by Vivian Wood
“Ezra,” she said. “I wish I had all the answers you need.”
“We need a plan,” he said, changing the subject. Letting her off the hook, more like. She’d never met anyone so determined not to push her into a decision.
Ezra stood, picking up his coffee. She rose and followed him, a little awestruck.
She’d anticipated his anger, dismissal, perhaps even a moment in which he threatened to keep her from trying to do something so dangerous. Instead, he gave her his support, without question.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said, settling on the open window ledge.
“Well… I don’t think we have to kill them, which is the good news,” she said.
Ezra arched a brow. “I’m listening.”
“It occurred to me that everything they’ve done… Belial getting Aragoth to trap my brother, Armeros deceiving my mother to capture her soul…” she slowed, took a breath. “Those things are wrong. Like, morally, objectively wrong.”
Ezra only nodded, watching her intently. She took courage, and pushed on.
“So if they were caught in the act of trying to harm a Null, that would be… bad. For them, I mean. Right?”
“I think if Le Medcin had direct proof, he wouldn’t hesitate to rain fire and brimstone on anyone who disrupted the balance.”
“What if we could give him proof?” she asked.
Ezra sat his mug down. “What are you thinking?”
“What if we could engineer a situation where they were both caught trying to tip the scales? Two big birds, one stone.”
Ezra’s eyes narrowed. “You want to bait them.”
“Essentially, yes. I was thinking that we could leak our location, somewhere big and open where nothing can be hidden. We bring witnesses, parties who are neutral enough to swear to what’s happened.”
“And what? You’re standing there, defenseless, waiting for Armeros and Belial to attack you?”
“Well, I am hoping that they will have to fight each other first, so at least I’ll only have to go up against one of them.”
“We.”
“Sorry?”
“We are going to fight them. I’m willing to go along with your plan, but there’s no way in Hell that I am letting you go in there alone.”
“It needs to look that way,” she said. “I thought… I thought we could stage a very public fight.”
“And once we’ve got them there, what are we supposed to do with them?”
“I don’t know. Trap them, somehow. How does Vesper trap demons when she’s working as a bounty hunter?”
Ezra sighed. “Orbs. She has these glass orbs that she can smash at a demon’s feet, it traps them temporarily.”
“Long enough to turn them over to Le Medcin?”
“I think so.”
They both fell silent, thinking.
“City Park,” Ezra said after a minute.
“Sorry?” Aurora asked.
“It’s the only place I can think of that we could try this. It’s big and open, but not close to too many people.”
Aurora nodded, turning it over in her mind. “I think that could work. How much space do you need to clear for two opposing angels to fight?”
Ezra’s critical expression almost made her laugh, despite the seriousness of the moment.
“You know how insane this whole plan is, right?” he asked.
Aurora glanced out the window. “You don’t have to be a part of it.”
Ezra reached out and closed his hand over hers, squeezing it tight.
“Yes, I do. I go where you go,” he said.
“Right. My protector,” she said, feeling very much like they were retreating back to the first days of their time at the safe house.
“No,” he said sternly.
She looked up at him, biting her lip.
“No?”
“Aurora…” he said, shaking his head. “Don’t start a conversation you aren’t willing to finish.”
They locked gazes, Aurora’s heart and mind filled with a thousand things she wanted to say. None of them seemed right, though. When she dropped her eyes, Ezra released her hand and stood.
Not unfriendly, just… distant. Quiet.
“Ezra,” she said, wishing she had the words he wanted to hear.
He only shook his head. “We have a lot to do. Why don’t you start a list of tasks, and we can split them up. If we’re going to go through with this crazy plan, I’d like to get it over with sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, I need some breakfast.”
Ezra went to the kitchen, leaving her sitting on the window ledge. She felt wooden and hollow, longing to give Ezra what he so clearly needed from her.
Once she’d drawn up a to-do list, Ezra elected himself for all the tasks outside the safe house. He left with nothing but a wave of his hand, and she couldn’t help but feel disappointment.
