After Dark: The Complete Series

by Kahlen Aymes

  “Please.” She’d need it if Alex showed up. It felt ridiculous to worry over the reaction of a man she barely knew. He had no right to get all hot and bothered, and she had no right to get excited by the prospect of his protectiveness. Inside, she thrilled at it but wasn’t looking forward to introducing the two men. Silently, she vowed to hurry and get Kenneth out of there before Alex made an appearance.

  “Listen, Kenneth, about the Swanson case. The tests are rescheduled. Thanks for getting the court date moved back.”

  “I still don’t like it. We should just get it over with and move on.”

  “Mark Swanson deserves to be behind bars. If this case isn’t enough, we’ll create another one. Sometimes, the system sucks.”

  “Angel, you know we can’t manufacture evidence. It’s called entrapment. He’d walk for sure then.” He popped some of the pretzels sitting in a bowl on the bar into his mouth. “We’d both lose our licenses.”

  “That’s not what I mean! I’ll push him just enough to piss him off. He’ll either crack on the tests the second time around or he’ll do something stupid.” Her eyebrow rose and she smiled. “It isn’t entrapment. It’s more like capitalizing on someone else’s mistake.”

  Kenneth shook his head and put his fingers in his ears. “No! I’m not hearing this.”

  “What choice do I have? I have to push his buttons and get a reaction out of him. Bringing him up on another set of charges will help, won’t it?”

  “Sure, but I’m not willing to risk you getting hurt. This isn’t a game, Angel. We shouldn’t even be discussing this.”

  Angel was exasperated by his blasé attitude. “Fine, we won’t discuss it then. But, I will do it, Kenneth.”

  He stopped and looked at her, knowing he wouldn’t win. He never did. She left him helpless and he liked it. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and tonight, even more than usual. “You look gorgeous. I’m honored.”

  Don’t be, her mind shouted.

  “Should we go somewhere for dinner?” Kenneth’s fingers ran lightly down her arm. “What would you like?”

  “Um, actually, I can’t tonight.”

  “Angel, we haven’t seen each other for so long. I miss you. I thought tonight we could—”

  She inwardly cringed at the hurt expression on his face. “Kenneth, I know what you thought, and I’m sorry, but we both know this isn’t going anywhere.”

  “It could if you’d let it.”

  She shook her head, her eyes imploring him not to make it more than it was. “We’ve had a lot of fun but if it was going to be more, then it would be by now.” Her fingers touched his cheek lightly in an effort to soften the words that were coming. “You know things have been falling off for a while now.”

  His expression was hurt when he withdrew his hand, as if touching her burned him. “Angel, where is this coming from?”

  “We haven’t been together in over six weeks. We haven’t even gone out to dinner.”

  “That’s because you’re such a workaholic.” He looked away, avoiding her eyes. “I’ve tried.”

  “I know. It’s my fault.” Angel reached for his hand. She felt like an asshole for hurting him. “Besides, I shouldn’t be dating the D.A.; not when we work on such important cases together.”

  Kenneth frowned, his blue eyes icy. “That’s bullshit. Just tell me the truth. I deserve that at least.”

  She nodded. “You’re right. The truth is I didn’t want to hurt you. I care about you, but I can’t pretend I have feelings that aren’t there. I’m sorry.”

  “Are you seeing someone else?”

  Angel bit her lip. “Only just recently.”

  “I see. Who is it? How did you meet?”

  “Kenneth, please. None of that matters. We both know that we used each other. We had fun, we had good sex when we both needed it, but that’s all it was. Be honest!”

  “Still, if it weren’t for this other guy—”

  “If it weren’t for him then nothing! We’d have nothing more than what we’ve had. I’ve been thinking about it for a few months, since before he was in the picture. Would you want me to lie and just go through the motions?”

  Color flooded his face as her words sank in and his eyes bore into hers, finally. He shook his head and promptly changed the subject.

  “I still don’t want you to mess with Swanson. Let us do our job in the D.A.’s office and stay out of it, Angel. If you don’t mind, I’m gonna take off.”

