CHAPTER SIXTEEN

 

Angel kept an eye on the rear view mirror and circled several blocks randomly before pulling into his parent’s driveway. He had endangered Teri. He felt like a complete fool.

He led her through the back door and made sure it was locked securely behind them. The lights were low and the family had gone to bed.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Any water?”

“This isn’t a bottled water kind of family. I can give you tap water with ice.”

She glowered at him. “There you go again with the stereotyping. I just need cold water.”

He sighed. “Teri, I wasn’t trying to stereotype.” He filled a glass with ice and held it under the tap.

“Sorry.” She accepted the glass from him. “I’m tired and feeling very vulnerable.”

“Let’s crash. We’ll figure it out tomorrow.” He turned out the lights behind them, checking to make sure the front door was locked and bolted before following Teri up the stairs.

She opened the door to his former room and turned back to him. “Angel...” Her voice was soft. “I don’t want to sleep alone. Do you think your mother would understand?”

Angel nudged her inside and closed the door behind him, tossing his jacket on the back of a chair. “I hope she will, Mia. She knows all about love.” He twisted the lock on the door. He relished the idea of holding Teri in his arms while she slept.

“Good.” Teri pulled the knit shirt off over her head and let it drop to the floor.

Astounded, he stared, his mouth open. He didn’t know how to react. Wordlessly, he sent her a one-sided smile.

Teri unzipped her jeans and stepped out of them. She stood, gazing solemnly at Angel. “That is, if you still want me.”

“Want you?” He swallowed a bundle of razor blades at the back of his throat. He held her gaze as he hurriedly shed his clothing. His dreams were about to come true. They regarded each other for a moment before Angel opened his arms.

She wrapped both arms around his neck and rained little kisses on his face as he lifted her off her feet.

He kissed her shoulder, his stubble of beard rasped against her skin. He drew in a sharp breath as she drew her legs up around his torso. “Teri, I...”

“Not now, Angel. I don’t want anything to stop us from doing what we’ve both wanted since we met.” She gazed at him tenderly. “Just for tonight, you’re not the cop and I’m not the witness.”

He hesitated, torn between duty and desire.

Teri tilted her head and smiled at him.

He swallowed. “This is going to change everything between us.” He took two steps to the bed and lowered her onto it.

“Good. Maybe you’ll stop being so bitchy.” She giggled at the look he gave her.

“I am never bitchy.” He climbed onto the bed beside her and traced his fingers over her silky underwear. “Nice panties, lady.” He slid the pink bikinis off and rolled her onto her back.

He trailed a line of kisses from the side of her neck to her lips. He grazed her thigh with his fingertips. As Angel caressed her he felt a tight band loosen around his heart.

Teri kissed his shoulder, tasted his skin. Angel drew in a sharp breath as she trailed her lips along his collarbone delivering nibbles and kisses. She scratched his skin lightly with her short nails, thrilling his senses with her desire.

Angel kissed her lips, explored her mouth. Teri embraced him, pulling him closer as she wrapped her thighs around him.

When their bodies coupled Teri gasped out in pleasure.

“I love you Teri,” he said. “You better be in love with me.” His voice was smoky with desire as he pressed himself deep inside her.

She matched her rhythm to his, crying out in little moans with each stroke.

Angel felt her excitement blaze out of control as pleasurable little tremors pulsed through her body. Her passion engulfed him as he joined her pleasure. They clung together, wet and spent in the aftermath.

He smiled and brushed damp hair away from her forehead. Gazing into her eyes, he saw only tenderness there.

“I am,” she gasped.

“In love with me?” At her nod, a deluge of happiness filled him, threatened to drown him. He leaned down for another kiss. “But you can’t quite say it, can you?”

She shook her head.

“As long as you feel it, I can wait for you to find the words.”

They lay together and eventually slept.

When the first rays of sunlight slanted into the room, they were still entangled in each other’s limbs.

Angel opened his eyes and cautiously turned his head to gaze at Teri’s sleeping face. Her expression was peaceful and relaxed. She embraced him with an arm and leg stretched casually across his torso, her face on his shoulder. This was what he’d wanted. Now that she was here, he wondered if he had come to this place honestly.

He examined her features, feeling overwhelmed by longing. She had resisted when he first came on to her. Last night she gave herself to him, but he’d continually pursued her. Perhaps she felt she had no choice.

He tried to erase the negative thoughts bombarding him. He wanted her to want him. He couldn’t deny the passion they’d shared the previous night, but did she love him? Why can’t she say it?

He realized her eyes were open and she was watching him intently. “Good morning, Querida.”

“What’s wrong?”

He felt her voice resonate from her throat pressed against his chest. He smiled and brushed the hair away from her forehead. “What makes you think something’s wrong?”

“Your face.” She shifted her position slightly, causing a surge to his libido. “We may be fairly new together but I’m becoming an expert on gauging your internal temperature by your expression.”

“Think so, huh?” A grin spread across his face. “Gauge this.” He pressed her hand against his erection.

“I noticed,” she said. “You seem to be a morning person.”

“I’m interested in you twenty-four/seven.”

“Is this part of the passionate Latino thing you were telling me about?”

“Maybe I’m just glad to see you.”

A knock at the door, interrupted anything she might have said.

“Teri?” Esme knocked again.

“Yes,” she responded.

