For Angelo(48)

But now he knew it could happen…because it was happening to him this very moment.

My Ray? She had called him my Ray?

Violence threatened to erupt from him, and if that f*cking Ray had been in the same room, the other man would have been dead.

Lane almost jumped again at the way Angelo’s gaze suddenly pinned her to the spot.

He said grimly, “Tell me who this Ray is.”

She shook her head.

“Tell me!”

“Not until you tell me why you’re so mad,” she cried out.

“You dare—” Rage and disbelief had him at a loss for words. “Are you seriously asking me that? Why the hell else would I ask—”

“I don’t know! I just don’t know, and all I know is that you’re acting weird—”

“What did you expect?” he spat. “You called him your Ray—”

“Because I wanted to be sure we’re talking about the same man—”

“Of course we’re talking about the same f*cking Ray,” Angelo snapped.

This time, Lane backed away until she was at the opposite side of the room. His inexplicable fury making her anxious and terrified for Ray, she tried to sound reasonable as she said, “Just tell me what you think he did first.”

“Why? Because you’re worried I’d kill him?”

“Yes!”

And so the truth was out, he thought grimly. She cared that much for Ray.

“W-what did you expect? That I wouldn’t care?”

“Yes.” He laughed humorlessly. “Stupid of me, isn’t it?”

“He’s my stepfather, Angelo. I can’t just—” She trailed off, noticing the way Angelo suddenly stiffened.

“What,” he asked slowly, “did you say?”

Her lips tightened mutinously. Here they go again, another trick question to make her say something incriminating—

“Did you just say he was your stepfather?”

She gazed at him warily. Was that the trick question? Was this just like his situation with the girl and he was about to tell her he had another skeleton in the closet, and it was a secret relative—

“Answer me.”

“Yes!” She straightened, ready to verbally defend Ray.

“Dio.” Angelo looked at her like he wanted to strangle her. “Do you know the entire time I thought he was your lover?”

“What?” she gasped. “Why would you even—”

“Because you keep talking about him, and when I asked you about him, you told me he wasn’t related to you by blood.”

“Well, of course he isn’t, he’s my stepfather, you idi—” She stopped the moment she realized what she had almost said.

But it was too late.

“What did you say?”

The dreaded trick question, but thankfully she knew this time what she should never say. Inspiration struck, and she blurted out, “I said, it’s time for you to keep your promise.”

Silence.

She tried not to fidget. Had he changed his mind? Had he lost the mood to take her? Because she hadn’t. In fact, all this fighting had her panting, and now all she could think of was what other things they could do to make her pant.

She noticed Angelo slowly shaking his head and her anxiety rose. “What’s wrong?”

“You.”

Huh?

“You’re what’s wrong.” And he meant every word. Sheer relief mixed with unspent violence was a toxic combination, and it had his blood pumping hard while his adrenaline had shot up to the roof.

Ray was her stepfather.

Her stepfather, not her lover.

Which meant—

She was his.

From the very start, she had been his.

He looked at her, and it was as if his violent passion had found another outlet of release. He was going to f*ck her as hard as he could. His body would not allow anything less.

He offered her his hand. “Come.”

That one word vanquished all her worries in an instant, and the air inside the control room was suddenly heavy with sexual tension.

Angelo was looking at her in a way that could only be described as ravenous, and Lane couldn’t help gulping as she thought about what he was hungry for. It had her trembling and lightheaded, but still she managed to ask, “W-where are you taking me?”

His eyes bored through hers, but his voice was mockingly polite as he said, “I’ll leave the choice to you. My bed or yours?”

Ooooooh. His bed or hers. Because he was going to f*ck her. She couldn’t stop pressing her thighs together as wetness once again started to gush out of her, and when his eyes narrowed, she couldn’t help whimpering, knowing that Angelo was aware of what was happening to her.

“Have you made a choice?”

“Y-yes,” she whispered. “And it’s neither.”

He stilled. “Why? Because you’ve changed your mind?” Angelo had to force the words out.

She shook her head.

Then why the hell wouldn’t she come?

Lane continued gazing at him.

It took him another moment to realize what was happening.

Payback.

His lips curved, and she bit her lip hard as if she was trying not to smile back at him. “My little masochist has claws, it seems.” This time, her smile won out, and he knew he was right. The knowledge should have angered him, but it only made him want her more.