CHAPTER Eight
Cole led Angel straight up to his room, his hand clamped firmly on her wrist. He was afraid if he let go, she’d bolt. He pulled her inside, and closed the door.
She yanked free of his hold, and glared at him. “Don’t touch me.”
“Baby, I’m sorry. I never meant for that to happen.”
“You didn’t stop it.”
“We were outnumbered. I think you saw that.”
She turned away from him.
He walked over, and stood behind her, his hands closing on her upper arms. Bending his head close to hers, he whispered in her ear, “Angel, I swear to God, if there had been any way out of that situation, don’t you think I would have done it? If Crash and I had fought them, and gone down in the fight, you would have been at their mercy. Do you understand?”
She turned in his arms. “I don’t understand any of this. Why would they do that? For what?”
God. He had to explain to her, to admit to her that this was all his fault. That he’d brought this on. “They did it to teach me a lesson. Payback for the disrespect I showed Big Ed at the War Dog’s clubhouse.”
“What? I don’t understand. You’re not the one they tattooed.”
“No. But he knew it was a way to get to me. He was either going to take you from me or show me he could do that to you, knowing I couldn’t stop him.”
“Why didn’t he just beat the crap out of you?” she asked, her voice filled with anger. She spun away.
“Is that what you would have preferred?”
As much as she hated him right now, and as pissed as she was, she still wouldn’t have wanted them to have hurt Cole. She shook her head.
“He didn’t do that, because it would have pissed on the deal with him and Mack. But forcing the issue with you, that wasn’t enough to start a war.”
“Well, I guess you got off easy, then, huh? I’m the one that paid the price.”
“You think it didn’t tear my heart out to have to put you through that? To have to be the one that held you down while they did that to you?”
“I don’t know what to think.”
“If Crash and I had put up any resistance, they wouldn’t have hesitated in taking us down. And you-” he broke off, not wanting to verbalize the possibilities.
“What?”
“God, I don’t even want to think about what they might have done to you. If Taz had gotten his hands on you-” he broke off, shaking his head. She needed to hear the truth, and he’d promised he’d give it to her. “Did you hear what he said, how he likes to break a woman’s spirit? He likes to make them suffer, Angel. Do you understand? They’re some sick individuals in that club. The stories I’ve heard of the things they’ve done to some women, you don’t even want to know. Makes what Chuck did to you pale in comparison.”
“And this is the life you lead? This club, that club, what’s the difference?”
“We’re not like that bunch, Angel.”
Angel went into the bathroom. She looked in the mirror, and turned, raising her shirt. Her eyes landed on the reflection of the tattoo. It was an intricate design with three words in the center. The words were reversed in the mirror, but she could still read them.
Property of Cole
Cole stood in the doorway.
Their eyes met in the mirror.
“It looks good there,” he murmured. “It’s sexy as hell.”
She let the shirt fall. “It’s medieval.”
“It’s the truth.”
“What do you mean, the truth? I’m not your property.”
He walked over to her, and tilted her chin up. His face was a few inches from hers. He told her softly, “Whether you admit it or not, Angel, you are mine. And that, I’m not sorry about.”
She stared into his eyes, and was lost. She watched as his mouth lowered, and brushed against hers, softly, tenderly.
He pulled back, and took her by the hand, and led her back to the bed. “Lay down on your stomach.”
She refused, and just stood there, looking at him.
“Please, babe.”
At his soft request, she gave in, and complied.
He sat on the edge of the bed next to her, and pulled her shirt up, exposing the tattoo. Picking up a jar of ointment off the bedside table, he twisted the lid off, and scooped a glob out with two fingers. Then he turned, and gently applied it to the reddened skin of her fresh tattoo.
She closed her eyes, and Cole watched as a fat tear leaked through her spiked lashes, and fell on the pillow. He brushed his hand over her forehead, his thumb following the line of her brow. Leaning down, he kissed her temple. “Baby, please forgive me.”
She turned her face away.
Cole got up, and went into the bathroom. She heard him rummaging through the cabinet. A moment later, the bed sagged as he sat back down.
“Take these.”
She turned to look at him. He was holding a couple of pills in his hand.
“Please, baby. It’ll take the pain away. Let you sleep.”
She took them.
He handed her a bottle of water, and watched as she washed them down. Then he stayed with her until she fell asleep.
That night, after Angel fell asleep, Cole went down to the clubhouse. The guys were all back. He walked outside, and found Crash, Cajun, Red Dog, Green and Kilt Boy. They were standing around, smoking and drinking.
Kilt Boy looked up when he saw Cole walk out the door. He walked over, and put his hand on Cole’s shoulder. “Crash told us what happened. Is the lass alright?”
Cole nodded. “Yeah. But she is pissed.”
Kilt Boy nodded. “Aye, I can imagine. Wish we’d been there, Sonny-boy. We should have gone with ye.”
Cole shook his head. “You couldn’t have known. Anyway, it’s done now.”
“We can still go kick some bluidy arse.”
“No. Let it go. I shouldn’t have pissed on Big Ed. It’s my fault.”
“You’re fault? I was there, brother. You couldn’t have stopped them,” Crash insisted.
“I instigated it. We both know that. What I did at the War Dogs clubhouse-” he broke off, shaking his head.
Crash didn’t know what to say to that. He watched Cole. Could tell he was pretty tore up about this, although, he didn’t want them to see it. “Maybe, maybe you should get her out of here.”
Cole looked at him, and nodded. If he had cut her loose in the beginning, none of this would have happened. He knew Crash was right, but…how was he going to let her go?
“Hey, why don’t you go take that trip you were planning? See how everything lands when you get back.”
Cole nodded. “Yeah. If she’ll go.”
