I could sense Alistair’s hesitation at leaving the two of us alone, but he had no choice. Careful to keep my eyes down, I pretended to ignore the suspicious looks he threw our way. With no other choice, Alistair followed Michael out of the room.
Neither Angelique nor I spoke for a moment. Glancing at her briefly, I strode to the door and glanced down the hall to make sure that we were alone. We were. I turned around to face her. She already had all of her things packed but made no move to the door. Her expression unreadable.
Unsure of how to start, I asked the first thing that came to mind. “So, you really are an Angel.”
I’m not sure what she had expected me to say, but apparently not that.
Laughter bubbled up from within her, and she smiled widely before shaking her head, the tension ebbing from her shoulders.
“I wouldn’t go that far, as I’m sure no angel would have done what I did last night. But yes, my name really is Angel, or rather Angelique.”
At the mention of last night’s interlude, I felt myself grow hard. Setting my stuff down, I walked around the side of the table intent on taking her in my arms again. But she put her hands up to stop me.
“No Rafe. Not going to happen again.”
“Why not?”
Heat flooded her cheeks, giving them a rosy glow. “You know why,” she answered. “I don’t mix business with pleasure. Had I known who you were, I never would have…”
“What? You never would have what?” I asked. “Kissed me? Had mind blowing sex in an elevator?”
She could lie to herself, that this was supposed to be strictly professional, but I knew better. She wanted me. Her body said so. From the rapid pulse twitching at the base of her neck to her quick shallow breathing; I knew if I touched her right now she would be wet for me. Reaching up, I cupped her face in my hand.
“Rafe, please. I have to be professional. This is my career, my livelihood,” she urged. “I can’t just act like some schoolgirl with a crush and completely lose my head.” But she didn’t pull away.
“We can do both. One doesn’t have to affect the other,” I said as I trailed my fingertip across her plump bottom lip. It was painted an enticing shade of red. I stared into those emerald green eyes willing her to see what I felt.
She cast her eyes down and pulled my hand away from her cheek. Anguish was immediate. Not just at her rejection, but at what might have been. I couldn’t bear to watch her leave, knowing I would have to face her again tomorrow and not be able to touch her again. I cringed at the sound of the door shutting behind her.
Click.
I whipped my head around at the sharp sound of the lock being turned in place. Standing with her back against the door, a tentative smile on her face, stood Angelique. I crossed to her in two strides. She turned her mouth up to meet mine as my lips crashed down to hers.
Our mouths and tongues tangled together as our hands quickly went to work undressing each other. It was a flurry of clothes, as shirts and pants and shoes were quickly discarded. In the elevator, I hadn’t gotten the opportunity to see all of her in the flesh. But now as she stood before me in a matching pair of black lace panties and demi-cup bra I relished the sight of her luscious curves. She was thick in all the right places. The kind of woman, every man wanted to sink into, and she was all mine.
I wanted to take my time with her, to be able to spend hours nibbling and licking every delectable inch. But we were in a conference room, not my bedroom. Still, I wanted to give her more than just a quick fuck.
Lifting her up, I sat her on the conference table. Reaching around behind her, I unclasped her bra letting her beautiful large breasts spill out. Cupping one in each hand, I watched as the tiny little pink buds of her nipples hardened under my touch. Pressing her body back against the table I took one into my mouth, swirling my tongue around her nipple. Her body arched off the table when I scraped my teeth along the taut bud.
I trailed kisses down her body, stopping just above her panty line. Lowering my head, I breathed in her heady scent. Sliding her panties down her legs, letting them drop to the floor I clasped her legs in my hands and brought them up over my shoulders. Under hooded lids, her eyes watched me, dark with desire, as I lowered my head to taste her sweet nectar.
