“What? No. Why would you ask that?”
He presented the cloth like a 15thcentury gentleman who did that shit to prove their new bride’s pure status.
Angela’s mouth went slack, and she pushed herself up the bed, legs closed. He prowled over and sat at her hip. “Open, let me see.”
“Holy crap, no, Lawless. I said you didn’t hurt me.”
“Open them, Angela,” he rasped firmly, his hand helping to prize her thighs wide. What the fuck did he expect to see? A gaping wound? He’d finger-fucked her, not pushed the hilt of a knife into her sex. But while she huffed, he ran a finger down her slit, pushing the puffy lips open. He didn’t see blood or any tearing.
It was like being hit with a four by four when she clasped her knees closed.
“I told you, I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
“Nothing...” he repeated, slower. Eyes cutting up to hers. She avoided his gaze.
“Angela, look at me now.”
She snapped her eyes and narrowed them, scowling. “I will if you take that tone out of your voice.”
“Tell me, are you untouched?”
“Jeez, tell me you’re from the Victorian era without telling me you’re from the Victorian era.”
A great growl rolled up his throat, knowing the answer simply from a look.
“Angela.”
“Lawless.”
“Fucking hell,” he cursed, dropping his head over his hands.
This was all wrong.
For a bastard who needed to be ahead of the curve, he should have known this, and now he was left with his head buzzing.
“Don’t make it into a big deal. It’s nothing, and I don’t want to talk about it.” Angela spoke, her little voice trembling like he’d upset her.
Schooling his actions before he ripped the good-smelling bedroom apart with his bare hands, he shot to his feet, startling Angela, who watched him with widened eyes, the blanket gripped in her two hands. He prized it free, “lie down, angel,” he covered her over and bent down to move his lips to her forehead. “Get some sleep.”
“You’re leaving?”
His angel was untouched.
Fucking hell, why did his body love that?
But he had to make his feet move.
He wasn’t the man for initiation.
He fucked too hard. He’d rip her apart.
The monsters clawing through the back of his skull were howling.
Claim.
Fuck.
Take.