Promises After Dark (After Dark #3) (13 page)

7
Sparkle and Pain

Alex wished he could just get on a plane and be done with the Sydney trip. The deal was too big to send someone in his place, or he wouldn’t hesitate. It was a huge hotel chain in Australia, and it would be Avery’s first real foothold there. He couldn’t trust it to someone else, and he couldn’t blow it off. He’d been working on it too long.

He’d tried to relax when they visited his parents, but desire to enjoy the day with Angel and watch her easy interaction with his family was clouded with his thoughts. He’d snuck away whenever he could to keep in touch with the police, Bancroft’s own team, and to call Kenneth Gant. It felt strange to call Angel’s ex-lover even though this wasn’t the first time. It didn’t get any easier.

So, it was late, and he was pensive, silent in the car on the drive back to his own estate with Angel at his side. He could feel her eyes on him, studying, and wondering if she should ask the questions he knew she wanted to ask. Angel watched the lights that periodically lined the interstates and side streets pass over his features, the tension clearly visible on his handsome face. She reached for his hand as it rested on his leg, her fingers entwining with his as she drew it toward her and up so she could run a soft kiss over his knuckles, then softly moved her lips back and forth over his skin until he glanced at her.

“What?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing,” she murmured, her eyes locked on him as she placed another series of kisses. “Except, I already know.”

Alex’s mouth opened a bit as he drew in a ragged breath, nodding twice. “This isn’t the best time for me to leave.”

Angel smiled gently, finally resting their hands in her lap as she twisted slightly in her seat. She leaned her head back on the supple leather headrest of the expensive car. “It never is. I always miss you.”

Her eyes were soft when he tore his eyes from the road for another look in her direction; this one more lingering. He squeezed her hand with his as his heart swelled within his chest then tightened. “Me, too.” He shook his head in a series of short moves. “But, I think we both know, this time, it’s not about missing you. I’ll be crazy with worry. I wish you’d just come with me.”

Angel looked out the front windshield and bit her lip. “You know the answer. I have to work.”

“Fuck work.”

“Okay, then you fuck work.”

The fingers of Alex’s left hand tightened around the steering wheel, and he pulled his right hand free of her grasp to join it. “If this was just about me, I would, but I have stockholders and my family to think about. I think you should just stop working on criminal cases.”

“Right. I just tiptoe through the tulips and twirl,” Angel spat sarcastically. “I
have patients and victims to worry about. Plus, did you forget what I went through? How can you ask me to give that up? I thought you understood, Alex.”

“What I understand is I don’t want to lose you because of a job!” he growled. “You’d still have the radio show. I can syndicate it.”

“Great. My boyfriend buys me a career.” She huffed. “No thanks.”

“That’s not what I meant, Angel, but it’s a hell of a lot safer! Those people who call the station might be silly sometimes, but they aren’t stalking or threatening you!”

Angel ignored him, sitting in her seat seething. This wasn’t how she wanted the evening to turn out. They’d had such a fun day, and she’d felt so strong when she’d taken him to the mat in the gym. But maybe he let her. She’d felt more resistance from those muscles in one of their lovemaking sessions.

“Fine. I don’t want to get into it.”

Angel shrugged, her feelings still stinging. “Then don’t.”

“Do we have to fight tonight?” Alex’s tone was pissed, and his firm line of his jaw shot out.

“You know it’s not just work for me. I’m in a position to really help people. And, I can’t go anyway. I can’t miss Bean’s party.”

“Kids are resilient. She’ll get over it. That bastard is out there, Angel. You’d think you wouldn’t want to put her in danger.”

Angel gasped. She hadn’t really considered she was putting Becca and Jillian at risk along with herself.

“Never thought of that, did you?”

“Even Mark Swanson has to have some compassion for a three-year old.”

Alex shook his head solemnly. “You never know. I don’t trust him to care about anything or anyone other than himself.”

“I can’t run from that fucker forever. At some point, it’s got to be about real life. Doesn’t it? I want us to be able to breathe and concentrate on each other.”

By now, Alex had pulled through the iron gates of his property with Cole’s SUV close behind. If there was anything Alex wanted, it was a normal life. The type of life that used to make him cringe; that included intimate dinners the two of them cooked together after work, a wedding, kids, family vacations, and in-laws.

