“Dash?”
“Yes?” I struggled to keep the evidence that I wanted to fuck her silly out of my voice.
“The movie is over.” She was back to being nervous again. At least she wasn’t cutting me down with that mouth of hers.
“So it is. Would you like to watch another?”
“It’s late. You should go.”
“I’m kind of comfy.” I lifted my hand from her hip to wrap my arm around her. Actually, my back hurt like hell and my arm was asleep from holding my head up for two hours, but it was worth it.
She twisted around to face me and I helped her. “Thank you for the pizza and movie, but I would really like for you to leave now.” I might have been able to take her seriously if her gaze wasn’t trained on my lips. She did that thing with her tongue when she touched the corner of her mouth and breathed out.
I suddenly got the uncontrollable need to breathe the same air as her. I leaned closer. When she didn’t back away, I got a little bolder and didn’t stop closing the gap until my lips were on hers.
Fuck me, it was better than I imagined. I had kissed a lot of girls but never one that had my heart beating out of control. Her taste alone was electrocuting.
*
“You shouldn’t have kissed me.” If she wanted me to stop, her moans were the wrong way to go about it. I didn’t stop attacking her neck. The taste and smell of her skin were so addictive. It was as if I had never known a woman before… or maybe it was because, after Willow, none of them mattered.
“It’s what someone does when they want another person, and Angel, I want.”
“Why do you keep calling me that?”
“Calling you what?”
“Angel.”
That brought me to a screeching halt. “I wasn’t aware that I was.”
“How couldn’t you? You never really say my name. Do you not like it?” I could detect the insecurity in her voice and shook off my raging lust long enough to offer the assuring she needed.
“There isn’t anything about you I don’t like. My feelings toward you are nothing short of an addiction. I crave you, Willow Waters.” Her name rolled off my tongue sensually, delivering sex with every syllable.
“Give me one good reason why you want me, Dash. I’m ten pounds overweight, my hair looks like the wild kingdom gone wilder, I’m a penny below poor and according to the rest of the world, I’m colorblind.”
I picked over every flaw she so graciously pointed out, nodded my head slowly, and then told her what she thought she wanted to hear.
“You’re right. You’re a fucking mess.” Her face fell in disappointment. “I’ve never met anyone more perfect.”
*
PRESENT
Leaving Angel behind, after the morning proved one for discoveries, seemed almost cruel. I was still fighting the need to track down Rosalyn and strangle her with my bare hands. The look on her face and the sound of her voice as she inadvertently begged me not to break her heart again wasn’t something I’d forget anytime soon.
Marrying her was the last thing I intended to let happen, which is why I kept the engagement secret. Richard Simon was the key to my freedom. By law, of course, I could simply refuse, but I didn’t care to live the rest of my life as a disgrace to not only him but also anyone who would listen.
Last night, while Angel showered, my father called to demand I meet with him this morning. Whatever his reasons, I no longer had the patience. Watching as Willow’s heart broke this morning because of me again had fucked me up.
By the time I arrived at the office, I was irritable. Celesha wisely chose to remain silent. She bit into her apple with wide eyes and watched me cross the suite to my office. I found my father had once again invaded my office, but this time he had James, the company Vice President, with him.