“No, I’ve gotta stop.” Ashley turned on the blinker, signaling to Cale and Rhen she was taking the next exit a quarter mile up.
He tried to tamp the surge of anger rolling up inside him. What in the hell was she doing? If they stopped now, they’d just fall farther behind. “Ash—”
“I can’t take it anymore, Mitch. I’ve got to get out of this car. I’m tired, I’m hungry, and I’ve got to go to the bathroom. This is ridiculous. We’re not going to fall behind. Olivia will need to stop and rest, too. Liam won’t force her to travel at this pace. It’s inhumane!”
Dramatic much? “All right, Ash. Jeez, take it easy.”
She shot him a “you’re on my last nerve” glare. Neither one of them had said very much in the last eight hours. Since meeting Haden, Ashley seemed even more convinced they were heading to their doom. Mitch wasn’t so sure—not that he really cared. The only thing that mattered to him right now was getting his fiancée back.
“You want to tell me what’s eatin’ at you? Because you haven’t been yourself since Vegas.”
“You’re right, I haven’t been, Mitch. I can’t help but think that you’re making a terrible mistake here. I know you want Olivia back, but I don’t think this is the way to do it. I’m worried for you, and I’m worried for her.”
“You worry too much.”
Ashley reached over and cuffed his arm. “Stop patronizing me! You want to know the truth? The truth is that I’m glad they’re gone! I hope we never find them! If you think this Knight in Shining Armor stunt is going to win her heart, then you don’t know Olivia nearly as well as you think you do! I really don’t think you get that this isn’t about you. It isn’t personal—”
Mitch disagreed. It felt personal as hell.
“—this is about them!” She pointed to the convertible. “Demonic forces are trying to kill her, Mitch! Don’t you get that? How can you think that being in cahoots with them is going to end up well for either one of you?”
The last strand of Mitch’s finely threaded temper snapped. “Why are you even here, Ashley? It’s obvious you never wanted to come, and I never asked you to. So, if you’re going to insist on dragging me down all the time, then maybe I should just finish this trip alone! I think you fail to comprehend the level of contempt I feel toward Liam and what he’s done to me! I was left standing at the altar, Ashley!—humiliated, in front of all my friends and family. The woman I love, gone! You can’t even begin to imagine what that feels like. And if I can’t have Olivia, if this doesn’t work out, then I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he can’t have her, either!”
Ashley wrenched the wheel, and hit the off-ramp, barely missing the turn. Ahead, the convertible’s break lights flashed as it took the shoulder. She had no doubt they’d follow her. Getting rid of those assholes wouldn’t be that easy.
Pulling into the gas station, she came to a tire-screeching halt. The force of deceleration threw Mitch forward and his hand flew out to keep from eating the dash. She looked over at him as if she was staring at a complete stranger.
He hadn’t intended to let those words come flying out like that and he wished like hell he could suck them back in—not that he didn’t mean every single one of them. It was just that she didn’t need to know it. And neither did Balen…
“‘Why am I even here?’” she snapped. “I came here to do what I’ve been trying to do since the day we left! To get you to change your mind and go home before it’s too late and you get yourself killed, you fool! If you really loved Olivia, then you would love her enough to let her choose. I’m starting to think that the only reason you’re here is for revenge, and I won’t be a part of it, Mitch!”
Bloody hell… This was a crucial moment, and he needed to choose his words carefully, because the next few minutes were going to make or break this friendship. He didn’t really want Ashley to leave. Having her here was like having a Balen safety net. He knew the angel would protect him if Ashley wanted him to, and for that reason alone, he needed her on his side.
At this moment, he would say or do just about anything to keep her with him, to keep stringing her along. Painting a hurt, regretful look on his face, he turned to look at her. “I’m sorry, Ash. Really I am. I guess I just got emotional back there and said some stuff I didn’t really mean. I am glad you’re here with me. Your friendship and support has meant more to me than you’ll ever know. Olivia is lucky to have you for a best friend, and so am I.” Gag… Just to make sure he was convincing enough, Mitch reached over and took ahold of her hand. “Please forgive me,” he asked, flashing a charming grin as he bent to press his lips against her hand in a dramatic plea for forgiveness.
