Getting old? My temperature rises. “Oh. So the fact that I have a mind of my own is getting old? I’m not some bitch you can control,” I exclaim.
“I’m not trying to control you,” he yells back, slamming his hand down onto the steering wheel. “Quit looking at it that way,” he snaps.
How else am I supposed to look at it?
I want to yell at him some more, when Jax’s words come back to me. That’s what I loved about you. You were weak and anyone who looked at you could see how broken you were.
Slade doesn’t say anything else, thankfully, and I decide to remain silent as he continues to drive us home. He pulls into the garage and gets out slamming the car door. I find myself walking very slowly. I have no desire to run into the house and slam doors. They say love is blind. Maybe I’ve been blinded all this time. No matter what Slade says, he has been controlling my life. And why am I just now realizing this? How many fights have we had where he tells me not to do something, and I do it anyway? More than I can count.
I numbly walk into the house and down the hallway. I find myself standing in the doorway of his office staring at him as he sits behind his desk working on his computer.
I reach up and knock on the doorframe. “What?” he growls not even looking up from his work.
“I won’t be that person, Slade,” I whisper.
His head snaps up to mine, and his lips are thin, baby blue eyes are hard. “What are you talking about?” he huffs out, annoyed by my presence.
I swallow and then square my shoulders. “I won’t allow you to treat me like someone who can’t have an opinion or a mind of her own. If that’s why you picked me, because you thought I was weak, you were wrong.” He could have had any woman he wanted. Hell, they still want him even though they know he’s with me.
He tilts his head to the side, and his heated look turns to confusion.
I continue, “I was that person when you met me but things change. I’ve changed. If you can’t accept that, then we have a bigger problem than Jax being back in town.” I won’t allow that fucker to show up and make me doubt myself. If Slade doubts me, that’s a different story. Maybe I did this to us. I sold my car for him. I moved in with him. I quit my job for him. What else have I altered for him?
I shake my head to myself and turn around to walk away. I hear the movement of his chair and then I feel his hand softly grab my arm. Slade slowly turns me around. “No,” he says softly. “Don’t let him win, Angel. This is what he wants.” He hangs his head and takes in a deep breath before he looks back up to me.
“I heard what he said to you. He wanted to get under your skin and have you second guessing yourself and me.”
“I won’t allow him to do that. I know who I am now, Slade. I know what I want in life. I no longer feel alone. But I’m also not stupid.” He frowns. “I know him being back is going to cause problems between us, and the way you spoke of having me proves that.”
He shakes his head. “I won’t let that happen.”
“You were mad at me.” I point out that Jax already has won in that department.
“I am,” he corrects me. “You’re mine,” he says, taking my face in his hands. “And I’m not going apologize for that. For the jealousy that I felt seeing you with him. Knowing that he wants you. That he once had you. In Jax’s eyes you were there to see him.”
“I was not,” I say clenching my teeth.
“Doesn’t matter. That’s what he sees. I asked you to stay here.”
“No. You told me,” I correct him.
He sighs. “If I would have asked to stay home while I went up there, would you have?” he asks.
“No,” I say without hesitation. He goes to speak but I continue, “But if I had gone up there with you and Tate, I would have stayed inside with you, and I would have tried to stay where Jax wouldn’t have seen me. I went up there because that’s where you were going. Not because Jax was up there. I worry about you just as much as you worry about me. Why is that so hard for you to see?”
He lets go of me and spins around running his hand through his hair. He’s running out of patience. I can tell.
“I watched you yell at him through the glass.” He starts to speak. “I couldn’t get out of the bar and to you fast enough. I’ve been in that situation with you a couple of times before—where you act like they can’t touch you—and my heart stops every fucking time.”
Just like he said, I feel the same way. I won’t apologize for going up there. I know we are going to go head to head a lot now, but no one will tell me what I can and can’t do. Jax made that very clear to me tonight.
He turns and stares down at me as if waiting for me to beg for forgiveness or say ‘I’m sorry’.
I square my shoulders and lift my chin. “I hate that Jax is back in town, but I will not let him get between us. I hope that you realize how much I love you and that Jax could never change that,” I assure him.
His eyes soften a bit, and he leans down and gives me a gentle kiss on the forehead. “Come on. It’s getting late. Let’s go to bed.”
“Don’t you have work to do?” I say referring to what he was doing on his computer.
He shakes his head but gives no explanation.
I know he’s still mad at me, but I still have questions regarding Jax and Slade fighting. Jax had looked completely stunned when he found out Slade and I were together. Yet he had said he fought my boyfriend back before he left for Georgia. It doesn’t make any sense.
“He said you fought with him,” I say pulling my shirt up over my head. We might as well get this over with now.
He stands across the bedroom at our tall dresser with his back toward me. His entire body stiffens at my question. “What?” he asks not bothering to turn around to face me.
“He said ‘your boyfriend beat the shit out of me’ after I moved my stuff out of the place we shared.” I kick off my shoes and start to undo my jeans. “But when he saw that we were together he was completely shocked.” Once they are off I stand there and wait for him to answer me.
“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” he finally says after a few silent minutes.
