Chapter 15

Teresa wassilent the whole drive home—had been since their almost-kiss on Growler and Astrid’s back patio.

Angelo had been an asshole, pulling away like that. The hurt shining in her eyes had cut deep. Everything in him had wanted to kiss her. Take her in his arms and taste her once again. Her taste was one he didn’t want to forget, and one he could easily get addicted to.

He couldn’t.

He wouldn’t.

While he might no longer be a SEAL, and he worked in security, it wasn’t without its own dangers. Providing security for the Hollywood elite may seem like a cushy job to some, but there was a reason they had security—and nine times out of ten, there was always a stalker, or multiple stalkers, lurking.

One could strike at any time and, and it’d been ingrained in Angelo during his training—his job was still to serve and protect. He’d lay his life on the line for the clients.

Now they were working with the FBI, and being sent into situations that could be just as dangerous as the ones he’d been in when he’d been in the Navy. The sick fuckers they were chasing down may not have an army of men at their back, but they were deranged enough to fire a gun first and think later. Even with all the protective gear in the world, nothing could protect him from a bullet in the middle of his forehead.

He didn’t want to expose Teresa to those types of dangers, even if her own job had its own inherent risks. Although maybe after this one, she’d not want to go undercover again. Not want to put her life on the line for the sake of a story.

Somehow, as much as Angelo might want to wish that, to know she was safe, it wasn’t going to happen. Teresa had her own life, and he wasn’t going to stop her from doing what made her happy.

Hence why a relationship couldn’t work between them—no matter how much he may want her. Which fucking sucked because he did want her.

Teresa intrigued him. She was strong, but also had this soft side and she’d fit in well with Astrid and Eveline, which pleased him in a way he didn’t want to acknowledge.

Cass hadn’t been at the get together. She didn’t often come, preferring to stay at home with her computers. Irish had been there, but he’d been his usual quiet self, only talking when asked a question directly. Teresa had tried to draw him out, but he’d answered anything she asked with one-word answers.

Angelo sighed and flexed his hands around the steering wheel. This bouncing between wanting her and not wanting her was getting old—fast.

Either he talked to her about it, or he kept it to himself, and once the threat toward her was gone and she went back to her life, he could forget all about Teresa Carter.

Good luck with that.

Yeah, now that he’d tasted her, giving her up wasn’t going to be easy, even though it was the right thing to do.

Of course, he had no idea how she felt about him. After what he’d done to her earlier in the night, she could want nothing to do with him.

They pulled into his driveway, and Angelo looked around, noting that nothing looked out of the place.

If anyone had been walking around his property, he would’ve got a notification anyway. His alarm system was state-of-the-art, and he’d put motion sensors around the perimeter.

Was that overkill? Maybe, but he didn’t care.

That was the main reason he wanted Teresa with him. The second someone set foot on his property, he’d know about it and be ready to spring into action. Her apartment didn’t have any type of security. He didn’t include Phillip, even though the man had tried to help when someone was breaking in.

Angelo made a mental note to ask Cass or Eveline to look into Phillip and see if they could find out anything on him.

The second he turned the car off, Teresa had the door open and was stepping out.

Cursing, Angelo scrambled out of his seat and met her at the front of the car. “Don’t get out of the car until I clear the area.” His voice came out harsher than intended, and she jammed her hands on her hips, signaling she didn’t appreciate it, either.

“Excuse me, we’re in your garage. The door was closed when we pulled up. I doubt anyone is in here.” She waved her hand around the space.

He kept his garage clean and there weren’t a lot of places someone could hide in it. That didn’t mean someone couldn’t. If the person was desperate enough, they’d be able to keep out of sight.

“Don’t care. Your safety is my priority, and no matter how safe you may think a space is, there’s always the chance it isn’t.”

Teresa twisted her head back and forth, as if she were trying to find this elusive person they both knew wasn’t there.

Angelo also hadn’t missed the flash of fear in her eyes before she’d turned her head away.

Enough was enough.

The sooner he got her inside, the happier he’d be. “Come on, it’s been a full-on day. Let’s get inside.” He moved toward her, but she sidestepped his attempt to cup her elbow.

Okay, he deserved that.

Angelo unlocked the door from the garage to the kitchen and stepped through, flicking the light on. He’d left a lamp on in the family room, so there was a warm glow welcoming them inside.