“Mama’s making pancakes and she wants to make sure everyone’s at the table so she can serve them hot.”

“I’ll be right down,” Teri said.

Esme could be heard knocking on other doors.

Angel chuckled close to her ear. “Why couldn’t you tell her you’re allergic to pancakes?”

She laced her fingers through his and pushed herself into a sitting position. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s crawled under your skin since last night?”

He kissed her fingertips. He gazed into her eyes and sighed. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“What makes you think you’ll lose me?” Her wide eyes searched his, demanding answers. “Do you think I’m the kind of woman who falls into bed so easily?”

“I think you were right when you said you were tired and vulnerable last night. I took advantage.”

“Don’t you think it was the other way around?” Teri asked. “I was the one who asked you to stay. We’ve been skating all around the elephant in the room since we met. I thought it was time we addressed the elephant.”

“The elephant being sex?”

“You call it sex. I call it the great physical attraction between us. If it’s just sex then the curiosity should have been satisfied last night.”

“You know it’s more than sex on my part.”

“I know and I feel the same way. I hope you realize that.”

“I think so,” he said. “But I’d like to hear you say it. You act like you love me but, for some reason, you’re not willing to tell me.”

“I just...” She looked away, blinking as though to prevent an onrush of tears.

Angel sighed. “I’m not going to pressure you any more, Teri.” He brought her attention back with his fingertip on her cheek. “You’ve been through a lot in the past few weeks. I’ll be the most patient man on earth. All I want is for you to tell me your feelings, whatever they are.”

She released a heavy sigh. “I’m feeling like I need a shower.”

Disappointed, he tried to smile. “Grab your robe and run.”

As she exited the room he lay back on the pillows. That didn’t go the way he’d intended.

Angel’s cell rang. He frowned and answered it.

“Detective Garcia? It’s Sister Clement.” Her voice sounded strained.

“Yes, Sister. What can I do for you?”

“I...I’m with someone who wants to talk to you.”

“Detective Garcia is it?” A man’s voice came on the line. The hair on the back of Angel’s neck stood at attention. He recognized the accent as being unmistakably from the East coast.

“Who is this?”

“I’m the guy who has the little nun, Sister Clement here.”

“What do you want?”

“I saw you yesterday outside the nun’s place. I recognized the woman with you and she’s got something I want.”

Angel cleared his throat. “What makes you think so?”

“Don’t play games, Detective. Have Teri Slaughter call me. Tell her I’ve come for what’s mine.”

#

Bernie saw the new janitor standing on a small step ladder in the hall outside her classroom. He was changing the air conditioner filters. She waited for him to complete his task and climb down from the ladder.

He stared at her uneasily, holding the used filter at his side. He was well over six feet tall and had a stocky frame.

“I don’t believe we’ve met, sir.” Bernie extended her hand. “My name is Sister Bernadette. I’m the art teacher.”

“I know who you are,” the man said. “I’ve seen you around.” He wiped his large hand on his coveralls and shook hers. “I’m Klaus, Ma’am. Klaus Grunfeld.”

“I’m pleased to meet you Klaus. I didn’t know that Herman was planning on leaving us. He’s been here since long before I arrived.” She looked at him expectantly, her clear blue eyes searching his.

“I don’t know him.” He folded the ladder and tucked it under his arm. “I have work to do.”

Bernie felt herself reddening. “Yes, of course. I just thought you might know if he’s alright.” She realized Klaus was much younger than she’d originally thought, perhaps in his late twenties.

“I don’t know, Ma’am. Excuse me.” He hurried down the hall without looking back.

Bernie stood staring after him, feeling a vague sense of unease.

#

Teri sat at the Garcia breakfast table. She’d taken a quick shower and tossed on her clothes. Thanks to her cropped hair she could get away with combing it wet and leaving it to air dry.

The sideboard was laden with bowls of fruit, various flavors of syrup, confectioner’s sugar and pitchers of ice cold milk and orange juice along with the steaming hot coffee.

Isabel was making stacks of fragrant buttermilk pancakes to order.

Teri waited while everyone was served. She smiled at Angel’s great-grandmother as she ate a pancake with sliced strawberries and confectioner’s sugar.

“Teri,” Isabel said. “How many pancakes would you like?”

“Oh, I’m waiting for Angel.” Teri couldn’t help but blush when everyone at the table gave her a look. She could only imagine that they knew she’d defiled their son and brother.

“No waiting. He’ll be down when he comes down.” Isabel stood over her, anticipating her request. “How about three to start with?”

“Yes, that’s fine,” Teri said. As soon as Isabel set the plate of pancakes in front of her, Angel came loping down the stairs. He looked tense as though some dark mood had mysteriously descended upon him.

Teri raised her face, expecting the usual forehead kiss.

“I have to go out,” he said gruffly.

“Angel, you need to eat your breakfast.” Isabel’s voice held a plaintive whine.

He gave her a look that silenced further objections. “I’ll be back,” he said. “Teri, you are not to go out of this house. Do you understand me?” He stood, pointing a finger at her as though she was a disobedient child.

“I understand,” she said softly, a roiling sensation in her gut. His change of attitude frightened her. She watched him leave through the kitchen and slam the door behind him.

Angel’s family exchanged speculative glances. Teri cut into the pancakes and stabbed a forkfull into her mouth but found it tasted like sawdust.

#