by Diem, J. C.
I had no idea what was going on, but I knew it was leading to something important. Nathan walked to the end of the hall and unlocked a door. Pushing it open, he gestured for me to enter. I did so and took in the plush, comfortable furniture of a living room. The carpet was the same shade of dark blue as his eyes. Cream colored sofas and chairs were arrayed around a fireplace. The wallpaper was silver and had an antiquated pattern that was quite charming. There were no photos, but there were several paintings of landscapes on the walls.
“Is this your home?” I asked in astonishment. I knew Tudor City was his favorite neighborhood in New York, but I hadn’t realized that he actually lived here.
“Yes,” he replied then shut and locked the door. “I have been trapped on Earth for four thousand years and I have amassed quite a bit of wealth during that time. I own properties in several countries, but this is my favorite place.”
Leaving the living room, I explored the spacious condo. The kitchen was large and the appliances were gleaming, if a bit outdated. Nathan had been watching over me for the past eighteen years so he hadn’t had much of a chance to redecorate. Besides, he didn’t need to eat, so cooking wasn’t something he needed to worry about.
There were two spare bedrooms that were currently empty of furniture. When I came to the master bedroom, I was surprised to see a king sized bed, a chest of drawers and a walk in closet. Turning to Nathan, my eyebrows rose. “Why do you have a bed if you don’t need to sleep?”
“The bed is a recent acquisition,” he replied and his nervousness returned. Running a hand through his chin length hair, I saw a flash of his toned stomach and my mouth went dry.
“Why did you buy it?” I asked bluntly. Nerves made my stomach flutter when his expression changed. Desire rose in the cobalt depths of his eyes.
“You know why,” he said huskily. “Even though Fate has been keeping us apart, I knew we would one day be joined together in the way we have both been longing for.”
He stepped towards me and I didn’t back away. I’d been dreaming about being with him ever since I’d first seen him in the flesh, but I’d never thought it would ever happen. “What about God’s rule that angels can’t use their vessels to mate with humans?” I said breathlessly.
“Without my grace, I am not technically an angel,” he countered. “Right now, I am as close to being a normal human as I will ever get.”
My heart began to thud hard and fast as he took my hands and entwined his fingers with mine. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” I asked in desperate hope.
“Be with me,” he replied softly. “For just one night, I want us both to forget about our problems. I love you and I want you to be mine.”
He bent to kiss me and I took a step back. “Wait,” I said.
Disappointment filled his face. “Do you not want us to be together?”
“Of course I do. I’ve been trying to get you naked for over a year,” I said with a wry grin. “Every single time we’ve come close to this, something has interrupted us.” Taking my cell phone out of my pocket, I sent a quick message to Reynolds asking him to tell the others that we’d be back tomorrow and not to worry about us. I could have sent the message to Elijah, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. They’d figure out what we were up to quickly enough. Sending a message to a priest that we were taking a break so we could consummate our relationship wasn’t going to happen. Switching the phone to silent, I put it in the chest of drawers to be safe. “Now no one can call us and shatter the mood,” I said.
Nathan smiled, which made my heart flutter even more. “None of our friends or allies are aware that I own this place. I would be very surprised if anyone interrupted us this time.”
“If they do, I swear I’ll stab them with my dagger,” I joked, but part of me meant it. We’d literally been through hell together. We deserved to have some time to ourselves, even if it was just for one night.
₪₪₪
Chapter Twenty-Four
Instead of kissing me as I expected, Nathan stepped into the bathroom. Curious about what he was up to, I followed him inside and watched as he began to fill the tub. My face flamed when I realized it was big enough for two. “Are we going to, er, do the deed in the tub?” I asked.
He sent me an assessing look. “I had not planned on it, but I would not say no if this is what you wish.”
