Melena had kicked off her running shoes and pulled down her shorts before he’d gotten to the word “hard”. She dragged him into the kitchen where he took over and lifted her onto the counter. Spreading her legs, he swiped a finger between her folds. He discovered she was every bit as ready as him. The shiver that ran through her body when he touched her had him unzipping his pants and pushing himself inside of her in the next moment.
She moaned as he slowly made his way in. Melena was stronger than the last time they’d been together—thanks to ingesting his blood—but he didn’t want to risk hurting her. He needed to give her time to adjust. She was so damn tight it was all he could do to hold himself back.
“Lucas,” she clutched at his biceps, “I’m not a damn china doll anymore. If you don’t speed up, I’m going to scream and then we’ll have Remiel to contend with. No way am I going to be caught like this in front of an archangel.”
His lips twitched. She was wiggling against him, but he kept himself still inside of her. “You never know. He might walk in and decide to give us five more minutes.”
“So help me God, Lucas,” she glared at him.
“God has nothing to do with what I’m about to do to you, sensor.”
Then he really moved, thrusting in and out until he found the perfect rhythm. It was faster than what any human male was capable of and much harder, but she took every bit of it and begged for more. He watched her face as it tightened with pleasure. Her head fell back and her long hair hit the counter behind her. Lucas wanted to keep doing this forever, but there was no time.
He pushed himself as deep as he could go, grinding against her clitoris. As soon as her muscles clenched around him, he took her mouth and dove his tongue inside. She met him with her own. Lucas drove into her with a force that would have broken her before and let himself go. Fuck. She really was made for him. If he could have kept them together like this forever, he would have.
They didn’t stop kissing until the last spasms of their bodies subsided. He pulled back to give her a grave look. “You’re mine, sensor. Do you understand that?”
She lifted her lashes, gazing up at him with those beautiful blue eyes he couldn’t believe he’d once hated. They hardened just a fraction. “That works both ways, nephilim. If you so much as look at another woman in a sexual way I swear I’ll get an RPG and shoot your ass with it.”
Lucas smiled. “That’s what I like about you. Always quick to resort to violence when you feel threatened.”
Melena rolled her eyes. “You’re hopeless. Now grab me those paper towels behind you. I can sense the archangel inching closer to the house.”
He reluctantly pulled away from her and grabbed the roll for her. While she was cleaning up, he got his own clothes back in order. Their time together had been too brief. He’d known it would be, but that hadn’t prepared him for it.
“It’s too bad you can’t have conjugal visits,” Melena said as she pulled her shorts back up.
He eyed her up and down. She looked good in her work out clothes. He’d be taking the vision of her in them to help get him through his time away.
“Even if I could, I wouldn’t let you come to Purgatory to have them.”
She came up and put her arms around him. “How long will you be there, Lucas? I know you’re trying to avoid telling me, but I need to know.”
He gritted his teeth. His plan had been to let his brother explain all that. Lucas didn’t want to see her reaction, but he couldn’t lie to her outright. “Sixty years.”
She cursed. “I need something really big to shoot that archangel with, hold on just a second.”
Lucas grabbed her, pulling her into his arms. “You’re not going to do anything to him. We have an agreement and your interference could cause problems. When I get out, we’ll have plenty of time to spend together. Hold on until then.”
“Easy for you to say. You’ve lived so long sixty years doesn’t seem like much to you. I’m only,” she glanced at her digital watch, “well, twenty-seven now. Damn, I forgot it was my birthday.”
“Past midnight?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
He kissed her forehead. “The archangel decided when I could come. Perhaps he was trying to make you more amenable by letting us see each other on a day that’s significant to you.”
“Unless he plans to do it for all the holidays over the next sixty years, it’s not going to work.” She dug her fingers into his skin and a look of determination came over her eyes. “I’m going to find a way to get you out. I swear it.”
“Don’t,” he said, giving her a stern look. “Just let it be.”
Defiance gleamed in her eyes. “You’ve saved me enough times and now it’s my turn to return the favor. Somehow, I’ll find a way.”
“Melena, I mean it. This is not your problem.” He was going to have to tell her he’d be back one more time. It was another thing he’d planned to let his brother explain, but it seemed imperative he tell her now or else she might very well find a way to get to him. “I will be back again in a little less than a year. When I do, you’ll get a third dose of blood and you’ll be immortal. Do not ruin it by trying to rescue me. Do you understand?”
She stiffened. “You’re going to make me immortal? Not just long-lived?”
“Yes, if you don’t do anything to destroy that chance.”
A moment later she relaxed. “Fine. I won’t do anything for now, but if I don’t see you within a year…”
“You will,” he promised.
She jerked her head toward the door. “He’s coming. I can feel his emotions now that he’s closer and he’s not happy.”
Remiel must have somehow convinced Emily not to shoot him since Lucas hadn’t heard any shots. He hadn’t thought she would anyway. “Let’s go.”
They walked back outside together and ran straight into the archangel. His face was less than pleased. “I gave you fifteen minutes and you took nearly thirty. It’s time to go.”
