Confessions After Dark (7 page)

When she turned back to Kenneth, she faced his disapproval. “Angel, why didn’t you just tell him?”

“Because, I can’t involve him in the case… professional ethics bullshit! Why worry him for nothing, anyway? This happened because of me. Alex was not Swanson’s motivation.”

Kenneth’s eyes narrowed. He understood. Alex Avery meant more to her than she was letting on. “No, but he’s yours,” he said knowingly.

“Look, what I choose to tell him is my business. I’m not discussing the case with him, counselor, don’t worry.”

“I’m dropping you from the case. I’ll have Stacey assign someone else.”

“You forget I’m getting paid for this. So, essentially, you’re firing me?”

“It’s just a case. It seems like you’ve got more important irons in the fire, anyway.”

“I need a little more time. I have to reconcile the two sets of tests and write up the reports, do depositions. I need to wheedle him a little more.”

“Until he kills you?”

“He wants me to feel helpless and in his control. He wants to teach me a lesson, and if I were dead, I wouldn’t learn a damn thing. He doesn’t want to kill me.”
He’s more likely to hurt someone I care about.
Angel tried to hide the tremor that ran through her at the thought.

“You’re so goddamned blasé about it. This isn’t something to mess around with. At the very least, he’ll hurt you. Just walk away, Angel. I’m telling you to walk away.”

“Not yet.”

“Are you in love with him?”

“Where the hell did that come from? In love with whom?”

“You and I both know you can’t play dumb and succeed. Why Avery?”

“I don’t know.”

“Be honest. I can take it.”

“I honestly don’t know!” She paced back and forth, talking with her hands. “I feel all tied up in knots, and I need to keep my head on straight right now. I didn’t want this. Needing Alex makes me weak. I don’t want to care about him.”

“But, you do.”

“Yes, I do. That’s why I don’t want him involved. Swanson would kill him because he knows it would punish me. He wanted to get my attention by taking Max, by showing me he could infiltrate the life of someone I care about, and it worked. His point is made, so Alex and I are over.”

“Angel, do you think he will go down without a fight?”

“Not at all, but I’ll find a way to make charges stick. I’m not an adolescent girl who will crumble under cross-examination.”

“I wasn’t talking about Swanson.”

*****

It was late and the house was dark. The new security system was in place, and Max was on the bed next to Angel as she rolled onto her back under the thick comforter and stared at the ceiling. The soft candle glowing on the bedside table cast eerie shadows all around the room. She tried to figure out how to goad Mark Swanson into a coming after her himself. It was a risk, but her abhorrence for that fucker gave her bravado that she might otherwise lack. Her mind turned to the man who had altered her view of so many things.

Her slender fingers traced over the iPhone that Alex had given her, willing it to ring. He was working like mad to finish in Hawaii, and though she yearned to see him, she also dreaded it. “Max, I’m going to miss you both so much,” she whispered brokenly.

She willed herself not to cry as sadness overwhelmed her. It didn’t matter that she reminded herself a million times why she was doing it; it didn’t matter that she’d been telling herself from the beginning that she’d bleed over Alex Avery. All that mattered was that she wouldn’t be with him. And worse, by the time the case was wrapped, she was sure he would move on, because that’s what men do—especially the sexy, intelligent, strong, and wealthy type. He’d never take her back, even if she begged, which Angel would never do.

“How stupid am I, Max? I lie here dying just to hear his voice. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to walk away.”
Fuck my life,
she thought when the tears finally won out.

The phone never rang and as the hours wore on, Angel finally fell into a fitful sleep, her dreams a collage of wondrous touches and magnificent kisses intermingled with fear, worry, and sadness.

A sound in the other room had her heart beating faster when she was startled from her dream. Her hands clenched at the sheets as she sat bolt upright, her eyes wide and her ears straining. The sound of the door to the bedroom opening made her jump, her chest constricting. “Alex?”

Instantly, she recognized his tall form, his white dress shirt outlined his strong shoulders in the dark. She let out her breath, unaware that she’d been holding it, and fell back onto the pillows.

“Expecting someone else?” His voice was husky and she could tell how tired he was.

“No. You scared me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you, baby,” he said softly as he unbuttoned his shirt, pulling it free from his pants. “Angel?”

