Chapter 5 “Temptation”
Angel closed her eyes as she laid on one of the upholstered lounge chairs realizing she really should have taken a nap after being on a plane and that stupid helicopter all day. You can only have so many baby panic attacks before it really starts to drain you… that and the fact that it was almost one in the morning.
All in all, it hadn’t been a bad night. Tristian had finally loosened up when Hunter and Ray joined them and she was pretty sure Ash had actually gotten slightly drunk. Angel giggled to herself at the thought. She had been dating him for six months and neither of them had so much as touched a glass of wine with dinner… much less hard alcohol.
She rose up on her elbows to see if she could locate her missing boyfriend and smiled seeing he was in the middle of a card game at the picnic table with the twins and Stacey. Angel tilted her head realizing it was a drinking game. She watched them as Devin took a shot while the others laughed and egged him on. Glancing around, she noticed Tristian was snuggled up with Shae in the lounge chair beside hers but it looked like everyone else had vanished for the night.
Climbing out of her chair, Angel yawned then rubbed her arms catching a chill. She had forgotten how much cooler the nights were in the mountains compared to California.
“You crashing, sis?” Tristian asked as he sat up and shook Shae awake.
“Yeah, but you guys don’t have to leave just because I’m going to bed,” Angel smiled sleepily.
“I think we were just waiting on you,” Shae said knowing it was the truth.
She had already asked Tristian to take her to bed several times but he’d said he wasn’t leaving his sister down here by herself. She’d frowned asking why Ashton wasn’t good enough to keep an eye on Angel for him. She hadn’t mentioned it again when Tristian had informed her that if she wanted to go to bed, then she could go on without him.
Angel shook her head at them. “You should have said something. I think I was ready for bed an hour ago. Just let me say goodnight to Ash and we can head upstairs together.” She turned then realized what she had said and spun back around. “I didn’t mean to imply Shae was sleeping upstairs with… I mean… it’s none of my business,” She blushed, knowing she was only making it worse.
Tristian cocked his eyebrow at her to hide the fact that he enjoyed her worrying about who was sleeping with him. “Just go tell Ashton goodnight before you start taking a list of sleeping arrangements.”
Shae giggled as Angel hung her head in embarrassment and walked around the pool to the card game. “Now that was cute as hell… but don’t even think about sticking me in a room all by myself,” she informed him.
“That was cute… a little too cute,” Tristian smiled for Shae’s benefit as he studied his sister. “I do believe my Angel is still a virgin.” He glanced toward Ashton wondering if he was right. After all, Ashton was twenty-one years old as of midnight tonight… and he had been dating Angel for almost six months. Damn… he’d found another reason to like the man.
Shae bit her lip hearing Tristian call her ‘my Angel’ but wondered if he was right… or if Angel even knew the truth about that night with Hunter. She closed her eyes and inhaled deciding to again delete the memory. It was way too late to tell Angel what she had seen and it wasn’t like she had really seen anything happen… right?
Jason came back into the pool area just as Angel made it to the card game. “Hey, I wanna play,” he grinned as he sat down beside Ashton.
Angel leaned down and kissed Ashton on the cheek. “You guys have fun, I’m going to bed,” she blew a kiss at the twins then Jason. “Night, night.”
“You’re letting her go to bed alone?” Jason asked Ashton, pretending to be in shock.
“Where’s Mandy?” Devin asked, pointing out the fact that Jason was also alone tonight.
“At least I took her to bed and wore her out enough for her to fall asleep before I left,” Jason said with satisfaction.
“Depends on if I finally get an invite?” Ashton smiled crookedly as he looked up at Angel, “Do I get an invite?” His voice was pleading and just a touch slurred.
Angel gave him a playful tap on the top of the head. “Don’t let my family turn you into a pervert,” kissing the mock injury she repeated, “Night, night.”
“Night, night… little ice queen,” Jason called as she walked away.
Tristian placed an arm around each girl as they headed back into Sanctuary thinking maybe it wouldn’t be as hard to break Angel and Ashton up as he'd thought. They obviously hadn’t even slept together yet. Seeing Ray and Hunter come out of the gym area, he waved.
