to keep lying here, holding her close, I knew I had to take care of her, even if she wasn't aware of what was happening.
"Ace," she whimpered softly, her voice thick with sleep as she snuggled her head deeper into the crook of my neck. 
I couldn't help but smile at how she seemed to seek me out even in her sleep, her small frame pressing closer, seeking warmth and comfort. 
My hand found its way to her hips, rubbing soothing circles as I hummed in response, a low, comforting sound to match the quiet of the early morning.
Slowly, she pulled her head back from my neck, her eyes blinking open with confusion.