Chapter 15
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
WRATH
I’m not sure how long I sit on the floor with my back against the wall, but when I crack my eyes open, I listen for the sound of the music in the bar.
There is nothing but silence that tells me I’ve surpassed the early morning hours and we’re getting into the sunrise hours of the morning.
Nobody from the club will be rousing anytime soon.
My entire body aches as I force myself to stand, biting back the groans from being on the floor for hours. I am far too fucking old for this shit. Reaching for the handle of my door, I try it, careful not to make too much noise.
The door is unlocked, so she trusted what I said, that nobody would bother her. That being in this room, being under my name, was protection enough. I don’t know if that should make me feel good, but it does.
Really fucking good.
Even though it shouldn’t matter at all, because nothing is going to happen. I repeat that to myself over and over as I push the door open, step inside, and close it behind me. The light spills into the room from the attached bathroom. She’s left it on as a night-light.
Cute as fuck.
But all thoughts of cute immediately vanish at the sight of her lying in my bed. Because she’s not cute in my bed; she’s fucking hot. Then she opens her eyes, pushing up slightly to look across the room at me.
I suck in a sharp breath, waiting for her to scream or tell me to get the fuck out. I start to tell her that I was just going to hit the head and leave as a way to excuse the fact that I’m right here, across from her, as she sleeps.
“Wrath,” she whispers.
But before I can say anything in response, she rises to her knees. She’s wearing one of my plain black T-shirts. Her gaze is focused on mine, her eyes searing my own, and then she speaks again, and her words shock the absolute fucking shit out of me.
“Why am I so attracted to you? I should be scared to death of you.”
“You’re not?” I ask.
She shakes her head, her dark hair flying around her shoulders. It’s messy and sexy. I swear to fuck she looks like a dream right now. If I didn’t know better, I would have to pinch myself to make sure I’m actually awake.
“I’m not. Well, I was intimidated the first time I met you,” she murmurs. “But I’ve never been scared.”
My lips twitch into a smirk. I take a step toward her, knowing I shouldn’t. Then I take another and another until I’m standing at the end of the bed. I’m not close enough to reach out and touch her, but it wouldn’t take much more to get there.
“Elodie,” I grunt. “I’m too fuckin’ old for the way you’re looking at me.”
Her tongue slips out, gliding across her bottom lip before those sexy lips stay parted, and she lets out a soft whimper from somewhere in the back of her throat.
I did an initial background check on her. It wasn’t invasive, but it was enough for me to know she’s never lived with anyone other than Alex. I also know that she has a sister, but I didn’t find anything on her parents.
The lack of information on her family makes me wonder if she’s vulnerable and I’m about to take advantage of her. A better man would ask her those kinds of questions before climbing on this bed.
I’m not a better man.
Kicking off my boots, I push them to the side before I sink one knee into the mattress, then lift the other and move closer to her. I could lean down and kiss her, I’m so fucking close, but I don’t do that.
There is something monumental about this, and I don’t understand why, but at the same time, I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to think about consequences, about pissing too close to the watering tank.
This is something I can’t get off my fucking mind, and I don’t think it’s going to get any better anytime soon.
“You don’t seem old from where I’m sitting,” she exhales.
My lips twitch at her words. “Pretty sure I was already a prospect in this club when you were born,” I murmur.
She shrugs a shoulder, then reaches out, and I feel her hand against my stomach.
My muscles jump at the touch. Then, before I realize what she’s doing—mainly because I‘m just trying to breathe and look into her eyes at the same time without completely losing every sense of control I have—I feel her fingers slip beneath my shirt and touch my abs.
My bare fucking skin.
Goddamn.
Her big hazel eyes stare into mine as she lets out a shaky breath. I slide my palm across her jaw, tangling my fingers into her hair the way I’ve been imagining since the moment I first saw her.
“I don’t think I care, Wrath.”
“Why?” I ask on a grunt.
It’s her turn to smile. She doesn’t look away, her gaze still connected to my own. Lowering my head, I touch my mouth to hers, but I don’t deepen the kiss, at least not yet. I don’t think I’ve ever fucked someone who wasn’t a clubwhore or involved in the club in some way.
This, being here with her, is completely different for me, and to have her come on to me like this, I’m absolutely out of my comfort zone here.
“Because I’ve never wanted anyone the way I do you. I don’t understand it, but I want to.”
Aw, hell.
Control. Snapped.