His mouth watered and he found his hands on her knees, pushing them farther apart and rubbing her against his erection before he could stop himself. Sweet heaven. Damn, damn, damn. Heaven. He shouldnt be doing this.
More.
Moaning, she tilted her head back, and the silky length of her hair tickled his stomach. Her breasts arched forward, her nipples still hard and visible through her shirt. Clearly, she wasnt wearing a bra.
That did not delight him.
Her gaze met his, burning him to his soul. I wasnt kidding when I told you I needed a distraction. Legions attack reminded me of what the other demons did to me. And I want to forget, Aeron. I need to forget.
What did they do to you? he found himself asking, even though hed once told himself he didnt care to know.
Some of the passion-haze left her, dulling those pretty irises, and she shook her head. I dont want to talk about it. I want to kiss.
She leaned down, but he turned his head away. Tell me. Finding out was suddenly more important than finding pleasure.
No. Her lips dipped into a pout.
Talk. He would learn the truth and he would avenge her. Simple as that.
Wrath snarled in agreement.
A growl escaped the angel, surprising them both. Who would have thought a man would rather converse than doother things.
His teeth ground together. Stubborn woman. Even if we kiss, I will not fusleep with you, he said. Lysanders warning chose that moment to echo in his head. Do not soil her. I will bury you and all those you love.
He stiffened. How could he have forgotten such a threat?
I didnt ask you to sleep with me, now did I? How prim and proper she sounded. Like I said, I just wanted another kiss.
Maybe that was true. Maybe it wasnt. Yes, her voice claimed it was, but he refused to believe it. Didnt want to believe it. Not that he would ever admit such a thing aloud. If he were to sleep with her as she so clearly craved, she would expect more. Women always expected more, whether he pleased them or not. And more he couldnt give her. Not just because of her powerful mentor. Complications, he reminded himself. He didnt need them.
More!
If I kiss you again, he said, thinking, shut up, shut the hell up, I wont hold you afterward. A kiss was not more, he told himself. A kiss was not something that soiled. A kiss was just a kiss, and she was on top of him, for gods sake. It wont change anything between us. Best she understood that now. Also, Ill expect you to tell me what was done to you.
Bargaining? Really? Way to resist.
Im a confident, aggressive woman, so Im okay with the not changing anything between us thing, she said with a casualforced?shrug. Cuddling isnt a top priority, anyway. But talking about what happened? I cant promise.
Did this confident and aggressive woman truly not care to burrow into his side and hold him tight once their lips parted? Did she truly want him for a kiss and nothing else? That delighted him. Truly. That did not disappoint him. Not even a little.
Right now, I just want to use your mouth and your body, she added with a blush. Not as confident as she seemed, perchance? But dont worry. Ill only rub against you a little bit. So if were done with this conversation, Id like to get to it.
Despite his disappointuh, utter delightthat she was willing to kiss him without expecting anything else, fire sparked in his blood, caught and spread. Soon his veins were like rivers of lava, every muscle clenched and ready, burning. Use his body? Please, please, please.
I said more!
What an odd mix of innocence and hedonism she was.
What an odd mix of reluctance and enthusiasm he was.
He should stop this now, finally, before things spun out of control.
Control. Damn it. He needed to exercise some and act rationally, rather than talking himself into and out of being with her. Actually, he needed to talk himselfand his demonout of it one final time and then leave.
As you reminded me, you could have died today, he said darkly. Good. Nothing upset him more than thoughts of death. Youre easily breakable. Except that. So?
So? He could only shake his head. Like the humans he always observed, she didnt seem to care. She wasnt on her knees, begging for more time, and obviously had no plans to do so. His jaw clenched painfully. She should be begging.
Are we done chatting now? she asked, blush reigniting. If not, I guess I could touch myself some more. I liked it before. Maybe Ill like it again. Without waiting for his response, she cupped her breasts and moaned. Oh, yes. I like.
Perhaps she wasnt blushing, after all. Perhaps she was simply flushed with pleasure.