Ray waved back but took off down the hall toward his room as Hunter came walking toward them with a towel around his shoulders.
“You guys working out this late?” Tristian asked as they made their way toward the elevator.
“We can’t all be lazy,” Hunter winked as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Okay, maybe we can,” he laughed. “I was swimming. Ray was the one working out.”
Angel stayed quiet just listening to them. This was the happiest she had been in a long time and she knew why… this was home. Everyone she loved was here. Her eyes grew sad and she looked at the floor so no one would notice.
She didn’t really want to go back to California… even though she had started a new life out there. She’d be going to college in the fall and Ashton was always there, taking her places. Before she’d met him, she’d been so homesick that she had cried herself to sleep almost every night.
But Ash had found a way to fill her days with laughter and fun. He’d shown her so much attention that she had started to actually like California. He was the perfect boyfriend… and always the perfect gentleman. They had never done more then kissing and holding hands… which was good because she didn’t want to do anything more.
She was ashamed to admit it now, but she had only started dating him to replace her own brother and best friend. Angel sighed as she stepped from the elevator and started toward her room. “Good night you guys.”
Tristian and Shae stopped at his door, both of them saying goodnight at the same time before disappearing within.
Hunter caught up with Angel, lightly gripping her arm and stepping in front of her. When she glanced up at him, he could see the sadness he had heard within her voice and even felt in the elevator.
“Angel… you’re supposed to be happy,” he shook his head, “But you're not… Okay, spill. What’s wrong?” he ordered gently.
“It’s nothing,” Angel waved a hand as if erasing it. Seeing that stubborn look in his dark eyes, she was reminded of the fact that she’d never been able to lie to any of them… especially Hunter. “Fine… but can we please talk in my room instead of out here in the hall?”
“Ladies first,” Hunter held his hand out and swept it toward her door. “Let me go get something… I’ll be right back.”
Angel unlocked her door and went straight to the bed, deciding if she was staying up a minute longer then she was at least going to be comfortable. Kicking her sandals off, she crawled under the covers but remained sitting, grabbing a pillow to hug. It was only a couple of minutes before Hunter came back, locking the door behind him. Her eyes widened seeing he had two glasses and a bottle of wine.
“I’m already on a crying drunk,” Angel nodded with a serious look.
“You had one glass… hours ago. Try again,” Hunter eased onto the bed wanting to laugh when she pouted at him. He handed her the glasses to hold as he filled them up. “Besides, this will just help you sleep… after you’ve told me what’s wrong.”
“Fine, you caught me. Truth is, I’m so happy to be back… that there for a moment, I was sad knowing I have to leave again,” she shrugged. “But it’s probably just because I’m still traumatized from the fright-flight and need to go to sleep.” She handed him his glass and started downing hers.
Hunter reached up and rubbed his temple knowing he was going to get a headache before he left her room. She didn’t have to worry about this right now… she hadn’t even been back a whole day yet.
Glancing at her from under his fingers he reminded her, “You’re eighteen years old now… those divorce papers are obsolete. You don’t have to go back to California if you don’t want to.” He refilled her glass when she lowered it to her lap.
Angel swallowed knowing he was right and wrong at the same time. Going back to L.A. may be the only way to keep her sanity. “I’m just sleepy,” she hedged.
Hunter nodded figuring she didn’t want to have this conversation any more than he did and he knew why. He’d been able to read her like a book since they’d first met. So he summed it all up silently in his head. She couldn’t truly be in love with Ashton Fox and her dad probably didn’t give her the time of day. She was just going through the motions of living in California. Now that she was back… the truth was probably slowly dawning on her.
Setting his unused wine glass on the nightstand, Hunter kicked off his shoes and climbed in beside her. It was a special bottle of wine she’d been drinking… one he had added several Indian herbs to that worked a lot like a truth serum and an aphrodisiac. It wasn’t that he thought she would lie to him… but she would avoid the question if she thought he wouldn’t like the answer.
Keeping his tone soft and friendly he began coaxing her, “Relax, finish your drink. I’ll stay with you for a little while.” He scooted up against her and laid his head back against the headboard seeing that the dresser mirror reflected their images back at him.
