Unchained

by J. Lynn

  She silently lifted her arms when he hooked his hands under the hem of her halter. He quickly disposed of the material, and she could feel his heated gaze drift down her bare skin. She responded immediately. Her nipples hardened and her stomach hollowed.

  Next came her shorts, and then she was completely nude. All of her—the fine scars that riddled her body and the marks that had been left behind were visible. She couldn’t hide as he took her in.

  Her hand fluttered over a thin scar that sliced from the edge of her ribs to her belly button. Baal had given that to her, along with the mark on her thigh. Julian pulled that hand to his lips. He first kissed the top of her hand, then the inside. Then he brought the palm of her hand against his chest, above where his heart rested. The simple and sweet gesture brought a rush of tears to her eyes. She swallowed, unable to say anything.

  “You’re so beautiful,” Julian murmured against her lips. He wrapped one arm around her waist, lifting her against him. His kiss ignited the fire in her. “Perfect for me. You would never know how much you are.”

  She stared as he stepped back, stripping off his jeans. Absolutely marvelous, and big…very big. An awfully naive part of her doubted that this would work. It was one thing having her hand or mouth wrapped around him, and totally something else to consider that going in her.

  But then he lowered himself, pushing her back against the bed, trailing his lips over her legs and stomach. He settled over her breasts, where he suckled and nipped. He took his time, slowly moving over her, licking every inch of her skin. It was like he sought to memorize every part of her body. Or claim it. Whatever it was, Lily didn’t care. She’d let him do this for eternity.

  Her body arched against him, aching and tense. He drew every breath from her, every moan and whimper. Her fingers clawed at his chest and arms. He lifted, halting her progress. Capturing her hands, he pinned them beside her head.

  Desire, rife and powerful, spread through her. She had never felt this way before, and when he nudged her thighs apart, she nearly cried out. She felt him against her, hot and hard. So very close to where she yearned for him to be.

  Julian brought his lips back to hers, releasing her hands and moving one of his to rest over her wet cleft. He supported himself with his arm, continuing to delve into her mouth while gently working one finger in and then two. Soon he had her bucking against his hand and his member.

  He worked her toward the edge, her breathing erratic. Her hands clenched his arms, and the sounds she was making should’ve embarrassed her. But she didn’t care. She wanted more.

  He lifted his head, staring down at her. There was something quite frightening and a bit intoxicating in his wild gaze. It mirrored what she felt inside but couldn’t vocalize. She felt all over the place, full of anticipation and near crazed with need.

  He slowly withdrew his fingers, eliciting a sharp whimper from her. As his gaze fixed on her heavily hooded eyes, he guided his erection to rest against her sex. She thought she’d come apart at the first wicked touch, but she had been wrong. It was when he slowly inched his way in that her body came alive.

  Julian reached out, laying a hand against her cheek. His thumb drifted down to her full bottom lip. “Do you trust me?” he asked softly.

  She wrapped her arm around the one he used for support. “Yes.”

  He bent his head to hers. “This may hurt. I’ll make it quick.”

  She wasn’t quite sure what he meant by making it quick, but she was really beyond coherent thought. With one last caress over her cheek, his hand dropped to her hip once more, and he thrust deep inside.

  Sharp, stinging pain shot through her. She froze at the incredible pressure of fullness.

  “Relax,” he whispered, his eyes glowing like sapphire jewels. “It will get better. I promise you.”

  She bit down on her lip, nodding. She wasn’t sure how this was going to get better. It felt like he was going to rip her in two.

  He didn’t move. Even as his arm trembled around hers, he remained still, buried deep inside her. Eventually the stinging faded to a dull ache, and the fullness began to feel somewhat…good. Tentatively, Lily moved, and the sharp throbbing she felt wasn’t from pain.

  “Oh,” she whispered. She tried it again.

  “Oh indeed,” Julian groaned.

