Angel's Kiss

by Rosalie Lario

  “Let me stop you there,” Michael said quietly.

  The gentle sound of Michael’s voice sparked an echo of alarm within Jason. Michael never spoke softly, unless…

  “Ruby and Samantha must go,” Michael continued, a warm ribbon of sympathy winding from his body and enveloping Jason like a hug.

  The tiny hairs on Jason’s arms rose at the combined, responsive threads of fear, anger, and confusion emanating from him and Aaron.

  “Why?” he spat, unable to disguise the hostility in his tone.

  When Michael shut his eyes for a moment, Jason understood the pain he felt at what he was saying. While the greater part of him appreciated it, at the same time it wasn’t Michael’s mate putting herself at risk, but his own.

  Samantha slid down the bench and grasped hold of Aaron’s hand. “You guys can’t get as close to the prison as we can, honey.”

  “So?” Aaron ground out between clenched teeth.

  When Jason felt Ruby’s gloved hand on his arm once again, he glanced toward her. She’d removed the hood and her calm gaze washed over him. “The perimeter surveillance is great. It’s icing on the cake. But we need those cameras that will be closer to the prison. Those will be the ones that will capture the sounds, and that more than likely is what we’ll need in order to convince humans the white-wings aren’t who they claim to be.”

  Shit. Her matter-of-fact tone did more to convince him than anything else could have. He looked back toward the diagram, his gut clenching when he spotted the handful of Xs nestled into the forest just outside the north, south, and east exits, as well as the one where they planned to partially bury a camera in the ground of the open clearing on the west side.

  No. He didn’t want Ruby so close to the prison. Not his Ruby.

  He bled the full force of his emotions into his gaze as he glanced back at her. Keeping his voice low, he said, “That doesn’t mean you have to be the one to do it.”

  Her body visibly tensed, gloved fingers digging into his arm. She didn’t like him trying to leave her out of it, and he admired that of her, all the while wishing she wasn’t quite so brave, so determined, so…well, Ruby.

  “Samantha can only do so much,” Ruby replied, her voice just as low. “And it only makes sense that I be the one to help her, considering I’m pretty much the expert on surveillance here. Little things like camera angle and placement make all the difference.”

  She was right, damn it. All too right. And he didn’t know how he could handle knowing her life would be in such danger.

  “You have a point,” he conceded, his voice tight and gruff from the raw feelings he couldn’t quite hide. “When do we go in?”

  “We leave for Alaska tomorrow,” Michael said.

  Tomorrow. That didn’t leave them much time. Not much time at all.

  He gave Michael a tight nod. “I’ll be ready.”

  Then, before he gave into the urge to do something he’d regret, like cry in front of his brethren, he turned and left the room, only vaguely feeling the lightness in his arm where but a moment ago, Ruby’s warm, comforting touch had been.

  It’s too soon to let her go, he thought as he blindly strode through the family room and out the back door, taking the steps down two at a time.

  Though the sun had dipped low on the horizon, several of his fellow Fallen still remained out in the yard, conducting one-on-one or group training with Ruby’s rebels. But training was the last thing on his mind at the moment. He needed to be alone.

  Turning on his heel, he walked around the side of the cabin and toward the wide stream fronting the land. He gave the sky a quick, cursory glance, confirming there were no sentinels in the immediate vicinity, and spread his wings. His back arched in relief, which was typical. Though his kind had the ability to absorb their wings, it always came with a sense of discomfort, and he’d often wondered whether angels were truly meant to be wingless for any extended period of time.

  He flexed the tips of his wings, about to shove off the land, when the sound of Ruby’s voice stopped him.

  “Wait!”

  Her voice held a tint of desperation that called to him. Resting his wings close against his back, he swiveled to face her. She’d removed the suit of chain mail and, now clad in her jeans and thermal shirt, raced toward him.

