by Cynthia Eden
But for that moment…she didn’t want to be with her brothers. She just wanted to be with the man she loved. The man who’d faced off against Luke. Against Leo.
For her.
Amber flew into the night with Cass.
***
“How long have you been planning that?” Leo asked, tilting his head as he watched Amber fly away.
Luke shrugged. Then he moved closer to his Mina. He reached for her hand. “Perhaps…ever since the day I realized that our sister would need a very powerful protector.” He tossed a grim smile at Leo. “Because she’s tied to us, she will always have a target on her back.”
“And Death can stop that target?”
“He’s almost as strong as we are.”
“I wonder…” Leo rubbed his chin. “Perhaps he’s stronger.”
Once more, Luke shrugged. “Hopefully, we won’t be finding out that answer any time soon.”
Mina gave a soft sigh. “You sent him after her because you knew they’d wind up together.”
He kissed her cheek. “I will confess that I knew my sister had a dark side…and I suspected Cass would appeal to her.”
She laughed. “You’re a matchmaker.”
No, he was something much darker. He was a man who had to plan for every contingency. And when his enemies came for him, he had to make sure that his sister lived.
And…perhaps…he’d wanted her to be happy.
When I was younger, Amber taught me about love. I could see it in her eyes. Now he stared into Mina’s eyes…
And he knew love again. A very, very different kind of love.
“You made one mistake,” Leo said from behind him. “You didn’t count on me.”
Luke glanced back at him. “Of course, I did. I knew you’d put the wings back for her.”
“No, no, I made a deal with Cass, too.”
Was that supposed to be a big deal? “Good for you.” He waved toward the sky. “Now, go fly away. I have plans.” He smiled at Mina. “Very important plans.”
His brother lingered.
Luke sighed. “Don’t you have an angel to find?” He tilted his head to glance at his brother.
And that was when he caught it…the briefest of flashes, but it was there. Envy. In Leo’s eyes. The great and powerful Lord of the Light envied him.
Because in the end, Leo is alone.
It hadn’t always been that way. Once, they’d been so close…until the world had said they must be enemies.
Until Luke had been told he was bad.
And Leo was good.
Only lately, Leo had begun to show more than a few bad qualities of his own.
“I do have an angel to find.” Leo nodded grimly. “Good-bye.” He turned away.
“I think you’ve got the wrong girl,” Luke said, truly considering things now. “You don’t need someone so…good. Perhaps, brother, what you really need is a walk on the darker side.”
Leo glanced back at him. “That side would lead me straight to hell.”
“Oh, yes, no doubt.” Luke smiled. “But wouldn’t it be a fun ride?”
Leo flew away.
Luke laughed.
And he knew just what trouble he would be sending his brother’s way.
Chapter Seventeen
I can touch her.
Amber stood before Cass, her skin bare, her beautiful wings fluttering behind her back. They were in his home, his sanctuary, in the middle of the North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains.
“What are you waiting for?” Amber asked as she stepped toward him.
Part of him was still afraid. He wanted her so much. And if he lost her—
She caught his hand in hers. He felt that surge of warmth again. Their connection. No death.
Life.
And he let go of the fucking fear. He wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her close. His mouth took hers in a ravenous kiss. She met him—going wild. Her nails raked over his skin. Her lips parted beneath his. His tongue swept inside, tasting her, taking…
They tumbled back onto his bed. He had to touch her—everywhere. His fingers trailed over her silken skin. She was so soft. So incredibly soft. His hand touched her breast. The nipple was tight, pink, and he caught it between his fingertips. He tugged on it, and Amber gave a hot, little moan.
He put his mouth on her other breast. Licked and kissed and sucked as he kept touching her. “Want to touch you forever,” he muttered and kissed her nipple again. “Forever.”
She laughed. She moaned. She arched up against him.
His hand trailed lower. Over the gentle curve of her stomach. Every single inch. He wanted to touch her everywhere.
And he would.
He could.
He kissed his way down her stomach, following the path that his hands had taken, and then he was stroking her thighs. She gasped and he knew she liked his touch.
His body trembled. His cock was fully erect and jerking toward her, but he wasn’t done. There was so much more to touch.
He pushed her legs apart. Trailed his fingers up her thighs. Then he was touching her core. Sliding his fingers into her, feeling every single flex of her body around him. He withdrew his fingers, then thrust deep.
Her hips surged toward him.
She was wet and she was hot, and she was so tight. He was touching heaven, and he never wanted to stop.
He stroked her, moving his fingers faster and deeper. Pressing his thumb to her clit. Pushing the pleasure on her again and again and again.