Crash grinned. “I got a feelin’ she will. I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”
Cole looked at him, and shook his head. “I think I may have killed that feeling.”
Crash slapped him on the back. “Naw. You just need to keep her in your bed for a couple of days. By the time you’re through, lover boy, she won’t ever want to leave.”
“Aye. Fook the lass till she can’t walk. That’ll keep her from leavin’ yer arse,” Kilt Boy chimed in, laughing.
“Shut up, you crude bastard.” Cole slugged him in the arm, smiling. Actually, it sounded like a good plan.
*****
Angel opened her eyes. The stereo was playing soft blues. She was lying on her stomach. She turned her head. Cole was laying on his side next to her. He was awake, and looking at her.
He smiled, and reached up, and gently brushed the hair back from her face. “Morning.”
“What time is it?” she asked. Rain pelted against the window panes. The skies were gray, and the early morning light was muted. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
“It’s barely dawn. Go back to sleep, baby,” he whispered.
She studied him. He looked tired. “Did you sleep?”
He shook his head slightly. “No. I’ve been watching you sleep.” He ran his hand over her hair, and then leaned over, and kissed her forehead tenderly.
She felt the brush of his soft facial hair against her skin. He kissed her temple, and the affection in the gesture touched her deeply. When he pulled back, she searched his eyes. “You’ve been awake all night?”
He nodded.
“Why?”
“The things that haunt my dreams, there’s no rest for me there. I try to avoid it for as long as I can.”
“Baby, you have to sleep. You’re exhausted.”
“I’m fine. I’d rather watch you.”
She saw the tormented look in his eyes, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
He stared at her for a long moment before finally admitting, “I promised you I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you. I let you down.”
The look on his face was pure anguish. She didn’t know what to say to him.
“I’m so sorry, Angel.” He had failed her. He could barely look at her. He was so ashamed. He broke eye contact, and looked down. Nothing he could do or say would ever be able to undo what had been done to her. He couldn’t bear the fact that he had caused her pain. All along he’d promised her one thing, that he’d never let anyone hurt her. Just one thing, and he couldn’t even keep that promise to her.
She reached up, and laid her palm against his jaw, rubbing her thumb over his lips. “Shh. I know, baby. I know.” She ran her hand over his face, tucking a lock of hair back.
He reached up, and took her hand in his, and kissed her palm.
She rolled to her side, and tucked up against him, laying her head on his shoulder. She put her arm around him, and he pulled her close.
He closed his eyes, and rested his chin on top of her head.
“Sleep baby,” she said. She felt him nod his head slightly in agreement. She lay there listening to the rain, and to his heart beating, feeling his chest rise and fall with his breathing. She felt contentment. She wished they could stay like this forever, that she would never have to leave the safety of his arms.
She could feel his breathing change, and knew when he’d finally drifted off to sleep. She looked up at him, studying his face. He looked so peaceful, but he’d said that there was no peace to be found in his dreams. She wondered if it would always be like that for him.
It rained all day, and Cole slept most of it away, wrapped in Angel’s arms. The last light was fading from the sky when he finally woke up.
Cole came slowly awake. He found himself face down across Angel’s chest, the side of his cheek lying on her breast. He became aware of little things, the sound of the rain against the windows, the warmth of her skin, the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. She was running her hand through his hair, softly, repeatedly. It was heaven. He could lay here, and have her touch him like this forever. He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, enjoying the feel of her hands, so tender on him.
“You awake?” she whispered.
He lay there, not moving, trying to prepare himself for what he was afraid was coming. Would she want to leave him now? “Baby, I’m so sorry.”
Her hand paused in stroking his hair. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Angel, you have to know-”
She cut him off. “Please, Cole. I can’t deal with it right now.”
“Alright, baby doll.” He gave in. He was unsure how to proceed, not sure where he stood, where they stood. Was there even a ‘they’ anymore? He knew the best thing he could do for her was to let her go. But he didn’t want to. God, help him. He couldn’t. Not now. Not yet. He cursed the selfishness of it, but he didn’t care. He just wasn’t ready to let her go. He wasn’t ready for this to be over. He lay there, listening to her heart beating in his ear. “What are you thinking?” He had to know.
She resumed stroking his hair. “Nothing.”
“Tell me, please. I know I hurt you. I let you down. God, but you must hate me now.” When she said nothing, he realized how badly he had wanted her to deny it. The muscle in his jaw tightened. He tried to prepare himself, to protect himself from the hurt. “If you want to leave…I won’t stop you. I’ll take you myself, wherever you want to go. But…”
“But, what?” she prompted.
“But that’s not what I want. I don’t want you to leave. Not yet. Not yet, baby.”
She stared at him.
“Let me take you away from here, just the two of us. Just a few more days together, please, baby. Will you stay? Will you give me that?” He rose up slightly, and looked at her.
She smiled at him in the fading light, and nodded.
He lowered his mouth to hers, and kissed her softly, their lips barely touching. He hung suspended above her, resting on his elbows.
Her hands came up, and framed his face, pulling him down to deepen the kiss. Then they ran down over the muscles in his shoulders and arms.
He heard her moan, and he tightened his arms around her. His mouth moved to her jaw, trailing kisses to her ear. “I want you,” he whispered in a low, gravelly voice.
Her mouth trailed kisses along his neck, moving to his ear, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her lips. She paused with her mouth just over his ear, and she whispered back, “Then take me.”
He rose up, and looked down at her. “I don’t want to hurt you. Your back is still tender, and-”
She pushed back on his shoulders, rolling him to his back. Then she threw her leg over him, and moved on top of him. Her hands pressed to his chest, as she rose up and straddled him.
His hands closed around her hips. He smiled up at her. “You’re sure?”
She smiled back, and nodded.
His hands tightened around her hips, and he lifted her, positioned her, and surged inside her.