by Vivi Dumas
She stepped in the room and a deep smooth voice hummed a tune in the bathroom. Just as she went to leave, Jacque entered the room with a towel wrapped around his waist. Water beaded on his chest and his black hair glistened with moisture. Angel’s jaw went slack as the muscles in his chest tensed when he saw her.
Her eyes roamed from his face, down the thick line of his neck, over the broad expanse of his chest, and down the taunt ripples of his abdomen. Gasping as the water dripped down his body, she followed the trail of dark hair from his navel until it disappeared beneath the towel. Her body responded as warm moisture spread between her legs. She took a step backward and crossed her legs, hoping to stop the heat pulsing between them.
Unable to take her eyes from him, Angel stammered, “Um. Sorry. The door just opened. I didn’t mean to come in.”
“No problem. Just give me a minute.” He grabbed a pair of sweats and shirt out of the bureau, then disappeared back into the bathroom.
She admired the tight fit of his T-shirt as he came into the bedroom. A wicked grin pulled at the corners of her mouth as she remembered what lay underneath his clothes. He ran his fingers through his hair, pushing the loose curls to his nape. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he offered her the armchair.
“I see you don’t have much more in this room than I do in mine. I would’ve thought permanent residents would have a bigger suite.” She teetered on the edge of her chair.
“Oh. This isn’t my permanent residence. I’m only staying here to train the class. I have a bungalow on the West End.”
“I thought you stayed here. Huh. I wouldn’t have pegged you for a bungalow type. More mid-town condo guy to me.”
“Unfortunately, there are no mid-town condos down here. I’m one of the few lucky soldiers who live outside the castle walls. Are you a mid-town condo girl?”
Her words choked a bit coming out. “Naw. I lived in one for the last five years. I love New Orleans. I was happy to go back home.” She missed her sister.
“There’s some books on the shelf behind you, mainly theology and mythology. I love to read human versions of the Underworld. I have a lot more at my house. This is what I keep here.” Jacque got up and crossed the room toward Angel.
“This is one of my favorites.” He handed her the book about Hercules. She flipped through the pages as he hovered so close to her she could hear the beating of his heart. She stepped back into him, feeling the solid strength of his body against her back.
The aroma of apricots and vanilla drifted through his senses. Electricity shot through him when he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her tight to him. He inhaled the headiness of her perfume. Starting to lose control, he broke away from her and stepped back.
He was disregarding every rule he ever made about females. The first rule being—no humans.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice raspy with desire.
Everything about this female is telling me to run like hell. Her scent is like a drug. It’s intoxicating and heady. Dangerous. Not easily purged out of one’s system. I’ve already spent a decade erasing Bell from my world, learning to live alone.
“This is a bad idea. It might be best if you leave.”
She turned to face him, running her hand over his chest, causing a burning sensation to spread in his belly. “What’s so bad about this?” Her eyes smoldered beneath heavy lashes.
“I’m not a good guy for you. I doubt we have much in common. Hell, we’re not even the same species.” He took another step back, but ran into the chair.
A mixture of determination and lust exuded from her pores. “Lucky for you, I’m not looking for a good guy. And as tasty as you looked in a towel, who gives a shit what species you are.”
“I’m not a commitment guy. I can’t give you what you want. Once you leave, you won’t see me again.” Shit. What’s wrong with me? Man, you’ve been out of the game for too long if you’re refusing a sexy female serving herself up to you. It’s just sex. Just one night. Right?
“How do you know what I want? I know exactly what you’re offering. That’s why I’m here. I don’t want the complications of a relationship. I just need someone to remind me I’m a woman.” She turned her back to him so he couldn’t see her face, trying to hide her sadness.
He could feel the conflict boiling inside her as he fondled a long wavy lock of her hair. “Remember you asked for this. Just like your deal with Luc, there’s no turning back.”
