Angel (Great Wolves Motorcycle Club Book 12)

by Jayne Blue

  What I didn’t say is what he already knew. It was also stupid. But the minute I knew it was Maura’s client who got hurt the other night, I went a little apeshit. Lee Corley was easy to find. He worked on a construction crew on the east end of town. I waited. Caught him at the trailer park where he was crashing, and delivered my message. Trouble was, the fucker was shacking up there with another chick and she’s the one who came at me with the pipe wrench as I was walking away. Other than making sure Corley got the message, it hadn’t been one of my finest moments. I wasn’t sorry though and Sly knew it.

  “It’s that lawyer,” Sly said. “Maura Denning. You’re into her. I get it. And I like where your head’s going, making a proposal for a security contract. It’s exactly the kind of shit we should be doing more of. It’s a good cause. But dammit Angel. Now’s not the time for you or anyone else to be going off on your own.”

  He was right. We also both knew if it had been Sly to run into Lee Corley in a dark alley, he would have done the same thing. I gave him credit that he didn’t bother denying it.

  “I need your word, Angel,” he said. “No more extracurriculars. Not until we have a handle on that warehouse hit. I just signed the closing papers. We own that pile of ash. It’s public record. It sends a message. If this was a one-off, so be it. But we’re on high alert. You got that?”

  “Yeah. I got it, boss. And you have my word. You always do.”

  “Good,” he said. “Now go put some more ice on that. You look like shit, man.”

  He reached for me. We clasped hands and he thumped my back. He knew I’d do anything for him. I also knew he’d do anything for me.

  “No time,” I said. “I gotta see about a girl.”

  Sly shook his head. “You’re hopeless. But I’m glad. I’ve got a feeling about that one.”

  “Good, I hope?”

  “We’ll have to wait and see. Just watch your back. I wouldn’t hate if you took one of the probies.”

  I turned him down and went to hit the shower. I’d gotten out of that damn hospital later than I wanted and only had a half hour to meet Maura. I’d put her on the spot this morning, but I had no intention of giving her the chance to back out.

  I got to her office just before five. I caught her locking the front door. Her secretary had already left. I sat on my bike across the street. God, she was good to look at. She wore tight black pants and a blue silky top that hugged her in the right places.

  When she turned and saw me, her cheeks colored. She looked both ways and came to me. “I’m not really dressed for riding that thing.” She smiled.

  “I was hoping to be able to pick you up in your car, but Josh says he’ll have it ready by tomorrow.”

  “Do you mind taking me home?”

  My heart lurched. Her smile dropped. “I mean … to change. You didn’t say where we were going but ... well ... wherever it is, I feel like a blue jeans kind of night.”

  “Hop on,” I said. “I know just the place.”

  She felt so good on the back of my bike. I loved how she pressed against me. She’d never ridden before the other night, and I could tell she was into it. Maura Denning wasn’t used to letting go. With me, I wanted her to soar.

  She tightened her grip around my waist as we pulled away from the curb. I took the long way, past the sprawling cattle ranches. Her apartment wasn’t in the best part of town, but it was all hers. I knew enough about her to understand how much that meant to her.

  I wanted the ride to go on all night. She pointed as I pulled into her parking lot and found a spot by the main doors. She slid off the seat and handed me back my helmet. Her step was a little wobbly. I caught her hand.

  “You can wait here,” she said, then bit her lip. “Or ... you could come up.”

  I hooked my helmet on the handlebars and dismounted. “Just to make sure you’re safe,” I said, smiling.

  “Sure. My guardian angel, I haven’t forgotten.”

  I followed behind her as she punched in a code for the door. Then she led me up to the second floor. She had a corner apartment. The place was simple, but clean. She opened the door. Maura had a huge living room and a decent-sized kitchen. The place reminded me of her. Conservative. Practical. Feminine. She had paintings on the wall, different scenes from Green Bluff. The mountain. The small downtown skyline. The room smelled like her. Delicate, fresh.

