Angels

She retraced her steps. Thinking excitedly about seeing Eric, she was absent-minded when she took the alternate path. Ellen was some way down this path before it broke into three. She had never encountered this before.

“Damn it,” she muttered exasperatedly, looking for any familiar landmarks above the tree line, but the vegetation was overwhelmingly tall. She turned around again and went back the way she had come. As the shadows grew longer, unfamiliar thoughts flittered through her mind. Were the grasses clinging more to her legs as she brushed past? Did the scraggly branches of the bushes seem to claw at her arms and handbag?

Snap out of it, she thought.

She did not arrive back at the place where the path had broken into three. Instead it veered a sharp left which she had never encountered before, not even a few moments ago. Confusion was blooming into bewilderment. Thoughts of annoyance that she would be late were lost as the terrain became increasingly unfamiliar. She began to panic.

Heart thumping, she nearly cried out when rounding another corner of clinging leaves, she came within a meter of stumbling into someone.

“What—?”

Her eyes widened in shock.

A half-naked man stood before her. His perfectly muscled, naturally toned arms were folded carelessly and artfully across his broad, hairless chest. His admirable upper body tapered down over a well-ripped abdomen. Hanging almost effortlessly from his elegant waist were a pair of shimmering trousers of indescribable color—a confusing blue-gray that form-fitted to his perfectly muscled legs. These legs also seemed to be deliberately arranged, one crossed over the other as he leaned against a burned-out hollow trunk.

His pose of nonchalant arrogance gave the impression that somehow he had beckoned her and had waited for her for an indeterminable amount of time. Now that she was finally here, the moment seemed to hang in the balance—the shocking and unexpected were waiting to be unleashed.

Ellen could not help but blush, admiring this perfection of masculine physiognomy. She glanced up at his face.

And gasped.

His ice-blue eyes gazed at her hungrily, predatorily.

His sensual lips held a slight audacious curve, poised like those of a dangerous seducer.

She could not believe that sensible her almost swooned at the sight of him. She felt a rush of inexplicable faintness. The periphery of her vision blurred. He still had not uttered a word. How could she feel like she was falling under his spell?

A small voice screamed from somewhere inside her, Get away now! Get back home now! Run!

"Did they really tell you everything about how we mate?" He uncrossed his arms and moved around the island so he was standing in front of her.

"Why do I get the sneaky suspicion you're getting ready to fill in the blanks?" He was so close now that she could have reached out and touched him. Her fingers burned with the desire to do that, too. To run her fingers over the hard planes of his chest, to travel lower to his stomach and then his…

"The ceremony is just a formality." He took another step forward so he was now towering over her. "It's not finalized until we make love. That's when I leave my mating mark on you."

"Mating mark?" Her voice just trembled a bit so hopefully he didn't notice.

"When a male finds his mate, we leave our mark on her skin. It's almost like a tattoo and it's our family symbol." He leaned down.

His breath fanned against her cheek, making her tremble. "Where do you leave it?" She had to resist the urge to reach out and grab his shirt for support because her knees were suddenly weak.

"Wherever we happen to be touching when we both come."

"Come where?" She cocked her head to the side even though she did know what he meant. What was worse was her body did, too. A warm tingle had spread out all over her and her womb clenched in need. Suddenly she was glad the tee she had on was loose and baggy because she could feel her nipples straining against her bra like they were begging him to notice them.

"Don't play coy with me, Nissa." He drew out her name slowly, as if he were savoring each letter like a fine meal.

That added to the sexy smile playing on his full lips had her knees going weak. He stepped even closer and put both hands on the counter so she was trapped between his arms. The heat of his body called to her and she couldn't help but sway forward a bit. "Coy? Me? Never?" She tilted her head all the way back so their lips were so close that all she would have to do is stand on her toes to give him a kiss. His breath was fresh, minty, like he had brushed his teeth right after his shower. For a brief hysterical moment, she wondered if he had done it before or after he'd got dressed.

"Why me?" Despite the intimate way he was acting, his eyes remained cool and uncaring. "There were a ton of other archangels who would have jumped at the chance to be with you."