When the faintest hint of a smile cracked her scowl, he gave her a big grin. “Come on, Ash. Pull up to the pump and I’ll fill it up. We can get a fresh start in the morning. I’m sure we’ll both feel better once we get some rest.”
Ashley hesitated, seeming skeptical at first, not entirely convinced of his sincerity. After a tense moment, she reluctantly nodded and pulled forward, parking beside the pump.
“Thanks, Ash. You’re the best, you know that, right?”
“Yeah, yeah…” She waved him off, and he flashed her one more grin before climbing out and walking over to the gas pump.
He swiped his card, began filling the tank, and locked the lever in place before walking over to the guys. Cale was standing at the pump, leaning against the car, when Mitch came around the corner. He nodded in acknowledgement, but didn’t say anything as Mitch approached.
“We’re stopping for the night,” Mitch informed the guy. “Ash is beat. I’m going to go get her something to eat before we crash.”
Cale grinned and wagged his brows. “You tappin’ that, buddy?”
I wish. Mitch let out a short, derisive snort of unamused laughter. “You don’t know Balen very well, do you?”
As he turned to walk away, Cale called after him, “It doesn’t matter. If that’s what she wants, there’s nothing he can do about it.”
Mitch froze mid-step, and it suddenly dawned on him that Cale held a wealth of information that could be very useful to him. He was clueless to the rules and laws of the eternal realm, but if Cale was what Ashley claimed him to be... He could learn more about these angels and then he’d have a better chance of getting Olivia away from Liam. Just maybe, he could beat that bastard at his own game.
“Hey, Cale, you want to grab a drink after we get checked in?” Mitch asked, nodding at the Super 8 across the street.
“Sure. Hope you know Haden’s going to be pissed we’re stopping.”
“Can’t be helped. We need the rest, my man.” Mitch turned and walked away, the pump clicking off as he rounded the corner. He pulled the nozzle out of the tank, hung it back up, and refastened the cap. Getting into the car, he said, “All right, I told ‘em we’re stopping for the night. Let’s go get checked in.”
***
It was after ten when Ashley dropped her bags onto the motel floor and flopped down on the bed in total exhaustion—physically and mentally. Her stomach growled and she pressed her hand against it to silence the complaint. She wasn’t sure she had the energy to eat, or the patience to have dinner with Mitch after the thoughtless douche bag remark he made in the car.
She laid there with her eyes closed, letting the exhaustion overtake her as her thoughts drifted to Balen. Where in the hell was he, anyway? She’d been anxious to see him all day, and the fact that he hadn’t showed made her wonder if he wasn’t avoiding either her or Mitch—possibly both.
The more time he spent with her, the harder it was to resist the urge to touch him—to kiss him—hell, to throw herself at him. She knew it was wrong. He didn’t want her like that. Well, perhaps he did, but she’d never know for sure, because he would never let things get that heated between them. Everything about him appealed to her—the way he looked, the way he smelled, and the way he cared for her as if she were the most precious thing in the world to him.
/> She had no doubt that he loved her, but the problem was that she was irrevocably “in love” with him. Despite the convoluted relationship Liam and Olivia shared, she was secretly envious of them because, although they experienced their share of pain together, they also experienced a passion she would give anything to have with Balen, even if it was only for a little while. To be loved that fully…that passionately…
What woman wouldn’t want the chance to experience that?—even if it did ruin her for all other men. As it was, she compared them all to Balen, anyway—measured them by his kiss… It had only been once and all too brief, but the feel of his mouth against hers, the taste of his tongue, was forever imprinted on her memory. She wasn’t saving herself for him. He’d made it clear she’d never be his. But the problem was that no guy had ever been able to heat her blood since him. Not even Nate, and believe her, he’d tried. But after several unsuccessful attempts, he’d figured it out quickly enough, and their relationship had failed to launch, right from the start.
