The Wanderer's Children

by L. G. O'Connor

  She smiled into his shoulder, his tenderness almost bringing a tear to her eye. The familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the heady smell at the base of neck. “The feeling’s mutual.”

  He chuckled and then kissed her hard and deep as his hands started their journey over her body. Slipping his hand underneath her dress, his fingers slowly traveled up her inner thighs. She was already wet, her body reacting from the moment he’d asked her to put the dress on naked underneath.

  His fingertips lightly brushed the wetness between her legs, while he edged down the top of her dress. His mouth found her breast, delighting in the gold ring through her hard peak.

  Two of his fingers slipped inside her, exploring her deeply, as the tip of his tongue tugged on her nipple ring. She let out a loud moan of pleasure as he had his way with her, shivering with anticipatory wonder as to what he had in store for her.

  One thing was sure. It would be a long night.

  Pulling his fingers out and giving her breast one last nip, he lifted her up and positioned her on the bed. Her legs dangled over the edge. Slowly, he slid her dress up to her waist.

  He knelt down between her legs and whispered, “I’m going to taste you, before I lose myself inside of you.” Her legs over his shoulders, he plunged his tongue inside of her, probing and exploring before he moved up to lick between her folds. Heat and need filled her core.

  He slid his tongue up further to caress and suck on her swollen spot, setting her on fire. She cried out, on the edge of orgasm.

  Michael pulled away. “I don’t want you to come until I’m inside of you,” he growled, lowering his jeans without taking them off. His erection sprang free, anxious and throbbing. Sienna never failed to marvel at him. Thick, long, and beautiful, like the rest of him. He wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed past her opening. Thrusting all the way in until his body was flush with hers, he filled her to capacity. The slick friction of his skin on hers set her nerve endings alight with pleasure as he settled into a rocking rhythm.

  “Oh, Michael,” she moaned. Absorbed in the awareness of him, she wrapped her legs more tightly around him, digging her heels into his buttocks.

  His long fingers grasped her hips. He threw his head back and closed his eyes, letting out a satisfied moan from his throat. Moving inside of her, he thrust in deep and rotated his hips, heightening the sensation.

  Opening his eyes halfway, he looked down at her. “Does this feel like a man who’s cheating on you?” he asked breathlessly on an inward thrust.

  Barely able to think, she replied with equal breathlessness, “No.”

  If you could tell someone was cheating on you by the way they made love to you, this wouldn’t be it. Mark had cheated on her, and he never put this much effort or skill into it. She knew down to her core that Michael gave her everything he had when they were together. He may have loved to call the shots, but he never held out on her. Ever.

  He increased his rhythm, messaging her from the inside. His movements were fluid and deliberate. “Does this feel like someone who doesn’t care about you?”

  “No,” she moaned. Of course he cared about her; she could feel it in everything they did together. She cared a great deal about him, too. If anything, she cared too much.

  Pounding hard, he sought her G-spot with every delicious stroke. “Does this feel like someone who doesn’t want to please you?” He struggled to speak. She could feel him getting close as he swelled inside of her.

  “No!” Sienna screamed as the volcano of her orgasm built. He always pleased her—every time. He seemed to get more enjoyment out of pleasing her then reaching his own climax. Although he always accepted the pleasure she gave him graciously and fully enjoyed it, even when he had to abandon control.

  This time, when he slammed into her, her orgasm erupted and she felt herself shatter around him.

  A final scream escaped his lips as he joined her. His pulsing matching hers, yet he kept moving for a few more thrusts until he couldn’t go on. Rather than collapsing down next to her, he scooped her up, keeping himself buried deep and kissed her.

  He kicked off his jeans, and then carried her to the bathroom and turned on the shower, one-handed. Looking into her eyes, he asked, “We back on the same page?”

  “One hundred percent.”

  “Good, I’m going to put you down now.” He pulled out of her. Slipping her dress off over her head, she jumped into the shower with him following behind.

  “Commando, huh? That was a surprise.” She wet her hair and flashed a quick glance at his crotch.

