“Yeah? Then where were you?”
“Grieving.” He moved closer to me and in a desperate attempt to keep space between us, my back hit the mattress. He caged me in by leaning over and resting his hand on the other side of my body. “My father wasn’t winning any awards, but he was the only one I had.”
“I know. I lost my mother too, remember?”
“You loved your mother,” he pointed out as if there was a difference.
“Didn’t you love your father?”
He frowned, and I sensed he was sincerely confused. “I’m not sure.”
Art was never cruel, but he had a lot of rough edges. He was a formidable man, and even dead, I could see some of him living through his son.
“You can’t blame your father for the bad decisions you made after he died.”
“Why can’t I?” I could have sworn his mouth moved closer when he spoke. My heart stuttered before picking up speed.
“Because I’m not buying it.”
“Then what will you buy?”
I saw it then. He was closing the distance between us. I could feel the beginning of panic rising in my chest.
“My freedom,” I whispered truthfully. I needed to get away from him. Formidable Angel couldn’t break me, but sweet Angel would wreck me.
“And how much are you willing to pay?” His hand clutched the layers of silk and pushed them up my legs. We were riding fast with no brakes with a dangerous cliff up ahead.
He wanted my body as payment for freedom?
Haven’t I already paid enough?
I pushed against his chest, and since he wasn’t expecting it, he fell back enough for me to scramble from underneath him.
“What—”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Something I should have done a long time ago.”
“You’re insane if you think I’ll let you touch me and I’ll kill you if you try.”
“Fall apart with me, and maybe I’ll let you.” If his promise didn’t tempt me, then it was definitely the way he watched me as he stood from the bed. “Come here.” When I didn’t move, he removed his phone from his pocket and set it on the nightstand. “I’m not leaving, and neither are you. I told Lucas to lock the door behind me.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I wanted to be alone with you.”
“You and I both know that’s not a good idea.”
His grin was wide and bright. “Because you can’t resist me?”
Yes. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
He didn’t respond and walked around the bed. I was tempted to crawl to the other side to keep my distance, but running would only amuse him. So, stupidly, I stood my ground, and when he got close, I held my breath.
“Never a dull moment with you, Sprite.”
“I assure you I don’t want to be entertaining.”
“Nevertheless…” He reached behind me and tugged free the tiny buttons holding the dress together. Soon I was naked with nothing but my hands to cover me. When he took them and placed them on his chest, I knew I was screwed. “Now undress me .”
“Why would I do that?” I questioned. My hands wouldn’t move from his chest, so did it really matter?
“I don’t want anything between us.”
“But captors don’t sleep with their prisoners.” He took my chin in his hand and gently lifted my face. There was no regret in his gaze. Only desire.
He pressed his lips against mine, and I got a taste of the alcohol on his tongue before he pulled back. “Things are different now.” His gaze dropped to my hard nipples. “Much different.”
Chapter Forty-One
It’s over.
MIAN
Three Years Ago
We snatched apart.
I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment and guilt. Angel turned away so I couldn’t see his face, but I noticed him adjust his shorts. I could blame what I had almost done on the shotguns, but I knew it wouldn’t be true. I started to feel something foreign for Angel the day he made me beat up my bully. It took me months to admit I was crushing on him.
I was surprised when he took my hand and led me downstairs. I didn’t think it was a good idea for our fathers to see us like this. He must have thought the same because he dropped my hand when we entered the living room where Daddy and Uncle Art waited. Daddy was busy looking out the window, but Art’s attention was fixed on where our joined hands had been. Had he seen?
My skin prickled with that feeling of being watched and realized it was Art who was now watching me. Being the center of his attention was too intimidating, so I looked away. I wasn’t all that sure the guilt of what we’d almost done upstairs wasn’t visible.
“Son.”
“Dad.”