Page 21 of The One

“You’re not.” His hold on my hand tightens.

“It’s best if you stay.” Riley comes to stand next to me. She gives me an apologetic smile before she exits the closet, leaving Abel and me all alone.

13

CHURCH

“Let go of my hand.” Angel orders me, lifting her chin in defiance.

“I can’t let you go.” I already warned her about running from me. I don’t think she is scared of me. No, not with her poking and half-shouting at me.

How fucked up is it that it turned me on? I’m hard as fuck right now, and my temper is starting to rise with the thought of her trying to leave. It seems Riley took my warning about not letting Angel leave with her.

But she has to be freaked out by me on some level, now that she found everything in the closet. Why else would she want to leave? I think explaining it might make it all that much worse. She must think I’m some sort of stalker psycho like her brother.

“Abel.” Angel starts to deflate right in front of me. Her shoulders drop, and her bottom lip puffs out as unleashed tears fill her eyes. Seeing the sadness in them is enough to bring any man to their knees. “How could you bring me here? When you clearlyhave another woman." She waves her free hand toward the clothes.

“I told you, Angel, there is only you.”

“So an ex, then?”

“Please don’t cry.” I release her hand so that I can cup her face. Angel sniffs.

“Just tell me what’s going on. I know I have no right to be jealous. We’re not even like—ah, I don’t know. Boyfriend and girlfriend sound silly. Because you’re definitely no boy.”

"No, I'm not,” I agree. “We’re together. You’re not leaving.”

“Why am I not leaving? Because it’s not safe?”

“Yes.” Even once I deal with her brother and father, I still don't think it would be safe for her to be alone in the world. Darkness has a way of catching her. I could protect her from it.

“See!” She sniffles. Fuck me. I’m messing this all up. I have no clue what I’m doing.

“Okay, I’m back.” Riley comes waltzing back into the closet. “This is getting ridiculous now, so let's clear some of the air.” She pushes her glasses up her nose. “The clothes are for you. I mean, I thought so when we walked in, but the nail polish really sealed the deal. It’s all yours.” She clasps her hands together. “Are we all better now?” I glare at Riley.

“All mine?” Angel’s eyes widen.

“You’re scaring her,” I grumble, trying to keep my anger in check. I don’t need to come to blows with Nikolai, who I know is right behind me. The closet is too small for that, and the girls might get hurt.

“Yes, all yours,” Riley confirms, not scared of my glare either. I must be losing my touch, or she knows that my Angel would protect her from me. She’s not wrong. There isn’t much Angel couldn't get me to do at this point. Especially if it got her to stop crying. “And big bear here”—Riley points her thumb at me—“wants you to stay. Yes, to keep you safe, but also because he wants you here.”

“You want me here?” Angel stares up at me.

“You’re not going anywhere,” I repeat for the millionth time. I don’t know how to make this any clearer. I brush my thumb along her bottom lip, wanting to suck it into my mouth. I need to taste her again.

“I don’t think he’s good with the ladies.” Riley shakes her head.

“I don’t need to be good with the ladies.” She rolls her eyes at me and keeps going, but I notice that Angel is starting to calm down. Tears don’t threaten to spill free anymore.

"He's determined to keep you for himself, so you're not going anywhere." I grit my teeth, waiting for Angel to panic. This is going to get a whole lot worse if she tries to really fight me to leave. That will make her hate me.

“Is that true?” she asks. I nod.

To my surprise, a slow smile starts to spread across her face. “I want to stay. If you want me here, and there is no one else.”

“Never.” I wrap an arm around her, lifting her up. She meets me halfway, her mouth pressing against mine.

“And now we’re really leaving.” I hear Riley say this, but I choose to ignore her.

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