Archangels Creed Box Set 1-3

by Azure Boone

  He finished the order and handed Karly the money before opening the door and reaching in to help Devyn out.

  “I got it.”

  Her cold tone caused his chest to clench, surprising him. No one in his adult life had the power to hurt him with words. Except Devyn.

  As soon as they made it to the little hallway that led to the bathroom inside, Troy took a deep breath, preparing to walk unarmed into the lioness' den. He reached for her arm and stopped her. “Devyn,” he whispered.

  She turned those hard gray eyes on him.

  He shook his head. “What? Why are you so pissed at me?”

  Her mouth opened with a sarcastic gasp. “Oh, so it’s back to the innocent preacher act, huh? Hitting on whores and pretending you want to save their souls while getting a hard-on?”

  The tears filling her furious eyes hurt him. He never wanted to hurt her. “Baby, I did not get a hard-on."

  His assurance fell on deaf ears. “Well you sure seemed to have a difficult time pushing her away.” Rage rolled off her in palpable waves and her lower lip quivered, threatening sobs.

  “Devyn, I…I’m sorry, it’s just I’m used to—”

  “Letting whores reach in your pants and play with your shit? Preacher boy?”

  The vulgarity and nasty insults pouring from her mouth were supposed to make him uncomfortable. The technique proved highly effective. “Stop it Devyn. If you didn’t notice, my hands were sort of full. What did you want me to do, kick her?”

  “Yes, that would’ve been better than standing there. How about move out of her fucking way rather than letting her paw all over you.”

  This was one fight he wasn't going to win. “You’re right, I should’ve. I’m so sorry, I love you.” Troy noticed she trembled. He pulled her in his embrace and she fought him. “God, please Devyn, stop, I love you.” He pressed his head to hers and held her close. She finally stopped struggling, but she didn’t return the embrace. Troy stroked her back, feeling how tense she was. “You’re the only woman I want, I promise. Forever. Please don’t hate me. I’m learning how not to be a minister and how to be a husband.”

  A few seconds later, she gasped and her arms wrapped him tight. Troy sighed in relief, leaning his head and kissing her head until she looked up. He claimed her lips hungrily and Devyn’s own need seemed to explode.

  She broke the kiss and turned to the bathroom door and knocked. When there was no answer, she opened it and pulled him inside and locked the door. She pushed him against the door and began undoing his pants with trembling fingers. “I need you, please.”

  The whimper in her tone undid Troy and he jerked his pants and boxers down while helping Devyn get out of hers. The second she was free of her jeans, he pulled her into his body and slid his hand in her panties, groaning in her mouth when his fingers plunged deep into her moist heat. She clutched his shoulders, gasping.

  “Please, fuck me. Now.”

  Troy lifted her onto his waist and positioned her. The second she was in place, his hands latched onto her shoulders and pulled her onto his painful erection. Her fingernails raked his scalp as her cry filled his mouth and her legs squeezed his waist tight. His back against the door, he looked down and watched her riding him, holding her waist. His heated gaze rose to find her mouth open and her eyes closed in abandon.

  Made him so damn hungry.

  He turned and placed her back against the door, pulling her down lower for deep penetration. Holding her waist, he moved her over him, flicking his hips when deep inside her.

  “God yes, yes, fuck me.”

  Her desperate plea fueled that animal urge in him and he gave in to it, bucking his hips and yanking her T-shirt up. She pulled his hair as he sucked her nipple, his groans getting more feral with his approaching orgasm. He gasped and jerked her head back by her hair and sucked her neck hard while the wave of heat surged into his groin until there was nothing but the taste of her in his mouth and her heat wrapping his cock, sucking the orgasm right out of him. His hand slammed the door and his lips found hers, their cries and gasps mingling in the explosion.

  The second he was done he dropped to his knees and shoved one of her legs up high and pinned it to the door. He used his other hand to pin her upper body the same while he sucked her clit and full lips greedily.

  “Troy, yes, suck me.”

