by Lori Aisling
Do You Feel Me?
When the pages were full and no more words appeared, Callon closed the ancient book and looked up at me. “That’s how it works. So as you can see, I can never forget anyone- no soul will ever be left behind or lost. I don’t know why you can’t open the ledger, I assume it’s because you have no reason to. Honestly, no one has ever tried before.”
“Why not? No one else has ever shown interest in this?”
He rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. “Not exactly. I have never brought anyone else here before you.”
My belly did that crazy flip-flopping thing again and I stared at the man towering over me. “Never? You have lived for-basically-ever and you never even had a date come over? Is that weird?”
“It’s not that I have not enjoyed the company of women. Just never here at my home. I have avoided relationships with all other Timeless and simply chose to recreate with mortals. From what I have told you about the bond, I think you can understand why.”
Reality crashed down on me at that moment and I realized how truly unique and special our initial meeting was. In all the countless years Callon lived, he never did for anyone what he did for me. Just today alone, the book logged over 148,000 deaths. Multiply that by 365 days in a year and it made me realize how incredibly lucky I was. Granted, I wasn’t feeling ready to make a bond that could not be broken, but I was definitely seeing how it could happen. Emotion flooded me and I walked the few feet to him and stood on my tiptoes to wrap him in a hug. “Please know how much I appreciate you taking a chance with me, Callon. I’m going to learn everything and try really hard to earn the trust you placed in me- a complete stranger.”
“You’ve already earned it, love. At your bedside, I saw traits that are increasingly rare amongst mortals. You knew your time was up yet your reactions were not at all typical. You weren’t sad, scared, or angry. You didn’t pray for forgiveness or mercy. You weren’t bitter or jaded. Instead, you were selfless. You asked nothing of me, Amara. Instead, you wanted to know about me. In your last seconds on earth, you were more concerned about my name and what books I read, for goodness sake. Your reaction showed an internal strength and faith of self that is extraordinarily rare. It was addictive, woman. I wanted to see that fire again- every day. So when you stated your future was with me, I made it so.”
He stepped back and used his forefinger to tip my chin up to meet his gaze. The fire that danced in those silver orbs was mesmerizing. And sexy as hell, I might add. He slowly leaned down and caught my lips in a solid, yet gentle kiss. He applied a bit more pressure, his tongue snaking out for a quick slip across my lower lip. I moaned, just a bit, before remembering his warning about that over breakfast. My eyes popped open and I saw the predatory gleam in his eyes and it sent heat straight to my core.
“I warned you about that, I’m sure I did.” He grabbed me and sat me on the tall desk, moving my legs apart to settle himself between my thighs before swooping in again to ravage my mouth. God, I loved the way this man tasted, the way he made me feel, and the all-consuming lust he created.
Moving his hands to my lower back, he pulled me towards him and I felt the hard bulge restrained by his jeans. “Do you feel that, love? Feel how perfect we fit together,” he murmured against my lips.
I moaned again and his hands slid to my waist and he picked me straight up, I was now standing on the desk, looking down at him with my hands on his shoulders. He pushed his head against the fly of my pants, his teeth biting the denim enough for me to feel the pressure against my clit. Tangling my fingers in his hair, I pushed his head closer, craving the friction. His fingers moved to unbutton and unzip my jeans and he slowly pulled them down over my hips. His mouth left a path of fire across my stomach and down to my pantie line where his mouth dipped lower, his hot breath pushing my temperature higher. Fingers slipped under the straps of the bikini underwear and he slipped them down, pushing them and my pants to my ankles.
“Step up,” he commanded and I complied, picking up my left leg. Callon pulled my jeans and panties off one foot, then the other until I stood, naked from the waist down, my crotch at his eye level. He stepped closer and the backs of his fingers trailed up the sides of my calves, tickled behind my knees and came to stop on my hips. He leaned in, his mouth at the top of my slit and breathed in deeply. When he exhaled, it was accompanied by a deep rumble in his chest and his hands moving to squeeze my ass as his lips teased and nipped at the top of my pussy. My breathing accelerated, and I felt goosebumps break out on my arms and legs from the teasing sensations he was creating.