I slid my tongue up the opening of lips, enjoying the sweet taste of her warm honey as my tongue penetrated her folds. Spreading her lips wide with my hands, I went to work sucking and nibbling on her clit. She writhed beneath my skillful tongue, her orgasm building. I knew the moment my mouth sent her over the edge because her hands reached down to grab my hair pulling my head down as her hips bucked up and off the table. Tiny tremors wracked her body as I lapped up the decadent ambrosia that flowed from her.
Not giving her a chance to recover from the orgasm, I spread her legs wide and entered her in one swift move. Her pussy still damp, wrapped my cock like a hot velvet glove. Spurred on by her tiny moans, I punished her body with quick deep thrusts. With my own climax building, I reached up and pinched her nipples, rolling the buds tightly between my fingers. She reared up off the table and screamed my name as the pleasure rolled through her. Her inner walls clamped down on my hard length as I shot my seed deep into her womb.
After a few minutes, I released her legs and helped her sit up from the table. She looked beautiful, her cheeks flushed with passion. I kissed her lips softly before helping her off the table. We dressed in silence.
She unlocked the door and went to leave, but I put my hand to the door quickly.
“Let me see you tonight.”
I could see her weighing her decision.
“It’s just one night. Who knows when we will ever be able to see each other again?”
She smiled softly and nodded. “10 o’clock, no earlier.”
“10 it is.”
I let her open the door all the way. She carefully scanned the hall to make sure the coast was clear before heading out. I waited two minutes before I followed out after her.
Chapter 7
Upon exiting the conference room, I took a quick detour to the ladies room to fix my hair and makeup. My clothes were still a little wrinkled, but that could easily be explained; having sat in a conference room for nine hours. But I couldn’t have explained my smeared lipstick or my tangled tresses. Rafe’s lovemaking had wreaked havoc on my hair. Doing my best to finger comb the tangles out, I twisted it back up into the familiar chignon and secured it with my clip. This would have to do.
Leaving the ladies room, I scanned the lobby real quick to make sure the coast was clear before heading to the elevators. My heart pounded in my chest and didn’t calm down until the doors opened and I was safely inside. Pressing the button for my floor, I leaned my head back against the wall. But my relief was short-lived.
A hand shot out just before the doors closed. To my dismay, the hand belonged to none other than Alistair. What was he doing downstairs? Why wasn’t he with my father?
“Going somewhere?” he sneered at me.
His tone caused the tiny hairs on the back of my neck to stand up. Something told me this wasn’t his usual obstinacy. He was vibrating with undisguised anger. I didn’t want to spend even a second alone with him. Not with him like this.
“Actually, I just remembered I forgot something,” I said as I made to exit the elevator.
But he was too quick. “Not so fast,” he hissed as he sprang in front of me blocking my way. I couldn’t shove past him before the elevator doors closed.
“What the hell do you think you are doing Alistair!” I yelled.
His face flushed with rage, his blue eyes seething. Scared, I took a step back.
“I think the better question is, what do you think you are doing? Or rather, WHO do you think you are doing!” he spat as he advanced toward me.
He knew. I don’t know how he knew. But he knew. Rafe and I had been so careful. But somehow Alistair knew we had been together. There was nowhere for me to go. I was trapped in the elevator with him.
<
br /> Trying to diffuse the situation I put my hands up. “I don’t know what you mean Alistair,” I said as I tried to remain calm. But that only seemed to enrage him more.
He grabbed my wrists and screamed,“You know EXACTLY what I mean! I saw the two of you leave the conference room.”
“I don’t know what you think you saw Alistair but…”
“Shut-up!” he screamed, spittle spewing from his mouth. He was really scaring me. “I’m not stupid. I know what I saw, you stupid little cunt. I know when someone’s been fucked, and honey you looked like you were ridden hard and put away wet!”
“What I do or don’t do, is none of your business,” I yelled back, fighting his grip.
This only succeeded in angering him more. “Oh, it’s very much my business sweetheart. What would daddy think if he knew his precious little girl was really daddy’s little whore? Using her sweet little cunt to secure business deals.”