Alex pulled the car into the garage and shut off the engine, turning to look at her as the doors closed behind them. “Nothing I want more, but that doesn’t change the fact that until he’s behind bars or—” He looked at her intensely.

“Don’t say it.” Angel tensed. She knew what Alex was thinking, and it was dangerous for him for him to consider.

“Well? It’s the truth. I’m tired of this shit. And now—” He stopped before he mentioned Bancroft’s disappearance.

“You’re better than him.”

“Maybe. But I’m protecting something that means everything to me.” His blue eyes turned to midnight, made darker by the dim light in the garage and emotion.

Angel’s throat tightened, making it almost painful to speak. She reached out a hand to cup his cheek. “I know.”

“Do you?”

“I do. I get it, baby.”

His hand came up to cover hers, and he turned to kiss her palm. “Let’s get inside. I’ll draw you a bath while I pack.”

Angel’s eyes became liquid with unshed tears. “I’ll help you pack.”

Cole pulled into the fourth stall, at the edge of the garage, and climbed out just as Angel and Alex exited the Audi. He went behind them to check all the doors to the garage in an effort to make certain everything was secure. He could sense the tension that vibrated around the couple, and it was even clearer when they met at the front of the car.

Alex pulled Angel close to his side and placed a kiss on the top of her head, his eyes meeting Cole’s in a desperate, yet silent, plea to keep her safe while he was away. Cole’s solemn expression said he understood, and he gave a short nod.

Max had been left at their parents’ property at Cole’s request. If he had to watch over two women and a kid, he didn’t need the dog to worry about as well.

Angel preceded Alex through the entrance that led from the garage into the laundry room off the kitchen. The two rooms were separated by a large door, which was built-in to look like part of the wall.

“Night, Cole,” Angel said on her way out of the room and toward the stairs, hovering, waiting for Alex.

“Night, Angel. Do you need anything else from me tonight, Alex?” Cole asked. The dim light of the moon shone in from the hall, casting long shadows across the room.

Alex threw his keys on the marble countertop, slid the already loosened tie from his collar, and tossed it to join the keys. He shook his head and went to arm the security system. “We’re good. I’m leaving straight from the office tomorrow, so I’d just like you up when I head out in the morning.”

“Sure, no problem. What room should I take?”

“The one off the den tonight, then please move upstairs to the one next to mine tomorrow.”

“Will do. Did we get that other thing resolved?” Cole’s eyebrow shot up.

“Not yet. I’ll call you, and you keep me informed about Bancroft’s whereabouts.”

“It doesn’t look like it will be happy news in any case. It’s been almost forty-eight—” Cole stopped when Alex held up his hand abruptly and threw a hard look in his direction. “Um, goodnight.”

Alex rubbed the back of his neck and walked slowly toward the woman waiting at the foot of the stairs for him as Cole disappeared down the opposite hall and the other set of stairs. Alex was grateful he didn’t have to tell her to wait or argue any further. Arguing with Angel wasn’t how he wanted to spend the evening.

His arms enfolded her small frame at the same time as her arms wound around his broad shoulders. “Come on, you.” He lifted her off the floor and pushed her against the wall of the stairwell, burying his face in the soft curtain of hair, to nuzzle softly at her neck and across her cheek. Alex was assaulted by the sweetness of her warm breath at the same time as the headiness of her perfume engulfed him. He inhaled deeply, just savoring her nearness.

When he pulled back to stare into her face, her beautiful eyes were languid and full of desire.

“Ugggg…” He groaned and dropped his forehead to lean on hers. “I have to pack.”

Angel wanted to bring her knees up to pull Alex more fully into the saddle of her open legs, but the pencil skirt she was wearing impeded her progress. Still, her chin tilted and her mouth opened, silently begging him to kiss her. Her lower lip brushed his top one, and when the tip of her tongue peeked out to rub softly against it, Alex was beyond resisting.

He pushed her more fully into the wall, using both hands to pull her skirt up as his mouth took hers in a passionate kiss. Over and over, he ravaged her mouth with his, their tongues fighting in the same way their words did earlier. He pressed his hardness into her soft heat, and they both moaned and panted in want.

Alex wasn’t gentle, but then, he didn’t feel gentle. He was hungry and angry and worried sick. Angel was equally desperate to have him inside her, his hands on her flesh, his mouth taking what it wanted from hers.

