Page 33 of UnWholly Angels
“Oh, don’t act like you don’t love it,” Chloe interrupted in that condescending tone she only used for people worming through something.Now it’s getting good, Chloe. Spill.“We all know the truth, you may be married to Noah, but you’re sure as hell fucking both.”
“Yes,” I muttered excitedly yet quietly as I pumped my fists through the air. I fucking knew something was going on between the three of them. It took one to know one. At least, for me, everyone knew about my lifestyle now. I hated feeling like I had to hide who I was, and now I didn’t have to. The Stryker’s were different, though. Lizzie had to be with one twin in public while the other got the benefits outside the limelight. If it works for them, who am I to judge.
“Listen, I know I don’t have as much history with Angel as you both, but I’m sure it will come when you piss him off enough. Or, you could…take the situation into your own hands…maybe?I can only imagine what’s going to happen when he finally does something with that edible ass.”
Hey! Maya’s edible ass is mine.
“I’m glad to hear my toxic games are potentially working,” she snorted. From where I stood on the other side of the room, I could see Maya at the best angle possible. The way the moonlight reflected off her face was mesmerizing from where I stood, and I couldn’t bear to pull my gaze away from her. I’d wanted nothing more than to make her mine in every way possible, but our bodies were the last barrier I had, the last form of protection from all of the pent up emotions I’d hidden away. If I allowed myself to feel her around me, I would fall deeper, and I couldn’t right now. Not until I knew she was safe, and Rocco was littered around the city.
Voices hushed after that, and I’d briefly wondered if they knew I was eavesdropping. The roof became eerily quiet, but I stayed in place against the wall opposite the women. Waiting. Chloe shivered before bringing her arm around Maya’s shoulder. “We should go, keep your head up, and call me if you need anything.”
They didn’t notice me as they crossed the roof to climb down and back through the window, but Maya stayed alone and stared at the sky. Before I knew it, my legs moved toward her, my brain powerless to stop it.
Her voice came out in a small whisper, and her words ripped through my chest, crippling my heart. “Maybe if I wasn’t so worthless, he would want me.”
Ouch. I felt it too, just then. If this was the pain Maya carried every day, then I would take that burden from her. It all would stop tonight. The games, the push-pull that had gone on…Done. I swallowed the word just on the tip of my tongue.Love.
“You’re always going to be enough for me,” I said shakily, trying to keep my composure. She gasped as I raised my head tomeet her gaze, letting her know I meant it. “Don’t ever question your worth in my presence again.”
Chapter Thirteen
Maya
His eyes never left mine, and I took a step back. The cold rail of the balcony was biting at my skin. This was the first time he’d been the one to make the first move emotionally and unafraid to be vulnerable with me. I was scared it was just an act to get me in bed. Maybe he just created his own little game after listening to what was supposed to be a private conversation.
“I figured you would follow me up here one of these days. I just didn’t think it would be the first night I was up here,” I muttered as he closed the distance between us. “Don’t mock me, and please don’t mock my insecurities,” I said, my voice rising slightly. “What do you want from me, Riley?”
He just stood there, not saying a word as his fingers flexed at his sides. He was nervous; I could tell by the way his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat each time he swallowed. In a small act of defiance, I chuckled lowly, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Tell me why I shouldn’t pack what little I have and risk Rocco finding me? Give me one reason not to end this right here, right now. I can’t stay here and walk by you without that stupid flutter in my chest and false hope."
His eyes snapped to mine instantly, staring in disbelief. I wouldn’t really do that. Riley had no idea I was bluffing, but the hurt that swam in his eyes caused the facade to fall away. I softened my gaze, watching intently as he took in my words. Before long, the spring of tension threatened to snap the more he moved to close the space between us.
"I want you to submit knowing you will be protected and loved the way you deserve with a little bit of patience.” His eyes darkened as he stepped forward again. I swallowed thickly, cursing myself that I didn’t move away from the balcony before starting all of this. He went through great lengths to hear how I felt before, so he was going to get it. “You’re mine.”
I could feel the heat of his body each step he took until we were chest to chest, well, more like forehead to chest. He was losing control listening to my words, his chest rising and falling faster as he waited for my next words.
“Oh, am I now? What happened to being nothing more than sloppy seconds? Pretty hard to sell the ‘you’re mine’ statement when you don’t treat me as such. Stop with the mixed signals and tell me something.” My heart pounded against my ribcage, watching his body quiver with anger, but it was too late to stop now.
His jaw ticked. “I don’t care if I have to drag you out of Rocco’s house myself. The next time you leave this house will be because of old age, when you die in your fucking bedafterme. Do you want to know why?”
The wind howled around us and blew hair to my face, strands sticking against the tears I never realized were falling. His hand reached out, and out of habit, I flinched away. But quickly, Iremembered who I was truly dealing with. I tried to tell him it was okay with a pleading look, and after a few moments, he understood, cupping my face gently.
His cold fingers traced along my jawline, running softly along the smooth skin before using two fingers to tilt my chin up to face him.
“Because I have nothing without you. I’m alive, but I am not living, Maya. My life has consisted of hockey, casual sex, and alcohol when the misery becomes too much to bear. You are so far under my skin, it fucking hurts. Not one day has gone by where I didn’t think about you or silently dedicate the game-winning goal toyou. When I’m with you, I don’t want to be angry anymore. I just want to live the rest of my life in fucking peace, something I thought I would never have until now. It’s right there, Maya. Can’t you feel it?”
Desire and longing showed through his blazing eyes. He had to catch his breath, and I wasn’t even sure he had taken one while he spoke his truth.
“I wish I believed you, but we knew what this was. Sooner or later, Rocco will come for me, and I won’t stand by and have you making promises you can’t keep.” My lip trembled as the words tumbled out of my mouth. “This is so wrong. I should have let you keep thinking I was dead.”
He released my chin, eyes trained on my face, searching for the words. Instead, his finger shot out, resting at the base of my neck before skimming down my body, leaving a fire behind as he circled my nipple. I shuddered, heat spreading throughout my body as his fingers lightly brushed against the scars on my abdomen when he reached under my shirt. I placed my hand over his wrist, prying his hand away, trying to move past him, rubbing his arm in comfort as I passed. Maybe we’d speak about this again over coffee in the morning, but right now, I couldn’tfind it in me to continue. My heart was already threatening to implode from having to feel all of this.
I was no more than five feet away when I felt fingers clutch around my neck and pull me backward. Riley pulled me into his rigid chest, and a whimper left me as his grip tightened, forcing my head up to look into his blazing eyes.
“I don’t quite remember saying we were finished,” he said dangerously.
His words sent shivers down my spine, and before I knew it, Riley’s hands were under my legs, hoisting me up. I was forced to sit on the rail of the balcony and hold onto him tightly or risk falling.
