Chapter Eleven
It was past two a.m. when he finally came back.
She was asleep.
He undressed and stood over her, looking down at her. If he’d had a shred of decency, he would have left her alone. He’d known the minute he first saw those green eyes, he was in over his head. How I’ll ever get out of this, I don’t know. And at that moment he didn’t want to. Couldn’t have if he tried. He was in deep, as deep as he’d ever been, and he couldn’t fight it anymore.
His fist closed over the bedsheet, and he slowly pulled it from her, watching as it slid over her skin, exposing her naked body inch by inch. He tossed the fabric to the floor and let his eyes run over her curves.
He moved over her prone, sleeping form leaning on his elbows on either side of her waist. Even in the dim moonlight he could see the tracks of tears on her face, proof that she’d cried herself to sleep.
The muscles in his arms and shoulders rippled as he leaned his head down and kissed her throat, her collarbone. God, he needed her. He left a trail of kisses along her chest.
Angel moaned in her sleep.
He dipped his head to her breast and touched her nipple with his tongue. He pulled it into his mouth, gently sucking. She arched her back, coming awake and pushed against his shoulders, not realizing where she was.
He raised his head and looked down at her. “Shh. Shh, baby. It’s okay,” he soothed her. His mouth returned to what it had been doing.
She thrashed, trying to pull away.
He tightened his arms around her, his strong biceps locking around her ribs. “Don’t fight me, Angel. Come on, baby. Relax for me. That’s it.”
***
“Cole.” She pushed at his shoulders, the heat spreading from his mouth all through her. It wasn’t fair. He could have her melting at his mere touch. He wanted her physically, but emotionally he wouldn’t let her get close. “Cole, no,” she whispered breathlessly.
“You’re mine, Angel. Don’t deny me. You don’t ever deny your man, understand?” He slid down to her navel, his mouth soft, his tongue delving.
Her breath caught in her throat, and she turned her head from side to side. “You said I don’t belong here. You pushed me away. Why do you keep pulling me back? Why must you do this to me? It’s not fair.”
“You want me. Say it.”
“No. I don’t,” she whispered.
***
“Liar,” he accused softly and nipped at her with his teeth. If he had any conscience left, he would have left her alone. But, God forgive him, he couldn’t leave her alone. She was fast becoming an addiction to him, his drug of choice. The cravings he felt for her were just as strong.
“Cole. Please, no—”
“Don’t fight it, sweetheart,” Cole growled low in his throat. He slid up to her face, his hands running through her hair, pulling her head back. He kissed his way up her throat and over to her ear. He whispered, “Please, baby. I need you. Open your legs for me, Angel.”
Hesitantly, she obeyed his command, relaxing beneath him.
He had her anchored to the bed, holding her as she opened to him, and he slid his hips into the cradle of her thighs. Cole groaned at her surrender, and his mouth closed over hers.
She answered his heat with a fire all her own.
He bit her lower lip gently, and need swirled through him as her hands slid over his back. He couldn’t deny he wanted her. He wouldn’t deny it anymore. And he couldn’t deny the possessive feelings that had taken hold of him. She was his. His angel. A confusing mix of fire and ice, claws one minute, purring the next. “You’re mine, Angel. Say it,” he demanded softly.
She shook her head from side to side.
His mouth moved to her ear, and he whispered, “Say it.”
She couldn’t deny it, anymore than she could deny her need to breathe. Whatever this was between them, it was powerful. “Yes, Cole. I’m yours.”
He growled low in his throat as he entered her.
Angel caught her breath, and then wrapped her legs around him and hung on as he took her to heaven.
***
Angel awoke alone. She looked over at the clock radio. Seven a.m. She waited for a while, thinking he would come back. At nine, she got out of bed and got dressed. She was combing her hair when there was a knock at the door. She opened it and found Crystal standing there.
“Morning,” Crystal said.
“Morning,” Angel replied.
“Mack wanted me to tell you that he wants to speak with you.”
What could he want to talk to her about, she wondered. “Crystal, do you know where Cole is?”
She shrugged. “He left a while ago.” Then she turned to go.
Angel followed Crystal out. They walked down to the main room to the bar. She could smell the aroma of just brewed coffee, and her eyes located the coffee maker on the counter against the wall.
“The coffee’s fresh. I just made it,” Crystal informed her as she handed Angel a clean mug.
“Thanks.” Angel took it and poured herself a cup.