She watched him, her eyes adjusting to the darkness so she could see his movements. “It’s okay. I wasn’t sleeping well, anyway.”

“Miss me bad, huh?”

Her throat constricted as he leaned across the bed and touched her chin. She couldn’t speak, so she only nodded and wrapped her fingers around the ones cupping her face. She pressed into his hand and nodded again, trying to memorize his touch. His hands were warm and strong, capable of bringing such immense comfort or pleasure. He touched her chin with his thumb again.

“Pffttt!” he whistled. “Down, Max.” The dog scrambled off of the bed but went to lie beside it on Angel’s side. Alex began to move away to discard his clothes. Unable to help herself, Angel held onto the hem of his shirt and pulled him back. This time it was her hand that reached out, moving along his jaw and pushing his hair back.

“Angel,” he said throatily as he leaned down and took her mouth hungrily with his, arms pulling her easily up off the bed and fully into his embrace. He tasted good and she clung to him, her mouth open and responsive under his, her fingers sliding up his hard stomach and chest until they reached up his neck and into his hair. He groaned and kissed her harder, his mouth sucking on and then ghosting over hers.

“I missed you,” she breathed against his lips, her chin rising, silently asking his to return.

“I was so worried when I couldn’t reach you.” His forehead rested on hers before he placed one more open-mouthed kiss on her temple and Angel’s heart exploded.

Alex moved away to shed the rest of his clothes, discarding the expensive garments carelessly on the floor before he slid in beside her, gathering her close and tangling his limbs with hers. “God, you feel good.” His hands roamed over her back and down the curve of her hip and his mouth found her shoulder in a series of kisses.

“I didn’t expect you back tonight.”

“I fully expected you to defy me and not be here.”

“I should have. Then I’d have gotten my spanking.”

Alex laughed and his chest rumbled beneath her check as he swatted her rump once. She smiled, her breath rushing warmly over his skin.

“You sound so tired.”

“Not too tired to touch you.”

Angel curled closer into him, Alex’s arms tightened around her and his lips found her forehead. Her fingers played over the smooth skin on his chest. She felt safe in his arms despite the precarious position they were both in. Angel concentrated on the glorious feeling of his fingers threading in her hair and smoothing it down her back, in the rise and fall of his chest beneath her cheek, and the warmth of his body entwined with hers.

“Angel, what’s wrong?” His deep voice broke into her thoughts.

Her arm wound around his waist and she placed an open-mouthed kiss on his neck and then another.

“Tell me,” he commanded. His voice was quiet but the tone demanded no less compliance.

“Nothing.” The lie forced itself from her lips. “I know you’re tired, so I was trying to let you fall asleep.”

“Has something happened?”

“No.”

“Angel.” He wasn’t asking, he was demanding an answer she didn’t want to give.

“Can’t I just lie here and enjoy being with you?” She ran her tongue along his jaw, the stubble sharper than she expected, and her hand slid up his face and into the hair beside his ear.

Without releasing her, Alex moved her up until her head was beside his on the pillow and he could look into her eyes. Despite the darkness, the glistening pools drew him in. His fingers traced over her skin, gently kneading.

His expression was serious as he regarded her. “Yes, all I’ve thought about was having my hands on you, smelling your skin, tasting your mouth… making sure you’re safe.”

Love flooded her heart and she closed her eyes, resting her forehead against his as her fingers clutched in the hair at the back of his head. Alex pulled her leg over his hip, his strong fingers reaching almost around her thigh.

“I want you, Angel.” His mouth reached for hers. The kiss began tentatively but quickly became intense and passionate. Both of them were lost in the other: lips moving in perfect unison, breathing increasing, and bodies tightening. “Tell me you want me, too.”

“You know I do,” she breathed against his mouth.

“Say the words.” Her body’s response should have been enough for him; he’d never questioned his ability to make a woman pant and moan, but with Angel, he needed her words as much as he needed her body. He needed to know she was as addicted to him as he was to her.

Alex pushed her shirt up until his hand closed around the firm mound of her breast, his thumb circling her nipple until they were both moaning between kisses. Heat pooled between her legs and she arched forward, longing to feel his hardness grinding against her.

“I’m aching, Alex, please.”

