Araton

by Brenda Trim

  Araton stopped her on the path and cupped her cheek. “That was not you. Lucifer is the demon here. Figuratively and literally. You have nothing to apologize for. I’ve never met anyone as selfless and courageous as you. Every single day that goes by that you astonish me.”

  “Man, your life must be boring and uneventful,” she teased with a smile.

  “It was pitiful until I met you,” he admitted and claimed her lips. The second his mouth moved over hers, desire blazed through his body like an inferno. He lost himself in her mouth. His hands roamed up the sides of her body then her back.

  “You are now the most important. You and I have built this fortress. One night, we could make it all right. There’s no need to run. Ooh,” Abraxos crooned, making Araton break the kiss. Araton didn’t listen to much music so he never knew what his brother was belting, but he could read between the lines on this one. He was insinuating what Lia meant to Araton. Worst part was he couldn’t really argue with the lyrics.

  “Brother,” Araton said in greeting as he wrapped his arm around Lia’s waist and pulled her close. “What are you up to?”

  “I was going to pick up some cupcakes from Kara’s place. I can see you have all the treats you need,” Abraxos replied with a wink to Lia.

  Blushing furiously, she averted her gaze to Sweet Indulgence. The bakery was close to the café and unmistakable. The neon purple sign announced it, but it was the massive windows showing the colorful tables and displays of cakes, scones and cookies that really drew the eye.

  “We will see you later,” Araton informed his brother and headed in the direction of his house.

  “You live near here?” She asked.

  “Not far. Just through the park,” he told her as they walked. He pointed out the white marble archangel building to the right. And waved to several angels as they walked. By the time they reached his front door Lia had relaxed greatly.

  Shutting them inside his house, Araton was glad he had his brothers set the scene. He never would have thought of the candles. His contribution before was gathering items an Abraxos’s behest. It paid off to have a brother who was as familiar with females as Abraxos.

  Lia gasped and looked around with her hand over her mouth. “Do you have magic and you never told me?”

  “No magic. I had help,” he murmured as he gathered her in his arms and lifted her.

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she crossed her feet behind his back pressing his hardening shaft against her core. “I have to be honest. I expected you to live in a cloud.”

  He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her lips but didn’t sink into her mouth. “Not quite, but I imagine my taste seems just as bland as a cloud would. Although instead of white I use greys.”

  “I can help spice the place up,” she offered with a kiss.

  “Anytime,” he agreed against her mouth. Much like Ayil, Araton had never brought another female to this home. He hadn’t slept with another angel for a long time. Ever since his sister had been cheated on by her ex.

  In addition to the candles spread throughout the room, his brothers had added a tray of chocolate strawberries and what smelled like Cajun food for dinner. He wasn’t hungry for food at the moment but appreciated that he’d be able to feed Lia without leaving after he fucked her senseless.

  Araton carried her down the hall and kicked his bedroom door open then crossed to his bed. After throwing her onto the bed he leaned over her. “I’m not sure I can be gentle. My need to fuck you is too great right now,” he whispered as he tugged the shirt aside and kissed her shoulder.

  Sparkling green eyes entranced and captured him. A slow smile lifted her lips and she pushed her hands under his shirt then shoved the material up his chest. The smile turned wicked and she laughed as he tugged the fabric over his head.

  A groan burst from his mouth when she ran her nails over his chest and nipples. Watching the weight of her possession lift even more made something click inside his mind. He knew at that moment his highest priority was to make sure she lived a life full of pleasure and happiness. She’d more than earned it.

  “Who asked you to be gentle? I need you to fuck me hard and fast,” she announced as she kicked off her shoes.

  Araton watched as Lia sat up then removed her shirt and jeans. His mouth went dry as her curves were revealed. She laid back down in only her bra and underwear. They weren’t anything fancy, but even the pink cotton was sexy on her. Bending one knee, Lia brought one of her legs up then reached for the waist of his pants.