From him, certainly, but also from within herself.
On her end, she spent her day and most of her evening planning as much as she could. It was late when Ezra returned, passing through the kitchen with little more than a comforting smile for her.
“Tomorrow night,” he said. “It’s set. I’ve laid all the groundwork that I can.”
He was clearly worn out, so when he headed to bed early, she could hardly protest.
Grabbing a novel at random from the living room, she went to her own room and lay in bed, feeling as though she might crawl out of her skin.
She thought of nothing but Ezra, not even bothering to open the book.
It’s probably the last night of my life, and what am I doing? Moping over a guy who’s moping over me. Could I be any more stupid? she wondered.
She closed the book with a thump, glaring at it.
I refuse to waste the night reading Jane Eyre, of all things. It’s time to be a grownup instead of a scared little girl.
After final a moment of indecision, she stood and rooted through her clothes rack. She flipped through her garments, hunting for a silky black bag that hung amongst her dresses and blouses.
“Bingo,” she said, grabbing it.
She carried the bag to her bed and unzipped it, drawing out a few silken slips. She’d bought them on impulse, dreaming of the day she might need them.
Today is that day, she told herself.
She chose the simplest one, bright white silk with thin straps. She undressed and shimmied into it, blushing a little at how short it was. She stepped into the matching silk panties, the fabric slipping up her legs like a caress.
She wondered if she should put on a little makeup, but decided against it. Instead, she unbound her hair from its braid and let it surround her like a curtain.
Taking a deep breath, she left her room before she could lose her courage. She knocked on his door as softly as she could.
No answer. She turned the doorknob and let herself into his room.
Ezra lay on his side, deeply asleep. He’d kicked off the covers, exposing the broad expanse of his muscular back and legs.
For a moment, her heart dropped to her feet. She’d missed her chance tonight, that much was clear.
Still, she stood and watched him sleep. The rhythmic rise and fall of his chest was soothing, and his scent was heavy in the room, clean and masculine and comforting.
She moved over to his bedside, tugging the blankets across his body. He stirred, opening one eye.
“Mmm,” he mumbled. “Rora.”
He didn’t seem quite awake, but the lure of him was too strong for her to resist.
“Ezra, can I sleep here?” she asked.
“Mmm,” he said again, raising his arm.
Making a space for her. Aurora crawled onto the bed and lay next to him, feeling as though she was doing something that bordered on being wrong.
Ezra muttered something else in his sleep, reaching out to grab her by the waist. He dragged her over until she was pressed close, turning her so that she aligned with his body. He shifted, nuzzling the hair at
her neck, and pulled up the covers over her.
An electric shiver crept up her spine. Her body warmed, tightened. Ezra was teasing her without even realizing it.
His hand found hers, his arm curling to hold her tight, and he settled into sleep.
The soft, regular sound of his breathing, the warmth of his big body…
Slowly she relaxed and let him lull her, pulling her down into the depths of slumber.
Ezra woke with something tickling his nose. He blinked, raising his hand, and then went stock still.
Only inches away, Aurora was curled up beside him, sleeping quietly. Her hair was spread out everywhere, under his face even as he’d slept.
The comforter and sheets were at the foot of the bed; he always kicked the blankets off in his sleep.
The shining copper waves of her hair covered most of her top half, but from the waist down he could see that she wore nothing but white silk. A short white teddy, which rode up at the back to give him a glimpse of white panties.
Ezra’s cock had stirred the moment he found her so close; her outfit was nearly enough to drive him out of his mind. He reached out to trail his fingers over the curve of her hip, wondering if this moment could possibly be real. It would be cruel to wake from this dream.
Aurora shivered, then turned toward him. She gave him a sleepy smile, her blue eyes reflecting something close to sheepishness.
“Hi,” she whispered.
“You’re here,” he said.
Her lips twitched. “I’m here.”
