His lips tipped at the corners slightly, and Grace shoved back again, thrusting him inside of her roughly. He gasped. Bit his lip. Every muscle in his body froze, and it was more than obvious that he was afraid to move.
“It doesn’t always have to be soft between us, angel,” Grace said gently, twisting her hips side to side.
“I … never want … to hurt you,” he said haltingly through clenched teeth. “Your past — ”
Her cracked heart fused together again and felt as though it swelled right out of her chest. He was gentle with her on purpose. Because he wanted to show her he was different from Seth. “Is my past,” she finished for him, rising on her knees and slamming back down.
“Grace!” he shouted, tipping his head back. Every muscle in his torso flared into sharp relief. “Oh, no,” he breathed.
His hips bucked beneath her, and she felt him shoot hotly inside of her. “Oh, God,” she moaned. She’d made him come. “Oh, God,” she said again as his entire body shuddered with the force of his release. She rocked her hips in time to the jerking of his, drawing his orgasm out as long as she could.
It was the most pleasurable moment of her life. And she hadn’t even come herself.
His body finally stilled beneath her. She stroked his chest, licked her lips. She was still so desperate for him. He slowly tipped his chin back down and looked at her with eyes flooded with shame.
“I am sorry,” he mumbled, his eyes canting to the side. “I tried to stop it. You felt … too good.” His eyes returned to hers, his brows drawn together. “I left you behind, love.”
She shrugged one shoulder. He had. But it had been so worth it. “I loved it,” she whispered, leaning down to press her breasts against his damp chest. She couldn’t resist kissing him. Thrusting her tongue within his mouth.
He was quick to wrap his arms around her back. To return her thrusting tongue with his own. She moaned into his mouth, her need rising even higher. Her core clenched, and she gasped in surprise, wrenching from their kiss to stare into his eyes. “You’re hard!” she breathed.
How was that possible? Thank God it was possible!
“Always for you, Grace,” he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the tip of her nose.
And then her world blurred as Jayden flipped them. Grace was suddenly on her back, the angel still hard and filling her, his hips between her upraised thighs. “So,” he said with a sexy smile. “You like it harder, hmm?” He withdrew from her until only the tip of him remained. Grace sucked in a breath. “I find I like it as well.” He slammed forward, his hips slapping against her. He ground himself against her sex, wringing bolts of pleasure from her clit.
“Jayden!”
He stilled and stroked her face. She opened her eyes again to find him looking deeply at her. “You swear this is okay — ”
In answer, Grace tilted her hips away and slammed onto him. He groaned, tossing his head back. His arms seemed to collapse, and he landed on her, crushing her breasts, slamming his lips onto hers, thrusting his tongue into her mouth.
Between her knees, she felt him withdraw again and then thrust hard. Withdraw. Thrust. He picked up a fast, brutal rhythm that Grace’s body was helpless to resist. She wrapped her legs around his waist and met him thrust for thrust. Her fingers dug into his shoulders and then moved south to where his wings sprouted from his back. She brushed her palms over them, and Jayden cried out, tearing his lips from hers and burying his face in her neck. He bit down on her collarbone and thrust even faster into her.
Wings … sensitive, her passion-addled mind determined. She stroked them again, and his entire body jolted. He made a loud sound of distress and worked his hand between their bodies. “Cannot do this … again,” he groaned into her damp skin.
His thumb found her clit, and as he thrust harder, he circled her firmly.
Grace flew apart. She screamed his name. Digging her heels into his ass, she bucked against him. Waves of pleasure hit her again and again.
He bellowed into her neck, slammed into her one last time, and she felt his ejaculation pour into her. “Oh, Grace,” he groaned. “Oh, love.” His thrusts slowed and finally stopped.
He didn’t raise his head, and their breaths were so loud and fast they echoed through the room. Grace’s knees fell, and she wrapped her arms around him fully, stroking his back and wings. “I love you,” she whispered.
He lifted his head slowly and met her eyes. The honey-green she adored darted back and forth as he looked from one of her eyes to the other.
“I love you,” she repeated.
His entire face lit up. A wide grin spread. “I am so glad,” he said hoarsely. He buried his face in her neck once again, heaving a shuddering sigh. “I am so happy,” he breathed.
Grace smiled, hugged him close, and slipped back into sleep.
Chapter Seventeen
Grace jerked awake. Her eyes flew open. She was immediately aware of three things: she was cold, naked, and alone in the bed; Jayden was dressed and standing before her; and his sword was pressed to her throat.
