Untilher fingers worked at the button on his jeans and reality intruded. Youll finish. He couldnt allow it, he reminded himself. Too much was at stake.
Hated reality.
Rational. Be rational. He grabbed her wrists to stop her. Whatre you doing? Did that slurred tone belong to him?
I want to see your she licked her lips, cheeks coloring again your penis.
He nearly choked on his tongue. Unsoiled. Rational.
Then I want to suck on it, she added, a slight tremor to the words.
Deargodshe thought again. Someone needed to tell Lysander she was halfway soiled alreadyin the most delicious wayand it wouldnt be Aerons fault if he completed the job. Youre not doing that to me.
Fool!
Lookie there. His demon knew another word.
She traced one of those naughty fingertips up his stomach and around his nipple, her hand trembling just as her voice had. But I want to. So badly.
Youre an angel, he reminded them both for the thousandth time, shaking his head for emphasis. And he might be a killer, but he wasnt a debaucher.
You could be. The demon?
Gods, he wanted to be.
No, he said, again for everyones benefit. His, Olivias and Wraths. Now go back to your corner, he shouted to the demon. You arent welcome here anymore. Even though Wrath had been on its best behavior.
Argh! How many times do I have to tell you? Ive fallen.
Yes, but I wont be responsible for your ruin.
Eyes narrowing, she slammed a fist into his chest. Fine. As a confident, aggressive woman, I know I can find someone else. I wanted it to be you, but as Ive learned the past few days, we dont always get what we want. William flirted with me, I think, and its clear that he likes to haveyou know. Sex.
When she lifted from him, as if she truly meant to follow through with her threatand perhaps she did, the determined little wildcat, despite the fact that shed faltered on the word sex, proving she wasnt quite as confident and aggressive as she wanted him to believea snarl of rage erupted from him and he grabbed her by the arm. He tossed her back onto the mattress.
William would not be touching her. Ever.
When she stopped bouncing, he covered her with the full measure of his weight. Just because I wont let you do things to me doesnt mean I wont do things to you. Im already ruined. As he spoke, he slid his hand up her thigh. Softwarm
Mine.
Another claim from Wrath, but he couldnt protest this time. Automatically her knees parted. Warm? No. Hot. He tunneled past her panties to the heart of her. She was perfect and wet, dripping. His thumb, shaking now, pressed into her sweet spot.
Yes, she gasped. Yes. Thats so goodjust what Id imagined Her eyes closed and she dug her nails into his back.
Away from his wings, but even that was a stimulant to him. He meant to ease one finger inside her, but that gaspher praiseher caress His desire was once again spiraling to new heights, and he actually shoved inside her. Careful. She didnt seem to mind, though. No, she seemed to enjoy.
Yes. A moan this time. Her knee rubbed against his hip. More.
Helpless but to obeywould it always be so with her?he sank in a second finger. She writhed and thrashed and he thought she might even have drawn his blood. His cock wasnt free, thank the gods, or in that moment, he would have pounded inside her.
Scratch that. His cock wasnt free, curse the gods, or in that moment he would have pounded inside her.
Inside her. He wanted inside her so bad.
After this, after she erupted in his arms, screaming and begging and praising his name, he had to get rid of her. She caused too many problems, fogged up his common sense, distracted him.
Unsoiled, he reminded himself. Take her into town unsoiled.
Keep her, Wrath whined.
I told you to be quiet, he snapped. He didnt need to war with his demon as well as with his own needs.
And why was Wrath so vocal? he wondered again. Over a female, no less, rather than someones punishment. Yes, hed already figured out the demon liked what Olivia represented. Heaven. Odd though that was. But this insistence
Was the demon more like him than hed realized? Both liking and hating what they did, how they killed. Hed always assumed the demon enjoyed the blood-crazesand the ensuing results. But what if Wrath had always been as helpless as Aeron? As desperate for absolution?
Aeron?
Yes, he gritted out, Olivias voice drawing him out of his head.
You stilled, she said through her panting. I need more. Do continue, please.
Reverting to her sense of propriety. Enchanting. But he didnt want to hear her ask him for more; it only weakened his resolve. And he didnt want to hear Wrath, either.
