by V L Moon
The scent of sulfur and tears scorched his lungs. For a moment, alarm threatened to take Laziel over, until the soft caress of lips brushed across his mouth. Lost within the depths of his Heavenly pursuit to bring him back, Arial had succumbed to the pull of angelic affection and was losing himself to its pull. Black tears streaked the powerful males face as he drank in the scent of home. Laziel felt the strong tremors running through him, the hurt and pain at having been so lost for so long. The pain and longing for an anchor festered in Arial like an open wound.
“I’ve got you brother. I won’t let you fall.” Arial repeated the words over and over in his mind, completely unaware Laziel lay living and breathing wrapped between him and…
A low, guttural growl resonated up Laziel’s spine and brought a wicked smirk to the corners of his lips. His vampire’s power throbbed in the air and Laziel didn’t miss the warning of danger. “You might want to refrain from using your tongue, bro. Big boy’s getting a bit angsty back here,” Laziel whispered into Arial’s mouth.
When the Fallen stumbled back with a look of absolute shock etched over his face, Laziel held him tight and brought the male back into the fold. Delicately, with the scent of his own tears welling in his eyes, Laziel reached up and kissed away the tears on Arial’s cheeks. “My brother, my eternal angel and friend, thank you for bringing me back to them.” Laziel smiled at the shell-shocked male, cupped his cheek tenderly and released him.
At Arial’s back, Mirabella’s soft glow gave away the guardian angel’s fear. Holding out his hand, Laziel took the dainty female’s fingers into his grasp.
“Thank you, Mirri, for all of your help,” he said and smiled. Mirabella’s eyes glowed with uncertainty and flickered to the male vibrating with energy behind him. “It does you justice to be fearful of him, young one. But, for all of his violence, Lachi will not harm you. We are indebted to you evermore. Please tell ‘Him’ I am sorry, that my heart could not bear the thought of not being here.”
With a shy smile and a look of wonder between him, Lachi and the babe; Mirabella faded form and dissipated into the ether leaving just her subtle scent of innocence and fear. The air in the room weighed on him. Laziel couldn’t breathe. His heart hammered in his chest at the prospect of having to turn around and come face to face with the male who’d dragged him back from the brink of extinction. His thoughts scrambled, and his mouth resembled the caked crust of a dried up lake. However hard he tried, Laziel just could not speak.
“Never thought I’d live to see the day this motherfucker got stuck for words. Dude, if I had a camera right now, the look on your face is God damned priceless. What’s wrong? He ain’t going to bite ya…much.” With a throaty laugh, Arial surged to his feet and staggered exhausted from the room. Laziel watched him. He’d never be able to repay the male for what he’d done. He was thankful Arial was one of their own. The male was painfully unaware of how powerful he’d become.
To drag a Seraphim from the arms of the Creator was no mean feat. But then, his Lachi had been the one to reach through Arial’s link, rope him, hog time him and drag him back into his waiting arms. No surprise there. Malachi Azarian Denali never gave up what belonged to him. And, Laziel belonged to him. Laziel hoped the Creator would understand and not punish them all for Laziel’s want of Lachi’s love.
Enveloped between Lachi’s thighs and leaning the full weight of his body against the width of Lachi’s chest, Laziel momentarily allowed himself to enjoy the press of their bodies against to each other. The warmth and familiar burn of passion that united them threatened to overwhelm him. It had been so long. Too long.
Lachi didn’t move, and the overbearing mantle of silence between them almost choked Laziel. He dropped his head and stared down at the beautiful child nestled in Lachi’s palms and stroked gently over her soft smooth cheek while she slept. Destahny never stirred once. It was as though the Sole Dormire had taken her under the safety of its restful wings. Head bowed, Laziel’s hands trembled as he tentatively cupped the back of Lachi’s hands and drew them together until Destahny and Lachi were held against his racing chest.
“Do you?” Behind him, Lachi’s accented voice broke the silence. The gravel deep pitch was so thick with emotion Laziel could barely decipher the meaning behind it. “You never said it back, Laz. You left. Again. And, this time you weren’t coming back. If Arial hadn’t….” Lachi’s voice broke against the damn of his emotions. He shook so hard Laziel had to force himself to swallow his own fear of facing Lachi and fight against the vampire’s strength to turn in his arms.
