Rogue Angel

by Stephani Hecht

That’s all I needed to hear. Just don’t break her heart or justice angels will be the least of you worries.

  “Take me home,” Ana murmured into his chest.

  Not your home, but home. He never thought something so simple could make him so happy. Appolion grabbed her by the hand and led her outside. As soon as they got outside he smelled it—decay. A demon was close, damn close. He went to signal Ana, but she waved her hand and made them both invisible to human eyes. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his Glock.

  One small foot solder demon was sniffing around their car. Drawn by their angel scent, it probably decided to investigate why they were mingling with humans. As soon as it detected their presence, it raised its spiked yellow head and roared.

  Appolion decided it wasn’t worth a bullet and tackled the demon instead. He easily took it down and pinned it to the ground. After a few good punches, he reached into his boot, pulled out a butterfly knife and buried it deep in the demon’s heart. It vaporized in a cloud of smoke.

  Appolion heard clapping and looked over to see Ana sitting on the hood of the car. Her long legs were crossed and she had the funniest look on her face. If he didn’t know better, he could have sworn it was desire.

  “I’ve never seen anyone fight better than you,” she said huskily, confirming his suspicions. “Believe me when I say I’ve been in countless battles and there has never been a male that made me feel the way I do when I see you fight.”

  Ana crooked a finger.

  Appolion instantly obeyed and went to her. She grabbed him by the front of his jacket and pulled him in for a passionate kiss. For once, it was her that took the lead, her small tongue tracing the outside of his mouth before it went in to explore. He slowly lowered her to the hood of the car and crawled up on it with her.

  Chapter Eight

  Appolion tore his mouth away from hers. “No, not here. You deserve better than the hood of some rental car. Let’s get home, we can finish this there.” He helped her down and put her in the passenger seat, then ran around the car and got in behind the wheel. No sooner had he shut the door then she was on him, nibbling his ear and kissing his neck. Somehow he managed to get the car started and on the road.

  Maybe it was the way that the dress had ridden up on her leg so high that he got an eyeful of her black silk panties. Or maybe it was because she was breathing in his ear and the combination of the heat and sweet smell of cake she was giving off drove him crazy. Whatever it was, at that point he came to a decision. He would confess everything to her first, and if she still wanted him, there was nothing that was going to stop him from taking her. He was willing to go back to Heaven and face the council, Michael and a whole slew of justice angels if that’s what it took. “There’s some things you need to know about me,” he said, even as he was pulling at the pins in her hair to free it. “They’re not good, you may not want this after you hear them.”

  “Did you kill any puppies?” She licked his ear.

  His gut tightened in reaction. “No, I left all the puppies alone.”

  “Then I don’t care about your past.”

  “Things were done to me when I was little. I don’t know if I can have a normal sexual relationship.”

  “I already know and I don’t care.”

  Her fingers ran gently through his hair. Appolion looked at her expecting revulsion to be on her face, but there was only love for him. “How did you know? I never told anyone, not even Rachael.”

  “After I found out what your brothers did to Rachael, I figured the same thing probably happened to you, too. Was it Douma and Forcas that hurt you?”

  “No, they preferred females. My father and his friends were the ones that liked male children.” Appolion didn’t want her pity, in fact he didn’t think he could stand it. As always, his little Ana didn’t disappoint.

  She gave a slight shove on his arm. “Do you blame Rachael for what Douma and Forcas did to her?”

  He shot her a stunned look. “Of course not, she was just a child.”

  “And so were you. I would never hold anything like that against you. We’ll just take everything one step at a time.”

  Stopped at a light, he pulled her into another kiss before he told her the next juicy tidbit. “After I grew up, I wasn’t exactly a choir boy either.”

  “Appolion, shut up.” Ana nibbled at his neck again. “Maybe Cam hasn’t told you, but I always get what I set out after and right now I want you. I love you and nothing you ever say is going to change that.”

