Olivia was here with him.
Maybe that was why Wrath was purring so contentedly.
Aeron pried his eyelids apart, and immediately regretted the action. So much light. Light from the bulbs in the ceiling, light from the bathroom. His walls, which hed once thought were pale silver and crumbling stone, gleamed as if those stones had somehow trapped a rainbow.
Youre alive, Olivia said with palpable relief.
There was something different about her voice, he thought as his gaze sought her out. It was still beautiful, more so now that he could hear the subtle nuancesa low rasp, banked sensualitybut still different. She was perched at the edge of his bed, sky-blue eyes peering down at him. Her dark hair was in tangles around her, framing the delicacy of her features. The white robe hed forced her to don however long ago still draped her, free of wrinkles and dirt.
Her skin was His breath caught. Majestic. That was the only word to describe it. Majestic. No, not the only word. Flawless worked, too. He could have stared at her for hours, days. Forever. She was pure, white cream.
He wanted to touch her. Had to feel how soft she was. How warm she was. Had to know she was healthy and whole and shed escaped without harm.
Escaped. The word tormented him. He remembered theyd been inside that crypt, and hed been shot. Hed carried Nightmares into the cemetery, fallen to his knees, waiting for his friends, but he didnt recall anything after that. He fisted the sheets. Answers first, then he could allow himself a single touch.
Single?
Concentrate. What happened? Odd. Olivias voice wasnt the only one to have changed. His had never sounded so smooth or strong.
She offered him a shaky smile. We thought wed lost you. You were shot, and the bullet was laced with immortal poison, slowly killing you.
Yes, that made sense. A bullet had never affected him like that, but this one had weakened him unbearably. Howd I get here?
Paris and William came and got us.
No trouble?
With Hunters? She shook her head, that cloud of hair dancing around her shoulders. None. We even picked up Gilly on the way back here, but we never encountered them.
It was only a matter of time, though. As close as they were, and with the success of their demon-possession, they would attack soon enough. Hows Paris?
Hes fine, strong and taking care of himself now.
Or hed tricked everyone into thinking so. Paris was good at hiding his actionsor lack of actionbehind humor and smiles. Most likely he was drinking ambrosia and neglecting his bodys needs.
Im not going to say that! Olivia suddenly snapped.
Aeron frowned. Say what?
Sorry. Her shoulders slumped. The voice returned, telling me to do all kinds of things to your body. Ive named him Temptation, and Im pretty sure hes a demon.
A demon? None that he knew, which could mean that someone else listed on the scrolls was hiding in town. But why torment Olivia? And with sexual thoughts, of all things?
Whatever the reason, he wouldnt stand for it.
Punish, Wrath said.
Aeron was glad the demon had recovered, as well. And yes. He wanted to punish the ones who had hurt them. He just had to
Oh, no, Olivia said with a shake of her lovely head. I can see the thoughts spinning behind your eyes. Well worry about the demon later. Hes irritating, thats all. Right now, Im more concerned about you.
Sweet, darling Olivia. His protector, something hed never thought hed need. Something hed never expected to want. But he did want, desperately. Need, certainly. Yet he had to convince her to return to the heavens. Inhow long?
He glanced at the window, the split curtains framing a waning moon. How long did I sleep?
Most of the day and night. Youre still naked, if you hadnt noticed. A blush stained her cheeks. Not that thats important right now.
Most of the day and night. Which meant morning would arrive all too soon. Which meant he had eight days to convince Olivia to return home. Eight days to save himself and Legion.
Eight days to resist her.
He wouldnt last. A single touch wasnt going to be enough, he admitted that now. He would want more. He would have more.
More, Wrath echoed.
Yes, more. He wasnt going to stop himself. Not this time. Selfish of him, yes, but selfish he would be. He could have died out there. Died without warning. Without knowing what it was like to sink inside her, feeling her clench around his cock, clawing his back, gasping his name.
When he knew, he would stop wondering, stop craving. He could continue on as before. And she would have had her fun. She could go home satisfied.
Selfish? Ha! He was a giver.
