After We Fall (Take the Fall, #3)(57)

“I’ve never done that. Maybe been on the other side before.”

“Okay, then you come home and take out your bad days on Jake.”

I give her a come-on look.

“Fine, you take it out on me. Your mother…basically anyone who pisses you off and gets in your way.”

I clench my jaw, then carefully deposit her on the sofa cushion beside us. “Damn it, Evangeline. I’m not going to let you change my mind.”

Striding away, I have to pause for Evangeline’s ex to be taken outside on a gurney. Dwight and Hayden join me, twin looks of concern on their faces. A couple of our neighbors mill about in the hallway. I half expect Saylor to come barreling in to check in on us, but since she doesn’t, I have to assume that she’s still at the animal shelter. One of the cops on the scene motions for those tenants to follow him, most likely to allay their fears as well as question them.

“It was clearly self-defense,” Dwight begins. “You have a witness.”

“She’s biased,” I say flatly.

Hayden works his jaw. “You want to go to jail?”

“No.”

“Then shut up and let Dwight do his job.”

Dwight tilts his head toward Hayden. “What he said.”

“You two are no help.” I start to leave, but Dwight grabs my arm.

“I need a statement from you.”

“Then, we’ll be on our way,” Hayden says.

“Fine. I entered the victim’s apartment twenty minutes ago because her phone was sending me weird text messages. That’s when I found the perp. He was verbally assaulting the vic, as well as threatening us both. I reminded him of the restraining order, but he ignored me. When I attempted to escort him out of her apartment, he assaulted me and I had no other choice but to defend myself and restrain him.”

Dwight nods. “Yup, that’s pretty much what I thought. I got everything I need to file a report. No charges at this time due to the fact that Mr. McCarthy is violating an in-effect restraining order. He failed to obey and you had to take the necessary steps to protect Mrs. McCarthy.”

“Her name’s Evangeline.”

I have to get out of here. I need some space, some air, some time for Evangeline to come to her senses. It’s one thing to see me in a controlled environment, where men are willingly matched up to fight for money. Where there are rules and clocks running down time, but what just happened…that was a full-on brawl because I wanted that son of a bitch dead.





Chapter 22


Evangeline


“Where do you think you’re going?” I ask, raising my voice.

Hunter glances over his shoulder, but he doesn’t stop walking out my front door. “Out. I need some space, angel.”

For once I chase after him into his apartment, where the door is still open. “It’s not because of what happened with Penn, is it?”

“Hell, yes, it is.”

“Why?” I stare at his retreating form, dumbfounded. “Tell me why, Hunter Sloan, or else.”

He rounds on me, his sexy face hard. “I saw the look on your face when I had my hands around his throat. You were terrified, Evangeline. Fucking terrified, and I was responsible for that. Not going to do that to you.”

“But I am terrified of losing you forever even more.”

“Even after everything’s that happened? Even after seeing me like that?” I can’t believe what I did hasn’t frightened her away.

“I have to admit that it was scary. That seeing you like that was shocking…at times, terrifying, but,” I take a deep breath. It’s not a choice I have to make because I’ve already made up my mind. “I’m more terrified of losing you.”

“Even after what happened?” he repeats.

“Even then.” I grab his hand, trying not to hurt his bruised knuckles. “Please don’t leave me, Hunter. I love you.”

“Thank God.” He slams his door closed.

He wraps his arms around me, crushing my body to his as our mouths unerringly find each other’s. He’s frantic, his hands ripping at my clothes, but I’m just as frantic. Just as needy and just as— “Spread your legs.” He hoists me into the air, spinning me around so that my back is against the island. Bending his knees, he pushes into me with one hard thrust, sending me onto my tiptoes. “I’m not wearing a condom.”

“I’m on the pill.”

“Good.”

There’s no more talking, only touching and kissing and the thrill of him, heavy and huge inside me. Stretching. Filling me up like I’ve dreamed about for days.

His hands are on my hips, his pace brutal as he moves, but my body is so primed for him that I’m seconds away from coming. He grinds his pelvis against me and I gasp his name.

“Come on, angel. Take me with you,” he orders, letting go of one of my hips to insert his hand between us.

He rubs my clit hard.

Bite his shoulder.

Scratch his back.

Finally, I scream his name. My orgasm doesn’t stop, not even as his begins, and my sex clenches at him, trying to pull him deeper.

I whimper at the sensation.

With a roar he pours into me, going so deep that I will feel him for days. I keep riding him, riding the crest of pleasure and desire until it gently lets me fall into his arms once more.