Because it was you I had dreamed of months before we met. Because it was you who rescued me from my life of the run. Because when I'm with you, I feel safe for the first time ever. Her heart and years of rejection wouldn't allow her to say any of that aloud so she went with, "You had the biggest sword."

"I knew Cam needed a new archangel, so I asked Michael to send you. My little brother was lost and needed someone who would be firm, yet kind." She walked away, then she shot over her shoulder. "Besides, you and Gabi were apart far too long. If I hadn't have butted in and forced you two together, who knows how many more centuries would have gone by before you guys came to your senses?"

"Cam is right. She is like a shrink," he muttered under his breath. But, he hadn't missed the sad look in her eyes. Being a justice angel tended to drive away any male suitors. Well, that and eight very overprotective brothers. Ana must have felt feel lonely at times. He turned and grabbed Gabi by the wrist. He led her behind a pillar, away from prying eyes.

She immediately grabbed him by the hair and pulled him into a passionate kiss.

He pinned her to the pillar and took the kiss even further, splaying his hands over her ribcage so he could accidentally brush against her breasts. "Let's get out of here," he told her, his breath labored.

She giggled, then threw her arms around him. While kissing him, she flashed both of them back to their house. Ending up in the kitchen, they tumbled backward until he landed in a chair. She sat down in his lap and continued the kiss. "Oops," she said, finally coming up for air. "I meant to flash us to the bedroom. I've never been that far off before."

"That's okay," he told her, taking the tiara out of her hair and setting it down on the table. "I'll get you there." He stood up with her in his arms. Raining small love bites down her slender throat, he started up the stairs. When he felt her hands slip under his shirt to stroke his chest, he stumbled. "Be good or else we'll never get there." He growled.

She responded by taking his ear between her teeth and suckling it. She giggled wickedly when he cursed and stumbled, yet again.

Finally, he made it to the bedroom, pushing open the door, and carried her inside. Several candles were lit. The shadows from the flames flickered on the walls. Rose petals lay scattered over the bed. The fragrance they gave off reminded him of her. A platter of chocolate-covered strawberries stood on the nightstand. Yeah, it was a good thing he asked Ana to set up the room and not Cam. The empath probably would have set them up with corn chips and soda.

As soon as he set her on her feet, she threw herself at him. She tugged at his shirt with hungry hands until she yanked it off. Her small fingers ran up and down his chest, her mouth following the trail.

He bunched his hands into her soft, silky hair as her hot, velvet tongue lapped hungrily at him. "You're killing me, Princess." His voice was hoarse with need. Deciding he needed to turn the tables, he started to nuzzle her throat. She sighed happily as she leaned her head to the side in order to give him better access. He cupped her round bottom with one hand while he unzipped her dress with the other. He smiled when he saw she wore a little, white teddy underneath it. It was barely there, just covering the small swell of her breasts while hugging her flat stomach and her curvy waist. She wore matching white thong panties.

"You like?" she asked shyly.

"I love," he told her as his fingers trailed over the top of her breasts.

She closed her eyes, her body swaying into his. He cupped her breasts through the fabric. She hissed in pleasure as she leaned even closer to him. Slowly, her fingers trailed down under his waistband until she touched his cock. She hesitantly ran her fingers on it, pulling back when he groaned. "Did I hurt you?" Her face was alarmed.

He answered by taking her hand and putting it back. She giggled and grew bolder, her long fingers working magic on him. Finally, he had to stop her or else it would be over before it even begun. Taking back control, he picked her up and threw her on the bed. Her green eyes widened in shock before she reached up and pulled off his pants. When she struggled with the garment, he clumsily helped her, throwing them to the side once they were off.

Braced for an attack, she sucked in a breath when another flutter of air brushed by her face. With a blind lunge in the direction it came from, she met with empty space. Then the arrogant jerk laughed at her. It was a slow, deep chuckle, both annoying and, strangely enough, sexual. Wet between her thighs, she bit her bottom lip and shook her head in order to clear it some.

After a steadying breath, she ordered, “You may as well make this easier on the both of us and surrender now, Appolion.”

There was another whisper of movement, then she was smacked on the ass for the second time that day. She shrieked in outrage and swung her dagger around. The only thing that accomplished was having the weapon make an impressive whistling sound as it sliced through nothingness.