Lucas turned to Melena and pulled her close one last time. “Take care of yourself, sensor. I will return.”
She clutched him almost as hard as he held her. “Tell Kerbasi I hope his dick shrivels up and falls off.”
Remiel cleared his throat. “Archangel standing here—and a young girl. Can we please refrain from the vulgarities?”
Lucas looked over to Emily. She had an apologetic expression on her face and her hands in her pockets. The gun was lying on the ground. Melena saw it too, but it was the shape-shifter that caught both of their attention. It was a large lion, as Mel had commanded, but it was a rather frozen lion.
“Unfreeze my cat,” she demanded.
The archangel crossed his arms. “Order the fey monstrosity not to attack me.”
It might have been created by the fey, but Lucas didn’t think it was a monstrosity. It was bred to be a loyal and protective animal and it had cost him and Aeson a fortune to acquire. The angels didn’t think much more highly of the fey races than they did the nephilim, though. It’s just that the fey were better at steering clear of them.
“Fine,” Melena said and went over to the lion, patting it’s enormous head. “Don’t attack the archangel. He can’t help it if he’s a racist and elitist old man.”
The fact that the archangel didn’t look older than mid-thirties must not have entered her mind. He really was old, though. Only a sensor might be able to estimate how much.
Remiel glanced over at Lucas. “My estimation of you is rising considerably if you can put up with this woman and not harm her.”
A moment later, the cat was able to move again. Melena whispered soothing words to it.
Emily wandered over. “So, Remi, do you promise that trick with the werewolf will really work?”
“It should solve your problem, but only if you never call me that again.” The archangel narrowed his eyes at her.
“I think it suits you, but so long as it turns out you’re right, I won’t call you Remi again.” If not for t
he twinkle in her eye, it might have been easier to believe her.
“What werewolf problem?” Lucas asked.
“It’s nothing,” Melena answered. “We’re dealing with it. There are just some difficult kids at school, but it’s summer so she doesn’t even have to see them right now.”
Lucas clenched his fists. He didn’t like that he had to go and leave them to deal with these things.
“It’s time,” Remiel announced. “I’ve allowed you to linger long enough.”
The archangel took hold of Lucas and guided him to an open area where they could take off for flight easier. Lucas wanted to look back, but he couldn’t. If he saw Melena’s eyes and they were filled with sadness, it would only make it harder. Having his final memory being her annoying Remiel was a much easier one to take with him.
Right as the archangel froze him and opened his wings, he could hear footsteps running up behind them.
“Wait,” Melena screamed.
In the next moment, she raced around his front and leapt up, wrapping her arms around his neck and legs around his waist. He thought he heard an oomph as the archangel was kicked away from him. She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood and kissed Lucas. It broke the freeze spell Remiel had put on him.
Defiant to the end. She just couldn’t help interfering in some way.
He held her close and kissed her back. She dug her fingers into his hair and locked her ankles behind him. There’d be no removing her before she was ready. Lucas deepened the kiss, feeling more emotion than he’d ever felt before. How was he supposed to live without her for so long? Why didn’t he figure out they could have this between them until too late?
Melena pulled back and stared deeply into his eyes. “I wasn’t going to say this. I swore to God I’d never say this to any man, but I can’t let you leave and not tell you.”
Remiel snapped his wings. “If you swore to God…”
Melena turned her head and glared at him. “Shut up.”
Then she returned her attention to Lucas. “I don’t know how you did it. I’d made a habit out of hating you. But no matter how hard I tried to avoid it, it was always you. You make me laugh, you make me cry, you make me so angry that I want to shoot your overbearing, egotistical ass. But despite it all, I just want you to know that no matter where you are or what you’re doing…I love you. I will always love you, Lucas. There’s no one else for me and I’ll wait for you as long as it takes. I’m yours and you’re mine and they can take a lot, but they can’t take that.”
There were tears in her eyes when she finished. He wished he could take away the pain he saw in them. He wished he never had to see her suffer again, but she would. Their lives were too complicated and there was only so much even he could do. Except he could give her one thing. It was only fair.
“My crazy little sensor, I love you too. Never doubt that. One day, I will be back for you and we’ll spend our days arguing over who will take the trash out and who will get to kill any annoying supernaturals that get in our way. We’ll frighten our enemies so much they’ll run at the mere mention of our names—all so we have more time to spend in bed. Take care of yourself so I have that to look forward to. Do you understand?”
She swiped at her cheek. “Yes.”
Lucas ran his fingers through her hair one last time. “Oh, and don’t you dare cut this.”
She smiled. “I won’t—so long as you come back when you say you will.”
“Never doubt it.”
They slowly broke apart with her sliding down his body. Neither one of them wanted to let go. Once her feet touched the ground, he leaned toward her and kissed her head. “Happy birthday, sensor.”
Remiel looked suspiciously misty-eyed as he took hold of Lucas for the second time. Maybe the archangel had a heart after all. Lucas kept his gaze locked with Melena’s as he was flown away—unfrozen this time, thanks to her blood. She took Emily under her arm, but didn’t move her eyes from him. They stayed that way until he and Remiel cleared the trees and there was nothing more to see.
