Rage and Redemption

by Cyndi Friberg

  Naomi raised her head, no longer surprised that someone had responded to her thoughts. Elspeth stood before her—yet it was not Elspeth. This woman’s hair was a vivid shade of red, her eyes a brighter blue.

  Tugging off her veil, Naomi dried her face with the soft linen. “You are a friend of Gideon’s as well?”

  “As well as Daniel, aye. But do not dare connect me in any way with Domieno.”

  “Do all of you…?”

  “Survive on human blood?” she finished.

  “Aye? Do all of Gideon’s friends survive on human blood?”

  “Nay. Gideon is the only one. Our abilities and our torments are uniquely our own.”

  Naomi struggled to her feet. “What do you want? Is Elspeth your name?”

  “I’m known by many names. Most often I’m called Alyssa.”

  “Why pretend to be a servant?” Her breath shuddered as Naomi gradually regained her composure. “What do you want from me?”

  Alyssa moved about the room, lightly running her fingertips along the tabletop, the back of a chair until she stood next to Naomi. “Why must I want something? Why can I not have something for you? Or for Gideon?”

  Naomi said nothing. She recognized the mischievous gleam in Alyssa’s eyes. These rebel angels loved to twist words and manipulate meanings.

  “Gideon loves you.”

  “He told me,” Naomi said stiffly.

  “I don’t think you understand what that means. Gideon has set aside his bitterness. He has subdued the darkness within him and allowed himself to feel—love.”

  “What would you have me do?” Naomi flared.

  “Accept it. Embrace it.” She paused. “Return it. He needs you, Naomi. More than you can possibly understand. Gideon needs your love.”

  “Or he will Fall.”

  Alyssa didn’t respond.

  “Will Domieno return?” Naomi asked with a violent shudder.

  “Gideon will do his best to keep him away but it’s a possibility. Domieno is desperate. That alone should tell you how far Gideon has come. He has sacrificed so much for you. It’s time for you to prove yourself worthy of him.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Accompanied by Karl and Will, the day’s rotation of her personal guard, Naomi strolled toward Monthamn Major. She’d not seen Gideon since her disconcerting conversation with Alyssa three days past.

  Was he avoiding her? Giving her time to sort out her feelings or…

  I love you, Naomi.

  The echo of his tormented words cut through her other thoughts, causing her steps to falter.

  It’s time for you to prove yourself worthy of him.

  “Where are we bound, Lady Naomi?” one of her guards asked. He was a lanky lad with shaggy brown hair and sharp gray eyes.

  Thankful for the distraction, she said, “To the parish church.” She silently struggled to remember if he were Karl or Will.

  “Father John will come to the castle to hear your confession, my lady. You need not have troubled yourself,” the other guard told her. Older and more muscular than the lad, his dark hair was neatly trimmed. The shade of his eyes was more blue than gray but Naomi wondered if they were kin.

  “The sun is shining, the breeze is mild and I can smell baking bread. This is no trouble, I assure you.” She averted her gaze and then asked, “So, Karl, are you two kinsmen?”

  “Aye, my lady, Will is the youngest of my four brothers,” the older man answered.

  Naomi smiled. Problem solved.

  “Don’t let my youthful face mislead you, Lady Naomi. I’m fast with a sword and can ride like the wind,” Will said.

  “Those with impressive abilities don’t need to bring them to the attention of others.” Karl glared at his brother.

  Naomi chuckled softly, enjoying their banter.

  The parish church sat in the center of the village, an ostentatious peacock surrounded by humble wrens. Heavy round arches inset with zigzagging chevrons drew attention to the massive, iron-banded door. Why did this church look forbidding, as if it were built to hold the world at bay?

  “Shall we?” She climbed the steep stone steps and Karl heaved the door open for her.

  The faint spice of incense teased her nose. Naomi drew her cloak more tightly around her. Should a church feel this cold? Her eyes quickly adjusted to the dim interior and the chill seeped clear to the marrow of her bones. Everywhere she looked her gaze met the unmistakable gleam of gold. Tall, branched candle stands, a jeweled goblet, communion platter…while the orphans starved in the forest!

