Page 30 of The Merciless

Maybe that’s why he cut off her response by grabbing her chin and pulling her closer before she could protest.

Ray moved easily. And didn’t contest when he pressed a soft kiss on her lips. This close to her, Angel could smell her fruit scent, could feel her heart beating wildly in her chest as she moved to lean closer. To close that gap between them.

Her body moved smoothly, and without breaking the kiss, she moved to sit in his lap. A groan reverberated through his chest as his hands wrapped around her waist and tightened. As her hand wound right above his heart and fisted his t-shirt. As she broke the kiss with a gasp and placed her forehead against his.This,he thought a bit drunkenly as he stared up at her honey eyes, at the way she looked down at him,this he could do all day.

And never. Ever. Stop.

Ray leaned down to kiss him again, this time softer, deeper.Crazier.Angel breathed out when she broke away from his lips and placed a kiss on his jaw. On his neck. His body seemed to strain to keep himself in check when Ray’s hand pushed him backwards.

Angel fell back with a word and Ray, the beautiful girl, breathed down on him and kissed the column of his throat. The vein that was pulsing from the side of his neck as he fisted his fingers around her wrist.

“Breathe.” She whispered, her breath fanning his chest and hecouldn’t. Not when she was looking at him like that. Not when she–

An agonized sound left his lips, his back arching as she pressed her soft lips right above his pounding heart. He hadn’t evennoticedthat his t-shirt had ridden up. His head hung back, a groan leaving his tongue as she moved up his body. As she laced her hands in his hair and pressed a kiss to the side of his jaw. To the corner of his lips.

“Ray–” Angel gasped, but she didn’t stop. He didn’teverwant her to. No, he could lay like this forever and let her do as she pleased. Angel’s stomach flexed under her touch, his heart racing, his handsachingto touch her.

So he did just that.

Ray’s gasp was swallowed by the way his hands tangled in the mess of her hair and hauled her right towards him. A satisfied sound echoed through the back of her throat as he kissed her senselessly. Gotlostin the way she moved against him. In the way she breathed. In the way sheresponded. Ray broke away with a harsh breath, her gaze delirious as she stared down at him.

It took great,greatstrength for him to say his next words, but knew he should get it out there beforehand, “I have a lead.” He breathed and saw her lean back, a curious gleam entering her eyes. Angel smiled at it. Was relieved that the burden was off his mind. Was off her chest.

“It has something to do with who might be behind the ambush.” He continued and watched her eyes narrow, “But overall, we’re back to where we started.”

Ray’s eyes flashed, her hold tightening on the hem of his t-shirt, and he nodded, a sigh on his lips as he spoilt their wonderful mood.

“We have a mole.”

7

The heat of the sun was like a flick of switch during the day. It was the only thing that jarred him awake. That and the soft echo of a groan that reverberated from his arms. Angel blinked his eyes open lazily, completely at peace until something shifted against his chest. It was then he realized where he was. Who he was with. The thoughts resurfaced, and with what he proudly held as great restraint, Angel peered down at her.

Ray stirred, her eyes scrunching at the sunlight that poured on her skin, casting her in a honey glow. His hands around her tightened, a short breath leaving him as she lazily turned in his arms, inching closer so she was no longer sleeping with her back to his chest. Instead pressed her forehead right below his chin and fell back into a cocooned sleep. Angel’s lips twitched, wide awake now as he watched the girl before her.

Her breath fell on his skin hotly, her entire body heaving with the action. Angel’s hands were wrapped around her waist, one of which was deathly numb. But he couldn’t really bring himself to care, because his gaze was bent on her dark hair. On those blue highlights that twisted as he pressed his lips atop her head.

A soft hum left her lips then and she nuzzled closer. A bubble of laughter left his tongue as he loosened his hold enough for her to move. Ray barely stirred at the sound. Only breathed out in relief and fell asleep again. Raylene Walker might be the most wanted woman in the world, but she slept like the dead. They’d fallen asleep on the ground last night after leaving their discussions behind.

Angel had bared his soul, had told hereverythingthe best

he could and had later tugged her closer.

Forced her to switch on a movie so he could stare at her in peace. That was of course, until she’d shoved his face away and had growled at him toquit acting like a fucking doofus.

Angel frowned at the memory. He thought he’d done a pretty great job at being romantic. Raylene Walker just didn’tknowromance, he’d decided when she’d fallen asleep against him and hadn’t stirred since. He glanced down at her now, and carefully tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, blinking at her serene face. Last night had been distraught, devastating. But somehow it had brought both of them into this spotlight. One both of them had been relieved to step into for the first time.

He sighed deeply at what was going to come next. At what needed to bedone.

“Don’t sigh so deeply,” came her sudden light voice, and Angel jumped, his hold on her tightening, “You’ll ruin our day.”

Our day.

Goodness he was getting childish.

Still, a satisfied smile lifted the corner of his lips as he felt Ray’s head lift, her chin brushing his shirt as she peered up at him. Some remanent of sleepiness still marred her expression, but the scowl was evident as she registered where they were. He watched her, his grin growing as she blinked once. And again.

And let out a strangled sound.

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