It was enough for him. Ezra pulled her close, giving her a long, slow kiss. Aurora slid her arms around his neck and pressed herself flush against him, making him groan. She was so soft and warm, her honeysuckle scent driving him wild. He rolled onto his back, bringing Aurora with him so that she straddled his hips, her breasts brushing his chest as they kissed.
He gripped her hips, cupped her breasts through the filmy lingerie she wore. Aurora broke the kiss to nibble his earlobe, nip at his neck, making him buck and grind up against her.
She gasped and rocked against him, crying out when he pinched one of her nipples.
“I want to be inside you,” he gritted out.
“I…” she said, distracted and out of breath. “I should shower first…”
Ezra growled and rolled her over, pressing the weight of his body down on hers. He kissed her lips, her collarbone, her breast. Leaning on one arm, he slid his hand between them, boldly caressing her through her panties.
“I… I…” she stuttered, going tense.
The depth of her need hit him suddenly. She wanted him, needed him to give her pleasure. If she insisted on a shower first, it must be important.
“So be it,” he said, rising and leaving her.
He went to the bathroom and turned the shower on full blast, then returned to her. Aurora was propped up on her elbows, staring at him with obvious hunger as he knelt beside her on the bed.
“You’ll wait?” she asked, uncertain.
“Not a chance,” he said, giving her a smirk that made her brows rise.
Ezra was nearly out of his mind with his need for her now. He pulled her from the bed, stripping her down, taking his time.
Appreciating every incredible curve, noting the way she shivered as his fingertips trailed over her bare skin. He wanted to know which spots made her moan, which made her gasp and writhe with hunger.
He guided her to the bathroom, scooping her up and carrying her into shower. Ezra had to force himself to set her down and pull away from her to adjust all the shower heads to point into one corner. When he was done, he backed Aurora into that corner.
Not touching her yet, just enjoying the play of the water on her magnificent body. The swell of each plump breast, the flare of her hips, the scant copper hair at the juncture of her thighs.
She was natural, which turned him on in ways he didn’t understand. She was killing him, every last detail of her so perfectly suited to his tastes, it was almost as if they were…
Destined, he finished, but pushed it from his mind.
Right now, there was only Aurora. He needed to touch her, taste her.
Ezra couldn’t help but reach down to stroke himself as he drank in the sight of Aurora, her breath coming in pants as she waited for him to make the next move. Water flowed off her perfect curves, gleaming wickedly.
Ezra waited, wanting to see the same desperate hunger he felt in her eyes.
She watched him boldly, her eyes traveling down to his chest, his abs, then to his growing arousal.
He could tell that Aurora knew just what she wanted, but he wasn’t ready to give it to her yet. He wanted to tease her with his fingers and tongue until she was on fire for him, to wring every drop of pleasure his mouth could produce until she commanded him.
His avenging redheaded goddess would never plead, not for anything in the world. She would order him to give her what she wanted, and he would fulfill her every wish.
Ezra moved forward until his body was only inches from Aurora’s, watching her chest rise and fall. She squirmed under his gaze, more than ready for his touch.
Reaching out, Ezra brushed his fingertips just under her jaw, then dropped his hand to caress the sweet curve of her hip.
Aurora watched with wide eyes as he trailed his caress upward over her ribcage. Slowly, ever so slowly, he brushed his touch over the the curve of one breast.
Aurora bit her lip and leaned against the wall, watching Ezra with heavy-lidded eyes the color of an afternoon storm. Watching her teeth knead her bottom lip had Ezra’s imagination running wild, thinking of where he’d like those lips to be next.
When he brushed his fingertips up to her hardened nipple, she opened her mouth just enough to let out the first little oh of pleasure.
“Damn,” he murmured. “I love it when you make that sound.”
Ezra couldn’t help but move closer, he had to run his hands over every inch of her satiny skin. Aurora stretched up on her toes like a cat asking for a scratch, and Ezra slanted his mouth over hers in response.
He felt Aurora’s small hands at his waist, exploring his hips and then his lower back, urging him on. Ezra gave a low growl and she shivered, moaning into his mouth. His female woman was asking for more, and more she would get.