  Wow. Either he was very hurt or he’d seen the relationship as she had—comfortable and convenient. Angel was stunned. It was like turning the last page of a novel that you enjoyed but weren’t dying for the sequel. It was over. No big deal.

  “Yeah. So, I’ll call you after I get the second set of tests completed next week.”

  Kenneth loosened his tie as he stood, leaning down to give her a lame attempt at a hug. “Be careful with that bastard, Angel. Just do the tests and leave it at that. Don’t take unnecessary risks to incriminate him. I mean it.” His free hand moved up to hold the back of her head as she kissed his cheek. “I still don’t want anything to happen to you, even if you don’t want to be with me.”

  Angel hugged him back, choosing to ignore the last part of his comment. “Thank you for worrying about me. I’ll be careful.”

  * * *

  Blood rushed in Alex’s ears as he watched the blond man wrap his arms around the woman he now considered his possession, the heat from within causing a thin film of perspiration to break out on his forehead and his heart to race painfully.

  What the fuck was happening to him?

  Patty’s was loud, and he was unable to hear the conversation above the din, but Angel looked far from uncomfortable. She kissed his cheek before the man bent to speak into her ear while he threaded his fingers through her dark hair. She was beautiful. Her slender curves accented by the tight designer jeans, legs made longer by her animal-print pumps, full breasts being pressed to the other man’s chest. It was too fucking much.

  The room exploded around them as Kenneth Gant’s hand slid down her back over the top of the sheer lace, over her skin. Alex ran a hand through his thick hair as he stopped dead in his tracks, unsure if he should turn around or stake his claim. The latter won as he resumed his beeline toward them.

  “Good evening,” he stated coldly as he waited for them to acknowledge him. Angel pulled back from the embrace immediately at the sound of his voice and turned. She looked like a deer in headlights, but Alex soon turned his attention to the other man. Sliding his left arm possessively around Angel’s waist and pulling her close to his side, at the same time he extended his right hand. “I’m Alex Avery.” Kenneth’s mouth opened and then closed without uttering a sound. Alex was Alex. Outwardly confident, commanding, intimidating, even casually dressed in dark jeans and a crisp white V-necked T-shirt that showed a hint of the dark hair on his chest. He relaxed only slightly when Angel’s arm moved around him to return his embrace. “And, you are?”

  “I’m Kenneth Gant. District Attorney,” Kenneth said, finally taking Alex’s proffered hand.

  How gratifying for you, Alex thought.

  “Yes, Angel mentioned that,” he returned, his eyes narrowing, sizing up the other man. “Sorry I’m late, honey.” He turned to capture her open mouth with his, daring her to deny him as he pulled her lower lip between his and then placed another small kiss on the corner. “Are you finished with your business?” he asked against her mouth, carefully pounding the last nail in Kenneth’s coffin. He wanted it clear that his own reasons for being with Angel were oh-so-personal. “I wanna play.”

  Alex was pissing her off. He knew it and he didn’t care. He couldn’t help it, even if he’d wanted to; the lack of control was infuriating. He should be cool and calm, not giving a shit one way or the other. But, that wasn’t happening in this instance.

  She scowled at him and stiffened in his arms, defiance jutting out her chin. His own arm tightened as he silentl
y dared her to say she didn’t want to convey the same goddamned message to everyone in that bar. We are together. End of fucking story.

  After a little more uncomfortable small talk, Kenneth left the two of them alone, and Angel plopped down on the stool and crossed her arms. “What the hell was that? Why didn’t you just pee on me?”

  Alex’s lip twitched, but this voice was still hard. “Don’t tempt me. We’ll discuss this in the car.” He pulled out his phone and hit a speed-dial. “We’re ready. Be in front in five.” Long fingers wrapped around her forearm and slid down to her hand. “Come on. We’re leaving.”

  “No.” She jerked her hand free of his, her eyes defiant.

  “What did you say?” Green fire burned over her face, his expression blasé.

  Fuck him! How dare he think he could order her around? “I said. N. O. Is English your second language?”