  Her hand started to caress him through the thin fabric of his pants and that was all the permission he needed. Part of him was tempted to pull over, flash them both to his bed and leave the car behind. However, the long drive and the anticipation was the best foreplay he had ever had. Before he got her home, he intended to make her so hot she would beg for release. The light turned green. “Take off your stockings,” he told her.

  * * * *

  As soon as he barked out the order, Ana knew she pushed him to the point of no return. His eyes turned so dark they were about black and the look on his face was almost wild. Her heart galloped with excitement, fear and anticipation because she knew she was feeling the same way. If she didn’t have him tonight, it was going to destroy her.

  She slowly slid her nylons off, shocked that she was so aroused even her own hands sent chills of desire up her spine. As soon as she had tossed them aside, he hauled her back to his side and kissed her again, then turned back to his driving. He put his hand under her panties and caressed her.

  Ana buried her face in his neck and whimpered. How was it his touch could drive her so wild? He slipped a finger inside her. She gripped his shoulders tight and bit her bottom lip in order to keep from crying out.

  “That’s okay, baby,” he breathed. “Don’t hold back, I like it when you scream.”

  “Appolion,” his name came out as a moan, “no other male ever made me feel this way.”

  “Good, because then I would have to find him and go all Destroyer on his ass. You’re mine, don’t ever forget that.” Appolion finally pulled into the driveway, quickly shut off the car and got out.

  As soon as he opened her door, she threw herself into his arms, her lips finding his. They kept kissing, never separating as they stumbled into the house and to the bedroom. Somehow along the way, she managed to kick off her shoes and he got his jacket off.

  Ana pulled at his shirt, popping off buttons and tore it off him. She saw the tattoos on his right arm, one was his family symbol, two snakes face to face, their bodies spiraling up a long sword. It was surrounded by demons lettering, she wondered what it said but that question could be saved for another time. Right now she wanted action, not talk.

  She gasped in surprise when cool air touched her skin. He’d undone her dress and she hadn’t even known. Ana kicked it aside and pressed her breasts against his chest. The backless dress inhibited her wearing a bra so nothing stood between their skin. She buried her face in his chest and inhaled his warm spicy scent.

  Appolion lowered her on the bed and slowly trailed his hand up her stomach until he cupped her breast.

  When he took one of her nipples into his mouth and started to make lazy circles around it with his tongue, she nearly came off the bed. He pulled away just long enough to take of the rest of his clothes and her panties, then settled himself between her legs and hesitated.

  “Are you sure? After we do this there is no going back.”

  Ana was touched he still put her feelings first. “I never wanted anything more, please,” she said softly as she ran her fingers up and down his spine lightly. “Make me yours.” He slowly entered her, acting like she was made of glass. She dug her nails in his back to urge him on, but he still didn’t move. “Damn it, Appolion,” she yelled, frustrated by her unanswered needs. “I’m not a human female, it doesn’t hurt us the first time.”

  “But you’re so small and tight,” he argued.

  “No, we’re a perfect fit because
we were made for each other.” That argument seemed to agree with him because he thrust deep inside her. She screamed his name as he filled her, completed her. He moved in and out of her in a slow, steady pattern and it felt so good she wrapped her legs around his waist so he was even deeper inside her.

  “Damn it, Ana,” Appolion panted. “I’m going to mark you. I can’t help myself.”

  “I want you, too.”

  He placed his hand on the small of her back.

  Ana felt the welcoming heat coming from it. There was only the slightest twinge of pain as he bonded them together forever. He moved faster and faster and she arched up to meet him. He murmured something in her ear in the demon language, and even though it shouldn’t have, it sounded sexy.

  Her body clenched around him as she climaxed and she dug her nails even deeper into his back. After a few more thrusts, he groaned out her name and she felt his own release deep within her body. He collapsed on top of her, his rapid breaths soft in her ear. Ana allowed herself a satisfied smile. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine it would be this good.

