Page 53 of Angelic Vengeance

I couldn’t believe I’d gotten this worked up from him justlookingat me. I knew he had looked, and the worst part was that I didn’t even mind. In fact, Ilikedit. Iwantedhim to look at me.Only me.And I wanted to drop all of my baggy clothes for him and him only.

The tension had left me with whiplash and I knew he felt it too. His breathing had grown heavy and for a moment I thought he was going to touch me – Iwantedhim to touch me.

I turned the water cold.

With Zach’s white and gold Versace towel around me, I walked out of the luxurious bathroom and into an even more luxurious dark bedroom. There were clothes on the bed; boxers and a T-shirt.

I was not wearing this man’s underwear.

That would be too intimate.

And showering with him wasn’t?

I used the hairdryer to dry my hair as well as myownunder-wear. Then I went through his closet. I needed something to wear on the way home since I wasn’t going to spend the night. He probably just wanted to relax after diving into the East River after me.

My headache had been unbearable at first, but after the hot water and painkillers, I was doing surprisingly well.

I still had to find Ruiz, and whoever she sent after me to try to kill me. But that had to wait until after I got some sleep and food.

I stole a pair of Zach’s sweatpants, put on the T-shirt he gave me, used his toiletries, and cleaned after myself. I hung his wet clothes to dry – as athank you for saving my life– and put mine in a plastic bin bag.

Closing his bedroom door behind me, I wandered through the dark apartment until I entered a large living room, plastic bag in hand.

Zach got up from the charcoal sofa. “I ordered Chinese food– What are you doing?”

His mood changed within a single second. I swallowed the knot in my throat but was unable to meet his eyes.

“Thank you for everything but I need to get home.”

He continued watching me without saying anything.

I took a deep breath, avoiding his eyes, and fixing my own on his chest. He wore a black T-shirt that hugged his large biceps, allowing free view of the tattoos stretching across his arms. They were – to say the least – distracting.

“Thank you for… Saving my life tonight but–”

“But you’re leaving.”

“Yes,” I said, finally meeting his eyes.

He scoffed before turning his head to the side; he smiled as he rubbed his jaw. He advanced towards me; until he was closer than he should be – closer than itwas appropriate. I tilted my head up, trying not to be intimidated, but after tonight’s events, that seemed almost impossible.

He leaned down, a cruel smirk on his lips. “You’re not leaving like this.”

“I’ll wash these and give them back to you.”

His amusement faded. “You think this is about the clothes?”

“What else would it be about?” I tried to push past him, but he stepped in front of me. “Get out of my way.”

He took another threatening step towards me. “Not until you get out of my head.”

Anger and frustration oozed off both of us. I stared him straight in the eyes as the tension built. Our breathing grew angrier – more erratic.

I could see the flames in his eyes and feel the fire in mine.

And then he snapped.

He grabbed me by the back of the neck and kissed me so deep and so rough I was drowning in him.