by April Lust
“God,” I gasped, breaking the kiss and burying my face in her sweet neck. She felt so amazingly good, I could barely move. The pleasure increased when she bucked her hips against mine, and soon she was fucking me, even though I was the one on top.
Angel’s muscles strained and braced against my body. She squeezed her eyes shut and let out a strangled cry before digging her nails into my back and rubbing her body against mine. I realized her clit was bumping against my pubic bone. I grinned wickedly; the only thing better than fucking Angel was watching her get off against me.
“Trey,” she whimpered. She threw her head back and I felt the muscles of her pussy clench around me. Watching her writhe and moan with the force of her orgasm sent my level of arousal to a new height and, before I knew it, I was gasping and coming along with her. My cock pumped ropes of cum inside her and every muscle in my body clenched and released with my powerful release.
We stayed locked together like that for a second or two. My heart was beating wildly in my chest like a drum, and Angel looked like she’d just run a marathon.
“That was amazing,” Angel said softly. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close. “I love you.”
I swallowed. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t say them. It was too much, too intimate. I’d just given Angel the fucking of her lifetime and I was exhausted, but part of me was almost nervous. What if she decided she never wanted to see me again?
I shook my head. I couldn’t start thinking like that, not now. Not when everything I knew was about to blow up. Not when Damien was hot on my trail, not when I was worried about Angel. Not when I had a son to discover and get to know. Thinking about Chuckie made me feel emotional, but in a different way. Some of the anger was still there; I didn’t think I could immediately forgive Angel for keeping him from me like that. But she’d already shown she wanted me, that she still wanted me.
My mouth hardened into a thin line. I’d thought she had wanted to be with me before, too. And look what happened: I wound up alone, like always. Someone like Angel wasn’t ever going to think someone like me was good enough for her.
“Trey?” Angel’s voice broke me out of my reverie. “Are you okay?”
I blinked at her. “I’m fine,” I muttered.
Angel was reclining on the bed. She was still naked, but almost before my eyes I saw the delicious pink flush fading from her skin. Her gaze had been lustful and determined only a few minutes ago, but now she looked scared. She covered her mouth with a hand. Do you regret telling me you love me? I wanted to ask. Are you sure you still meant it? Because you fucking left me years ago, honey. And you better be sure this time that it’s for real.
“Okay,” Angel said. She swallowed hard and pulled the sheet up to cover her luscious body. I watched as her magnificent tits disappeared in a sea of white cotton. “Was that okay? I mean, I’m sorry if that shouldn’t have happened.” She reached up and pulled her mass of red hair over a pale shoulder. “I’m sorry,” Angel added, her voice barely audible this time. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s fine,” I told her. But my voice must have been unconvincing.
Angel’s response was to pink in the cheeks and wrap the sheet more tightly around her body. I watched as she tried to crawl out of bed without exposing her body to me. I wanted to laugh. Not five minutes ago she’d bared her whole self for me to see, for me to taste, for me to fuck. For me to take, I thought to myself. All mine. Just like always, just like before.
“Should I go?” Angel looked up at me. “I mean, back to Chuckie?”
I shook my head. “Do what you want,” I said flatly. Part of me wanted her to leave. I wanted to be alone; I had a lot of shit to think about. But the other part of me didn’t want to think about anything. I wanted to set my jaw, climb on my bike, and ride hundreds of miles away where no one had even heard of Trey Minter.
“Okay,” Angel said. She swallowed and stood up.
I wished she’d cut out the damsel act. It was annoying, and not like her real self at all. Angel was fiery, passionate. She wasn’t this weak, awkward creature I was seeing now. I could tell she was nervous, but it was getting on my nerves and making me feel anxious. I couldn’t deal with Angel when she was unsure. It had been one of the things we’d always fought about when we were together. Now, if Angel told me she wanted to go to a motel and never go back to her parents again, I wouldn’t hesitate. I’d kick the door down with my foot and carry her over the threshold. She’d be mine. Maybe if I’d done that very thing years ago, she never would have left. Maybe Chuckie would have grown up with a father; maybe Angel wouldn't be living in a hovel in the worst part of town.
But maybe not. Maybe if we’d stayed together, I wouldn’t have gotten hooked up with the Skullbreakers. Maybe I never would have made any money. I could see young Angel persuading me to stay in legit business. But I was never the type for schooling. I didn’t even think I could graduate from a community college, much less dedicate myself to an education and providing for my family. Maybe if Angel and I had stayed together, we would have split up down the line anyway. After all, poverty took a toll on happiness. I’d watched my mother fretting over the bills and debt much longer than she really should have. I could tell a poor woman scared off any potential boyfriends, too. Sometimes I wondered what really would have happened if I’d grown up with a father.
And that was just the thing. Was Chuckie damned to repeat my same mistakes? Was depriving him of a father going to hurt him exponentially down the line? There was no way of knowing.
