“I’m sorry, it’s Angel. I see my friends are getting ready to leave. If you’ll excuse me—”
“Why don’t you stay a little while? I’d like to buy you a drink.”
“That’s okay.” Again Angel tried to pull free as she noticed Bishop leave the bar. “Look, Steve, I appreciate you rescuing me from Bully Boy and the offer of a drink, but I’m not interested. Can we just please keep this friendly?” Lord, I don’t want a scene!
“Sure.” He practically threw Angel’s arm from him, and then held his up in the air. “I guess you and your friends are all just flirts, huh?”
What? Where was that coming from? Angel decided to distance herself from him as fast as possible, before things got out of hand. She hadn’t noticed how much alcohol laced his breath until now, and she knew the best thing she could do was remain calm and just agree with him. Well, at least to a certain extent.
“You’re right, and I’m sorry if I misled you in any way, Steve. Maybe we can have that drink next time?” Angel guessed she’d taken about three steps backward before he surprised her by reaching forward and grabbing her arm.
“Then how about a goodbye kiss, baby?” He hiccupped.
The next thing Angel knew she was being pushed roughly up against Bully Boy, and then all hell broke loose. The two guys he was with scooted back their chairs and began rushing toward them, her girlfriends dropped their stuff ready to jump in, and she was very aware Bishop was walking toward them with a look of anger on his face. That was all she had time to take in before she realized Steve was crowding her against the bull and leaning in for a kiss. She brought her hands up and pushed against his chest.
“Steve, man, let her go!” One of his friends ordered. He took Steve by the arm but Steve pulled away sharply, not taking his blurry-eyed gaze off Angel.
“Yeah, you don’t want this kind of trouble,” the other said. “Let’s go back to the table.”
“He’s not usually like this,” his first friend said, making embarrassed eye contact with Angel.
Angel glanced around to see her friends had stopped halfway to her, but were poised and ready for action. Then her gaze fell on Bishop, and real fear raced through her. Everything about him said he was battle ready. His expression was hard as granite, eyes as solid and cold as blue ice. His hands were fisted, and he’d just about reached where her friends had gathered. He kept walking and passed the two men trying to talk some sense into Steve.
They didn’t notice Bishop until he was level with them. Without hesitation Bishop grabbed Steve, yanked him away from Angel, and handed him off to his round eyed friends. It was obvious he wasn’t going to waste words trying to reason with him.
“Get him the hell out of here.” His tone left no room for argument.
“What the fuck—” Steve fell into one of his friends but quickly swung back around. He took a wild swing at Bishop, who blocked it with his arm.
Angel and everyone involved could only stand and watch as Bishop then swung his fist at Steve. It connected with his jaw and forced the other man’s head around, blood spewing from his mouth. The sound of bone hitting bone was surprisingly loud, and that one powerful punch was all it took to render Steve unconscious.
Bishop stood like a warrior, ready in case Steve’s friends decided to give him trouble. They wisely picked Steve up, and went back to their table. Bishop’s gaze swung to Angel, and she could tell by the way he was looking her over that he was deciding for himself whether or not she was okay.
“What are you doing here?” Angel asked, smiling nervously. Situations like this had always made her feel uneasy. She didn’t like confrontations. “Is this the business you were talking about earlier?” She cringed inwardly, wishing she hadn’t asked. It was none of her concern.
He grinned back, but it didn’t soften the hard look in his blue eyes. “Looks like I’m rescuing you.” His gaze followed hers to the bar where his friends were sitting, quietly watching what was going on. “This is after business.”
Angel nodded. “Well, I guess I better get going.” She smiled, but she didn’t really feel like it. The woman at the bar was beautiful and classy. Maybe she was just an old friend.
“Are you going home from here?”
She nodded. “You?”
He nodded. “I won’t be much longer. Don’t call the police on me this time,” he teased.
Now it was her turn to smile. “I’ve had three glasses of wine. Don’t worry, I’ll sleep like the dead tonight.”
