Page 96 of Angel

Chapter Thirty - Paige

I couldn’t believe it myself. First, I confronted Lia head on, and won her friendship, so big bonus there. After that, I gave a toast in front of Angelo’s family, plus Tre.

Who was this new girl?

As soon as breakfast ended I snuck away, needing some quiet space in which to breath and think.

I found it upstairs in Angelo's old bedroom. Falling backwards into the mattress, I let go.

Soon the trip would be over. Sophia, Angelo, and I would be back on the jet tomorrow, headed for New York and, soon, the new year.

And, for me, therapy.

I gnawed on my lip to think of it, but at least now I knew the sick feeling in my stomach came from fear.

Fear was manageable. I could handle fear. Once you could name a thing, managing it got easier.

Someone knocked on the door, and opened it without waiting for an answer. I bolted up.

“Hi,” Angelo smiled. “Sorry. Were you sleeping?”

“No, I was just laying here looking at the ceiling.”

He came in the rest of the way, closing the door behind him.

I patted the seat next to me. Angelo settled down and put his arm around me. I sighed and dropped my head into the crook of his arm, riding high on his scent.

“That was a sweet thing you said at breakfast.”

“It’s true,” I whispered.

He ran his hand up and down my thigh. “I think they feel the same about you… even Lia.”

I laughed. “What? That quickly?”

“Lia functions in extremes. I don’t think she knows how to exist any other way. You broke the ice with her… so now she probably loves you.”

“Mm. Well that’ll be nice, supposing it’s true.”

“Hey.” He hooked my chin with his thumb and turned my face up towards him. “You’re amazing. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. You know that, right?”

“I know,” I breathed.

He opened his mouth slightly, but he didn’t speak right away. In fact, he didn’t speak at all. Instead of talking, he kissed me.

Ripples of heated pleasure went from my lips down to my core.

Slowly, Angelo began to undress me, pulling my shirt over my head and unhooking my bra. Not wanting to be outdone, I pulled his own shirt off and ran my hands over the hard ridges of his chest.

Gently but assertively, he guided me to lay down on the bed, and pulled my pants and underwear off in one quick motion. I stretched out, naked and slightly shivering.

I jerked my chin at his own pants. He smirked and dropped them. A rapidly growing tent in the boxers pointed my way.

I smiled and waited for more. Angelo shucked the boxers, leaving them on the floor and joining me naked in the bed.

Coming to put his weight on top of me, he kissed me deep, taking each press of his lips lower. Down my neck and across my breasts he went.

I closed my eyes when he got to my nipples. He sucked one between his teeth while rolling the other one in a hand.