Looking up at me, I saw an apex predator with an eye on his prey. “Spread your legs, Amara,” he purred, his voice like warm honey with the bite of spice.
“Do you want me to get off the desk?” I was feeling a bit shy, and although I was never a prude, this raw lust was addictive yet exposing at the same time.
“Oh, you’ll get off, love. But you’ll do it standing right here on this desk, spread for me. I might not be able to fuck you yet, but I will make you come. Now, part those thighs,” he demanded.
The command in his voice and the words he spoke sent my already spiked libido into the stratosphere. At this point, he could tell me to tap dance to Mariah Carey singing White Christmas and I would gladly comply with his order. I felt a blush heat my cheeks as I spread my legs, opening myself to his hungry stare.
“Good girl.” He again stepped forward and this time, when I felt his heated breath, it was followed by the electric feeling of his tongue sweeping through my folds. It found the tip of my clit and made slow, lazy circles around the sensitive bundle of nerves. I couldn’t control the groan that left my lips as his expert mouth worked me into a frenzy. His hands that had been gripping my ass moved to the front and he used his thumbs to part the lips of my pussy, giving himself unfettered access to the prize he was claiming.
“Wider, Amara,” he growled and when I did as instructed, he moaned his approval. The vibration from his pleasure transmitted to my clit and I made fists in his thick, black hair as my legs began to shake due to the intense sensations. Two fingers slipped into my soaking channel and I felt the tingling of an orgasm building as he began to slide them in an alternate rhythm of his mouth working what I now considered the fuse to a fire cap that was shaping up to be an explosive climax. I always loved oral but never had I experienced it with this much intensity. It was as if Callon knew exactly where my buttons were and how hard to push them. White sparks danced in my vision as waves of pleasure rushed through me. I felt my knees weaken and he wrapped a thick arm around my thighs to stabilize me and hold me steady, his other hand continuing the steady strokes in and out of my needy pussy. My inner walls gripped his fingers as the muscles contracted, squeezing him tight. His lips fixed over my sensitive bud, providing a steady suction that pushed me over the top. I screamed his name and my legs ceased to provide the necessary function of keeping me upright and Callon caught me as I crumpled to the desktop.
Looking up into the expressive silver eyes above me, the flame of desire didn’t fade, regardless of the mind-blowing orgasm I was attempting to recover from. If anything, it only stoked the flames. I wanted more. I wanted to feel him inside me, feel his skin against mine, and absorb the carnal look that was setting my senses on fire.
“Feeling better, love?” he teased, an ornery grin gracing his sexy mouth. Proof of my arousal coated his lips and the five o’clock stubble on his chin and I could smell myself on him as I tipped my head up to catch his lips in a kiss.
“I don’t know if I want a nap, food, or round two,” I honestly replied, still breathless. “I mean, wow. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Get used to it. I plan on taking what I want, when I want it, Amara. You are mine- body, and soul. You only need to consent. I can provide everything you could ever desire and I need only one thing in return. Eternity.”
After dropping that bombshell, he grinned and kissed my forehead. I didn’t know what to say, I
was currently having an argument with myself. My logical brain told me to wait, take it slow, don’t rush into anything. But my heart and my nether regions were ready to offer him my soul and a non-existant first-born child if we could continue this sex session with no clothes and a bottle of wine. “How about a drink, food, and conversation?” I asked, grumbling internally at my rational mind.
“I’ll take it,” he smiled, setting me on my feet.
