Angel Series Books #1-2.5

by Tracy Lorraine

  “She told you what I said?”

  “No, just that you didn’t want to ruin our friendship. She would never break your confidence, you know that.”

  “Yeah, I know,” she says in a quiet voice. She stares right into my eyes. “There is no way I am ruining our friendship because we are both lonely.”

  She continues to look in my eyes as if she is trying to make me believe what she is saying. That all goes to shit when her eyes break contact and move down to look at my mouth, though. I watch as she bites on her bottom lip. I can almost hear the argument she is having with herself. She looks back up and I can see her eyes have darkened.

  “Molly?” I question, to try to bring her back from her daydream, but my mouth moving attracts her attention again. This time I can’t help myself. Our bodies are already so close they are almost touching, so I only have to move my head a little before my lips are right in front of hers.

  She looks back up to my eyes before our lips touch, and I can see an approval in them. I take the leap and when our lips meet, it feels like fireworks are exploding around my body. I lift one hand and place it on her cheek to wipe away any remaining tears, while the other one goes to her hip, pulling her body against mine. I run my tongue along the join of Molly’s lips, asking for her to open up for me. She hesitates, but eventually I can slide my tongue in. As soon as it touches hers, another round of fireworks erupts through my body. I pull her tighter against me and rub my now almost painful dick into her stomach, while I put everything I have into our kiss.

  I have kissed a few girls in my time, but none of them were anything like this. It’s fucking unbelievable. My pulse is racing so much. I reluctantly pull my mouth away from hers so I can catch my breath. I place kisses along her jaw and down her neck, returning to the sweet spot under her ear. I hear her moan when I caress it with my tongue.

  I’m just about to move back to her lips when her phone starts ringing, snapping us both out of our sexual haze. I have to lean back against the wall to stop myself from falling. My whole body feels weak just from kissing her. I watch as she walks over to her phone and answers it.

  “Hello?” she questions. I check my watch and see that it is now nearly four am. Who the hell is calling at this time?

  “Adam, hi. Are you having a good holiday?”

  Hearing his name brings me down from the high I was on. Wanting to hear as much of the conversation as I can, I move over and sit on the sofa next to Molly.

  “Yeah, it’s great,” I hear him say on the other end. “I can’t stop thinking about you though.” If I hadn’t already come back to earth with a bang, then hearing that definitely finished me off.

  “Aw, that’s sweet, Adam.”

  “So I fly back in early Saturday morning. Will you meet me for breakfast?” I hear him ask.

  “Um, won’t you be tired?”

  “Maybe, but I want to see you.”

  “Uh, okay then, text me the details.”

  My heart drops into my stomach. She said yes, like I wasn’t just dry humping her against the wall.

  “Look, Adam, I don’t mean to be rude, but you do know what the time is here, don’t you?” she questions him.

  “The guys just said it should be the middle of the afternoon. Is that not right?”

  “Add on about twelve hours and they would be.”

  “Hang on,” I hear him say followed by “Oi, you bunch of shits. Don’t fucking run, you pussies,” shouted away from the phone. I can’t help but smirk. “Sorry about that, I think I may have wound them up talking about you to them all week, and they’ve just got their own back.”

  “No problem. Let me know where you want to meet Saturday and enjoy the rest of your holiday. Bye.” With that, she hangs up and relaxes back on the sofa.

  “Look, Ryan,” she turns to look at me and I can tell what is coming next just from the look on her face. “What just happened.” She gestures towards the wall. “Well, it shouldn’t have done. You are my best friend and I intend on it staying that way. I’m going out with Adam on Saturday, and I suggest you try and find someone to do the same with so we can put whatever is going on between us to bed.”

  I just stare at her, open-mouthed, completely lost for words. The only thing that is going around in my head is ‘I love you’, ‘I love you’, and I’m thinking this wouldn’t be the best time for that little announcement. And as for me finding someone else? Yeah, I don’t think that is going to be happening anytime soon. All I can see is Molly.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Molly

  I’m sat staring at my sketchpad the next afternoon. I should be coming up with a new logo for a guy starting up a new building company in the city, but all I can think about is last night.

