A gentle touch on his shoulder made him look up. Celeste stood over him. Her eyes were filled with tears. They were both reacting to the sadness hanging in the air.
“This place will be haunted from now on,” William stated. Standing, he moved towards the window. “We have to find him, Celeste.”
“I know, William.” She wandered around the room, absorbing the pain and fear. “This one was strong. She fought him longer than the others did. She marked him.”
“Will those injuries help us identify him?” Adam asked.
William shook his head. “No, Tomas will have healed by now. He would feel he could use a little of his energy on healing because he has a huge amount stored from the last killing he did.”
“She didn’t injure him that way. This woman marked his mind.” Celeste stood in the doorway, her eyes showing that she was far away from the house.
“She would have to be very strong mentally to do that.”
“I can feel her. It’s like she attached part of her essence to him. It feels almost like a scent.” Celeste moved to the sidewalk. She glanced both ways down the street.
“Which way did he go?” William and Adam followed closely behind her.
“He must have had a car waiting because I don’t get a sense of her in either direction.” Celeste’s eyes were glowing as she turned back to them. William could see she was excited about this breakthrough.
William was excited too. The sooner they could solve this case and put Tomas away, the sooner he could go back to Reno. He missed his apartment and his routine. He missed hitting the casinos for poker. He had a talent for playing cards and that’s how he made his living in this time. As a professional poker player, he could travel the world if he wanted to. He also missed the strip joints. He might not want to fall in love with a mortal, but he didn’t mind looking.
He felt a twinge of loneliness as he watched Adam wrap Celeste in his arms. It looked like his best friend had found a man to stick by her. Even if Adam still thought she was crazy from time to time, he knew Adam was slowly starting to believe that Celeste was really an angel. He also knew that Adam had finally admitted to himself that he didn’t care if Celeste was crazy or not, he was going to love her anyway. William wondered if he would ever find a woman who would love him like that.
“So this link this woman put on Tomas, do you think you can find it again?” William interrupted the tender scene.
“Yes, now that I know what it feels like, I shouldn’t have a problem finding him.”
“So when’s the next home game?” William led the way to the truck.
Disappointment colored Adam’s voice. “Tomorrow night.”
“Tomas will have time to rest and recharge, but it will also give us time to prepare. You two keep pawing each other like teenagers. I have to go and talk to someone.”
Celeste laughed. “Who do you have to talk to, William?”
William ignored her question until he pulled up in front of Celeste’s office building. As they got out of the car, he said, “I have to talk to Father Michael.”
Adam whirled around, but William pulled away before he could say anything.
* * * *
“How does William know Father Michael?” Adam asked as they entered Celeste’s office.
“We know all the religious people in town,” Celeste muttered.
“Why?”
“It pays to know the people who pray. So when you need a little extra help and you can’t ask for it on your own, you know who to go to.”
He noticed the strain on her face. “You should probably rest for a little while. We don’t get much sleep at night and I know that using your power or whatever you do has to wear you out.”
She nodded. He helped her lie down on the black leather sofa residing in the corner opposite her desk. He took off her shoes and covered her up with an afghan. She murmured something to him. He assumed she was thanking him. He sat watching as she fell asleep.
He touched her face gently. She looked like an angel. He laughed. Of course she did. What else would she look like? He had to get out of there. If he didn’t, he would be joining her on the couch. It was time to check in at his office anyway.
* * * *
Adam whistled as he strolled into his office. Jakar winced as he slapped the demon on the shoulder. Flinging his coat onto an empty chair, he threw himself at his chair behind his desk. The momentum of his body caused the wheeled chair to slide across the floor.
“And why are you so happy today?” Jakar handed Adam a whiskey.
“Who wouldn’t be happy today?” He slugged back the alcohol and handed the glass back to Jakar. “I have a beautiful woman in my bed. We’re close to catching the killer. Life is good.”
