Page 13 of The Sinner’s Touch (Manwhore #2)

CHAPTER EIGHT

Kade sat staring out at the Boston skyline, watching the snow fall.

He hadn’t seen this much snow since he’d left Russia.

He missed it, really. Memories of his childhood swirled in the floating mess outside the massive wall of windows.

He and his brothers had spent hours building snow forts for their epic snowball wars.

The twins were evil minions when engaged in snowball warfare, so he’d taken it upon himself to protect the little ones.

He missed his family. The thought strummed like a broken string in his heart.

After this case, he’d go to Russia and visit his parents and grandmother.

He hadn’t seen them in a long time. Maybe being around Nikoli so much these last few weeks had brought up the need to surround himself with his family.

Or maybe it was seeing Angel. Either way, he needed to get off his ass and visit them.

A noise sounded from upstairs, and he shot a wary look that way.

Angel had kicked him out, and he’d sat here staring at the snow since then.

He still couldn’t figure out what had possessed him to pin her to a bed and kiss her.

It had to be all of Nikoli’s stupid kinky shit in that damn closet.

He wasn’t into that sort of thing, but he doubted any man could see it and not have a fantasy or two.

Add in the gorgeous woman laughing at him, and maybe it had been inevitable.

He’d never been able to leave her alone. Peter had warned him off his sister, but Kade couldn’t stay away. He’d told himself to let her be, it would only complicate the situation, but like an ass, he’d completely ignored his own advice.

Their first date was embedded in his memory.

He showed up dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt, but he hadn’t expected the fist coming at him as soon as the door opened. It was so fast, he didn’t have time to duck, and it landed squarely on his jaw. He hadn’t stumbled back but absorbed the blow.

“You fucker.”

Kade rubbed his jaw but didn’t step back. “Peter.”

“I told you to stay away from her.”

He was nervous enough without Peter trying to go all big brother on him. “I like your sister. I just want to spend some time with her, get to know her. Do I look stupid enough to do anything to risk our friendship? I’ve got nothing but respect for her.”

“Kade?”

The soft, musical voice that had been haunting his dreams for over two months floated to him from behind the brick wall that was Peter. He could barely see the top of her head. She wasn’t overly short, but next to him and her brother, she looked like a petite fairy.

Peter shot him another warning glare but moved out of the way.

His breath caught, and he stood there, unable to do anything but stare.

She had her hair up in some kind of loose knot, but several tendrils escaped to tease her neck.

Her simple black dress highlighted her curves without revealing too much skin.

It was made to inspire a man’s imagination.

Peter let out something like a growl, and Angel laughed. “I’ll see you later. And no texting me!”

Peter looked ready to throw her over his shoulder and ban her from leaving the house. Kade wouldn’t put it past him, either. She looked up at him and must have seen some sort of alarm on his face, because she hurried toward him.

A burst of air left him once they’d closed the door on Peter’s judgmental hostility. “Your brother wants to beat my ass.”

She giggled. “He might do it too.”

Peter and he were about the same size, and they were both brawlers.

Kade and his brothers had toughened each other up by beating on each other growing up, but he dreaded fighting Peter.

It would be like fighting his brother, Viktor.

Neither of them could take the other. He had a feeling Peter would be on par with Viktor.

“He might, but it would be worth it.” He gave her what he hoped was his most charming smile while he spewed what had to be the cheesiest line to ever come out of his mouth. Kade was usually smoother than this, but she made him nervous, and he fumbled the simplest of things when she was around.

She arched a brow, laughter dancing in her eyes. She recognized how lame the line was, but to her credit, she didn’t remark on it. “So, where to?”

“I made reservations at Keellies, and then I thought we might take a walk on the beach. It’s not crowded at night.”

“That sounds nice.”

Kade shook his head to clear it of the memory. She’d been so young. Hell, he’d only been a year older than she was. They had been just two kids not really understanding the intense and all-consuming attraction that sprang up between them.

“Hey.”

His head snapped up to see her standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking a little lost. Her green eyes were wide and luminous, the worry in them bright.

She’d pulled all that unruly hair of hers back into a loose ponytail, and her pajamas clung to her in a way clothes only did after a shower.

He wet his lips and tamped down his feelings.