“Please, Angel. Say, you want me. Only me.”

His fingers pushed the shirt up and over her head, his mouth closing around her breast while his right arm pulled her closer, finally letting her feel his arousal.

“Mmmmm…. Uh…” she moaned.

“Fuuuuck! The sounds you make go straight to my cock.” He resumed his exploration of her body with his mouth, moving slowly lower until she was writhing beneath him. He ran his nose along the lace at the top of her panties, inhaling her scent. “Mmmm…” he murmured as she arched up toward his mouth, urging him to end her suffering.

His fingers hooked around the lace at her hip and began to drag it down, his hot mouth wild against every inch of skin that was revealed. “Say it, Angel. Just fucking admit it.”

“Yes! Yes, I want you. Just you. Oh, God.” Her heart screamed. How was she going to leave him after she’d just admitted what she had?

Her legs fought to be free of her panties as he flung them aside and settled between them, finally spreading them wide. Right or wrong, he wanted to own her and he proceeded to prove to her that she wanted it, too; his tongue and mouth laving and sucking in relentless pursuit of her pleasure. Soon Angel was clutching the sheet, as he pushed her body over the edge.

“Uh… uhhhh…. Aleeeexxxx,” she moaned. “Uhhhh…. Mmmm…”

His hand flattened on her abdomen as his mouth eased off slowly, gently teasing every last pulse from her orgasm.

Angel’s heart ached even as her body shuddered in explosive ecstasy. She reached for him, pulling him up and wrapping her legs around him, urging him frantically inside her body. “I want you; I want to make you come hard.”

“Wait, baby,” he said quietly as he found a condom and rolled it down his considerable length.

“No. No waiting,” she almost cried. She loved this man, she knew it, and she was in agony knowing she had to end their relationship. She wanted this one last night in his arms, to memorize his voice, his breathing, his body as he claimed his ownership, and she wasn’t going to waste one second of it.

They both groaned as he found her entrance and filled her. Holding her knee up, he moved inside her, each thrust longer and deeper, taking her slowly, savoring every inch of her as she clenched around him. “This is mine,” he said just before his mouth claimed hers and he lost himself in her body. “No one fucking touches you but me. Ever again.”

4
Sacrifice

Alex rolled over in the bed, the cool sheets alerting him to Angel’s absence. His arm reached out, fingers fanning over the soft surface of the sheet, only to find it empty. He sat up with an unfamiliar feeling of panic. “Angel?”

His eyes strained in the darkness, quickly glancing around the perimeter of the room. “Angel?” he called again, louder this time. Silence answered; it’s voice a black hole of nothingness. Alex quickly pushed back the covers and rose from the bed. The carpet beneath his feet was plush, but the air was a stark contrast to the warmth of the bed and goose bumps covered his skin. Despite the chill, he walked down the hall, oblivious to his nakedness, his only thought to find her.

He glanced through the doorway of the smaller bedroom next to his and then walked quickly down the hall and descended the long staircase. The light of the moon filtered softly through the skylights in the kitchen and a few of the windows, casting an eerie blue glow that left twisted and over-sized shadows falling from the furniture. They stretched out on the floor as if in search of something just their beyond reach.

The jingle of Max’s collar drew Alex’s attention and he turned toward the great room. The dog was on the couch with Angel kneeling in front of him, her arms wrapped around his furry body and her words soft and soothing. Alex felt the coil of his muscles unwind as relief flooded through him.

“Such a good boy. I’m so sorry.” Her low murmur throbbed with barely veiled emotion. “I’ll miss you, Max. So much. I love you.”

Never had three words caused more longing in his heart as Alex slowed his pace and observed Angel comforting the dog. She’d thrown on his dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up above her elbows, and her firm legs were curled beneath her. Alex wanted to make his presence known, yet was content just to gaze at her. Something in her tone gave him pause, and he frowned as questions rolled through his mind.

“You won’t need to miss him, baby. You’ll see him often,” he said softly, moving to her side.

The hand cupping her head felt like heaven, any excuse to have him touch her was welcome. Her soft eyes looked up and glistened in the low light, beseeching Alex with some unspoken need. His breath caught at the picture she made: a mixture of sensual allure and sadness—her complexity mirroring his own.