Sighing, she grabbed one of her duffle bags and trudged into the bathroom, feeling like she had a lead weight in each leg. Perhaps a shower was what she needed to clear her mind and help her gain a fresh perspective on the whole Balen situation. It didn’t help matters to know that he’d been right—she could see now that it’d been a mistake to come here with Mitch. The closer they got to finding Olivia, the clearer it became that Mitch might not be the great guy she once thought he was. Maybe that little stunt he’d pulled with her in his bedroom had been the real Mitch, after all, and the alcohol had just been the catalyst for him to let his guard down enough for the true him to come out.
She took a quick shower that did little to refresh her, or her mood. Deciding she wasn’t up to having supper with Mitch, after all, she forwent her bra, put on a tank top, and slid on a pair of black lace boy short panties. Ashley was fingering through her damp curls as she walked into the main room and was instantly struck with the scent of pepperoni pizza—her favorite. She halted mid-step and gasped, looking up to see Balen setting the box on the table.
He glanced at her, and she heard his breath catch across the room. His eyes instantly darkened, turning a deep stormy blue, though she didn’t understand why. He straightened to his full, imposing height and tensed as his hungry gaze swept over her. When it lit on her breasts, she became acutely aware of the fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra. The thin cotton material suddenly felt like sandpaper against her flushed, overheated skin. An ache bloomed deep in her core as his low, throaty groan called to her from across the room.
“Balen…” She didn’t even recognize her own breathless voice. When she spoke, she must have broken his trance, because he hastened a stuttered apology and suddenly disappeared. Leaving her alone, a frustrated scream built in the back of her throat. “Coward,” she grumbled. “I know you can hear me, Balen! You’ve been avoiding me all day and I want to know why.”
Silence answered her. No doubt, he wasn’t coming back until she was dressed. She hated that she couldn’t see him, but the question was could he still see her? Heat continued to warm her core, her skin felt too tight—her breaths too short. Was he watching her now, or was this simply the aftereffect of being caught half-naked in a room with him?
Huffing in full-on irritation, she pulled her pajama pants out of her bag and put them on. Yanking a sweatshirt over her head, she shook out her hair and pulled it back in a clip. “All right, I’m dressed,” she snapped at the air. “You can come out now!”
Nothing… Dammit!
Then from behind her a low, husky voice said, “Don’t be angry with me for doing the right thing here, Ashley.” She spun around and nearly collided with Balen. He stood so close she had to crank her head back to see his handsome face pinched into a tightly restrained scowl. His breaths quickened, his gaze burned. “And I wasn’t avoiding you today. If you must know, I was busy with court business. How can you even think I’d do that? Do you honestly not know how I feel about you?”
“How would I know, Balen? The last time we had this conversation, you told me to go be with Nate.”
His scowl deepened. “That’s because I couldn’t be with you, Ashley! It would have been pretty horseshit of me to tell you I was in love with you and then leave, don’t ya think?”
“Why not? I was in love with you and here I am, alone, just the same!”
He grabbed her shoulders, his grip tight, as he yanked her a step closer. She’d never seen him this heated, this close to losing control. Perhaps her nearly nude state had had a bigger effect on him than she’d originally thought.
“Why are you alone, Ashley? I never asked you to wait for me! I never made you any promises!”
Now, that hurt. He stiffened a second before her hand cracked across his face. He’d known it was coming—perhaps he’d even wanted her to do it. She wouldn’t put it past him to push her away to avoid where this was headed. “No, you didn’t,” she snapped. “But you certainly had no trouble knocking Mitch across the room for touching me!”
“Mitch is an ass! I know it. Liam knows it. And you know it! You and I both know where that night was heading if I hadn’t stepped in. The last time I checked, ‘no’ doesn’t mean ‘yes’ in the English language!”
“Well, you would know! You’re certainly familiar enough with the word, because that’s all I’ve ever heard from you!”
“I’m doing it for you!” he yelled.
