Page 31 of The Merciless

“Why are we in bed?” her eyes darted up, a gasp on her lips. This close he could see the stark surprise register on her face. Could tease her a bit more as she gasped again and pulled away from him,

“Why are we in bed?”

Angel winced and lightened his hold on her, and Ray pulled back further. His fingers were light on her waist, his thumb running idle circles against the fabric of her t-shirt as she blinked up at him.

“You don’t remember?” he asked cheekily, biting the inside of his cheek to keep himself from grinning as her eyes widened, “Youasked me to get you here.”

She had not asked him to get her here.

Angel grinned as her eyes darted around, trying to remember last night, He decided to slip in a silver of truth through his words though, “And you asked me to stay. I mean we’ve already kissed, I believe we’re already in a–”

His words cut off in amphas she pressed her hands to his lips and glared up at him, “I didn’t ask you to get me here.”

His eyes narrowed, a smile gracing his lips behind her hand.

“I mean after what you did last night,” he began but only broke off in a laugh when Ray blinked once, something like panic washing over her expression. Angel subdued a satisfied smile as she jerked her hands back and slipped out of his hold. Angel let her go, watching her peacefully from the bed as she jumped off and lookedeverywhereelse. He knew she’d take a while get accustomed tothis.Had barely accepted that he was in it for the long haul.

Knew it would take some pushing from his end to get her to speak.

“Ray,” Angel said softly through the silence, a calm smile on his face as he got off the bed as well. She paused in her pacing and looked up at him, breathing harshly, all signs of sleep disappearing.

“Angel.” She said, her voice even.

But these past days, he’d learnt to read her.

Had memorized the soft tick in her jaw, the way she flexed her hands just once before relaxing them, before putting the cool mask over her face.

Raylene Walker didn’t have a lot of tells. She had cold eyes when she wanted to, could lie with a straight face and lived without showing a sign of her true feelings.

She did that now. And he knewexactlywhat she was going to say.

So he started first. Angel stepped forward, and her eyes flashed, something like surprise flaring through them as she put one foot back. His lips turned into that calm smile. Simply waiting. Simply watching.

He waited a beat before he extended his hand to cup the side of her face and pull her closer gently. Rubbed his thumb over her brow faintly and saw her composure weaken. His own heart was beating wildly in his chest.Slow,he’d have to take this slow andcarefully.Because one wrong move and she could take the biggest step back.

Angel gulped, a flicker of doubt passing through his chest as he let go of her and said quietly,

“Take a shower. Then we’ll talk.”

And walked right out, hoping he was going about this the right way.

* *

Ray had been in the shower for a while now. The hot water slipped through her hair, trailed down the length of her spine as she placed her forehead against the warm walls of the washroom. She’d thought of it for a while now. Had replayed that expression over and over in her mind. And knew she’d seen doubt. Had seen a flicker of fear before he’d turned away and stepped out of her room. Ray had waited, had heard him walk to the other room, had heard him switch on the tap and had heard him switch it off. Only then she’d walked back into the washroom herself.

She remembered every moment from last night.

Knew he’d carried her all the way here. Knew he’d held her hand and knew she’d asked him to hold it for the rest of the night. It had been a rare mistake on her behalf. She still had to take care of the Larsens. Had to figure out a way to get back at the Ravens. Knew after last night, Angel had his way of ruining his own family in motion already.

So why did it scare her to face him now? Why did it feel as though her heart would–

Ray shook her head and banged a fist against the wall of her washroom. Might as well fucking face it. Might as well get it out there. If Angel wanted to bewithher, he might as well know what he would have to deal with.

Ray stepped out in a frenzy, her brain a fried mess as she put on the first thing she saw and slammed the doors open. Angel was standing in the kitchen, his shoulders bunched up as he heard her walk out. She knew he did. And yet he didn’t turn. Just waited.

She didn’t know if she should hate him for it.

“I’m very clingy.” She started angrily, almost wincing at the volume of her voice.Fuck it,what did it matter anymore? This, him, it was all new to her.Fuck,it was scary. Because, this,them,it was a reckoning waiting to happen. Ray watched him, her entire body vibrating with anticipation as Angel placed whatever was in his hand on the counter and turned.

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