  “I’ll just be a second,” she said. She flung her bag on the couch and disappeared down the hall. I took a seat on one of the bar stools at her kitchen counter. No more than two minutes later, she came back out dressed in a faded pair of jeans and a black tank top. She showed just enough cleavage to get my heart racing. She’d taken the time to scrub her face from the make-up she wore and I loved her even more like this.

  “You feel like pizza or burgers?” I asked.

  “Are we going to the Den?” she asked.

  “Nah. Too crowded. How about Mike’s or the Brownstone?”

  “Brownstone,” she said, her face lighting up. “I haven’t had a really good burger in forever.” To prove her point, her stomach growled. She put a hand over it, embarrassed.

  “Angel,” she said, coming toward me. She took a seat on the bar stool beside me. “What you did ... with Corley. I need to know. Did you do that for me?”

  I considered her question. It was hard to sit this close to her without being sucked right in. She was beautiful. In some ways, the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Natural. She had soft brown curls that framed her face. Those wide hazel eyes seemed to see straight through me. She was vulnerable somehow, though she projected this tough attitude. I knew she was the kind of person who wasn’t used to letting people in. Neither was I.

  “No,” I said. “I did it for me.”

  “I see. It’s just ... Angel … you’re right. I’ve told you that. There’s a real issue at the clinic and I’m interested to hear your proposal. But if it comes with that kind of ... solution ... I’m not sure …”

  “I know,” I said, reaching into the breast pocket of my cut. “I won’t apologize for Corley. But you’re right. That kind of solution isn’t what I have in mind for business.” I handed her the two-page proposal Sly and I worked out.

  “It’s pretty straightforward,” I said. “Look it over. Run it by your foundation.”

  She unfolded the paper. Her eyes darted across the page as she processed it. I knew it was a fair offer. Way more fair than she’d get from the county if they even agreed to take it on. She folded the paper back up and put it on the counter.

  “Thank you,” she said. “They’ll be more than interested.”

  “Good,” I said. “That’s out of the way. Why don’t we …”

  She slid off the bar stool. “I don’t know what it is with me,” she said, catching me off guard. Whatever was going on with her, I got the sense she’d been working up to this all day.

  “You,” she said, turning to me. “Today ... this morning ... when I found out … Ugh. This isn’t like me. I need you to know that. I’m not impulsive.”

  “I get that,” I said, smiling. Damn, she was even sexier like this. Flustered. Off guard. She whirled around and started pacing. I liked watching how her breasts bounced a little when she turned every few steps.

  “No, you don’t. That’s just the point. I mean, my God. The other night … I was ready to ... I almost.”

  “No,” I said. “You didn’t. And no matter what you think of me, I’m not into plying chicks with alcohol. I’d want you with your eyes wide open.”

  She flushed bright red and stopped in her tracks. “It wasn’t the bourbon, Angel. I mean ... it was. Of course it was. But ... I can’t stop. This isn’t who I am.”

  “What isn’t?”

  “The way I am when I’m around you.”

  “And how is that?”

  She flapped her hands and hit them against her thighs. “Flustered. Stammering. Out of control.”

  “Maura …” I slid off the bar stool.

&n
bsp; “No! I have to get this out. I know I was wrong about you. I was unfair. I assumed because you wear that cut that you’re ... that I should stay away You’re not a bad guy. I get that now. But I told you the other day I’m not used to asking for help. It makes me uncomfortable. I don’t like owing people.”

  I raised a brow. “Maura, everybody needs a little help every now and again. And I never said you owed me anything. That proposal is a fair offer. You know it. I’m not looking for paybacks.”

  “Oh, for crying out loud,” she said. She came to me and slid her hands up my chest, curving them around my neck. “I’m bad at this. Really bad.”

  “Bad at what?” She smelled so good. That crazy little pulse jumped in her temple. I tried like hell to keep my gaze focused on her eyes.

  “I just ... I want to get you out of my system. I want to do something that’s really out of character for me. But if I do it, I’m afraid you’ll get the wrong idea.”

  I slid my hands over her hips. She let out a little sigh and her lids grew heavy. I could feel her heat. As much as I wanted her, I think she wanted me even more.