Epilogue
Kerbasi led Lucas back through the tunnels of Purgatory, naked and chained. The other prisoners looked up at him as he got close. Zoe was curled in a filthy ball with red slashes all over her body. Bartol’s skin was blackened and his eyes had lost the life that had come back into them while he trained with Lucas. Micah was the only one who still looked semi-fresh, if you ignored the blood and puncture wounds covering him. Kerbasi had been hard at work while Lucas was gone.
The guardian opened the cell door and swept his hand toward it. “Your chambers await, nephilim.”
Lucas knelt down and crawled inside. Already, he was back to feeling like a caged animal at Kerbasi’s zoo. Had he just been in Fairbanks a little over an hour before? Charlie had been nice enough to let Lucas shower at his house and had even given him a set of clothes from one of his grandsons—many generations removed—before meeting with Melena. Surprisingly, the archangel had allowed that side trip. Possibly for the same reason he’d timed it with Mel’s birthday. Now Lucas was back here as if his trip out had never happened.
“How did things go with Melena?” Micah asked from the cell next to him.
“Better than expected. She did smile, in case you’re wondering.”
Micah snorted. “Should have known she would with you. I’ll have to remind her of it if she goes back to being emotionless.”
He hoped that didn’t happen, but he couldn’t say for sure how much his visit to see her would help over the long term. She’d never been very emotional. At least, until more recently around him.
“She also had a message for Kerbasi,” Lucas said, raising his voice so the departing guardian would be sure to hear him.
Kerbasi stopped and turned around. “What did the sensor have to say?”
“She wanted me to tell you she hopes your balls shrivel up and fall off,” Lucas paused. “She also said she would find a way to kill you one day, but since you’ve heard that enough times that it must begin to sound like a greeting, I doubt you care.”
The guardian’s eyes turned cold. “I’ll come back in one hour to bring you down for a session. Wouldn’t want her to think I didn’t receive her message.”
“She’s stronger than you think,” Lucas said. He didn’t want her to see what happened to him—or feel it—but he knew now she could handle it. His time here wouldn’t last forever.
Someday he’d return to her. Someday, they’d be together and any enemies who got in their way would go down.
Author’s Note
I am well aware as you finish this book that you are left with the question of whether or not Lucas gets out of Purgatory before sixty years are up. At heart, I’m a romantic. Consider whether such a person could really make two lovers wait that long to be together and you’ll have your answer. Trust me that things will get better in future books. They just have to suffer a little first. It’s been my personal experience that when couples are tested by the greatest obstacles, don’t give up, and make it past them, they become stronger for it.
Strength isn’t something that you’re born with, it’s something you build through a series of difficult experiences in your life that break you down and build you back up a little sturdier each time (if you let them). What’s the saying…forged by fire?
While in the military I saw some of the most hard-core men and women break after something particularly bad happened to them—often war-related, but you might be surprised how often rifts in personal relationships reduce soldier readiness. It doesn’t make them lesser people, it makes them human. They get depressed, they cry, they may even drink themselves into oblivion for a while. But with time (usually), they pick themselves back up and move on to become even stronger and wiser than before.
That’s life and what I try to do with my characters, regardless of their backgrounds. I test them to the point of breaking them so I can build them back up. It’s my theory that no matter how long you live, you’ll neve
r run out of mistakes to make and lessons to learn.
Thank you for taking the journey with my characters as they go through theirs.
I hope you’ll be picking up the next book in the series, Darkness Divides, when it releases in April 2014. For those interested in seeing something sooner, I am participating with Pure Textuality in a New Year’s Anthology titled “The Stroke of Midnight” that will include a collection of short stories between 5-10k words. The story I’m submitting will cover the werewolf problem Emily mentioned at the end of Chained by Darkness. The anthology will be free with most retailers, but for Amazon customers you’ll need to email me to get a copy when it releases on December 26th. You may do so at the below address (or use it to contact me with any questions you may have):
[email protected]
For those who want a little more right now, there is also a prequel short story for when Lucas and Melena first met here: http://www.darknesshaunts.com/2012/10/23/short-story-nothing-is-ever-what-it-seems/
About Susan Illene
Instead of making the traditional post high school move and attending college, Susan joined the U.S. Army. She spent her eighteenth birthday in the gas chamber — an experience she is sure is best left for criminals. For eleven years she served first as a human resources specialist and later as an Arabic linguist (mostly in Airborne units). Though all her duty assignments were stateside, she did make two deployments to Iraq where her language skills were put to regular use.
After leaving the service in 2009, Susan returned to school to study history with a focus on the Middle East at the University of Oklahoma. She no longer finds many opportunities to test her fighting abilities in real life, unless her husband is demanding she cook him a real meal (macaroni and cheese apparently doesn’t count), but she’s found a new outlet in writing urban fantasy heroines who can.
For more information visit:
www.darknesshaunts.com
You may also find her at:
Chained by Darkness (Sensor Series, Book 2.5) Page 14
