Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“I can’t believe you said that!” Not what I needed to say, but that’s what came out.
“Oh? In that case, what lesson did you learn from our encounter?”
“That you’re a bastard?” I smiled sweetly at him.
“Not to bait me. You might find you’re the bait.”
“You realize what you said is on the way to Salvation’s Bane right this second. Right?”
“You mean, good news travels fast?” Archangel didn’t look the least bit concerned.
“You’re happy about that?” I know I looked like I thought he was insane. Because the man was totally insane!
“Your dad would have found out sooner or later.” He shrugged. “Might as well start as I mean to go on. I’ll never lie to him about you. I respect you both too much for that.”
“And what, exactly, is he finding out? That we slept together?”
“All of it, Sonya. And I wouldn’t keep our relationship from him.”
“Are you stupid or something?” I couldn’t believe this shit. “My dad will kill you, Archangel. Dead. No further questions necessary.”
“No, he won’t.” How could he look so smug at a time like this? And why wasn’t I panicking about my dad finding out about me and Archangel like I let on I was? Probably because I knew I was the only person in the world who could stop Thorn from doing anything he Goddamned well pleased. Well, me and Mom. So if I told him not to kill Archangel, he wouldn’t.
“You think not?” I gave him a skeptical look. “How do you figure that? And exactly what kind of relationship you gonna tell him we have? That we’re fuck buddies? Yeah. I see that going over reeeeally well.”
“Because --” He crossed to me and threw an arm around my shoulder, and guided me back toward the clubhouse. “You’re going to be my old lady.”
Of all the reasons I’d expected Archangel to name, me being his old lady wasn’t even in the top fifty.
We’d taken several steps before I could finally find my voice. “You really have lost your Goddamned mind.” I stopped moving away from the gate and freedom, planting my feet on the asphalt as best I could. Of course, Archangel tried to make me continue, but he didn’t force the issue when I refused. “What makes you think I want to be your old lady?” I totally wanted to be his old lady and that was the shit of it! He was going to break my fucking heart!
Archangel raised an eyebrow at me. “Don’t you? You came to my bed, Sonya. You initiated this between us. And I know you felt what I felt -- this isn’t just physical attraction or a casual fling. There’s something deeper here.”
“That’s not the point!” I sputtered. “You can’t just decide something like that without even asking me.” I swallowed hard, unable to deny the truth in his words. There was definitely more than just lust between us. At least, there was for me. Knowing Archangel, he saw this as his way of taking responsibility for his actions.
He shrugged. “I’m asking you now. Be my old lady, Sonya.”
I gaped at him. “That’s not asking! That’s telling!”
“Fine.” He grinned slightly before taking a step closer, never looking away from me. God, I loved having his full attention. I was in so much trouble. “Sonya, will you be my old lady?”
My heart was racing. Part of me wanted to snag what he was offering and hold on for dear life. The other, more realistic part knew this was the wrong thing to do.
“I’m sorry, Archangel,” I said softly. “I’ll tell Dad it was my doing, but you don’t love me. And I…” I swallowed. “I d-don’t love you.” Emotion was clogging my throat because the lie burned like acid.
Archangel’s eyes narrowed as he studied my face intently. “You’re lying,” he said softly. I opened my mouth to protest but he cut me off. “Don’t. I can see it in your eyes, Sonya. You feel what’s between us just as strongly as I do.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I whispered, fighting back tears. “This can’t work. You know that.”
He stepped closer, cupping my face in his large hands. “I know there are obstacles. I’ve been tellin’ myself that for several days now. But it’s been a long Goddamned time since…” He trailed off. Something like anger and hurt flashed on his face before his expression smoothed over. He took a step back, giving me some space, clearing his throat. “Never mind. Come on. Let’s get back to the clubhouse. We can get your things, and I’ll take you back to Salvation’s Bane.”
“NO!” I yelled, stepping away from him. I took a breath and spoke again, this time more softly. “No. I’ve got Linnie coming to pick me up.” As if on cue, I heard her little Mustang rumbling as it pulled up to the gate. “See?” I smiled and waved.