Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
He watches me with a small smile, then steps back and settles on the bed, watching me. While I’m adept enough at reading body language to know he remains wary, he’s no longer frightened of my presence. “I’m Angel, by the way. And what’s your name?”
“Cree…” Really? I take a deep breath, torn between telling him my real name and the nickname everyone uses. I took it on, and made it mine for years now, but could he not know me as something else? There’s no one around to tell him otherwise. “Cree…” No. I can’t do it. It’s ridiculous. I know what I am. I clear my throat. “Creep. Just call me Creep,” I say and get up, because I’ve overstayed my welcome. This might be my home, but it’s not his fault that he ended up here.
He shoots back to his feet too. “Um…. am I boring you? We can change the topic. Like… why do you live in a cave with scary birds? What are the birds? Are they your pets, like the spider? It’s a very cute spider!”
I stop, halfway to the door. His voice is so nice, but I do notice it got a higher pitch at the end. He’s nervous. Who wouldn’t be around me? When you lurk in the shadows, you get to hear what people really think about you. But I also don’t know how to fix this. He’s a witness to my crime. What am I supposed to do? Let him take the stand and end up in prison for life? My club wouldn’t have it.
I try to focus on the question at hand. “No. They’re vultures. Some of them sleep in the caves. If by any chance you end up near them again, don’t approach them, they are dangerous.”
He pales and steps closer. “They won’t get in here, will they? I destroyed one of their eggs. It was an accident,” he adds, as if that wasn’t obvious. He doesn’t seem to be someone who’d hurt anyone or anything just because.
My shoulders sag and I shake my head. “No, even if, by any chance, one ventured into the tunnels, the door would keep it out. They’re not vengeful, you’re safe.” I want to stroke his pretty blond hair so badly I ball my hands into fists to stop myself.
“That’s good. I was really ungrateful when I attacked you, by the way,” he says, scratching his arm. “You did save me from Adam. He wasn’t my favorite person on the planet,” he adds with a chuckle.
I smile so rarely I’m not even sure I’m doing it right. “He did become the vultures’ favorite person for a while.” I know my joke didn’t land when Angel cocks his head at me with a curious expression. “Because they ate him.”
I know I’ve overdone it when his pretty blue eyes widen. I guess that’s my cue to go.
I turn on my heel, mind overcome by a storm, but before I can touch the door handle, Angel collides with me and tightens his arms around my torso. “No. Don’t go. Don’t leave me here! The tunnels are terrifying, and the lamps can run out of battery.”
My stomach does that happy backflip again despite the pain in my arm when I raise it. “I… um… I’ve got spare batteries,” I say flatly, unsure what to make of it. My heart beats ever faster, but there’s a disconnect between my body and brain. Not with my dick though. His closeness is making me hard already, which will only embarrass us both.
“I don’t want to be alone. I’m scared,” Angel whispers against my shoulder, and a full-body shudder shakes him as I stiffen, unsure how to handle a situation like this. My club president, Prophet, would know, but I can’t tell him about Angel.
I swallow hard, trying to be logical. “Will it not be more frightening with me here?”
“No,” he replies almost immediately, and one of his hands travels up my torso, settling over my furiously beating heart. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’s doing it on purpose.
“O-okay. But I’ll need to leave in the morning.”
What the fuck am I getting myself into?
Chapter 7
Angel
Creep doesn’t smell of anything in particular. Maybe some dust and sweat, after what we’ve been through in the tunnels. It’s weirdly comforting to know I’m not alone, and that I won’t be eaten by vultures any time soon.
I’ve got no idea where I am and why, but I need to tread lightly with Creep. I’d rather play the longer game with him, since he seems unwilling to hurt me, than force my way with a screwdriver again. It might be Stockholm Syndrome kicking in already, but it melted me a little that he brought me such a thoughtful gift. It’s a sign that he does have a heart.