Brushing a finger down the back of her neck and feeling her shiver under his touch, he folded her into him. Leaning down, he grazed his lips on her bare shoulder. Her body trembled. She bent her head to the side while he showered kisses up the length of her neck.
Angel longed for the taste of his lips. Turning in his arms to face him, she witnessed a hunger in the depths of his green eyes that matched hers. She caressed his square jaw, feeling the smoothness of a fresh shave. His soap smelled of the pine: refreshing and comforting. Stretching on her tiptoes, she brought her lips to meet his and was rewarded by a groan. His lips devoured hers. She melted into him as his tongue explored the sweetness of her mouth.
The spiciness of his aftershave infused in her nostrils. She craved him like a junkie jonesing for a hit. Fear struck. Her stomach quivered and her hands shook on his back. If she moved forward with him tonight, she wasn’t sure if she would come back whole. The plan only worked in theory, and she missed a vital assumption–she liked Jacque more than she admitted. Her mind told her to pull back and break the connection. Commonsense told her to leave, but her body refused to cooperate. She needed him.
She tasted of mint and remnants of chocolate. Angel’s tongue teased in and out, skimming the inside of his mouth. She strained on her toes to reach him. Her breasts pressed hard against his chest. Sensing her discomfort, Jacque picked her off the floor and carried her to the bed. His hand navigated up her thigh as he cradled her in his arms. They fell to the bed engrossed in one another. He skimmed the contours of her body as he slid his hand underneath the cotton dress. Her body tensed under the stroke of his hand.
He kissed behind her ear. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“You want to stop?” His teeth caught her earlobe.
Angel’s lips played along his neck. “No.” She kicked off her flip-flops, hearing them clunk on the wood floor.
Jacque awakened everything inside of Angel. Her nerves tingled with each move of his body. His tongue left wet trails of fire along the neckline of her dress. He slowly pushed the dress higher as he caressed her curves. She sat up, lifted the dress over her head, and threw it to the floor.
With one swift move, he released her breasts from the black lace bra. He pushed her back onto the mattress. Sliding off the bed, he pulled her until her ass hung on edge. His rough hands traced her waistline and shifted to her breasts. Her nipples stiffened as his thumbs grazed over the peaks. He gave a slight squeeze to her left nipple, sending pain and ecstasy rippling through her body. She felt his mouth where his hand just left. His tongue circled her nipple, hot and moist over the hard nub. Angel writhed in pleasure when the sharp nip of his teeth caught the hardened tip. She tangled her hands in his hair and sank further into the bed as his lips explored her body.
“I want to taste every inch of you,” he mumbled between kisses.
The sounds of her soft moans created a fury of desire inside him. He took her other breast in his mouth, sucking hard and kissing softly as he released it. He ripped her black lace panties off and his fingers, first one then a second, fondled the wet heat of her sex. His fingers worked her hot, moist flesh until she met his pace. He kissed a path down her flat stomach, lingering at her navel.
“Can I kiss you here?” Jacque used his thumb to caress the center of her desire.
She ground into his hand and moaned. “Yes.”
“You sure?” He rubbed his thumb in circles around her swollen nub. Angel grabbed the duvet with both hands as if to anchor herself to t
he bed. “Oh, God. Please!”
He slid farther down until his tongue found her passion. His tongue and fingers stroked her until she raked at his back.
“Jacque. Please.” She pushed back, climbing higher on the bed.
He caught her by the hips and held her in place. “Please what?” Another flicker of his tongue caused her leg to quiver. “What do you want?”
“I need you inside me.”
His fingers filled her again. “Not until you come for me.”
His mouth burned against her body. He quickened the pace of his strokes, making her want to scream. Her mind floated in agonized pleasure. Pulling away from the increasing fervor of his mouth, she heard herself whisper, “Oh, shit!” while she grabbed a handful of his silky black curls. Tremors shot through her spine as her body reveled in her release. She fell back onto the pillows, breathing heavily. Her hands still wrapped around a fistful of curls at the base of his neck, she growled, “Now!”
