She drank in her fill of him, trying to memorize his features. Never in her life had she met a person like Angus Force, anyone so darklymale. Anybody so pursued by demons and yet so strong and stubborn.
Also, it figured he’d finally make his move when they were both sober and raw after the terrible scene in the park. There was no handy excuse for her to grab onto in desperation. She hadn’t been drinking and they hadn’t spent a fun day goofing off together. If she agreed, it was all on her—no excuses to comfort herself with after he left. And he was leaving. She could see acceptance of the end in his eyes and the settled stance of his shoulders. “You don’t even like me.” Was she protesting too much?
“Yes or no, Nari.” He didn’t disagree with her statement.
She didn’t like him sometimes either. But he drew her in a way she couldn’t pin down. If she left right now, she’d do so with her head held high. But she’d always wonder.Always. “Yes,” she whispered.
Chapter Eight
He had lost his mind. Angus waited until Nari had locked her car before taking her hand for the first and only time in the year they’d known each other. Her skin was soft and her hand fit inside his perfectly. Figured. The rain drilled them, springing up from the asphalt, so he ducked his head and loped into a jog as Roscoe took care of business in the weeds off the parking lot.
The need for her had nearly driven him insane. Every time he smelled her cinnamon scent, every time her brown eyes softened, every time he heard the clip-clop of her sexy shoes, it was all he could do not to grab her shoulders and press her up against a wall and let his body have free reign.
Now she’d said yes.
For miles he’d scrutinized every vehicle behind them, knew they hadn’t been followed. He tuned in his instincts. The area was vacant. Right now, at least, nobody was watching him.
Nari kept to his side, having abandoned her umbrella in the car.
Now wasn’t the time for caution. They were way past that point. Roscoe ran up, shaking his fur wildly by the door. Angus swiped his card across the reader at the main door and drew her inside to the elevator, which was already open.
Roscoe padded inside behind them, his ears perked as if something was happening but he didn’t know what. Angus pressed the button for the third floor, keeping her hand. What if she changed her mind? He’d say goodbye and wish her well.
“I’ve never been to your apartment.” She kept her focus straight ahead at the closed door and her voice trembled slightly.
The woman should be wary. “It’s not much.” He’d slept at the office as often as he had the apartment, and he kept dog food at both places. They ascended to the third floor, and Roscoe bounded out, running to the right. Angus led Nari in the same direction, quickly unlocking his door and pulling her inside, then locking it behind her. “Stay here, please.” Finally he released her hand, and his felt empty. Bereft. He switched on lights in the spartan living room and kitchen, briefly dodging into the bedroom and one bathroom to make sure all was clear. Then he returned. “We’re good.”
She leaned against his door, her eyes a soft topaz and her shoulders back. “You always search your apartment when you get home?”
“Yeah. Don’t you?” he asked, not stopping until he reached her.
“No,” she whispered, her gaze running over his face. “I’m not that paranoid.”
He brushed wet hair from the shoulder of her leather jacket, finally giving himself permission to touch her. “It’s not paranoia if they’re really out to get you.” He knew the line was a joke, but in his case it was true. Slowly, keeping her attention, he drew down her jacket zipper.
Her breath whooshed out, and the sound barreled through him to land in his groin. He’d wanted her from the first second she’d walked into the office and demanded a space of her own. She was always so put together and sure of herself, the temptation to muss her up had made his hands ache on more than one occasion. More than that, he wanted her safe. “I won’t hurt you, Nari.” The words came from someplace inside him he’d long forgotten.
She didn’t answer, no doubt understanding a hell of a lot more about pretty much everything than he did. Instead, she reached up and tunneled both hands through his hair, sending water droplets scattering to the fake wood floor. Pleasure bloomed a light peach across her face, as if she’d been granted a treat she hadn’t expected.
Lightning ripped through the darkness outside, flashing behind the blinds covering each small window. The faintest scent of ozone permeated the air.
“That was close,” she whispered, her alluring mouth opening slightly.
He ducked his head and took that mouth. Sweetness exploded on his tongue, through his body. She was sweet and soft and everything he didn’t deserve in this world. He groaned into her mouth and slid his hand through the wet strands of her thick hair. It was even silkier than he’d imagined, and the idea of the mass drying later and spreading over his chest propelled him to kiss her harder.
She stretched up on her toes and kissed him back, the scent of cinnamon spurring his desire higher. Her fingers dug into his scalp, adding even more pleasure to every sensation attacking him.
He shoved her jacket to the ground and pushed her against the door, his body trying to get as flush with her as possible. She was small and delicate, so he plastered both hands on the smooth metal to keep from grabbing her and taking her down to the floor. If she was giving him one night, he was going to take care of her. She deserved no less. Hell, she deserved a lot better than him, but for now she was his. That mattered.
She jerked her head free and panted, sucking in air. “Fast. I want fast, Angus.”
He heard the words, but his body revolted. Ah. He tugged his phone from his pocket and turned it off, tossing it over his shoulder to land where he knew the lone sofa sat. “We’re not going to be interrupted.”
Her lips formed a perfect O.
Yeah, he knew what she’d been thinking. They’d skirted each other for a year like cautious animals, and now that they’d finally made a decision, Murphy’s Law dictated they’d be interrupted. Not a chance in hell. “I may not control much in this world, little shrink, but I promised you one night.” And she’d said yes. Shockingly. “Nothing is going to keep me from you tonight.” His words came out with an edge and, by the widening of her eyes, she caught it.
Good.
