Free Angel Falling by Audrey Carlan

comfortable. Easy. It had been a long time since I felt such ease holding a woman. She sighed and nuzzled her nose into my chest. The movement sent tingles rushing through my body and the deep wall around my heart started to crack and shake, small starbursts of light peeked through the crumbling foundation. “They must be very proud of you.”
    “Not really.”
     “Why not? Your company is doing well. You’ve made a name for yourself. And you’re drop-dead gorgeous.” I patted then squeezed her fanny for emphasis.
    “Hank!” She laughed but didn’t remove my hand. “No, it’s just--they didn’t want me to be as successful as I am. They wanted me to marry someone successful, have perfect little high society brats, and attend charity functions with Mother.”
    I cringed and my lips twisted into a snarl.
    “Exactly!”
    “Our parents always have one idea or another for us but we rarely go that route. Take me for example. Old Man Henry wanted both his boys to take over the business. Technically, I own fifty percent of it, but instead, I opened up Jensen Construction. I’d rather spend my time building new things than herding and selling cattle.”
    “So what did your dad say?”
    “He was honest, Darlin’. Told me he was disappointed, but respected my decision to go after my dream, not his.”
    “Sounds like a great guy, your dad.”
    “The best.” My dad was the best around. He worked hard for his family and rightly deserved the retirement he now enjoyed. A little old-fashioned but so was any good Southern man at his age and station in life.
    “Oh, I don’t know about that,” she smiled coyly. Her hand rubbed along my bare chest, “there’s only one guy sitting on a pedestal for me right now.” She planted a kiss against my peck. She flicked her tongue against the nipple and bit down on the tender nub. The pleasure-pain went straight to my shaft. I groaned loud.
    “I’m sorry, but I can’t help myself. You’re so … so, I don’t know. I just, I want you.” First time I’d ever heard her struggle to speak and it was music to my ears. Knowing that she was just as affected by my presence as I was with hers, made me ache to have her.
    “The feelin’ is mutual, Angel. There’s nothin’ I want more than to hear you scream out my name when you come, but this is not the place. Once I have you naked, there’ll be no turning back and I’ll need a bed and a full night to do it right.” I lifted her chin with one finger and planted a quick kiss on her lips. “Now you need to go home and get some rest. You have a man moving in tomorrow.” I winked and her corresponding smile melted my heart.
     
     
     

Chapter 5
     
    “Wake up, Princess.” Oliver’s sing-song voice broke through the haze of sleep. “We have to go save your prince from the evils of public healthcare and bring him back to the castle. I’ll be in your closet picking out your clothes. You have ten minutes!”
    I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head. Oliver had always been a morning person. I wasn’t. On top of that, the combination of lack of sleep and sexual frustration had taken its toll. I’d never been swept away with lust before. Did I like sex? Yes. Who didn’t? Did I need it? On occasion, sure. With Hank, my skin was literally leaping off my body to be next to the man. It seemed as if the only thing that would take the edge off was having his big body pressing me into the closest mattress. Preferably soon.
    Needing someone for anything was new to me. I’d worked my ass off to make sure the only person I needed was the face in the mirror. Oliver and my sister were the only real human ties I had or cared about. I valued the people I worked with and the individuals I employed but never let them get too close. People who claimed to be my friends came and went. Hell, even my own mother and brother I could do without, most days. Sounded harsh, but my mother saw me as a disappointment and my brother saw me as a