How did I heal? he asked. Better question: would he lose steam midway? He didnt want her leaving this bed until she reached her peak twice. At least. He owed her. Her crack about his lack of prowess still stung.
Olivias gaze shifted away from him. An antidote.
Why couldnt she meet his eyes? An angel antidote?
Yes. She motioned to a glowing blue vial on his nightstand. Water from the River of Life. One drop, and death is chased away.
No wonder his senses were heightened.
Once we run out, she continued, well be given no more. Which is a shame. Lysander told me the Hunters have many, many more of those poisoned bullets.
How long will the effects last? He wouldve expected Wrath to fume at being fed a heavenly substance. Instead, the demon purred a little louder, as if given a great gift.
In a snap, Aeron thought he understood. Legion represented hell, and Olivia heaven. The latter hed already figured out, but the former He realized now that Wrath missed his home. Both his homes. High Lords had once been angels, Olivia had said, before falling from the sky. Home number one. And landing in hell. Home number two, though Wrath hadnt considered it as such until he compared it to Pandoras box.
Heaven and hell, he thought again, unsure how hed missed the connection before. Olivia and Legion. Two halves of a whole, just as he and Wrath were.
Speaking of Wheres Legion? he asked, gazing around the room in search of her.
Williams distracting her, but Im not sure how long that will last. Olivia traced a finger along his breastbone. Your heartbeat is improving. Strong.
His flesh heated where they connected. More.
His ears twitched as he listened to a conversation a few rooms over. Sabin and his crew had returned from the Temple of the Unspoken Ones. A lot of them were injured, but recovering. As soon as they were better, they were going to raid The Asylum and destroy the Hunters residing there.
No one was coming to check on him, then, and there was nothing for Aeron to do at the moment. Except Olivia.
As you pointed out, Im still naked, he found himself saying. Are you ready to have fun?
First her jaw dropped. Then she closed it with a snap. Then it dropped again. Unwilling to wait for her to acclimate to his intentionsno more waiting periodAeron reached up and cupped the base of her neck, drawing her down until she was practically on top of him. Her breath hitched, and the softness of her breasts pressed into his chest.
Yes, he would have this woman. Those breasts, too. The sweet spot hopefully moistening for him even now, definitely.
Wh-what are you doing? The breathy question warmed him body and soul, because there was longing in every word.
Having you. Finally.
He lifted his head and meshed their lips together. She didnt resist, not even for a moment. No, she opened for him, meeting his tongue with her own. He could taste the freshness of the water shed given him, as well as the cinnamon of her breath.
Trembling hands flattened on him, and his heart increased in speed, racing to meet them. Her skin was hot rather than warm, and burned him just right. Silky curls tickled him.
He anchored his free hand under her bottom and tugged her the rest of the way atop him. Their bodies fit together, and her legs opened automatically, cradling him perfectly. He moaned. Yesyes
Yes! Wrath agreed.
No, she rasped, and wrenched away. She even scrambled from the bed and stood to trembling legs, nearly teetering over.
Both he and the demon wanted to roar. Instead, Aeron settled his weight on his elbows and watched her. Calm. You want me. I know you do. Gods, he could smell her arousal just then, heady feminine musk.
Yes, but I wont let you rouse my passions and then leave me before I can finish. She fisted her robe, inadvertently raising the fabric and showing a hint of those beautiful calves. Calves he would lick.
Olivia, I
No, she said again, spinning away. Twice she tripped over her own feet as she made her way to his dresser. There, she propped her elbows on the surface and held her head in her upraised hands. I cant bear it.
Was shecrying?
Aeron swallowed the sudden lump in his throat and stood. Not that. Anything but that. He was as naked as shed promised, his erection waving proudly. I want you. Im not going to deny either of us again. This I swear to you, Olivia.
Oh, shut up!
He blinked. Was he making no progress, then? Had his actions ruined everything? Make me, was all he could think to say. With a kiss. Please.
Not you, she murmured. The voice. Temptation. He wants me to raise my robe and show you that Im not wearing anything underneath.
