by Jackie Ivie
Wow.
This must be the sensation called awestruck. Nobody needed to describe it to him. He was getting a crash course. She had eyelashes to die for. Lush. Dark. Her eyes were narrowed as she glanced up at him, but then she quickly looked down. Toward his upper chest or thereabouts.
He only got a glimpse, but her eyes looked as black as pitch. Impossibly deep. Completely unfathomable. And wholly unique. They added immeasurably to the whole package. She was all kinds of sexy and a thousand percent stunning. A waterfall roared through his head. He gave an involuntary whistle. It wasn’t loud but it was stupid timing. She jerked slightly, slid her eyes to his again, and then looked back down.
And that’s when he knew. Exactly then. He didn’t just want her. This was an emotional thing. And it was massive. He blinked quickly again. She still blurred for a second or two.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I should have warned you.”
Adam cleared his throat. He still sounded like he was chewing on rocks. “You’re way too late for that, babe.”
“I am?”
“Oh. Jez. Please. Cut me some slack. I can’t think, okay? I can barely breathe here. You are beyond gorgeous. You know that?”
Her lips twitched as if she fought a smile.
“So. Hey. I don’t know what the penalty is for what I’m about to do. And I don’t care. It’s gonna be worth it.”
“W-w-what?”
The word carried a stutter. Adam swallowed. Hard. “I think...you’re gonna have to be the one putting the brakes on, Jez. If that’s what you want.”
She gasped as he took another step, closing in. Looming over her. She was so amazingly beautiful! Incredibly perfect. Unbelievably feminine. It wasn’t possible to ignore any of it. Her denims hugged curvy hips and legs, while that tank top of hers! Adam almost whistled again. Her tank top showcased breasts that begged a touch. Taste. Full-on adoration. She was visibly trembling. Adam eased an arm about her back where Gareth had supposedly seen wings. The guy had been on ecstasy or something.
Jezebel was all woman.
And all real.
Adam put his other hand beneath her chin and lifted her face. Her eyes were closed, the lashes dark against her cheeks. Her lips looked to be a dark rose shade. Beautifully full. Absolutely perfect. She had them pursed slightly. His heart hammered as he moved his arm away to wrap it about her other side, moving slowly...ever so carefully. Every muscle pushed at his restraint while his mind fought for control. He’d never done anything this cautiously. Instinct drove him. He knew this kiss would be beyond precious.
Infinitely so.
Time slowed, and then stopped altogether.
Their lips touched. Sparks shot outward from the spot, heating everything in their path. The space jumped all about them with multi-colored bursts of light. An electrical-level current sent tingling through his flesh. She moaned so softly it was barely audible. His pulse sang. His heart did antics within his chest. His breath caught. The very air sizzled all about them. And then she slid her hands up his arms, wrapped them about his shoulders...and stepped into his embrace.
Her softness reached him.
Adam groaned. His arms tightened, lifting her fully against him. And that’s when the earth shifted.
CHAPTER TEN
She shouldn’t.
They couldn’t.
This was contrary to everything she’d been indoctrinated on. Centuries ago. But the sensations stirred by Adam’s kiss defied explanation. And then they defied her. Nothing stopped the tumultuous passions engendered by the connection with this man’s lips. It was a throbbing presence that sizzled. Caught fire. Became a whoosh of flame-like heat. And then it grew. All manner of sparks spread through her entire body. Tightening her throat first. Kicking at her heart. Heat spread through her belly. Flickers pulsed down her arms. Legs. This was hopeless to fight. Impossible to stop. It overrode any objection. Obliterated any thought of consequences. Canceled every protest. And then it overwhelmed.
Before reason and responsibility returned, she needed more. Lots more. And she needed it now.
Right now.
Each breath kindled. She pulled in air. Shoved it out. Each breath came hard. Rapidly. Her mouth opened. His tongue slid between her lips, and then it touched hers. Jezzie jumped slightly in surprise. Wonder. And liquid enchantment. She followed his lead. Breaths intermingled. Tongues tangled. He growled something. She answered in kind.