“I better get back to my friends.” He reached forward and tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you when you were riding Bully Boy. Do you know how damned sexy you are?” Angel shook her head. Then suddenly, without warning he hooked his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her to him for a kiss. Well, that certainly took care of any concerns she was harboring about the woman at the bar.
Angel was expecting a quick kiss but that’s not what Bishop had in mind. He kissed her long and hard before setting her away from him. What was that all about? She watched him walk away, while she stood there trembling from his hot kiss. Then she saw Steve and his friends watching from their table. That explained it. Bishop wanted to make sure Steve thought they were together. Taking a deep breath, she walked back to her table.
“Oh, my God, who is that hunk?” Jody asked as soon as Angel was within ear shot.
“We came back to the table once we realized you knew him,” Marty explained. “We didn’t want to interfere.”
“You didn’t tell us you had a boyfriend,” added Ann.
“He’s not my, ah, boyfriend.”
“Come on. Who are you trying to fool? The way he kissed you spoke volumes!” Cora laughed. “Are you sleeping with him?”
Angel was tired, and just wanted to go home. She didn’t feel like answering a hundred personal questions, even if they normally shared everything with each other. Casting a sidelong glance at the bar, she was surprised, and a little relieved, to see that the woman was gone and Bishop was deep in conversation with the man. He had said the man was a friend, yet the seriousness on their faces suggested a different relationship. They looked more like they were discussing something important.
“Look ladies. Let this be the topic at our next girls’ night out, okay? I just want to go home to bed.” A yawn backed up that she was tired.
“I’m with Angel,” Ann said, covering her own yawn.
One by one they finally agreed. Angel snatched up her purse and brought up the rear as they all headed toward the door. She didn’t look at Bishop again, but she was conscious of his gaze following her as she left. With a secret little smile she put an extra bounce in her step.
She slid into her old but faithful Toyota, started the ignition, and pulled behind Ann. They had a safety system in place. They all left at the same time, and they didn’t leave the parking lot until they were all in line.
Driving the short distance home Angel wondered if Bishop would sleep with her that night. She thought about what she’d packed to sleep in besides her white nightshirt. Her mouth pulled down at the corners as she realized her only other option was a pair of pajama shorts and a camisole. It would have to do.
Chapter 7
Bishop stood staring down at Angel. True to her word, she was out cold and snoring softly, if his ears weren’t deceiving him. She’d kicked the covers aside and was curled up on her side, hugging a pillow to her. She looked tempting, just what a hungry man liked to come home to at the end of his day. Her shapely legs were left bare by the barely there shorts she was wearing. His gaze focused on her shapely thighs and the tantalizing swell of her cute ass.
What was it about her that made wanting her come so quick and easy? Sure, she was easy on the eyes, but there was more to it than that. He’d noticed it the first night, when he’d flipped the light on and peered into her frightened eyes. Bishop had been with a lot of women over the years, and not one of them had left such a strong imprint on him that
she was all he could think about.
His thoughts drifted back to Bronco Bill’s, and the sight of her riding Bully Boy. She’d looked wild and free, with her hair flying and her body gyrating to and fro. Watching her had turned him on, and he’d forgotten all about his friends. His concentration had been on Angel and what it would feel like having her ride his cock with that kind of abandon.
Shaking his head, Bishop knew he had it bad. Now that he’d had a taste of something decent in his life he couldn’t see going back. Maybe too many years of shit were enough. He began to unbutton his shirt, driven by his intensive need for Angel, and the hard-on throbbing behind his zipper.
Meow!
Barnie was lying curled up on the pillow next to Angel, and opened one eye to look up at him. Too bad he was going to have to give up his soft bed. Bishop pulled the snap to his jeans and lowered the zipper, his gaze feasting on the seductive Angel and the gentle rise and fall of her breasts. As if sensing he was there she moved slightly until she was on her back. Then he saw the glimmer of her eyes against the darkness.