  Heavens, but she was beautiful. Her long, red hair had partially blown free of the loose braid she’d fashioned this morning, and it now framed her face. Her tea-colored eyes brimmed with emotion as she spanned the distance between them, coming to a stop mere feet from him. Her gaze traveled over his face before she gave him a tentative smile, as if she feared his reaction. “Were you going to leave without me?”

  “I…” Truth be told, all he’d thought about was getting away for a few minutes. Coming to terms with the fact that there was nothing he could do to protect his mate from the danger she faced.

  He let out his breath and gave her a gentle smile. “Of course not, my love.”

  “Good.” She held her arms out to him, her absolute trust in him evident in her gaze.

  The last of his frustrated anger melted away. While he might wish for Ruby’s safety, she wouldn’t be the woman he knew and loved if she didn’t do everything she could to protect her mother’s race. To protect the people she loved.

  He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her into his body to lend her his warmth. After another quick glance up at the sky, he noted, “The sun is going to set soon. Want to watch it?”

  “Of course,” she said with obvious relish. They’d been so busy making love those first few days, and then training once the rebels had arrived, that they hadn’t taken an evening to truly enjoy the beauty of the fading sun.

  Holding her tight, Jason flexed his wings and propelled them high into the air. They soared over the wide stream, then he flew them in the direction of the compound. He knew the perfect spot, about halfway between the cabin and his home, yet not directly in the light of flight. It would not only provide a great view, but a little bit of privacy.

  Less than ten minutes later, he touched down on a narrow ledge high on one of the mountains neighboring their own. It provided an unfettered view of the sun disappearing beneath a distant mountain, while also giving the slight overhang also gave them protection from the worst of the biting breeze. He wrapped one of his wings around Ruby, giving her the cocoon of his down feathers as well.

  Awe and contentment seeped from her pores as she leaned into his body, her eyes glued on the spectacular, muted flames emanating the sun.

  “This is heaven,” she murmured with a satisfied sigh.

  “Truly,” he agreed. For how could it not be, with her at his side?

  Only when the last rays of the sun disappeared along the horizon did he give into the words brewing in his mind.

  “I wish you didn’t have to go.”

  She turned to him, lifting a hand to slide it against his cheek. “I know. But we all have our roles to play.”

  That he understood, much as it pained him.

  Ruby must have seen or felt some of the anguish he couldn’t quite hide, because she leaned in to press a long, full kiss to his lips before pulling back just enough to whisper, “But I’m all yours right now.”

  “Oh, my love.” Hope bloomed in his chest, making his heart feel it would burst, and he crushed her lips to his. He dipped inside her mouth, thrusting and retreating his tongue in a sensual imitation of lovemaking. Gods, but this woman drove him insane with lust and wanting. With love.

  “I want you,” she whispered as she broke away, catching her full lower lip between her teeth.

  His lips curved into a grin. “My thoughts exactly.”

  She scanned the horizon before turning her questioning gaze back on him. “Should we go back to the compound?”

  He let out a chuckle. “Do you think we’d make it that far?”

  Ruby looked apprehensive. “But—”

  “No one will bother us here.”

  When she lo
oked as if she would further protest, he closed his arms around her once again and proceeded to kiss her senseless until all trace of resistance had fled her body.

  Her hand reached in between them to trail down his bare chest, and sparks of electricity danced where her fingers met his flesh. Lower she went, then lower still, until her forefinger traced the sensitive skin of his belly button. When he let out a pained groan, she made a soft sound of satisfaction in her throat and moved both hands to the fly of his jeans, effortlessly undoing them.

  “Oh, hell,” he gasped when her palm closed around his cock, sending shocks of electricity through the ultra-sensitive flesh.

  “Mm…I can make you feel better,” she said, her voice low and sultry.

  Of that he had no doubt. While she’d had practically no experience in lovemaking, she’d certainly learned quickly. Her skills with her hands were only surpassed by her mouth.

  As if she sensed his train of thought, she made to lower, but he caught her shoulders before she could progress. “No.”

  If she did that, it would be over far too quickly, and much as he enjoyed her luscious mouth, he wanted to come inside her.