  The fire the simple movement evoked in her propelled her further. She rocked her hips against him, and Julian’s hands clenched into a fist. “I think you’re getting the hang of this,” he grated.

  She tipped her hips once more, and Julian’s restraint broke. He began to thrust himself deeper into her body. Lily had never felt so full before and so powerless over her own body. And yet, it was wildly erotic.

  Appearing as if he was no longer content with her tentative moves, he cradled her hips, thrusting into her over and over again, increasing in intensity until it became a feverish pace that nearly tore her apart with pleasure. She lifted her legs, wrapping them around his hips, bringing him deeper.

  Her head spun as the bliss built inside her. Somehow in this moment, she felt bonded with him. It was more than just sex, more than two bodies enjoying each other. She couldn’t explain it, but she knew this was more. It was meant to be and always had been.

  Julian moved faster, grinding against her as her hot, wet slickness enveloped him. His touch was everywhere, as was hers. He let go of her hips, cupping her breast. His mouth dipped to one taut nipple, and he sucked it. The piercing draw from her breast and the relentless pounding was too much.

  Kicking her head back, she screamed as she shuddered around him. It was an incredible moment in her life. Finally unleashed from the chains she wore in mindless abandon, she was free. And it felt so damn good. The spasms racked her body in tight, sensual waves, throwing her so high, she never wanted to come down.

  Julian’s head tipped back, and his arms tightened around her. He roared his release, burying his head in the crook of her neck. One last spasm sent her body jerking against his, and then her arms fell to her sides. Her head swam as she lay beneath him, wanting him to remain inside her forever.

  Minutes passed, and then he nipped at her soft flesh, chuckling when she whimpered. He lifted himself onto his forearms. She felt him jerk inside her once again, and she shivered. “I knew it would be like this,” he said.

  She arched a brow lazily. “Did you?”

  “Yes.” He brushed a light kiss across her lips. “Are you okay? Do you hurt?”

  She glanced down at where their bodies still joined together. She was sore but still in one piece. After that, she expected she would have to put herself back together. “I’m okay.”

  Julian placed another kiss against her cheek. “Stay here. I’m going to get something.”

  When he slowly withdrew, she felt the delicious pull. She bit down, closing her eyes. Too sated to really care what he was up to, Lily let herself drift off into the warm afterglow. She heard him rummaging around in her bathroom and then water gushing from a faucet.

  He returned to her, a damp washcloth in his hand. She frowned as he sat next to her and reached between her legs. Lily flushed. “You don’t have to do that. I can—”

  Julian focused on her eyes. “No.” Then he began to gently wipe away all traces of her virginity.

  She wasn’t sure how to feel about him tending to her in such a way. This was more intimate than what they had just shared, and it left her feeling out of sorts. Once he was done, he stood and disposed of the washcloth in the basket by the closet.

  Lily sat up and winced. Okay, a little sorer than I originally thought.

  “Are you okay? I shouldn’t have let go of myself like that. I could’ve hurt you.”

  Her eyes widened, but it wasn’t his words or the ache that caused her reaction. That first night when he had come to her apartment, she had never laid eyes upon his back. In fact, he had always kept his back from her, and now she saw why. How she had never noticed this escaped her.

  The taut skin over each of
his shoulder blades bared the angry marks of where wings had been. The skin once torn open and stitched back together. The flesh was puckered and painful-looking. Each vicious cut was at least six inches long and two inches thick.

  Julian stiffened. “Does it bother you?”

  “No. I just…didn’t know.” It wasn’t like she saw the Fallen in a state of undress that often. Typically, she killed them or ran tail. “Does it hurt?” she asked, feeling foolish for doing so.

  He shook his head. “Not for many years.”

  “Oh.” Lily had this strange urge to touch the skin. To come so close to what made the Fallen who they were. “Will it ever heal?”

  “I will bear the mark of my fall for eternity.”