Finally giving in to her pleads, he slid up her body and brought his mouth down on hers once again. She felt the full weight of him and tasted her tanginess on his lips. The hard, thick length of his shaft rubbed against her begging for relief.
Leveraging himself on one arm, Jacque entered her gently, afraid to move to fast. Her velvety wetness wrapped around him. She was so tight as she arched to meet his thrust.
“Slow,” he murmured into her hair.
He built a fluid rhythm until Angel rolled them over, straddling him. She picked up the rhythm, moving up and down along his cock. The motion of her hips massaged every inch of him. Grasping her thighs, he slowed her movements. She bent down and ran her tongue over his nipple. Ecstasy shot through his body. He grew harder inside her, thrusting his full length into her as she clenched around him. She stiffened as she took all of him into her.
“Are you okay?”
She shook her head, meeting his rhythm.
Angel bit into her lip as the thickness of his manhood stretched her. She’d never been with anyone so large, but the gentleness of his initial entry prepared her for him. As he picked up his strokes, she matched the fury of his passion. She wanted all of him. Riding him, she gripped his shoulders, using her thighs to glide along his swollen shaft. He throbbed inside her, pushing her to her climax. She quickened her movements. He guided her, his fingers digging firmly into her ass cheeks.
“I want you to come for me, baby.” She kissed behind his ear and down his neck.
“Shit—” No longer able to control himself Jacque grasped Angel’s waist, holding her for leverage. He thrust into her while she clung to him. She met the fervor of his thrust and her nails bit into the skin on his shoulders. The sweet wetness of her climax came down around him, causing him to shudder. She straightened, guiding him up with her. He wrapped his body around her, maintaining their rhythm. He sensed her desire for him, her longing. The intensity of her emotions drove him past the brink. The strength of his release shook through his body. He held her until they both collapsed in exhausted euphoria.
She shifted to roll off Jacque, but he stopped her. Snuggling her against his chest, he listened to the irregular pant of her breathing. He pushed her hair from her face and kissed her forehead. It had been a long time since he had been with a female. Angel was different. He never imagined the intensity he experienced with her could exist. He wasn’t sure if she really came for the book or if she actually came for the sex. At this point he didn’t care, just as long as she was with him. This situation entailed too many complications, but he didn’t want to let her go.
Angel forgot how good it was to have the love of a man. Unfortunately, she remembered it wasn’t love, just sex. Amazing sex, but sex all the same. He already made his position clear—not the relationship type. Anyway, she was leaving in two weeks. Talk about a long distance relationship. Wonder what it cost to call Hell? It was an impossible situation, too many obstacles. She got what she came for, so she would leave it at that.
Jacque rolled to his side, allowing her to slide onto the bed. He tucked her into his side and she laid her head against his chest. Listening to the beating of his heart, she drifted into a sound sleep she hadn’t found for a long time.
Chapter Six
Like a cat, comforted and content, Angel stretched her arms above her head. She tried to roll on her back. An arm around her waist gripped her like steel. Shit! Shit! Shit! She fell asleep in Jacque’s bed. Grimacing, she remembered the details of the previous night. The queasiness of regret and the heat of passion feuded inside her belly. She made a huge mistake and couldn’t even blame it on alcohol. Sex without feelings was a difficult skill to master and she failed miserably.
She hadn’t realized how much of an affect Jacque had on her these last couple of weeks. Sex wasn’t what she craved. It was companionship and the security of being a part of something…someone. Jacque had become that someone she wanted to be with. He brought her security and confidence. Now she messed it up by involving sex. She squirmed free from his grasp, freezing when he mumble something in his sleep and reached out for her. I am the Queen of Bad Choices.
The amber glow of the hellish flames snuck in through the cracks in the heavy curtains. She scanned the room for a clock, wondering how many people would be awake. A strong hand grabbed her arm as she scooted to the edge of the bed. Turning to Jacque, she smiled at him tentatively.