He silenced them the only way he could. He pressed his mouth into Olivias and kissed her.
He meant to gentle things, as he was used to, as he could handle, but she was having none of that and lifted to meet him, her tongue dancing over his, her teeth sliding against his.
Soon she was writhing against him again, moaning. Even reaching between their bodies, tunneling inside his pants and gripping his cock. He hissed in pleasure, in pain. She wasnt gentle about that, either, and though she didnt know the way of it, her motions a little too jerky, her touch was so welcome he found himself moving into her hold. Hard, fast, uncontrollable.
A knock sounded at the door.
He didnt still. He couldnt. Shed thumbed the slit at the head of his cock, spreading moisture, and in the span of a few seconds, hed catapulted past the point of return. Reality would not intrude this time.
Dont stop, he told her.
Its sojust a littlemore Her grip tightened. Aeron.
Again he jerked in pleasure. He had to cut back a roar as another knock sounded.
Dont you dare stop, either! Olivia screeched, then her tongue was back inside his mouth, her nails all over him, her knees gripping his sides.
In and out he pumped his fingers. Her grip tightened even more, pulling his skin, but gods, the burn was good. So damn good. And when his thumb found her clitoris again, she screamed, loud and long and with so much pleasure a wave of pride flooded himand with the pride came a release of his own.
A release so complete he didnt care that he was jetting seed all over her stomach. Didnt care that he was shouting profanities and slamming his free hand into the headboard and cracking the wood. Didnt care that what hed done could damn him in Lysanders eyes.
As a third knock reverberated, Aeron collapsed on top of Olivia, his strength utterly depleted. Panting, sweating, he rolled to his side so that he wouldnt squish her.
Okay, she said after a moment, sagging into the mattress. Now I can cross one item off my To Do list. Good job, and thank you. I know other men enjoy cuddling, but I believe you mentioned earlier that you dont want to do that, so
Dismissed, he thought, eyes widening. Just like that.
Hell. No. He was just leaning toward her, meaning to jerk her into his arms and force her to cuddle him, when yet another knock reverberated. Scowling now, frustrated, he drew the sheet around her, popped to his feet and stalked to the door. Someone was about to die.
CHAPTER TEN
WHO WAS HERE?
A naked Aeron threw open the door, and Olivia watched him unabashedly. That beautiful butterfly flew at the top of his back and she had touched it. In fact, his skin was welted and bleeding from where shed scratched him. Perhaps that should have embarrassed her. It didnt. She was proud. Shed marked him. Marked the man she lusted after. And he had responded; he had climaxed. She wanted to do it again. Only, she wanted to do more. Go all the way.
Stupid intruders.
Who was here and what did they want? If it wasnt life-and-death, Olivia hoped they fell down the stairs later.
The violent thought, so unlike her, gave her pause. Or maybe such violence wasnt unlike her. She was new and improved, after all.
And the new and improved Olivia mightmighthave gotten Aeron to change his mind about that cuddling by subtly mentioning how much others enjoyed it. And, to be honest, cuddling sounded more delightful by the second. Warmth, strength and raw sex appeal, all wrapped around her.
Maybe next time. If there was a next time. Hed seemed so sure this would be a one-time deal.
What? Aeron barked. His big body blocked her view, so Olivia couldnt see who it was.
Heard some shouting. Cameo stepped to the side for a peek inside the room, finally answering Olivias unspoken question. The female warrior spotted Olivias disarray, and her mouth dropped open in astonishment.
Olivia just grinned and waved. She wasnt embarrassed by what had happened with Aeron. Well, not much. She was mostly jubilant. Shed given up everything shed ever known to be here and experience the glories of the flesh, so inhibitions werent going to be tolerated.
Besides, over the years, shed seen humans do all manner of things. Sex, drugs. So much good, so much bad. What shed done had been beautiful. There was no shame in it.
You look well, Olivia told her.
You, too. Had Cameos voice not been so sorrowful, Olivia thought she might have heard laughter in the undertone.
