Page 33 of Devil’s Promise

My eyes snap open, but I can’t make them focus, the world blurry. My hand comes to the bed to push up, only it’s not a bed that my palm rests on. It’s a hard chest.

I give my head a shake, blinking my eyes to clear them. Dark tattoos move under my hand a moment before I find myself moving, landing on top of the chest I’d just been studying.

My chin snaps up, my gaze meeting Angel’s intense amber eyes.

I draw in a quick breath, trying to push up and away, but he holds me tight. “Settle.”

The quiet rumble makes me freeze, but my limbs are shaking. It’s something about the dream, juxtaposed with this moment.

I haven’t dreamed of my mother since a few weeks after her death. Almost a year.

But last night, for the first time, I made noise. Not words but sounds, and they’ve loosened something inside me, memories or fears, or…

I look down to realize I’m still naked, and in the cobra position, my breasts are on full display.

Angel notices too, his eyes darkening as they narrow and slide down my body. I drop back down on his chest.

It was one thing to be parading around naked in the dark of night, but another to just be out there in the full light of day.

My cheeks heat as I turn my face away, but Angel only rumbles out a laugh. “By the time I’m done with you, I’ll know every inch and you won’t bat an eye.”

The words might be innocent, but the dream still lingers and I curl my shoulders. When will he be done with me? What will he do with me then?

His hand slides down my back, his rough hand a deep comfort despite my fears that hang over me this morning.

Part of me wants to ask…

What would he answer? Would he be honest?

But before I can grab his phone and type my questions, a strange noise fills the loft. I lift my head again, alert and tense.

“My elevator,” he grunts, and then he’s rolling us over so that I’m beneath him. He gives me a short, strong kiss before he rolls off me and to the edge of the bed. He leans down and grabs his boxer briefs, snapping them up his legs, and then stands, pulling them up over his butt.

I just watch, in awe of his body, the fluidity of his movement, the strength of his muscles. I reach out and touch his thigh…tentatively.

I have no idea if I’m allowed to just reach out and touch him or not.

He turns, his expression soft enough. “What is it?”

Who? I mouth.

“Likely my brother, Axel. Your father dropped your things at the club this morning and my brother is delivering them here.”

Why didn’t my father just bring them here himself?

“Angel,” a deep voice calls.

“Coming,” Angel answers, disappearing out of the room. I scoot to the edge of the bed, grabbing his T-shirt off the floor and pulling it over my shoulders.

I practically drown in the fabric as I slide from the bed and it falls to my mid thighs.

Making my way into the bathroom, I pee and rinse my mouth. I come out just in time to hear Angel ask, “Think you were followed?”

“Definitely. But I took them for a nice lap around New York, and I lost them in Lower Manhattan.”

“Air tags?”

“Not anymore. Found two, removed them both.”