An arm shot out from behind her and captured her in a hard grip. His chest crushed her wings as she struggled to escape his hold. Cadean tried to stomp on his feet, but he dodged, almost like he was able to anticipate her moves before she even thought of making them.

“If you think I’m going anywhere with you, little demon, then you’re fucking crazy,” he rumbled into her ear.

His lips caressed her ear with each word he spoke and she became aware of how good his muscular body felt tightly pressed against her back. It took every ounce of control she had not to thrust her ass back to feel even more of him. There was a soft tickle at the side of her neck as he leaned in and inhaled.

“You don’t smell like a demon,” he commented.

“That’s because I’m a harpy,” she revealed in a shaky voice. Now why did she find it necessary to admit that? She sensed his smile.

“A harpy. The only demon besides a succubus that stays beautiful. This is my lucky day.”

"Don't worry, Jules, I'll always protect you." The words were out before he could stop them. The smile left her face as she suddenly grew serious.

"Yes, the Lehor brothers have always made sure to watch out for their little pests." Her mouth turned down into a frown.

"Is that honestly how you think I see you?" Didn't she realize how much she meant to the family? To him?

"Don't you?" she challenged.

 His feet seemed to move of their own accord and he soon found himself standing just inches from her. "When I look at you, I see a female of worth. One who I feel honored to have at my back when I go into battle. You want to know what else I see?"

"What?" She tilted her head up to look at him.

He became painfully aware of how close her lips were. It would only take the simplest of movements and he'd finally know how she tasted. "I see someone who is way too damn fine looking for her own good. It's a wonder we don't have our hands full keeping the males away from you." His hand itched to reach up and stroke her cheek. The flesh looked so soft, inviting. How long had it been since he'd felt a loving caress? Damn, had he really ever? Even when he'd been with Belora, she'd been so cold and distant. Just once, he would like to know a gentle touch.

"You're just saying that because you're my friend. Nobody looks at me that way," she replied, her voice just a husky whisper.

The sensual undertone to it had his body tightening with need. It was enough for him to throw caution aside and act on his need. He leaned forward so his lips were just inches from her ear. "Guess what, Jules? I'm looking at you that way, now." When he noticed she was trembling, he asked, "Does that scare you?"

"No, because I'm looking at you that way, too."

Nathaniel closed his eyes against the wave of ball-crunching desire that shot through him. "You have no idea what you're starting here, Jules," he warned in a low voice. Part of him hoped she got the message and ran, the other half hoped to all that was holy she stayed so they could see how this all played out.

"I'm pretty sure I do. I'm a big girl." Despite her brave words, she took in a hitching breath.

"I've vowed to never mark another female. I can't go through that loss again." He felt he owed it to her to let her know all the facts before she went in. Since angels mated for life, if they took things too far and fucked, they would forever be bonded.

"I never said I wanted your tramp stamp," she replied.

When a male angel found his mate, he would touch the female the first time they made love and leave behind his family symbol on his mate's flesh. Since they resembled tattoos, many angels had dubbed them tramp stamps as a joke.

Hearing that she didn't want the Lehor tiger stung at his pride a bit, despite him having brought it up first, but he pushed that aside, knowing it was for the best. "So how far are you willing to let me go?" he crooned as he ran one finger up her cheek.

"A gal's gotta keep some secrets?" she tossed back.

Despite her sexy attitude, he caught the nerves rolling off her. They were so potent he could almost taste it, but he detected arousal, too. "I should stay far away from you. Cam would have my hide if he knew what I was planning on doing to one of his best empaths." Michael would, too, for that matter. They were here to find out the threat to the city, not for Nathaniel to answer the needs of his cock. Still he couldn't make himself step away from her.

"I won't tell if you don't." She inched her mouth closer to him.

"Appolion, please touch me," she moaned. Shock had her heart skipping a beat.

"I am touching you."

Pleased to notice he was just as breathless, she swallowed. "You know what I mean." Ana buried her face in his chest so he wouldn't notice her blush. That seemed to be all the invitation he needed. Appolion slipped his hand under her panties and slowly stroked her. She fisted her hands in his shirt and gasped in surprise. Never did she imagine it would feel that way. He slipped a finger inside her and she choked out a sob.

