Touch of the Angel (Demons of Infernum, #3)

by Rosalie Lario

  “You know I feel the same, my love.”

  His words took her breath away, because she knew without a doubt that he meant them. He loved her.

  “I love you too, Ronin.”

  His jaw dropped and his eyes widened, but the blazing light in them said it all. When he tried to tug her back into his arms, she resisted. “I want to show you how much. Will you let me touch you? Love you?”

  Red colored his cheeks, and he nodded.

  She slid from his lap and tugged his shirt off, then tilted his head back so she could press kisses to his eyelids, cheeks, and mouth. His lips parted under hers, and she couldn’t resist sliding her tongue inside, mating her mouth to his. He groaned and tried to wind his arms around her, but she forced them back to his sides. “I’m touching you. You sit still.”

  “You’re going to kill me,” he said, but the glimmer in his eyes indicated he very much liked this game.

  She made a trail down his body with her fingers and mouth, stopping to swipe her tongue over his nipples. When he jumped, she let out a low laugh and continued down his smooth chest, sliding her tongue around his belly button, then lower, to where a light dusting of hair disappeared into his jeans. “These definitely have to go.”

  “I agree.” He practically tore the button off in his haste to undo the fly, and after unzipping them, lifted his hips to help her yank his jeans off his body. His boxers went with them, leaving him gloriously nude.

  As always, the sight took her breath away. Ronin was a man made to be admired. To be worshipped. To be loved.

  She wrapped the fingers of both hands over his erection, guiding it into her mouth. Even if she hadn’t loved doing this—which she really, really did—she would still have done it to hear him make those animal sounds deep in his throat. Cool energy thrummed off his body, sending a pulsing beat between her thighs. Clenching them together, she concentrated on fitting as much of him as she could into her mouth.

  His intoxicating fragrance made her mouth water and her legs shake. She alternated swiping her tongue over the tip with sucking him into her mouth, until his whole body trembled from the force of his passion.

  “You’re gonna make me come,” he groaned, trying to drag her head away.

  She drew him out of her mouth long enough to say, “That’s the general idea.”

  When she sucked him back in, he gave up control and lost himself to the power of his release. His hands tightened around her and he pumped hard into her mouth. The taste of his essence—like a fresh spring with an added bit of spice—washed down her throat, making her so hot she followed him into a climax. She cried out around his thick length and continued to work him until she’d swallowed every last drop.

  He tugged her up, closing his arms around her and lying back onto the bed so she was draped across his chest. “I don’t think they’ve even invented names for the things you can do with your mouth.”

  “It’s because you’re so inspiring,” she said, mirroring his words from a few days before. He laughed and held her to him for several long minutes before he rolled her onto her back and started tugging her sweater up.

  “What are you doing?”

  “You have to ask?” He tugged her leggings off next, leaving no doubt as to what he had in mind.

  “And here I thought we’d actually be getting some rest,” she murmured.

  “That was your first mistake.”

  She laughed, but then he slid her legs open and buried his face between her thighs, and her laugh turned into a moan. His tongue flicked her clitoris, then laved at her seam. And he’d thought she was an expert with her mouth? The things he could do should be illegal.

  She lifted to her elbows and watched him move, playing her body like an instrument. His dark hair teased the flesh of her inner thighs, racking her body with shudders. When he grasped one of her legs at the knee and lifted it slightly so he could repeatedly flick his tongue inside her, she surrendered to another mind-bending climax.

  He didn’t give her a chance to recover before he rose up and positioned himself between her legs. One long thrust, and he was fully seated within. She arched her back and cried out at the feel of him.

  “I love the way you sound when you come,” he whispered into her ear.

  “You must. You seem hell-bent on having me do it at least twenty times a day.”

  He laughed and leaned down to slant his lips over hers, his tongue mimicking the slow pump of his cock. He drove into her for what seemed like hours, until every nerve in her body was alight with sensation. Just when she feared she couldn’t take any more, he increased the tempo, sliding out to the very tip and then plunging back in. Going harder, deeper, until the bedsprings squeaked from the force of his rhythmic thrusts.

  “Oh yes,” she moaned, raking her nails down his back. “More.”

  “Kiss me.” He tugged on her hair so her mouth lifted to his. Then he proceeded to kiss the breath out of her, until at last she tore her mouth away to gasp for air. Her teeth chattered and her whole body shook, but still she wanted more of him. She’d never get enough.

  “Don’t ever stop fucking me.” She pressed down hard on his ass, trying to fit him deeper into her. The raw, animalistic sound of her voice surprised her. Like she was someone else. Someone who lived for nothing but the here and now, nothing but the piercing pleasure of his body slicing into her without mercy.

  “I don’t plan on it,” he growled against her ear. He lifted off her, but before she could complain, he flipped her onto her stomach and straddled her, cupping the globes of her ass so he could slip between her slickened folds. The position tightened her womb, and he pushed in slowly, letting her feel every inch of his long, thick cock. He was so aroused, so big, that part of her was amazed she didn’t shatter into bitty pieces. She arched her back and squeezed her legs together, lifting her hips to accept more and more of him.