It dawned on me that the bath was to soothe my aches and pains when we were done for the first time. I was a virgin and there was bound to be some discomfort involved. Looking over my shoulder at his pristine cream coverlet, I made my decision. “Let’s use the tub.” His eyebrows rose and a small smile played about his mouth. “You’ve never done this before,” I added. “Do you even know what to do?”
It was a challenge and he knew it. “I am sure I will be able to figure it out,” he said wryly. “Do you want bubbles?”
I nodded and he moved to the vanity and took out a bottle of bubble bath. He poured a liberal amount into the water and it instantly began to foam. My nerves grew as the water level rose. I’d wanted this for so long and now the moment had almost arrived.
When the bath was three quarters full, he switched the faucets off. Silence descended as he turned to face me. He was just as nervous as I was. This time, I wasn’t filled with his grace to the point where my ability to reason had fled. We were both fully aware of what we were about to do.
Nathan watched as I unzipped my hoodie and dropped it to the floor. He copied me and stripped off his sweater. He wasn’t wearing a shirt beneath it and his beautifully sculpted body instantly captivated me. I crossed the small distance between us and placed my hands on his abs. His muscles tightened in reaction and a heady sense of power swept through me.
His finger came beneath my chin and tilted my head back. His mouth met mine and I was lost. I didn’t feel the unholy lust that Zach had incited within me. It was the usual bliss that I felt whenever I kissed my guardian. It was magical even without his grace infusing me.
His hands went to the bottom of my t-shirt and I broke off our kiss long enough to lift my arms. He pulled the shirt off then gazed down at my scarred body. The ugly red mark that peeked out from beneath my bra on my left breast didn’t repel him. The scar on my stomach was white rather than black now, but it was still thick and unsightly.
He ran a finger across the mark lightly and I shivered. I no longer had a Wraith Warrior inside me to react to the sensation. That reminded me that I wasn’t alone in my head. For all I knew, Heather and Sam could be sitting on Raziel’s couch, looking through my eyes right now. I could almost see them side by side, sharing an imaginary bowl of popcorn while they watched the show.
“Hang on a second,” I said and closed my eyes. I almost heard groans of disappointment when I erected the strongest mental barrier possible. “There, now the spirits in my head can’t see what we’re about to do.”
Nathan’s eyes widened fractionally at that. “They can see what you do?”
“Only when I’m in situations of high stress, or desire in this case.”
His lips twitched in amusement. “Then I am glad you are able to block their attempt to spy. This should be just between us.”
His mouth came down on mine again and he pulled me in close. I went up on my tippy toes until we were chest to chest. His hands went behind me and undid the clasp of my bra. He pulled away slightly and looked into my eyes. “Are you sure you want this?”
“More than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life,” I replied adamantly.
He peeled the straps off my shoulders and I allowed my bra to drop to the floor. He sucked in a breath then startled me by picking me up and sitting me on the vanity. Standing between my legs, he bent down and his lips closed over my breast. I made an involuntary sound of pure pleasure at the sensation of his tongue on my flesh.
“Are you sure this is your first time?” I asked breathlessly when he switched to my other breast and gave it the same lavish attention. “You’re ver
y good at it.”
“I am following my vessel’s instincts,” he replied with a wolfish grin. “This body seems to know what to do.”
The soul that had resided inside his body had died long ago, leaving him the only presence inside it. Nathan become entwined with his vessel the same way an imp did, but he hadn’t become twisted and hideous. He’d instead become a hybrid human/angel. We were more similar than I’d realized and it was only dawning on me now how closely matched we were.
Nathan lifted my leg up and slid my boot off, then repeated the action with the other leg. I clasped the edge of the vanity when his hands went to the button of his jeans. He stared at my bare breasts as he unzipped them and pushed them down. He wore black boxer shorts that he slid down with his jeans. Stepping out of his clothes, he straightened up.