  He gently shifted her back until she made contact with the smooth rock wall behind her and used his wings to block all wind as he unbuttoned her flannel shirt, drawing it open to reveal the firm globes of her breasts encased in lacy black material. The soft cups were all too easy to draw down, freeing the soft pink tips to his hungry gaze.

  “You’re so beautiful, Ruby.”

  She made a whimper in her throat, her eyes glazed with desire, and he took that as his cue to bend his head and take one pearly bud in his mouth. Her taste and scent, like the sweetest of flowers, intoxicated him. Groaning, he moved his head to the other breast, laving her sensitive flesh.

  “Oh, you drive me crazy.” She closed her hands over his head and running her fingers through his hair.

  “Good.” He kissed his way down her body, past her cute little belly button, and made quick work of undoing her jeans and sliding them below her thighs. A triangular scrap of black lace covered her mound. Gods, she knew how those thongs she wore drove him insane.

  She moaned, undulating her hips toward him, and he realized he’d have to undo the laces of her boots in order to tug her jeans off. No, that would take too long.

  “Turn around.” When she was slow to obey, he gently guided her around so the delicious curves of her bare ass faced him.

  No way this would last long. His mate was too delectable for words.

  She placed both hands on the wall, holding onto it for support as he spread her thighs as far as they’d go with her jeans still on. When she arched her back, thrusting her ass toward him, he groaned and shoved the lace aside so he could taste her. Her mound was slick with dew, sweet as honey, and like a man starved of food, he set about thoroughly feasting on her.

  “Oh God,” she cried out, her body breaking out into a shudder. “Oh, yes.”

  He continued working her with his tongue, sliding a finger deep into her moist, tight flesh while she rode out the aftereffects of what appeared to be a mini-climax. Soon enough she’d be having another one of those, if he had his way.

  “Please,” she sobbed, turning her head so her wild gaze landed on his. “Fuck me already.”

  Her crude request coaxed a growl from his throat and broke whatever threads of control he had left. Rising, he tugged his jeans further down to free his cock entirely, then grabbed hold of her hip and guided himself inside her tight, wet sheath. She moaned and shoved back, engulfing him inside her mind-blowing heat.

  Gritting his teeth, he grasped both her hips and set a furious pace, thrusting and withdrawing, then thrusting back in again. Further, deeper, until she cried out and matched his rhythm, her body slapping back against his.

  “Gods, Ruby,” he gasped. “I can’t take much more.”

  “Please.” Her word ended on a scream as her body clenched tight around him and her muscles convulsed with the blinding force of her orgasm. It propelled him into his own climax, and he cried out as his seed tore from his body with blinding intensity. Cupping a hand around one bare breast, he crushed her back to his front and rotated his hips, milking their almost simultaneous orgasms to the very end. Finally she collapsed against his back, totally and completely spent.

  With a growl in his throat, he turned Ruby to face him, and when his own legs started to feel like rubber, he gave into the urge to slip down to the ground, enveloping her in his warmth as he brought her with him.

  She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. “Wow. That was…wow.”

  He couldn’t have said it better himself. Every moment with Ruby was like heaven, but this had been on another level entirely.

  “I love you,” he murmured into her hair, unable to hold the words back.

  The slight stiffening of her shoulders was the only indication she’d heard him. But just when he feared she’d draw away, she relaxed again and buried her face deeper into his neck.

  “I could stay here forever,” she sighed.

  He let out a soft chuckle, forcing back the tremor of disappointment that slid through his body. While he hadn’t been crazy enough to expect a declaration of love, he couldn’t help but hope. Still, those words, coming from Ruby…he’d take them. For now, they were enough.

  They’d have to be.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Heavy sheets of snow blanketed the wilderness, covering all but the tops of the trees dotting the landscape. The stinging breeze slapped Ruby in the face, making her grateful she’d thought to wear thin but warm layers of clothes beneath the iron chain mail currently covering ninety-eight percent of her body—chain mail that had been spray-painted white to blend in with the snow and prevent any reflective glare from the sun.

