Page 23 of Angel Unchained

Knox

Had I misread her? Had she merely wanted sex and that was all? I’d thought she had liked me a little, but after I came, she went colder than the cell.

My heart twisted in my chest at her pain and that I had caused it somehow.

And she couldn’t be working with the Roulex. Otherwise, she’d be shimmying up to me, rubbing herself against me and tempting me to mate with her.

No. This was different. No actress or spy, no matter how good, could send off the vibes she was doing now. Perhaps I’d misjudged her.

Carefully, I stepped closer to her. “Are you hurt?”

“No.” She pushed up, wiping a hand down her face and leaving a gray smear. “Sorry. I-I made a promise to myself never to get involved with an unavailable guy.”

“What does that mean? Unavailable? I’m right here.” I pulled my shoulders back and my wings folded closer to my body.

A sob broke through a small laugh. “No, I mean someone too young for me—”

“How old are you?” I arched an eyebrow. The few humans I’d come in contact with had been few and far between, but I’d never thought to ask how old they were.

“You know,” she fiddled with the hem of her prison pants, “that’s one of the questions no one is ever supposed to ask a woman.”

“Why not?” I frowned. “How am I to know if I’m too young if I don’t know your age?”

“Fine. I’m twenty-six. Happy?” She looked up at me. “How old are you, then?”

“In Earth years? About thirty-one. My planet has faster annual cycles than yours from my science class.” I thought my declaration of not being younger than her would make her smile, it did the opposite. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. “Why are you sad now? Am I too old?”

She hiccupped a cry, placing her face in her hands and started sobbing, muttering words I couldn’t understand.

I knelt beside her, rubbing her back as she leaned into me.

Several minutesof back and forth crying and muttering under her breath before she fell asleep in my arms. I laid awake, watching her sleep, brushing my fingers through her hair.

Through the small window in the corner, the moon was nearly full, shining an almost golden light down onto Samantha’s face. It was as though Celia, whose name meant bright moon in our language, was giving me her blessing.

Something unlocked in my chest. I'd never believed in signs before, but Celia always had, and I trusted that she was sending me a message.

And I knew, without a doubt, that I would do anything for this female asleep in my arms. Samantha. Somehow she’d broken through my barriers and wrapped herself around my heart.

I never thought I’d feel this way again. Never love again. But here I was with my legs falling asleep and my wings cramping so that I wouldn’t disturb her sleep.

I had been suspicious of her and her motives, but I was wrong. I could admit that now.

And I wanted to taste her again. Be with her. It would be too damn tempting not to have intercourse with her. Then that would doom us both and any children we had.

As much as I wanted to do something with her, and in my wildest dreams I wanted to give her all the pleasure she deserved, she simply looked so peaceful sleeping on me. I couldn’t wake her. Couldn’t tell her that she was making me addicted to her.

That loving me was dangerous.

What if she proved fertile? And the Roulex decided to breed her with one of the other species in this shithole? There were a few other Angeliminir captive.

Rage burned swift and hard in my veins at the thought of anyone else touching her.

She was mine!

A rumble rattled in my chest and Samantha stirred.

She looked up at me with sleepy eyes, her hand cupped my cheek. “My angel. Knox.”

“Shhh… go back to sleep.”

“Nah, I’m already damned to hell for loving a celestial being.”

“I’m not—”

She wrapped her hands around my neck, pulling me down for a kiss and I was lost.

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