by Azure Boone
She looked around, a sweet smile tugging at her full lips. "This is a really cool apartment. Love the mirrors."
Everybody did. On the left and right of the garage door, the mirrors went from floor to ceiling the size of double doors. "Nice for working out."
She looked at him, curiosity on her brow. "You like to see yourself workout?"
Heat crawled up his neck. "Well, when you put it that way..." He shrugged a shoulder. "Guess I want to make sure I'm holding the right form."
She gave a light giggle. "Thought you liked admiring yourself."
"No, not at all." He didn't like looking at his face in the mirror if he could help it. Imagining his body belonged to somebody else was another habit.
"I'd get it if you did." She angled a cute smile at him and rubbed her palms on her legs.
It hit him like a slap in the face. He'd forgotten. She thought he was gay. No wonder she was being so free with him, so…available. Because she thought he wasn't.
Perhaps she wished he was available? He thought sure he'd seen such a look on her face and in her warm mocha eyes. Even now.
Chapter Eleven
Gay, gay, gay, gay. Jessie thought repeating the mantra would stop her from lusting after Lucian, but no success there. And what was that look when she woke up? As if he could devour her. The hunger in his eyes while staring at her body wasn't very…gay. Maybe he had a curiosity about women but never explored it? She sure didn't mind being a test subject for him. Jesus, Mary and Joseph he had her hormones roiling until a light sheen of sweat covered her body.
From the moment she walked up to his open door and saw him pumping that iron she'd been thrown off her little sensibility track. Standing there in black jeans and no shirt with muscles rippling under glistening caramel skin. And that tattoo! Oh. My. God. An angel in shades of black and gray draped over his entire shoulder, one broken and bloodied wing hanging over his chest, one over his back. The lines of the tattoo had been applied to emphasize the contours of his muscles. Gorgeous!
She couldn't lie, her mouth literally watered. She'd not wanted him to stop for the simple fact she wanted to continue getting an eyeful. Had she no shame? But what on earth for, looking at a hot gay guy?
Jessie jumped when her phone vibrated in her back pocket. She pulled it out and slid open the cover. The familiar number made her heart drop. "Oh crap, I forgot about the party!"
Jessie wasn't sure what to do, and having Lucian approaching her wasn't helping her train of thoughts. Shit shit. She did what her instincts said and answered the damn buzzing phone.
"Where the fuck are you?"
"I'm so sorry, I completely forgot all—"
"Forgot!"
Jessie turned around, and moved closer to the door and whispered, "Look, I'm sorry. If you need me to come…"
"I needed you here. Not coming. Look, never mind, I called Amanda and she's taking your place."
Pain stabbed her chest even though she didn't like the guy. She was just so sick of being thrown away for another girl. "Okay, fine."
He hung up on her and she lowered the phone.
****
It was that prick, Lucian knew it without knowing, he could hear the bastard through the phone, talking to her like a piece of shit. "Problem?"
She turned, and anger hardened his body at seeing the hurt in her eyes. Not just hurt, but the acceptance of that pain as normal, expected. But when he glimpsed her weariness over it all, it infuriated him. "Nothing." The word quivered as she lowered her gaze.
He moved closer until only a few feet separated them. What he wanted was to embrace her, she clearly needed it. "Nothing? Doesn't look like nothing. Was that the prick from the hospital?"
She looked around a bit then nodded. "Yeah." She cleared her throat. "Look, I think I'm going to um, head home."
He took a step closer. "Why?"
She looked up at him, barely able to hold his gaze, all the spark and life gone, sapped by that bastard. "Just think it's a good idea, I'm not…going to be very much help."
"I don't care, I want you to stay." Lucian's heart raced at the ballsy move and at the way she looked unsure and ashamed. She took a few steps toward the door and Lucian grabbed her hand. The second his fingers touched hers he knew he'd crossed a line. And once he was over it, there was only one way to move. Forward. He held her wide gaze and it was like looking in a mirror. A raw longing to belong, to be wanted. "You're too good for him. He doesn't deserve you."