  Alaska was everything she’d expected. Cold, isolated, stunning in its barren beauty.

  No one to witness what occurs inside the walls of that prison.

  Her face grim, she stood beside Jason, Aaron, and Samantha in a thicket of trees on a mountainside east of the prison. While she and Samantha couldn’t see the prison from this distance, their two Fallen could. Now, with all but Samantha clad head-to-toe in white-painted chain mail, they looked like they were about to go off to war. Which, she supposed, they were.

  “I see seven Consortium Guards prowling the perimeter of the property,” Jason said, she suspected for her and Samantha’s benefit since Aaron could see what he saw.

  “That lines up with what our reconnaissance has led us to believe,” Aaron commented.

  Several of the Fallen had been scouting out the prison for months now, memorizing patterns. They’d tracked the movements of the human guards who patrolled the property, clueless about what actually went on inside, as well as the comings and goings of the handful of angels who flew in and out of the property. After a few tests visits in which Ruby used her heightened sensory perception of the angels to track them without them sensing her, she knew there were generally never more than five angels at the prison at once. Ruby and Samantha had modified the locations of their cameras on this intel, placing them in the spots least likely to be noticed by either the guards or angels.

  Beside her, Jason took a deep, audible breath. “I suppose we’re ready.”

  “Yes,” Aaron replied, his voice just as grim.

  Jason glanced at her, and though with the mail his eyes were practically the only things noticeable about him, there was no mistaking the emotion in them. He was frightened for her.

  Her heart squeezed and she closed a gloved hand over his, wishing she could truly feel his warmth. She was scared for him too. Far too scared. But they couldn’t turn back now.

  “Let’s go,” Jason murmured.

  She maneuvered herself in front of Jason, cursing the way the heavy mail hindered her movements. It would make it that much harder to set up the cameras, but since she didn’t have the natural ability to mask her essence the wa
y Samantha did, there was no choice about it.

  Ruby and Samantha simultaneously bent to pick up the white backpacks at their feet then slid them on front ways, over their chests. The packs held all the equipment they’d need, and by wearing them this way, they wouldn’t have to worry about the men crushing it while they soared through the sky.

  Samantha’s pack was markedly bulkier than Ruby’s. After much arguing amongst the group, and after convincing them that she knew exactly where to position the cameras, Samantha had gotten everyone to agree that she’d hook up the lion’s share, six of the ten cameras. After all, she was by far the most mobile one of them.

  Curious, Ruby watched as Samantha bowed her head and clasped her hands together. Apparently this was her way of activating her innate ability to mask her essence.

  After several minutes, Ruby began to feel electricity churning up her surroundings, raising her hair on end. Suddenly, there was a resultant change in air pressure that caused her ears to pop.

  “Amazing,” Ruby said. While she’d sensed Samantha’s nephilim presence before, her muted essence was gone now, leaving her indistinguishable from any other human.

  “That’s me.” Samantha winked and flashed her a brave smile. “Let’s do our thing.”

  When Ruby nodded, Jason’s arms closed around her waist. Suddenly she was airborne. She inhaled deeply, determined to enjoy the feel of the wind buffeting her body, the view from high in the sky. Because this could be the last time she ever flew in Jason’s arms. The last time she ever did anything.

  Out of the corner of her eyes, she caught glimpses of Jason’s long, black wings as he masterfully maneuvered them through the sky. If only they’d been able to mask their all too obvious color, but spray painting didn’t work on angel wings. One flex and the paint broke off and fluttered to the ground like so much sawdust.

  As the prison came into view, Ruby only barely noted Aaron, with Samantha in tow, veering off to the left. They were headed to set up the cameras on the west, north, and a portion of the southern side of the prison, while she would handle the east and the rest of the southern side. But for now it was the sight of the prison itself that commanded her attention. It was a large, rectangular concrete block. Unassuming from the aerial view, looking more like a misplaced warehouse than anything else.