She needed Agent Kincaid, not Kade the bastard who’d left her.

“Feeling better?”

She nodded but didn’t move farther into the room.

“Can I get you some coffee? I made a fresh pot.”

Again, she nodded but didn’t move a muscle.

“Well, grab a seat at the island while I make it for you.”

He got up and made his way into the kitchen.

She’d come in when she was ready. Angel refused to be rushed.

He found an empty mug and poured it halfway full of coffee, then he took out the last of the milk from the refrigerator and filled the rest of the mug with it.

He’d been shocked to find milk when there wasn’t so much as a full saltshaker in the cupboards.

He guessed Nik and Lily were keeping it to a bare minimum.

She sat and accepted the mug from him. “You remember how I take my coffee?”

How could she be surprised? He remembered everything about her because he loved her.

“You’re the only person I know who drinks milk with just a taste of coffee.” A short laugh escaped. “Remember the morning I brought you coffee with creamer in it? You turned up that pert little nose of yours and demanded I go out and buy real milk.”

“Creamer is nasty.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust and took a sip. “Is there anything to eat?”

“No. Lily cleaned the place out. They’re getting it ready to put up for sale.”

“That’s right. They’re leaving Boston after graduation. New York, I think.”

She really did know his brother. He wasn’t used to Nik having female friends.

“I can order either Chinese or pizza. I know a few places open all night. Tomorrow, we can get some real groceries.”

“Pizza. Explain this whole police protection thing. I have to work tomorrow night, and I have finals next week.”

He pulled out his phone and found the number for the pizza place. “Typically, you get two police officers who will go wherever you go.”

“So, no one’s trying to keep me locked up in the Ivory Tower?”

“No, Angel, no one’s holding you prisoner. I would prefer you stay away from the bar until we catch the guy, though. It’s a risk every time you go outside, but more so when you go to the one place he knows you’ll be, where he can watch and plan.”

“I have to work, Kincaid. I have bills to pay.”

He put up a finger while he placed the order for pizza. He laid the phone down on the counter before answering her. “That’s what I thought you’d say. When I can’t be here, you’ll have two plainclothes on you at all times.”

“You don’t have to be here at all. In fact, I’d prefer it if you weren’t.”

He worked to rein in his temper. She had been through a very horrifying experience and needed patience, not a full-blown fight with him. “We’ve already had this conversation. You’re not getting rid of me. Deal with it.”

Angel narrowed her eyes and fought the urge to do him bodily harm. Kade had always been bossy, but now that he was older and used to having more authority, he’d gotten worse.

“About earlier…” He cleared his throat, looking anywhere but at her. “I’m sorry. I had no right to do that.”

“No, you didn’t.” Her voice came out small and quiet. He didn’t need to know every nerve in her body sang when his skin had met hers.

“It was that damn closet.”

Another smile slipped out despite her best efforts. It was so rare to see him this out of sorts. And over sex.

“Just don’t do it again, okay? Neither of us wants to be here, so if we can keep it professional, I’d appreciate it.”

“I can do that.” He ran a hand through his hair. “You said you had finals next week?”

“Yeah?”

“What did you end up studying?”

She took another sip of coffee, debating whether getting into an actual conversation with him was wise.

Rage still curled in the pit of her stomach, but another part of her struggled to break free of its prison.

She craved his attention. It couldn’t hurt to have a civil conversation with him, could it?

“I studied business management. I graduate this May.”

“Business?” He fiddled with his coffee mug.

“I want to own my own bar.”

“Not a strip club?”

Her eyes narrowed at his tone. He’d never made any secret that he hated her stripping. He didn’t respect anyone who did. It was the biggest bone of contention between them.

“You know, Kincaid, I was thinking of a bar with strippers.”

“You’re better than that, Angel.”

“There’s nothing wrong with stripping. It pays better than any other job I’ve ever had, including bartending. What is your problem with it?”

“I have a problem because I hate that you let total strangers play grab-ass with you for money?”

Angel closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Conversation was a bad idea. “I was a stripper, Kade, and I’m proud to say that.

It fed me, it clothed me, it paid for my brother’s funeral, and it gave me the money to get the hell out of Miami.

Don’t try to make me feel bad about it, because you can’t. ”