I don’t like his answer. Something about it is off. “So you’re saying he lied?” I ask.
Slade slams the drawer to the dresser shut so hard a couple of the pictures sitting on top fall over. He spins around and stalks over to me, stopping right in front of me, and looks down at me with hard eyes. “That’s what I said.”
I take a step back from him as he spits out the words. What is wrong with him? I guess the pissed off mood is worse than I thought. “Okay,” I say slowly.
It’s obvious my entire relationship with Jax was a lie. He could have lied about the fight with Slade as well. But why would he lie about my boyfriend beating him up? It just doesn’t make any sense.
“You sound unsure.” He cocks an eyebrow. “I was…in Los Angeles on a case when you moved out of the place you two shared,” he says through gritted teeth.
“No. I believe you.” I step around him and walk into the closet. I throw my dirty clothes into the hamper before removing my lace thong and matching bra. I turn around and come to a stop when I see Slade blocking the doorway, now naked.
“Why are you still mad at me?” His beautiful lips are in a thin line, and his baby blue eyes look like a hard piece of ice.
“I hate you even mentioning that fucker.” If I didn’t believe him, his tone alone holds enough hatred for the both of us. “I thought you would have figured that out from the argument we just had.”
I stand there and stare at him. So, he thinks I’m an idiot! “He’s part of my past, and now he’s here. I have a feeling he’s going to be popping up.” He’s just going to have to get over it.
“Popping up?”
“Yes,” I snap. “You of all people know how your past can just pop up.” I wave my hands in the air. “I actually had pictures and video that I had to watch.” I refer to all the pictures I got of all t
hose girls he slept with thanks to Jessica.
“There better not be pictures of you and him,” he growls.
I cross my arms over my chest trying to keep from strangling him.
“Are there?” he demands.
I give a rough laugh. “Really? I wasn’t that fucking stupid.”
His eyes widen as I refer to not being as stupid as him. “Just drop it, Slade. I’m tired and don’t want to fight about this.”
He walks into the closet and presses his body against mine. “What the hell are you doing?” I ask somewhat confused. He’s mad, and I’m getting a headache and starting to get bitchy again. This day just needs to come to an end.
“You,” he says with a straight face.
“Trying to have your piece of me?” I shouldn’t have said that. I should have kept my mouth shut and just walked around him, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to stroke his ego after what has happened tonight.
His body stiffens and his baby blue eyes bore into mine. “Excuse me?” he asks slowly. “Piece of you?”
I push him away from me. “Don’t act like you didn’t speak of me like I was a piece of meat. I was right there when you and Jax spoke of me as if I was nothing but something you two have fucked,” I spit out walking out of the closet.
“Nothing?” he sneers. “I fucking love you.” He follows after me. “And that ring on your hand proves that.” He grabs my arms and spins me around. “But let me ask you this. Did you get jealous when you saw those pictures of me and those other women?” he asks.
I grind my teeth together. “Answer the question,” he demands losing his patience.
“Yes,” I yell.
He gives me a smirk, obviously proud to know my answer. “Let me make one thing clear,” he says, and my eyebrows rise at his words. “I hate that you were once with him, but I can’t change that. You are mine now, and I will have you whenever I want,” he states harshly, leaving no room for argument.
I swallow hard as my heart starts to beat faster. Why is it that I like this side of him? I mean, let’s be serious; he would not have that power unless I gave it to him. It’s just an illusion to boost his ego.
“And you want me to have you. Don’t you?” His voice is still hard, and he’s still smirking.
“I’m tired,” I argue, not wanting to answer his question. He knows my body well enough to know that I want him.
“Are you turning me down?” He raises an eyebrow.
“I just want to go to bed. It has been a long day.” My mind is telling me not to give it to him, but my body is screaming ‘let him take it’.
“I’m not tired.” He reaches up and places his hands in my hair. “But I have a feeling a good fucking will tire me out.”
“Slade,” I growl trying to take my head out of his hold. “Not tonight.”
His hands tighten to the point of borderline pain. I close my eyes tightly, and a whimper escapes my lips.
He pushes his erection into my stomach. “Are you going to fight me, Angel? Because I can get into that,” he whispers, pushing my back against the wall.
I breathe heavily as he presses the rest of his body into mine, caging me in. “Answer me,” he demands, yanking my head back, making it hit the wall with a thud.
I cry out and grab a hold of his wrists. I tighten my hands around them to try and get him to ease up on my hair, but he doesn’t.
“How about we play a game?” he says with a smile on his face.
Why am I trying to fight this? I know what this is. He hates the fact that Jax is back. He hates it more that Jax touched me. He needs to prove to himself that I am his. Men are just like dogs; gotta mark their territory.
I want to feel in control, though. I want to be able to say ‘fuck off’ because you pissed me off. My body does not belong to you. But we both know that would be a lie, and I don’t want him to have a single doubt in his mind when it comes to our relationship and Jax.
He leans down and his breath falls on my ear. “How about I feel your pussy and see what she thinks? I’m sure it’s dripping and wanting me to fuck it,” he hisses, making me shiver. I am so fucking wet I can feel it running down my inner thigh.