  Popping the button with one hand, he allowed her to push the fabric to his feet. Her hands ran up his sides then she lifted her head and pressed her lips to his. Meeting her halfway, his lips moved over hers while he kicked off his boots. The sexual energy between them made him fumble in his haste to get his pants off.

  His need was at a fever pitch as he hovered over her and kissed a path down the side of her neck. His lips zinged, making him groan. He hovered over her breasts, running his tongue along the edge of the fabric. Her panting breaths was music to his ears. Unable to stop himself, he pushed her bra down and freed her nipple. His tongue danced an erotic rhythm over the pearled tip and made his cock hard as stone.

  Lifting his head, he went back to her mouth. His lips moved over hers, and her back arched, making her nipples press into his chest. It made his balls draw up tight. He needed to be inside her and forced himself to go slower than last time. She deserved more from him than hurried rutting.

  Araton reached behind them and unbuttoned her bra. Breaking the kiss, he gazed down at her. She lifted her hand and when she touched the top of his wing, he realized he lost control of keeping them hidden. Closing his eyes, he tried to calm enough to make them disappear.

  “No. Leave them out. I love seeing them,” she told him.

  Nodding, he pressed his lips to hers again and leaned on one elbow. With his free hand he pinched her nipples.

  “I thought you weren’t going to be gentle. This is torture. I need you inside me,” she begged and arched her back. He couldn’t help but break from her mouth to kiss a path down her body. He sucked, licked and laved her nipples for several minutes before moving on.

  When he reached her underwear, Araton pushed the cotton fabric down and tugged them off her legs. Her sweet scent intensified, filling the air. His fingers roamed between her legs and slid through her arousal.

  “It’s excruciating to go slow, but I can’t keep from exploring your perfection.”

  With a smile, she spread her legs, putting her wet slit on display. That was all it took to make him lose all semblance of going slow. “Fuck.” Transfixed, Araton rubbed her clit and his mouth lowered to her bellybutton. It was more difficult than he thought to pause and make sure she was ready for him.

  “Right there,” she instructed him. A moan left her mouth and her hips lifted. She was chasing his hand as he moved it away.

  Giving into her silent request, he pressed harder and let her move. Her breasts bounced with her movements as she rode his hand, taking what she needed. There was nothing sexier than Lia claiming her pleasure. Her movements increased and her arousal flooded his hand. Knowing she was close Araton inserted a finger into her core and groaned when her body clenched around his digit.

  Lowering his head, Araton sucked a nipple into his mouth at the same time he pumped his fingers in and out of her. He pressed his thumb against her clit. A hoarse shout of his name exploded from her mouth and a second later she detonated.

  “Fuck me,” she panted.

  “Anything you want, Dove.”

  Hot fingers brushed his lower abdomen, making him gasp and look down. He saw his fingers glisten with her arousal when he removed them from her sheath and her small hand pushed the fabric of his boxer briefs down, freeing his shaft.

  He lifted up so it was easier for her to push the cotton down his legs. Once he kicked them off, he returned to the bed and nudged her legs apart. Something inside melted and reshaped at the image she made. Th
e heat in her eyes, the way her arousal glistened in the candlelight and the smile she gave him.

  His arousal beaded on the head of his cock. He gripped his erection and slid it through her folds, coating his length in her arousal. The contact made her hips shoot toward him. There was no need for him to explain that move.

  “You are sexy and perfect. Allow Heaven’s energy inside along with my cock,” he urged her.

  “Anything as long as you fuck me,” Lia begged.

  Araton lowered his torso closer to hers and kissed the corner of her mouth. When she turned her head and his lips met hers, he thrust balls deep into her core in one hard stroke. He nearly lost his seed when she cried out and her muscles clamped down on him.

  There was no way to stop himself from setting up an urgent rhythm. The urgency of their combined need obliterated every other thought. She was human and he should be careful, but the thought popped into his head and vanished with each sensual stroke. This female was more addictive than cocaine for humans.

