by Rue Volley
"I don’t know if you’re well enough yet.”
She proceeded to slink toward him like one of those sexy Victoria’s Secret models on the catwalk. Long, slender legs were encased in black, semi-platform heels. Her breasts bounced with each step and all he could think about was the taste of her skin on his lips. Cera was almost close enough for him to reach. If he could have her this one last time, taste her, and feel her once more, maybe the pain of losing her wouldn’t be so harsh. Or it might kill him. His voice shook as he said, "I need you, Cera.”
A sexy little smirk twisted her features as he reached for her. She danced just out of his reach. “Not so fast,” she purred. "I have a promise to keep, remember?”
His balls tightened as she dropped to her knees. “What are you doing, Cera?”
“Shhh.” She crawled toward him, her gaze never leaving his. “Something I’ve wanted to do ever since I saw that big, beautiful cock of yours.”
Hale’s heartbeat pounded and his stomach fluttered. Saying goodbye was going to be the hardest thing he’d ever done.
Cera’s hands slid up his thighs. Her fingers sought out the button of his jeans then followed with the zipper. Still on her knees, she freed him from the denim then took his engorged cock in her hand. “Are you excited to see me, Hale?”
“A little.”
“Only a little?” She pouted then rubbed her thumb over the head. Stroking downward, she gripped him then locked her gaze with his. “Looks like a lot to me.”
Hale’s body jerked in reaction. His hands gripped her shoulders, but Cera didn’t give him time to over think it. Her free hand snaked its way beneath his shirt to caress his chest and stomach as her head dipped lower. She licked the tip of his cock, flicking away the pearl of pre-cum with the tip of her tongue. It took everything within him to keep from bucking forward and forcing himself further into her mouth. "Damn angel, that feels good."
Making soft little sounds of pleasure, Cera traced her tongue over his swollen cock. It was so hard now, it was painful. If it weren’t for Cera’s tender attention, it would be unbearable. She licked him from root to tip then grazed her teeth over his flesh.
"You taste so good," she purred.
“Cera…”
Her lips closed over him, forcing him to shudder in bliss. He fought to control himself. At this point, he wanted to grip handfuls of her hair and guide her mouth up and down his cock. He nearly lost all control when she flicked her tongue over the little slit at the head. His fingers dug into her shoulders and he growled in pleasure.
She dropped her mouth down his length, sucking hard as she came back up. His thighs tensed as he thrust deep into her mouth. Her fingers stroked him then closed around the lower part of his shaft. He bit back a self-satisfied grin when he noticed that Cera’s fingers could barely encase his girth. Next, she cupped his sac and Hale’s desire spiked.
“Can’t take much more, angel.” His entire body trembled with the effort it took to keep from ramming his cock down her throat. One of his hands fisted in her hair. Applying just enough pressure to make her move upward, he forced her rise.
"I wasn’t done.” She licked her lips seductively.
He tossed his t-shirt aside. “Sweetheart, I just got started.”
Cera grinned then pushed him onto the mattress. The fishnet teddy dropped to the floor, but she kept the high heels on. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Hale growled as Cera climbed up his body. She licked her way up his stomach until she reached his chest. She took joy in teasing his nipples, first with her tongue then with her teeth. Each time she moved, she teased him further by rubbing her pussy along his throbbing cock. She was so turned on that she left him slick with her own desire.
“Tell me what you want, Hale,” she whispered as she kissed along his jawline.
“How about I show you instead,” he growled. He had to work at it at first, his cock sliding in and out in shallow bursts. Her inner muscles stretched to accommodate him and finally, he was able to seat her fully. One hand gripped her hip while the other closed around her throat. He could crush the life out of her right now or fuck her senseless…
Cera made the decision for him. She began rocking her hips, adding a little extra gyration as she slid downward. Hale’s fingers tightened and she threw her head back and cried out in pleasure.
Fuck, she could move!