  That was a long time to be reminded of his disgrace. Then again, he fell, and she doubted that was the worst of his punishment. As wrong as it was, she felt sorry for him. What it must have been like to make one mistake and lose everything he had known or cherished. It had been his choice, but had he realized the consequences and how vast they would be?

  Gazing up at him, she realized she had never really considered the Fallen’s pain before, their loss. If she was cast out of the Sanctuary for one mistake, wouldn’t she turn bitter? Would the loneliness their kind faced over the centuries be enough to turn them into the creations she hunted?

  “I’m sorry.”

  Julian’s eyes widened. “You’d apologize for my fall?”

  Not sure if she had made a mistake by uttering those words, she shrugged. He had been relatively evasive when it came to the reason why he fell, but it seemed unfair that lust had brought him down to Earth.

  What a traitorous line of thought, she realized.

  He stared a moment, then smiled. “You’re a strange Nephilim.”

  She almost laughed. “You’re a strange Fallen.”

  “That I may be, but you have nothing to apologize for. Not for me. Besides, not a part of me regrets my choice any longer. It is what it is.” He lay on his side, supporting his head with one hand, watching her curiously, completely at ease in his nudity. He reached out and guided her down beside him. Once he had her tucked against him, he continued. “Leave with me.”

  “What?”

  “Leave with me,” he repeated. “We could go far away from here.”

  Lily stared at him for a moment and then laughed. It was a combination of disbelief and surprise. “You aren’t serious.”

  “I’m not?” His fingers slipped over her rib cage. “We could go anywhere in the world. There are places far enough away that even your duty to the Sanctuary cannot reach you, Lily.”

  He was being serious. Oh, damn. She pushed up so she was eye level with him. “Julian.”

  “You won’t have to worry about getting in trouble,” he pointed out rather casually. As if what he was suggesting was no big deal. “You wouldn’t have to answer to anyone. You could be free.”

  His words held a certain appeal. It was more than the idea of no longer being tied to the Sanctuary, but the fact he wanted her to leave with him. The notion did silly things to her heart and clouded her thoughts.

  There were days when she wanted nothing more than to disappear. The overworked and underappreciated syndrome, but she never seriously considered leaving. She had to remind herself it wasn’t an option as he trailed those agile fingers over the tips of her breasts. Her mouth watered. “I can’t, Julian.”

  His fingers slipped to the other breast that was now aching and heavy. “You can do whatever you want.”

  She licked her lips. “I can do what I want now.”

  Julian raised a doubtful brow. “That isn’t true. You’re chained to your duty.” His finger curled around her hardened nipple as he spoke. “Do you think your Nathaniel will allow this to continue?”

  Lily bristled. “Nathaniel has no control over me like that.”

  “He doesn’t?” Julian chuckled softly, his smile tender. “He controls everything. He holds your Contract. Does that not mean you must obey his every decree?”

  “Yes, but…” She trailed off. There was no pretty way of looking at this. Julian was right.

  “There are no buts, darling,” he whispered as his gaze fixed on her rosy peaks.

  “You don’t understand,” she argued. “As nice as what you offer sounds, it’s not possible.”

  He shifted against her. “We will see.”

  She glanced down to where his body brushed hers. He was hard, and all thoughts of forcing him to understand it could never be an option were thrown out the window. “Julian?”

  He paused, grinning devilishly at her. Then he pressed her back down as he placed himself over her body. “I believe I could do this all day.”

  One gentle thrust set her on fire. She reached down and cupped his rear. “I think I agree.”

  And Julian did, over and over till they collapsed into each other’s arms. He didn’t mention her leaving again, and Lily was grateful. They were able to create a little cocoon in her room, where the world outside didn’t exist. In his arms, she could forget about her duty and what she would face when she returned to the Sanctuary. It didn’t matter that it was only temporary.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  She woke to find the sheets completely removed from her and Julian’s lips latched onto her breast, drawing her nipple deep into the warm recesses of his mouth. Dazed, her hand fluttered to his head. A ball of lava formed in her belly. “What…what are you doing?”

