Death's Widow

by Lori Aisling

  He looked at me with a shocked expression. “You would want to go with me? Are you sure? People are dying- a lot of people.”

  “I know, I was there. It’s not what you think, though. Maybe other people would think it would be sad, or scary. But it was the most beautiful experience of my life, Callon. I realize we made an instant attraction and things didn’t go as usual, but even before that. When I opened my eyes and saw the angels and you- the relief and joy were astounding. Like I said- beautiful.” I shrugged my shoulders and walked across the room.

  He tossed the comforter back and wiggled his eyebrows at me. “Come here, Amara. Every time I think you couldn’t be better suited for me, you have to go and say something like that.”

  I giggled and crawled onto the large bed. Grabbing me, he flipped me onto my back and I was instantly looking up at him as he held himself over me, his thighs on either side of my legs.

  “Once you have learned all I can teach you and I know you will be safe, I will take you if you still want to go. Nothing would please me more than to have you by my side every day.”

  “I don’t want to be away from you, either. When you were gone today, I enjoyed myself and I felt relaxed and safe. However, I wanted you home. The best part of my day was hearing you walk through that door. Well, maybe it tied for first place, now that I think about it.”

  “Ah, yes. It is an awful nice desk,” he teased, knowing exactly where my brain was lingering to... Suddenly looking serious, he continued. “I have told you I will provide a good life for you. But I do have rules, Amara. I will keep you safe and until you learn how to navigate the realms, I need you to listen to me when we leave here, ok? You won’t die- but that doesn’t mean you can’t be hurt or put in situations that could scare or damage you. When we leave this home, you must do as I say. Will you do that?”

  “Yes. I know I am unprepared for what you are going to show me and I too, want to be safe and enjoy this new life. I’ll listen.” I liked the calm that settled on his feature with my heartfelt statement, but I was feeling a bit ornery. “What are you going to do if I disobey, Sir?” I asked, dramatically flitting my eyelashes.

  With no warning, I was instantly flipped onto my belly, the satin nightdress up around my waist. I registered the sound before the sensation. The crack I heard was his hand connecting solidly with the cheek of my ass. I was shocked but unable to move with his legs on either side of me. I felt his hot breath on the base of my neck as he nibbled at the tender flesh. “I will make those gorgeous cheeks the prettiest shade of red you have ever seen, love,” he purred, his voice weaving an attractive concoction of desire dosed with a hint of danger.

  Here’s the thing- I wasn’t afraid of him in the slightest and the tingling swat did nothing other than send heat straight to my core- as if I needed help in that department. I liked that he was possessive, jealous, and a bit bossy. It seemed like every guy I attracted in the past turned out to be either a passive-aggressive douchebag or a doormat. Callon was neither, and I loved how protected he made me feel- making myself wait to be sure of this ‘bond thing’ was going to be harder than I thought.

  You’re Going Down

  Callon continued to press kisses along the back of my neck and behind my ear, creating shockwaves of pleasure through me. His thighs held me tightly, his weight pressing me down into the mattress. Large hands ran down my back, then fingertips danced lightly up my rib cage. “Arms straight out in front of you, chest to the bed, ass in the air. Let’s see how well you listen.”

  I whimpered as a sharp stab of longing shot through me. I wanted him- terribly. I wanted to feel him fill me, become one with me. Was this the bond? The position he demanded was slave pose. I once worked with an erotica author during my time at the publishing house and even though I never experienced any of the things she wrote about, I was well versed in the lifestyle. I knew not what path I was headed down, but I was more than willing to see where it led.

  I obeyed his instruction, wrapping my hands around the wooden slats on the headboard, my face turned to one side, tits pressed into the mattress. I raised my ass in the air, slightly spreading my thighs. I heard his growl of approval as he continued to run his hands down my spine until I felt his thumbs slide under the straps of my panties. He slid them down slowly until they were at my knees- stretched and biting into my flesh from my spread legs. The suspense was like tossing gasoline onto a raging inferno.