  “Are you a gentleman, Angel?” she whispered.

  I smiled. “Not really, Maura.”

  She gasped. “Oh, thank God!” She did a little jump, putting her lips to mine. Fuck. She tasted just as sweet as I knew she would.

  I kissed her, sliding my hands up her back. I lifted her off the ground. “Oh!” She let out a moan then wrapped her legs around my waist. I took her to the couch and gently set her down. I stretched my body along the length of hers. My fingers played across her stomach. I pulled her top out of her jeans. Fuck. She wasn’t wearing a bra.

  “Please,” she sighed. “Angel. I want you.”

  It might have been a good idea to wait. I knew in my heart I wanted a hell of a lot more from this woman than a quick fuck. But lust flared hot and I couldn’t hold back another second. All my good intentions flew right out the window as Maura arched her back and wriggled out of her top.

  “Fuck,” I whispered. She had perfect tits. Round as apples with pink nipples that stood on end for me. I licked one, then the other.

  “Yes!” she gasped. I was all in. There was no going back. She fumbled with my fly, then found me hard and ready.

  I kissed along the column of her throat, working her sweet nipples with my fingers. She thrust up against me. As I pulled at her jeans, she helped me, arching her back again. Within seconds, I had her fully naked, her panties wound around her ankles. Her heat got to me. As I swirled my tongue around one pert nipple, I slid a hand between her legs. Jesus. She was hot, wet, ready.

  She gently guided my cock to her slick opening. I pulled back. I wanted to see her. I wanted to take her all in. I hooked one hand around her ankle and lifted it high, draping it over the back of the couch. She spread wide for me. Her cheeks flushed and she threw her head back. I sat up and watched her as she slid a finger into her own pussy. God, it was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. I reached in my back pocket and pulled out a condom. Maura’s eyes flashed with lust as I slipped it on.

  “Yes!” she whispered. “Please! Angel! Now!”

  Later, I planned to take my time with her. For now, my need drove out the rest of the world. I positioned myself above her. She spread her legs even wider. She thrust up, begging for me with her body. Then I guided my cock into her.

  She felt so good. So wet. So tight. Her eyes popped open as I advanced. She reared up and wrapped her legs around me. I felt just the tiniest band of resistance as I thrust into her. Fuck. Was she a virgin? She couldn’t be. It didn’t matter.

  She shuddered. I felt her walls clench as she took her orgasm. She came so fast, so hard. Either she really was a virgin or she hadn’t done this in a damn long time. The instant that thought flashed into my head, a protective rage came with it. I never wanted her to give herself to anyone but me.

  The instant I thought it, my own lust reached its peak. I came hard and strong, rising along with her. Maura screamed my name, leading me home. She was perfect. Strong. Soft. She fit around me like she was born for me. She hugged me close and held on. My tongue found hers. We tumbled, ending up on the floor. I drove into her even deeper and she opened for me with each and every thrust.

  As she crested down, she grew heavy in my arms, drowsy with her spent desire. I wanted more. I knew I would take it. This was only the beginning. That night on the couch, something happened to me I hadn’t expected. As Maura quivered and took me in, it became more than just a quick fuck. I meant to claim her. She said she wanted to get me out of her system, but she’d just become part of mine.

  Chapter Twelve

  Maura

  We never made it out of my apartment. I hadn’t planned it. Not any of it. But when Angel stood there looking like he did, smelling like he did, smoldering like he did ... I had to do something.

  “You go from one extreme to the other.” I heard my mother’s voice in my head. Never warm. Always hot or cold, black or white.

  As Angel lay draped over the side of the bed, sleeping on his stomach, I knew she was right. Dammit all, my mother was right. But maybe now I could get my head back on straight. Maybe now I could look at Angel and not wonder what it would be like if I let him touch me. I could focus on business. I could get back to normal.

  I was an idiot.