Angel did as she was told, surprised at how fast the wine was working to take her worries away. Draining her glass, she handed it to him realizing this was the best she had felt all day… okay, maybe all year.
“I missed you guys so much that I cried,” she laid her head on his shoulder.
Hunter wrapped his arm around her and scooted both of them down on the bed, reaching out to stroke her hair. “I don’t want you to worry about leaving until its time to leave… just block it out and enjoy being home.” He pushed her hair back from her cheek and gave her soft skin a gentle kiss, letting the heat of his breath caress her.
“I’ll stay right here until you fall asleep,” Hunter whispered as he reached across her to turn off the lamp. Instead of moving back to his side of the bed, he stayed partially draped over her, letting his lips caress the arc of her neck.
Angel felt her body heating up and it felt so good… so good. The dim ache between her legs became a pounding heartbeat making her flinch. “Hunter… please,” Angel whispered as she felt his hand slide across her shoulder and down her side. “It’s been so long since I’ve been touched like this that I don’t think I can handle it.”
“You don’t let Ashton touch you?” Hunter asked, not sure if he wanted to hear her answer.
“No,” her voice hitched when his hand dipped between her legs, cupping her thigh and gently pulling her legs apart. “Oh God, no.”
“Then let me take the ache away Angel.” Before she could find the courage to say no, he cupped her right between the legs in a firm grip, and then released the pressure, only to grip her again. She still had on her bathing suit bottom and the short lose skirt.
“You don’t let him touch you because you don’t love him.” He moved his hand in a rhythm that he knew would make her crazy. “Right?”
The soft light coming through the window was enough to let him see her face. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes closed. She was biting her lower lip as she shook her head, not thinking he could see her silent answer.
“Tell me who you love,” Hunter said as he untied the string of the bikini bottoms and pulled… letting it slowly caress her center as he took it out from between her legs.
“You and Tristian.” Honesty had always been her downfall.
Her answer didn’t faze Hunter because he had always known how she felt. He loved Tristian to… like a brother. But she couldn’t have Tristian… he was her brother and Hunter wouldn’t allow that. He’d had his suspicions about Tristian for a long time and tonight he would have his answers.
Sliding his finger across her opening, he started massaging it. “Has Tristian ever touched you like this?”
Angel lifted her hips off the bed trying to get closer as she pressed her head back against the pillow. “Tristian? Sometimes.”
Hunter squeezed his eyes closed knowing she wouldn’t remember anything when she woke up. Moving his fingers lower he let one slip inside her… pumping it in and out of her wet tightness. “Like this?” He stilled himself for the fury her answer would bring.
“No… sometimes I wished he would… and sometimes I wished you would,” Angel raised her hands, placing them against the headboard as she pushed herself downward in a fast motion trying to get him deeper inside her. “You’re the first one to do this… maybe Tristian will too.” Her breath was ragged with the building need.
Soothing calmness washed over Hunter now that he knew the truth. Tristian had been playing with his little sister for years but had never broken her blood-bond. If he had… it would have been the death of him. As it stood, he already owed Angel a spanking for saying Tristian would be next.
“I’m going to give you a spanking little Angel,” he whispered as his hand worked back and forth over her, “Punishment for saying you’re going to let Tristian do what I’m doing.” He let his finger enter her teasingly. “And if you don’t make a sound during it, I’ll give you what you desire.”
Seeing the passion on Angel's face as she nodded, he knew he’d started a fire and it was up to him to put it out… and he knew just how to do it. Pulling her on top of him, her back against his chest, he spread her legs even more as he continued his whispering and torment.
“This is mine,” he brought his hand up a few inches and brought it down between her legs making a smacking sound. When she tried to close them he whispered, “Shhh.” He rubbed his hand across her, giving her back what she craved. As soon as her legs opened wide for him, he smacked her again knowing it was only adding to her pleasure.
“And since it’s mine… I get it first and I don’t share,” Hunter rolled his hips, straining against her and letting her feel his swollen staff against the softness of her ass. Knowing her mock punishment was sapping his own resolve, he quickly moved her beside him.
Sliding on top of her, he crawled backwards taking the cover with him as he went. She might not remember this in the morning… but he would. Kneeling between her legs, he placed his hands under her and jerked her high in the air, surging forward with a growl as he gave her his first long, slow, hard lick.