  Sweat broke across her skin as their bodies moved together. His wings expanded out to the sides, drawing her touch. Her hands roamed over the feathers before she wrapped them around his back.

  Her fingers teased the wing slits where they came out of his back. He quickened his pace, chasing after what they both desperately needed. When he couldn’t move more than short, shallow thrusts into her body because she’d clamped down on his cock, he knew they’d reach climax soon.

  Pulling all of his Light, he added it to the seed building up in his body. He wanted to tell her he loved her and ask if she would mate him, but he kept his mouth shut and reached between their bodies to rub her clit.

  Lia bit down on his shoulder as her orgasm exploded. He hoped she marked his skin like she’d done to his heart and soul. Nothing felt as good as losing himself in Natalia’s perfect body. After two more thrusts, Araton stopped moving as he climaxed.

  “I love you,” he blurted.

  She gazed at him with wide eyes but said nothing. It was a good thing that a second later the force of his orgasm made his back arch as light shot from his body with his seed. He couldn’t look at her right then. He hadn’t meant to say anything.

  Bright light surrounded them as he collapsed above her and held her close. He prayed this was enough to keep Lucifer from taking the wheel again. His Lia wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate the threat the Lord of the Underworld posed, even if it meant taking her own life. The safety of others was paramount for her. It was one of the things he loved about her.

  The fact that he loved her was an astonishing revelation. He braced himself for her rejection. Knowing her she would think he was saying it to save her life. Problem was she wouldn’t be entirely wrong. He couldn’t let Lucifer torment her anymore. It would devastate him if he lost her. Good thing he hadn’t asked her to mate him. That would have sealed his fate. He’d woo and court her and win her over.

  You’re going to be too late. The admonition chilled his blood. He had to save her. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he urged her to get up and draped a robe around her shoulders. “Let’s get you some dinner. I don’t know about you, but I’ve worked up an appetite.”

  “Araton…” she said and let her voice trail off.

  Pressing a kiss to her lips, he shook his head. “There is no need for you to say anything. I just needed to let you know how I feel. Now, let’s eat,” he encouraged her.

  “Thank you for taking me here and making love to me. I feel as if a hundred-pound weight has been lifted from my shoulders,” she replied as she grabbed his hand and headed to the kitchen.

  “Good because after I feed you, I’m going to infuse you with more of my light,” he told her then grabbed her ass, making her squeal. Laughing, she ran from the room and he followed. Her laughter was almost enough to banish the disappointment sitting like a stone in his gut.

  Despite his words he would have liked to hear she had fallen for him, as well. He needed to remind himself loving her and giving her something good to hold onto was what mattered. Without it she would succumb to Lucifer.

  Chapter 18

  Lia reread the report, telling herself to concentrate this time. The words blurred as her mind went back to her time in Heaven with Araton. She was falling for the angel. Big time. He was impulsive and jumped in without thinking. And she discovered she loved that about him.

  He didn’t overthink things. Sometimes he didn’t think it through beyond killing the enemy and destroying their assets, but it wasn’t entirely a bad thing. From everything she had learned lately, her angel’s actions were usually taken to protect innocent humans and supernaturals.

  Lia on the other hand over analyzed everything. For a split second after Araton professed his love to her she wanted to say the same thing back to him. And then the knowledge that she was tainted barged into her mind and kept her mouth shut.

  She was falling for the angel. It seemed impossible, but it was as if lightning had struck the moment they met. There was scarcely a second that passed without her thinking about Araton. That was an understatement.

  She was obsessed with her angel. Always wondering what he was doing. Wishing she’d had more time in Heaven to meet his parents and discover more about where he came from. It was still shocking that there was a bar there. And a café. Seeing what little she had explained his surliness. Angels weren’t cherubs flying around bestowing happiness and love on people.

  Some might be. But they were just as prone to anger as anyone. And their warriors were badasses that carried flaming swords. Given the stories about the war that divided heaven she shouldn’t have been so surprised to learn some angels were highly skilled killers.