  He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “You gave me the idea.”

  Michael grabbed the shower pouf and soaped it up. Joining her under the water from behind, he tucked his body around hers and drew the soapy ball in slow circles on her front.

  “We have a lot more points to spend. If we stay in here too long, it’ll be tomorrow morning before we know it,” she said.

  He nibbled on her ear and teased, “I believe the phrase was ‘my points, my rules’?”

  “Just sayin’,” she said, turning around to rinse. As much as they loved the shower, if he expected to do anything with that glass of ice cubes and those handcuffs, they’d better get to it. She had to work tomorrow.

  “Good point,” he conceded and quickly washed the rest of her, before washing himself.

  They slipped into fluffy white robes she’d just bought and kept on hooks behind the door.

  Sienna towel dried her hair and twisted it into a bun on her head. Michael stood behind her, his chin on her shoulder and his arms around her waist as she secured her hair. Looking at him look at her in the mirror made her smile. He nuzzled her neck, taking a deep inhale. There was a sameness and harmony in the way they looked with him tucked behind her… and the way he made her heart beat. Everything felt right in her world again.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  She nodded with a smile.

  He carried her into the bedroom, and placed her in the middle of the bed. Straddling her, he grabbed the handcuffs from the nightstand.

  “Wait!” she screamed. “Show me the keys first.”

  Rolling his eyes, he retrieved them from his jeans. He dangled them from his pinky before placing them on the nightstand next to the now melting glass of ice.

  “Satisfied?”

  She nodded.

  He resumed his position astride her. Taking her wrist, he clasped the handcuff around it with a snap and secured it on one of the rungs of her antique iron bed. He strung the handcuffs around one of the vertical iron bars and captured her other wrist.

  He looked her in the eye, and then peeled back the flaps of her robe, the cool air hitting her skin. Her nipples immediately hardened. Reaching over, he fished out an ice cube from the glass.

  “Half-melted ice is the best.” He put it into his mouth and then removed it. “Just getting off any excess water,” he explained with a crooked smile.

  Lying down next to her, he started the cube’s journey at her lips. Caressing them with the ice and then kissing her with his warm mouth. The cube journeyed down her neck, followed by his tongue, eliciting a gasp. He worked his way down to her breasts, circling the cube around her left nipple. The metal of the nipple ring grew cold quickly, sending a shiver down her spine. Lifting the ice cube, he took her into his hot mouth warming her while using the ice cube on her other breast, giving her the most exquisite sensation between hot and cold. He alternated from side to side until the cube was gone, and then picked up another.

  Sienna panted. Her body pulsed between her legs, wet and ready for him.

  Slowly, he trailed the ice down her belly to her navel and around each of her pelvic bones, while exploring her skin with his mouth until the cube was gone. This time, he popped a cube into his mouth and went down on her. He licked and teased her, alternating between using the cube and his tongue to explore her.

  The sensation made her scream out, the feeling almost painful in its pleasure. He tugged gen
tly at her nipple rings as he licked her, sending shock waves through her in a serious case of sensory overload. Without warning, an orgasm crashed over her, shaking her core as she lay helpless with her hands restrained above her head.

  “Michael!” she screamed, not caring if the neighbors heard her.

  Slowly, he worked his way back up her body, opening his robe and touching her skin-on-skin. He was hard and ready.

  He released her from the handcuffs and lay down next to her. Positioning one of his long legs between hers, he rolled her onto her side. Moving her up just a little higher on his hip, he glided right into her slick wetness. Pressing her into the hard ridges of his chest, he locked his arms around her and looked into her eyes as they lay face-to-face. He kissed her forehead and gently rocked inside her, the motion lulling her into a state of quiet ecstasy.

  “You feel like Heaven,” she whispered, her eyes half-open.

  He kissed her softly on the lips before resting his face next to hers on the pillow. “I’m going to miss you while I’m gone.”

  A smile tugged at her lips. “I’m going to miss you too, baby.” She tucked her head onto his chest and closed her eyes, lost in the sensation of his gentle thrusting caresses.

