Hidden Angel Read online

  Doing as he said, she added sugar to a cup of coffee and watched as he drank a soda. “How did the concert go last night?”

  A big smile crossed his handsome face. “Awesome! We had front-row seats and backstage passes. I don’t know how Duncan got those tickets, but I’m sure glad he did. They were the best. What did you do?”

  Anya could feel her cheeks heat up. “Duncan and I ate the best meal I’ve ever had. We talked some, and then I came back here. It was nice, real nice.”

  “I’m glad you had a good time. I was a little worried about leaving you.”

  Brows drawn together, Anya looked into Joey’s eyes and asked, “What are the rules of sex?”

  Soda shot out of his mouth and nose. He was still choking as he picked up a red rag and wiped his face. Glaring at her, he snarled, “Damn it, don’t ask me a question like that when I’m drinking. Those bubbles hurt when they shoot out the nose. Now I’ve got sugar in my sinuses. If I get an infection, I’m going to be pissed.”

  Looking contrite, she responded soothingly, “I’m sorry. I just need to know about sex and love.”

  Concern took over his rugged features, and he straightened in his chair. “Why? What happened last night?”

  “Nothing, really. I’m just curious,” she lied.

  He exhaled loudly and sagged into his chair. “Sex is a healthy release of tension. You remember Steve the painter in Houston?” At her nod, he went on. “He told me his rule for sex is the three Fs—Find ’em—Fuck ’em—Forget ’em. I think his rule is a little crude, but that’s how some guys and girls feel. They never get attached and usually have only one-night stands. I personally have to at least like the females I have sex with, and usually, I have it more than once with the same woman. Papa says a real man always makes sure the woman he’s with gets her pleasure, too.”

  Duncan must be a real man. “What about love?”

  Shrugging his broad shoulders, Joey looked thoughtful. “I don’t know. I’ve never been in love. Our job makes it hard to find love. We move our shop from one town to the next so much it’s hard to be around anyone long enough to see if love could grow. Now that we are starting to stay on some of our customer’s properties, it will be even harder. We’re here today—gone tomorrow.” He paused a moment. “Well, let’s get at it. We have a lot to do.”

  All that day she thought about what Joey had said. She knew she needed to protect her heart from thoughts of love. Joey was right. They were here today—gone tomorrow. She hoped Duncan wouldn’t turn out to be the clingy type. A couple of Joey’s girlfriends had been that way. It had been hell trying to work with them hanging around. He’d always gotten rid of the insecure ones quickly, much to her relief.

  * * * *

  Duncan appeared in the garage at eight that night. He tried not to look too desperate, but he needed to see her. When he walked in, she and Joey were cleaning up for the evening. Joey looked up and smiled. Whew, she must not have told him what they did last night. He’d like to get a handle on his feelings before facing her family.

  He walked over to them. “How’s the Ferrari going?”

  “Not bad. I don’t think it’ll give us too much trouble. You never know for sure, but I don’t think it’ll be too rough,” Joey answered. “Thanks again for the tickets. It was a great concert. Something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

  I’ll be remembering what I did to your sister last night for the rest of my life as well, Duncan thought to himself, then said, “It was nothing. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”

  When Joey went into the restroom to wash his hands, Anya hurried over to Duncan. “What are you doing here?”

  “I had to see you. You are coming tonight, right?”

  Cutting her eyes to the restroom door, she whispered, “Yes, but not until he’s asleep. I don’t want him to know right now.”

  Her words eased his mind greatly. Seeing her distress at his presence, he quickly kissed the palm of her hand. He felt a shiver race through her arm. A sound from across the room made her draw her hand back quickly. He leaned in and whispered, “I’ll be waiting for you downstairs.”

  To relieve her, he went over and talked to Joey for a while then gave her a sexy knowing smile as he walked past her and out of the garage.

  She slipped away at ten that evening. He was waiting for her, wearing only a half-buttoned shirt and a pair of low-cut jeans. As soon as he closed the door behind her, he took her in his arms and kissed her with tender passion. “I’m so glad you’re here. I missed you today.”