She wasnt? Aeron licked his lips and approached. Nothing, not even one of the Hunters bombs, could have kept him away after learning that. Ill find out for myself.
Olivia gasped when he placed his now-trembling hands on her hips. Her head lifted and she twisted to peer up at him. Her eyes were huge, watery, and his heart lurched in his chest.
Whatwhat are you doing?
Finding out, like I told you. First he played with her breasts, cupping, thrumming the nipples, until she trembled. Then he dropped to his knees, his hands never leaving her delectable body, but following him down. You wanted to have fun, so Im giving you fun.
D-dont do this if youre going to stop midway. Ive been through too much the past few days and I
I wont. The scent of her arousal was stronger, a sultry night he wanted to lose himself in. Nothing could stop me now, angel. Nothing.
Slowly, so slowly, he lifted the hem of the robe. Not once did she protest, not even when goose bumps broke out over her legs. Her smooth, firm legs, a mix of honey and vanilla. When he revealed her bottom and saw that she wasnt wearing any panties, his cock jerked in reaction. Beautiful. Even his wings ached from inside their slits.
Mine.
Actually, mine. He bunched the material around her waist, holding it prisoner against the dresser and leaving her lower body bare. He cupped her, spreading his fingers over those delectable cheeks. Again she gasped. Between each of his fingers, he placed a kiss.
More? he asked.
Yes, she and Wrath breathed in unison.
He kissed the underside and encountered the softest skin her Deityhis Deity now, too, for he realized he would always worship the one responsible for creating herhad probably ever created.
Aeron, she said on another of those wispy catches.
Spread your legs for me. He clutched her thighs and prodded her into action, even nudging her feet apart with his knees. His blood was like fire, his need sharpening to a razor point. Now bend over. As far as you can.
There was only a slight pause before she complied. For a moment, only a moment, all he could do was stare. So pretty. So sweet. So pink. So wet. For him and him alone. Even the thought of sharing with his (once again purring) demon was abhorrent. But he would. He would take this woman any way he could get her.
Going to taste you now. He dipped his head and sampled her fully, distantly hearing a slap of flesh upon wood.
Aeron!
His gaze flicked up. Shed settled her hands on the mirror in front of her and flattened her temple against the dresser. Her eyelids were squeezed shut and her breaths shallow, her teeth chewing at her lips.
Dontstop, she begged him.
He didnt. He ran his tongue over her femininity again, lingering against her clitoris, flicking it, sucking on it. This was ambrosia. Her. Soft and poutyhis. Accepting what he did, liking it.
Though he wanted to consume her, he didnt allow himself to rush. Hed gone that route with her before. This time, he would savor. This time, he would learn everything about this beautiful body.
Im going to Aeron
Good girl. He moved his tongue faster, harder against her. Her hips arched forward and back and when he found her opening, he thrust deep inside. She screamed, shuddering with her release.
He didnt know how much timeminutes, hours, dayspassed before she calmed enough that he was able to bend down and kissand lickthe calves hed so admired before rising and paying proper homage to her lower back. There were two indentations, and as he swirled his tongue around them, his hands slid upupand cupped her breasts the way he knew she liked. Both of her nipples were still gloriously hard, like little pearls, and he rolled them between his fingers.
More.
Im ready, Olivia said between pants. Come inside me.
Not yet. She was wet, yes, but he wanted her dripping. He wanted her beyond ready. She was virgin, and he would make this as easy as possible for her.
His first time had been with a minor Greek goddess. One of the three Furies. Megaera, the jealous one, as shed often been called. Her brand of loving had been violent and painful, and yet another reason hed always avoided females who preferred a strong hand from their lovers. With Olivia, though, it wasnt that he preferred gentle women over wild women, or wild women over gentle women. It was that he preferred Olivia.
As he stood, he traced his tongue up the ridges of her spinethere were scars where her wings should have been, and he kissed them, too, laving them with his attentionsall while yanking her robe up and over her head. Silky hair cascaded down her shoulders and back, even obscuring her breasts from the mirrors view. He had to see those breasts, he thought, brushing that hair aside.