Angel (A Companion Book to Monster) (Impossible #1.5) Read Online Free Page A

been really fucked up the night before.  Shit, how much had I had to drink?  This was the most wicked hangover of my life.
    I felt a little guilty as I searched my mind for memories of sex and found none.
    I looked over to find one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen lying beside me.  A Cheshire cat grin broke out on my face as a sense of masculine satisfaction at having lured such a prize into my bed washed over me.  It seemed I hadn’t been too drunk to have my game face on.
    “Hi, gorgeous,” I gave her a heated look that always made women melt for me.  I would need it to make up for the admission that I was about to make.  “No offense, sweetie, but I don’t really remember last night.”  I allowed my gaze to rove up and down her body appreciatively, expecting her to flush pleasurably.  Something glinted in the morning light, catching my attention: she was handcuffed to my bed.  My grin widened of its own accord.  It seemed that this beauty shared my tastes, then.  “And I must say that I’m very sorry for that,” I said, truly regretful.  “Looks like it was a good time.”
    She gasped, shocked at my words.
    Shit.  It seemed I had blown it with her after all.  No hope for round two this morning, then.  Well, to be honest I felt too crappy to fuck right now.
    “Listen, jackass,” she snapped.  “I didn’t sleep with you.  I saved your life, in case you don’t recall.  That pain in your shoulder isn’t a sex sprain.  You were shot, idiot.  Besides,” she added with venom, “I don’t really care to sleep with you after what you’ve done to me.  You’re holding me hostage, remember?”  She jerked at the cuffs for emphasis.
    Oh, fuck.  Reality came crashing back down on me.  I couldn’t believe that I had just leered at her like that.  Hot shame flooded my stomach as I remembered what Bradley had done, how I had ripped this woman’s life away from her and been complicit in terrorizing her into compliance.
    I glanced at the cuffs again, and all of the lustful thoughts that had been stirring at the sight of them now made me feel sick.  Bradley must have restrained her again after I passed out.  Anger lanced through me as I remembered her bruised skin.  There had been no need for him to do that to her.  All she had known at our hands was terror and abuse, and now I had tried to make a move on her.  It was probably the most abhorrent thing I could have possibly done.
    “Oh.  Yeah,” I said lamely.
    “Yeah,” she spat the word.
    I sighed heavily, then had to hold back a grunt as the resultant pain hit me.  Yep, that was definitely way worse than a sex sprain.
    “How are you feeling?”  She asked gently.  I glanced up at her, amazed to see nothing but compassion in her eyes.  How could she be so kind to me when I was putting her through hell?
    “Fine,” I said, and I wasn’t sure if it was pain or guilt that made me force the words through gritted teeth.
    She snorted at me derisively.  “Uh-huh,” She said, her voice heavy with sarcasm.  “Because you look just fine.  You were shot, you’ve been unconscious for hours, and you haven’t had any pain killers.”  She speared me with an I’ll-have-none-of-your-nonsense look.  “I’m a doctor.  Don’t think you can lie to me.”  Then I heard her mutter, “Men.”
    My chuckle quickly turned to a hiss of pain, but my smile was back in place only moments later.  I couldn’t help but be charmed by her imperious air.  Seeing this fragile woman trying to boss me around was undeniably amusing. 
    “I’m not going to get anything past you, am I, doc?”  I grinned at her, teasing.
    She looked indignant, which if anything only made her cuter.
    “I have a name, you know.”  Her snappish tone did nothing to quell my amusement.  “It’s Dr. Ellers.”
    Oh, I was going to have fun toying with her.  “I thought you said your name was Claudia.”
    “You can call me Dr. Ellers,” she said more