Jezzie pulled her arms from around his shoulders. The move separated their forms slightly, but not their lips. She wouldn’t have disconnected that for anything. Adam’s kiss was beyond heady. It was pure addiction. Jezzie slid her fingers along his chest. Adam was encased in clothing, making a tactile force she needed to attack. And then subdue. His jacket had been crafted of differing bands of dyed leather. She’d barely noted it earlier. It was well-crafted. Stitched together with vicious efficiency. Embossed with more stitching. Hard and slick to touch. She found the zipper pull at his throat. Lifted it. Then yanked it down his front, opening leather, so she could delve beneath it.
Adam froze for the slightest moment, and then everything got more heated and harder somehow. He yanked an arm from his coat. The other arm came out with the same type of move. The jacket fell with a swish of sound, barely heard above the growling sounds he made, and little moans that could only be hers. Muscles bunched and quivered as she touched, hardening against her fingers before jittering away.
His lips moved and he slid a trail of heat along her cheek…to her ear. His tongue outlined her lobe. Touched the sensitive skin beneath it. Along her neck. Sparks shot from the spot.
“Oh, Jez. Jez. Hmm. So sweet. So…hot.” He punctuated each sentence with a movement, pulling his t-shirt from beneath his waistband. Maneuvering his arms out. Making all manner of gyrations before lifting his head away and yanking the garment off. And then he snagged her gaze with eyes almost as dark as hers.
“You got a bed, babe?”
“Platform.” Was that husky whisper really her voice?
He lifted a brow and tipped his head to one side. “Any bounce to your platform?”
Jezzie blinked. “I don’t know.”
“I was joking, love.”
Love?
Oh my.
He didn’t give her any time to assimilate the word! He gave her a wink, dropped a kiss to her nose, and lifted her. Cradled her against him. Smashing her breasts against all kinds of hard male. His mouth found hers again, and oh! The man’s kiss was incendiary. Heat shot outward from the contact. It encased her. Sent her pulse racing. Her heart to a thunderous pace. Her ability to breathe was completely missing.
She didn’t know how he found a bedroom. She didn’t care either. Every cell that was connected skin-to-skin with him sent white bursts of heat and light. They flicked about, before sizzling into nothingness. The same sense of gray-toned dimness permeated the room, yet nothing about this was neutral. The area pulsed with light. Radiated warmth. Emitted an undercurrent of sound akin to a drumbeat. Low. Barely heard. Throbbing as if it shivered through a stretched drum skin.
They had his answer about the platform. It hadn’t much bounce and a minimum of padding. The surface barely moved as Adam settled her onto it. Almost reverently. He didn’t join her. He stepped back instead. She heard the sound of a zipper. Watched as he peeled his fly open, and then he just stood there. Shadows sculpted the man into a masterpiece. Jezzie licked her lips. She’d only had one experience at this. Centuries ago. With Caleb. In the dark. But she’d seen statues. Ancient Greek ones. Some sculpted during the Renaissance period. She’d been curious. And then she’d grown bored. Despite glowing words, males weren’t beautiful, and they didn’t possess much that would give what was termed sexual satisfaction.
Oh.
That was wrong.
Adam hadn’t even unrobed fully, and he already surpassed anything she’d seen or imagined. He wasn’t cold hard marble. He was flesh and blood, and breathing heavily, putting
all kinds of definition on display. Just for her. He wasn’t watching what he did, either. His gaze was focused entirely on her. Jezzie arched her back instinctively. His reaction was instantaneous. And visual. Adam jumped slightly. His chest turned a ruddy shade. It leached downward, coloring the rope-like bulges throughout his belly.
“Um. Jez?” He stilled beside the bed.
“Yes?”
“You okay with this?” he asked. “I mean, I’ve never done anything like this before.”
He raked a hand through his hair ruffling it. That was unbelievably arousing. Jezzie’s entire form pulsed oddly. Erotically. Stirringly.
How amazing.
“Crap. I mean, I have done this before. It just never felt so...different. You know. Special. You are the hottest thing imaginable. I’m having all kinds of trouble with it. I want you, babe. You have no idea. But...I’m feeling things I can’t even explain. I mean, look. Just look.” He stuck his arm out toward her. “I’m shaking. How bad is that?”