Angel had pulled her sweater over her head by the time I turned around. I watched as she stepped into her jeans, fastening the snap and tugging her sweater down. It did nothing to hide the glorious curves of her body; there was no doubt Angel was just as sexy as ever. She stepped in the bathroom to wash her face as I yanked a clean shirt over my head and pulled my pants up. When she emerged, her skin was pink, soft, and dewy. I could tell she’d washed her face, but her eyes also looked pink. Was it possible she’d been crying? A stab of pain hit me in the gut but I closed my eyes and willed it away.
I could see the girl she’d been when she was this vulnerable. She had the same wanton look about her, the same fiery tenderness. Even though she was older, more refined, the sex was better than ever. She’d been so eager to please me — and to be pleased herself. It was almost like sleeping with a new woman, but not quite. Angel had been the most meaningful woman in my life for years and years. Aside from my mother, she was the only woman I’d ever loved. Love, my mind corrected itself. You still love her, and you know it. She’s the only woman for you, and you’ll never be able to forget her, much less get over her. Face it. She’s it, man.
I cleared my throat as Angel crossed the threshold of my room. She looked up at me with a curious expression on her face. It was part hurt, part curiosity.
“I’m going to go see Chuckie,” she said softly.
I shook my head. “Wait,” I told her. I pointed at the bed. “Sit down.”
Angel opened her mouth to speak but she changed her mind. Flushing, she walked over to the bed and perched her perfect ass on the end. “What is it?”
“Just why exactly did you think it was okay to leave?” I glared at her. “You forget; we haven’t talked about this. Why on earth did you do that? Ram was here to protect you. Are you stupid?”
Angel had been watching me with a carefully studied expression but she opened her mouth in indignation at my last remark. “Of course not!” she said hotly. “Can’t you tell I was dying for some fresh air? I felt so cooped up in here! I had no idea anything would happen!”
I laughed humorlessly. “That’s just it, you don’t think, Angel,” I told her. “Something really bad could happen to you if you keep up, honey. Don’t think it won’t. I can only protect you if I know where you are.”
Angel glared at me. Her ruffled expression sent another shockwave of lust through my body. I wondered what s
he would do if I unzipped my pants and held her hostage for another couple of hours. I could tell she was angry; her pose was tense and the hair on her arms was standing up. But the way her green eyes were hugging my body was indicative of something else, that she still wanted me just as much as I wanted her. All traces of the fragile, quiet Angel had disappeared and she was a raging vixen once again. She raised her eyebrows at me and crossed her arms over her chest.
“I bet you think you can just tell me what to do and you think I’ll listen,” she said in a low voice. “I bet you think I’ll do anything you say!”
“Only if you’re smart,” I cracked. Angel flushed with anger and I chuckled. “I mean, if you want those guys to come grab you again, be my guest. I bet you weren’t expecting to see them again, were you?”
Angel gave me another furious glare. “Of course not. I wasn’t expecting to be grabbed by some thugs! This is all your fault, Trey. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here in the first place.”
Anger boiled over in me and I glared at her, stalking the room and staring at the walls, the ceiling, anywhere but Angel’s beautiful face. “That’s a bit much,” I snarled. “You should be thanking me, really.”
“For what?” Angel’s face twisted in anger. “For disappearing on me? For never calling? For never coming back? Yeah, I really deserved that!”
I crossed my arms over my chest. I had a brief thought to take a deep breath, to try to forget all about Angel and her temptations. But the rage coursed through me, hotter than lust, more powerful than love. “That’s rich coming from you.” It was almost funny. Did she not remember what happened? She was the one who had left me. “I mean, rich as Mommy and Daddy used to be.”
Angel stood up and stalked over to the door. With her hand on the knob, she whirled around and glared at me. I saw tears building but I didn’t care. If she was trying to play me and manipulate me, it wasn’t going to fucking work. After all, I wasn’t born yesterday. I was Trey Minter, president of the Skullbreakers. Damnit, I was someone!
“I didn’t ask you to rescue me,” Angel said under her breath. Her voice was so quiet I could barely hear her. “I didn’t ask you to step in.” She blinked and I saw a single tear roll down her cheek. “And I didn’t ask you to come back into my life and fuck it all up again,” she added.
Before I could reply, she let herself out of my room and slammed the door. I heard her soft footsteps running down the hall.
For some reason, I didn’t feel as good as I thought I should. After all, what the fuck was she talking about? Had she gone crazy in the years since I’d left? She didn’t seem crazy, but I didn’t know what was going on in that head of hers. Even back when we’d been close, I’d never been a mind-reader. I’d never known what Angel had wanted. It was obvious the kind of life she’d have, or so I’d thought at the time. Her parents wanted to bundle her off to some expensive private college, then make sure she got a cushy job and married a doctor or a lawyer or someone. Anyone who could give her a better life than I could. I saw her working as a secretary for maybe a year or two before marrying the executive who was sure to be at least fifteen years older than she was. Then she’d insist on being a stay at home mom. The next thing she knew, she’d be dropping her kids off at the same private college she’d attended in her youth.