  * * * *

  Appolion rolled off of her and twisted her to look at the mark. “Oh shit, Ana, I’m so damn sorry.” Crap, crap, double crap, he had gone and defiled her with a demon mark. The same tattoo his father forced upon him was now on his mate. Sick to his stomach, he sat up and put his head in his hands.

  “What?” Ana got up and tried to see the mark for herself. She twisted her body around without any success.

  If in a better mood, he might have laughed at the way she looked like a puppy dog chasing its tail. She finally went up to his dresser mirror and looked at it.

  “It’s so beautiful.” She caressed it.

  “Beautiful? Ana, it’s a demon mark.”

  “Sometimes you can be so dense.” She rolled her eyes. “Abdiel left the same mark on Gabi. She showed it to me.”

  “Are you sure?” He dared to hope.

  “Yes, when are you going to accept that you are just as much an angel as me?”

  She climbed up on the bed and hugged him from behind. He stoked her arm while he confessed, “I was so worried I was going to taint you.”

  “That’s not going to happen, so stop worrying.” She traced the lettering on his arm. “What does this say?”

  “I thought angels knew every language.”

  “Every language known to man,” she corrected. “This is demon, so I don’t know what it says.”

  “It says,” his breath hitched and he felt like an idiot for letting it still bother him after all these centuries. “It says, Property of Eurynome.”

  Her eyes flashed with anger. “That’s your father, isn’t it?”

  “He fathered me, but I wouldn’t call him much of a father.”

  “You just wait until I get my hands on that demon. I’ll destroy him myself.”

  He smiled a bit, it felt good to have someone upset on his behalf for once.

  “Besides, he’s wrong.” Ana snuggled deeper into his back, her full breasts pressing against him. “You belong to me, not to him.”

  “I love you, Ana,” Appolion shocked himself. He never let himself be this vulnerable before around anyone.

  She went very still. “You don’t have to say that just because we mated.”

  He turned around and pulled her into his lap, loving the way her soft rump felt against him. “I know, and I still love you. So much so that if you want, I’ll go back for you.” Appolion waited for the laughter or the rejection that was always dealt to him in the past. But she didn’t do any of those things. Instead she gave him a tender smile as she brushed back a lock of his hair that had fallen into his eyes.

  “Are you sure, Appolion? Because I would leave everything to be with you if you just wanted to run again.”

  “It’s time for me to stop hiding from who I really am.” He kissed her cheek, amazed with the wonderful mate he was blessed with. “Besides, I miss Rachael as much as you miss your brothers. I just have to get passed that damn council of yours.”

  “Don’t worry, Cam has some pull. He’ll help you and so will Michael.”

  “They might not feel so giving when they realize I marked you.” He rubbed her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb.

  She gave him that come hither look again. “Are all those rumors true?”

  “What rumors would those be?”

  “That male archangels can go all night long.”

  His body instantly responded. “I think I’ve created a monster. Cam said you were all uptight and proper, but I just don’t see it.”

  “That’s because you’re the only one I feel like I can be free around.” Ana shifted until they were face to face, her legs straddling him.

  When her center touched him, Appolion gripped her hips tightly and hissed in pleasure. He lifted her just enough to enter her.

  She threw back her head and her beautiful mass of golden hair caught the moonlight.

  “It’s a good thing we are immortal,” he whispered against her throat as he kissed it, “because I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”

  * * * *

  The next morning, he lay on his stomach on the bed and listened to her humming in the bathroom. They had both just finished taking a shower together following a, what he hoped was just the first of many, marathon sex session. Any worries he might have about being able to function during normal sex was wiped away last night.

  Appolion yawned as he smiled to himself. They had done things he never would have dreamed a female angel would do. Some of them she had even initiated herself. His little enforcer angel beat any succubus in bed any day.

  He glanced around the room and saw her things cluttered around. Yesterday, when they had gone shopping, she bought more than just the dress. She bought several bags worth of essentials. It was strangely comforting to see her belongings mixed with his.