  He lifted his head, smiling down at her. “I was beginning to think you’d never wake up. It’s late in the afternoon.”

  They hadn’t fallen asleep until the sun started to rise, and her muscles ached in a delicious way. When he hadn’t been doing crazy things to her body, they had nestled together, talking until they both passed out.

  Sleep still fogged her brain as her lids fluttered open. There was a wicked glint to his azure eyes and a mischievous tilt to his sensual lips. He picked up her right hand, bringing it to his lips and sucking her finger into his mouth. She felt the pull all the way to her core.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, breathless.

  “I want you.”

  “You have me,” she said, using the same words he had told her while on the couch.

  “Do I?” He sat up, swinging his legs off the bed and standing in one fluid motion. “Prove it to me.”

  Her heart thundered as she rose unsteadily. Things seemed to blur around the edges as her eyes locked with his. He gripped her shoulders, bringing her to her knees on the bed so that she was kneeling in front of him. The unspoken demand was clear, and her skin tingled.

  She reached out, wrapping her hand around his cock without breaking eye contact. Moving her hand from his base to the head, she felt him swell in her palm.

  “I woke up earlier, and all I could think about was you.” He brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “I can’t stop thinking about you— about this. It consumes my thoughts.”

  She shuddered as his hand dropped to her breast, tweaking her nipple. Dipping forward, she darted her tongue out and circled his engorged head as she watched an array of emotions flicker across his striking features.

  He groaned, staring at her with such intensity she felt like a goddess. She stroked his rim, laving the ridge with her tongue and then back to his head, lapping at the moisture beading there. “You like this?”

  “Yeah…I like…a lot.”

  Her tongue followed the length of his throbbing member. He reared against her as if she had done something rather drastic. “Oh, you like that more?”

  His lips parted, and he nodded. She did it again, and this time her lips followed the path. His hand left her breast, balling in her hair, opening and closing mindlessly. She kind of liked him like this, completely vulnerable to her. It was usually the other way around.

  Before long, he was cradling her head as she worked him with her lips and tongue. His groans sparked her own lust, boiling her from the inside. But then he reached between them
, grasping her free hand and lowering it to her own sex.

  Pulling back, she recoiled from what he was silently urging her to do. “I…I can’t.”

  He lowered his chin, his heated gaze piercing hers. “You can.”

  Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment even though her sex was throbbing, excited by the idea of pleasuring herself while she pleasured him. “Julian…”

  Shifting slightly, he guided her hand down until she cupped herself. Then, as she watched him, his finger pushed hers inside. She moaned from the wicked act, her skin flushing for a whole different reason.

  He guided her hand until she was doing it herself, then cupped the back of her head and urged her to pick up where she had stopped. Taking him in her mouth once more, she sucked harder as she thrust against her hand.

  Julian’s eyes grew luminous. “Oh God,” he groaned, picking up rhythm, forcing her to take his full length as she slipped another finger into her wet folds.

  Suddenly, he pulled away from her mouth and wrapped his own hand around the base of his member. “I want to watch you finish yourself,” he ordered roughly.

  The erotic act of pleasuring herself while he watched made her dizzy. She wanted to refuse, but it seemed like her moral compass had fallen to the wayside. Unable to say no, she eased down onto her back and moved her fingers in and out. This wasn’t the first time she had touched herself, but with him watching it was so much more potent. Her toes curled as she came close to the edge.

  He kneed her thighs apart and knelt between her legs, slowly stroking himself as his eyes followed her fingers in and out, covered in her arousal. “Harder,” he whispered.

  And she did. Pumping her fingers, she arched her hips up to meet her own thrusts. Her head tipped back, and her soft moans filled the bedroom as she watched him through glazed-over eyes. Her hips came clear off the bed as she grinded against her fingers. Her heart was thundering deep in her chest and stomach. The need for him to be against her consumed her in a way that left her panting with want.