Page 63 of Angelic Vengeance

Despite her armor and cold front, she was insanely delicate. But just like a beautiful glass sculpture, I knew that if I broke her, I’d be the one to end up bleeding.

I was going to take my time with her, knowing I’d enjoy every second. There wouldn’t be anything more satisfying than watching Maria slowly lose her self-control around me – well, maybe except for being inside her.

I wanted to see her –badly– yet I pushed the urge down. She needed space. I couldn’t just storm into her life and demand she fall to her knees for me.

I sat in my home office, rubbing the scrub on my jaw and watching the seconds pass by on the clock. Waiting for time to pass by so I could see her. She made me act like an addict who was anticipating a meet-up with his drug dealer. I ran a Cartel and yet had never touched any of that shit, butshewas what I imagined the best goddamn hit in life felt like.

My phone binged with a text message from one of my soldiers, updating me on Maria. Just becauseIwasn’t watching her myself, didn’t mean I didn’t have somebody else making sure she was safe.

[ She’s still at Renato. ]

I glanced at the time: almost four in the morning. What the hell was she still doing there? She never worked that late.

Pushing my chair back, I stood, grabbed my keys and a bouquet of flowers I bought earlier, and left my apartment.

Fuck letting her come to me. I was getting what was mine.

Ten minutes later, my car was parked on the curb in front of Renato, as I leaned against it. The Manhattan streets were lit up and still buzzing with people. New York was, after all, the city that never sleeps.

It wasn’t long before serene green eyes met mine. I straightened, and she faltered for a moment before walking towards me.

I gave her a one-over. “You look pretty.”

She lookeddevastating.

Her long, brown hair was pinned back and out of her face, a few unruly strands falling out. Her lips were red and plump, as if she’d been nervously biting on them. Her tan skin glowed, but I didn’t miss the bags under her eyes.

She didn’t respond, only smiled, barely meeting my eyes. Crimson immediately coasted her cheeks and I thought I was hallucinating. She was blushing so hard it was as if I’d just pulled my cock out and told her to blow me.

“I got these for you,” I said raising my hand with the flowers.

She still wasn’t making eye contact – which was extremely unlike her. Grabbing the bouquet, she licked her lips and bit her bottom one, trying to hide a smile.Fuck me,she was beautiful.

“Thank you, they’re really pretty.”

I took the bag off her shoulder and put it in the backseat, then opened the car door for her. Without any complaint or hesitation, she got in.

I walked over to my side, started the car and drove slowly towards Maria’s apartment. If I went a little under the speed limit and took some streets with more traffic, I got around thirty minutes alone with her. I stopped at a yellow light, wanting to take as long as possible.

“Zach…”

I turned to her. The red light was casting us in its color, painting the shadows and highlights of our faces crimson. Her brows were knitted, her eyes were almost sad.Shit. Did I do something?

“About what I said…” She took a deep breath, before continuing. “I didn’t mean it.”

I subtly released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Relief flowed through me when her words soaked in.

“I know.” I gave her a knowing look, not needing her to explain. I was just glad she was in my car. I rested my hand on her thigh and brushed my thumb over the material of her jeans. She visibly relaxed and angled her legs more towards me.

Nothing could fucking measure to the way she looked at me now: warm, intense and trusting. I never wanted to make her feel anything other than happy ever again.

The rest of the ride was in silence but I didn’t even care. I just needed to be in this girl’s presence.

When we got to her apartment building, we repeated our little routine; she passed me her resident card to get into the underground parking – she didn’t need to know I’d already had a copy made for myself. I opened the car door for her and helped her out, keeping my hand on her lower back while walking, and even inside the elevator.

Slight disappointment hit me in the chest when we arrived in front of her door. Maria unlocked it, stepped inside her apartment and turned to face me. Before she could stop me, I wrapped my hand around her neck, leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek. My lips buzzed against her smooth skin. “Sweet dreams, beautiful.”

Her pulse hammered against my fingers, matching the beat of my heart. She slightly turned her head, and when I pulled back, her nose grazed my cheek.