  That kiss.

  Holy shit, that kiss was like nothing I have ever experienced before. It was like the moment his lips touched mine, my entire body was alight. I can hardly say I’m lacking experience when it comes to guys, but I can honestly say I’ve never felt anything like that before. If Adam hadn’t chosen to ring at that moment, I can only imagine how far it would have gone, because at the time I had no intention of stopping, and I got the idea Ryan didn’t either from how he was grinding his very obvious excitement into my stomach.

  “Molly…Molly…ooooh, earth calling Molly,” I hear Jax saying next to me. I snap my eyes up to him and see his brows drawn in concern. “You’ve been away with the fairies all day. Are you sure everything is okay?”

  “Uh, yeah sorry,” I say, sounding very unconvincing.

  “No, I’m not letting you get away with that. Come on, grab your bag. We are going to that wine bar down the street and you are going to tell me all about it.”

  I grab my bag as he shuts both our computers down and tidies up slightly.

  I watch Jax walk back from the bar with our fourth or fifth glass of wine. We’ve been chatting about all sorts since we’ve been here. He’s told me more about Lucy. I’m so jealous of how goofy he looks when he talks about her. I want someone to look like that when they talk about me.

  “Does she not mind you being out getting drunk with me?”

  “No, she’s fine with it. One of her friends has just broken up with her boyfriend; she’s been spending a lot of time with her. Apparently, she’s a mess. Lucy’s friends are really important to her. She’s always doing something with one of them. It’s one of the things I love - she’s so caring of the people who are important to her.” There’s that goofy face again.

  I look down at my glass and watch the condensation run down the side. I let out a large breath I didn’t realise I was holding.

  “So, now you’re suitably tipsy, what the hell is wrong?”

  “Ryan,” I say looking up at him. I go on to explain everything that has happened over the past few days. Jax takes on board everything I say, but lets me talk until I’ve worn myself out.

  “Let me get this right, you only want to be friends with him even though you feel so strongly about him?”

  “Yes, there is too much at stake to lose.”

  “So you are going to torture yourself, and him by the sounds of it, by keeping up the façade that you just want to be friends?”

  “I’m not torturing myself. I love being his friend. And he’ll find someone like I’ve got Adam.”

  “Hm, yeah, okay Molly. You keep telling yourself that.” I fix him with the dirtiest look I can manage in my drunken state.

  We finish our drinks, then Jax finds us a taxi. I tell him that he should be dropped off first because he lives in the city centre, but he refuses and gives the driver my address. He insists that he needs to make sure I’m home safe first. Such a gentleman - I hope Lucy knows just how lucky she is.

  I’m stood at my front door, fumbling around in my giant handbag, trying to find my keys. Eventually, Jax gets impatient and rings the doorbell. There are lights on so Ryan must still be up. I give up with looking for my keys and lean against the door, waiting for Ryan to appear.

&nbs
p; I think I must have fallen asleep stood up a little bit, because the next thing I know I’m falling into a very naked and slightly damp chest. I open my eyes to find my cheek pressed into Ryan’s ripped pec. Looking down at his abs, I see droplets of water running down to soak into the waistband of his boxers. I look lower to see that is all he is wearing. My drunken self is very happy with my findings.

  I slowly rake my eyes back up his torso until I have my head tipped back so I can look up to his face. I’m shocked by what I see. He is staring straight ahead of him and his jaw is set like he’s about to fight. I turn my head to see he is glaring right at Jax.

  “What the fuck have you done to her?” he growls. I feel his hands come around my waist to hold me up.

  “What have I done to her? What the fuck, man? We went for a drink after work and got a bit carried away. Molly had some things she needed to get off her chest and she needed a little Dutch courage to spit it out.”

  “So you got her drunk to get what you wanted?”