"You're so tight," he murmured. "I'm not hurting you, am I? What I mean is, do you like this?"

"Yes, oh God, yes," she panted when his fingers danced over her flesh.

"Don't worry, I won't go all the way and risk marking you. I just want to play for while."

The problem was she did want him to mark her. She wanted all of him, not just glimpses of what might have been. Ana leaned up and lightly touched her lips to his throat. When he tensed for just a second, she remembered all the bite marks Cam often come home with. She had a pretty good guess about what happened to him in Hell and was going to do everything in her power to make him forget it, even if for just one night.

His hand moved faster and her hips moved in time with him. Ana knew she was acting like some wanton sex crazed fiend and didn't give a damn. An intense urgency built inside her and she knew he was the only one who could answer it. "What's happening to me?" she almost yelled.

"You're coming for the first time and I'm loving every minute of it. You may go on someday and find the right male to mark you, but you'll always remember that I'm the one that gave you your first orgasm."

“I can’t have kids,” Cam finally blurted.

“Huh?” she asked, confused at the oddball direction the conversation suddenly headed in.

“Raphael said since I’m part demon I can’t father any children.” He still was outside the doorway even though they were starting to attract attention from other angels passing by. “That’s another reason why it would never work between us.”

It was common knowledge that demons were sterile. It was part of the price they had to pay for turning against their vows. It never occurred to her Cam would suffer from the same curse. That didn’t matter to her though. She’d give up anything for him. Amadeaha walked up to him and cupped his face between her hands and gave him a gentle kiss. “I don’t care about that. Come inside with me.”

“If I come in, I’m never leaving you,” he responded in a harsh voice. “If you were smart, you would slam that door in my face right now and run in the opposite direction.”

She gave him another kiss, and this time it wasn’t gentle. She put all her love, hopes and desire behind it. When she pulled back, they were both gasping for breath. “Come inside with me,” she repeated.

“You better be sure, because this is your last chance.”

Amadeaha grabbed him by arm and pulled him in. She was pleased when he didn’t offer any resistance. Instead, he cupped the back of her head with one hand and captured her mouth. The gawkers in the hallway now stopped to see the show so she walked backward until she could kick the door shut.

Desperate to see his eyes, Amadeaha ripped off his sunglasses and tossed them to the side before she started to tug at his shirt. He broke off the kiss to help her. Once he had it off, she ran her lips and tongue over his bare chest, wanting to taste and know every inch of him. She felt a little triumphant surge go through her body when she heard him let out a hiss of pleasure. It still gave her a heady sense of power to know she could affect him that way.

“Why me?” he asked as he raised a hand to stroke her hair.

She noticed that it was shaking.

“You could have any male that you want.”

She swirled her tongue in slow circles over his muscular pecs, licking away the fine salty sheen of perspiration there. “I don’t want them, I want you. It’s always been you that I wanted.” Her robe had come loose a bit and he reached into the opening and cupped her breast, gently feathering his thumb over her nipple. Even though he had already given her pleasure before, she still wasn’t prepared for the sensations that rocked through her body. She gripped his arms so tightly her nails left little white crescents in his tan, muscular arms. As usual, her curiosity got the better of her. “Is it always this good?”

Cam grabbed her behind and pulled her close to him. He bent one knee so she was riding the top of his leg. Since she was nude under the robe, her bare skin met his jeans. The feeling of the rough material rubbing against her, already aroused, sensitive flesh almost made her mindless with passion.

“It’s never been this good,” he whispered hotly in her ear. “Before you it had always just been sex. It was hard, fast and, at times, painful. It was just mindless, meaningless screwing, a way to control the demon part of me. I’ve never made real love to someone before.”

He shifted her weight so she rocked against his thigh. She bit back a whimper as waves of desire rippled through her body. “So I guess that kind of makes us both virgins then.”

He laughed softly. “No one’s accused me of being a virgin in years.”

Slowly entering the room, he was greeted by the sound of the shower running. A groan rumbled deep in his throat at the thought of her naked, wet body being mere feet from him. Part of him wanted to go right in there and take her now, but he decided to hold back and stretch things out instead.

Toeing off his shoes, he got rid of all his weapons and took off his shirt. Clad only in his jeans, he sat down it a chair and watched the bathroom door. After much too long, it opened, a billow of steam and the most beautiful angel in creation came out.

