So greedy, she thought with a sigh.
The rock-hard yet smooth mattress underneath her shifted and moaned.
Wait. Rock-hard? Shifted? Moaned? Jarred into lucidity, Olivia now had no trouble prying her eyelids apart. She jerked upright at the sight she beheldor didnt behold. The indigo haze of a rising sun and fat, puffy clouds were nowhere to be seen. Instead, she saw a bedroom with jagged stone walls, a wood floor and polished cherrywood furniture.
She also saw a lacy pink lounge chair.
Realization slammed into her. Fallen. Ive fallen. Shed descended into hell, and the demonsdo not think about them. Already, with only that small memory, her body had begun trembling. Im with Aeron now. Im safe. But if she truly was mortal, why did her body feel sofit?
Another realization: because she wasnt truly human.
Fourteen days, she recalled Lysander saying, before she lost all of her angelic traits. Did that mean Could her wings have
Biting her lower lip, afraid to hope, she reached behind and felt her back. What she encountered caused her shoulders to slump with both relief and sadness. No injuries remained, but her wings had not regrown, either.
Your choice. Your consequences. Yes. She accepted that. It was strange, though. This wingless body belonged to her. A body that would not live forever. A body that felt both the good and the bad.
And that was okay, she rushed to assure herself. She was in the Lords fortress, and she was with Aeron. Aeron, who was underneath her. How fun. So far this body had only experienced the bad, and she was more than ready for the good.
Olivia scooted off him and twisted to study him. He was still sleeping, his features relaxed, one arm tossed over his head, the other at his side, where she had been. Hed been holding her close. The corners of her lips lifted in a dreamy smile, and her heart fluttered wildly.
He wasnt wearing a T-shirt, and the knowledge caused her hearts fluttering to pick up speed. She had sprawled across the colorful expanse of his chest, had lain on those tiny brown nipples, those ropes of muscle and that intriguing navel.
Unfortunately, he was wearing jeans. His feet were bare, though, and she saw that even his toes were tattooed. Adorable.
Adorable? Really? Who are you? People were being murdered on those toes. Still, she wanted to trace her fingertips over them. She did trace a fingertip over the butterfly on his ribs. The wings curled into sharp points, destroying any illusion of delicacy.
At her touch, breath pushed from his lips, and she jolted backward. No way did she want to be caught molesting him. Well, without his permission. The action proved more forceful than shed meant, and she propelled off the bed completely, plummeting to the floor with a painful thwack. Hair danced over her face, and when she brushed the strands aside, she realized shed awoken Aeron.
He was sitting up, glaring down at her.
Olivia gulped and waved up at him shyly. Uh, good morning.
His gaze roved over her, narrowed. You look better. Much better. His voice was rough. Probably from sleep, and not desire as every cell in her body hoped. Are you healed?
Yes, thank you. At least she thought she was healed. Her heart had yet to calm, its continued erratic beat foreign to her. And there was an ache in her chest. Nothing terrible, as the pain in her back had been, but odd. Her stomach was even quivering.
You suffered for three days. Any complications? Any lingering twinges?
Three days? She hadnt realized so much time had passed. And yet, three days hardly seemed long enough for her to have healed so thoroughly. How am I all better?
He glowered. We had a visitor last night. He didnt give me a name, but he said he would heal you, and I guess he was true to his word. He didnt like me, by the way.
My mentor. Of course. Healing her would have meant bending the rules, but Lysander had helped make those rules. If anyone would know ways around them, it was him. And an angel who didnt like Aeron? Lysander for sure.
Once more Aerons gaze raked her, as if searching for injuries despite the truth in her claim. His pupils dilated, gobbling up every bit of that lovely violet. Not with happiness, but withanger? Again? She had done nothing to quash his earlier tenderness. Had Lysander said something to upset him, then?
Your robe he croaked, and quickly turned away from her, giving her his back. His second butterfly tattoo greeted her, and her mouth watered. What would those jagged wings taste like? Fix it.
