by Maya Daniels
“I know I said it jokingly yesterday, but I’ll ask again.” Helena tilts her head, making her hair spill over her shoulder “Anyone in your shoes would grab the chance to sit in a place of power. And here you are, running away from it. You’re telling me he needs you to control Hell, and you refuse only to stay here on Earth and fight the rogues that wouldn’t have been here in the first place if you stayed where you belong.” Tightening her hand in mine, she tugs on it gently. “I’m not accusing you of anything, Eric. I’m trying to understand.”
“I can’t stay there, Hel. He is not some kind and understanding person. I don’t blame him for what he has become because dealing with all that since the beginning of time would turn anyone insane. He is cruel and merciless because that’s what he needed to be. I’m not sure he knows how to be anything else after so long. Now, with everything that happened with the Archangels, I can’t help but wonder if it’s the years making all of them lose it. Earth has always been their playground. Humans, as fragile as they are, are what’s holding everything together. Heaven feeds off of their prayers and worship, and Hell feeds off of their fears and sins. I’m more useful here than I am sitting there to soothe my father’s pride.”
“And what happens if Michael succeeds in killing your father?”
“I will have no other choice but to take his place.” Not taking my eyes away from her, I hold my breath to see if she understands what I’m implying.
“If you don’t?”
“The gate will disappear, causing Hell and Earth to merge into one.”
Helena
I watch Eric, and my heart is breaking at the uncertainty I see in him. This strong man that will stop at nothing to protect me, even from myself, is looking at me at this moment like I’m his executioner or his savior. That doesn’t sit well with me. But neither does the fact that his words give me a pause. It’s not so much about what he is saying, it’s about everything between those lines.
If Michael succeeds in luring Lucifer to Earth and killing, him we are screwed. That means Eric will be going to Hell, if we don’t want a clusterfuck of epic proportions to hit the human realm. If he has to do that, I have no doubt he will want me to go with him. Even now, I feel our connection pulsing in the center of my chest, tying me to him irrevocably. That part of me that is a demon almost purrs at the idea. A messed-up sense of belonging rears its ugly head inside, freaking the hell out of me—pun intended. The half angel part rebels at even considering such a blasphemous thought. To say that I’m conflicted is the understatement of the century.
“You are not running away,” Eric says quietly, his thumb rubbing slow circles on the back of my hand.
Snorting ungracefully, I shake my head. “I’m way past the running part, monster boy. I’m just lost for words and don’t know what to say, or think for that matter.”
“Then say nothing, Hel.” Cupping my face in his warm palm, he searches my eyes. “Let’s take it one day at a time. I will not let my father, or any angel, stand in my way of having you. If Michael thought my father was his biggest problem, he doesn’t know what he got himself into. I will bring Heaven and Hell down before I let them take you away from me, or I’ll die trying. You need to know that without any doubt.”
I feel the slight tremors in his hand, although he is trying very hard not to show how much this conversation is affecting him. Or maybe it’s the uncertainty of what my reaction will be that’s making him seem almost human at this very moment. All that flies out the window when he lets me see the vulnerability in his eyes. It rips me apart, and my vision gets blurry from unshed tears.
“Oh, Eric…” Grabbing his face in both my hands, I kiss him like a woman dying of thirst.
It’s as if he lost the control he has been holding onto at that. His arms wrap around me, crushing me to his lap while he devours my mouth. A desperate sound rumbles from his chest, spurring me on. The feel of him, the taste of his kisses, slam into me like a Mack truck, and I lose myself in everything that is Eric. His hands roam my back, squeezing me tighter to him. Wrapping my fingers in his hair, I cling to him like my life depends on this, on having him as close as possible.
Eric pulls away too soon for my liking, making me whimper at the loss of his lips on mine. He starts kissing a hurried trail down my neck, erasing the stinging from his bites with his tongue. He pushes his shirt that I’m wearing over my head and flings it away, latching onto my nipple. The moans and panting coming from both of us make my entire body tremble in his arms. I can feel his muscles twitching under my fingers, like he is trying to slow down. I’m having none of that. I’m too desperate for him at the moment to allow him to take his time. Not giving him a chance to realize my intentions, I shove my hand down the boxer shorts he is still wearing, pulling his hardness out and impaling myself to the hilt in one jerk of my hips. Hissing, Eric grabs my hips in a bruising hold and his amber gaze locks on mine.
“I will hurt you.” Growling through clenched teeth, he fails to stop himself from grinding between my legs.
“I don’t care, Eric. I need you.” My words are more a moan than a demand, but the look on his face gives me shivers. Pure, undiluted hunger.
He lifts up and slides both his hands under my ass, and when he grabs it firmly, I wrap my legs around his narrow waist. Placing one knee on the bed, Eric positions his hands to hold me half suspended in the air, my head thrown back, my nails digging into the skin of his arms. I’m so wet at the moment I can feel his groin and thighs sleek with my juices. And then, he pumps his hips in a punishing tempo. I can’t do anything else other than hold on to him for dear life and moan at the pleasure shooting through every part of my body.
