Fallen Angels: Beguiled / Wanton / Uncovered. Lori Foster

you keep saying.” He didn’t want to talk about that right now. Thinking of his brother with her like this was enough to make him howl at the moon.

      “What happened was…unexpected.”

      “But nice?” He again caught her hands and trapped them over her head, leaving her submissive to his desires.

      She looked thoughtful as she continued her study of his face. “Very nice. Incredible really. But ever since I saw you again, it’s been that way. You look at me, and I get all hot inside. You touch me and I can’t think straight. I try to despise you; I have good reason to despise you, but I can’t. It doesn’t make any sense. Unless having the baby changed me somehow.”

      “Angel.” She was killing him with her words, but he didn’t know how to tell her that.

      “After everything that happened between us, I thought I’d always hate you.”

      He groaned. “Don’t, babe.” He kissed her, hard and long, his tongue thrusting deep, stroking in a parody of the sex act. He rubbed his hairy chest against her sensitive nipples and felt her legs bend, coming up to hug his hips. The open juncture of her legs was a sweet torture, her damp heat against his belly, her soft thighs cradling him. He rubbed against her, his muscles bound so tight he felt ready to break.

      She shifted, and then his erection was smoothly pushing against her wet sex. Angel began moving with him, their mouths still fused together, both of them breathing rapidly, roughly.

      She jerked and pulled her mouth away, crying out.

      Dane was stunned as she quickly climaxed again, shuddering beneath him, her head arched back, her heels digging into his thighs.

      His control snapped. Shaking, he grabbed up his slacks and fumbled like a drunk for his wallet. He found a condom and viciously ripped the packet open with his teeth. Angel was still gasping breathlessly and when he turned, catching her legs in the crook of his elbows, spreading her wide and driving into her with one hard thrust, she cried out again.

      He couldn’t think. His brain throbbed and his vision went blank and all he could do was feel and smell and taste her. She’d invaded his heart, his soul. He was the one who felt possessed and he rebelled against it even as he felt himself spiraling away. He squeezed his eyes shut and growled and pumped and when he heard Angel groan he knew she was with him yet again. It was too much. It felt like he exploded, his entire body gripped in painful pleasure, but it was so damn wonderful he never wanted it to end.

      It took him a long time to come back to reality, to hear Angel’s soft sniffling, to feel the shudders in her body. Slowly, feeling drugged, he struggled up to his elbows again. Tears dampened her eyelashes and her lips looked swollen. His heart twisted.

      Damn, her leg. His arms were still tangled with her legs and he knew she had to be in pain. He’d taken her roughly, almost brutally. That he’d hurt her made him wince in self-loathing. Carefully, he straightened, letting her legs down easy. She groaned and pressed her face to the side, away from him.

      He cupped her chin and turned her back. “Angel, honey, I’m sorry.”

      She shook her head.

      “Babe, look at me.”

      Her eyelashes lifted and she stared up at him. The tears in her eyes twisted his guts. He pressed his forehead to hers and kissed her gently. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

      She frowned.

      “I got a little carried away.” He tried a smile but it felt more like a grimace. “You moaned, and all rational thought fled my mind. I’m sorry.” He sounded like a parrot, apologizing over and over again.

      “Derek…”

      Goddammit, he hated having her call him that. “Shh. It’s all right.” Her hair, dry now and tangled impossibly, lay wild around her head. He tried to smooth it. “Can I get you anything? Some aspirin or something?” He felt like an idiot, having sex with a woman then offering her medicine for the pain.

      She shook her head again and her voice, when she spoke, was tentative and as soft as a whisper. “I’m fine, just a little…stunned. Is it always like that?”

      Now he felt confused. Buying himself some time, he sat up and carefully moved to the side of her. Her body had been damp and warm from their exertions and combined heat, and she shivered in the cool evening air. He pulled the corner of the spread up to cover her, but left her leg bare. Gently, he massaged her calf and saw her wince.

      “Dammit, I’m an unthinking bastard. I—”

      She laughed, catching his hand and twining her fingers with his. “No, you’re not. I’m fine, Derek.”

      He forcefully ignored the continued use of his brother’s name. “Then why were you crying?”

      She sat up and put her arms around him, burrowing close. “Because it was so wonderful.”

      His heart pounding, Dane hugged her back. “I didn’t hurt you?”

      She laughed. “Maybe a little, but I didn’t notice…until after.”

      He pressed her back down on the bed and stood. “I’ll be right back.” With those words, and one last glance at her naked body, he left the bedroom. He wanted to make sure the apartment was secure for the night. There were three windows, one in the kitchen over the sink, but it was too small for an intruder, and one in the living room on that same wall. He checked to make sure it was locked, then realized the window was so old and warped, opening it would be a true effort. He’d be in the bedroom, so he wasn’t worried about that window. He’d already locked the front door when he’d first come in. He glanced at the phone, scowled, but put that particular worry from his mind. Right now, he wanted to concentrate on Angel.

      He peeked in on Grayson to see the baby sleeping soundly. He’d been afraid their commotion might have disturbed the infant, but Grayson was snuggled warm and comfy in his crib. He lay on his side, and one chubby cheek was smooshed, his rosebud mouth slightly open.

      Damn, Dane felt good. He hadn’t felt this good in…He’d never felt this good. Angel was the perfect bed partner, wild and abandoned and responsive. She burned him up. She was also sweet and caring and strong.