Frowning, she looked down at herself. Her knees were drawn up and her robe was bunched at her waist, revealing the small, white panties she wore. He couldnt be angry about that. Anya, Luciens wife and the minor goddess of Anarchy, wore much less on a daily basis. Still, Olivia smoothed the soft, flowing material to her ankles. She could have stood and rejoined him on the bed but decided not to risk either falling or a rejection.
Im covered now, she said.
When he faced her, those pupils still blown, he tilted his head to the side, as if he were replaying their conversation through his mind. Why do you have a mentor?
Easy enough to answer. Like humans, angels must learn how to survive. How to help those in need. How to fight demons. My mentor wasisthe greatest of his kind, and I was blessed to work with him.
His name. The two words lashed like a whip, hard and sure, cutting.
Why such a negative reaction? I believe hes an acquaintance of yours, actually. You know Lysander, yes?
Aerons pupils finally retracted, the violet irises once more visibleand drowning her in their irresistible depths. Biankas Lysander?
She smiled at the description. Yes. He visited me, too.
The night I thought you were talking to yourself, he said, nodding.
Yes. And he planned to return. That, she didnt mention. Lysander loved her and wouldnt hurt Aeronyetbecause that would, in turn, hurt her. At least, that was the hope she clung to.
Aeron scowled. The angelic visits have to stop, Olivia. Between Hunters and our demons, we have enough to deal with already. Even though Lysander helped you, even though Im grateful, I cannot allow the continued interference.
She laughed. She just couldnt help herself. Good luck with that. Stopping an angel was like stopping the wind: in a word, impossible.
His scowl intensified. Are you hungry?
The subject change didnt bother her; it actually delighted her. Hed often done the same thing with his friends, moving from one topic to another without warning. Oh, yes. Im starved.
Then Ill feed you before taking you into town, he said, throwing his legs over the side of the bed and standing.
Still Olivia remained in place, but this time the immobility was because her limbs felt as if they were anchored to rocks. First, he was gorgeous. All muscle and danger and mouthwateringly colorful skin. Second You still mean to cast me out?
Of course.
Dont you dare cry. Why? Had Lysander said something, as shed suspected?
Better question. When did I ever imply otherwise? He strode to his bathroom and she lost sight of him. There was a rustle of clothing, and then a burst of water upon porcelain.
But you held me in your arms all night, she called. You cared for me for three days. That had to mean something. Right? Men didnt do such things unless they were besotted. Right? In all her time with Aeron, shed never seen him with a female. Well, besides Legion, but the little demon didnt count. Hed never held her in his arms all night. So his attention to Olivia was special. Right?
There was no reply. Soon, steam and the scent of sandalwood soap were drifting through the room. He was showering, she realized, and her heart once more picked up speed, even skipping a beat altogether. Hed never showered when shed been here before. Hed always waited until she had left.
Seeing his naked body had become an obsession.
Was he tattooed there, between his legs? If so, what design had he chosen?
And why do I want to lick that design the same way I want to lick the butterflies? Imagining doing so, Olivia traced her tongue over her lips before freezing in astonishment. Bad, naughty girl. Such a desire
Well, Im not fully an angel anymore, she reminded herself, and she wanted to seeand tastehim. So see himand hopefully taste himshe would. After everything shed endured, she deserved a little treat. Or maybe a big treat? Either way, she wasnt leaving this fortress until shed gotten a peek.
Determined, Olivia finally pushed to her feet. Without her wings to center her, she had no sense of balance, and quickly toppled over, sharp pains exploding from her knees and making her wince. This pain, however, was bearable. After the wing extraction, everything was probably bearable.
Again, she stood. Again she fell. Argh! All too soon, the water shut off. There was a slap of wet flesh against marble, and then a glide of cotton from metal.
Hurry! Before it was too late.
For balance, she placed one foot in front and one in back and spread her arms wide. Slowly she inched to her full height. She wobbled left, then right, but managed to stay upright this time. Go, me!
Then Aeron emerged from the bathroom, and disappointment filled her. There was a towel wrapped around his waist and another winding around his neck. Too late. Double argh!
You showered so swiftly. Surely you missed a spot, she said.