But obviously, something had changed. Something had happened to make Angel break off ties with her parents and try to keep her life separate from theirs. It was puzzling, especially because she had a child. Angel was proud, but she was the type of person to prioritize a kid’s life over her own. I wondered what could have possibly happened to make her change her mind and go her own way. As grandparents, her parents could have helped out a lot. Chuckie was in public school, and though he was well cared for, his clothes were obviously secondhand, just like Angel’s. All the food at her house had been store brand, and her car was over fifteen years old. She’d apparently gotten really good at making appearances look normal, but compared to how polished she’d been in her youth, I could tell things had really changed. Plus, she was working as a librarian. I didn’t know much, but I knew you needed a college degree for a job like that. College was expensive, and I could guess the libraries probably didn’t pay much. After all, she was almost thirty. If she’d had the life her parents had planned for her, she wouldn’t have worked past the age of twenty-five.
I had a big house, and it was totally silent. I wondered what Angel was saying to Chuckie. He was a cute kid. Smart, too. I wondered if he could pick up on anything going on between me and his mom. Except there isn’t anything going on, I thought. You’re crazy if you think she’s gonna want anything else to do with you, man.
I shook my head and stretched. I could go for a drink, but after what had happened, I didn’t want to leave Angel alone. I was angry with her, but she obviously had no idea how bad things had really gotten. I didn’t think she would have left if she thought there was a chance those jackasses would come back for her. Part of me almost felt prideful over this; it must mean that she trusted me implicitly. Well, good for her. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to trust her ever again, especially not if she kept walking off like that. As much as I’d threatened to leave her alone, I knew I couldn’t stay away if there was a chance she was in danger. She’d have to stay with me until I’d dealt with Damien once and for all.
Damien. Just thinking about his name put a foul taste in my mouth. It wasn’t enough that my ex-buddy wanted to ruin me. No, he had to go after my ex-girlfriend and her son. That was nefarious. I shook my head. He was a lot eviler than I’d first given him credit for. I felt stupid for not trusting him years ago when he first told me he’d get me back. I’d brushed it off as meaningless. But, obviously, he hadn’t forgotten about that promise of revenge.
Between Damien and Angel, my whole life felt like it had turned upside down in a matter of days. I opened the door and walked down the hallway, half expecting Angel to pop out of nowhere and tell me she was leaving, or something equally outrageous. It was a contradiction: I wanted her around and yet I couldn’t stand the sight of her. More than ever, she inspired a fiery reaction within me. It was the same way before; even when I’d worshipped her, she always found a way to get on my nerves. We’d had a tumultuous and loving relationship. Even if we couldn’t have that ever again, I still had to protect her.
“Hey, man, penny for your thoughts,” Ram said. He was sitting in a chair at the kitchen table, his little handgun on the table in front of him.
When I glared at him, he seemed to shrink back. I wondered if he was thinking about Angel again, and how he’d basically let her escape. There hadn’t been time to yell at him when I’d gotten Angel home. But now, some of the anger was coming back.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” I hissed, leaning down in his face. “You realize she could have been killed?”
Ram nodded tersely. “I know,” he replied automatically. “I’m sorry, man. She told me she was taking a bath and then she must have crept out the window. She made up some bullshit lie about how her period had started. She asked to go out and buy tampons or pads or whatever the fuck chicks use. I was caught off guard, man; that’s completely my fault. I should have known she was up to no good.”
I shook my head and let out a humorless laugh. “It’s okay, man,” I told him as I cuffed him on the shoulder. “I get it. She’s fuckin’ crafty.”
“She really is,” Ram said. “Are you okay? Did she get in another scrape?”
I felt my stomach twist into knots. “It’s worse than that,” I told Ram. “I think Damien is behind all of this shit. I thought it was a coincidence until I showed up at his place and he told me he’d basically set his thugs on her.”
Ram let out a low whistle. “Damn, man,” he said, sucking in his breath.
I shook my head. “It’s some fucked up shit,” I told him. Getting up, I ambled over to the fridge and pulled out a couple of beers. “You want one of these?”
Ram glanced
nervously down at his gun.
I let out a chuckle. “It’s fine, man,” I told him. “I’m not going out again tonight. I’m gonna be here. You can relax a little bit.”
Ram relaxed his face and reached out for the longneck. “Thanks, man,” he said after he’d gulped half of the beer. “This is good right now.”
I settled down in my chair without saying anything. Angel was weighing heavily on my mind. Ram was my best friend, and I told him everything. But, somehow, this seemed like it would be an awkward conversation. I wasn’t ready to let him know, at least not everything. Not about Chuckie, at least.