  Alex’s temper was boiling, and the muscle in his jaw twitched impatiently. “Hilarious. Let’s go.”

  “You didn’t have to be such a jealous prick to him, Alex! He’s a nice guy. We were talking about the case!”

  Anger constricted his chest and heat flamed under his skin. Did she just call me jealous? What the hell do I have to be jealous of?

  “Yes, I saw you, uh talking. Now, let’s go! I’m not getting into this here.”

  “Well, maybe I don’t want to get into this at all!” She felt like a little brat having a tantrum, but goddamn him! Who did he think he was? She jumped up from the table and started to storm out of the bar.

  Alex followed right behind, amused at the looks being shot in their direction. He didn’t give a shit. The end result was what he wanted—her on the fucking sidewalk. Charles was there waiting in the valet lane, the back door to the black limo open and waiting for them, but Angel walked past it, put two fingers between her lips, and whistled loudly, clearly hailing a cab. Alex quickly grabbed her arm, and she reacted by smacking him hard with her purse.

  He smiled slyly, her show of anger somehow comforting him. “Come on. Get in the limo, Angel.” His amusement only infuriated her further.

  “Fuck you, Alex!”

  “Okay, if that’s what you want.” He said the same words that he did on the day he met her, his tone softening, his anger fading. She was so beautiful in her rage; it almost hurt. Hair flying in the breeze, her cheeks were flushed, breasts heaving, and eyes glistening in angry frustration. “But you have to come first.”

  “Oh, shut up!”

  He sighed, his mouth returning back into an angry line. “I know you want to be with me tonight, so stop fighting it. Get in the goddamned car, Angel!” He waited ten seconds before taking matters into his own hands.

  “You are the most infuriating man I’ve ever—oof!” She lost her breath as Alex hoisted her over his shoulder in the middle of the busy Chicago night and moved effortlessly toward the car.

  “Lover’s spat.” He flashed a smile at a group of people on the sidewalk who stopped to gawk, acting like it was nothing out of the ordinary as he deposited her in the car like a sack of potatoes and followed her inside.

  Angel scrambled away from him as he closed the door, and Martin pulled the car from the curb. Alex sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Go to the house, please, Martin.”

  “Alex, please take me back to my apartment.”

  “No.” The night before proved she wasn’t safe there; at least not until he had more information, and certainly not without him.

  “Poor Alex. Who knew you’d be such a jealous weakling? Maybe I should have gone home with Kenneth like he asked.”

  “Like hell! We both know you’re where you want to be, so who are you trying to convince?”

  “You are such a conceited bastard. Do you think you’re the only one who wants me?”

  Alex didn’t speak as the limo moved onto the interstate and out toward the suburbs, but he pushed a button to close the partition so the driver wouldn’t hear them.

  “Do you think I’m a bitch in heat and your dick is the only thing that can offer salvation?” she spat.

  Alex moved like lightening to tumble her backwards and pin her to the seat beneath him, his hands around her wrists beside her head. Angel stared up at him, gasping for breath in her surprise.

  “Stop! Just fucking stop. What I think is that whatever this is eats at my guts. When I saw Kenneth’s hands on you tonight, you kissing him, it took all I had to restrain myself. Now, as far as my dick—that’s up to you, but I wager, you want it.”

  Her legs went around his waist as they both panted in each other’s faces, hearts pounding together; blood rushing. Angel wasn’t sure what she was struggling against as his nose brushed hers and her chin lifted involuntarily. Probably, it was fear he’d steal her soul. He made her hungry even in this madness, even in anger there was still this immeasurable lust. This man had power. Too much power and he knew it.

  Alex’s hands loosened on her wrists as he nudged her upper lip with his lower one, teasing a response she was unable to deny him. The fingers on both of his hands entwined with hers as he pressed into her. Angel moaned into his mouth at the pleasure, and he became even more aroused as his hardness met her heat.

  His words rushed out in a whisper just before his mouth staked its ownership over hers. “You are mine.”

  12

  Too Good to be True

  Angel’s mouth was alive underneath Alex’s, even though her brain searched for the will to struggle, pull away, or keep her traitorous body from responding. God, he tasted good, so perfect in his seduction.