She came…she came from his touch and Amber grabbed the bedding and fisted it in her hands.
He didn’t stop. He kept thrusting his fingers into her. Kept stroking her—her cream was on him, coating his fingers.
My touch isn’t just death. It will be pleasure for her. Always, for her.
He licked her breasts. He kissed her. And he kept thrusting his fingers into her, stroking her sex, learning all of her secrets.
Every. Last. One.
She came again, choking out his name.
He wasn’t done.
His hand slowly pulled from her body. He licked his fingers…tasting her. Sweet, sweet fucking honey and champagne.
“Cass…” Amber’s voice was husky. So sexy.
She reached for him, but he caught her hands. Cass twined their fingers together and then pushed her hands back, on either side of her head. Her legs rose, wrapping around him, and she pressed that hot heaven against him.
He drove into her. Held her hands tightly and thrust as deep as he could go. She was slick from her desire, from her climaxes, and he sank in to the hilt. He withdrew, thrust deep, and couldn’t stop. A frenzy took over—a desire so consuming that all he could do was feel.
Thrust.
Take.
Consume.
She came around him, climaxing again as she shouted his name this time. He felt the contractions of her sex and he let himself go. Cass pumped into her, driving over and over with hard, heavy thrusts so that the bed slammed into the wall. He emptied into her, and he knew he would never, ever get enough of her.
He kissed her again. Kissed her while he was still buried balls-deep in her body.
Then his head lifted. He stared into her eyes.
And he knew…he was about to have her again. His hands slowly released hers. His right hand moved to caress her cheek. Touching her.
Her beautiful eyes seemed to warm. She stared at him—not with fear. But with love.
And he understood that he would love her forever, would cherish her forever. Not because she was the only one he could touch.
Because she was the only one who touched him. Amber was the only one who’d reached the cold heart he kept inside. She’d taught him to love. She’d shown the Reaper that there was so much more to life than just death.
His lips pressed to hers.
And he was finally at peace.
THE END
###
Don’t miss the next book in the Bad Things series, BROKEN A
NGEL, available 12/13/2016.
BROKEN ANGEL (Bad Things, Book 4)
Pre-order BROKEN ANGEL
What happens when an angel falls? Find out in Book 4 of Cynthia Eden’s “Bad Things” series, BROKEN ANGEL.
Angel Lila is being hunted—she can feel the hunter closing in behind her. Every move she makes, he’s stalking after her. But does the werewolf on her trail want to destroy her—or can he protect her from the growing darkness that she is trying so desperately to fight?
Werewolf Rayce Lovel doesn’t know what to do with an angel—especially one who makes him think too much about paradise. Lila may be heavenly, but every time he’s near her, Rayce wants to sin. Angels aren’t supposed to feel, but Lila was introduced to the world by way of pain. Pain is all she’s known for far too long, and now, Rayce is tempted to introduce gorgeous Lila to pleasure.
But the longer an angel stays out of heaven, the more dangerous she can become. Lila sinks deeper into the darkness with each night that passes, and she finds herself becoming a pawn in an eternal battle…good versus evil. Is Rayce really her protector? Perhaps he is just the hungry wolf who has been sent to ensure that Lila never sets foot back in her paradise.
A fallen angel has a bad side…and that side is about to be set free.
A Note From the Author
Thank you so much for taking the time to read UNDEAD OR ALIVE. The Reaper was a new character for me, and I had a great time writing about his adventures with Amber. I hope you enjoyed their story! And don’t forget…the next “Bad Things” book will be out in December. BROKEN ANGEL is coming soon.
If you’d like to stay updated on my releases and sales, please join my newsletter list www.cynthiaeden.com/newsletter/. You can also check out my Facebook page www.facebook.com/cynthiaedenfanpage. I love to post giveaways over at Facebook!
Again, thank you for reading UNDEAD OR ALIVE.
Best,
Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
About The Author
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes dark tales of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Cynthia is also a three-time finalist for the RITA® award. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over fifty novels and novellas.
Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. More information about Cynthia and her books may be found at: http://www.cynthiaeden.com or on her Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/cynthiaedenfanpage. Cynthia is also on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cynthiaeden.