Now it was my turn to stare. He was perfectly proportioned, but fear shot through me. He looked too big to fit where I knew he intended to go. Before my fear could overwhelm me, he stepped forward and kissed me. His hands slid down the back of my jeans and I pressed myself against him. His tongue caressed mine and he drew me forward so I could slide my legs around his. I could feel his desire for me pressing against my stomach and I suddenly wanted us to be joined with an overwhelming need. Pushing him back a step, I slid to the ground and went to undo my jeans.
“Let me,” Nathan said huskily. He knelt in front of me and his knuckles grazed my stomach as he undid the button. He unzipped my jeans and drew them down. His palms slid down the backs of my thighs all the way to my ankles. I steadied myself with my hands on his shoulders as he helped me to step out of them. He looked up at me and his eyes darkened even more with desire until they were nearly black rather than blue. “You are so beautiful,” he said with such longing that it made my heart ache.
“Make me yours,” I said and it came out as a plea.
His hands skimmed back up my legs until they came to my undies. He drew them down to my feet and helped me to step out of them. His eyes swept from my toes up to my face then back down again, lingering on the places that longed for his attention.
Instead of standing, he leaned in and placed a kiss on my most intimate place. I gasped in reaction and almost stepped away. His hands came around my thighs to hold me in place as he explored me with his tongue. I made a strangled sound as pleasure instantly began to build inside me. I’d never known I could feel anything like this and my hands tangled in his hair.
Just as I was about to explode, he pulled away and stood. I was in a daze and I didn’t resist as he sat me on the edge of the tub. He knelt between my legs, pushing them open so I was exposed and vulnerable. He positioned himself until I felt him brushing against me. My body clenched in reaction. “This might hurt,” he whispered.
I sucked in a breath when I felt him slide into me. There was a moment of pain then all I could feel was his length and breadth inside me. I wasn’t prepared for it when he drew back slightly then thrust with his hips. My hands went to his shoulders and gripped him hard. I tucked my face against his neck. He was breathing hard and he was holding himself in tight control as he slid in and out of me faster and faster. “Are you alright?” he asked hoarsely. “Does it hurt?”
“No. Don’t stop,” I said in a strangled voice. The pleasure that he’d brought me with his tongue had returned. I felt like my body was on fire from the inside. His hands cupped my backside and he picked me up and lay me down on the cold tile floor rather than stepping into the warm tub. I didn’t care where we did the deed, just as long as the pleasure continued. He took my breast into his mouth and thrust into me again. My back arched and I wrapped my legs around his as he increased his tempo. It was even better in this position. I loved the sensation of his body sliding against mine and his weight holding me down.
Holding onto his hips, I rocked in time with him as the sensation of bliss built inside me. He increased his speed even more and his breaths were coming hard and fast. “I love you, Violet,” he whispered in my ear and I shattered into a million pieces as he pushed me over the edge.
He groaned when he felt me spasm around him. Then it was his turn to find utopia. “I love you, too, Nathan,” I said when he slumped against me. We lay on the chilly floor, which should have been uncomfortable, but somehow wasn’t.
There was no place I’d rather be than with him right here and right now. I was with the man of my dreams and I’d been given a glimpse of heaven while I’d been in his arms. We both knew this couldn’t last forever. But tonight, we would explore each other and indulge in our forbidden love.
₪₪₪
Chapter Twenty-Five
Nathan’s idea to run the bath had been a good one. It did help soothe my aches and pains, but we splashed a lot of water and bubbles around when we engaged in our second bout of sex. Afterwards, we cleaned up all the signs that he’d divested me of my innocence and headed for the bed.
He was insatiable, but I finally managed to get a few hours of sleep and woke up with a huge smile. “Now I won’t have to die a virgin,” I said to Nathan. He lay on the bed beside me wearing nothing but a grin. He’d watched over me as I’d slept, like he’d done so many times before.
“I am happy to be of service, milady,” he said and picked up my hand to kiss the back of it.
“I can think of a few services you can provide,” I replied slyly. He might not have as much experience as most modern men, but he was incredibly inventive.