  She must calm down. If she saw Father John, she would claw his eyes out. Dragging slow, deep breaths into her burning lungs, she moved toward the nearest wall.

  A large scene depicting the Garden of Eden had been painted directly on the stones. Shrubbery concealed Adam and Eve from the waist down and Eve’s long hair protected her modesty. Eve held an apple toward Adam and a serpent twined around the branch of a tree beside her. The figures were correctly proportioned and positioned realistically but there was no life, no inspiration—no illumination.

  Everything in this church was flat and lifeless.

  Shaking her head sadly, she moved on to the next scene.

  “May I help you?”

  Crushing handfuls of her skirt beneath her cloak, Naomi turned to face Father John. “I was admiring your church.”

  Even in the dimness, his dark eyes gleamed. “The church belongs to God and I to the church.”

  “The church belongs to the people as should you.” Naomi heard the restless shuffle of Karl and Will behind her. If she attacked this pompous ass, would they restrain or assist her? “Is it not a priest’s sworn duty to meet the needs of the people in his parish?”

  His hand closed around the golden cross suspended from his neck. He took a slow step toward her, making the difference in their height more apparent. “The people in my parish want for nothing. They are well fed and happy. If you have something to say to me, Lady, then say it.”

  “Are the ruins of the old manor house in your parish?”

  Father John buried his hands in the loose sleeves of his robe. His throat work as he swallowed and his nostrils twitched. She took a step closer and demanded an answer with her hostile gaze.

  The orphans were well guarded, safe beyond this person’s reach. Would he betray his guilt by word or deed? If he thought to harm Jack—let him come! Daniel waited for just such a move.

  “Do not believe everything that…creature tells you.”

  “Which creature might that be?” she asked. “The lad not yet in whiskers, who has taken on your responsibilities?”

  “Jack lies, my lady,” he said calmly.

  His nonchalance made her furious. She wanted to jump on him and tear his face to ribbons but that would not help the orphans. “Fine. I will judge the situation by your information. Was the care of the orphans entrusted to you?”

  “Aye, but I—”

  “Just answer my questions,” she cut in, and he glared at her. “Are you aware that thirty of the orphans under your care are currently living in the forest with no adult supervision and only the—”

  “That is not my doing!”

  Karl and Will stepped forward, one on either side of Naomi, each with his hand on the hilt of his sword.

  Father John cleared his throat and continued in a more respectful tone. “Jack convinced the orphans to flee into the forest with lies and half-truths. I dragged them back twice before I gave up and left them to their own devices.”

  “And why would Jack feel compelled to flee into the forest?”

  The priest shrugged and spread his hands, but his dark gaze shifted away from her. “The child has a rich imagination. He concocted all manner of intrigues. According to Jack, I sold the children to the devil himself in exchange for riches and power.”

  “Odd, the stories he told me were not nearly so dramatic.” She crossed her arms under her cloak and studied his ruddy face. “I will not waste my time listeni
ng to you refute each of Jack’s tales. I need only know one thing.”

  “How refreshing.”

  Karl stepped forward with obvious menace. Naomi laid her hand on his arm. “Is the Bishop of Chichester still compensating you for the care of the orphans?”

  The twitching in his nostrils intensified and a vein in his neck began to pulse. “That is Church business. None of your affair.”

  * * * * *

  Gideon paced Naomi’s chamber, feeling trapped and torn. Alyssa told him Naomi would return soon from her trip to the village but he’d never excelled at patience.

  He’d stayed away from her, hoping time would allow her to see beyond her fear. But he sensed no stirring, no softening in her attitude. He was open, utterly vulnerable to her rejection. If she turned from him now…

  The door opened and he turned, his heart pounding in his throat. She moved into the room and closed the door. She stared at him with wide, luminous eyes, but it was only when her chin began to tremble that he realized she was fighting back tears.

  Rushing to her, Gideon wrapped his arms around her, holding his breath until she melted into his embrace.