  He groaned at the way she gasped the words, at the way she pulled his hair and rocked her hips against his mouth.

  He flicked her clit erratically and mercilessly, commanding her orgasm with his lips and tongue. He felt it answer, trembling in her thighs, rising in her desperate moans.

  “Oh God, oh God, I’m coming, I’m coming.”

  He pinned her harder, wanting to feel every shudder passing through her body. He created a tight suction over her clit and turned up the intensity. Just hearing her, feeling her, had Troy hard all over again.

  He stood poised to enter her again while her body still vibrated from her orgasm. Troy! Kassern's voice echoed through his head. With a deep shuddering breath, he ignored it.

  TROY! The bastard's roar shot painfully into his skull, the equivalent of being hit in the head by a baseball bat.

  His hard-on waned. What! He gave the words a mental kick, hoping it was enough to make the bastard's headache worse.

  "What's wrong, Troy?" Devyn's legs slid to the floor.

  We have to move! NOW! The concussion of the words sent him reeling, nearly making him fall. His cock decided it had no further interest in anything and shrunk.

  Troy kissed her, mourning that he had to stop. Her hands gripped his face, kissing him back as though she too wanted more. God, he couldn’t wait to get her someplace where they could do that for hours. “We have to go. Quick. Kassern.” The words were breathless and filled with an unquenchable need.

  She nodded, kissing him a few more times before they both dressed. Devyn pulled him by the hand as they exited the bathroom still straightening their clothing. Troy's cheeks flushed with heat as he tried to ignore the hostile glare from the heavyset woman at the cash register. Damn. She must’ve heard them.

  In the car, they found Kassern in the back with Karly. “Figured you needed a break from the back seat,” Kassern said to Devyn.

  Troy stared at Kassern, aware that his worry over Karly showed clearly on his face.

  The archangel arched a brow at him. “Would you like Devyn back here instead?”

  Troy shook his head and dropped into the driver seat.

  “We’ve got company coming. Five miles behind us.”

  Troy started the car and pulled out. “Another scout?”

  “No. A swarm.”

  “A swarm?” Devyn’s voice trembled. In fear, or from the aftermath of that amazing orgasm?

  “Yes,” Kassern muttered. “As in a large group.”

  “How large?” Troy wondered.

  “About a hundred.”

  Jesus. Troy met Kassern’s ruby gaze in the rear view mirror. “You’re all better?”

  His brows rose. “Yes. Now that you two are.”

  Troy and Devyn exchanged glances. Did she hear the meaning behind his words like he did? From the look on her face, yes. Kassern gained strength when they made love. Troy couldn’t help but really appreciate that aspect of their little threesome.

  Kassern couldn’t decide which was more difficult. Shutting off Troy’s voice or shutting out Karly’s…everything. Why did he have such a strong connection with her? Because he'd intervened in her suicide attempt? Or maybe it was rescuing her from Jake. Was it because he’d healed her while their little triumvirate was still processing? He heard her every need and thought, felt her feelings and…why in Father’s name didn’t Uriel warn him of this? He was not equipped to handle this woman. Her needs went far beyond his angelic duties and there was no way he could help. He just could not give her what she needed. No matter how badly his human weaknesses wanted. Or needed even.

 
He hated it, but he had to distance himself from Karly. And that was proving to be difficult in this tic-tac car, especially when he needed Devyn and Troy close, keeping their connection strong. Their last spat nearly put him in a coma. Another unanticipated conundrum in their little tri-germathon that could result in the whole damn mission failing.

  Karly laid her head on his shoulder and the need in her heart stole his angelic breath. Her soul literally shuddered with ache to be comforted. His eyes closed with a deep sigh as he stroked her head once, praying it was enough for her. Enough for him. Every human part of him demanded he ease her pain and fill her needs while the angel in him insisted that would take actions far beyond his capabilities.

  His heart and body eased as joy flooded her system and overflowed into him from just his touch.