Wearing only a fuzzy purple towel and about ten pounds of wet red hair, she was a vision, which made his gut clench in emotion. This perfect female had not only chosen to be with him, she had given up everything to do so. She came up and stood right in front of him, like she was waiting for him to take charge. A sly smile crept over his lips, he would be more than happy to accommodate her on that. “That’s a nice towel. Lose it,” he ordered, never getting up from the chair.

With a small gasp of surprise, or maybe it was pleasure, she obeyed, dropping the towel to reveal her gorgeous curves. Cam allowed his gaze to slowly rake over her, taking in her full breasts, pink nipples, taunt stomach and curvy legs before finally settling on the junction of her thighs. “You’re wet for me already,” he observed. “Tell me, Amadeaha, while you were in the shower just now, did you think about me and touch yourself?”

A bright flush appeared on her chest and cheeks. “I…” she trailed off and looked down.

“Oh no you don’t. I would think we are long past the point of being embarrassed in front of each other. The first time I buried my face between those white thighs of yours and licked up your cream should have taken away any inhibitions you may have had with me. So I’m going to ask you one more time, mate. While you were in the shower, did you touch yourself while thinking about me?” She raised her gaze to him and Cam sucked in a breath at the pure desire burning in her eyes. All this dominance and dirty talk was turning her on just as much as it was him.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I touched myself and moaned out your name as I came.”

Fuck, this vixen is going to be the death of me someday. Oh well, at least I’ll go out with a smile on my face. “Show me.”

“What?” Her eyes grew round with shock.

“Slide your fingers down to your clit and show me how you like to be touched.” He shifted in the seat, trying to find a more comfortable position since his cock was straining against his pants.

With a shy smile, she slowly trailed her fingers down her chest, past her stomach until she was caressing her own slippery folds. Just as things were starting to get good, she stopped and gave him a saucy look. “I’ll do it only if you do it, too. I want you to take your cock in your hands and show me how you like to be pleasured.”

Despite the blazing hot sexual tension racing through the room, Cam threw back his head and laughed. “Turning the tables on me? Only you, Crazy Pie. Okay, never let it be said I don’t please my female."

Racing into the door of the family dwelling, he beat a path to his bedroom. Correction, their bedroom. After so many nights of lying awake alone in his bed, she was now going to be in it with him. Starting now. Shutting the door behind them, he turned to look at her.

She was standing in the middle of the room, her eyes heavy with desire. Today she was in one of those short skirts of hers again, this time a black one. Her dark blue top was just short enough to show off his mark.

“Are you wearing black panties today?” he asked casually as he moved to her, unbuttoning his shirt.

“Maybe,” she hedged.

“Don’t tease me, mate.” He slipped off his outer shirt, leaving the tee shirt underneath on for now, then toed off his boots. “I can sense your arousal so I know you panties are already wet, now I want to know what color they are.”

“They’re black.” She swallowed hard before her tongue darted out to moisten her bottom lip. “I wore them because I knew that was your favorite.”

”Do you want to know why I like it so much?” He grabbed the hem of his tee and pulled it off.

“If I tell you no, does that mean you’ll stop taking off your clothes?”

Her voice was husky with need and his cock strained against his pants as the sound. Fuck, she could read the menu from the local diner and make it sound sexy. Jessica Rabbit had nothing on her. “I love the way your creamy white flesh looks against it.” He circled around her slowly, trailing his hand over the curve of her ass. “White skin against black silk, there is nothing better looking in this realm or any other. I think I’m going to invest in some silk sheets in that color. The thought of your naked body spread out on them pleases me very much.”

“I’d rather be spread out over you,” she countered as she pulled away so she could tug her shirt off. It was so tight she had to wiggle a bit, making her breasts strain against her lace bra.

He could see the outline of her nipples straining against the thin fabric. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” He kissed the swell of one breast, inhaling her fresh rain scent.

“I’m just me.” She cupped the back of his head and brought him in for a kiss.

Never had he thought lips could taste so sweet and carnal at the same time. He held back, letting her take control of the kiss. She did a damn good job of it, too, using her teeth to nip his bottom lip, between slow sweeps of her tongue. He groaned as he buried his hands in her silky hair and let her work her magic on him.

