Angel (A Companion Book to Monster) (Impossible #1.5) by Julia Sykes Read Free Book Online Page B

off my game.  Come on, that deserved a chuckle at the very least.  I rolled my eyes at him.  “I’ll pay for it.  And I’ll owe you one.”
    There was a moment’s pause, and then an evil smile spread over his face.  Okay, so I had him smiling, but I didn’t trust that look at all.  “If I do this,” he said slowly, “you’re coming to Jolly Lolly’s with me as soon as you get better.”
    Fuck, no.
    I groaned.  “Aw, man, you know I hate that place.  The only thing more disease-ridden than the girls in there is the carpeting.  And the only thing more desperate is the décor’s serious need of an overhaul.  I feel like I need a shower just thinking about it.”  I shuddered.  The man clearly wanted to punish me in the worst way possible.  But this was certainly preferable to his open aggression, and I couldn’t deny that it was nice to see him smiling for a change.  Even if his grin had a maliciously pleased edge to it.
    “I know you hate it,” he said matter-of-factly.  “So that’s why it’s part of the deal.  You torture me, I get to torture you.”
    I shot him a level look.  “Going to pick up a few women’s clothes is not torture,” I said flatly.
    “No,” he agreed easily, “But it’s my own personal version of hell.”
    “I would say that Jolly Lolly’s is hell,” I retorted, “but even the Devil wouldn’t dare venture in there.”  But Bradley’s grin remained firmly fixed in place, and for all my efforts to look disgusted, I couldn’t hold back a small smile.  It was nice to see my friend again.  When he was showing this side of himself, I could almost forget his new dark persona.
    “Fine,” I caved after a moment.  “I’ll go once.  One night only.  You got that?”
    “Well,” Bradley said lightly, “that all depends on how many more favors you ask me to do.”
    Right.  Keep favors to a minimum.   If that wasn’t motivation to get well soon, I didn’t know what was.
    “I’ll do everything I can to avoid it,” I promised.  But I wasn’t going to let him leave when he was on top; it simply wasn’t acceptable for him to look so smug.  “Now run along, errand boy, the lady needs something to wear,” I said imperiously.
    Bradley gave a derisive snort, but he turned with a little wave.  “I’ll be back as soon as humanly possible,” he said over his shoulder before shutting the bedroom door behind him.
    “There’s no need to rush,” I called after him, my tone light.  But inside I was hoping that this errand might take him a while; I wanted to give Claudia a reprieve from his threatening presence.
    “Oh, believe me, there is,” he called back as he slid the lock home.  “I’m getting this over with as quickly as possible.”
    My relief at Bradley’s absence dissolved once I was alone with Claudia again.  Her body relaxed slightly as her fear melted, and I was filled with a sick sense of satisfaction at her relative ease around me.  Sure, I had protected her from Bradley, and that was likely why she was slightly more comfortable around me.  But she was a long way from trusting me, much less giving a shit about me.
    But if that was true, then why had her demeanor begun to betray lust for me that mirrored my own for her?  It was undeniable: there was a palpable erotic tension that was beginning to pulse to life between us, making the air suddenly thick with denied passion. 
    When she had blushed so beautifully earlier, I had suspected her innocence.   Did she understand what was passing between us?  I certainly did.  Only, I had never experienced attraction this instantaneous nor this intense.
    “ Soooo,” I said the word slowly, not allowing her the option of ignoring me.  Her eyes snapped to mine, and I felt a flare of masculine satisfaction at my small victory.  I had her full attention now.  My lips were twisted upward in a knowing, slightly mocking smirk.  The way she was looking at me was almost hesitant, and I knew that