He rubbed his eyes, trying to focus. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I gotta go. It’s morning and people will be out soon. The last thing I need is to be seen coming out of here.” She tried to move off the bed again with little success.
He lured her back to him, bringing her hand to his lips. “You were just going to sneak out without saying anything?” Jacque pulled her down to him.
“Kinda. I didn’t want to wake you.” His heart pounded in her ear as she absent-mindedly ran her hand across his chest.
“So, my Angel, what are we going to do now?”
“What do you mean? There’s nothing to do. We had a good time. Now we go back to the way it used to be.”
Jacque’s brows furrowed. “Are you crazy? What if I don’t want to go back to the way it used to be?”
“Hey. What happened to I’m not a commitment guy?” she joked, wanting to hear his answer.
“I’m not talking commitment. Why can’t we just do some more of this?” He bent his head and his tongue flicked over a nipple, bringing it to attention.
Angel scooted away. “Last night was great, but this was a one-time shot. I’ll be leaving soon, and I’m sure you have a life to get back to.” Her throat tightened.
“We have another couple of weeks. I don’t want this to be our only night together. Give me a chance to see how else I can make you moan.” His fingers brushed the wetness between her legs.
“I can’t. It’s too much of a risk. I can’t fall for you and give you up. Last night was amazing. But let’s leave things on an up note.” Angel sat up, hopped out of the bed, and rummaged around for her clothes.
Jacque watched her as she dressed. Hunting for the words to change her mind, he wished what she said wasn’t true. As much as he wanted to be with her, too many obstacles stood in the way. He slung his legs over the edge of the bed and yanked on his sweats. Standing, Jacque caught Angel just as she reached for the door and secured her in his arms. His super demonic speed gave him an advantage over her. She went rigid then relaxed as he tilted her face to his, kissing her lightly.
“I didn’t mean for it to turn out this way. But last night was better than anything I imagined for the past few weeks since I met you.” He brushed his lips against her neck.
“What other way could it have turned out?” She hesitated. “But don’t blame yourself. I knew exactly what I was doing when I came here last night. We both got what we wanted.”
Standing on her toes like a dancer, she brought her lips to meet his. She wanted to embed him into her memory. If she couldn’t have him, she would savor th
is moment. Angel struggled to break herself from his embrace. She never wanted to leave the safety of his arms. Reluctantly, she slipped from his grasp and fled the room.
Tiptoeing down the hall, she prayed she wouldn’t run into anyone. She brushed her fingers through her hair and straightened her clothes, shooting for normal. Angel knew she wasn’t going to fool anyone. She hadn’t expected to stay the night, only make a quick booty call. Light banter floated from the end of the hall. Fuck! Isabella. Angel froze, debating her best move. Before she could make a decision, Isabella rounded the corner, eyeing Angel.
“You’re out early this morning,” Isabella announced in a singsong voice.
Angel plastered a shit-eating grin across her face. “Right back at ya.”
“Huh. You’re in the wrong hall, aren’t you? Your room is on the west wing.”
“Why is it any of your business what hall I’m in? I can go where I please. Why are you worried about what I do?”
“I only care about one thing. Unfortunately, you’re interfering with my plans.”
“Whatever. I have to get back to my room.” Angel tried to move past Isabella.
Isabella grabbed her by the arm and said, “Look, I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but Jacque will never stay with you. You’re a novelty, something new and shiny. You’re not the first pretty little thing he allowed to distract him. Just remember, he always comes home.”
“Seems like a personal problem between you and Jacque. I doubt he was thinking about home last night. I can’t help it if you can’t control your man. Believe me, you were the last thing on his mind when I left him.” She snatched her arm from Isabella and retreated down the hall.
Running to her room, she burst through the door. In tears, she threw herself on the bed. Why did she let that bitch get to her? Probably because Angel knew what Isabella said was true. Building a relationship with Jacque wasn’t an option and admitting the truth didn’t make it more palatable. She wanted away from this place. This wasn’t the deal she bargained for.