“I’ll see you in the morning.” Teresa went to brush past him, but he halted her progress.

She looked at his hand, then back up to him.

She blinked, but he’d seen the despair in her eyes.

God, he was such an ass.

Had been all fucking day, except for a couple of times when Angelo hadn’t allowed himself to think too much about what was right and wrong about him and Teresa being together. “Tre, I’m sorry.” He tugged lightly, and she took a small step to him. “I’m sorry for how I’ve treated you today. Tonight.”

“Why?” Teresa whispered, and the word cut into him as if she’d slashed his gut with a knife.

He shuffled forward so his chest was brushing against her breasts. “I have—” He paused, not wanting to lay himself bare, but he had to. She deserved him to be vulnerable with her, like she’d been with him. “I have so many emotions slamming into me. Emotions I’m not used to feeling. You amaze me, Tre. You’re so strong and independent. I admire the hell out of you, and that scares me.”

“That scares you? How? Why? Aren’t you a former, big badass Navy SEAL? Aren’t you supposed to eat fear and then spit it out?”

God, he loved hearing that bit of sass in her voice. The way she was basically calling him out on his bullshit. “It scares me because I want so much with you. So much more than I’ve ever wanted, and I don’t know how to deal with it. How to process it.”

“You’re not supposed to process it. You’re supposed to let it flow through you and accept it and let it take you on a ride you’ll never forget,” Teresa whispered.

Was she saying she felt the same way about him? In a roundabout sort of way? Only one way to find out.

“Are you saying you feel the same?”

Angelo held still as she cupped his cheek, and the dim light didn’t hide how her eyes softened. “Yes. I want to take this ride. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Whether I’ll get thrown off and get hurt. Or whether the ride will end with a unity that only two people can get is up in the air. What I do know, is I’d fucking regret it if I didn’t jump on board. Question is, do you want to join me?”

“Fuck, yeah I do,” Angelo muttered before hooking an arm around her and pulling her so close a piece of tissue paper couldn’t get between them. “Hang on, baby. It’s going to be a hell of a ride.”

He didn’t give her a chance to respond. He dipped down, taking her mouth.

As much as he tried to tell himself he needed to ignore this attraction toward Teresa, he couldn’t.

It was impossible to stop himself from needing this, like he needed to breathe.

Whatever happened in the future, happened, and Angelo would deal with the fallout—if there was any.

All that mattered right this second was that he wanted Teresa, and she wanted him.

Thinking was impossible.All Teresa could do was feel. Feel the way Angelo’s body hardened against her. The way his erection pressed into her belly. The way her body softened into the embrace.

If it was only for tonight, she didn’t care. She’d meant it when she’d said she wanted to get take this ride with Angelo.

Teresa was aware of being lifted and carried down the hallway. She didn’t worry he might drop her. She believed with everything in her that he wouldn’t hurt her.

Angelo wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

The softness of the mattress against her back registered. How Angelo managed to get them from the kitchen to his room without breaking their lip lock, or running into anything, was impressive.

How many times had he done this?

The thought flittered through her mind, but she closed the door on it quickly. Teresa had a past. No doubt Angelo did as well. He was too good looking to be a monk.

“I’ve lost you, Tre. What’s going on?” He lay beside her, brushing his fingers over her cheek.

Her mind had only wandered for a second, but that was all it’d taken for Angelo to stop kissing her.

She could tell him she was thinking about all the ways she was going to touch him. However, Teresa wasn’t going to lie. Nothing ever good came from it.

If she spoke her truth and it killed the moment, so be it. Hopefully, that wouldn’t happen and Angelo would listen without getting offended.

“I was thinking how amazing it was you managed to get from the kitchen to the bedroom without running into anything. And then I wondered how many times you’d done this.”

She didn’t shift her attention from Angelo, and he didn’t break their eye contact either.

That had to mean something, didn’t it?

A slow smile spread across his face. “Tre, I haven’t had anyone here in this house. Or this bed. You’re the first woman who has ever spent a night. And you’re going to be the first person to share this bed with me. That is, if you still want to.”

The ball had been lobbed back into her court.

There was nothing within her that didn’t believe he was telling her the truth. The sincerity in his voice was as plain as the top she was wearing.