Jezzie shook her head. He didn’t seem to note it.
“I never expected...I never even imagined anything like—! Uh. Yeah. I didn’t even bring protection. I don’t have an STD or anything, but do we even need it? Oh. Double-crap. What am I saying? You’re an angel. Like...a real one! And that means...um. Well. It means I shouldn’t be here. And I definitely shouldn’t be thinking what I am, let alone doing it. Oh. Jez. This is really messing with my head. I’ve never felt so weird. I mean, listen to me. I sound like an idiot.”
Jezzie sat. Rolled to her knees. She pulled the tank top free of her pants first. Slid a shoulder free. Then the other one. Lifted the garment over her head before dropping it off the back of the platform. She glanced down. She was wearing an ordinary unpadded brassiere. Comfortable. Utilitarian. This particular undergarment was off-white shaded. It didn’t even have adornment. Or underwire. It was rather mundane.
How unfortunate.
She had all manner of fashion available to her. Special, cleavage-enhancing bras. Corsets that trimmed her waist and elevated each breast. Garter belts and thigh-high, lace-edged stockings. She hadn’t worn any of them in years. Adam made a choking sound. Jezzie glanced up. He hadn’t proceeded further with his undressing. He wasn’t moving. Not even to breathe.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Oh. Wow.”
He mouthed the last word. Heat spread up her throat. Claimed her cheeks. The sensation felt odd. Alien.
“Oh. Jez. Jez. You are so gorgeous. And I’m talking major league here.”
She didn’t recognize the terminology, but the tone was unmistakable. Her blush got hotter. She looked away with a hint of self-consciousness. That felt even stranger. So did the room. It might still be a bland color scheme with an unremarkable design, but everything had a heightened intensity to it. The space was imbued with light. The impression was so vivid, she could actually see it.
“Oh, honey, please. Don’t stop now. I mean—here. I’ll go first.”
Jezzie heard the swish of fabric. Looked back toward him. Watched spellbound as Adam yanked one leg free of his trousers, then the other. The man was unbelievably male. He wore tight-fitting black briefs that didn’t disguise much. The garment defined and enhanced. He might as well be framed.
“Wait. Wait. I just had a thought, and—. Um. You...aren’t a virgin, are you? Oh, shit. I mean shoot. I want you so much...it’s turning me into a dunce! I mean, how can I even ask that question?”
He smacked his hand to his forehead and turned away. He’d been right. He was definitely shaking. He’d also dropped his head, and had his arms scrunched close to him defensively. It didn’t alter the view much. He was incredibly masculine. Muscles were bunched in knots and bulges throughout his form as he just stood there. Hiding.
“Adam?”
He turned his head toward her and opened his fingers to peek in her direction. He wouldn’t meet her gaze, though.
“I am not a virgin.”
He turned fully to her and uncovered his eyes as she stumbled through the rest of the words.
“And...I want you, too.”
Almost instantly, everything on him changed, as if a restraint had released. Jezzie had barely enough time to gasp as he hooked his thumbs beneath his waistband. Her breath was still held as he shoved the briefs down his legs, turning them inside-out in the process.
Oh my!
She may have been with Caleb, but it had been little more than a quick session in the dark corner of a stable. Fairly painful to her recollection. And only now, did she see why. The images of male nudes she’d viewed weren’t any preparation. They were minuscule in comparison. Her vision flew from what he’d revealed back to his face. Despite the lighting, her eyes went painfully wide. She put both hands atop her mouth to cover the reaction. She must have made some sound, however, because Adam stopped with one leg lifted to pull his foot free. He looked over at her. Froze in place. And that delineated everything on him again.
“Jez?”
Her answer wasn’t decipherable as much. She moved her hands away from her mouth before trying again.
“We...still okay?”
She cleared her throat. Made a squeaked sound. Settled for nodding.
“You certain?”
She nodded again.
He set his foot down. Faced her. Without one stitch of clothing on. Jezzie blinked several times in succession.
“You’re looking kind of shocked. Maybe even...scared? I should feel flattered, but, um. I’m a little concerned. You sure this is okay?”