Angel bucked and opened her lips to scream but Hunter's voice stopped her.
“Shhh, you’re not allowed to make a sound Angel. Breathe… just breathe and come for me,” he watched down the line of her body to make sure she obeyed.
Angel’s fingers twisted in the sheets and she arched her back only letting out a hiss as the heat of his mouth returned to her. She could feel his tongue invading her as he licked and sucked at her just like a deep kiss. Her body rocked as everything inside her exploded.
Pushing her back onto the bed, Hunter jerked off his clothes and crawled between her legs, not stopping until he was pulsating an inch within her tightness.
“You belong to me,” Hunter hissed as he plunged forward.
It was only about an hour later that Hunter leaned against the door of his own bedroom. He had brought her several times, leaving her sated and asleep. His hands fisted at his sides. The last thing he ever wanted to do again was watch her leave and now… there was no way in hell he was going to let her go back to California.
He closed his eyes remembering when she was nine years old… the four of them had run all the way to the pond because Angel and Tristian had gotten in trouble with their grandfather. He couldn’t remember what they had done to piss the old man off, but he remembered what had happened at the pond.
He’d taken his small hunting knife and cut himself on his arm, holding the wound out to Angel. Ray had quickly caught on and done the same thing, holding his arm out to Tristian.
They had made a blood-pack that day with the innocence of children, whispering sacred words to each other. Those words still echoed on the mountain and now that she was back… the words where getting louder.
*****
Tristian poured two shot glasses while Shae was in the shower. One with water… one with vodka. He quickly pulled apart one of Aunt Carley’s sleeping pills and stirred it into Shae’s shot. Turning around, he held them up as she came out of the bathroom wearing very little.
“What are we toasting?” Shae smiled taking the shot glass he offered.
“To family and friends,” Tristian shrugged. It was the best he could come up with on short notice. He turned his up watching her drink hers.
*****
Ray slipped the extra key back into his pocket as he entered Ashton’s room, locking the door behind him. Noticing the man’s laptop on the small desk, he smiled seeing it had been left open and logged on. If you want to know a college boy’s dirty little secrets… then this was one of the fastest ways.
Figuring he wouldn’t be able to log in online to look at its web site history, Ray went straight for the file folders. Clicking through the folders in My Documents, he found one that was labeled Lawyer Receipts. As he skipped through the scanned pages, his eyes darkened to pure ebony.
The sealed records Tristian had mentioned Robert couldn’t open had not been for drunken driving as his uncle had suggested. Ashton Fox had paid his lawyer a small fortune to get date-rape charges downgraded to assault on a female. $20,000 had been enough to get the record sealed so he wouldn’t get kicked out of the college he went to. He spent several minutes reading everything, including the police report.
Closing the files, Ray had a flashback of the way Ashton had been crushing Angel's hand to keep her from leaving his side. He should have followed his gut instinct and laid the man out right then and there. If he told Tristian or Hunter this new information… the prick wouldn’t last a day. But if he didn’t tell them and something happened to Angel… three sets of eyes were always better than one.
*****
Tristian pulled at the panel in the back of his closet, freezing when it made a slight scuffling sound. Glancing over his shoulder he sighed, thankful Shae drank enough along with the sleeping pill so that nothing in the world would wake her before morning.
A light tapping at his door had him shoving the panel back into place with a silent growl. Opening the door, he slipped into the hallway seeing Ray standing there.
“Do you know what time it is?” Tristian asked closing the door behind him so Shae wouldn’t wake up.
“Do you know just who your sister is dating?” Ray drawled in a dangerous tone.
“So, I’m not the only one who thinks he’s a dick?” Tristian raised one of his eyebrows seeing the anger in Ray’s eyes. Both their heads turned when Hunter's door opened. Tristian sighed, glad Hunter hadn’t stayed in Angel's room like he had feared and waved him over.
“Well, it looks like I’m not the only one having trouble sleeping,” Hunter smirked.
Hunter's smile quickly faded as Ray filled them in on Angel’s boyfriend. It was Hunter that both men had to restrain.