Her Works
Paranormal Romance
Bad Things
The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things, Book 1)
On The Prowl (Bad Things, Book 2)
Broken Angel (Bad Things, Book 3) - Available 12/13/2016
Blood and Moonlight Series
Bite The Dust (Blood and Moonlight, Book 1)
Better Off Undead (Blood and Moonlight, Book 2)
Bitter Blood (Blood and Moonlight, Book 3)
Blood and Moonlight (The Complete Series)
Purgatory Series
The Wolf Within (Purgatory, Book 1)
Marked By The Vampire (Purgatory, Book 2)
Charming The Beast (Purgatory, Book 3)
Deal with the Devil (Purgatory, Book 4)
The Beasts Inside (Purgatory, Books 1 to 4)
Bound Series
Bound By Blood (Bound Book 1)
Bound In Darkness (Bound Book 2)
Bound In Sin (Bound Book 3)
Bound By The Night (Bound Book 4)
Forever Bound (Bound, Books 1 to 4)
Bound in Death (Bound Book 5)
Night Watch Series
Eternal Hunter (Night Watch Book 1)
I’ll Be Slaying You (Night Watch Book 2)
Eternal Flame (Night Watch Book 3)
Phoenix Fire Series
Burn For Me (Phoenix Fire, Book 1)
Once Bitten, Twice Burned (Phoenix Fire, Book 2)
Playing With Fire (Phoenix Fire, Book 3)
The Fallen Series
Angel of Darkness (The Fallen Book 1)
Angel Betrayed (The Fallen Book 2)
Angel In Chains (The Fallen Book 3)
Avenging Angel (The Fallen Book 4)
Midnight Trilogy
Hotter After Midnight (Book One in the Midnight Trilogy)
Midnight Sins (Book Two in the Midnight Trilogy)
Midnight’s Master (Book Three in the Midnight Trilogy)
Paranormal Anthologies
A Vampire’s Christmas Carol
Loved By Gods Series
Bleed For Me
ImaJinn
The Vampire’s Kiss
The Wizard’s Spell
Other Paranormal
Immortal Danger
Never Cry Wolf
A Bit of Bite
Romantic Suspense
Killer Instinct
After The Dark (Killer Instinct, Book 1) - Available 03/28/2017
LOST Series
Broken (LOST, Book 1)
Twisted (LOST, Book 2)
Shattered (LOST, Book 3)
Torn (LOST, Book 4)
Taken (LOST, Book 5) - Available 11/29/2016
Dark Obsession Series
Watch Me (Dark Obsession, Book 1)
Want Me (Dark Obsession, Book 2)
Need Me (Dark Obsession, Book 3)
Beware Of Me (Dark Obsession, Book 4)
Only For Me (Dark Obsession, Books 1 to 4)
Mine Series
Mine To Take (Mine, Book 1)
Mine To Keep (Mine, Book 2)
Mine To Hold (Mine, Book 3)
Mine To Crave (Mine, Book 4)
Mine To Have (Mine, Book 5)
Mine To Protect (Mine, Book 6)
Montlake - For Me Series
Die For Me (For Me, Book 1)
Fear For Me (For Me, Book 2)
Scream For Me (For Me, Book 3)
Harlequin Intrigue - The Battling McGuire Boys
Confessions (Battling McGuire Boys…Book 1)
Secrets (Battling McGuire Boys…Book 2)
Suspicions (Battling McGuire Boys…Book 3)
Reckonings (Battling McGuire Boys…Book 4)
Deceptions (Battling McGuire Boys…Book 5)
Allegiances (Battling McGuire Boys…Book 6)
Harlequin Intrigue - Shadow Agents Series
Alpha One (Shadow Agents, Book 1)
Guardian Ranger (Shadow Agents, Book 2)
Sharpshooter (Shadow Agents, Book 3)
Glitter And Gunfire (Shadow Agents, Book 4)
Undercover Captor (Shadow Agents, Book 5)
The Girl Next Door (Shadow Agents, Book 6)
Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents, Book 7)
Way of the Shadows (Shadow Agents, Book 8)
Deadly Series
Deadly Fear (Book One of the Deadly Series)
Deadly Heat (Book Two of the Deadly Series)
Deadly Lies (Book Three of the Deadly Series)
Contemporary Anthologies
First Taste of Darkness
Sinful Secrets
Other Romantic Suspense
Until Death
Femme Fatale
Christmas With A Spy
Young Adult Paranormal
Other Young Adult Paranormal
The Better To Bite (A Young Adult Paranormal Romance)
Anthologies
Contemporary Anthologies
“All I Want for Christmas” in The Naughty List
Paranormal Anthologies
“New Year’s Bites” in A Red Hot New Year
“Wicked Ways” in When He Was Bad
“Spellbound” in Everlasting Bad Boys
“In the Dark” in Belong to the Night
Howl For It
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