  He kissed her until her knees gave way then carried her to his bedroom where he showed her just how much he’d missed her.

  * * * *

  For the sixth week in a row, Anya slipped outside. She’d waited until Joey was in bed, just as she always did before she went to Duncan. She didn’t get very far before a hand snaked out and loosely held her wrist.

  “Where are you going, Anya? To do the nasty with Duncan?” Joey asked.

  “How did you know?” she asked then added defensively, “You can’t say anything. You do it all the time.”

  “Yeah, but I can take care of myself. You’re just a scrawny little girl.”

  “I can take care of myself. You’re not going to tell Papa, are you?” She thought she’d probably die if he knew.

  “No, just don’t go getting your heart broken. I don’t want to have to kill him.”

  “I’m not going to get my heart broken. I know this won’t last forever. He’s nice to me, Joey. I just want to take what he has to offer while we’re here. You’re not disappointed in me, are you?” Stomach aching, she chewed her lower lip. She didn’t want Joey to think poorly of her. She loved him too much.

  “No, I just don’t want to see you hurt, that’s all.” He released her wrist. “Go on, have your fun, but call me if you need me.”

  She threw her arms around him and squeezed him. “I’m glad you know. I was having a hard time keeping this secret from you. I don’t like keeping secrets.”

  When she let go of him, he took her hands. “You don’t ever have to keep anything from me, Anya. I love you. You could never do anything that would change that.”

  “I love you, too. I’m glad you understand and that you are not mad at me.” She gave him one last tight squeeze then hurried away to meet Duncan.

  * * * *

  Duncan was deep in thought. They’d been lovers for six glorious weeks. Shouldn’t she have had her period already? Angel women didn’t have periods, and they could only get pregnant by their spirit-mate after they’d gone through the bonding ceremony. Angel men could only get their spirit-mates pregnant after the ceremony as well, so there were never any worries about having babies with anyone other than your bonded spirit-mate.

  Surely she wasn’t pregnant. A picture of her soft and rounded with another man’s baby flashed before his eyes. Rage washed over him. If a human male had seduced her and gotten her pregnant, he’d make sure the asshole paid dearly for it. No one touched his woman.

  Anya found Duncan wearing a thoughtful frown. “What’s the matter?”

  “We’ve been together for six weeks. Shouldn’t you have had your period by now?” he accused.

  Looking confused, she asked, “What?”

  “Your period, your monthly cycle.” Why was she acting so innocent? A period was a natural thing for human women. A topic they all knew about. She was hiding something. Like a lover.

  “Oh, I don’t have those. I asked Papa once about that when I saw a commercial for pads, and he told me I’d need those when I started bleeding once a month, something to do with the body cleaning itself out each month and prepping to have a baby. He said I shouldn’t worry about it. When my body was ready, it would start doing that. I’ve never really thought about it again. Does it bother you that I don’t have them?”

  Lying. She had to be lying. “Are you pregnant?”

  Shock crossed her face in a flash. Oh yeah, she was guilty.

  He l
eaped from the couch and loomed over her, blinding rage consumed him.

  “Who is he? He has to be a puny human.” Grabbing her shoulders, he glared down at her. He was out of control, and he didn’t care.

  A gasp escaped her lush lips.

  Jealousy whipped through him for the first time in his life. “Who. Is. He.”

  “I–I don’t know what you are talking about.” She trembled in his grip.

  “I don’t believe you. All human women have periods, and you should have had yours. So help me, if you don’t tell me who you are sleeping with, it’s going to get bad.” Lowering his face to hers, he tried to read her thoughts. Blank, damn it! What was with her, and why could she do this to him?

  “What is wrong with you?” Dark eyes moved to his hands. “Let go of me.”

  “You belong to me. Whoever you are seeing, it’s over. Do you understand me?” He glared at her to get his point across. If she wasn’t already pregnant, he had to make sure it didn’t happen.