“I’ll cook. You did breakfast. I mean, it’s only fair. You are asking for my eternal commitment and you don’t even know if I can cook,” I winked at him as I pulled my panties up over my hips, letting the elastic strap snap in place. He looked at the small swath of cotton fabric and I heard the sexy growl that turned me to mush. His tongue flicked out, licking his upper lip. I realized this could get out of hand quickly and I sure as hell wasn’t going to turn down another session so I hurriedly pulled my jeans up over my butt and headed for the office door. “Show me what you have and tell me what you want- I’m making dinner,” I stuttered, once again cursing my ‘good’ sense.
“There is filet mignon in the fridge and plenty of vegetables. Do with it what you will. Do you drink wine? I’ll go grab a bottle from the cellar.”
“Yes, please. Of course you have a damn wine cellar, why wouldn’t you?” I teased as we made our way into the kitchen. Slapping me on the ass and eliciting the desired response of my shriek, he chuckled and walked through the kitchen opening a door to a room I had yet to explore.
“I told you, woman. Everything your heart desires.”
I didn’t respond as he disappeared from view. Opening the refrigerator door, I pulled out the ingredients for a wicked stir fry and pondered his statement. I was smitten- he was honestly everything I ever desired in a partner. I knew what my answer was, I was just too damn scared to tell him. Commitment never worked out well for me. With Callon, I was willing to take the leap one more time. I just needed to get over my fear and embrace the opportunity he was offering. I already knew it would be everything he promised- and more.
Timeless 101: Learning the Ropes
We enjoyed a wonderful evening. The food was excellent, the wine even better, and I found out the way to the wine cellar was through the game room. A bar, pool table, dartboard, and an amazing sound system did away with any need to leave the house. I was never big on crowds and with Callon’s charming personality and limitless knowledge of numerous subjects, time flew by.
While we enjoyed numerous games of pool with him beating me soundly pretty much every time, he began to explain the ways of the realms and the different inhabitants. Bargainers were a type of demon that offered possessions or a ‘stroke of luck’ in exchange for souls. The age-old adage ‘if it’s too good to be true it probably is’ was most likely based on these slippery snakes that hid themselves in the mortal worlds and tempted people to exchange their immortal futures for goods and riches. Normally, the Bargainer would trick their prey with sly verbiage, the poor sap being none the wiser of the ultimate price they were paying for the offered prize. They were disguised as incredibly handsome or beautiful, charismatic, and charming. Of course. As if reality didn’t have enough obstacles- let’s toss some asshole demons into the mix to steal your eternal soul. Dicks. I didn’t like them already, even though Callon assured me that in reality, some of them were not as bad as they seemed- they were merely doing their job and could be quite honest.
“Cherubs, or Cherubim as we call them, are the guardians of God. They are depicted in the mortal realm you hale from as cute, pudgy babies with little wings, but seeing them in their true form will show you they are much more than that. You’d be shocked. They are a scrappy lot- they love to needle and fight with the demons. I think they do it for fun, honestly. They are like the bully bodyguards of God and rarely venture outside of the realm of Light- Heaven, there just isn’t any reason for it, really. They have no place on the mortal plane. However, their undying allegiance to God can make them a very powerful foe. You must never trust them, Amara. They honestly have one goal- to heighten the power of their Lord. It’s dangerous when loyalties are so unquestioned,” he explained.
“What about the angels at the foot of my bed when you came for me?”