Teresa snuggled closer so that, once again, their bodies were pressed against each other. “I still want.” She kissed him. Her tongue teased the seam of his lips, and when he opened beneath her, she slipped it in.

In her past relationships, she never usually took the lead. All of the guys she’d been with had been happy to take control. If anyone would be upset with her taking over, she would’ve thought it would be Angelo.

He was used to taking charge in situations, and he seemed like the alpha type. Yet here he was, letting her set the pace and comfort level.

Teresa pushed against his chest, and the second his back hit the mattress, she straddled him.

Angelo’s hands landed on her hips, anchoring her to him.

She found the buttons on his shirt, undoing them as her hair fell around them like a curtain as she kissed him.

She wanted more. Wanted her clothes gone. Wanted Angelo’s gone as well.

Breaking the kiss, she sat back and ripped her shirt up and over her head.

“Babe.” He clutched her close and sat up.

His hold kept her from falling, like he had from the moment she’d called him.

Angelo’s fingers trailed up her belly and brushed his thumbs across her nipples. The hard buds pushed against the lace of her bra.

“Yes. More,” she whimpered, thrusting her breasts forward.

“We’re wearing too many clothes,” he murmured against her mouth.

“We are, but I don’t want to move.” Teresa was almost afraid that if she moved, the spell would be broken, and Angelo would decide he didn’t want her after all.

Which was totally irrational, considering the way his mouth was trailing kisses down her neck.

“Need to move, babe, to be able to take this further.”

Teresa yelped when Angelo shifted, and she found herself flat on her back with him looking down at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“How about I help?” he teased.

A shiver rippled down her spine as his fingers tiptoed down her side and traced the waistband of her pants until he found the button and zipper.

He had them undone in seconds, and she lifted her hips to assist with their removal. Right at this second, Teresa was very glad she wore a matching set of underwear.

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous.” Angelo pressed a kiss to her belly.

“And you’re overdressed.” She pushed his shirt off his shoulders, her breath catching when she finally got to see his chest and broad shoulders. The ridges on his stomach begged for her to lick her way along each ridge.

Like he’d done to her, Teresa found his belt and undid it, sliding it through the loops and letting it drop to the floor. As she went to undo the button, his hand joined hers and together they released it before lowering his zip.

His erection stretched his underwear, and she slipped her fingers beneath, stroking him.

Angelo groaned, and she glanced up at him from beneath her lashes. His eyes were closed, his mouth open a little, and his head stretched back.

She took his reaction to mean that he was enjoying her ministrations, so she continued, loving the feel of silk on steel.

“Feels so good, babe, but I need you to stop. Otherwise, it’s going to get very messy.”

As much as Teresa wanted like to continue touching him, she wanted him inside her. There’d be plenty of time to do other things. Like stroke and suck him until he came all the way down her throat.

“Whatever you thought right then, Tre, I want to do all of it.” Angelo divested himself of the rest of his clothes.

For a moment, her former teenage self jumped up and down inside of her—she was naked with Angelo Donatello, the hottest guy in school. One Teresa never thought she’d ever have a chance with, and now there she was. All these years later, free to touch and kiss him whenever she liked.

With quick movements, she took her bra and panties off.

“Hmm, I wanted to do that.” Angelo pressed a kiss on her hip, and her body twitched.

“Next time,” Teresa murmured and moaned as he nibbled his way toward where she wanted him the most.

“Definitely.”

Her back arched when his mouth closed over her center, and he sucked hard. Her eyelids drifted down, and she gave herself over to the sensations of him licking and pleasuring her.

This was one aspect of sex she loved, being eaten out, and Angelo was doing a masterful job. He applied the right amount of pressure that had her teetering on the edge quickly.

Teresa didn’t want it to end, but her orgasm was building and crashed over her as he sucked hard on her clit.

Angelo slipped two fingers in her, pumping in and out, prolonging her release and building her to another one.

Multiple orgasms weren’t something she experienced with her other partners, but she suspected, when it came to Angelo, he would ensure she didn’t only have one.

Small tremors were still rippling through her as he kissed his way back up her body, swirling his tongue around each nipple. The action caused multiple sensations to slam into her, and if this was the starter, she couldn’t wait to see what the main course would bring.

The closer he got to her mouth, the more Teresa wanted his lips on her.