Her small body pressed against him as her kiss became more urgent, little whimpers coming from her. It was she who finally unclasped her bra and slid it off. He hissed in pleasure when her full breasts pressed into his chest, the hard nipples beckoning him. “I hate to break up this kiss, but I’m going to die if I don’t suck you,” he moaned against her lips.

“Where?” she asked, breathlessly.

“You’re still hurt,” she whispered huskily in his ear. “Lucky for you. You have your own personal healer.”

With gentle, loving hands, she carefully washed the blood from his back. Even though his wounds started to heal, there were still several red welts. She kissed each of them one by one, laving him gently with her tongue. Gabi smiled to herself at his moan, then moved around and straddled him so they were face to face. She grabbed his hands and slowly brought them to her lips, then took each of his fingers in her mouth and suckled them. “If you ever go off and leave me again, and I will destroy you.”

He opened his mouth to answer, but hissed instead.

Her hand had trailed down and she was gently caressing his hard cock. When she looked at his face, she was amazed. His dark eyes were hooded with desire and his normally hardened warrior’s face was soft and tender. The fact she had that power over him was heady.

She arched her back so her breasts were closer to his face and he took advantage. His tongue made several lazy paths over her nipple before he gave it a slight nip. Waves of pleasure mixed with pain shot through her body and she arched even more against him, urging him on. She continued to stroke his cock with one hand as her other gripped his shoulder for support. With a growl, he grabbed her rump to bring her closer and rubbed her core against his erection. He didn’t enter her yet, instead he brushed against her clit. Now both her hands were on his shoulders and she couldn’t help but undulate her hips against him so there was even more friction.

“You don’t know how often I dreamed of this,” he murmured against her flesh. “I would sit in that hot, putrid cell and remember how good your body felt against mine. How good you smelled. How sweet your flesh tasted.” His hand dipped down so he could brush a finger against her opening. “I love it when you get wet for me and I don’t mean from the bath water.”

Joe shifted his hips so Cliona didn’t know how hard his cock was as they sat snuggled on her couch. The TV was on, but hell if he could tell what was even on. All he could focus on was her and how good it felt to hold her soft body in his arms. It was also pure torture.

She was half-on his lap, half-off and her cheek was resting on his arm. The soft curves of her body seemed to scream touch me and, before he could stop himself, he was stroking the soft rise of her hip, the dip of her waist before stopping just below her ribcage.

“Are you going to miss me?” she asked with a soft sigh.

“I already do.”

“Until you find some pretty female angel that you can be with. The you’ll forget all about me.”

“That’s not going to happen.” Joe closed his eyes against the pain churning in his gut. “You’re the only one that I could ever love. There will never be another for me.”

“Does it make me a horrible person that I like hearing that?” She sighed, the movement making his fingers come dangerously close to her breasts.

“No, I feel the same way. If I were to ever see another guy touch you, I’d probably rip his head off.” Deciding to move his hand to safer ground, he started to make absent circles on her back.

“Your family is going to hate me. They’ll know why you left.” She let out a sharp gasp when he rubbed the area between her shoulder blades.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked alarmed, even though the way her eyes rolled back in her head wasn’t the move someone in pain would usually make.

“No, it’s just that the spot where my wings comes out is really, really sensitive.” Cliona moaned and arched back against his touch.

“So it feels good?” So much for moving to safer ground.

“Mmm…” She closed her eyes and got the satisfied look of a kitten with cream. “It feels fantastic.”

Although Joe didn’t have the skills that Bear and Cam did when it came to reading others minds, he did have some capabilities. Right now, they were telling him that Cliona was aroused. Hell, she was more than aroused, she was about to come off the couch.

The smart thing would have been to pull back his hand. The smarter thing would have been to get up and leave. The smartest thing would have been to never come back. Instead, he inched his hand under her shirt so he could touch her creamy flesh.

“I always knew your skin would feel this soft,” he whispered as he caressed her sweet spot. She arched back even further, her hips hitting his cock. This time he didn’t pull back, wanting her to feel how she was affecting him. The feeling of her rounded ass grinding against his erection almost drove him over the edge. Control. That was the key. He just needed to stay in control.