They moved together in perfect rhythm. Not too fast, not too slow, just perfection in deep, powerful movements that made their bodies become one. Hale couldn’t take any more. He needed to be deeper, go harder. Dominate.
Rolling her onto the mattress, he caught one of her wrists and held it above her head. As he sank deeper within her, Cera brought her knees up and wrapped her legs around him. The heels of her shoes bit into his hips and buttocks, but he was beyond caring.
Each thrust was rough, full of possession. Cera breathed his name, a soft whisper on a shaky breath. Hale’s every movement deliberately and completely filled her. She shifted beneath him in an attempt to accommodate his length. Cera groaned in pained pleasure then lifted her legs higher, wrapping them around his ribcage. It gave him a deeper seat and made her scream in pained pleasure.
They moved together, finding a rhythm that sent Hale’s mind reeling. The slap of his balls against her ass and the sounds she made nearly drove him insane. He thrust deeper and deeper because it hurt so damned good. To deliver and receive as much pleasure as possible was his only goal.
His hand tangled in Cera’s hair as orgasm approached. Her head fell back, exposing the soft flesh of her throat and she cried out in desire or pain. At this point, he couldn’t be sure. One. More. Thrust. His teeth clamped down on her throat. Salty sweet blood flooded his mouth as his seed filled her.
Cera moaned and her legs clamped around him. Her insides tightened and milked his every last drop as she found her own release.
Hale licked the last of the blood from her neck then stared into her eyes. What he’d seen in her blood, what he’d witnessed… Damn. He felt as if his lungs were closing up, his heart was slowly being ripped from his chest.
He rolled off her then gathered her into his arms. “Cera, you’ve only known me for a short while.”
"I know.” She tucked her head beneath his chin then curled her body against his. “But I belong to you.”
Hale sat up then turned his back to her. She’d used his own words against him. How unfair. Her hands encircled his shoulders as she sat on her knees behind him. Resting her chin on his shoulder, she squeezed him tight. “Mind, body, and soul.”
“Cera…”
“And heart.” She kissed his shoulder. “You own that too.”
He stood up abruptly and grabbed his clothing. He’d already seen it in her blood. He knew she spoke the truth, but hearing it out loud seemed so much more real.
“Hale, wait.” She pulled the sheet around her and looked as if she might cry. "It's too soon. I realize that now. I'm sorry."
He jerked his boots on then gripped the door knob.
She moved, swinging her feet off the bed. Dragging the sheet with her, she moved toward him. “Say something.”
"I've been ordered to kill you."
Her face paled and she gripped the sheets tighter. Wounded surprise crumpled her features and a tear rolled down her cheek. She looked as if she might collapse onto the floor.
Hale couldn’t stand the pain of looking at her any longer. He flipped the hood of his jacket up then moved into the hallway. The sun hadn’t fully extinguished yet, painting the horizon an excruciating scarlet hue just below the tree line. He paused, still unable to look at her. "I suggest that you’re not here when I return.”
Chapter Seven
He’d gone soft. That was the only explanation for it. He was a goddamned demon for fuck’s sake! He should have already ripped the fallen angel’s heart out and moved on to the next hellish adventure. It was his own damned fault he was in this predicament. He should have never gotte
n tangled up with Cera and done his job. All the marks would be gone by now and he’d be a free man.
Several hours remained until he had to figure out what to do about Cera. Until then, he needed to let off some steam, unleash some of the pent up rage that had built up. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he stalked toward the trailer park and grimaced. Human suffering. He could feel it calling to him like a beacon in a stormy sea. Some part of him wanted to ignore it, but curiosity got the best of him.
Hale moved past several of the run down tin boxes until he reached the third row of trailers. He moved down the narrow alley between the third and fourth row, listening for what had drawn him to this particular area. Inside the sixth trailer, glass shattered and someone’s frightened cry rang out. Fear, hatred, and abandoned hope hung heavy in the air. The cocktail of emotions practically made his mouth water.
Moving quietly, he jogged up the steps then kicked the door open. It banged against the wall then shuddered to a stop. The chaos inside fell silent as heavy footsteps moved in his direction.