He keeps one hand in my hair and the other slides between my legs. He doesn’t say anything when he easily slides a finger slowly into me.
His forehead comes to rest on mine. “Now, want to try to tell me you don’t want it?” His voice is filled with pride. He fucking knows he’s won.
I let out a strangled breath, but I smile on the inside. We both know I want it, and we both know I’m about to let him have it.
“I don’t want it,” I say breathlessly as his finger slides out and then back in.
“Your body says otherwise,” he retorts.
My body always wants him. I always want him.
“Know what I want?” He slides another finger into me taking my breath away— making me pause before I can answer him.
“No.” I play along.
He leans down and presses his lips softly to mine. I open my mouth to deepen the kiss, but he pulls away with a knowing smile. “I knew it,” he says through his smile. “Want me to take it do you? I can do that.”
Damn, I swear the guy can read my mind sometimes.
He pulls me away from the wall. I go to walk out of the closet and into our bedroom when he pushes me down onto the floor roughly. My knees sting from the force, and my wrist hurts from catching myself. His knees spread my legs wide, my knees burning as they slide along the carpet for him to place himself between them. One hand finds its way back into my hair, pulling my head back, and the other slides between my legs.
“I’m going to fuck you right here in the closet,” he growls. I jump when he immediately slams his dick into me giving up on the foreplay.
“I don’t mind taking it. Know why?”
“Why?” I ask, trying to grab a hold of the carpet—anything to hold on to as he pulls out and slams into me.
“Because it’s fucking mine,” he growls. He pulls my head back by my hair and hisses. “Isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I scream out, arching my back in an uncomfortable position.
“Good girl,” he mumbles before he pulls out once again and slams back into me. He doesn’t let up either. He slams in and out of me in an almost animalistic way. I take one hand and reach down between our bodies to grab his balls.
Two can play this game.
“Jesus Christ,” he hisses as his body jerks. I start to roll them around in my hand, the wetness from my body making them slick and easy to play with.
“Tell me. Tell me you want me,” he demands.
I almost laugh. He wanted to take it, but he needs to know I was willing to give it. “I want you,” I pant.
He pulls back and slaps my ass. I moan as he shoves into me again. “You can do better than that, sweetheart.”
“I want you. Oh God, Slade. Fuck me,” I pant as my body works back and forth with his. “Show me I’m yours.” And he does just that as my body shatters underneath his body and commands.
He starts to pant, and I smile. It doesn’t take him long to come, and we fall to the floor in the closet.
The space is full of our heavy breathing as we lie side by side. My body now satisfied and covered in sweat.
He looks over at me. “That is why I restrain you.” He gives me a small smile. “I don’t last long when you touch me.”
I laugh and roll over on top of him. I look down at him. “You make is sound like a bad thing,”
“Nothing that involves me with you could ever be a bad thing.” He reaches up and pushes some hair behind my ear.
I give him a big smile; Jax has been forgotten. For now.
*****
SLADE
I wake to the sound of the shower running in our bathroom. When I realize it’s still dark, and I can’t see shit, I start to reach around on her side of the bed only to find it taken up by a very furry puppy. I hate that Angel lets Peaches sleep with us. That d
og is going to get huge and take up all the space.
I reach over and pick up my phone to see it reads a little past three in the morning.I open it up to see I have one message from Tate.
Tate: Drove Sam’s car home. I’ll bring it back tomorrow. Just so you know, next time I will not stand by while you have all the fun.
I smile as I fist my right hand, feeling the tightness from it connecting with Jax’s face. We had all been standing inside of Larry’s, trying to decide what to do about Jax when Holly had spotted him and Angel standing out front. I had to literally spend two minutes arguing with Tate. I didn’t want him going out there. We can’t chance Jax seeing him. Right now Angel thinks everything Jax is saying is a lie. If he lays eyes on Tate, he will most definitely speak of their fight and then bring up the phone call. Jax thinks that he spoke with Tate when I answered her phone in New York. I don’t want her knowing that he called her at all. Which means Tate needs to stay back—and I know that’s hard for him to swallow. He wants to protect his sister as much I was I want to protect her. We just have to be smart about it.
I shove off the covers and make my way into the bathroom. I frown when I see the mirror covered in steam. How long has she been in here?
I open the door to the shower and find her sitting on the shower floor with her back resting against the far wall. Her head is leaned back as well. Her eyes are closed, and her lips are parted.
“Angel?” I question shutting the door and making my way over to her.
She opens her eyes and looks up at me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” Her voice is rough as she tries to whisper.
“You didn’t.” I kneel down beside her, trying to stay out of the way of the shower head. “But what are you doing sitting on the floor in the shower at three in the morning?”
She sniffs and then closes her eyes once again. “I can’t breathe,” she says sniffing again. “I’m trying to clear my nose with the steam.”
“Do you feel bad?” I ask lifting my hand to her forehead.
She lets out a small laugh. “I’m wet and sitting in a shower, Slade. You won’t be able to feel if my head is warm or not.”
The UN Series Complete Box Set Page 88