I cringed at his vulgarity. “Ow! That’s enough. You’re hurting me Alistair,” I pleaded as I tried to wrench my hands from his grasp.
But he only gripped them tighter. “What, you let Rafe put his hands on you; a commoner, an American at that,” he said in disgust. “Well, I want a little piece too.”
He was surprisingly strong, and he wrenched my hands back pinning them to the wall. Fear and bile rose in my throat as he pressed his knee in between my legs forcing them open. I could feel his erection pressing into my belly, and it made me want to hurl. I fought like a wildcat, hissing and spitting, trying to kick my way free.
He let go of one of my hands, only to slap me across the face so hard I saw stars. I would have fallen if he hadn’t pinned me against the wall with his body. Taking advantage of my disorientation, he ripped open my pants sending the clasp flying. Wrenching the zipper down, he forced his hand into my pants. He palmed my sex roughly, and I cried out as he forced first one finger than the other. Tears ran down my cheeks as my brain disconnected from my body, not wanting to accept that it was being assaulted so violently.
But I refused to give in. Alistair was going to rape me right here in this elevator if I didn’t do something. And quick. Blocking out the pain, I let a low moan escape my lips and feigned swooning.
Mistaking the moan for pleasure, Alistair released his grip on my other hand and began to press sloppy, disgusting kisses all over my face and neck. Taking advantage of his distraction, I slammed my heeled foot down on his instep sharply.
“What the fuck!” he yelled in pain.
I didn’t give him a chance to recover. As soon as he backed up hopping on his good foot, I reared up and kneed him in the balls as hard as I could. He dropped like a stone, only a faint gurgling sound escaping his lips.
Hitting the ‘door open’ button I cried with relief when the doors opened on my floor. Racing out of the elevators, I pulled my key card from my pocket almost dropping it in my haste to escape Alistair. I glanced worriedly over my shoulder to make sure he wasn’t coming. The elevator doors had closed, and there was no one in the hall. Finally, I heard the click of the lock and wrenched the door open.
I slammed the doors shut, my fingers shaking as I frantically grabbed for the security chain. It took three tries before I got it lined up properly. Once it was in place, I sank to my knees against the door. I don’t know how long I sat on the cool marble of the entry way, violent sobs and tremors wrenched from my body as I replayed the events in the elevator over and over in my mind. I knew Alistair was trouble, but I never thought he would be so violent or cruel.
Finally, the sobs turned to soft hiccups, and I felt a little more in control of myself. I struggled to my feet and headed straight to the bathroom. I didn’t dare look in the mirror. I couldn’t bear to see any reminders of Alistair’s attack. Putting the jets as hot as they could go, I quickly stripped off my clothes and stepped under the scalding spray. I stayed in the shower, long after the water grew cold trying to scrub the memory of Alistair’s touch from my skin.
Chapter 8
These last few hours were the longest hours of my life. Trying to wait until 10 o’clock to see Angelique nearly killed me. As it was, I left a few minutes early because I just couldn’t wait. Standing outside the door to her suite, I was as nervous as a senior with his date on prom night. I don’t know why I was feeling this way. I was a former Navy Seal for crying out loud, but here I stood with my hand raised hesitant to knock.
Giving myself a mental kick in the ass, I forced my hand to knock on the door. Waiting with breathless anticipation, I listened for the sound of her footsteps. After a moment, I could hear the slide of the safety latch and the click of the lock.
I was barely able to contain the Cheshire grin, as she opened the door. My heart stopped as I took in the site of her; bare-foot, clad in one of the hotel’s soft plus robes, hair still damp from a recent shower. Envisioning her naked beneath it, I smiled with satisfaction until I saw her face. My mouth dropped open in shock. Her green eyes normally shined, but they were masked by pools of tears threatening to spill over. But that wasn’t the worst part. Not even make-up could hide the swelling and bruising on her face.
Without hesitation, I stepped through the door and pulled her close. I nudged the door closed with my foot as I cradled her in my arms. My heart broke as she clutched my shirt and cried, “Oh, Rafe. I’m so glad you came.”