  “Yes, like that.” The muscles of his thighs tensed against her body as he started a slow, grinding rhythm, filling her deep before sliding most of the way out and doing it all over again. He kept the tempo, pumping her hard and steady, until she had no choice but to erupt once more. Dropping her head, she clawed at the sheets and let the blinding force of her orgasm wash over her.

  The muscles in Ronin’s body strained with the effort, but he kept with his slow, heavy strokes. His deep plunges racked her body with intense shudders, making her wonder if she could splinter apart from the sensation. It was too much. Not enough. She didn’t even know what she felt anymore.

  “Come with me,” she cried.

  “Not yet. Not yet.”

  When she braced her hands on the bed and pushed upward with her hips, urging him to take her harder and deeper, he let out a hoarse shout. Wrapping her hair around his hand, he held her imprisoned while he thrust in and out of her with increasing ferocity. Claiming her in a way that went beyond animalistic. Beyond spiritual.

  She screamed when another orgasm struck her with all the force of a speeding train, knocking the breath out of her and washing a haze of black over her vision. Only dimly was she aware of Ronin yelling, of his body tensing above her. He released deep inside her, but he continued to fuck her senseless. Pumping harder and harder, until she had no choice but to go over the edge once again.

  Later, she realized she must have lost consciousness, because when she came to Ronin lay collapsed, half on and half off her. The tip of his softening arousal still filled her. Every now and again his cock let out a throbbing pulse that matched the one between her thighs.

  She was beyond spent, her body far more used than it had ever been in her life. At the same time she felt sated and strong. It was mind-numbingly wonderful.

  Ronin groaned and flipped onto his back, sliding off her completely. “You okay?”

  “Can’t. Move,” she mumbled into the mattress. “Thi
nk I’m dead.”

  He let out a hoarse laugh. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You can. Repeat. Whenever you like.”

  His face sobered and he turned onto his side, then started rubbing her back. “I love you, Amara. Whatever happens tonight, we face it together.”

  He was worried. With reason. Asmodeus had tricks up his sleeve they had no clue about. He was beyond dangerous.

  They might not survive tonight.

  “Together,” she agreed, curling her fingers over his free hand.

  As long as they had each other, it didn’t matter how much longer they had to live. She would treasure every moment with him.

  §

  At five minutes to midnight, Dagan stood in the foyer of Keegan’s apartment, anxiously awaiting Lina’s arrival. Everyone else was already in the living room, including Bram and Reiver, and they were all going over their plan of attack. After hanging out at the far end of the living room, he’d snuck out here when no one was paying attention.

  Okay, he was being a total dickwad, but something about the angel drew him to her. From the few moments he’d spent in her presence, he could tell she was strong, tough, and decisive, but had a soft core she tried to hide. And he liked it.

  Maybe he was only fantasizing about her because she was smokin’ hot, and a full-blooded angel to boot. There weren’t too many of those wandering around in the city. But no, he thought the real reason might be the wild-child nature she exhibited. Who had ever heard of an angel mercenary before? Angels were known for their calmness and compassion. Sure, Ronin wasn’t always like that, but he was only half angel, and his demon side far outweighed the angel half.

  Lina didn’t follow the rules, and that, more than anything, made him curious as hell about her.

  Dagan crossed over to the intercom right next to the door, grateful there was one in every room. He pressed the button and spoke low. “Tony, has she arrived yet?”

  “A few moments ago, Mr. Meyers,” Tony answered. “I sent her and her companions up, as you directed.”

  “Thanks.”

  He took his finger off the button and waited. After a few minutes, he heard the whisper of a sound outside the door. Dagan opened it before anyone could knock.

  Lina stood on the other side, surrounded by four huge dudes that made her seem petite, even though she had to be at least five-feet-nine-inches tall. She wore the same outfit as before, except she’d thrown a leather motorcycle jacket over it. Even though it was zipped to her neck, he could see the outline of her figure underneath. High, firm breasts and a small, trim waist. Yeah, definitely hot.

  She cocked a brow and subjected him to the same scrutiny. “I see the resemblance, but you look very different from your brother. What’s your other half?”

  “Siren.” Her words surprised him. People usually thought he and his brothers looked a lot alike.

  “Ah, siren.” The corners of her mouth ticked upward the slightest bit. “One of the most sensual of all species.”

  The soft cadence of her voice sent an unexpected tremor of awareness through his body. She must have noticed it because she stilled. For one moment, something inexplicable passed between them. But then she resumed her professional demeanor once again. “Everyone ready to go?”

  Dagan nodded. “They’re in the livi—”

  “Lina.”

  The sound of Ronin’s voice made Dagan pause. He turned around to see Ronin at the entrance to the foyer staring at Lina as if he still couldn’t believe she was there.

  “It’s Iolina,” she said, as if she wasn’t fighting a losing battle with that one. Already, Dagan thought of her as Lina.

  She motioned behind her. “These are my men, Ace, Kip, John, and Sam.”

  “Pleased to meet you,” Ronin said. “Come into the living room. We’re going over everything now.”