“Come to bed with me,” she beseeched in a husky voice.

Well, hell, there went any hope of control.

“We’ll just play a bit,” she continued when he didn’t immediately respond. “I promise.”

Reminded once again of how sweet her lips had been, he wondered how the rest of her tight body would taste. He licked his lips as he imagined sucking the tips of her perky breasts until she was moaning before he moved down to lap up the syrup from her pussy. Direct order or not, he would be a fool to turn this down.

He smoothed down her mused hair. “I’m okay, babe. What happened to you, and why are you dressed like Nix?”

“Jehel tried to make me…” she stopped and buried her face into his chest.

He put his hand under her chin and tenderly tilted her head up so he could look into her beautiful, clear, blue eyes. “Did he force himself on you?” he fought hard to keep the anger out of his voice, lest she think it was directed at her.

When she shook her head, he let out a pent up breath.

“I fought him,” she said with a devilish grin. “Ramiel and Cam are always making me keep up on my hand-to-hand battle skills and it paid off.”

“I should have been there to protect you.” He gently touched her bruised face. “I’m hurt myself, so I can’t even heal you.”

“Just kiss me, Appolion. I feel so dirty and unclean and only you can make that go away.”

He lightly feathered his lips across hers, being as tender as he could so he would not hurt her any more. Next he moved to her bruised cheek, letting his tongue slip out so it could both caress and taste the satiny smoothness. The swell of her breasts were showing because her dress was cut so low and he could see the vivid marks that Jehel’s fingers had left behind. Appolion wanted to roar with anger, but he held it in because she had seen enough violence today. Instead, he lowered his head and started to run soft kisses along them. She thrust her hands in his hair and arched her body into him.

“Make love to me,” she moaned.

He cast a nervous look at the door. “What is it with you and public places, kitten?”

She gave him a wicked, seductive smile. “After so many years of being the good girl, it’s a turn on to be bad.”

He shifted them around so that his body shielded hers from the door, just in case somebody decided to look in. The movement was awkward because of the chains, but he was determined so he managed. He instantly returned his attention to her breasts. He nipped and sucked at her nipples, through the fabric of her dress. She buried her hands in his hair and swayed against him. He cupped her softly rounded backside and brought her even closer to him.

It was her, not him, that finally pulled the top down so that her beautiful full breasts were open to him. He latched onto one of her nipples, alternating bites with gentle swirls of his tongue. All the while, he used his hand to tease the other one. Her fast pants told him just how much she liked it, that and the gentle tugs she was giving his hair as she urged him on.

She moaned in protest when he moved his mouth away and started to nuzzle her neck. He reached under her dress and caressed her over her silky panties. Perfect, she was already hot and ready for him. He slipped his hand under the panties and thrust a finger inside her. She let out a little whimper as she rocked against his hand, her body spasmed around him as he moved his finger slowly in and out.

He continued making love to her this way for several minutes before he withdrew his hand. He brought his wet fingers to his mouth and licked them, his gaze never left hers. She licked her own lips as her eyes darkened even more with desire.

“I love the way you taste,” he confessed.

“Please, Appolion, I need you,” she begged. Her mouth was slightly open and her cheeks were flush with passion.

“You need me to do what?”

“I need you inside me now,” even as she spoke, she stared to claw at the fly of his bloodied jeans.

“What do you need inside you,” he persisted. His breath hitched when she finally managed to open his pants and reached inside.

“This, I need this inside me.” She wrapped her hand around him and gently squeezed. He threw back his head with a hiss and briefly lost his footing.

She let out a throaty giggle. “Looks like I’m the one in control now.”

She shook her head as she unbuttoned his shirt. “Hush. I’ll take care of everything. You’re going to have only one problem after I get through with you. Your first time will be so incredible every woman after me is going to disappoint you.” Running her tongue over her upper lip, she delighted in the rock-hard chest under her exploring fingers. “Damn, lover boy, how could you have escaped a woman’s clutches until now?”

His gaze lingered on her breasts as he tentatively reached under her t-shirt and lifted it over her head. “I didn’t escape. I got permission.”