Breaking their kiss, Ezra slid his hand under her jaw again and gently tilted her head back to expose the slender white column of her throat. He trailed kisses down the soft skin he found there, tasting and teasing. She obliged him by making a series of breathy gasps and writhing under his touch. Smiling, Ezra nipped her neck and shoulder a few times, interspersing the love marks with simple kisses.
Shifting his hands once more to her ribcage, Ezra cupped the fullness of her breasts in a slow movement. When Aurora shivered and moaned in answer, Ezra ran his large, calloused thumbs over both her nipples. He could feel Aurora’s touch growing bolder, her hands clutching at his thighs and hips in search of yet more. She knew what she wanted, but Ezra still had a surprise in mind.
Ezra slid to his knees, giving Aurora a devilish grin. She wrinkled her nose at him, but he just smirked and pushed her flush against the cool tile wall. Ezra ran his hands down her stomach to her hips and leaned in to dip his tongue into her navel. She giggled, impertinent, and Ezra nipped her hip bone. Before she finished making one of those sexy noises of hers, Ezra’s hands were sliding down the outside of her thighs to the knee. He slid his hands back up her inner thighs as she shifted.
“What are you—” Aurora started to protest, but Ezra just leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her mound. She froze for a second, and Ezra took the opportunity to nuzzle her soft curls, his hands shaping her inner thighs. His thumbs gently parted her flesh, and he rubbed the tip of his nose against her softness, testing.
“Oh— oh,” Aurora breathed, wobbling at the unexpected sensation. Ezra chuckled, and removed his nose. Ignoring the shower’s spray, he kissed her once more and then explored her sweetness with his deft ton
gue. Aurora’s hands dug into his wet hair, which only made him more excited.
Her taste was already killing him, after only a few seconds. She was like hot, honeyed apples, crisp and clean and deadly to his senses. The way her hesitance melted away, the way she pressed her hips forward against his lips, made him wonder if he could cum just from tasting her perfect pussy.
He tongued her clitoris in gentle licks, eliciting a guttural moan. He experimented with a combination of licks, nuzzles, and rolls, trying to find what she liked best. Already her thighs and innermost muscles were clenching, close to release. Ezra waited until she was mindless with need, then sucked gently on her most sensitive spot.
He groaned into her heated flesh, the taste of her making his body tense, his balls aching. He lapped up every bit that she offered, and still he needed more.
Aurora flew over the edge, crying out her pleasure as her shaky legs collapsed. Ezra reached out and caught her before she hit the ground, amused that Aurora’s eyes had just rolled up into her head. He knew what he was doing, sure, but he’d never actually made a woman faint before. He hadn’t really even had time to use some of his more advanced maneuvers.
Still hard as a rock, he cradled her against his body and stepped from the shower. Her eyes fluttered open as he set her down and wrapped her in a towel, and she gave him an adoring smile.
“Are you okay?” he teased, drying her off with another towel before giving himself the same treatment. His movements drew her gaze downward to his fully primed manhood, and she flushed prettily.
“We’re not finished yet, are we?” she asked, her gaze lifting back to his face. Ezra couldn’t help but grin and shake his head, awed by his female.
“Not by a long shot, kitten.”
Her squawk of protest at the nickname was muffled as he swept her up and carried her to the bedroom. Dropping her on the bed, he tossed all their towels to the floor. As he settled next to her, she leaned up and caught his mouth in a demanding kiss. Those hands of hers were roaming again, this time successful in seeking out his cock.
Ezra groaned and looked down, rapt. He watched Aurora run her fingers over the velvety skin of his cock, slipping below to explore his sack before taking him in her fist. Her hand was small enough that it couldn’t encircle his thick girth, which didn’t bother Ezra one bit. She slid her hand up his length, smiling when he growled and thrust against her. Biting her lip, she gave him a nervous look before slipping down to the end of the bed.