  A storm brewed in her eyes. He wasn’t smart enough to heed it. Jealousy, desire, and rage flared from his core and swirled throughout his body.

  “You are pissing me off.” Her voice had changed from confused to angry.

  “You and your lover are pissing me off. The thought of you spreading your legs for another man is driving me over the edge of sanity.”

  Anya looked at his hands again. “You best let me go.”

  Again, he didn’t heed her. “I will let you go when you tell me what I want to know.”

  “Have it your way. Just don’t say I didn’t forewarn you.” Instead of trying to pull away to gain her freedom, she reared back and head-butted him.

  He howled in rage and hauled her over to the couch. Pushing her flat on her back, he loomed over her. Head pounding, he gritted out, “You are mine for as long as you are here. I won’t share you.”

  Narrowing her eyes, she stared him down. “That goes for you, too. No more neighbors. No more women on this property period. Do you understand?”

  The spitfire was fighting him. Lust drove him wild. The sight of her jealous rage made lava flow through his balls. He had to have her. Now. Lowering his lips to hers, he took her mouth in a hard kiss. Pressing a knee between her thighs, he spread her legs then settled his body down in between them. Right where he belonged.

  Slanting his mouth over hers, he groaned. She tasted so fucking sweet. The way her tongue darted out and dueled with his drove the passion higher. Pressing in with wild abandon, he sucked at her tongue while his hands went to the buttons on her shirt and freed her breasts to his sight.

  Pulling back, he stared down at her luscious mounds of pale flesh. The thought of another man looking at them, tasting them, brought the rage back. His face hardened. “Your body is mine. Do you understand?”

  Anger and lust darkened her cheeks. In a flash, she rose up and nipped his lip. The sting left behind had his eyes narrowing and his dick growing even harder.

  “Yeah, I understand. You fuck anyone else while I’m here, and I’ll make you pay. Do you understand?” she demanded.

  “Oh yeah, I understand. It’s a deal. We won’t touch anyone but each other while you are here.” His hands went to her pants and quickly unfastened them and tossed them and her panties to the side. Pulling his swollen cock out of his pants, he lunged forward, filling her wet pussy to the hilt.

  They both groaned in satisfaction.

  With primitive force, he took her, driving in and out of her slick haven. She had too much power over him, but his dick didn’t care at all. Small, strong hands grabbed his hair and pulled his mouth to hers. Going as wild as an angel female in heat, she devoured his mouth, sucking, licking, and nipping him.

  Her fingers raked down his back, the pleasure/pain felt incredible.

  The hard thrust of her hips was driving him closer to the finish. Pounding harder into her hot cunt, he found her sensitive spot and probed and probed it until he felt her stiffen in his arms. Placing her feet on his ass, she drove him harder into her. Pushing his shirt aside, she growled like an enraged angel then bit his shoulder and trembled violently as she came.

  Her teeth in his flesh made him howl. So fucking good. Reverberations of pleasure burned through his balls causing his cock to erupt deeply within her. Pulse after pulse spurted more and more of his life-giving offering into her. He had never come so much. Dropping down onto her, he gasped for breath. Her heart was racing just as fast as his. Good. He wanted to give just as much pleasure as he received. The wild passion they’d just shared reminded him of hard angel lovin’—rough, and raunchy.

  Anya’s ability to share passion wildly or gently made him want to keep her forever.

  * * * *

  Picking up his phone the next morning, Duncan saw it was his brother. “Hey, Malon, how’s it going?”

  “Great. Pack your bags. I got us a couple of rooms reserved at that fancy resort you like so well, the one with the nudist beach and all those angels flaunting their goods. Can you be ready to leave by lunch?”

  Duncan’s heart dropped, and his mind started running in circles, looking for excuses. Latching on to one, he said with fake sorrow, “I can’t leave right now. I’ve got the car project going on, and the restorers need my input almost daily. Sorry, Malon, maybe next time.”