“There are fifteen archangels who are basically ‘upper management’ when it comes to dealing with the mortal realms and God. The three you saw are the three I deal with the most. Azrael was the one in the middle and is always present at reapings. He is sometimes known as the ‘Angel of Death’. He was the one that was leading you away from me.” He spoke the last words with venom, as if having an angel touch me was the most unclean thing he could imagine and he aggressively sunk the black eight ball into the corner pocket he just called. I smiled inwardly at his possessive tone as he continued my lesson. “The one to your right was Jeremiel and he assists the souls in their passing- he is usually present, especially in an innocent death such as yours. I actually trust Jeremiel more than any of the others. I’m not sure he was created with the ability to be dishonest, even if you aren’t going to like the truth. That makes it easier to believe what he says. The tall one on the left was Sandalphon. He and his twin brother used to be mortal and ascended as angels, so they have an understanding of the delicacy of life. That’s a good and bad thing- depending on the situation. Even though they are angels, they didn’t necessarily lose all of their human traits. Vanity is a very real thing with those two, whether their boss wants to admit it or not. But Sandy isn’t a bad dude- he can be counted on to do the right thing most of the time. When my day is really going to suck, they send Sandy’s brother, Metatron. The others have roles that will not involve us, generally. I won’t confuse you by trying to list them all, but they each have specific roles designed to benefit the mortals and all beings. For example, Ariel is devoted to the animals and base creatures, Michael is essentially a bodyguard for all beings, and Zadkiel possesses more knowledge than any other Timeless. You will meet them all in time. I want you to know exactly who they are, what they are capable of, and how to protect yourself from both sides of that age-old pissing match.”
I found myself yawning after finishing off my third glass of possibly the best vintage I ever enjoyed. “What else? You mentioned Seraphim?”
“Let’s go to bed, love. We have plenty of time for more discussion later. I want to feel you next to me as we rest. Watching you sleep last night yet not being able to hold you isn’t going to work for me any longer.”
I stood and extended my hand to him. He took it, pulling me to his chest, his other arm wrapping around my back to pull me into him before leaning down and scattering my thoughts with a possessive kiss. Yes, I could definitely get used to this. Holding hands, we walked to the master bedroom and I pilfered through the dresser, finding a satin nightdress in deep emerald green.
“That color brings out your eyes- they look like wildflower honey stirred in milk chocolate. You are beautiful. I think I’m going to purchase more of that shade,” he purred, admiring the skimpy shift from across the room. I blushed and escaped to the bathroom, still unused to the compliments that came so easily to him.
Callon brushed his teeth as I combed out the rat’s nest that was my hair. “We are traveling tomorrow. When you wake, pack an overnight bag. It doesn’t need to be much, we can always get whatever else is needed wherever we end up, or simply return here for more.”
“Oh! Did you get plane tickets?” I was excited, I loved to travel and was never been able to do near enough for my tastes.
He smiled like a Cheshire cat before pulling out a section of floss and focusing on the mirror. “No need for that, love. Don’t forget who you are keeping company with. I just go where I want, when I want, instantly.” Winking at me, he added, “No reason to have my baby flying coach.”
I wasn’t exactly sure what he meant, but I had a pretty good idea. I wasn’t sure how it worked, but I was more than excited to experience everything he could show me. “I want to learn, Callon. I want you to teac
h me everything you can. I’m going to embrace this new life with all the vigor I should have put into my mortal existence. I think I focused way too much on the little things. Life is indeed short, and now that I have the opportunity, I plan to absorb everything you have to offer. Where are we going?”
“You said the first thing on your list was the pyramids, so we will start in Egypt. From there, you can decide.” Finishing up, he walked by me, his fingers trailing over my lower back as he passed. It was endearing how it seemed he couldn’t be close to me without touch. It made me feel wanted, and special.
“That easy, eh? Ok. I’m game. What about your work?”
“I’ll still work. That is unavoidable, but not an issue. The time it takes for me to accomplish my duties is minute. Time is not the same in our realm as in the mortal world. Every hour that passes there are fractions of a second to us. That is how I can accomplish the number of reapings you witnessed in the journal in what seemed like only a few hours.”
I walked back into the room and found him already in bed, propped up against the headboard. Butterflies started a migration south in my belly when I realized I was going to be sleeping with Death. Holy shit. Not only that, but I wanted to. Hell, I wanted to do more than sleep, I could see his muscles ripple under his skin as he put his hands behind his head, and my mouth watered. But I was still attempting to use my brain, not every other cell in my body. “Can I come with you to reap? Someday?” I asked, trying to yard my brain out of the gutter where it was trying hard to set up a permanent shop.