“It will only be good until you find Tomas. Then Celeste will leave you and you’ll be an ass to work for,” Jakar mumbled.
The grin left Adam’s face. Damn, the demon was right. Celeste would leave him as soon as she captured Tomas. Even though he knew she cared for him, he didn’t know if she loved him enough to stay with him. He was going to have to convince her somehow.
“Jakar, make sure a dozen red roses get delivered to Celeste’s apartment this afternoon. Make sure my usual table is reserved at Antonio’s. I need a bottle of Cristal chilling at my house tonight.”
Jakar laughed. “Trying to bribe her into staying, huh?”
Adam glared at him.
“Yes, sir. I’ll make sure everything is taken care of. Now, these business deals need your attention.” Jakar placed some contracts in front of Adam.
* * * *
The bouquet of roses was delivered just as William arrived at Celeste’s apartment. He laughed at her expression. “I can guess who those are from. He’s starting to get nervous now that the end is near. He wants you to realize all that you’ll be losing if you leave him.”
Celeste didn’t look at William. Her heart racing, she knew what Adam was trying to do. She understood that he needed to tie her to him. By sending her roses and taking her out to a fancy restaurant, he was trying to prove he could take care of her. It wasn’t her body she worried about. She was worried about him taking care of her heart. What if he got bored with her? Part of her charm, she knew, was the fact that she had been unavailable for so long. Now that he could fuck her any time he wanted, maybe part of her allure would wear off.
“How do you feel about him, Celeste?” William’s quiet question reminded her that he was still in the room with her.
With a slight smile, she turned to him. “I guess I must love him, William.”
“You guess?”
“I can’t seem to think of anyone else but him. No other guy makes me sweat or come quite like he can. I enjoy fucking him, but it’s more than that. I enjoy just spending time with him no matter what we do. I’ve never felt this way with any of the mortals I’ve been with through the centuries.” She sat down and stared out the window.
“Maybe even those of us who have fallen from grace have a soul mate out there. Maybe through the years, you’ve been searching for each other and now He’s finally allowed you to be together.” Celeste turned to look at him, her eyebrows raised in surprise. “Of course, I could just be talking out of my ass. It’s probably nothing more than chemistry. You want him. He wants you. Sometimes it isn’t any more complicated than that, Celeste. You tend to overthink things.” William walked over and cupped her chin in his hand. Making her eyes meet his, he smiled at her. “Just enjoy it, Celeste. Let whatever comes, come. Don’t hurt yourself before you need to. Maybe you should take the leap that his feelings are real. Let your heart love him, Celeste. Find some peace for both of you.”
“What about you, William?” She looked up at the fallen who had been her friend since the rebellion.
“Me? I’ll wish you both happiness and go home to Reno. There are hands of poker to be played and strippers to leer at. Maybe if there really is a soul mate out there for me, I’ll find her one day.” He brushed a gentle kis
s over her lips. “Don’t worry about me, angel. I’ll be fine. Go and make yourself gorgeous for Montgomery.”
After soaking in the tub for a half-hour, Celeste dried off and rubbed vanilla lotion over her body. Her skin was flushed and she felt restless. She knew it was because she was anticipating taking Adam into her pussy later that night.
“Adam’s here,” William called.
She glanced at her reflection one last time and whispered, “Knock ‘em dead.”
* * * *
Adam’s jaw dropped when Celeste entered the living room. William’s chuckle barely registered as Adam’s eyes devoured the woman before him.
She wore a short red leather skirt with a hip high slit that opened enough to show the lace edging on her thigh high stockings. The sheer white material of her blouse revealed her red camisole top. Her luscious breasts were barely contained by it. Red stiletto heels finished the picture. He wasn’t sure how long his romantic evening was going to last. He hoped he could make it through dinner.
He wondered at the sadness in Celeste’s eyes as she kissed William’s cheek. It looked like she was losing her best friend. Smiling gently, William pushed her to him.