“Yeah, well then please stop doing me the favor!”
His frustrated growl sounded more feral than human as he yanked her against him and crushed his lips against hers. She hadn’t expected his kiss and sucked in a startled gasp when his tongue brazenly breached her lips. He tasted better than she remembered, of warm, muted spices. His kiss was consuming and possessive, leaving her breathless and owned. The artful way his mouth moved against hers weakened her knees.
Ashley was on fire with need. Her heart beat so fast, she became dizzy. Her world tilted as Balen swept her into his arms and carried her over to the bed. She’d never felt more alive. Every fiber of her being tingled with energy that wasn’t hers and it continued to build the longer Balen touched her. His hands were in her hair, holding her firm as his body pressed her deep into the mattress, his lips tasting the sensitive curve of her neck. When her fingers slipped under his shirt, wrapping around his waist, he groaned in approval, pulling her closer.
The racing rhythm of her heartbeat pounded in her ears—banging... banging... Wait…banging? “Balen,” she panted as his tongue traced the fluttering pulse at the base of her throat. “Someone’s here.”
“It’s just Mitch,” he growled, pulling her sweatshirt over her head. “He’ll leave.”
Oh, she wished he would. Balen’s lips traced her collarbone and her hands dove into his hair. She arched her back, encouraging him lower. The banging resumed, more persistent this time. “I don’t think he will,” she whispered. “We were going to get something to eat.”
A feral growl tore from Balen’s throat as he leapt off her so fast, she wasn’t aware he’d moved until a breeze blew past her scantily clad breasts. She hastily pulled her sweater back on as he wrenched the door open and barked, “What?”
Mitch slid his calculating gaze over Balen and arched a suspicious brow. He tipped his head to glance around Balen’s hulking body. His smug, knowing smirk brought a rush of heat to her cheeks. As she reached up to smooth her damp, wild curls, she heard him grumble “hypocrite” to Balen under his breath.
Balen answered with a warning growl.
“You know, Ash, if I take you out looking like you’ve been tossed, people are gonna talk. I’m just sayin’.” He held his hands up defensively and chuckled.
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Not funny, Mitch,” she snapped, scooting off the bed and padding over to the door. “Excuse us,” she said to Balen, squeezing past him as she slipped out, grabbing Mitch’s arm and dragging him along behind her a few paces down the hall. “Why are
you baiting him?” she hissed. “Do you want to eat your teeth for supper?”
Mitch just shrugged as if he didn’t really have an answer for her. “I take it we’re not going out to grab a bite?”
“I don’t think so. I’m tired, and Balen already brought me something to eat. I just need some rest.”
“Whatever. If that’s what you call it. You change your mind, you know where I’m at.”
He’d wanted to grab some beer and wings with her at the bar down the street. She hadn’t intended to go, hence, the pajamas. After being cooped up in a car with him for the last twelve hours, she was ready for some Mitch downtime, especially after his little outburst earlier. Yeah, that was still eating at her.
“Catch ya in the morning.” He turned and waved good-bye before entering his room four doors down from hers.
Grumbling to herself about what an idiot she was to ever have gotten involved in this mess in the first place, she marched back into her room to find Balen pacing. The small space now looked a whole lot tinier with him taking up the majority of it. He glanced at her when she pushed the door closed with her back and clicked the deadbolt in place. His eyes no longer held that smoldering sapphire, and the tension radiating from him vibed aggression.
“He really rubs you wrong, doesn’t he?”
Balen waved his hand dismissively. “That guy’s a tool.”
Ashley sat on the edge of the bed and watched him. His movements were languid and graceful, yet swift and powerful. She wished like hell Mitch wouldn’t have come knocking on her door. What she wouldn’t give to be back in Balen’s arms, kissing him, touching him…
“How much did you hear in the car?”
“Enough.”
“You think he meant it? He said he didn’t.”
“People say and do lot of things,” Balen replied evasively. “Sometimes they mean it, sometimes they don’t.”
Shades of Darkness (Redemption Series) Page 28