  With her chest heaving, she finally managed to break the kiss by turning her head to one side. Alex was not deterred, letting his mouth—still hungry for her flesh—move over her cheek and down her chin before leaving a hot, moist trail on her neck as the fingers of one hand worked at the buttons of her blouse.

  “I fucking hate you,” she whispered ardently, her voice trembling right along with everywhere he touched, unsure if she was speaking to him or herself. She squeezed her eyes shut as they began to burn, and her fingers wound in his hair. “I really hate you. I hate feeling so out of control.”

  “I hate you, too,” he murmured against her breast before pushing her cream lace bra out of the path of his mouth with his chin and tongue, “for making me want you this much.”

  Angel drew her breath in a hiss as his hot mouth closed around her rosebud nipple, already hard in anticipation. Alex’s lower body surged into hers and made her flush with damp warmth, leaving a delicious ache she knew only he could alleviate.

  “Uh… God,” she moaned as her body rose up to meet his, and she pushed her hands underneath the hem of his shirt, raking her nails down his back, amazed at the way the muscles flexed as he moved over her. The cool, silk knit was a stark contrast to the fire of his flesh. “Alex, what about the driver? Can he hear us?”

  “Don’t know. Don’t care.” Alex brought his head up to look into her face. She was breathtaking: a heated blush on her cheekbones and her hair splayed in a halo around her head on the light grey leather, her dark eyes glittering in the reflection of the lights filtering in from the night racing past the limo. He pushed her hair back as once again, their bodies surged together.

  “Christ, you feel so good.” Their eyes locked. “Do you want me to stop?” he asked, but he knew the answer.

  The back of his fingers brushed over her flat stomach as his eyes searched for the answer in her face. Angel bit her lip and shook her head ever so slightly, but it was all the answer Alex needed. His fingers popped the button on her jeans and slid the zipper down.

  * * *

  Angel was quiet and pensive, after the sex in the back of the limo, and had still not spoken when Alex held his hand out to assist her when they’d reached his gated estate on the north side of the city. Her eyes widened as she took in the large, natural stone, two-story house, elegantly lit in the front and surrounded by lavish landscaping and a curved drive.

  The large trees
told of either longevity or great expense to create the ambiance, and the hot breeze felt amazingly cool as it evaporated the soft sheen of perspiration on her skin, leftover from the passionate scene that had just concluded. Alex ran his free hand through his hair as he gently and silently tugged her toward the large mahogany door under the chandelier in the front entry. His eyes watched her closely, wondering what she was thinking. He was left unsettled by his own lack of control where she was concerned yet determined to get her to relax around him. Judging from the phone call they’d shared earlier, it would have been a great night if seeing her with Kenneth Gant hadn’t caused his insides to explode.

  His thumb brushed the top of her hand as he unlocked the door. The house was dimly illuminated from a few lamps that his housekeeper had left on, as was her custom, not knowing when or if the master of the house would show up. He had barely disarmed the electronic security system when Max bounded down the large staircase toward them, barking madly. Angel started at his side.

  “He’s harmless,” Alex said softly, but the woman at his side had already let go of his hand and was moving toward the large dog, kneeling down and ruffling him enthusiastically with both hands.

  “Hey! You’re gorgeous, aren’t you? Such a sweet baby!”

  Max whined and licked her face, nudging her chin over and over with his nose.

  “Alex, he’s beautiful! What’s his name?”

  Alex threw his keys on the antique table at the foot of the stairs. “Max. He’s a good boy.” He watched as she continued to stroke the dog, whose tail was wagging madly. “Max, leave her be.” He ran a hand over the animal’s head as he passed, making his way into the great room and to the wet bar along one wall. Angel followed with Max at her heels. “Can I get you a drink?”

  “Sure, whatever you’re having, but I shouldn’t stay long. Will your driver take me back into the city?”

  In the process of adding ice to two tumblers, Alex tensed and lifted his head. He considered his words and then shrugged. “No.”