Yes.
Jezzie opened her mouth to reply. Nothing came out. She had to settle for another nod.
“And...you’re sure about the virginity part? What am I saying? Angels can’t tell lies. Can they?”
Jezzie glanced down at his erection again. Jerked her gaze back to his face. This time, her cheeks burned with the blush.
“I need some help here, Jez. If making love to you is okay...what’s wrong? Something awful isn’t going happen afterwards, is it? I mean you don’t disintegrate, or something drastic, do you?”
“Why would I?”
Adam took a deep breath. That was incredibly visual. Entirely sigh-worthy. She knew. Hers was audible.
“I don’t know what I’m saying. Or doing. Okay? I’m reaching here. If you’d have asked me about angels two days ago, I’d have told you they were fairy-like creatures with big, honking wings. They decorate headstones in cemeteries. Churches. Nativity scenes. Stuff like that. Now? Um. I’m actually here – wherever here is. And I’m with a real angel. Getting ready to, uh...yeah. And you’re acting kind-a...I don’t know. Odd? What am I saying? You’re not supposed to even exist. How would an angel act in this situation?”
“I don’t know,” Jezzie whispered.
He blew a heavy sigh. Everything flexed on his frame. She didn’t bother hiding the sigh this time.
“We can still stop this, love.”
Love.
There was that word again, coming through his lips without a hint of hesitation. She knew he didn’t mean it. He couldn’t. Nobody fell in love so quickly or easily. Jezzie counseled herself, and yet her heart reacted with a decided thump.
“I mean...it won’t be easy. Trust me. I’m burning up brakes on an engine stuck in full-throttle. But I can do it. I’d never do anything to harm you. I promise.” He bent forward and snagged the waist of his undergarment as if to pull it back up.
She had to stop him!
Jezzie was beside him without thinking it through. Her palm connected with his belly. Adam jerked, whether from the speed of her arrival, or her contact with him. She didn’t know or care. The muscles of his abs bunched and tightened beneath her fingers. Warming. Tingling. Sending messages outward from the spot. Her breasts got zapped with a tangible current. Shivers erupted. Her nipples went to hard darts of sensitivity against the cotton lining of her bra. It itched. Annoyed.
Tormented.
He stood back up slowly to
look down at her. Locking gazes. Oh! He had the most amazing eyes! Soulful. Deep. Incredibly clear. Sparkling with energy. Passion. Life. Jezzie stared into them for long moments. Completely enrapt.
“You can’t stand this close, Jez. Unless...?”
He left the sentence unfinished.
“I did lie to you, Adam. Earlier. I am not a guardian angel. I am...what is called a dark angel.”
“Dark angel? Whoa. That sounds really...uh. Yeah. You were already hot, babe. But I think you just managed to multiply it.”
“As a dark angel...I have failings. These include the ability...to lie.” Her cheeks started burning again. She fought the impulse to look away. Hide. She’d never told a soul about that night with Caleb. “But I was not lying about my maidenhood. I...had an experience.”
“An experience? As in one? Uno? Singular?”
His brows lifted. His eyes widened. A shaft of light lanced through the dark brown of his irises. And then it immediately disappeared. If she hadn’t been gazing into his eyes, she’d have missed it.
“Yes.”
“Truly? That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“That’s...um. Wow. Kind-a unbelievable. The guys must have been blind. Deaf. And completely numb. Just once, huh?”
“I don’t recall much about it.”
“Oh, boy.”
“But I don’t remember there being so much talking to the act.”
Adam pursed his lips, and then he grinned. “I’m in agony, and you’re making jokes,” he told her.
“Agony?” She didn’t have to pretend confusion. A niggling puzzlement invaded, causing a frown as it battled all manner of other sensations.
“Remember that full-throttle thing I mentioned?”
“Yes.”
“Forget it. How about I just show you?”
He swung an arm about her and yanked her into full contact with him. She’d seen his nakedness. Now she got to experience how it felt. Everywhere she touched felt like flesh-covered steel. Hard. Massive. Immensely exciting. She didn’t just lose her breath this time.