“I won’t wait up,” the Enforcer said.
Adam waited until they got in the limo before he spoke up. He took her hand and placed it over his heart.
“Why are you sad, Celeste?”
A tear trickled down her cheek. “I’m not sure I want things to change.”
Unsure of what she meant, he said, “If you don’t want to see me anymore, Celeste, you don’t have to. I’ll release you from our deal. I don’t want to force you.” He wiped the tear from her cheek.
She laughed softly. “It’s not our deal. I’m losing William.”
Adam couldn’t help the small spurt of jealousy running through him. “Is our being together making him unhappy?” He wondered what he could do to change that. He would do anything except give Celeste up.
She shook her head. “No. William is thrilled about us. You’re my other half. My soul mate, William called you. Now that I have you, I don’t need him to lean on anymore.” She stared at their hands clasped together. Tears fell from her eyes and skipped down her face.
Adam couldn’t stand to see her sad. Gathering her close, he tucked her head under his chin. He ran his hands up and down her back, murmuring words soothingly to her. “Tell me.”
“I didn’t know William until the rebellion. As angels we were aware that others of our kind existed, but our sole purpose was to serve Him. We really never paid attention to each other. Then Lucifer brought us self-awareness and we realized there were many of us. After my rebellion and banishment, I thought I would go crazy. My only reason for being had been to worship Him. Without His presence, I was nothing, a void.
“William came to me and made me laugh. He was the one who encouraged me to become an Enforcer and helped me to survive. He knew I needed something to do with my life. He’s been my brother and my friend. Now, I’m going somewhere he can’t go. He’s letting go of me so I can fly with you. It feels like I’m losing a piece of myself.” She sobbed softly.
Adam quietly informed the limo driver to take them to his house. He knew she wasn’t in the mood for a romantic dinner. He held her tightly as she mourned the loss of her friend. When they came to his house, he gathered Celeste into his arms and carried her to his bedroom.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Celeste wasn’t sure when they had gotten to Adam’s house. She had been too busy dealing with the pain of having to let William go. She knew she would always love him, but Adam would be the one she would be turning to from now on.
Worn out, she didn’t move as Adam started to undress her. A sigh escaped her as he slid her shoes from her feet. He massaged her arches for a few seconds. His hands glided up her legs and hooked in the lace band of her stockings. She didn’t protest as his rough fingertips snagged the delicate silk. After he threw the second one across the room, he helped her to sit up.
Celeste didn’t object to his harsh jerk tearing her shirt apart. She noticed that his hands were trembling. Looking into his green eyes, she caught glimpses of anger, pain and jealousy. Yet overriding them all was love.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sad that William is leaving, but it will be all right. I have you to fill the void. I’ll share my secrets with you. We’ll laugh and love. I choose you, Adam. I’m not your mother. I won’t leave you and break your heart.”
Celeste didn’t know if Adam understood her. Her tears tonight had torn down walls around his heart and he was overwhelmed with feelings he had always tried to hide from. She cradled his face in her hands and pressed her lips to his.
There was no finesse in his taking her this time. He ripped his clothes off and covered her. She welcomed him as he thrust into her. She wasn’t totally ready for his entrance but she dealt with it. Adam was too far gone in his fear and pain to notice her discomfort. She was willing to suffer if he would feel better in the end. It was only a few minutes before he came violently. She held him in her arms and stroked his back as shudders racked his body.
* * * *
Shutting his eyes, Adam pulled away from her. He couldn’t believe he had taken her like that. Where had his legendary prowess as a lover gone? He remembered how frantic he had felt while Celeste had cried. The fear that she would decide to leave him had caused the little boy inside him to panic. He had needed to tie her to him in some way, so he picked the most primitive way he could. He’d claimed her with his body. Now if he could only be satisfied that she really did love him.
He brushed her hair from her face. “I’m sorry, angel. I shouldn’t have been so rough with you.”
