Page 33 of The Merciless

Fucking island.

A strange silence descended upon them, and she saw the flicker of hurt in his eyes at that pause.

Saw him nod and taken a step back when a wave of panic washed over her. Following it came an odd sense of calmness and–

“I can manage your nightmares even if I sleep like a fucking rock.” Her voice was soft, enough to freeze him in his tracks. She looked up at him. His eyes were wide as he turned to face her, the terrible surprise so evident on his face that Ray had to take step forward, “I might have a thing for quiet, jealous boys,” a twitch of his lips at that,

“I like that you don’t need me.” She whispered and the devastation that fell upon his face was so dangerously close to breaking her heart that she couldn’t breathe anymore, “I don’t need you either.”

She looked up at him. Saw him look down at her as if he were holding himself back. She saw the tremors. Saw the upturn of his brows, the glistening eyes. His fisted hands, the pressed lips.

“But I’d like to be wanted by you.”

She waited for a beat. Tilted her head and smiled when he let out a sigh and put his face in his hands. Mumbled something. Ray arched a brow and took a step closer,

“What?”

He peeked from his hands and grinned a bit mischievously,

“Thank fucking God.”

A laugh burst through her at that, and she lifted her hands to her heated cheeks. Angel seemed to beam before her, standing up to his full height.

“Thank fucking God indeed.”

He rolled his shoulders at that but paused to wince at the movement, breaking their atmosphere. Her gaze caught on the expression, a frown burrowing her brows as she took a step in his direction, “What’s wrong?”

“Bullet wound,” he said and braced his hand on his upper hand, “Don’t remember?”

Ray made a face at that and took another step ahead. Took his hand carefully in hers and pulled back the sleeve of his shirt, “I remember. Akash best directed. He was meant to shootmein the shoulder.”

Angel hummed, leaning back against the counter as she frowned at the bandaged wound, “I didn’t expect you jump in the way.”

“I didn’t expect Akash to shoot you.” He mumbled and she blinked up at him. His handsome face was bright with the sun on his face, his amber eyes gleaming as he probed his head forward. Ray lifted her other hand to the side of his face. Wondered how they’d gotten from trying to kill one another tohere.Locks of his dark chocolate hair tumbled down on his forehead as he leaned forward, a tilt to lips,

“Worried?”

She flicked his forehead.

“Ow!”

Glared back at her as he flinched back. Ray turned to take another look at his hand, making sure that the white bandages were intact before taking a step back. His fingers wrapped around the collar of her hoodie though, making her pause in her tracks as he pulled her closer,

“Also,” He started, his voice low, his gaze dipping to her legs and back to her face again, “Are you teasing me, Raylene Walker?”

She had to bite the inside of her cheek from grinning,

“Is it working?”

“Yes,” he muttered and pressed his lips against her wild pulse on her neck. His voice was a rumble against her skin, “Quite fucking obviously.”

And as much as she wanted to pull him closer and ask him to close the distance between them, a faint scent filled her lungs. Ray blinked, pulling back an inch.

Angel’s eyes glimmered in surprise, but Ray was already leaning sideways and–

“What is this?” she started and pulled away from him to eye the plates sitting on her kitchen platform and the scrambled eggs that were cooking on her induction. She blinked and wasaboutto continue when a loudding!filled the wind. Ray jumped back, a yelp on her tongue and turned sharply to see two pieces of bread pop up from the toaster.

She frowned.When the hell did she buy a toaster?

---