  Ana opened the bathroom door and gave him a content smile. She was still wearing his Red Wings jersey to bed and he wasn’t about to deny her that pleasure. It gave him some sense of satisfaction, seeing her in his clothes. She started to walk toward him, her hips swaying sensually.

  His lustful thoughts were rudely interrupted when the bedroom window shattered as gunfire exploded through it. She quickly ducked behind the dresser for cover while he dove on the other side of the bed. Bullets rained through the house and she put her arms over her head for cover. His heart stopped when he saw the angel harness dangling from her wrist.

  Shit, he forgot to take off the damn thing and now she was pinned down across the room from him, unable to flash. One gunshot wound wouldn’t kill her, but the ammo the shooters were using would tear her apart if she got hit more than once. She was going to be destroyed and it was his damn fault.

  It’s justice angels, she sent, but I can’t tell which ones exactly. They’re doing something to block me.

  I know, sweetie, they’re doing the same thing to me. Just stay down, I’ll get to you somehow.

  She shook her head franticly. Just flash out of here without me, it’s you they’re after. They’ll have to let me go.

  Like hell, they’re shooting at you, too, in case you hadn’t noticed. He was already on the balls of his feet. We’re in this together from now on.

  Ana gave him a look of fear.

  That was all the incentive needed. Appolion launched himself in her direction. A couple bullets hit his back on the way over, but he barely noticed the pain because he was so relieved to have her in his arms. He ripped off the harness and tossed it to the side. “Oh God Ana, I’m so sorry.” He kissed her face repeatedly, just to reassure himself that she was all right. His hands shook as he brushed back her hair to see if she’d been hurt. “I’m fine, Appolion,” she reassured, even as the bullets flew by.

  “I can’t even stand the thought of losing you.” He held her so tight he must have been hurting her, but she didn’t complain.

  “I don’t like this one bit,” she had to yell to be
heard over the rounds being fired. “The justice angels aren’t out to capture you anymore, they want to destroy you. We need to find somewhere safe to hide while I get in touch with Michael so we can figure this out.”

  “Where do you suggest we do that?”

  “My brother Bear will take us in.”

  A bullet took out the mirror over their heads making a shower of glass fall on them. “How do you know your brother will even let me set one foot in his door? Last time I checked, he wasn’t too keen on me.”

  “He’ll do it because I told him to,” she said simply. “He knows if he doesn’t listen to me, I’ll kick his ass.”

  “Look Ana…” Appolion fell silent as her arms wrapped around him and she flashed them both out. They ended up in front of a large, rather normal looking house. They sat there for a minute, catching their breath, while the ringing gradually left their ears. Finally, he stood up and reached down to help her up, too. The movement made his back scream in protest. Now that they were out of danger, the adrenaline had worn off and he was feeling his wounds big time. Appolion kept darting glances around, half expecting her brother to attack him at any minute. But there was no Bear attack coming his way. The street and front yard were deserted and quiet. Eerily so, given the firestorm they had just come from.

  She brushed the glass out of her hair before gesturing to the house, game show hostess style. “Welcome to chateau Bear.”

  Chapter Nine

  Ana ran up to the heavy wooden door and pounded on it with her tiny fist. When it wasn’t immediately opened, she tapped her bare foot against the cement. A slight breeze came up and blew the hockey jersey around her long legs.

  Appolion leaned heavily on the door jam, trying hard to ignore the pain coursing through him. If he had to guess, he would say he had at least three gunshot wounds and, judging by the way his body was reacting, the bullets were laced with demon’s blood.

  Over the past three years, he had been poisoned enough times to know that he was about to get sicker than a dog. He learned that the hard way when the supply of antidote Gabi had given him ran out. He also knew since he was stronger than most angels, that as long as he found someplace to lie down and ride out the worst of it, he would be fine in a couple days. But if he didn’t get to a bathroom real soon, he was going to puke all over little Bear’s nice porch.