When he did, Laziel couldn’t contain the force of their bond as it flared to life, turning the air between them thick with the scent of their want, need and love of each other. Laziel practically crawled up Lachi’s body and clung to the male as he carefully laid Destahny on a blanket beside his thigh and mimicked Laziel’s actions by running his hands over Laziel’s face. His fingers cupped and stroked as though in disbelief Laziel was actually there. In return, Laziel licked his lips as his own fingers found solace within the ebony strands of Lachi’s hair. Eyes locked, Lachi panted, blowing small puffs of air against Laziel’s face and teasing him with the promise of long lost delights.
Shameless to his needs and trembling with the fear of rejection, Laziel leaned in and brushed his tongue lazily over Lachi’s beautiful lush mouth. “I love you beyond all reason. Never doubt that, or me again,” he whispered against Lachi’s lips. His eyes closed and his lips sought out the mouth it so lovingly aimed to re-claim. Laziel whimpered as his lips brushed Lachi’s firm ones.
He was well aware of Destahny’s presence, but his hand snaked up Lachi’s spine touching the male hesitantly while his mouth gently parted and his tongue sought entry into the well of Lachi’s succulent mouth. Keeping the kiss deliberately slow, Laziel kissed him deeply and with all of the passion inside him. He rolled his tongue around Lachi’s demanding one and then dipped deeper, tasting him thoroughly. Lachi hesitantly touched his face and forced himself to obey the lazy deep commands of his angel’s wanton mouth.
~*~*~*~
Emotions battered him. Wonder, love, fear, hunger, desire, fury, triumph; they all formed a cyclone that threatened to blow him away. Laziel anchored him. His lips brushed back and forth over Laziel’s soft mouth. His fingers tangled in the angel’s hair. The strong grip of Laziel’s thighs wrapped around Malachi’s waist. Laziel was home. After centuries of being silent and strong and months of worry and disillusionment, Malachi stumbled. Burying his face in the curve of Laziel’s throat, he cried.
In the moments before the angel’s body went limp and the light dimmed from his beautiful eyes, Malachi had understood a powerful truth. Love had to be shared in order to grow. He loved Laziel, had loved him for as long as he could remember. He hadn’t refused to say the words or admit his feelings to protect the angel. He’d been protecting himself, and in the end, he’d given his love too late. If not for Arial—Malachi shuddered and tightened his hold on the angel.
“I’m sorry, my Laz,” he murmured. He lifted his head to lock gazes with the angel. “I love you. I think I have always loved you.” Laziel smiled and closed the short distance between them to claim his lips. Malachi surrendered to him, accepting the kiss and relinquishing the control he normally demanded. Laziel wanted none of his submissiveness. He bit into Malachi’s lip and suckled the blood that rose.
“I need you, Lachi. I need your strength to make me forget our separation,” he whispered. Through their newly restored bond, Malachi caught images of Vischeral and Darklon. All too vividly, he remembered the angel’s prison, the walls papered with images of Bourne. His words to Arial haunted him. Vischeral wasn’t just the angel’s problem, he was their problem. He’d never understood the angel’s unreasoning jealousy until Arial had placed his lips against Laziel’s mouth only moments before. Intellectually, he knew why and was thankful the Fallen had fought so hard to save Laziel. But, nothing would ever erase the image of another touching so intima
tely what belonged to him.
“How can you want me when I’ve wronged you so badly,” he whispered. Laziel’s fingers covered his lips.
“We have a lot to discuss, my vampire. Later. Right now, I just need you to hold me.” The kiss that followed carried love so strong it coated Malachi’s tongue.
He broke away and carefully picked up the tightly swaddled infant. Immense love and a fierce protectiveness fired his chest. “I do not deserve either of you, but I will fight to keep you with me.” Malachi ran trembling fingers over the babe’s head. Their daughter. The ramifications of her existence terrified him almost as much as losing Laziel did, but he would never give her up.
Head bowed, he knew there was one other he’d hurt. “Thank you Lorenza. I have never been fair to you; yet, you have given me everything of yourself. And now, you have given me the most precious gift of all, the manifestation of our love.” He looked up into Laziel’s shining eyes. “I know that you’re in there and can hear me. You suffered tremendous pain to bring Destahny to us despite my lack of acceptance. You forever have my gratitude…and my love.”