Her eyes glittered with sudden unshed tears and his chest constricted. He pulled her hand a little and she went straight into his embrace. He held her gently and cooed to her while she cried, repeatedly stroking her silky hair then along her back. Her crying subsided but he didn't let her go, she felt good in his arms. Almost like he needed to soothe her as much as she needed him to. Maybe more.
But then it became about feeling her hold him. Feeling her warm fingers pressed into his back and her hot breath through his T-shirt. He went still when her lips pressed into his chest. Then he froze in sudden fear of what all could go wrong.
She pulled back. "God, I'm…I'm sorry," she whispered, spinning away.
Lucian quickly caught her arm and pulled her back. "Please don't leave." He sounded as desperate as ever and she was suddenly back in his arms, warm hands pressed again into his back. He liked it. She wasn't like all those other women he'd forced himself to be with for the sake of fitting in. And as she looked up into his face, her innocence stole his breath. Her sweet sincerity and purity.
His heart raced, pounding in his ears as her gaze lowered to his lips. The silent invitation tightened the intimate connection, and he pulled her closer. The feel of her soft breasts against his chest, her hands caressing his back, all brought on a voracious need to press his lips into hers, taste her sweetness, devour her vulnerability.
He stroked her chin with his thumb, letting her see the need in his eyes. His need to comfort, adore, and protect her. The pink shimmer of her lips was the only thing in his world then, and he barely noticed her lips coming closer, that he was moving to claim them. Her eyes fluttered shut and he paused briefly, relishing in the beauty of her eager surrender and trust. He slid his fingers along her cheek and when her lips parted, he very softly pressed a kiss onto her perfect mouth.
The supple surrender of her full lips and her light whimper did things to Lucian he'd never experienced before. A bold desire ran through his blood, hungry and possessive, wanting to claim her as only his. He pushed her mouth open a little, needing her to feel it, needing to share it, praying she'd say yes to him.
He'd never had his prayers answered so fast.
With a small cry, Jessie wound her arms around his neck and opened to him. The eager way her tongue sought his set fire to his blood and body. She felt and tasted amazing and his hands roamed over her, wanting her entirely, all at once.
The only thing he heard was the mingle of their gasps and moans as they fought to taste more, faster, their hunger becoming more lethal with every second. He slid his hand eagerly over her side and hip and she gasped when he pressed her into his arousal. She slid her leg up along his and he curled his fingers around it and pulled it up higher, trying to get her as close as he could.
"I guess you figured out I'm not gay?" His breath stirred the hair by her ear and made it tickle his nose, inspiring him to let his lips glide over the sweet shell of her ear.
She pressed closer, rising against his erection with another sharp intake of breath. "I sorta guessed." She rained little kisses along his jawbone and sighed with satisfaction as she let her teeth gently scrape over his skin.
Lucian turned to meet her kiss-swollen mouth, ready to ravage it with his desire. For the first time in his life, real passion flamed through his blood and made love-making a pleasure rather than a chore to be endured.
He suddenly froze at the sound of hissed whispering but then it stopped almost the second he'd picked it up. Jessie clawed at his neck, her need seeming to rage higher. He paused, reali
zing he wanted to go slower with her. No regrets. He gradually pulled up until his kisses were feather soft. "Not fast. Not with you," he whispered against her lips, "never with you."
A throat cleared and Lucian spun with Jessie in his arms and went rigid. He stared. He blinked. Jessie's gasp and her nails digging into his back confirmed that he was not hallucinating.
"Now?" A beautiful man in brilliant light blue clothing snapped the question to a giant man in red clothing who rolled his eyes. Eyes that appeared to sparkle like gems. Red gems.
Jessie and Lucian stood frozen while the two strange men from nowhere discussed something in hushed whispers. Finally the red giant spoke. "I know this must be very, very strange for the two of you. I'm going to try and make this the least insane sounding as possible, but, be prepared for it to likely not work." He touched the blue man with a hand. "This is Dorn, and I'm Kassern. We're both angels."