She wanted to lose herself in his kiss, and she needed it now. “Kiss me, Angelo,” she demanded, her fingers digging into the hard flesh of his shoulder.

“With pleasure.” His mouth covered hers, and she picked up the lingering taste of her essence on his tongue. A gush of desire pooled between her thighs.

His hard cock was nestled against her opening. All it would take would be for her to shift a little, and he could slip in. She was that wet for him.

Teresa was about to make her move but he pulled away, and her body cooled immediately. “Wait? What?” She rose to her elbows.

“Protection,” Angelo said as he climbed off the bed and headed out the door.

Teresa admired his ass.

How did he get it so tight?

The thought flitted through her mind, and she laughed quietly at the absurdity of it. It didn’t matter what he did. All that mattered was that it was her ass, and no one else’s.

Now, having had his mouth on her. Having had him in her arms, she had no plans to let him go.

Of course, Angelo might think differently, but after their earlier conversation, she didn’t think so.

They were taking this ride together.

He wandered back into the room, and her mouth watered at the sight of his long, hard, thick dick standing to attention. In his hands, he held a box of condoms.

“You don’t keep them in your bedside table like every other man in the world?” she asked as he tossed it on the bed after tugging one free.

“Usually, but when I bought these, I put them in the bathroom cabinet,” Angelo said, his eyes never leaving hers as he rolled the rubber on.

Any other questions Teresa had for him flew out of her mind as he crawled back onto the bed, kissing his way up from her ankle, over her core, to her breasts, before he finally found her mouth.

Her body was on fire from the little caresses, and she was more than ready for him. Teresa grabbed his ass and lifted her hips so they collided.

Angelo pulled his mouth away and looked down at her. The corner of his mouth turned up in a smug smile. “Impatient, babe?”

“For you, yes.”

“Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

“Nope.”

He adjusted his hold so that his palm cupped the back of her ass. He raised it a little, and the tip of his dick rested against her slick pussy. “Look at me,” he commanded.

Teresa raised her eyes, noting how his brown eyes blazed with desire.

“I want your eyes on me the first time I possess you,” Angelo all but growled.

His low, gruff voice had her body weeping, waiting for him to do just as he promised.

It didn’t surprise Teresa that he was dominant in bed. It matched his personality.

Slowly, ever so slowly, he shifted his hips, and she felt him slide in. Her body stretched to accommodate him. He pulled out and stroked back in until, this time, he was balls deep.

“God, you feel so good,” he muttered, his gaze never wavering from hers.

There was something intense about looking deeply into his eyes, as if she could see right into his soul. It only increased the intimacy between them.

“So do you, but I know what would make it even better,” Teresa breathed.

“Yeah, what’s that?”

She loved hearing the amusement in his voice and the way the corners of his eyes crinkled. “You moving.”

“That I can do.” His mouth captured hers as his hips began to move, slowly at first.

She wanted hard and fast and dug her fingernails into his back to tell him what she wanted, but he didn’t get the message. Or if he did, he was ignoring it. Teresa suspected the latter.

Really, was it that bad that he was taking his time? Wasn’t that better than the “wham, bam, thank you, ma’am” type of sex she’d had in the past?

Very much better. There was something to be said about slow and steady. Or more slow and tantalizing.

Every time Angelo pulled back, like he was about to slip out of her, she raised her hips to keep him close. Although it wasn’t needed. There was no way she imagined that he wanted to escape her body.

Teresa hooked her legs around his waist, deepening his penetration. “Yes.” The word hissed out, and heat built again through her bloodstream. Her whole body was warming up as if she was lying in the sun on a blistering hot summer’s day.

She wanted more of it. She wanted her whole body to go up in flames.

Angelo increased his pace, pumping in and out, his fingers gripping her thighs, as if he was worried she wanted to pull away.

No way was she moving, and if he left bruises, then she didn’t care.

“I need you to come, babe,” he huffed out.

Teresa reached down and found her clit, circling the little bundle of nerves with her finger. The sensations the action was creating, along with feeling his cock as it moved within her sent her over the edge, and she screamed his name.

Two pumps later, Angelo’s body went ridged as he reached his own climax, shouting her name.

He collapsed on top of her, rolling so she rested half on his chest and half on the bed.

Their ragged breaths were the only sound filling the room.

Teresa snuggled farther into his embrace, never wanting to leave the safe haven of his arms.