Lethal Temptations (Tempted #5)(14)

Something flickered in her eyes but she remained silent as she stared back at me. I swallowed, forcing the lump lodged in my throat down and pushed the dark thoughts that ran through my head away. I gently caressed her cheeks, noting the contrast in my skin compared to hers. My rough hands, covered in faded ink, slid over her soft, reddened cheeks. She reached up, wrapped her hands around my wrists and shoved my hands away from her.

“Go away,” she hissed, inching away from me before she slowly stood up.

My eyes traveled the length of her, taking in the shirt that barely covered her ass and left her long legs exposed, reminding me how they wrapped tightly around me last night.

“You don’t want that,” I said, tearing my eyes away from her legs as she turned.

“You have no idea what I want,” she retorted.

I shoved my hands into my pockets as I stared at her thoughtfully, trying to figure out what was going on inside her head and what the hell had become of my angel. Oh that’s right… me.

I did this.

“Tell me what you want,” I said, shrugging my shoulders even though I knew I was walking into a ring of fire. I’d give her anything.

Anything.

Just to see her smile.

“I want you to leave. I want you to turn around and walk out that door. I want you to forget about the reasons you came here and more than anything…” she paused, her eyes glanced around the room as she drew in a deep breath before finding their way back to mine.

“What?” I asked as I stood tall, taking a step closer to her. Then another.

Dangerous territory, man.

Fucking lethal.

“I want you to forget whatever you’re about to say,” she admitted, causing me to freeze mid stride. “Please,” she added.

Her pleas from the night before replayed in my head.

Look at me.

Do you see me, Blackie?

I wanted to see her, to know what she was hiding behind the smile she gave the world, the smile she gave me, the one I lived for.

Give me your smile, girl.

She continued to look at me with a tortured expression on her face, eyes like her father’s not just in color but in torment. I knew that look better than anyone, had seen it countless times but never in her. I’ve talked Jack off the edge, dragged him out of his head and silenced his maker but that was Jack.

This was Lace.

My angel.

And I was the reason she looked so conflicted. There was no maker to blame, just me.

Say it.

I see you.

“I see you, Lace,” I whispered.

“A lot a good that does me,” she said.

I shook my head.

“No good at all,” I affirmed as I extended my hand, taking hers and pulling her against me. “You’d be better off if I never laid eyes on you,” I added, squeezing her hand before I lifted my free one to her cheek. “Too late,” I hissed. “Cause girl, I see you and now I can’t f*cking forget you,” I admitted.

The song changed on her iPod and music filtered through the speakers. I watched recognition spark in her eyes as she turned her attention to the speaker.

“Did you ever hear this song?” She asked softly, her voice blending into the music.

“No,” I said, taking a step toward her, bending my knees and bringing us to eye level. I leaned my forehead against hers, taking our joined hands and bringing them behind her to rest against the small of her back.

I didn’t know what the f*ck I was doing but I couldn’t stop.

My lips grazed her temple as she pressed her body against mine, dropping our joined hands to wrap both her arms around my neck.

“Listen to the words,” she demanded.

You’re saying I’m fragile I try not to be I search for something only I can’t see “Will you dance with me?” Her voice pleaded as she whispered the question.

I learned then that even the toughest motherf*ckers had weaknesses and mine was standing in front of me asking me to dance.

I didn’t f*cking dance.

But now I did.

My feet surrendered my soul, taking the steps to bring me closer to her and give her what she needed. I’ve been feeding off her light for so long, taking the sweetness of her greedily because I’m addicted to the hope she sparks in me.

Hope that there was a shred of decency buried beneath the leather.

Repay her.

Give her back her wings.

Make it better.

Looking at her now, the selfish reasons that brought me here faded away and were replaced by the need to put her first. To put her before me, to give her back her light and pull her from the sadness that had her crying in solitude.

Just this once I could do the healing and not the reaping.

My hands moved down her back, cupping her ass beneath the t-shirt that barely covered her and I rocked her against my body.

“Blackie,” she breathed.

“Lacey,” I groaned. “I didn’t come here for this,” I said, slipping my fingers beneath her lace panties.

“I know why you came here,” she said, pulling back a fraction as her gaze dipped to my lips. “But I will do everything I can to change your mind,” she promised.

It wouldn’t take much.

“Do you remember the first time we started calling each other Leather and Lace?”

Honest to God, I wish I did. I wish I remembered every goddamn thing about me and her, then maybe I’d understand why she even gave me a second glance.