Eyes on me, Cam, Aeron said, clearly irritated for some reason. Why are you here?
Cameo faced him, lips twitching. Torin watched some footage he recorded last night and caught a glimpse of Nightmares. Far as he could tell, she went into a building and never came out.
What are you talking about?
Your Shadow Girl. Olivia told us shes possessed by the demon of Nightmares. Anyway, were going into town to, uh her gaze flicked pointedly to Olivia chat with her. You in or out?
Aeron stiffened, and there was a beat of silence. Then he said, In, and glanced over his shoulder at Olivia. Dont get comfortable. Youre coming with us. While were out there, well find someplace for you to stay until you decide where you want to live permanently.
What? He still planned to get rid of her? After everything theyd done? Sure, shed told him it wouldnt change anything, but that had been before it changed everything. That one little taste of pleasure wouldnt be enough for her.
You were assertive before, in this bed. You can be that way again. Sorry, but no can do. Id probably almost die again, she said, and she almost grinned when his eyes widened. The man had a serious problem with thoughts of her death, expecting it at every corner. I think Ill stay here. And youll like it, she projected to him. Some people didnt know what they needed to achieve happiness. Clearly, Aeron was one of them. Shed just have to instruct him, as shed already planned.
He massaged the back of his neck. We talked about this, Olivia. You cant stay here. No matter what happened between us.
Okay. She threw her legs over the side of the bed and stood, dragging the sheet with her.
So youre going into town with me? he asked, obviously suspicious. And angry and relieved. What a weird combination of emotions.
Of course not. Placing one foot in front of the other while her knees trembled was difficult, but she managed to do it. Without falling. She brushed past Aeronoh, sweet Deity, his heat, his strengthand smiled as she did the same to Cameo, who winked at her.
She paused in the hallway as a thought occurred to her.
Glancing at Aeron over her shoulder, she said, Im going to explore your fortress. Oh, and, Aeron. When you fail to find Nightmares, whose name is Scarlet, by the way, please dont come home and take your bad mood out on me. Unless you want me to kiss it better. That would be acceptable.
She didnt wait for his response, but meandered around the corner.
Olivia, he called.
Ignoring him, she continued on. She had a feeling he wanted to argue with her. Her body was still humming with threads of the pleasure hed given her and arguing would ruin that.
Olivia! Youre practically naked.
Naked? She stilled, glanced down at the sheet draped over her bare breasts and gulped. Partial nudity was fine when she was with Aeron, but not so fine when she would most likely run into others. And that had nothing to do with a lack of confidence, she assured herself.
Being with Aeron had helped defeat the memory of what had happened in hell, yes. But then, nothing about the two experiences had been similar. Aeron had sought pleasure; the demons had sought pain. Still. Seeing lust in someone elses eye might bring those memories roaring back to life.
With a sigh, she rushed back inside the room, bypassing Aeron and his infuriated expression without comment. Cameo had already wandered off. Olivia dropped the sheet, grabbed her shirt and pulled the fabric over her head. Thankfully, she was still wearing her skirt and panties.
Better, she said with a nod.
No, its not. Not for what were about to do. And yes, Im saying youre coming with me.
She closed the distance between them, rose to her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. See you later. And please be careful. Down the hall she meandered again.
Olivia.
She ignored him, attention riveted by the many doorways ahead of her. She peeked her head into the first, unsure of what shed find. Of course. A workout room. She should have guessed, but as many times as shed secretly been here, her focus had been on Aeron.
Olivia, he called, and this time he sounded resigned. Fine. Stay. Whatever. I dont care.
Liar. At least she hoped he was lying.
The second room, she saw, was empty. The third, she heard voices floating from before she reached the doorway. Not allowing herself to be dissuaded by fear or uncertainty, she peeked inside.
It was a bedroom, like Aerons, only there was no pink or lace. Dark walls, metal furniture rather than wood, and of all things, a karaoke station in the corner. A woman was seated at the side of a large bed, reading to a man who rested atop the mattress.
Olivia must have made a noise because that mans gaze lifted and landed on her. He tried to rise, but the woman protested. Gideon. What are you doing? Lie down!