  “What’s wrong? Did you find something?” Araton asked.

  Lia titled her head to him and gave him a small smile. “Just thinking about last night.”

  Araton’s tense shoulders relaxed and he smirked at her then bent and placed a kiss to her lips. Pulling back he murmured, “I would have thought you’d have a smile on those pouty lips after the night we had. Perhaps I need to fuck you senseless again.”

  Arousal flooded Natalia and made her core clench. Her body knew the pleasure he could deliver and wanted more. “I wouldn’t object to that, but I promised I would search the database for any hints about where the archdemon might be.”

  With a groan, Araton kissed her one more time then straightened. “As much as I want to drag you to my bed upstairs, we need to find that asshole. My brothers and the Dark Warriors found no sign when they cleaned out the stadium. Given the plans they overheard we need to act fast.”

  “I would agree. I haven’t been involved long, but it seems like the demons have been escalating their efforts. How is Izzy handling the news Lucifer wants to claim her?” Natalia hated knowing he could take possession of her. She wasn’t sure what was worse. Being his victim or forced to mate with him. Both were vile possibilities.

  Much to her relief she hadn’t felt the darkness threatening to steal her soul since Araton had taken her to Heaven. She hoped that meant his efforts strengthened her and made it possible to cut Lucifer off. She’d been too terrified to poke much at the dark orb she knew sat silently in her chest. The last time she did that she blacked out and woke up after almost killing Aison.

  “Izzy is pissed about being forced back to Zeum. She believed she was off the demon radar and isn’t taking to being cooped up very well,” Araton told her.

  “Did they say they could still feel her like you said they used to be able to? It’s one thing to be told not to harm her because Lucy wants her to become the Queen of the Underworld, but I would still think demons would flock to her energy.”

  Araton caressed her cheek. “You’re right. I don’t think they can find her like they used to. I don’t think her parents are keeping her home for the same reasons as before.”

  “Makes sense. Even more reason to find the fucker tormenting my city and eliminate him,” Lia said as she went back to scanning police repo
rts. Searching through every homicide, she stopped at one in the Garden District not far from the house she was currently sitting in. “Hey look at this.”

  Araton put his cell phone down and scanned the report she’d pulled up. “What made you stop on this one? It seems like a typical case of domestic violence. The husband killed his wife then shot himself.”

  “The wound doesn’t fit with a gunshot. Can demons thrall humans?”

  Araton lifted one eyebrow then turned back and reread the report. “Okay. You’ve got my attention. Archdemons are upper level demons and capable of far more than lesser ones. I believe that might be possible, but why? It doesn’t make sense.”

  Lia shrugged as she considered all of the information she’d learned in the past week and a half. “Very few of your neighbors would commit such a crime. Yes, they can be abusive, but not many of them would take their own lives. And even if they could, they wouldn’t cut out their own heart with a steak knife which is the only thought that comes to mind when I read that report.”

  “You have a point, but why go to all these lengths? It doesn’t fit their MO to take what they want when they want,” Araton replied.

  “The luxury?” She suggested then really thought about his question. He was right. Demons didn’t need to plan a coverup and go to the trouble of hiding their actions. “If they can stay off your radar along with the Dark Warriors they can act longer. They’re in this for the bigger goal, right? Perhaps they set up the stadium and all the other rituals to keep you off their trail while they gathered power for the final spell.”

  Jumping to his feet, Araton snatched his phone from the table. “You’re right. They’ve been keeping us distracted with one hand while hoarding the energy in the other. I know we dealt them a blow by releasing the spirits from that house. They haven’t been able to collect a significant amount of energy from that location. We’ve not left it unattended long enough for them to return.”

  Lia watched him type out a message before he picked her up and crushed her in a hug. His mouth descended on hers a second later. She opened when he licked her lower lip. A moan left her as his tongue danced with hers.