He gulped. No, we arent done chatting. Why arent you afraid of dying?
Everything and everyone has an end, she said, carnal ministrations never ceasing. I mean, youre going to be killed soon, and though I loathe the thought, you dont see me crying about that, either. I know what will happen, and I accept what cannot be changed. Im trying to live while I can. While we can. Dwelling on the bad is what destroys all hint of joy.
He felt a muscle tick beneath his eye. I will not be killed.
She stilled, some of the sparkle fading from her expression. He tried not to mourn the loss. How many times do I have to tell you? she said. You wont be able to beat the angel sent to slay you.
Tell me something else, then. You gave up your immortality for fun and immediately ran to me. That means you expect me to supply this fun. Why would you do that, why would you give up so much and rely on me so heavily if Im to be destroyed?
She offered him a sad smile. I would rather be with someone a short time than not at all.
Her claim reminded him of what Paris had said the other night, and he bristled. He wasnt wrong in this. They were. You sound like a friend of mine. A very foolish man.
Then silly me for not choosing him instead. Better a fool who plays the game than one who remains on the sidelines.
He bared his teeth in a scowl. Dont even think about being with someone else, he wanted to roar.
Wrath, too, erupted. Not at Olivia, but at Paris. The demon flashed images of the warriors head on a platterminus his body.
Aeron instantly sobered. Oh, no, you dont. You will leave Paris alone.
Shes mine.
No, mine, he snapped, then realized what hed done. I mean, she belongs to neither of us. Ive told you that. Now will you please shut up?
Are we done chatting now? One of Olivias fingertips traced down the flatness of her stomach and circled her navel. Or shall we make this conversation more interesting? She nibbled her bottom lip, considering. Oh, I know what we can discuss. Can people really die of pleasure?
Oh, hell, no. She hadnt just asked that.
Do not soil her. Well never know. He sat up, meaning to toss her aside and leave her here. Alone. Aroused, but alone. The desire to murder his friend had done nothing to temper his need, nor had the reminder of Lysanders threat. Retreat was his only other option.
Well, you might not, but I promise you Ill find out.
He froze. Just how far would this angel go to discover the truth? As the question drifted through his mind, his cock pulsed. The image of her splayed out, her own hand between her legs, fingers sinking deep, consumed him. Deargods
No. You will behave yourself. The words croaked from him. Now, I have to go.
Stay! Wrath commanded.
Gods help him, he did. He stayed. As easily as if hed been chained to the bed, his fight gone before it had time to fortify him.
Fine. But I really wish No. No! she repeated more forcefully. You can go when were done. Only then. Olivias arms wound around his neck, her hands firm against his hair, her nails sinking into his scalp. I know what to do now. She jerked his mouth to hers and her tongue instantly plunged deep.
Oh, yes. A quick study.
Her lips slanted over his, their teeth scraping. The heatthe wetness. Consuming, destroying his resolve. Everything he needed, everything he ached for. Chasing every thought but one from his head: finish.
Yes. Yes! More.
She moaned, and he swallowed the decadent sound. And when she rubbed against him, he could feel how damp she was, even through his pants. His gentlenessgone. His tentativenessabolished. He arched up to meet her. When that wasnt enough, he clasped her ass and forced her to move faster, harder. Deeper.
I want to touch you everywhere, she rasped as she plundered. I want to taste you everywhere.
Me first. I No. No, no, no. Do not soil her, do not soil her.
She nipped her way to his chin, then lower, sucking on his neck to ease the sting.
Yes, please. Soil her all day, all night.
More, Wrath demanded again.
More. Yes. More No! Damn it. Threaten her, Wrath. Thatll send me fleeing the room, surely.
More.
Is that the only word you know?
More, damn you.
Aeron snarled. No one wanted to cooperate today.
Why me? He rolled Olivia over, pinning her down again, meaning to stop the madness but licking the hollow between her neck and shoulder instead. That hammering pulse looked too delicious to ignore. Foolish man. Stupid demon. Beautiful female.