  “Where to? Did you get word from your boss about where we’re headed yet?”

  “Ah yes, good news on that,” Kassern said dryly, yet grateful for the distraction. “Uriel contacted me in a dream and reminded me. One of the triumvirate is unclean and cannot enter the holy sanctuary until said sins are absolved.”

  “What?” Devyn spun to him. “How is that good news?”

  “It was a joke.” Sarcasm dried his words. “Thanks to my new humanity, I’d forgotten that important part. One of you has issues that need tending before my transformation can complete. Until then, my angelic strength and abilities are at your mercy. So, if you don’t mind, our next stop needs to include a little soul-searching.”

  While Troy and Devyn were occupied with that, he would have to figure out how to stay away from Karly. But what if he couldn't? And especially, what if he didn't want to? He heaved a sigh, grateful his rank as Archangel allowed him to shield thoughts from Uriel and others. Since this mission began, a whole slew of blasphemous ideas had trotted right through his mind; ideas that would be grounds for stripping his rank, clipping his wings, and possibly even for sending him to visit in Hell for a few thousand years.

  ****

  Karly wasn't an idiot. She could tell Kassern felt uncomfortable. He'd never experienced lust, never had a woman interested in him. His reluctance to return her physical affection, while difficult to take, was at least easy to understand. He was confused.

  She, on the other hand, had never seen things so clearly. It was as if Kassern had lifted a heavy veil from her eyes when he healed her from the damage Jake and his homies had done. Removing the physical signs of the brutality proved rather simple. Taking care of her invisible injuries had taken more work from him. His willingness to give that much effort proved how perfect they were for one another. It was just a matter of making him see it. But so far, that was easier said than done.

  So far, while the rest of them had been focused on their mission, staying out of reach of those demon-things, and figuring out what to do next, Karly had allowed her feelings for Kassern, and his response to them, to keep her preoccupied. At some point she needed to take some action to settle things with Kassern. Maybe then she could help a little with the rest of their problems. All she had to do was decide what she could do to get through to Kassern.

  ****

  Had they really just walked in on that? Troy couldn’t stop asking himself the question. He finally voiced his concern, despite how fragile Devyn seemed. And what was wrong with her? She seemed terrified, pacing up and down like a trapped wild animal.

  “I don’t like this.” He didn’t know what else to say.

  “Don’t like what.” Devyn’s voice shook with whatever had hold of her.

  Troy watched her continue to pace. “I don’t like what we just walked in on, and I don’t like how you’re acting. What’s wrong?”

  She seemed to only pick up speed. “Ohh, ho, ho, I don’t like it either. Those things are looking for us, our angel is-is-is falling, and one of us is staining the entire world with sin.”

  Troy got up and intercepted her, holding her still by the shoulders. “What is wrong with you?”

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she shouted. “You think if I knew, I wouldn’t confess it? You think I want this? To be the stain? The damned whore just-staining everything good?”

  Troy tried to embrace her but she resisted. “You’re not staining anything, we’ll talk to Kassern, maybe you’re right…I mean he’s part of the triumvirate, maybe…maybe he’s the one with the problem. I mean after what we just walked in on…” Troy gasped, still shocked, “yeah, maybe it’s him.”

  Devyn looked at him, suspicion slowly taking over her features. “What if it’s Karly?”

  “But she’s not part of it.”

  Devyn jerked free and began pacing again, holding herself.

  Troy began to pray. He didn’t know what else to do, something was wrong with Devyn and he needed to know what.

  “I’m worried about you and Karly,” he said.

  She stopped and stared at him. “Me and Karly?”

  Troy’s gaze narrowed, not liking the accusation in her tone. “Yes, you and Karly.” He fought the helplessness assaulting him.

  Devyn pointed to the door. “You know where she is, go take care of her. Maybe you and Kassern can both have a go at the whore.”

  Shit. “Devyn.” Troy’s voice was careful. “Please. Stop.”

  A knock sounded at the door and Troy hurried to it, listening with his new hearing. He opened it when Kassern murmured his name. But only a crack.