He rolled me onto my back and worked his way down my body until he was exactly where I wanted him to be. We’d discovered each other’s most erogenous zones and knew how to give each other pleasure. I knew we’d have to return to reality soon, but for the next couple of hours, we became lost in bliss.
Knowing we couldn’t stay in bed all day, I invited Nathan into the shower. We both knew this would be our final ever session of love making. He was slow and gentle this time. I could feel his pain that we could never be together like this again. I was glad the water masked my tears of sorrow. While I wanted him to have his grace restored, it would break my heart in the process. When he became an angel again, he would be forever out of my reach. My kind were despised and he would become an outcast if we continued our relationship.
Nathan called my name when he reached his peak. I knew he loved me as much as I loved him. I went over the edge of ecstasy and held my guardian tight as we both shuddered in the aftermath of pleasure. “Thank you,” I said and gave him a final kiss.
“For what?” he asked with a small smile.
“For loving me enough to risk God’s wrath by being with me.”
“It was worth it,” he said. “If losing my grace means I can be with you like this, then maybe I should not ingest my essence at all.”
That shocked me enough that I unwrapped my legs from him and slid down to the ground. “You have to take your grace back. You’re my guardian. Who else is going to be able to keep me alive?”
“Once you have your soul back, you will not have death circling you,” he pointed out.
“Does that mean you can retrieve my soul if you don’t have your power?” I asked in hope.
Seeing the flaw in his logic, he sighed in defeat. “No. I can only retrieve it with my special ability.” I knew the one he was talking about. He could reach across an unknown distance to retrieve something if he knew exactly where it was.
“Then you have no choice,” I summed up. “You need your grace to be able to get my soul back.”
He took my hands and simply stared at me for a while as if he was memorizing every inch of my body. I did the same to him, drinking in the magnificent view of the man I loved. I would never feel this way about anyone else. I couldn’t imagine doing the things we’d done with any other man. It was inevitable that I would spend the rest of my life alone and lonely.
“We should get going,” I said at last and with great reluctance. “The others will be worried about us.”
Nathan nodded just as reluctantly. We rinsed ourselves off then
stepped out of the shower. Nathan had a change of clothes in his chest of drawers, but I had to make do with my outfit from yesterday.
My stomach was rumbling, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since last night. Nathan didn’t have any food in his kitchen, but I’d worry about eating after he was back to his usual self.
We left his condo and he hid the key back in the maintenance closet. Wanting our closeness to last, I linked my fingers with his as we took the elevator down to the ground floor. The rush hour was over, so the street was fairly quiet as we walked past the park that Leo had dropped us off at last night. We took the stairs down to the street below. The portal lay next to the stairs that led to the second park.
Nathan couldn’t see the portal and I had to guide him over to it. Looking around to make sure no one was watching us, I stepped through and drew Nathan in with me. The damp walls closed in around us and Nathan shuddered to be back here again. Yellow lichen spread like a disease over the black volcanic rock. The stones beneath our feet were cobbled and uneven. Mist swirled around our ankles.
I’d witnessed demons vacating their vessels in a portal. Their essence hadn’t been drawn inside me, so Nathan should be able to ingest his grace without me accidentally hijacking it. We just needed to move deeper along the passageway until it would be safe for him to release his grace.
Taking the lead, I walked to roughly halfway along the portal before stopping. Nathan halted as well and took the vial out of his pocket. The brightness of his grace was almost blinding in the gloom. I mentally crossed my fingers that nothing would go wrong as he removed the lid. The grace spilled out and hovered in the air in front of him. Sensing Nathan, it glided over to him and sank into him.
Closing his eyes, Nathan went still as he assimilated the essence that had been forcibly removed from him. When he opened his eyes again, blue light blazed from them. His triumph only lasted for a moment before he doubled over in pain. Steam began to rise from him and I knew I had to get him out before he burst into flames.