Pausing, she tilted her head at him in question, but when he didn’t offer an explanation, she tossed her unspoken question aside. Sex first. Questions later. “You, dude, are one strange man. Fortunately for you, however, I like strange men. As long they’re strange and hot.”

His attempt to speak was muffled as her mouth slammed onto his. Sliding her tongue inside his mouth, she traced the sides of his mouth, toying with his tongue as she drew in his tastes. At first, his inexperience showed in his lack of response, but he soon picked up on the lesson, bringing her tongue into his mouth. He moaned, an eager sound, flaring the fire within her into a roaring blaze.

Unzipping each other’s jeans, she allowed him to slide hers off her hips to rest underneath her butt as she wiggled to help him. Her bra soon fell to the floor and she heard him gasp as he took in her full breasts.

“Well?” She cupped her breasts and bobbed them up and down. “Do these meet with your approval? Are they as good as any others you’ve seen?”

The man almost drooled as he stared at her. “I haven’t seen any others.”

“You’re kidding me. Look, I know you’re a virgin, but surely you’ve seen boobs before.” She stopped and stared at him. “Now I know you’re razzing me. You’d have to have seen dozens simply from watching television and movies.”

He watched her breasts jiggle as his hands covered her tits. “Sorry. Never have. I’ve never watched those things. Which means I’ve never seen any, uh, boobs.” He tossed her a hopeful grin. “Are there really dozens on television? Do they all look like yours?”

She rested her hands on his chest, trying to ignore the voice in her head. This man is seriously weird. “Where the hell have you been? Did you grow up in some third world country or something? Were you raised in a monastery?” Please explain this. Tell me you were raised by wolves. Anything I can believe. Anything to counteract the psycho factor.

“I’ve been in Heaven, waiting for my training. You see, I died when I was a baby and—”

“There…oh, Bruce…yes. Right there. Oh God, Bruce. Oh-h-h-h.”

“Oh yeah. Amber, Amber, baby, come with me, come with me baby. I love you so much.”

Sweat slicked from a marathon love session Amber grasped her husband’s buttocks, squeezing and kneading his well-formed posterior while her vagina clenched around his cock.

Lifting her thighs to draw him deeper inside of her she hissed as the pleasure of an orgasm rode threw her.

The satiny smooth slide of his chest against her breasts sent a thrill of desire and sheer bliss from top to toes. How she loved to feel him nestled between her thighs and the pleasant weight of his body on top of hers. The romance novels she kept hidden between her mattress and box spring had nothing on what she shared with Bruce. Bruce Curtis was the only man for her. She knew it in kindergarten on the playground when he snuck that quick little kiss on her cheek—something she’d be appalled by if some boy did it to one of her daughters!

She knew it in junior high when he asked her to her first dance. There was no doubt in high school when Regina, aka Queenie, Taehlor formed their girl band, the Four Cups that this was the only man she could and would ever want to be with. He was the inspiration for every love song she ever wrote and the hero of every one of her romance novels.

And that was before she sampled sex. Only sex with Bruce wasn’t just sex. It was the pinnacle of existence. The be all and end all of what life was about. She didn’t need to try out other men to know Bruce was all she’d ever want. He was her forever guy.

Even their first time, the night of her eighteenth birthday—just so the consummation of their love was all legit and legal—was sublime. Of course, it hurt a little bit that first time. In Bruce’s case the theory of big feet and big hands meaning a big other part held quite firm.

Amber giggled to herself. Bruce was definitely…firm…in all the right places. She couldn’t remember a time he wasn’t in her life and they weren’t in love.

Amber climaxed again and this time Bruce came with her. The couple joined in a shuddering climax.

“Who would have thought after this many years making love you would still get better and better?”

Amber threaded her fingers through the now sparse, gray hair on her husband’s head.

Sparse?

Gray?

Wait…they had been on a beach. Making love in a secluded alcove. It was the night after the Four Cups’ show in Hawaii that coincided with their anniversary, before a sell out crowd. They’d done four encores that lasted almost as long as the main show. She and Bruce stole away moments after the show ended.

So why did he now look so old?

Amber turned to look at her husband again and sighed in relief. There he was, a buff twenty-something with a killer smile. A woman hadn’t been born who didn’t turn to look at that fine physique of his. He ran every morning, lifted weights every day and they made love every night.