  “Time to move now.”

  With nothing to carry, the four of them followed Kassern’s hurried pace to the back parking lot and got in the car. Troy started the car. “Where to?” He looked at the time. 4:12 a.m.

  “North. Right out of this parking lot, and left at the first light.”

  “I’ll need gas.”

  “Let’s make it as quick as possible.” Kassern mumbled the words, but Troy heard it fine.

  “We’ll grab food and use the bathroom,” Troy suggested, getting no words of agreement.

  The elephant in the room he’d anticipated weighed heavy in the car’s confined space. He glanced at Devyn, using his peripheral vision to see the status of Karly and Kassern. They sat at opposite sides of the back seat.

  Pulling into a small gas station, Karly mumbled. “I need the bathroom.”

  “So do I,” Devyn said.

  ****

  Karly scuttled off to the restroom like the little rat she was. Why the fuck did she have to try to get every dick in a ten mile radius in her slimy cunt? Devyn saw it all so clearly. How Karly always fucked up any chance Devyn had for a decent life.

  Troy was already panting after her. It wouldn't be long before she started swishing her tail at him, like a fucking bitch in heat. And like any other male, he wouldn't be able to resist. That would leave Devyn with nothing. Yet again.

  She ignored the small voice that said her tirade was unjust, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was Karly threatening her one chance at having something meaningful with Troy.

  With several long strides, she caught up with Karly just as she opened a stall door. Devyn grabbed the skinny arm with bruising force, gratified to see the little red throwing blades materialize on her knuckles. Sticking one of them through Karly's black heart would feel fan-fucking-tastic.

  Karly whirled on her, startled. "What is it, Devyn?"

  Dark laughter poured from her throat. "Don't act like you don't know. I saw you. And you won't get away with it." She pulled a fist back, ready to mark up that innocent-looking face that always let the bitch get off scot-free.

  Fear flushed Karly's cheeks. "What are you talking about? I didn't do anything wrong." The whole in-ya-grille tough girl act Karly always put on when she felt threatened failed to appear.

  Devyn laughed again. "You can't possibly be that stupid." Karly's poor academic performance through adolescence had always been a sore point, and Devyn didn't even hesitate to use it. "We're stuck here, with those things chasing us, and you're all getting dow
n to business with the fucking angel! You're corrupting our only chance out of all this. The bad guys—Jake and others like him and those things—are going to win! Because of you."

  Tears rolled down Karly's cheeks, showing the depth of the wounds Devyn's words left. Her normal response to such an attack would have been to strike back without mercy. Crying looked completely foreign on her. Rather than fight back, she just turned away.

  Devyn wanted to drag her back and force her to fight, but kicking a dog that refused to bark didn't have much appeal. Still furious, Devyn stomped away. She wasn't finished with her.

  While Karly licked her wounds, Devyn stalked out into the main part of the store and headed to the counter with soft drink bottles for everybody. Movement in the alcove at the side of the counter, where the restrooms were, caught her attention. Troy. When she reached the counter, the person he spoke with came into her line of sight.

  Of course. Karly.

  “Say what you need to say Troy.” Kassern couldn’t take another dirty look from him in the rear view mirror. He knew what he thought but he wasn’t going to say it for him.

  Troy finally turned in his seat. “Just what exactly is going on between you and Karly?”

  Kassern looked out the window. “What do you think?”

  “I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking. I know she’s vulnerable right now, I know you’re an angel, I know a lot is at stake.”

  Kassern met his gaze, surprised with how hard it was to find the right words for his human condition. “I had to.” Well, it was a start.

  “You had to?”

  “Just like you did,” he said. “With Devyn.”

  “But that was you, you—”

  “No,” he shook his head. “That was all you. I just removed a few blinders.”

  “So wait, you’re saying—”

  “I’m saying, like you, I couldn’t keep from giving her what she needed.”

  Troy’s gaze narrowed. “Sex?”