“Who the hell are you?” The man held a belt in his right hand. As he wound the leather around his hand, the buckle dangled close to the ground. The metal still dripped with blood.
Hale grinned at the big, beefy man and made sure his eyes flashed crimson beneath the hood. “Your worst nightmare.”
Someone moved in the room down the hall. The big man’s gaze darted in that direction. “Stay there, Stacey. Don’t come out.”
The woman’s hunched shadow moved across the wall. She was hurt. Hale could feel her emotions as they sang out to him. Her pain tasted divine. Surrender was there for the taking.
“Come out here, Stacey,” Hale commanded in a voice that didn’t leave room for dispute. Even the man of the house didn’t dare contradict him. “Let me have a look at you.”
A small woman wearing a filmy nightgown limped down the hallway toward them. She had dark, curly hair and a timid face. She clutched at her bloody arm and looked at him with dark eyes. The left one was bruised and her lip was split. Her leg looked as if the man had struck her several times with the business end of the belt.
“Are you with the police?” she asked softly. Relief and trepidation warred with her features. She looked unsure of which man she should trust. Hope brimmed in her eyes as she cast a quick glance in Hale’s direction.
“Something like that,” Hale said in a dangerous voice. He pointed to the man and said, “Drop the belt, asshole.”
Instead, the guy tightened his grip on the weapon. “Get the fuck outta my house.”
The woman gripped Hale’s jacket. “Help me, please? Make him stop.” A new wave of tears shook her thin shoulders as Hale pulled his sleeve from her grip.
Never taking his gaze from the man, he asked Stacey, “Are you sure that’s what you want?”
“I’d do anything to get away from him for good. He finds me no matter where I go.”
“There are consequences,” Hale warned as he took a step toward the man.
The mousy woman nodded once, understanding glimmered in her dark eyes. She gripped his hand in her own. “Do it,” she whispered in a voice full of hate and fear.
A strange sense of warmth passed between them and Hale smirked at her. A red welt like an angry H was etched on the woman’s hand, between the thumb and forefinger. Her gaze flicked to his and she blinked rapidly. She looked unsure all of a sudden.
“What’s done is done.” Hale released her hand then turned to look at the disgusting man. “Go wait on the porch. Don’t bother running away though, because I will find you.”
The woman’s footfalls made a hasty retreat. The door clicked shut behind her and he returned his full attention on the disgusting man with the belt.
That’s when the belt struck him right in the chest. The buckle snapped against his skin, reminding him that even though he was demon, he could still feel pain. Some part of him relished it and maybe even thought that he deserved it. The belt struck two more times. The last sliced his palm and brought the sharp sting of blood.
His fist closed around the buckle and he grinned at the fat man. “Now, let’s see how you like it.”
Hale jerked the belt out of the man’s grasp. He stumbled forward and cried out in despair as his weapon was taken away. When he turned to run, Hale let the first strike fly. The buckle hit the man in the shoulder. His stained wife beater became spattered with bright red blood. Fat man cried out, a girlish scream of agony really.
The next hit struck the man on the left buttock. He stumbled forward and shrieked as he clutched at his ass. He began blubbering and begging for Hale to stop.
Smirking at the miserable prick, Hale wound the belt tight around his fist as he stood over the miserable excuse for a man. “Did you show any mercy when Stacey begged you to stop?”
Instead of answering, more tears rolled down the guys flushed cheeks. Hale lifted him by the throat. Even as he was gasping and struggling to breathe, Hale knew he would comprehend his words. “I’m going to do you a favor. That’s more than you’ve ever done for that woman out there.”
The man whimpered in understanding. His fingers even quit tearing at Hale’s fingers.
Hale plucked the wallet and keys from the man’s pockets then put them in his own. He dropped the man to the floor, gave him a kick to the face for good measure, and then lit the house on fire. He didn’t move around the dump with a purpose. This time, he simply thought about fire and boom! The house was aflame. It started out smallish, but quickly the flames began eating everything in sight. The fat man scrambled to find his footing, but Hale shoved him down.