Once he had her legs around his waist and Angel was pinned to the wall, held in place by the soft digging thrusts of his hips, Alex’s fingers ripped at her blouse and white lace bra. He was always so turned on by her lingerie. There wasn’t a time when he’d peeled her clothes away that he’d been disappointed. Always sexy, beautiful, alluring; he’d suffered many uncomfortable moments in his office or meetings just imagining or remembering images from the previous night.

Her buttons clattered on the hardwood floor at the foot of the stairs, and his hands made short work of the front closing of her bra. Something about this woman made him wild in so many ways. He wanted, and wanted, and fucking wanted, and she gave and gave. But still, it was never enough. Would it
ever
be enough?

Alex’s forearms and hands flattened against the wall behind Angel, and though his hips continued their onslaught, he pulled his mouth away, dragging it down her jaw to kiss his way down the cord of her neck. Her soft pants drove him crazy, and the answering movements of her pelvis against his told him she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Still, he fought for control. His brother was in the house, and he already had her breasts bared and her skirt around her waist. A few more seconds and her matching lace panties would have been in tatters.

“This reminds me of that night in the station,” he ground out.

“Alex, don’t stop,” Angel begged in a whisper. “Don’t stop.”

One strong arm curled around her waist and the other went beneath her bottom to lift her off the wall and against him. Alex turned and carried her up the stairs and into his room, which was commanded by the massive bed. He bypassed it and went into the master bathroom, to set her down on the long marble vanity between the double sinks. Her arms tightened around his shoulders. “Don’t stop.”

“Just for a while, baby. Once we get started, I won’t want to stop until we’re both exhausted, so I have to pack my goddamned suitcase. Let me run you a bath; I’ll get that out of the way then we’ll pick up where we left off.”

He ran two fingers down her cheek, using one to lift her chin. He meant to leave her with a soft, open-mouthed kiss, but Angel demanded more. Her fingers slid into his hair at both sides of his head, and she kissed him hard, thrusting her tongue into his mouth and sucking on his, tugging on his hair at the same time. His erection throbbed and demanded attention as Alex pulled her against him and kissed her back roughly, but slowing gradually to a gentle nipping and mutual sucking as his mouth ghosted around hers. “Uh… Babe, you’re killing me. I have to stop. Now,” he got out, between heavy breaths.

Finally, he moved away to light a candle and flip off the bright light. He turned the water on in the huge whirlpool bath. It was oval and crafted out of marble in a cream mosaic; the pattern subtle, but rich. Angel watched the fitted, fine linen shirt stretch over the hard muscles of his back, and her eyes wandered down to his perfect ass wrapped in black wool dress slacks. Everything Alex owned was well tailored and fit him perfectly. He was gorgeous—a shock of almost ebony hair falling over his forehead as he bent over the bath, the brilliant blue eyes a striking contrast. He was perfect: strong, romantic, beautiful, confident… everything. She bit her lip, wanting him to turn around so she could see the tangible evidence of his desire. The heat between her legs was almost debilitating, manifesting in a deep throb. It was all she could do not to press the heel of her hand against the offending flesh.

Angel was rendered speechless, sitting on the marble, leaning back on her straight arms, watching Alex. Her blouse and bra hung open, her skirt pushed up around her thighs, which were still spread as Alex had left her. One of her high-heeled black pumps landed with a thump on the plush rug resting on a big expanse of black marble floor, causing him to glance over his shoulder as he adjusted the water temperature.

He grinned, catching full sight of her as he straightened, then added some of Angel’s bath gel to the water. Instantly, the air was filled with the scent of her perfume, and Alex went to light another candle. Angel watched him, and their eyes never wavered as he started to slowly undress her.

“Get your sweet little ass in there. If you’re a good girl, maybe I’ll join you.”

Angel’s mouth lifted in a wry grin. “Humph! If you’re a good boy, maybe I’ll let you.”

“It’s one and the same, so it works.” Alex chuckled. “Come on, sweets. I’m tired and I have to get packed.” He lifted her gently down until her now bare feet touched the comfortably heated floor. His fingers lingered, gliding over her flesh, and his eyes closed as they leaned into each other. Alex kissed her temple, his warm breath preceding his mouth as it slid to her cheek and then a shoulder he’d just bared. It didn’t take him long to have her skirt undone and pushed to the floor with her blouse, leaving Angel in the skimpy patches of expensive white lace.