"Archangels," the blue man corrected.
Lucian was suddenly spellbound by the man's ice blue eyes and spectacular features. The surreal apparition had him reaching into his pocket for the scapulars, the only weapon he had that might do him any good. But Lucian only experienced shock and maybe awe, no fear.
"Can't we use the animus imperium to just get them to cooperate?" The blue man regarded the Lucian and Jessie like they had sprouted a few extra heads.
"Not until after phase two," the red one said quietly.
"May I speak plainly, human?" the blue man asked.
Lucian's mouth felt cemented. The blue stranger was addressing him. Speak plainly? Human? What was one to say for such a thing? Lucian nodded.
"We're here on an important mission and what I need from the two of you is—"
"Dorn," the red one cut in, clearly annoyed. "How many times do I have to say it? This cannot be rushed, or you will compromise the triumvirate before you ever form it."
Enormous wings erupted behind the blue man and Lucian jumped back with Jessie. "Holy shit," Lucian whispered over Jessie's oh my God, oh my God mantra. Light tinkling filled the air as the massive icy blue jeweled wings fluttered above and behind the man.
The red man shook his head. "Traumatizing them could cost you time."
"I don't have a lot of time."
"Exactly, so, don't waste it by doing something foolish. Their psyches aren't made of steel, and you need them intact, so do what you have to but no more."
Lucian finally found his voice, not liking what he was hearing. "What…what are you talking about? If this is about penance for sin, use me, but leave her out of it, please."
"I need the two of you," the blue giant began again. "Satan has found a deviation, an opening of sorts, in the human genome. He is exploiting it to build an army of mutated beings, using human and animal DNA, and demonic spirits. And the only way we can fight them is here on earth, but in order to do that we have to create a warrior that can fight in this realm, on their turf."
The enormous men just stared at them now, as though holding their breath, waiting.
Lucian for some reason believed them, one-hundred percent. He looked down at Jessie to see how she was faring through this freak breach of sanity.
She cleared her throat a little. "What do we do?" The worry in her voice gave Lucian his answer. She believed him too.
Was this a dream?
"You're not dreaming," the blue man said.
"Shi-shoot." He'd read his mind? Lucian was as close as he could get to terror but still on the totally blown away side.
"The passionate kiss you just shared allowed me to appear to you and now I need—"
The ruby man held up a hand in front of the blue one. "Slooooow," he reminded. "This part…needs to be very slow."
"How can a kiss…do that?" Jessie said with a quivery voice.
"We've chosen to form our warriors using two humans in love. The spiritual energy in love and all its counterparts—including passionate kissing—possesses the keys to the most potent power on Earth. We are using the union of two people in love by which to form the warrior."
"Love?" Lucian frowned and glanced at Jessie. "But…how?" What he felt for her… That might be love.
The blue man regarded the red guy briefly, looking a bit bereft. "Can't your humans explain it to them?"
"If your humans agree before understanding, yes."
The red man's tone said that would be highly unlikely and he was correct. How could they agree to anything without knowing?
The aquamarine looking man sighed deeply, clearly unhappy, and his friend raised both hands. "I can't either, you have to. It's your triumvirate."
****
Dorn never imagined in all his angelic years that he would shy away from any task. If ever there were a perfect exception, this was it. Discussing the particulars of coitus with humans was bad enough, but being forced to use fluffy ambiguity instead of unembellished communications went against a deeply grooved grain in his approach to tactical combat. It was sinister enough to be forced to flit around like a delicate butterfly on this cesspool of a planet and using dysfunctional parts to build a twelve man army for taking down a numberless mass of anonymous evil.
He took another deep breath, organizing his speech to accommodate his indirect approach. "The…your… kiss provided the power I needed to appear to you, to take physical from. But to form or create the warrior, I'll need…something greater than a kiss."
