“How in the hell are you so calm right now?” She pressed into him, wondering what type of other sick shit he must enjoy since this clearly wasn’t affecting him. The walls looked like they were practically closing in on her, although she knew they were solid, immovable objects.
Shrugging, nothing seemed to faze him. “You have to remember I’ve been sitting in a tiny-ass hotel room for a while now.”
“Really?”
“I’ve sorta been a prisoner, sweetness,” he reminded her.
“Wow.” She looked over at him, fully realizing the depth of his situation and how he must have felt if this situation didn’t seem so bad to him. “Dealing with this family and being away from yours, then having to deal with me … I’m sorry. This must all be pretty shitty for you.”
“You’re not so bad. I can’t say the same about the rest …” When he finished his sentence, it held a different tone, “but I’ll survive.”
Seeing the determination in his dark depths was when she noticed something about him for the first time. His presence held something reminiscent of Chloe’s. Every time she looked at the scarred girl, one word came to her mind. And right now, in this moment, looking at Angel, that word came to her again. Survivor.
She didn’t know his story, and she didn’t think a man like him would ever trust anyone enough to tell it, especially to a Caruso girl, but maybe, just maybe, he might let her in enough to learn something.
“Do you miss them?”
It took him a while to answer.
“Yes,” he finally admitted to the tiny space they shared.
“Well, I hope you get to go home soon.” Her words came out a bit raspy.
They had been hard for her to say, not knowing if it was because she didn’t want him to leave just yet or because that was exactly what she wanted for herself—to go home and get out of this elevator. The longer she was stuck in there, the more she felt like she was suffocating and running out of air.
Angel reached into his jean pocket and pulled out a piece of candy that was wrapped tightly in a wrapper. “Suck on this and try not to chew it. I have a few more pieces, if it helps.”
“You keep candy on you?” she asked, finding it strange. That was something just women usually kept in their purse.
Shrugging, he answered simply, “Habit.”
Unwrapping the sweet candy and putting it in her mouth, she found it weirdly helped, even if it was just a little. As she let the juices flow into her mouth, she wondered how he knew it would help. She only wished it would start the elevator again, as the metal box was starting to get chilly.
“I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna last in here, Angel.” As her chest rose up and down, the space started to feel even smaller. “This is really starting to freak me the fuc—”
He crashed his lips down on hers hard and fast, making her instantly forget about being stuck. She supposed that had been his goal, but she damn sure was going to take what she could get and milk it for all it was worth.
This kiss was exactly what she had been expecting from him. He was demanding, rough, and shameless, making her open her mouth to him. She gratefully did so, letting his tongue enter to play with hers. Her chilly body was instantly heated from the inside out, making her feel like she was about to burn alive.
Angel knew exactly what he was doing to her. Searching her mouth, he captured the little piece of sweet candy she hadn’t sucked all the way yet and took it into his, stealing it.
Having the candy stolen with a sensual flick of his tongue, she now tasted the cherry sweetness in his hot mouth. Unable to help it, she moaned, which echoed in the metal box, heightening the experience.
Trying to get closer to him, Adalyn wanted more. Badly.
He helped her out, moving her to straddle his lap to give them both easier access.
Oh God. The elevator falling was the least of her worries now.
Letting her tongue slide into his mouth, she searched for the candy, mimicking what he had done by flicking her tongue and capturing it. He wasn’t going to let it go easily, though. But before he went to take it back, she playfully nipped his tongue, making him pull away.
Smiling down at him, she finally bit the candy. “I won.”
Not even a second passed before he flipped her onto her back, and his hard body hovered over her. “You bit me, sweetness.” Her grabbed her chin, his heated eyes boring into hers. “That wasn’t very smart.”
Holding her breath, she felt every muscle go taut.
“I could take you right here”—he slid his inked hand to her throat, giving it a light squeeze—“and no one could stop me.” Sliding his hand down, he started unbuttoning her coat, slowly reaching for each one, revealing the light sweater underneath. “No one could hear you moan,” he continued as he went up the warm material and spanned his cold hand over her lower belly. “Or scream.”