Laziel’s smile wobbled and then curved into a familiar smirk. “You going soft on me, Batman?” He teased, but his voice shook with intensity.
“I think the evidence to the contrary is throbbing under your ass, angel,” Malachi growled. In his arms, Destahny stretched. Heat burned Malachi’s cheeks. He’d forgotten the babe’s delicate ears. Laziel’s laughter peeled across the room.
“Give her to me. I’ll settle her on the bed,” Laziel suggested and reached for the tiny bundle. Malachi resisted.
“You’ve had her all this time. It’s my turn.” He waited for Laziel to stand and rose to his feet to circle the large bed. Pillows were re-arranged to form a barrier. Tenderly, he lowered their precious girl to the fur coverlet and laid her on her stomach. She snuffled around a bit before settling with her thumb in her mouth. Malachi turned and froze. Laziel had disappeared. Panic seized him until he saw the door standing ajar.
Quicker than a thought, he crossed the room to stand at the threshold. The sight before him sucker punched him. Standing naked in front of the fireplace, Laziel stared down into the flames. The beauty of his male never ceased to stun Malachi. Firelight kissed Laziel’s muscular frame and gave his bronze skin a warm glow. The dark valleys between ridged muscles enticed Malachi to touch and taste.
“Laz,” Malachi breathed his name. The tattooed wings on his back waved when Laziel turned to glance over his shoulder. The same hesitancy that slowed Malachi’s need to possess and claim shone in Laziel’s eyes. How had they come to this? The easy camaraderie of before was gone. The separation, the pain and three words had shaken them both. Laziel’s gaze dropped, and he turned away. Fresh pain ripped into Malachi’s heart. The angel was home, but the chasm between them still stretched wide.
Turning, he retreated to the bedroom and ran a shaking hand through his hair. He had no idea what to say, or what to do for the angel. He stared helplessly around the room. His gaze landed on the wad of bedding piled on the floor, a nest for the birth. By rote, he crossed to pick up the soiled material and carried it through to the lavatory. The oversized Roman style bath gave him pause.
While hot water filled the enormous tub, Malachi stripped away his own gore spattered clothes. He refused to let the problems of the outside world into his thoughts. Laziel and Destahny were all that mattered at the moment. When he re-entered the bedroom, his gaze immediately snapped to the bed where Destahny lay in a ball with her tiny rump in the air. A few long strides brought him to the edge of the mattress.
“You sleep like your Papa Laz,” Malachi murmured while smoothing an index finger down her spine. “I’m going to give him a bath now; see if I can help him relax. You be a good girl and sleep for a while.” Bending low, he brushed a kiss across her downy cheek. I love you. Those three words filled his mind as he stared down at their daughter, but as much as he wanted to say them aloud, they hung in his throat. Had he learned nothing? Exasperated with himself, he spun on a bare heel and headed for the living area.
He didn’t hesitate as he had before. Crossing the room, he slid his arms around Laziel and pulled him back into his embrace. The celestial scent of his male washed over him. Fangs punched through his gums. Furious with his lack of control, Malachi shoved the hunger away. Laziel needed him, and not the savage that lived within his skin.
“Maybe, we should wait. Give ourselves time to adjust.” Laziel’s soft words stabbed into his chest. He almost withdrew and left the angel standing alone in front of the fire. He struggled with his initial reaction. Instead of leaving, he bent and scooped Laziel up into his arms, cradling the angel against his chest.
“If you want to wait, we will. I just wanted you to have a bath and wash away anything to do with Darklon.” While he spoke, he walked back through to the bathroom and stood Laziel by the steaming tub. A few twists of the knobs and the flow of water stopped. “I’ll lie with Destahny while you bathe. I can shower afterward.”
Strong fingers wrapped around his wrist before he could take a step away. “Don’t go, Azarian.” The tight ache of tension in his gut loosened a bit. Side by side, they descended the few steps into the heated water. Malachi sat first and immediately spread his thighs to accommodate the angel. Almost simultaneously, they both turned to make sure Destanhy was in sight. Reassured, Laziel leaned back against his chest and let out a soft sigh.