  “What? No! I was being a friend and helping her, listening to her. She’s been distracted all day, not been herself at all. Something was obviously seriously bothering her.”

  “If she needs a friend because she’s got an issue, I’m here. She knows I’m always here for her. You can go now. You’ve done enough, clearly.”

  I’m listening to their exchange and want to speak, but my mouth won’t connect with my brain and work properly.

  “She can’t talk to you about everything, Ryan. She is allowed other friends.”

  “Yes, she is, but not ones who are trying to get in her knickers.”

  “Ha, that’s rich,” Jax bounces back, making me smile. “I’ve got a girlfriend - I have no interest in Molly’s knickers. I suggest you sort out your attitude ready for when you meet her tomorrow night. I stupidly told Molly to invite you along for dinner with us. I thought it would be good to get to know each other properly, but the more I see of you, the more I’m thinking it’s not a good idea. I don’t know what she sees in you.”

  “Likewise.”

  “Molly, I’ll see you at work tomorrow after you’ve slept off your hangover.” I hear Jax walk off, the car door shutting, and then driving off.

  I wake up to a pounding in my head. It takes me a few seconds to remember why it hurts so much. Flashbacks from last night flit through my mind. Me telling Jax everything about Ryan whilst drinking too much wine. Jax bringing me home and having a stand-off with Ryan at the front door. Me crushed up against Ryan’s almost naked body. Just the thought of that makes my temperature rise slightly. I don’t remember getting in bed, though. I roll over to look at the time to see it’s almost midday. God, I need to get to work. I notice a glass of water and packet of painkillers on the bedside table. They are a very welcome sight. I sit up so I can take them, and it’s when the covers slide off me that I realise I’m just in my underwear. I suddenly have a fear that Ryan will have stripped me off last night and got me into bed. Oh God, I hope I didn’t do anything stupid.

  Thirty minutes later, I’m dressed and ready for work. My head is starting to clear thanks to the tablets Ryan left for me. I head upstairs for breakfast - or lunch, I guess. When I enter the living area, I see Ryan sat at the breakfast bar in front of his laptop with a cup of coffee halfway to his mouth. When he hears me coming, he puts it back down and looks over at me with a smirk on his face.

  “What’s that look for?” I watch him laugh at me. “What?”

  “If you don’t know, Molly, then I am not telling you!”

  “Shit, what did I do last night? The last thing I remember is Jax leaving.”

  “That’s a good thing. You probably wouldn’t be facing me right now if you remembered!”

  “Oh fuck! I’m never drinking again! Speaking of Jax, what the fuck is your problem with him?”

  “I just don’t like him. He’s trying to get in your knickers and he’s not good enough for you.”

  “No, he’s not. He’s in love with his girlfriend. He’s not once tried anything with me. He’s just my friend.”

  “I’m not convinced. He rubs me up the wrong way.”

  “Well, he is fast becoming a good friend and the four of us are going out for dinner tonight, and you will be nice.”

  “Why are you dragging me along? I don’t want to spend a Friday night with him.”

  “Because it’s important to me. You, Ryan, are my best friend, and Jax is my friend. I want you both to get along because you are both in my life and neither of you are going anywhere anytime soon. Plus, I’m dying to meet Lucy, but I don’t want to be a gooseberry”

  “Brilliant,” he replies sarcastically.

  “The table’s booked for seven-thirty at the Fat Dog. I’ll drive, so be ready for seven please, and make sure you wear a smile!”

  “I can’t believe the size of that engagement ring. It must have cost Jax thousands. I noticed he’s been floating on cloud nine since we got back from Liverpool but I didn’t think much of it. I wasn’t in a million years expecting him to announce he had asked Lucy to marry him. I mean ,they’ve only been together a couple of months. They barely know each other.”

  “Yeah, it is fast, but if it’s right, it’s right I guess, and you just know.”

  “I guess so. What did you think of Lucy?” I ask. I’m driving us back home after our meal with the happy couple. We had a nice enough evening. Ryan was on his best behaviour after I threatened him with never cooking for him again. But there was something about Lucy that didn’t sit right with me.