“Bishop?” Her tone was low and raspy with sleep.
“I hope you weren’t expecting someone else.” He gently lowered himself over her. “You’ve been on my mind all damned day.”
A sound of pleasure escaped her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Oh,” she moaned again, arching her lower body into his. “You brought me home a present.”
Bishop could feel her smile on his lips, smiling in turn. The hint of mint laced her breath, telling him she’d brushed her teeth before going to bed. He ran his hands up her sides, thumbing her nipples when he reached them. Then his hands cupped her cheeks and he kissed her, opening her mouth with the pressure of his so their tongues could mesh.
As their kiss continued the passion grew between them. Angel’s movements indicated she was turned on as she twisted beneath him. Her hands caressed over his shoulders and down his back, cupping his buttocks before moving up his back again. Bishop thrust his cock between her legs, over the soft material covering her mound. But it wasn’t enough. He wanted, needed to feel her naked flesh, her wet pussy, against him.
Whimpers, groans and moans echoed around them, filling the room with their intimate sounds of pleasure. Bishop’s hands roamed all over Angel, before pulling her shorts down and off. He kissed his way back up her body, making love to her feet, legs, knees, and thighs until reaching his destination, and heaven. He kissed, tongued, and nipped at her plump pussy lips, labia, and clit, before burying his tongue deep inside her cunt.
“Bishop!” Angel squirmed wildly, clenching her hands into his shoulders. “That feels so good!”
“God you taste sweet,” Bishop said, slowly moving up her body. He quickly pulled her camisole over her head, and then moved on to her breasts. While kissing and sucking at her nipples he reached for the condom he’d slipped from his pocket earlier. Ripping it open with his teeth he yanked it out and gave it to Angel.
She reached between them and rolled it over his cock.
“Aaaaaaargh!” he groaned roughly, sinking deep inside her welcoming body. Then, pulling her legs up his chest, and over his shoulders, he began to thrust, fast and furious, bringing them both sweet, violent release.
****
“Hey, Rip, how’s it going man?”
Bishop cringed inwardly at his abbreviated nickname and acknowledged Wizard’s welcome with a nod in his direction. “Enjoying the time off, you?”
Wizard nodded. “Yeah, me too. Hope this one lasts a little longer.” His gaze switched to Angel, and there was a little more than interest in his brown eyes. “Who’s the pretty lady?”
“Angel, this is Wizard.”
“Nice to meet you,” she smiled, offering him her hand. Wizard had sun-bleached hair, a little longer than Bishops. He was tall and lanky, and though his tee-shirt indicated he wasn’t overly muscled, Angel could see the strength and power in his bare, tattooed arms and hands.
“Likewise, ma’am.”
“Angel’s been staying at my sister’s place while she and her husband are away on a cruise,” Bishop explained, laying his arm casually over the back of Angel’s shoulders.
“A friend of the family,” Wizard commented. His hand engulfed Angel’s. “So, she’s like a sister,” he teased with a wink.
Bishop chuckled, knowing exactly where Wizard was going. His friend had yet to release Angel’s hand, so Bishop reached forward and gently broke their contact. “Hell no. Not in any way. She might be like a sister to Diana, but that doesn’t apply to me.”
Wizard’s bellow of laughter followed them as they walked off. “I like him,” Angel said as they walked toward a group lingering by the pool.
“Ripper!” An enthusiastic voice welcomed as they neared the group.
“Ripper?” Angel asked, looking up at Bishop. “As in Jack the Ripper?” she teased.
Bishop shook his head with a grim look. Maybe he should have said yes to Jack the Ripper. He supposed he’d eventually have to tell Angel how he came by his nickname, but if it were left up to him she’d never find out. He could only hope none of his friends thought they were doing him a favor by telling her. As much as he didn’t want her to find out that Ripper came from his deadly use of a knife, he did want to be the one to tell her.
“You never did tell me what your team calls you, or why.”