“You get to live, if you can get out.” With that said, Hale punched him square in the jaw. The fat man fell sideways, stunned.
He stepped outside then concentrated on making a small hole in the door. He ran the belt through it twice then buckled it. He’d be interested to see if the sadistic son of a bitch (yes, he was aware of the irony) could think fast enough to unbuckle the belt and get out of the burning house.
Stacey moved out of the shadows. Her arms were hugged around her middle. “What you did…”
“Don’t ever speak of it,” Hale warned. He gripped the hand with the H on it then smoothed his thumb over the raised skin. “This is my claim to your soul, girl. In ten years I will come back for it.”
Her voice shook when she said, "I knew you were something called from Hell when I saw your eyes. What if I’m not ready in ten years?”
Hale plucked the man’s wallet from his jacket and removed the money and cards. He tossed the empty wallet beneath the trailer. “Take this and start over. Make those ten years count.”
Inside, the man began to scream. He pounded at the door and begged to be let out. Hale ignored his pleas as he shoved the keys into the woman’s hand. He walked away as she climbed into the vehicle. She drove down the dirt road and turned onto the interstate as the man’s cries died along with him.
Hale had thirty minutes left before he had to meet his master. It was time to go to the bar, have a drink, and say goodbye to Cera.
Chapter Eight
The bar’s lot was empty. There wasn’t a single customer in sight. All the lights, including the neon and upstairs apartment were dark. His stomach lurched and he hoped like hell that Cera took his advice and got the fuck out of there. A small part of him experienced disappointment. He really wanted to see her one last time before he hit the road.
The upstairs bedroom was a mess. It looked as if a tornado had touched down. Toiletries and clothing were thrown all over the floor. The bedding was dragged to one side of the room and the mattress was partially knocked off the box springs. Spider web cracks ran the length of mirror and the dresser drawers had been gutted. Her intimates were dumped in a pile on the floor in front of it.
Had Cera thrown a temper tantrum? Had Hale hurt her feelings so badly that she’d destroyed her own room in a fit of rage or despair?
That’s when he spotted the flash of cri
mson. There! Just beneath a discarded bra with a broken strap, a splatter of blood glistened on the hardwood floor. All of his senses came alive when he realized it was Cera’s. Could she have harmed herself due to his dismissal?
No, he knew that was impossible. She was too virtuous a creature for that kind of nonsense. More than likely, someone else had done this. Blood could only mean there had been a struggle.
Hale lifted his head and breathed in deeply, searching for the scent he knew he’d find. There it was, hidden just below the spilled perfumes, stale sex, and everything else. The faded traces of cinders and ash hung in the air. It stung his senses and made him wince. The master had been here. The bastard had never actually planned on giving Hale a chance to make a decision at all. It had always been another cruel game to play.
“Goddamn it, Cera!” He kicked the fallen bottles and crumpled clothing aside. Why hadn’t she left immediately like he’d told her to? If she’d just listened to him and got the hell out, she might be safe right now.
Might have? Those words were too volatile and he knew it. There were a lot of things that might have been, but dwelling on them weren’t going to get his angel back. Howling with bitter resentment, Hale put his fist through the wall. The master would have found her no matter how far she ran if he truly wanted her.
Hale pulled his hand free from the drywall. Flames of fury licked up over the broken plaster and boards to crawl up his forearm. He smirked at that. So what if his temper had gotten the best of him? This nothing town would be lucky if he didn’t incinerate it, completely sear it to the ground by night’s end.
As he turned, the toe of his boot bumped against something hard and metallic. It skittered across the floor then finally spun to a stop beneath the end of the bed. He bent to retrieve it and was shocked to find the angel’s dagger. The handle had been wrapped with leather. He plucked it from the floor then tested the weapon’s weight in his hand. Its twisted blade glinted in the dull bedroom light.