Celeste smiled up at him. “It’s all right. You have to believe me when I tell you that I don’t plan on leaving you. I’ll be beside you for as long as you’re alive.”
“What if I’m like my father? What if I make you leave?” Adam’s heart filled with anguish.
Celeste laughed softly. “Darling, I’ve already had the worst thing happen to me that could possibly happen. I’m not trying to belittle you, but your anger and violence couldn’t compare to His. You would never be violent with me anyway. It isn’t in you to hurt someone you love.”
“I have hurt people. Don’t make me out to be some kind of Robin Hood. I don’t rob the rich and give to the poor. Sometimes I rob both the rich and the poor.” For the first time Adam felt a twinge of guilt when he thought about his past.
“You would never look good in green tights.” Celeste shrugged. “You did what you had to do to survive. I don’t blame you for it. The streets are a jungle and it’s kill or be killed sometimes. People who live in nice houses, drive nice cars and have nice lives can’t relate and so they judge you. I’ve been down about as low as an angel can go, but I’ve managed to make it and so have you. Now that we have each other, we’ll learn how to change together.”
“Even if I change, the money we live on will have come from hurting others.”
“I’ve lived for centuries, Adam. I have money. We could give all of yours away and still be well off. Don’t over think things. We have to capture Tomas first and then we can worry about how we’re going to live.” Her hands slid down Adam’s back and cupped his ass. “Right now, I think we can figure out how to find a small piece of heaven.”
Adam laughed as he moved his hips. His cock had gotten hard again while they talked. It seemed Celeste’s body just naturally turned him on. He didn’t think he would need Viagra twenty years from now to make him want her.
* * * *
Celeste, Tomas’ voice echoed in her mind.
Her body was wrapped in Adam’s arms, but she traveled to a quiet place in her dreams. What do you want, Tomas?
The fallen was standing in front of her. His long blonde hair was dirty and his black eyes were crazed. The centuries had been hard on him. The madness shone in him, but hidden deep within was a small amount of weariness. Celeste had the feeli
ng that Tomas wanted out of his life and punishment.
He laughed. The list is truly endless, but at the top would be peace. I’m tired, Celeste. Too many years living on this hellhole without any hope of change. There have been too many nights with dreams of a place I’ll never go back to.
Celeste felt a touch of sympathy for Tomas. The fallen that turned evil tended to be the ones who suffered the loss of Heaven the most. They were the ones who wanted mortals to suffer along with them. Then why don’t you end it?
I’m a coward, my friend. I can’t kill myself.
So you’re going to let William and I do it for you. Celeste’s contempt dripped in her voice.
Tomas shrugged. Of course. You both have always been the strongest of the Enforcers. You have lasted longer than any of the others. That is why I started killing. I was going to settle in Detroit and just mind my own business. Then the dreams got worse. There was nothing I could do that would stop them. Finally I decided it was time. You were already here, so I knew it wouldn’t be hard to get you to come after me.
I’ll find you, Tomas, and when I do, there will be no hope of salvation. There have been too many dead women, too many lives snuffed out because you’re a coward.
True, but I knew that when I joined Lucifer’s army instead of fighting for the other side. It was easier to get swept up in the emotions than to think for myself. Tomas shifted restlessly. It will be morning soon and your hunt will continue. I look forward to our final meeting. He bowed his head and disappeared.
Celeste shuddered. Adam pulled her closer to him. Neither of them was awakened by the shining figure that soothed them. Standing in the shadows of the bedroom, Mika’il’s silvery gray eyes were filled with compassion and a thinly disguised look of longing.
* * * *
“He’s using us,” Celeste informed William as they met in Adam’s breakfast nook
William nodded. “It makes sense. Tomas never was the most courageous of angels. He would never have the strength to kill himself. This way, he dies—or so he thinks—and we’re left with the guilt of having dealt with him.”
Fallen: Celeste Page 8