Someone had touched her. Someone had hurt my woman. I would kill them. But I needed her to tell me who first. Reigning in the angry beast that threatened to explode, I gently tipped her chin back. The pool of tears that had threatened to spill over did; cascading down her cheeks.
“Shhh…it’s okay. I’m here,” I said as I kissed the trail of tears.
“What happened? Who did this to you?”
Eyes downcast, she slipped out of my grasp and walked over to the windows. I could see her reflection, eyes blank staring out past the nightscape. I walked up behind her, careful not to startle her. Putting my hands on her shoulders, I turned her around to face me. Her eyes were downcast, and she was biting her bottom lip as it trembled nervously. I could tell she didn’t want to tell me. But I had a good idea of who it was.
“It was Alistair wasn’t it?”
She didn’t speak but gave me a tiny nod.
“Did he…do anything else?” I could bring myself to finish the question.
She shook her head no, but she wouldn’t meet my gaze. I knew she was lying to me, but she wasn’t in any condition for me to grill her about it. My fists clenched as Rage boiled inside.
I wanted to find him and punish him. There was nothing more cowardly and weak than a man preying on a woman. I would end him.
She must have read my mind because she placed her hand on my forearm. “Don’t,” she whispered. “Whatever you are thinking, he’s not worth it.”
“You are worth it to me. He put his hands on you and that is unacceptable.” Caressing her swollen cheek, I said through gritted teeth, “He marked you. I can’t forget that.”
“Please,” she said, stroking her fingers lightly on my arm. “I just want to forget it ever happened.”
Loosening the belt of her robe, she let it fall to her feet.
“Angelique, you don’t have to do this,” I stammered backing away from her. She was beautiful, and I yearned to touch her. But she had looked so fragile, so broken when she had opened the door. I didn’t want to hurt her.
It was her turn to shush me. “Shh…I want to. I need to. You make me feel alive…and safe.” Pressing her naked body to mine, she stood on tip toes to nibble at my bottom lip. Despite my best intentions, my cock came to immediate attention at her light teasing. “Make me forget.”
My body wavered, still trying to be a gentleman and do the right thing. But one word and I was completely undone.
Staring up at me with those wide, jeweled eyes, “Please,” she begged.
I wanted to take her right then and there, but I knew that’s not what she needed. She needed tenderness, someone w
ho could cherish every delectable inch of her. I scooped her up in my arms, kissing her deeply. Carrying her into the bedroom, I laid her down in the middle of the king size bed, her dark hair fanned out behind her.
I shed my clothes quickly and joined her on the bed. Vowing to take my time and erase all the bad thoughts from her mind, I proceeded to make slow, sweet love to her well into the night. Exhausted from our lovemaking, she finally fell asleep in my arms.
I hated to leave her like this, shadows from the moonlight highlighting her feminine curves. I wanted to keep her in my arms forever, but there was something I had to take care of first. Even though she had made me promise not to hurt Alistair, I had to make sure that he could never hurt her again. Kissing her brow, careful not to stir her, I quietly left the suite.
Chapter 9
I hadn’t really expected Rafe to stay the entire night, but I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointed when I woke up to find his side of the bed empty. Deliciously sore from our lovemaking last night, I stretched my limbs. The crinkling of paper distracting me.
Searching the covers, I found a note in what I assumed was his handwriting.
Angel,
I couldn’t bear to disturb you this morning.
I had some business to attend to first thing before our meeting.
Meet me in the lobby at 8:30.
Rafe
Unsure of what to make of his letter, I wondered what business was so urgent that he had to slip away in the middle of the night. And why did he want me to meet him at 8:30? Our meeting wasn’t until 9, if we even had a meeting. Fear clutched at my belly, at the thought of having to face Alistair again. How would he react after last night’s altercation? Would he try to pretend it never happened, or worse…what if told my father about Rafe and me? Surely, not.
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