  Expecting a second slap, I bucked and cried out when instead I felt his tongue drag through my wet folds. “Fuck, woman, so wet for me already,” his deep voice vibrated against my suddenly overactive and excited vagina.

  I felt him slip two fingers into my drenched channel and it took all the mental fortitude I could manage to maintain the pose and not beg for more. I gasped and rocked back into his palm as he slowly fucked me with his hand. I heard a steady, loud, banging in my head that just didn’t seem quite right, but I didn’t care.

  “What the hell?” Callon growled as he set up. That was when it dawned on me the banging sound wasn’t in my head. Someone knocking on the door.

  “Stay here,” he ordered as he left the bed, pulling on a pair of plaid pajama pants over his boxer briefs.

  I heard his barefooted steps pad down the hall and moments later the sound of Callon’s voice, but the words were unintelligible. Pulling my underwear up and ripping off the nightgown, I crawled off the bed and jerked on the jeans and t-shirt I discarded. I could hear more than one voice, and the tones were gruff and angry.

  I slipped silently down the hall, hoping to get close enough to make out the words being said. “It’s none of your damn business, Metatron,” I heard Callon’s voice and anger saturated his tone.

  “That’s where you’re wrong, buddy,” said another voice, not as deep, but sarcastic and cutting. “It’s all of our business. You pulled some crap that isn’t done. Every single soul has a place and a duty. Removing one makes a mark in the ledger that cannot be accounted for on either side. That’s not how this works, and you know it. She was destined to come with us. Just turn her over and walk away from this. It’s not like anything bad is going to happen to her.”

  I peeked around the corner so I could see the members of the argument who Callon spoke to so crassly. “I’m not your buddy, and you have no idea what would happen to her at this point. She is now Timeless, the same as both of us. You have no clue what bargaining will go on to determine where she will end up. She could become an undying pawn in their pissing match. Just. Like. You.” He enunciated the last three words like they were something you stepped in at the dog park.

  “I am happy with my lot in life, so don’t act like you are better than me, Callon. You’re such a condescending prick. What’s your plan for her? Keep her here like a damn pet to fuck?”

  Callon growled as he stepped towards the tall, blonde man I now knew was Metatron. Stabbing his finger into the archangel’s chest, I could see they were eye to eye and neither was backing down. “Leave her alone. I’ll say it again since I know you’re a tad daft. It’s none of your fucking business. The ledger is fine, all souls are accounted for. Her duties are of no concern to you.”

  “Whoa, you two. Settle down. We just came to have a civil discussion. You have to admit, Cal, this is not standard operating procedure.” The phrase was spoken by a different man standing to Callon’s left in the spacious foyer. He was incredibly tall, at least pushing 6’ 7” if my guess of Callon’s height at 6’ 4” was close.

  “If you want this to remain civil, then I suggest you get your brother out of my damn house, Sandy. I don’t question the shit you guys pull and I stay out of your business. I am simply asking for the same consideration.”

  “We don’t ‘pull’ this kind of shit,” Metatron responded, using air quotes. I was quickly seeing why Callon didn’t care for the guy. He really was a sarcastic prick. “We need to talk to her. She needs to understand the ramifications of your actions and verify for ourselves she is here on her own fr
ee will. For all we know, you have trapped her here and she wants to pass on to her next duty cycle.”

  “Get. Out.” Callon snarled through clenched teeth as he pointed at the door. “I won’t tell you again. I’ll remove you, and it won’t be gentle.”

  All of a sudden I saw movement in the doorway and a third angel entered the house. I assumed angel because truthfully, that would be the only way to describe the woman’s beauty. Supermodel tall, with long, flowing blonde hair floating around her to frame the most perfect face I had ever seen. Ruby-red lips were tilted up in a coy smile as she floated across the doorway to stand in front of a very pissed off Death.

  “Callon. Baby. Just calm down,” she purred, flitting her eyelashes as she approached him.