Hands seeking of their own accord, he kneaded her breasts. Fucking mistake. They were perfect, her nipples harder than hed realized. Keep the conversation going. Pull those hands away. I must be everything your kind despises. After all, his evil deeds were etched over his body for the entire world to see.
Youre both the goodness I know and the exhilaration I crave. She wrapped her legs around him, closing any lingering hint of distance. Whats not to like about that?
Shit, shit, shit. Another perfect fit. Im not good. Not compared to her. Not compared to anyone, really. If she knew half the things hed done or half the things he would do, she would be running from him. How can I be to someone like you? Youre an angel. An angel who tempted him like no other.
Heaven.
Im fallen. Remember? And Im a little tired of hearing you say my kind and someone like me. Its irritating. And do you know how hard it is to irritate an angel? Even one of the fallen? Her hands roved over his back, over the slits that hid his wings. She probed inside, found the delicate membranes. Im sorry if my chastisement hurts your feelings, but No. Im not sorry! She caressed.
A roar of bliss parted his lips. He had to reach over his head and grab the headboard to keep himself from clawing or punching something, so drunk did the sudden influx of pleasure make him. Damned. He was damned. There would be no resisting now.
Sweat beaded over his skin, and his blood heated yet another degree. No one had ever That was the first time anyone had How had she known to do that?
Again, he commanded.
More, Wrath agreed.
Again Olivias fingertips grazed his hidden wings. Again he roared at the bliss, unable to catch his breath. With that first touch, his thoughts had splintered. With the second, they had aligned, an echo of his need. Finish.
More than a kiss? Hell, yes. He would give it to her.
More, more, more.
Olivia raised her head and flicked her tongue over one of his nipples. Mmm, Ive always wanted to do that. She licked again. And again. But soon that wasnt enough, and she nibbled on the hard little bud with her teeth.
Aeron let her bite him. Something hed never allowed another woman to do. He was too lost to stop her, and part of him didnt want to stop her. Part of him, like his demon, only wanted more. Hell, all of him did. Control be damned.
Her attentions turned to his other nipple. There was no licking this time, only the biting. He was surprised to find himself leaning into the sting, anticipating, eager. To his surprise, the action wasnt a reminder of Wraths vengeance sprees, as hed always assumed it would be. It wasnt even a reminder of his first time with a woman, as hed also assumed. A time hed rather forget. It was a declaration of his partners intense, uncontrollable excitement.
And still he wanted harder. Faster.
More!
He released the headboard and rolled once again, placing Olivia on top. She nipped her way down his stomach, her nails scraping at his skin, her raspy pants echoing in his ears. He gripped the hem of her shirt and jerked the material over her head, freeing those magnificent breasts. Hed only touched them before, the shirt a hated barrier, but now he saw nipples like frosted plums. Hungry, he was hungry. He shifted his gaze before he lifted her, devoured. Her stomach was beautifully soft.
Oh, yes, soft, he thought as he splayed his fingers on her warm skin. His tattooed hands were almost obscene on so delicate a woman, but he couldnt force himself to pull away. Wheres your prized strength now, huh?
Gone, like his sense of control.
Her fingers wrapped around his and she stared down at the contrast they made. Innocence and wickedness.
Beautiful, she gasped.
She thought so?
Im going to get it pierced, I think, she said, tracing a fingertip around his hand.
His gaze shot to her passion-glazed face. Get what pierced?
My navel.
No. Unsoiled. A gorgeous jewel would sparkle against her skin and draw his eyes constantly. Make his mouth water. Make him want to tongue her there. Then move lower. Soiling. You arent going to do that. Youre an angel.
Fallen. Her grin was slow and wicked. I thought we were done chatting. Especially since we were doing something I liked very, very much and I want to do it again. Tasting. She scooted backward on his legs and licked at his navel, tongue swirling on some of his tattoos.
Groaning, Aeron relaxed on the mattress. That naughty tongue was hot, her teeth still sharp, but damn if he wasnt already addicted to the feel of them. More. A plea from him this time. Maybe they all had been.