Page 64 of Angel

‘Too late. The music is already swelling in my head.’

He chuckled, setting me off as we locked eyes and the banter evaporated, leaving a thick silence.

My breath hitched as the laughter died in my throat.

His damp tee clung to the ridges of his chest, emphasizing every hard line of his torso in the grey storm light.

He was so freakin’ sexy.

Angel stepped closer, his fierce eyes locking onto mine with a deep intensity.

I caught the wild flare in his expression.

Even as his jaw clenched, his broad shoulders tensed as if he was fighting his own impulses.

I resisted too, curling my hands into fists.

His eyes tracked the water droplets sliding down my neck, his chest heaving with shallow breaths.

Hesitation tore through us both, a silent war of self-restraint lasting for several agonizing seconds.

Angel exhaled a ragged breath, lifting a sinewed hand to cup my wet cheek, his thumb tracing my jawline with excruciating slowness.

My eyes drifted closed at the warmth of his touch on my freezing face.

He bent his head down, pausing mere millimeters from my lips as if giving me one last chance to run.

Then he gave in, leaning down to press a tender, lingering kiss on both corners of my mouth.

‘What’s that for?’ I breathed, my voice just a whisper, whipped away by the storm.

‘For being an utter treasure and a sweetheart when I treated you like shit,’ Angel murmured, his thumb still resting on my jawline.

His grip tightened.

‘Doesn’t mean I’ll be nice as pie from now on. I’m still battling my demons. Just means I’m aware I might be putting you under pressure, and I’ll ease off because you too are a victim in all of this.’

‘A casualty?’ I retorted, the word sparking a fire in my gut. ‘Hell no, I’m a fighter.’

He shifted back a fraction, his brow arched in surprise.

On impulse, I rose on my tiptoes to press a firm kiss against his stubbled cheek, bracing my hands on his broad, solid shoulders.

‘We’re in this together, Angel,’ I whispered, holding his gaze. ‘Never forget that.’

Much later, after a hot shower and a dinner of crusty bread and a fresh seafood salad, I spent the rest of the evening reading on the sofa.

In time, Angel joined me, slumping onto an armchair, also with a book.

Mrs Campanelli appeared with glasses of aperitif and a small plate of truffles for each of us.

We thanked her, and she walked away with a smirk as we indulged.

Angel groaned as the chocolate melted in our mouths.

‘So good,’ I whispered, and we shared a smile as the unexpected treats brought us temporary joy.

The view from the living room was awe-inspiring as the sun sank into the distance.