For several minutes, neither of them moved. Water lapped around them and steam rose to create a misty atmosphere. Laziel’s breathing evened out as he relaxed. Love for the male flooded Malachi’s heart and mind. The need to take care of him, to show Laziel what he felt refused to be denied. Moving slowly, Malachi snagged the soap and worked up a rich lather on his hands. His palms glided over smooth skin. As thoroughly as their positions allowed, he washed and rinsed Laziel’s warm skin.
“Going to slide out from behind you, angel, and finish,” he said. Laziel murmured, but it was so low Malachi missed his words. He smiled; glad his male was able to relax. Once again, he did the lather and rinse routine, covering every inch of Laziel’s magnificent physique. He ignored his own body’s response to the angel’s allure. Memories of other baths assailed him, the laughter and fun, the ease in the other’s touch, the intimacy of being one with another.
He wanted that again. He wanted to be what Laziel needed. Remembering the past hurt, but where he would have once slammed down a barrier to stop the pain, he let it flow over him. While turmoil plagued him, Laziel lay quiet and still beneath his hands. Was it too late for them? Was the damage too much? Malachi was terrified to ask, afraid the answer would cleave his heart from his chest.
Malachi moved back to the ledge and sucked in a breath when Laziel rolled and straddled his thighs. Ever changing eyes captured his gaze. Laziel was not as settled as he thought. A soft mewl from the bedroom broke their stares. They both tensed and turned to focus on their daughter. Destahny wiggled her little butt, smacked on her thumb and blinked at them. Her golden eyes watched for a second and then closed again. The vigorous sucking on her thumb slowed, and she was quiet.
“She’s beautiful,” Malachi said, unable to hide the awe in his voice.
“As are you, my vampire,” Laziel responded low. His fingers rose to follow the trail of water that dripped from Malachi’s hair to run over his pecs and down onto his abs before sliding into the water. Malachi held his breath, afraid to move for fear the angel would stop. Slowly, his arms slid around Laziel’s waist, but remained loose, giving the angel the chance to move away if he chose. Instead, Laziel arced backward over Malachi’s arms. His glorious hair spread out in the water. Malachi’s mouth dried at the beautiful display of skin and muscle. His fangs throbbed, his hunger more insistent.
When Laziel sat up again, he reached for the shampoo and offered it in silent invitation. Malachi took the bottle and poured a generous amount in his palm. Laziel swayed closer. It was one of their favorite act
ivities. Washing Laziel’s hair and then brushing it out. It brought them peace in a world usually gone crazy. Laziel leaned forward to rest his head against Malachi’s shoulder. With exquisite care, Malachi worked his fingers through Laziel’s hair, massaging his scalp as he went. Slippery suds coated them both and their bodies slid blissfully against each other as he worked. He took longer than usual, unwilling to lose the closeness with his male.
“Rinse.” His voice was guttural and low. His arms fell to Laziel’s waist and tightened in anticipation of Laziel’s weight. Once more, he was treated to the beauty of the angel’s splendid build. His vampire nature bucked against his control. Laziel sat up abruptly, his mercurial eyes flashed.
“My stubborn vampire, what am I going to do with you?” Malachi blinked in confusion until Laziel cupped the back of his head and drew him forward into the curve of his neck. “I would never deny you, Azarian. Drink.”
Malachi closed his eyes and inhaled. His fangs ached and his entire body clenched as hunger and need consumed him. Worshipfully, he brushed his lips up and down the strongly beating vein. Laziel eased in closer, bringing them chest to chest. He shivered in anticipation of the bite. Although Malachi wanted to prolong the moment, savor the closeness, the hunger could no longer be denied.
Malachi opened his mouth and bit into warm flesh. His fangs found the familiar vein. The exotic flavor of his angel flowed over his tongue and filled his mouth. Laziel’s pulse beat against his lips offering more of the blood he needed. Malachi groaned. Tremors rocked them both.
With each swallow, the bond between them flared brighter. New strands appeared and wove tighter. Malachi felt every one as they bound him irrevocably to the male in his arms. Amid the blinding white light, a beautiful vein of gold danced and twirled. Destahny. Laziel’s grip on him tightened, and he knew the angel saw the loveliness of their daughter in their union.
