Fingering the strands from her face, she left the bathroom and returned to the living room, where Micah sat on the sofa, his elbows on his knees, his head down.
When he heard her, he looked up then stood.
“Sit down,” he urged.
She plopped onto the couch, careful to keep the robe gathered around her.
“Angel, I think we should take you to the ER.”
“But I’m not hurt!”
“I didn’t use a condom.”
“Yes, I know.”
Micah ran a hand through his hair. “Aren’t there shots they can give you? You know, so you don’t get pregnant? Or at least a pill you can take?”
She leaned forward, wishing he’d at least sit down instead of hulking over her so tense he looked like he’d implode at any moment.
“Micah, come sit down. Please.”
She patted the space beside her, and he hesitated before finally walking around to sit where she motioned.
“I get that you’re feeling guilty. I get that this whole night didn’t go at all like you thought it would or even wanted it to. But you’re making a lot of assumptions and you’re taking credit for sins you didn’t commit.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he muttered.
“I’m on birth control. I’m not an idiot. I wouldn’t take chances like that. I also made damn sure those men I was playing with weren’t going to go too far. With or without a condom.”
“I didn’t give you the choice,” he said painfully.
She gave him a patient look. “I asked for what you gave me. I pushed you. I provoked you and got exactly the response I wanted. Despite what you might think, I’m not too young. I’m responsible, or mostly responsible,” she added with a slight twist of her lips.
“It’s not just about pregnancy. I didn’t protect you. I didn’t protect myself,” he added. “Goddamn it, Angel, I’ve never not worn a condom in my life. Even when I lost my virginity a lifetime ago, I wore protection.”
“I understand why you’re upset. I’m safe. I’ll understand if you don’t want to take my word for it. I can have whatever test you want. I’ve had unprotected sex once. I was a teenager. It was my first time. We both knew better, because God knows David drummed the concept of safe sex through my head often enough.” She smiled sadly. “He was always so much more of a father to me than our real father ever was. Anyway, I told him what happened. He was disappointed, but he immediately took me to the doctor so I could get a prescription for birth control, and he also bought me enough condoms to last a lifetime and told me I no longer had an excuse for not carrying them with me at all times.”
Micah smiled. “That’s David. Mr. Prepared.”
“I miss him.”
“Yeah, so do I.”
“Micah?”
“Yes, Angel girl.”
“About tonight.”
Micah reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorrier for tonight than you’ll ever know. I’d cut off my right arm before I’d ever hurt you. We need to come to an understanding. I want you here. I want to help you. I don’t want you out there alone. But I need to know you’re safe, and I’d rather you not go back to places like The House.”
She blew out her breath, her cheeks puffing in frustration. There was so much in his statement she wanted to deny, to refuse, but now wasn’t the time. She didn’t want him to be sorry, and she damn sure wanted to make certain what happened tonight happened again. And again.
All she wanted was to curl into his arms and rest. Just for a little while she wanted to feel his strength and the tenderness she knew he was capable of. Yes, she wanted his power, his control, his dominance, but she wanted it all, his complete care. His regard. His love.
“Hold me,” she whispered as she leaned toward him. “Please?”
He hesitated as if wavering on the brink of indecision. She didn’t give him a chance to deny her. She moved into his space, cuddled against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. She rested her cheek against his collarbone and nestled her head just below his chin.
Nothing was going to ruin this moment for her. She would savor every sweet second.
Gingerly his arms curled around her, and he leaned back, taking her with him as he reclined against the back of the sofa. They sat in silence as he absently rubbed his palm up and down her back. The heat of his touch scorched her even through the thick material of the robe.
“I don’t want you to be sorry, Micah,” she said softly. “I’m not. Don’t you understand? I know you. I can give you what you need.”
His entire body went stiff. For a long moment he sat there, his hand still against her back. And when he finally spoke, the absolute certainty in his voice made her heart sink.
“But I can’t give you what you need, Angel girl.”
CHAPTER 10
Angelina trudged into the kitchen in a pair of pajama shorts and a muscle shirt, yawning broadly as she rubbed her eyes.
“Want something to eat?” Micah asked. “I’m doing toast and juice.”
She stood by the counter and looked around like she was having a hard time getting her bearings. Guilt crushed him. She looked tired and vulnerable, and he still wasn’t convinced he hadn’t hurt her. She was a small woman, and he was not a small man.
His entire gut clenched as he remembered the way her pussy had gripped him. So tight that he’d had to force his way in, pushing against her body’s natural resistance.
Jesus, he had to stop thinking about her. This was insane. She was David’s little sister. She trusted him, and he’d used her in an unforgivable manner to slake his lust when any of the other women in that room would have been more than willing to take whatever he wanted to dish out.
But no one had fired his senses like sweet, innocent-looking Angelina, a woman who knew everything he’d tried so hard to forget.
His head jerked up when the doorbell rang. What the hell? It was six in the morning.
“I’ll get it,” Angelina said as she started forward.
“I don’t think—”
But she’d already disappeared into the hallway.
Angelina opened the door and peered out at the two men standing just a few feet away. They were both tall. One was solidly muscled and looked intimidating with his bald head and goatee. A small gold hoop hung from his left ear. He wasn’t someone she’d want to meet on a dark street.
The other man was leaner but no less muscled, and he wore his muddy blond hair in a short military style. Both had on faded jeans and casual T-shirts, and both looked at her with open curiosity.
“You must be David’s sister,” the guy with the muddy blond hair said.
“Uh, yeah,” she said cautiously.
“What are you two boneheads doing here at this hour?” Micah growled from behind her.
She jerked around just as Micah pulled her back and stepped toward the two men.
“Not going to introduce us?” she murmured.
Micah scowled. “Guys this is Angelina Moyano. Angel this is Connor Malone and Nathan Tucker.”
“And which is which?” she asked in amusement.
The bald guy grinned, transforming his badass looks into boyish charm. “I’m Nathan.” He jerked his thumb to the side. “This is Connor. We work with Micah.”
“That doesn’t explain what the hell you’re doing here,” Micah said darkly.
“Ah, well, you’re usually gone by now, so we were just checking to see if you were coming in,” Connor said.
Micah shot them both murderous glances that suggested he didn’t believe a word they said. Angelina cleared her throat to disguise her laugh. “Well, it was nice meeting you two, but I really need to get dressed and ready for work.”