  Lina brushed past him, followed by her posse. Dagan closed and locked the door, turning in time to see the heated glare Ronin gave him. It appeared his big brother hadn’t missed his interest in the angel, and Ronin didn’t like it one bit. Dagan was certain Ronin was going to ream him about it, but in the end Ronin left the room. His silence said everything as clearly as his words would have, though. Lina was off-limits.

  As if he didn’t already know.

  Feeling properly chastised, Dagan crossed into the living room.

  Keegan stood by the bar, addressing everyone in the room. “We don’t know whether the sword will destroy the entire shield or create a hole in it, so we’ll plan on sticking together in case we need to hack our way through.”

  Lina smoothed a hand over her hair. “How many men will Asmodeus have on the inside?”

  Amara answered. “Usually no more than a handful. Two bodyguards, a servant, and a few assistants. Then he has six succubi. Well...five, I guess, excluding me.”

  “That’s not a lot.” Ronin came to a stop beside Amara. “Do you think he’ll have hired anyone to protect him since he knows we’re hunting him?”

  Amara shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “We’re sorta flying blind here.” Taeg rubbed his hands over his face. “We’ve got no clue what he can do.”

  “That’s a chance we’ll have to take.” Keegan picked up his glass, chugged the last of his whiskey, and set it down. “Let’s go.”

  Everyone rose and started moving toward the entranceway. Careful to keep his gaze off Lina, Dagan started to turn.

  “Keegan,” Brynn choked out, her voice fearful. She rushed over to him and threw her arms around him, the brave mask on her face threatening to crumple.

  “I’ll be okay. Promise.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

  “You better be. If you get yourself killed and I have to raise this baby alone, I swear to you I’ll stomp on your grave every chance I get.”

  Dagan’s chest tightened. In all the craziness, he hadn’t stopped to think how hard this must be on Brynn. She had to stay here while everyone she loved went off to fight in a battle, one in which they didn’t even know the stakes.

  “I wish to hell I could go with you,” Brynn said. “I could help.”

  Keegan rubbed her stomach. “You can’t. You have to keep the baby safe.”

  “I know.”

  The defeated sound of Brynn’s voice sparked an ache in Dagan’s throat. “There’s a good-sized number of us going. Maybe you should stay here,” he said, knowing all the while that asking Keegan not to go was like asking him not to breathe. Freaking impossible.

  As expected, Keegan shot him a glare. He hooked a finger under Brynn’s chin and forced her to meet his eyes. “I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, don’t stress yourself out. You know it’s not good for the baby.”

  With one last, passionate kiss, Keegan drew away. “All right everyone. Time to get this over with.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  The block that housed Asmodeus’s residence seemed eerily quiet tonight. A light snowfall had started sometime during the night, peppering the sky with white flakes that melted as soon as they touched the ground. What should have been a beautiful sight seemed strangely foreboding. Ronin knew it was probably only in his head, but it didn’t make the situation any less discomfiting.

  After parking their cars a few blocks away, they gathered at the darkest corner. Not exactly inconspicuous, but there wasn’t much they could do about that. He surveyed the crew of people: Lina and her men, Bram, Reiver, and his brothers, along with Maya and Amara. These people were here for him. Sure, Lina claimed it was only for the money, but in his heart he knew she wasn’t being truthful about that.

  They could have all waited to take Asmodeus down. Technically they should have waited for the Council’s orders. But it would have destroyed Amara to sit back and do nothing. That wasn’t an option. So they had all taken this
leap. For him. Faithfully and without question.

  “I want to say something.” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. “Thank you for standing up with me. I appreciate it, more than you know.”

  Dagan, who stood the closest to him, squeezed his shoulder. “You know it. Besides, what else were we going to do tonight?”

  As Ronin laughed, Amara slipped her hand in his. Her eyes were large and shiny in the harsh, artificial lighting of the streetlamps. “Thank you. No matter what happens, remember I love you.”

  Ronin squeezed her hand and pressed a kiss to her lips. “And I you.”

  He heard Lina’s indrawn breath and glanced over at her. Something in her eyes was soft and vulnerable, but then she noticed him watching and the mask of indifference crept back onto her face. “Are we gonna stand here all night playing kissy-face?”

  “No.” Ronin reached into the oblong bag slung over his shoulder and pulled out Excalibur.

  “That’s the legendary sword?” Lina asked, her brows furrowing.

  Ronin couldn’t blame her for being skeptical. He had been too the first time he’d seen it. Though the sword of Merlin had clear magical powers, it appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary sword. Not even any ostentatious jewels to decorate the hilt. “Believe it or not, that’s it.”

  Lina shrugged and unzipped her jacket. To his surprise, she wore two belts slung crisscrossed over her shoulders. They held a multitude of small daggers.

  “Oh, shit.” Dagan stared at the weapons on her chest. Or, who knew, maybe right at her chest.

  That uncomfortable feeling hit Ronin again, the one that told him to warn his brother away from his adopted sister. He ignored it. For now. Definitely not the time.

  “Let’s go.” Ronin walked toward the shield, testing its location. He got no more than a few feet before he came to a sudden stop, as if he’d walked into an invisible wall. Reaching his hand out, he pressed into the unseen barrier.

  Taeg stepped up beside him. “Go for it, bro. I’ve got your back.”