The sound of skin slapping on skin mixes with my desperate moans. Eric is producing sounds deep in his chest that might terrify me, but I’m too lost in the feel of his hardness stretching me and filling me up so completely that I can’t even remember my own name. All I know is him. All I can feel is how he takes control of my body. And I never want this to end. At this very moment, if he asks me to go to Hell, I would say yes a million times. But that’s not Eric. He doesn’t take advantage of my delirious need of him, of feeling alive. He just gives me what I need, what we both need.
The tightness in my lower belly stretches, and I can feel the early spasms starting in my channel. I’m so close to climaxing, intangible words spill from my lips. Eric speeds up, pumping his hips even faster than before.
“Kiss me.” His deep voice reaches my ears, his growled words making goosebumps cover my entire body.
Lifting my head up with a lot of effort, I kiss him.
When my tongue tangles with his, a feral sound comes from him, driving me insane. Twisting around, he pushes me on the bed and presses his weight on me. The fast pumping of his hips doesn’t falter. I can feel his sack slapping my ass and it just adds to the insanity as I desperately chase the bliss. Sweat makes our skin stick to each other’s, and the scent of sex fills my lungs. The rubber band that has been stretching inside me finally breaks. The scream that is ripped from me is quickly followed by a roar that shakes the windows. The entire building will know what we are doing, but I can’t find it in me to care. I feel the warmth bathe my insides with each pump of Eric’s hips as his cum fills me to the brim. The liquid pours out of me, coating my thighs and the bed underneath me, yet he doesn’t stop. Another orgasm hits me, and my raw throat can’t produce a sound. With my mouth open in a silent scream, I cling to him until we both finally relax and slump on the bed.
“I missed you,” Eric rasps, kissing my neck.
I make a sound, something between a huff and a laugh, at his words. “I wouldn’t have guessed, monster boy.” His chuckle brings a stupid smile to my face.
Eric
Everything in me bulks at the idea of letting Helena out of this room. Having her underneath me, her breath tickling the skin of my shoulder, makes me want to jump and ravish her all over again while I hide her from the world. I know we have to move, so althoug
h I’m still hard as a rock and inside her, I lift myself up on my forearms to look down at her.
“Eric…” The look she gives me tightens my gut, and I kiss her to stop whatever words are about to come out.
Reluctantly releasing her mouth and giving her a gentle press of lips, I sigh. “One day at a time, Hel. That’s all I’m asking.”
“They’re not joking when they say the devil comes after everything you’ve ever wanted, huh?” She smiles sheepishly at me.
A burst of surprised laughter is ripped from me, and the shaking of my body makes her moan, her channel spasming around my cock. I give her a warning growl, but she shrugs unapologetically.
“I’ve missed you, too, it seems.” Her hands glide over my shoulders and down my arms, making every muscle she comes in contact with twitch in anticipation. “But we need to start planning. Actually…” a devilish smile brightens her face, “first, we need to go see if the Archangel had a conniption after our performance.”
Pressing her hands on my chest, she gives me a push, and I roll off her. I’m momentarily startled at the strength she displays, but I keep my mouth shut because she doesn’t look like she did it on purpose. Oblivious to my stunned face, Helena lifts herself up and disappears in the bathroom, her naked body distracting me from the shock. After a moment, I hear the shower turn on, but can’t get myself to move. She was so tired last night, and maybe that’s why she looked almost broken. As much as I dread hearing what she’s been through, I need to know every detail. She was strong before, but something has changed in the time she was gone. She flipped me off her as if I was a blanket, not two hundred and eighty pounds of muscle on top of her. All that without a clue of what she had done.
I think back to the night before. Raphael’s unconscious body was on top of her when that damn bomb went off. She could barely breathe and was asking for help, which was very unlike her. Was it because she was stunned from the blast, or because of exertion? If she is aware of the changes in her, she sure didn’t mention it. I decide to let it play out as it will. I’m going to keep an eye on other changes, if she shows any. I clench my teeth, trying hard not to bite the inside of my mouth. If that fucker has done something to her to cause this, our fight is far from over. I won’t stop until he is dead.
The water cuts off. When the sound of a blow drier dies down, I jump off the bed. I don’t want her to notice my turmoil. There are more pressing matters to deal with. At the end of the day, we will deal with whatever it is that caused this change together. It might not be a bad thing with everything that’s waiting for us. I told her one day at a time, but like fuck I’m going to let her get away from me. She is mine, and with time she will know that for a fact. I just need to tread lightly or she will fight me every step of the way.
I take my own shower, but not before pulling her to me and kissing her senseless when we pass each other. When we are both dressed, I’m rethinking my willingness to let her out of the room, but she gives me a stern look while holstering her guns. That makes me clamp my mouth shut, begrudgingly following her to the living room. The sway of her hips as she walks in front of me make my pants feel tight. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of this woman, even if I keep her locked in my bedroom for a few centuries.