  “She was okay,” he says, shrugging his shoulders.

  “There was something strange about her. She seemed quite fake, like she was constantly trying too hard.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Wow, you’re full of words tonight, Ry!”

  “Sorry. But now you mention it, it was like she was doing anything she could to keep Jax happy. It was a bit ‘yes Jax’, ‘no Jax’, ‘whatever you say, Jax’, batting her eyelashes.”

  “She was not what I imagined at all from the way he talks about her. He loves her and wants to marry her though, so I guess that is all that matters.”

  “As long as he isn’t trying to get at you, I’m happy.”

  “Seriously Ryan, what is your issue with him? He was nothing but nice to you tonight.”

  “I just don’t like him. And he was only nice to me because you were there. He dislikes me just as much as I dislike him.”

  “He does not. You’re talking shit, Ry,” I say, as we pull up on the drive and get out. “I’m gonna get changed. If you’re going to the kitchen, pour me a glass of wine please.”

  “I didn’t think you were drinking ever again,” Ryan comments as he follows me into the hallway.

  “Yeah well, maybe I was exaggerating.” I hear him laugh as he makes his way upstairs.

  “Thank you,” I say to Ryan as I settle myself on the sofa in front of a glass of wine he has left for me on the coffee table.

  “That’s okay, I’ll be back in a minute,” he says as he heads for the door. “God, I can’t wait for winter,” I hear him mutter quietly to himself.

  “Why not?” he turns back towards me at my words, looking shocked.

  “You heard that?” I just nod. “Don’t worry.” I see his cheeks redden slightly.

  “No, you’re not getting away with that. What did you mean?”

  “Ugh, for God’s sake, woman. I was thinking that when it’s cold I won’t have to put up with you walking around wearing so little.”

  “Oh, well I can go and get changed if you don’t like it.” I stand and walk over to where he is standing so I can go downstairs. “I didn't mean to offend you.” I can tell by his face that isn’t what he meant, but he still refuses to tell me what I did last night so I think a little payback is in order.

  “It…uh…it doesn’t offend me, Molly.”

  I’m stood right in front of him now, so I have to tip my head up to look at him. I try to keep an
innocent look on my face. It’s hard because I just want to laugh at his embarrassment.

  “So what’s the issue?” I can’t help my face breaking into a smile.

  “You’re such a fucking tease, you know that, Molly?” he says as the corners of his lips start to twitch as if he’s holding off his own smile. “Seeing you like that doesn’t offend me one bit,” he says, then moves his head next to mine and whispers in my ear. “It makes me want to rip off what is left covering you, and fuck you against the wall.” He then instantly turns and walks out of the room.

  I stand there in complete shock, not knowing what to do. Just those few words have me so turned on that I’m having to stop myself following him up to his bedroom and doing what he just suggested. I eventually pull myself out of my lust haze and make my way back to the sofa, downing half of my glass of wine to calm the nerves that have overtaken my body.

  Ryan reappears a few minutes later, dressed in grey jogging bottoms and a white fitted V-neck t-shirt, looking completely unaffected by what he said to me a few moments ago. I can’t help but notice how hot he looks, though. His joggers hang low on his hips; I’d only have to tug gently to make them pool at his ankles. The thought has me biting the inside of my cheek and my hands holding my wine glass way too tightly.

  “You okay, Molls?”

  It’s only when he says that that I realise I was staring. I have to clear my throat before saying yes.

  Ryan

  The way Molly is looking at me right now makes me realise the decision I have made is the right one. She keeps telling me she just wants us to be friends, but then she looks at me like she wants to devour me, and I can only just stop myself from walking straight over to her and crushing my body to hers.

  The memory of kissing her a few nights ago has been going round and round in my mind. No matter what I do, I can’t get rid of it. It was the most amazing kiss I’ve ever known, and fuck me if I don’t want to do it again.