  “I could last all night like this,” he whispered into her hair.

  “I’d pay anything for this to last all night.” Her mouth found his and she kissed him with every ounce of emotion she had left in her. Placing his hand on the back of her head, he kissed her back, pouring into it seemingly all he had to give. She could feel his kiss down to her toes. Being with him left her breathless.

  When his lips left hers, Sienna gazed deeply into his royal-blue eyes. “Michael, I promise I’ll never doubt you again.”

  He smiled and continued to gently rock inside of her. “I want you to remember this night in case the temptation ever comes up again.”

  Sienna flashed him a distraught look. “I—”

  He put his fingers to her lips. “Shh, let me finish,” he said, stoking her hair. “I want you to feel how much I care about you, how much I desire you, and how much I want to be with you. Do you feel it?”

  He increased his pace slightly, sending an electric shock wave of sensation through her.

  “Yes,” she said softly. He hugged her tightly, his cheek touching hers.

  For almost an hour they lay wrapped in each other’s arms while they rode the gentle sea of Michael’s thrusting, her nerve endings alive with exquisite pleasure.

  Kissing the top of her head, he whispered, “Why don’t I take us home?”

  Without waiting for a response, he shifted into position on top of her and did exactly that. He drove them home.

  Her orgasm gripped her hard, carrying her away in a volcanic explosion of ecstasy so powerful that the contraction of her internal muscles was almost painful. Michael followed with a forceful shudder, releasing inside of her as he pulsed in the aftermath.

  He collapsed down next to her, breathing hard. She threw her leg over him while they recovered, her heart pounding as she lay spineless in his embrace.

  He laughed. “I guess we can call it a seventy-five point night.”

  She pulled him close, and asked, “Will you stay?”

  A look of mild panic flashed through his eyes, and then he gave her a wan smile. “I’m sorry, I have to go. Maybe next time?”

  Disappointment washed over her. She didn’t want to push it. So she let it go. “Okay.”

  Closing her robe, she lay on the bed and watched him get up and prepare to leave. He placed his robe neatly on the chair. Standing naked and gorgeous in front of her, he collected his clothes. “I’m going to clean up. I’ll be right back.”

  Loneliness washed over Sienna. She didn’t want him to leave tonight much less for a week. How would she survive a whole week without him? God, she hated being such a girl.

  He poked his head back in. “Walk me out?”

  She followed him to the front door. He turned and pulled her into a tight embrace. She relaxed into his now familiar warmth. “Despite everything, I had a fantastic evening. I’ll give you a call while I’m gone.

  Sadness prevented her smile from reaching her eyes.

  “I’ll miss you,” he whispered.

  “Me, too.” After one last quick kiss, he was gone.

  Sienna didn’t know why a tear slipped down her cheek.

  Chapter 57

  CARA

  New York City. Green Street Loft. Wednesday, May 29, 6:30 AM ET

  “YOU LOOK LIKE HELL.” Cara gave Michael a peck on the cheek as he walked into Simon’s loft through the stairwell door dressed in black and carrying a duffel bag. Dark crescents lay under his eyes again this morning. Sienna was having a detrimental effect on his sleep.

  “At least I have a smile on my face.” He winked and bent down to pet Chloe who was sniffing his pants leg. Even she was ready for battle in her pink Kevlar dog coat.

  “Things better in paradise?” Cara smiled and gave him a playful squeeze on the arm.

  He nodded. “Any coffee left?”

  She pointed him toward the unruly crowd in the kitchen. “Better get there fast.”

  He dropped his bag down by everyone else’s next to the elevator and waded into the sea of black in the kitchen. Everyone was suited up and armed to the teeth. Well almost everyone. Brett was the only one unarmed due to his lack of weapons training. Even Kai knew his way around knives thanks to Luke.

  As for her, blessed blades were sheathed all over her body: waistband, thighs, wrists, ankles. Hopefully, she wouldn’t accidentally stab herself.