“Oh, good! You are awake,” Maddison drawls, mischief dancing in her gaze.
“Yup!” Helena answers with a pop at the end, focusing anywhere but at the two sitting on the sofa drinking coffee.
I can’t hide my smirk when I take in the bright red face of the Archangel.
“Coffee!” Helena b-lines for the kitchen with me hot on her heels. “I need coffee before I deal with anything.”
“I wouldn’t go that far…” Maddison clamps her mouth shut when I shoot her a glare over my shoulder. “I need more, as well.” Lifting herself up, she prances after us.
Helena stops in front of the coffee machine, staring at it longingly. Pressing my chest to her back, I reach over her head to pull two mugs from the cabinets. She shivers visibly, and Raphael’s groan makes me smile. That should tell him to keep his righteous, angelic ass away from her.
“You’re like a dog pissing on things to mark his territory,” Helena mumbles, chuckling.
I can’t help but laugh at that. “You’re mine.” Bending my head, I kiss the skin behind her ear, making her groan and press her ass firmly against my groin. “The sooner he knows that, the better for him. I might let him live.”
“Whatever.” She elbows me, making me grunt in earnest.
What the fuck? I think.
“You okay?” Maddison sounds concerned, and I realize I must’ve made a sound at the pain in my sternum.
“Yeah.” Playing it off like it wasn’t a big deal, I grin. “Just trying to make cupcake here feel better with her mosquito muscles.”
“You are hilarious, monster boy!” Snatching the mug from my hand, Helena fills it up and moves to sit on the counter. “So…” She drags the word out before taking a long sip, sighing in bliss as she closes her eyes and swallows. “What’s the plan?”
Raphael clears his throat, getting my full attention, and I narrow my gaze at him. Shrugging, he rolls his eyes and looks at Helena. I bristle but bite my tongue. My mission now is to hear what the asshole has to say and get rid of him as fast as possible. He seems a little too attached to her for my liking. Maddison giggles, making me want to throw the mug I’m holding at her. When I look at her, she gives me a shit-eating grin. The longer I glare, the bigger her smile grows. She is enjoying this shit a bit too much.
“My suggestion still stands. I should go to the Sanctuary to check for Hector.” Raphael opens his mouth, and just like that, the tightness and dullness return to Helena’s green eyes.
Filling my own mug with coffee, I take a sip, buying time to think of what to say. Pulling the chair next to Helena, I tug her closer, placing her seat between my legs. She murmurs something but doesn’t comment or pull away. Demon one: Angel zero, I gloat inside, looking pointedly at Raphael. He has the right mind to look ashamed.
“Pay attention, Eric. It’s not a pissing contest for a piece of steak.” Helena sounds tired, and I feel stupid for acting like an ass. I just can’t seem to stop letting the Archangel rub me the wrong way only by being here.
“We can split up. Helena and I can check the Sanctuary while you and Maddison check the laboratory.” And just like that, Raphael manages to shoot to the top of my shit list, even rising above Michael.
“Like fuck you’ll go anywhere with my mate alone.”
“It’s just so we don’t waste time…” Raphael tries to reason, his eyes pleading with Helena, and I feel rage bubbling like lava inside me.
“Eric…” Helena says, but I’m already up, and my hand is wrapped around Raphael’s throat, lifting him off his seat. “Would you please stop?” She pokes me on my shoulder.
I’m beyond hearing or talking. All I want is to separate the Archangels head from his neck. Some metal song starts blaring, making all of us freeze, and Maddison pulls out her phone, glancing at it before she jerks up and stares at us wide-eyed. She lifts her phone, pointing the screen at us.
“It’s Michael.”
Helena
“You have Michael’s phone number?” I gape at Maddison, stupefied.
“Well, yes.” She shifts uncomfortably. “It’s not like I didn’t try calling him after he took you.” She looks insulted, but that didn’t even cross my mind. “The phone was off the whole time. I couldn’t even trace it.”
I don’t have time to correct her before Eric releases Raphael, shoving him away like a dirty sock. He snatches the phone from Maddison. Raphael coughs weakly, rubbing his neck, wisely deciding to say nothing.
“What the fuck do you want?” Eric snarls, pressing the phone to his ear.
I’m so pissed off at him acting like a caveman that I want to slap him. Maybe another bullet in his ass will snap him out of it. A girl can dream. I grab the phone from his hand, and pressing the speaker
button, hold it between us. He has murder written all over his face, but at my raised eyebrow, he only presses his lips into a thin, white line, his nostrils flaring in anger. Maybe there is hope for him after all.
“Eric, I was hoping you would be the one to answer my call. We need to talk.” Michael’s voice comes over the speaker, calm and measured, like he didn’t play the psycho holding me locked up for two weeks.