Christ…had she read his mind? Bishop only smiled down at her, thankful they’d finally reached his friends. “Everyone I’d like you to meet Angel. Angel, this is Herc,” he nodded, “Razor,” he raised his beer, “and John.”
“John?” she said in a surprised tone. “Bishop told me you all came by your names because of something you were associated with.”
John laughed. “I know where this is going. But John is my real name. I’m the only one here who isn’t in the Navy.”
“And he’s the only one here smart enough to be married,” said a pretty woman slipping out the back door of their house. She set a tray down on the table next to the grill and then turned and offered Angel her hand. “Hi Angel, I’m Misty.”
“Nice to meet you. Do you need any help?”
Misty exchanged an amused look with Bishop. “I like her already. It’s about time you showed up here with someone as smart as she is pretty.” As she turned to go back into the house she grabbed Angel by the arm.
Bishop’s gaze followed Angel, taking in the sexy swing of her butt beneath the shorts she was wearing. If he squinted hard enough he could just about make out the line of her lacy panties. He swallowed hard, struggling to control his reaction to watching her move. It seemed that everything she did turned him on and made him feel good. Every time he possessed her, instead of being sated, he wanted her even more. That realization pissed him off, because he knew better than to let himself get involved to the extent that it could compromise his actions and decisions later.
He had to have a clear head when he was on an assignment. That meant he was under control at all times, and the only thing on his mind was that mission. They could get a call to return to base at any time, and for the first time in his career he began to wonder if he’d be able to flip the switch. He had to know he could turn his emotions off when he went into battle.
“Hey, man, you look like you’re having a fight with yourself.”
John and Bishop had been friends since middle school, and had planned on joining the service together when the time came. What John hadn’t planned on was being in a life-altering car accident that left him with a permanent limp. In spite of the separation they’d remained good friends, and had kept in contact by various means of communication.
Bishop accepted the cold beer John handed him. He took a long swallow, his gaze going to the pool where Herc and Razor had joined their female friends. It was obvious by their barely there bikinis and slutty actions what they wanted from his friends. Hell, they were exactly the kind of women he needed to keep things in perspective.
He met John
’s eyes, shrugging. “I think I might have made a mistake.”
John wasn’t dense, and even though Bishop hadn’t been around much in the last decade, their emails and phone calls to each other had kept them abreast of what was going on in each other’s lives. They were as close as brothers. “You mean with Angel?” Bishop nodded reluctantly. “She seems like a nice girl, man.”
“She is nice. That’s the problem. I’ve had so much shit in my life that I snatched up the first good thing I could get my hands on when I came home.” He let out a humorous laugh. “Hell, she didn’t stand a chance. As soon as I looked into her eyes I wanted her.”
“So? What’s the problem?” John moved to the grill and picked up the tray of steaks. “You deserve good things in your life.”
Bishop let out a deep breath. “She’s not an object, and she sure as hell isn’t like” he nodded toward the giggling, half-nude girls in the pool, “the women I usually get involved with.”
“You mean Bambi and Fawn?” Smoke bellowed up toward John’s face as he added the meat onto the grill. He jumped back.
Bishop almost spit out his beer. “Are you kidding?” John nodded. “Well, if that isn’t obvious. I’m surprised Misty allows them here, knowing what they are.”
“Misty is the perfect female, my friend.”
“Did I hear my name and ‘perfect’ in the same sentence?” A teasing female voice asked as Misty and Angel reappeared from inside the house. Smiling, Misty sat a large bowl of chilled shrimp and cocktail sauce on the table.
“You did, honey.” He flipped a steak over.
Angel placed a stack of paper plates, napkins, and silverware next to the shrimp. Bishop reached for a shrimp, dipped it into the sauce, and offered the first bite to her. Their gazes met as her mouth closed over the offering, and like the strike of a match, desire flared between them, just like that. Bishop clenched his teeth, struggling to ignore the punch of awareness in his gut.
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