  “The world is so confusing,” she whispered, her warm mouth moving against his throat. “I think evil is just as easy to find in humans as it is in your rebel angels.”

  He eased her away from his chest, needing to see her face. “Of what do you speak?”

  “Father John is supposed to be a man of God, but he has allowed horrible things. I want him punished. Can you make that happen, Gideon? Can you see that he pays dearly for the things he’s done?”

  Before he could answer, she continued. “I think Frederick is Jack’s red-haired man. Jack saw him the day I arrived at MonthamnCastle. He probably heard news of my coming and ventured to Monthamn to question the priest.”

  “That would make sense.”

  “I hate them,” she said. “With every fiber of my being, I hate them. I know it’s wrong, that we are called to forgive, that vengeance belongs to the Lord. But I hate them.”

  He wiped her tears with his thumbs and kissed her gently on the brow. “Daniel has a talent for extracting information from unusual places. I have asked him to investigate—”

  “Then who is guarding the children?”

  Smiling at her vehemence, he assured her. “I altered the rotation of your personal guard. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

  Her gaze turned thoughtful, speculative. “There was a different guard there when I left. I just thought Daniel was sleeping.”

  “Daniel seldom sleeps,” he said. “He is ruthless once he has committed himself to a cause.”

  “And has he committed himself to this cause?”

  “Aye. As have I.” He kissed her softly, pouring all of his newfound tenderness into the caress. With great reluctance, he pulled away. “I want this settled, Naomi. I need to know I’m welcomed here.”

  “Welcomed?” She smiled and traced his mouth her fingertips. “I welcome you. I long for you. I want you, regardless of how irrational that desire may be.”

  Gideon framed her face with his hands, jealous of the thin material that separated his skin from hers. “Can you accept my love, knowing what I am?”

  “I accept it eagerly and return it wholeheartedly. Gideon, I love you. Even knowing what you are, I love you.”

  Her mouth was parted and waiting when he kissed her again. He traced her teeth and the velvety recesses with hungry abandon. She arched into him, stroking his tongue with hers.

  All too soon passion burned through his gentleness, making him restless and wild. He drew back, closing his eyes and panting harshly.

  “Don’t hide yourself from me. For the first time there is nothing between us, no secrets, no shadows. I love your wild heart. Your passion thrills me. Love me.”

  Dark hunger raged in response to her words. He pressed his forehead against hers and drank in her scent. She touched his hair, brushing his temple with her thumb.

  “I didn’t think it was possible to need someone so badly.” He spoke quietly, keeping his eyes closed. “I didn’t realize how black the darkness had become until I saw your face. I will never let you go, Naomi. I cannot live without you.”

  “Then don’t try.” Raising his face until their gazes met, she said, “I love you. Come what may, I love you.”

  Her arms circled his neck and he molded her body against him. They sank to their knees together, clinging to each other. Keeping her anchored with one arm about her waist, he removed her veil.

  “Take down your hair. I want to feel it all around me as I move inside you.”

  She reached for the end of her braid as he stood to quickly shed his clothing. By the time he stood before her naked, her thick chestnut hair spread all around her in rippling waves.

  Naomi sucked in a ragged breath. Every sculpted contour of his body beckoned her attention. The breadth of his shoulders demanded appreciation. His wide chest made her palms itch. Long and strongly muscled, his legs promised power and aggressiveness. Naomi felt her skin burn as if she had tarried too long in the sun.

  “Let me touch you,” she whispered. “I need to touch you.”

  He didn’t reply. Moving closer, he kept his hands at his sides. Naomi still knelt but it felt right. She wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his abdomen. He shook, his hands raised then lowered again to his sides.

  She understood the gesture. He offered her control and she didn’t hesitate. Stroking his back and exploring the hard curves of his buttocks, she kissed her way across his abdomen. The heat of his flesh and the taste of his skin excited her as nothing had before. He had used his mouth to pleasure her and this was just as thrilling. He gasped and groaned beneath her lips, her willing captive.

