Page 69 of Angel

Our eyes locked, and my heart lurched; then, with a wry smile, I escaped to the kitchen, pouring a glass of wine for him and me.

I handed his to him in silence, and we settled on the outdoor lounge, staring out to the black sea beyond, lost in contemplation, shoulders touching in unspoken camaraderie.

Later, when I murmured goodnight, Angel walked beside me to my bedroom door.

He slowed outside my suite, slinging the guitar strap over his shoulder, the instrument resting on his broad back.

As he dipped, the line of his rugged jaw got lit by the faint moonlight streaming through the corridor window.

‘‘Night, Rox.’

He pressed a gentle, lingering kiss on my cheek, his stubble scraping my skin.

Then he turned and headed back down the hallway, leaving me standing, staring at his retreating backside with a soft smile and an aching heart.

ANGEL

I woke at dawn, the breeze carrying the scent of wild rosemary and sea brine through my open window.

The morning sun was painting the sky in brilliant streaks of amber and gold, and my soul lifted.

The knot of resentment that had been eating away at my gut since the wedding and Evangeline’s betrayal was dissolving.

Damn, it felt good.

There was one sole reason for the shift in my transformation: Roxy.

She had a natural ease, a chill vibe that grounded my restless, brooding energy.

She was also funny as hell, smart as a whip, and her sensuality was off the charts.

I found myself looking forward to seeing her this morning, so with a lazy grin, I eased out of bed, showered, dressed, and went in search of her.

‘Hey, slow poke,’ I teased, knocking on her bedroom door. ‘Wake up, I’m ready to rumble, I’ve got a full day planned ahead.’

The oak door swung open, and my breath hitched, cock pulsing and hardening.

Damn.

Roxy stood in the threshold, rubbing her eyes, wearing nothing but an oversized grey sleep shirt that hit her mid-thigh.

The sight of her long legs and bare feet jolted my system, sending a sudden spike of heat through me.

She leaned against the doorframe, a slow, amused smile tugging at her lips.

‘Oh, really? The Energizer Bunny version of Angel? Don’t think I ordered this model.’

‘It’s what you’re getting, beautiful, so suck it up and move. We need to be gone in fifteen, max twenty.’

She was ready in ten.

She came downstairs, taking my breath away in shorts, an oversized vintage band tee, and fresh white sneakers.

It was a simple, classic look, yet her body in it was hot; curvy in all the right places, with a honey-tan, long legs, and an all-over glow made me bite my lip.

Her pixie hair framed her face, and her full lips were lush and shining with clear gloss.

Fuck, I was in trouble.