Salvation (Angels Halo MC Next Gen 1)

What happened earlier only proved that I couldn’t.

Paige had shown up at my door trembling because she thought Campbell or someone else was following her. To throw him off the scent, when I’d heard someone at the door, I’d pulled her in for a kiss, thinking it was Campbell spying on the two of us.

Fuck, I’d gotten it wrong.

Since Lexa hadn’t shown up at eight, I figured she was just being stubborn and wasn’t going to come like I’d asked her to. I didn’t imagine it was her at the door and that she saw me kissing someone else. Now I might have fucked up everything with her completely.

Walking through the police station, I shot Murphy a glare as I passed him. I’d bitched him out earlier, but there were too many cameras and witnesses around for me to do to him what I really wanted to do. I suspected Campbell had someone in his pocket, and if I had to take a guess, Murphy would be at the top of that list. He was a little weasel, but I’d deal with him very, very soon.

When I got to the parking lot, Hawk Hannigan’s car was pulling out into traffic. Jogging over to my truck, I jumped in and followed them.

Ten minutes later, the car pulled into Lexa’s driveway, and Hawk and Gracie both got out. Before they reached the front door, it opened and Bash stepped out. I put my truck in park and turned off the engine, but I didn’t follow after them. Instead, I leaned back in my seat, getting comfortable.

As I watched, Hawk and Gracie spoke to Bash for a few minutes while Lexa stood there with her arms crossed, mutinously saying nothing. From the porch light, I could see Bash was anything but happy, but he wasn’t raging at Lexa. Still, I kept my eyes on him in case he made a sudden move.

Eventually, the Hannigans said goodnight, and they both hugged Lexa before going back to their car. Bash turned to Lexa, pulled her hard against him for a hug. After only a small hesitation, Lexa hugged him back, and they walked into the house with their arms still around each other.

Hawk backed out of the driveway, and as he passed me, he threw up his hand in acknowledgment.

I waited for over an hour until all the lights were turned off inside the house, keeping my eyes glued to the second-story window I knew was Lexa’s bedroom. During that time, my hand started to swell and the bleeding continued. I had a box of Kleenex in my glove box that I used to make a bandage, but I knew I probably needed stitches to close a few of the deep gashes on my knuckles.

It could wait, though.

Once her light was out, I waited another thirty minutes before getting out and quietly shutting my door. While I’d been sitting in my truck, I’d mapped out how best to get inside the house. Using the banister on the porch, I climbed up to the roof and then walked around to the side of the house with Lexa’s window.

I wasn’t surprised to find the window unlocked. Not many people locked their second-story windows. I wanted to scold Lexa for not being safe, but at the same time, I was thankful she’d made it easier for me to get to her.

Silently, I climbed into her bedroom and closed the window. The room was in complete darkness, and it took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust. When I could see the outline of her bed, I crossed to it. Kicking off my shoes, I climbed in beside her.

Only when my arms were around her did the rage monster inside me start to calm down. Pressing my face into her hair, I inhaled deeply, needing her scent to fill me.

Lexa startled awake, and I quickly covered her mouth to keep her from screaming and alerting her father to my presence. Whatever truce we’d called when I’d confided in him about my plans for Campbell, I doubted extended to finding me in his daughter’s bed.

Her eyes widened in fear until I stroked a hand down her spine. “Shh, it’s me, beautiful.”

The fear turned to anger, and she spat muffled curses at me against my hand.

“You are so damn stubborn. I knew this was the only way to make you listen.” My hand trailed down her back and over her luscious ass, pressing her lower body against my own. Fuck, but she felt good. She was wearing some old shirt that felt thin and had a few holes in it, making me remember I needed to give her one of my own for her to sleep in. But first, I had to get her to understand there was nothing going on between Paige and me.

Leaning in closer, I breathed in her scent again, savoring it. “I called in a favor, and Campbell is now under investigation by the state’s attorney general. It’s a secret investigation, but the AG sent Paige, his daughter, to head it up. Campbell is smart, and he sensed something off the second he set eyes on her. We’ve been letting everyone think she’s only in town because she wants to get back together with me. Tonight, on her way home from work, she thought Campbell or someone who works for him was following her. I thought it was him at the door, and that’s why I kissed Paige, to make it look more convincing. I swear, that’s the only time I’ve kissed her since she’s been here. Nothing else has happened between us, and nothing else will.”

She said something against my mouth, but I didn’t understand and cautiously lifted my hand to let her repeat it.

“I don’t believe you,” she whispered, pushing at my chest, but I wasn’t going anywhere, so she couldn’t budge me. “Maybe about the Campbell thing, sure, but not about Paige. Your ex shows up, and suddenly, you have to pretend like you’re in a relationship again? Then out of the blue, she’s at your door—conveniently at the same time I’m supposed to show up so we can talk—and you need to kiss her? That’s bullshit, Ben. Either you’re playing me, or she’s playing you. Whatever it is, I’m not going to be pulled into your games with your ex.”

My hand clenched at her hip, and I pressed my forehead to hers. “Baby, I don’t want Paige. Whatever was between us burned out a long time ago. I’m just trying to keep her safe until we can get Campbell out of our hair once and for all.”

“It might have burned out on your side, but hers still seems to be blazing,” she mumbled with what sounded like a pout in her voice.

“If it is, that’s on her. The only woman I want is you. Can’t you feel how badly, baby?” I thrust my hips forward. Her thighs opened ever so slightly, and I felt her shirt rise an inch. My hand moved down to push it up even farther, and I felt the little scrap of cotton that was covering her pussy and the dampness already coating the insides of her soft thighs. “I ache for you,” I breathed in her ear and felt her shudder.

“N-no,” she said in a voice that was weak with the same need that was burning my blood. “I won’t give in to you again… Oh God. Ben, that feels good.”

Nipping at her neck, I cupped her pussy through her panties, my thumb playing with her slit. “This is the only way I would ever play with you, beautiful,” I rasped in her ear. “I’ll gladly tease and torment you until you beg me to let you come on my fingers. But I will never play games with your heart. Not when I want it more than I want inside this sweet pussy.”

“Ben,” she moaned, willingly spreading her thighs wider, granting me full access to utopia.

Smothering a groan against her neck, I shoved the panties down her legs. She mewled a protest when my hand left her, but as soon as she was free of the little piece of cotton, I spread her lips and skimmed my middle finger over her clit.