He didnt flick her a glance, but kept his attention on the dresser in front of him. No. I didnt.
Oh.
Now its your turn, he said after placing a T-shirt on top of the wood. He used the second towel to dry what little hair he had.
Had she called him gorgeous before? She should have said magnificent. My robe cleans me. Did she sound as breathless to him as she did to herself?
He frowned, still not facing her. Even your hair?
Yes. Her hands were shaking as she pulled the hood over her head, gave it time to work its magic, and then cast it back. As the material fell, she smoothed a hand through her now silky, smooth locks. See? All of me.
Finally, he looked her over, gaze sliding down her body, lingering in certain places, heating her blood, making her skin tingle. When their eyes met, his pupils were once again dilated, black overshadowing violet.
Seriously, what was she doing to cause such anger?
That it does, he growled. He turned on his heel and strode forward, entering his closet and disappearing from view. The towel soared out and landed in a heap on the floor.
He was naked again, she thought, forgetting his anger. Nows your chance. Grinning, Olivia propelled into motion. She managed two steps before toppling and landing on her kneesthen launching the rest of the way to her stomach, air whooshing from her lungs.
What are you doing?
Up, up she looked. There was Aeron, in the closet doorway, dressed in that black T-shirt, now paired with jeans. Hed also pulled on a pair of boots and weapons were probably strapped all over his muscled body. His eyes were narrowed, his lips drawn tight in a frown.
Foiled again. She sighed in dejection.
Doesnt matter, really, he said, clearly done waiting for her reply. Its time for us to go.
Now? You cant take me into town, she rushed out. You need me.
He sputtered for a moment. Hardly. I need no one.
Oh, really? Someone else will be sent to do the job I couldnt do, remember? As you couldnt sense Lysander when he visited me, you wont be able to sense another angel.
Aeron crossed his arms over his massive chest, the very picture of male stubbornness. I sensed you, didnt I?
Yes, he had, and she still hadnt figured out how hed done so. Well, like I said, you didnt sense Lysander. I, however, can see the angels. I can warn you when another approaches. Not that they would come for him until her fourteen-day reprieve endedwait, they had an eleven-day reprieve now, since three had already passedbut he didnt need to know that.
He popped his jaw left and right, disrupting the flow of the images etched there. You told me you were hungry. Lets find you something to eat.
Again with the subject change. This time, she hated it, but still let it slide, sensing further argument was futile. Besides, she was hungry. She crawled to her knees, then eased to her feet. One step, twothreeSoon she was in front of Aeron, smiling at her success.
What was that? he asked.
Walking.
Took you so long, Im officially fifty years older.
She raised her chin, pride undiminished. Well, I didnt fall.
He shook his headin exasperation?and took her hand in his. Come on, angel.
Fallen, she automatically corrected. The feel of his fingers curled around hers, warm and strong, made her shiver. A sensation she wasnt allowed to relish.
When he tugged her forward, she tripped over her own feet. Thankfully, before she could kiss the ground again, he jerked her up and into his side, anchoring her there.
Thank you, she muttered.
Now this was the life. She snuggled as close to him as she could get. Throughout the centuries, shed watched many humans succumb to their baser desires, but until that golden down had appeared in her wings, she hadnt truly wondered why they did so. Now she knew: every touch was as delicious as Eves apple had probably been.
She wanted more.
You are a menace, Aeron mumbled.
A helpful menace. Maybe, if she reminded him enough, he would begin to realize that he did, in fact, need her.
He didnt offer a response, but led her down a hallway, keeping her upright the entire time. Even better, he had to carry her down the flight of stairs. Something she would have enjoyed far more if she hadnt been so distracted. The walls were lined with portraits of the heavensangels she recognized flying through the cloudsas well as hell. The latter she avoided studying, not wanting any reminders of her time there.
Also lining the walls were pictures of naked men, most lounging on beds of silk. Those she stared at, a fact that didnt embarrass her. Really. Even when she had to mop up her drool. All that skinthat brawnthat sinew Too bad they werent tattooed from head to toe.