  “You’re still doing the little human, aren’t you? You’re not stuck on her, are you?” Malon asked with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

  “No, it’s nothing like that. I just can’t leave right now,” Duncan lied.

  As if sensing a lie, Malon gave his advice. “You know, it’s bad to get too close to human girls. They can be so clingy, and they just don’t turn off the waterworks when you try to break it off with them. They’re too sensitive, and they take sex very seriously. You’re just a hundred. It’s not right to get hung up on one girl at your age. You haven’t sewn near enough wild oats.”

  “I told you, it’s not like that. Leave it alone, will you?” Duncan couldn’t help but think about how non-clingy Anya turned out to be. If she didn’t see him all day, she was fine with it. No tears from this one. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she had angel blood running through her veins. He wouldn’t mind it at all if she were a little clingy.

  “Okay, if it’s not like that, then come with me and have a good time with a few hot and horny angels. You’re too young to be with just one girl all the time.”

  “I said I can’t go. Drop it, will you? Look, everything is fine. I’m just busy right now. I’ve got to go. I have to talk to…”

  Malon cut him off. “Mom was right.”

  “What?” Duncan asked.

  “Mom called me asking all kinds of questions about you. She said she thinks you put up some kind of shielding spell around yourself because she can’t read your moods. Did you?”

  “I’m grown. I can do whatever I want. I’ll give her a call later today. When you talk to her, tell her I’m fine, just busy.”

  “At times like these I wish I’d spent as much time as you have learning the art of casting spells. I can’t cast any spells. Maybe one of these days I’ll study it—or not. With you in the family I can always just get you to do it. I’ll cover for you as best I can, but you know Mom.”

  “Thanks, I just need some time to figure some things out. Talk to you later.” Duncan hung up and scowled. He didn’t want his mom to know he wasn’t playing the field anymore. She thought he was way too young to settle down. She was so nosy. Loving. But nosy. He didn’t want her asking a lot of questions either. He’d have to call her and try to get her snooping in a different direction.

  Chapter Eight

  For Anya, time was zipping by at warp-speed. They were seven and a half months into the project, and all the cars were ready for a test drive except the Lamborghini Diablo. Joey and Anya needed a change of scenery, so they got Duncan to drive the Shelby to the rented drag strip, while Joey drove the Viper, and Anya drove the Ferrari.

  Looking around, Du
ncan seemed impressed. The place was nice and well-maintained down to the stands. He should be able to appreciate that, she thought. The strip had to be cleared of all debris, so Joey was driving a four-wheeler down it, inspecting it closely.

  “Does it meet your approval?” she asked.

  Duncan looked her up and down. “Yes, very much.”

  “Not me, the track. Although I’m glad you approve of me as well.” Her tone had gone sultry, just the way he liked it. He made her feel things no one else ever had. That scared and thrilled her.

  Taking Anya’s hand, Duncan kissed her palm then said, “The track is nice. What kind of panties do you have on?”

  He’d taken her lingerie shopping a few weeks ago, much to her embarrassment, but once it was done, she admitted she liked her new lingerie. It made her feel pretty. “That’s for me to know and you to find out,” she crooned sexily.

  Nimble hands went straight for the snap on her pants. She laughed as she swatted his hands away. “Not now! We’ve got work to do. I know this seems like fun, but Joey and I really have to see if these engines are running correctly.”

  “How are you going to do that?” he whispered as he leaned down and nibbled at her ear.

  Anya took a shuddering breath and tried to ignore his wandering lips. “We’re going to run all the cars down the drag strip a few times. Then Joey and I will race the Viper and the Ferrari, mostly for the fun of it. Racing releases a lot of stress. And lastly, we have to push the cars to their limit in order to give a quarter-mile time at the auction. Would you like to drive the Shelby for the first few passes?”

  He straightened, and his eyes lit up. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  When Joey came back, they all got back into their cars and made several trips down the strip, progressively going faster. This was the fun side of their job. She thrilled in the feel of the fast-moving car as it sped down the track.