  His shaft jerked between her breasts and Naomi eased away, her hands lingering on his hips.

  “Do it,” he murmured, his tone harsh and needful.

  She looked up into his eyes. Already they glowed. Curiosity won the battle with her hesitation. Dragging one hand across his hip, she curled her fingers around him and squeezed. His hand covered hers but she frowned up at him. Immediately his fingers fell away.

  Learning his length and thickness with a slow, downward stroke, Naomi marveled at the potent power so obvious in his body. She rubbed him again, passing her thumb over the wide head, smiling as he trembled.

  Looking up at him again, she leaned closer, blowing her heated breath across the very tip.

  Gideon shifted his feet farther apart and curled his hands into fists. “Do it,” he coaxed again.

  “Do what?” she taunted, heating his flesh with her breath.

  “Taste me.”

  Sparks of sensation darted through her body. She felt her nipples gather against the fabric of her chemise and the core of her body began to throb.

  She kissed the very tip then flicked him with her tongue.

  “Blood hell, woman, do it now!”

  Pleased by the urgency she had created, she slowly slipped him into her mouth. His flesh was hot and incredibly hard. She tightened her lips around him and swirled her tongue. His hands moved to her head, steadying and guiding her. Cupping his heavy sac with one hand, Naomi reveled in the silken friction, the slick movement and his raspy cries.

  She slid her mouth forward and back, forward and back, swirling her tongue over the sensitive tip each time she reached the end. His thighs flexed and released as his hips rocked. Hot and hard, his shaft throbbed against her tongue. She tightened her lips and slowly pulled back, stopping when the swollen head still remained within her mouth. Circling the crest over and over with her tongue, she sucked deeply, waiting for his strangled groan to start moving again.

  “No more.” The unsteadiness in his hoarse voice praised her efforts. He pulled her to her feet and attacked her garments.

  Naomi laughed, exhilarated by his desperation. Her heart beat frantically and she raised her arms. He tugged each layer off until only her shoes and stockings remained. Kick
ing aside her shoes, Naomi dragged the stockings off, ribbon garters and all.

  “Better. Much better.”

  She laughed again, but the smoldering heat in his gaze took her breath away. Humbled to be the cause of his blatant need, Naomi rose and kissed him deeply.

  His hands swept up and down her back, cupping her bottom and pulling her higher, nearly off her feet. Insinuating one hand between their bodies, he covered her breast. He growled into her open mouth and turned her away from him. Both hands cupped her breasts, dragging her back against him.

  “Stand on my feet,” he ordered in an urgent whisper.

  Hesitating only a second, she did as he asked. His hands moved to her waist, lifting and angling her. She felt him slip into her swollen folds and shuddered. Slowly, inch by glorious inch, he filled her.

  Naomi trembled, reaching forward to steady herself against the wall. She could feel her body stretching, adjusting to accommodate him. “Oh Gideon.”

  “Aye,” he muttered.

  When he could go no deeper, he nudged her feet to the floor. His entire body pressed to her back, warming her skin and cradling her. Naomi shifted restlessly, desperately needing him to move. He was in no hurry now. Stroking her breasts, he worked her nipples into aching peaks. He caressed her belly and thighs, making her gasp and arch.

  “Gideon.” She tossed her head back, sending her hair spilling over him.

  “Be still,” he said. “Feel me inside you.”

  His arm circled her waist, holding her snug against him. He toyed with her nipples for a few minutes longer then sank his fingers into the damp curls guarding her delicate folds.

  Naomi dug her fingers into his forearms as he petted and parted her most intimate flesh. He touched her so gently, so carefully the shredded remains of her inhibitions disintegrated entirely. She was his. He would never hurt her. Resting her head back against his shoulder, she closed her eyes and let the pleasure unfurl.

  Gideon bit his bottom lip to keep from howling like a madman. Her passage clasped him rhythmically as her pleasure built. Hot cream drenched his fingers and released her scent into the air. Her fingernails bit into his forearms and he welcomed the sting.