Page 5 of Surrender (Angels Halo MC Next Gen)

“I promise not to startle anyone in the future.” I pulled my hair from the sweaty ponytail and finger-combed the strands over my shoulder, pretending to be unaffected by the caress of his eyes. “Please don’t kick me out, Mr. Landlord, sir.”

I would have had to be deaf not to have heard his change in breathing. Knowing he was affected pushed at the limits of my control. Anything else, and I was unbreakable.

But where this man was concerned?

There was a very short leash, and I was already fighting with myself not to take what I wanted.

“I guess I can let it slide this time, young lady. But if it happens again, we’re going to have problems.”

Noting his damp hair and his half-buttoned shirt, I stepped back, putting distance between me and what I would kill for a taste of. Without hesitation. “I would invite you in for coffee, but I was just about to jump in the shower. I’m starting my new job today. I hear my boss is kind of a hard-ass, so it’s best if I’m not late.”

Smirking, he lowered his head—as if he knew how close to breaking I was. But there was no way. I might have been clawing at the walls of my own sanity, but I’d be damned if he suspected. If he ever guessed, Elias would run before I had the chance to make him love me.

I was above average in height, but he was a freaking giant. It made me feel small, delicate, which was laughable. Thankfully, it was a joke only I knew the punch line to. Mostly. His scent hit me like a flash-bang, and I struggled to control my breathing, but somehow, I didn’t give away how affected I was by his nearness. He was so close, I could have licked him—and fuck knew I wanted to. “I don’t want to get you in trouble with your boss, pretty girl.”

My urge to lick him only intensified.

Young lady.

Pretty girl.

Baby girl.

Every time he called me those names, the leash became shorter. What would happen when it choked me? Would I finally break and take everything I wanted before it was time?

Or would I beg for him to twist it a little tighter?

“Try to keep the noise down between ten at night and eight in the morning.” I could feel the heat from his breath on my cheek. If I pressed my legs together, he would know exactly how turned on I was.

Denying the throb of my clit, I dared to return his grin. “I’ll try to restrain myself.”

Winking, he stepped back. “Good luck on your first day, Sammy.”

CHAPTERTWO

elias

As soon asI walked back into my apartment, I was stripping again. Groaning, I stepped into the shower, the icy spray doing nothing to ease the hard-on I was sporting after seeing Samara in so few pieces of fabric. My cock was ready to blow, and I needed to rein it back in, my control already slipping.

With her tangled dark hair, her sports bra soaked with sweat and pushing those perfect tits up invitingly, her toned belly with the little jewel drawing my attention to her navel, Samara was the hottest thing I’d ever set eyes on. I didn’t think girls got their belly buttons pierced anymore, and I couldn’t remember being turned on by the few I’d seen over the years. But I’d be damned if the glitter of that tiny gem hadn’t caused my balls to draw up. That was as far as I’d allowed my eyes to roam before I was pulled back to the sweat rolling down her chest, disappearing into her cleavage.

She was dangerous—the kind of woman that made a man thirst for a shot of tequila to go with a lick of her skin.

Fuck, she already had me itching to touch her.

Every inch of that delectable body.

Two seconds after seeing her, I was ready to break.

Shit. Leep it together, motherfucker.

Combing my fingers through my half-frozen hair, I turned off the water and towel-dried for the second time that morning. Once I was dressed again, I grabbed a travel mug of coffee and my keys before stomping down to my truck. As I opened the door, I saw my brother exit his own apartment on the third floor just as the door to Samara’s opened.

The two of them nearly collided. “Whoa there, beautiful,” Reid said, catching her around the waist to keep her from falling on her ass. Every nerve in my body suddenly felt engulfed in flames as I looked at my brother with his hands on Samara. “Sorry, Sammy. I didn’t see you.”

“It’s my fault.” Her breathless voice set my teeth on edge. “I was totally spacing. But I can’t say I’m sorry. I enjoy bumping into sexy men.”

He whispered something that made her giggle. It didn’t escape my notice that he was still holding on to her. For the first time in my life, I considered burying my brother beneath the foundation of one of his projects. “Reid!” I barked, trying to bank my growing…

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