  Kai got more than a few surprised stares when he’d produced Achanelech’s jewel-topped knife—the one that had almost killed her—as they walked into the kitchen. Her side ached just looking it at. Unable to heal the jagged scar left behind with her Nephilim DNA alone, she had needed her healing powers to fully erase it.

  “Be careful with that, Kai,” said Simon, eyeing it warily, “It’s a powerful weapon.”

  Kai’s mouth pinched into a thin line. “Will it work on the Dark Ones?”

  Simon nodded.

  “Like cutting through butter. It’ll send ’em straight to hell. But—”

  Angel interrupted. “It’s lethal to a human without angelic blood… after it makes you loco. At least put a sheath on it. I’ll check for a spare with my civilian weapons.” He headed off toward the mound of luggage.

  A spark of fear flashed in Kai’s eyes. “Good to know.”

  Isaac whistled, calling for everyone’s attention.

  “I’ll drive Simon’s Escalade. Zeke will drive mine,” said Isaac, giving orders with military precision. He seemed to have something to prove after the attack on Sunday. This would be the Dark Ones’ last chance to make a move before they left and he’d be damned if they succeeded on his watch. At least that’s what Cara had gleaned through her eavesdropping earlier.

  He pointed to her, Michael, and Simon. “You three and Chloe come with me. Angel, Paco, and Luke will accompany Kai and Brett. We’ll park next to the plane; and stay in tight formation until you’re all aboard. If all goes according to plan, Zeke will take Angel to Newark for his commercial flight home to California after the rest of us leave Teterboro for the Sanctuary. If not… we’re under strict orders to get Cara, Simon, Brett, Kai, and Michael on that plane—whatever it takes.”

  Butterflies rumbled in her stomach. Fun.

  “Noah is going to take the baggage in advance and have it preloaded on the plane so we can take off fast. Any questions?” Isaac asked with an ice-blue stare as he passed a hand over his blond spiky hair. “Oh, before I forget. Just in case.” He slammed a bottle of pills on the counter. “You guys, Kai, Michael, and Brett. Take one.” Then he glanced at her. “You too, Cara. You still haven’t built full Nephilim resistance.”

  “To what?”

  “Demon energy as they manifest. These will prevent the headaches.”

  “Damn. I would’ve killed for a bottle of
these babies just last week,” Brett said, snatching it off the counter and removing the twist-off lid.

  Cara had been pleasantly surprised to learn Brett was adequately proficient at mixed martial arts. Too bad he wasn’t trained in weapons. Even so, he looked badass in black with his hair back in a tight blond ponytail.

  “Why do we get the headaches?” Cara asked.

  He glared. “So you know to run.”

  Wish she’d known that the first time around. She wouldn’t have hesitated and nearly gotten herself killed.

  “There’s another downside for you,” Isaac said to Cara.

  “What’s that?” Kai interjected as Brett handed him the bottle.

  “It’ll block her ability to detect soulless energy,” Isaac replied, then glanced at the troops and slapped the granite island. “Let’s roll.”

  Cara’s knee nervously bobbed up and down all the way to Teterboro Airport as she stared out at the gray overcast sky. Michael sat up front with Isaac while Simon sat next to her in the middle row seats with Chloe. The pill may block Dark Ones’ energy but it did nothing to dull her ability to read emotions. Everyone’s nervous energy turned her stomach. “You guys are making me feel sick.”

  “Sorry, love, not much we can do about that.” Simon squeezed her hand.

  “Noah finished loading the bags,” said Isaac, receiving the silent message on their Guardian frequency.

  They pulled through the gates of the airport first while the second SUV followed close behind. The Angelorum hangar was at the far end of the airport in the northeast corner.

  In the distance, the luxury Gulfstream G650 private jet sat on the tarmac and appeared ready to go. Nice to know the Angelorum probably had about as much money as the Catholic Church.

  That good news was negated when Chloe popped up between her and Simon with her hackles raised and a low growl in her throat. Noah’s SUV was nowhere in sight.

  “Not good,” Cara said, her pulse quickening while her sense of perception stayed dead from the pill. She glanced at Michael, “You don’t feel anything, either, do you?”