  “Don’t call me that, Joe. That was eons ago, and coming here was calculated and rude.”

  “You know that’s not true. I came because I care, Cal. You know me- I would never do anything to jeopardize what we have.”

  “We don’t have anything, Jophiel. Do you think you might be able to figure that out in the next century or so because this obsession got old at least that long ago.”

  I was getting pissed and supermodel angel or not, her next move was too much for me to handle. She walked right into Callon’s space, pushing into him to curl herself around his leg, her pelvis resting against his thigh. She placed her palms on his bare chest, her mouth mere inches from his as she spoke. “You just need to let go, baby. Give us a chance to grow. You know we would be perfect together. You don’t need her.”

  I saw red and I stormed towards them, my eyes honed in on the blonde bitch with her hands on what was mine. “Get your fucking hands off him. Now.” Even I was surprised at the venom in my words even though I spoke quietly. I was trying to control my rage as I stared down the temptress in front of me when all I really wanted to do was rip out her damn extensions and feed them to her. I mean honestly, there is no way anyone has natural hair that great- angel or not.

  Her eyebrows raised as I approached and she couldn’t hide the quick flit of surprise that flashed across her perfect features. It was instantly replaced with something more sinister- something I recognized well. Jealousy. “Or you’ll do what, exactly?” she sniffed haughtily as she looked down her nose at me.

  Well, that was a good question, actually. I was attempting to come up with a catty reply when Callon took over, most likely saving me from embarrassment. Stepping back away from her, he reached his hand out and grasped mine, pulling me to stand next to him. “I think you have forgotten what I am capable of. I have left all of you alone, staying completely neutral. It appears I may need to remind you of your place when dealing with me. Out. All of you. Now.”

  The trio of angels all started to speak at once and Callon simply raised his hand and pushed it, palm out, towards the exit. The three angels screamed as their bodies were picked up, tossed around the entryway like rag dolls and hurled towards the open door. I wasn’t sad to watch Jophiel’s head bounce off the wooden frame or when Metatron took a foot to the face when his brother’s tall body crowded the space they were all being ejected from.

  The door slammed shut the moment they were all out and I turned a wide-eyed stare at Callon. “Umm. We need to talk.”

  “Yes, love. We do.”

  Fully Alive

  Not another word was spoken as Callon dragged me down the hall back to the bedroom, I was almost jogging to keep up with his long strides. Releasing my hand once we entered the suite, he walked to the corner where a well-stocked mini bar was located. “Would you like a drink?”

  “Yes, please. Whiskey, neat. Make it a double”

  Callon poured two glasses of the rich amber liquid and walked across the room to hand one to me as I waited, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I don’t know where to start,” he mumbled.

  “Just talk. There’s a lot to cover here, so let’s figure it out.”

  Sighing, he took a healthy swig of the Irish whiskey he poured before coming over to the bed. Instead of sitting next to me, he dropped to the floor and pulled his knees to his chest, looking up at me, his eyes anxious and honest. “I have already explained the battle between God and Lucifer, and how I am a neutral party. All of that is true. Every soul is accounted for, including yours- Metatron was merely grasping at straws with his nonsense about the ledger. The problem the three stooges are arguing about is a ‘loophole’. You are a new Timeless. In all my centuries of life, I can’t remember the last time it happened. Hell, for all I know Sandy and Metatron could be the last mortals to ascend. So you’re ‘fresh meat’, to put it bluntly. They are less concerned about you and more interested in what you could do for them. I have no doubt we will get a visit from a Bargainer or two, probably a couple of Lucifer’s lieutenants as well. The two sides are very well matched. Think about it. They have been battling since the dawn of time, it would not take a lot to tip the scales in one direction or the other. Depending on who they chose to bond you with, you could pose a very viable threat to the opposing team.” He looked down at his feet, but I could see his jaw was clenched tightly, his hands fisting the whiskey tumbler tight enough I was shocked it didn’t crack.