  Angel stirred. Strands of light came in through the window blinds, casting Angel’s body in blue shadows. I turned to my side, propping myself up on one arm as I watched him sleep. He was magnificent, like sculpted marble. From the hard-cut lines of his biceps and forearms to his tattooed back. I grew bold, reaching for him. I traced the swirling ink between his shoulder blades. He bore the symbol of the Great Wolves M.C. on his right shoulder. He grunted. I drew my hand away but he didn’t wake. The sheet slipped a little, revealing his tight, round ass. God. I think it was my favorite part.

  Even though there was no one to see me, I blushed. No. His ass was my second favorite part. Heat flooded my senses as I remembered how good he’d felt last night. One touch. One light kiss, and I was done for. He had me panting, soaked, ready to offer him anything he wanted.

  He filled me, driving himself home. He reached places inside of me that had never been touched before. I’d only ever been with one other guy. Garth Lewis. It had been another impulsive decision on my part. I’d made it all the way through college and decided I didn’t want to be a virgin anymore. Garth was in my first year torts class and he seemed so smart. He was. He was also a jerk. I found out later he’d made a bet with some of the other first years that he could get in my pants. I’d been so humiliated. I realized much later it was Garth who should have been embarrassed. He’d been a fumbling mess and I never even came.

  So last night was a different kind of first. Oh God. He was so good. Like a drug, I knew I could become addicted to the way he made me feel. Beautiful. Powerful. Strong.

  I smoothed the hair away from his face. It would be so easy to just let myself get carried away. I’d never really known a guy like Angel before. He took care of things. So far, he’d done everything he told me he would.

  I kissed his temple, loving his strong, masculine scent. In the dark like this, I could let my guard down. I could just drink him in and not worry about the consequences. As soon as he woke up, everything would change. I smoothed my hand down his strong back. He shifted and the sheet fell all the way off him. That’s when I saw his scars. I gasped. On his left side, just below his rib cage, he had a deep, puckered, round gash. There were thin surgical scars above and below it. I didn’t have to have a medical background to guess this wound had been severe. Had he been stabbed? Shot?

  I pulled the sheet back over him and reached for the t-shirt I kept draped over the headboard. Angel woke, startling me. He caught my wrist.

  “Come here,” he said, his voice sexy and groggy.

  “I have to …”

  He was so strong though. He slid his arm around me and pulled me to him. His
warmth enveloped me and made me feel so safe.

  “I’m a mess,” I said. “I was just about to hop in the shower.”

  “Mmmm. Sounds like a perfect plan.”

  “No. Really. I need to get going. You probably do too.”

  He kissed me. Oh yes. I could get addicted to the taste of him. Though it had been so wonderful, our lovemaking had been hurried last night. I wondered how good he could feel if we took our time.

  No. Not that. I couldn’t let it be more than just last night. I had work to do. He lived in a world I’d shied away from my whole life. This was crazy. I had to keep my head. But oh, when Angel’s fingers played along my hips and he turned me, stretching along the length of my body, I never wanted him to stop.

  “Where are you off to in such a hurry, baby?” he said.

  I kissed him back. It was as if my body had disconnected from my brain. I craved him. Threading my fingers through his hair, I pulled him closer. “I have to get to work. I’ve got court this afternoon.”

  “That’s this afternoon,” he said, practically purring in my ear. “And don’t you run the place?”

  “Mmmm.” It was on my lips to argue, but Angel slid a skillful finger between my thighs. Instinct drove me and I parted my legs just a little, giving him better access.

  “Fuck. Do you have any idea how sexy you are?” he said. “You’re perfect.”

  “I was about to say the same about you,” I whispered. This was wrong. This wasn’t me. Then why did I feel more myself this morning than I ever had?

  “Call your secretary,” he said. “Tell her you’ll be in later. Much, much later.”

  I cupped his jaw with my hand. His blue eyes shone in the light. I liked him like this. Stripped down out of his leather and off his bike. He was still fearsome and powerful. But I felt like I was seeing a side to him he didn’t show many people. And I was doing the same. My breath left me. It had happened so fast.

  I draped one leg over him. He was rigid along my left thigh. If I shifted an inch, he’d be inside me again. Angel was careful though. My hand went to the puckered scar on his back. His eyes flickered as I did it.