He watched to see if they might understand what was necessary from that information. Perhaps they were mentally inadequate? He studied the male, trying to read his thought processes from his expression. Of course he could just listen to his mind but sifting through the detritus of human supposition was more than he could handle at the moment.
The male's expression said he was trying to reason out what more than a kiss might be, and doubting his conclusion. He didn't want to guess aloud, in case he was wrong. His glance at the female showed his concern over whether she thought the same thing, and if she found the prospect distasteful. Or if she were as eager to proceed as he was.
Chapter Twelve
Lucian was shocked to hear Jessie speak so calmly. "Can we talk? In private?" she asked the angels.
"Of course." The red giant spoke while the blue angel looked like she'd uttered words in an unknown language. "We'll be right outside."
They watched the men walk out the door like normal people would. When it was shut, Jessie pulled on his shoulders frantically. "Oh my God, Lucian, is this really happening?"
He stared down into her face and immediately her lips reminded him of that kiss. "It seems like it."
She peered around him then whispered, "Is he saying he needs us to…you know…"
"Have sex?"
"Yes!" she cried.
Lucian couldn't help but cringe a little at her we're doomed tone while his heart raced in contemplation of such a thing.
"And you can feel it too can't you? How they're not lying? And I should totally be freaking out but like my body just isn't? Are you—is that what you're feeling?"
He released an astonished breath at exactly how right that was. "Yes."
Then it happened. The locked stare that said what they couldn't verbalize but both wondered. Do you want to? It was followed by a deafening silence in her eyes at first. Then Lucian recognized what he was seeing. Her fear. Of rejection.
Lucian didn't know what the hell to think. This was insane. "For scenario's sake Jessie. If what he's saying is what we think he's saying and the fate of the world rests on our shoulders, then…yes. I would do this with you, of course."
Her brows drew together. "And if there wasn't a gun to your head? Would you?"
Oh shit. "I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry." He stroked her cheek with a thumb wanting to erase the hurt from her face.
She stared at his mouth and swallowed. "Well…just so you know…" she nodded her head. "So would I."
Her words were like an electrical zap to his insides. "And if…there wasn't a gun pointed at your he
ad?"
She chewed her bottom lip then bravely met his gaze. "Most definitely."
He laughed with the excitement/relief/sickness that overcame him while pulling her into his embrace. He gave in to the urge to taste her lips again with absolute reverence and tenderness. "Me too," he whispered against her lips.
Her hand found his and she laced their fingers tight while she kissed him back with a promising sweet passion.
"Have we gone nuts?" she whispered.
"Maybe," he whispered back, lost in the feel of her silky lips sliding against his.
"I hope not." Her words nearly croaked with emotion.
"Why?"
She suddenly captured his face with both hands and devoured his mouth with a thrilling hunger, giving her answer between breaths. "Because I want this to be real."
****
Sally battled the butterflies in her stomach that kept insisting she run instead of sit there calmly on the couch, waiting, with her little black canvas duffle bag of white cotton underwear. Was she really doing this? Joining a convent?
It meant a big change. Could she actually go through with it? If it meant being able to sleep a whole night through without waking up crying from nightmares of her father's hands where they didn't belong, then yes. Yes, she could do anything to escape that hell.
Jessie had surprised her as they said their goodbyes before she'd left for work, hugging Sally tight and wishing her well. Something was different about Jessie, something good. Curiosity urged Sally to ask about the new glow in her sister's cheeks, but she'd lost the privilege of sharing such things long ago. Just one more regret to carry with her, and hopefully make atonement for.
An unfamiliar vehicle pulled into the driveway. Sally stood and grabbed her bag when the horn sounded. One last look around at the room that was still almost exactly as when her Aunt May lived there. One last moment of regret for the little sister she hadn't treated as well as she should have. A quick glance confirmed the house keys lying where she'd told Jessie she would leave them, atop the heavy walnut TV cabinet. Careful to lock the door behind her, she left her sister's house.