  “Why would they choose to bond me with someone and what do you mean ‘they choose’? I choose. I refuse to be used as a pawn in some kind of arranged marriage hell. None of them are bonded. Why is this an issue?”

  “They were destined for their duties. You were not. As I explained before, if you were to bond to me, we would become one. You would assume my role should something happen to me, which means you would have the same gifts I possess.”

  “Yeah, if you die. Which isn’t going to happen, so I guess I still don’t understand.”

  “You will assume my role if I die, yes. But you will have the same strength as me as soon as the bond is complete. I didn’t explain that to you earlier because I didn’t want to overwhelm you. I was trying to take this slow, let you get to know me and make the decision based on your heart, not out of fear or obligation.”

  “It seems that would be a good course of action for you as well, Callon. I mean, you are the one who will be creating your equal. And from what I just saw in there, you manhandled three archangels like you were taking out the trash. If I’m not the person you think I am, isn't that a big risk for you to take? Do you think it's a concern for the two warring parties?”

  “They aren’t worried about my duties. They know Death would be replaced instantly should something happen to me- the Beginning would make sure of that, even though that is strictly an assumption. They don’t, however, want another entity that can knock them on their prissy little asses when they get out of line. That would be you, Amara. You would be able to harness more power than any other being in the realms, including God or Lucifer. They would walk cautiously around you- just as they do me, now. Remember, I was created as a counterbalance to them both. The two factions would have to bond together to rival the power Death holds. Therefore, they hold no power over me, and none over you. As far as getting to know you and trusting you- if I were not 100% sure, I would have never brought you here. I know you, Amara. I know your heart.”

  His words warmed me and I knew he was speaking honestly. He was correct- I would never do anything to jeopardize him and I would never take advantage of whatever power I was granted. I witnessed people get lost in the ego trip of a job promotion or family inheritance and I always vowed to myself that I would never be ‘that’ person. I knew I could handle it, even if my comparing a pay raise to the power over life was a tad skewed. I would never give him a reason to regret giving me this second chance. “What would they have to offer me that would be worth the cost?”

  “It’s up to you, love. If you would like, I can arrange an audience with each side and you can ask questions and see what they have to offer. It would have to be here- my power is greatest in my home and I know I could protect you easily. Then, with all the options laid out, you can make your decision and decide which side you would
like to take.” He spoke kindly, but I could hear the tension mingled in his voice. I suddenly realized he misunderstood my question- he was assuming I was actually considering the other options. I meant that as a hypothetical smear, not an actual question.

  “Oh, I have already decided which side I choose. There is no question about it and I will not take no for an answer when I give my terms.”

  “Very well. Let me know when you would like the meeting arranged and I’ll see to the formalities.” He was still sitting on the floor below me, but his shoulders were now slumped forward and he stared at the empty crystal glass in his hand. I heard the slice of anger in his tone, but he was doing a damn good job at hiding it. Time to kick the man while he’s down. I wanted him to fight for me. I witnessed him standing toe to toe with three freaking angels; he wasn’t going to puss out on me now.

  “I will only side with the party which can convince me, without even trying, that I am destined for that future. I want the person I bond with to know I’m the one. Without question. I want an unequivocal conviction. If I wanted a pushover, I would ask to be returned to my ex- you remember, the spineless weasel who couldn’t even face me when I was sick and dying. I’m a stubborn, jealous, strong-willed woman and I expect the same from my mate. Someone who will stare me down, call me on my bullshit and stand up to me. Since you know everyone, do you have an idea who this might be?”

  Callon’s gaze met mine, his head cocked slightly to the side. His eyes were expressive pits of molten silver as he assessed me. “You do know what you’re asking for, right? I won’t take it easy on you, Amara. I told you I was giving you a chance to get to know me and understand this reality. Once you decide to step across this line, there is no going back. You will belong to me. Forever. And I will kill anyone and everyone who attempts to threaten our bond.”