She could feel the heat of the metal. The licking flames. The blade so sharp she was afraid to breathe lest it cut her.
Her eyes jerked from the weapon to the angel wielding it. He was still breathtakingly beautiful. He stood before her, robe cascading down the body she had thoroughly loved. His wings flared behind his back. His hair flowed around his face and shoulders. His face was a blank mask. “Jayden,” she breathed, moving as little as possible.
“Do not say my name, defiler,” the angel growled.
Terror rushed through Grace’s body. She looked closely at Jayden’s eyes. The warm, honey green was gone. In their place was black. All black, from corner to corner, lid to lid.
Jayden her lover was no longer here. In his place was an avenging angel.
With utter clarity, Grace realized she was about to die. That the precipice she had sensed the angel had been poised upon over the last week had finally been breached.
On instinct, Grace scrambled back away from the sword’s blade, dragging the sheet over her nakedness. The blade followed her movement, and she froze when her back hit the wall.
Nowhere to go.
The flat of the blade touched her chin, forcing her to raise her face to his and stare into those heartless black eyes.
“You have eaten from the Tree of Eternal Life,” the angel said in a stranger’s voice. “The punishment for such an offense is death. Prepare your soul.”
Intense sadness leaked into her heart. Sadness for herself, yes — for the first time in thirteen years, she wanted to live. But also, sadness for Jayden, who would snap from his stupor upon her death and see that he had killed her.
Her agony would be short-lived. His would last forever.
Compassion she did not know she could ever possess for an attacker filled her soul. Her Jayden would never do this. He was having something taken from him by force as well. She felt her terror lessen. Her eyes softened. She looked at the angel she loved with all of her heart. “Angel,” she whispered to him, “it will be okay.”
Those cold, black eyes narrowed. The blade beneath her chin wavered. A tendril of green honey swirled over black. “Grace?” the angel asked in Jayden’s voice. Green flooded the black, and suddenly, Grace was looking into her Jayden’s eyes once again.
They widened with horror. The sword shook even more. “Grace,” he whispered desperately. “Run!”
• • •
Jayden watched as her face blanched. He held onto this moment, this rare moment of control, with every fiber of his being. He had to give her the chance to get away. If he could just hold the Compulsion off for a few precious moments.
The human launched herself from the bed, dragging the sheet with her. She flew to the door of the cell and pounded on the metal. The booms echoed through the room. “Help me,” she screamed. “Somebody, help!”
The Compulsion pressed. Jayden pressed back.
And lost.
/> The world shifted into shadows and light. His gaze narrowed. Focused on his prey. The defiler continued to bang on the door as he stalked forward. He raised his sword, zeroing in on the space between her neck and shoulder where he would strike.
The place where he loved to kiss.
His steps stumbled. He shook his head, dislodging the errant thought.
The defiler spun from her pounding and looked upon him with wide, gray eyes. One lone tear escaped and trailed down her cheek.
He raised his sword higher, braced his feet, and prepared to swing.
Like a gasp of air, Jayden broke through the Compulsion. “Kill me!” he commanded her before losing himself again.
His arms bunched.
He struck.
Air whistled past his blade as it closed in on the defiler’s neck. The job was almost done.
Her arms shot up. They caught him at his wrists mid-swing.
With a final shove, Jayden pushed aside the Compulsion at this vital moment, and tempered his strength enough to allow her to redirect his blade. He dropped it even before she elbowed him to the chest just like he had shown her to do.
It clattered on the floor.
She lunged for it, picking it up by the hilt and turning toward him. She pointed the sword at his chest.
The Compulsion beat against his brain, urged him to give in and allow it to complete the job.
“Do it,” Jayden hissed through gritted teeth.
The sword wavered. Her eyes flooded with more tears. “I love you,” she whispered.
Not more than I love you. The pain in his skull became unbearable. He had no time left. Without another word, Jayden lunged forward, grabbing her hands and directing the blade. It slid into Jayden’s chest and pierced his heart without a sound.
Grace screamed and jerked away.
The Compulsion finally faded, its absence causing Jayden to slump with relief. Or is that pain? Jayden looked down at his chest. Blood spilled from around the sword’s blade. His fingers spread through the warmth that gave him life. He brought his hand away and stared at the crimson dripping from his fingers.
He was dying.
He looked from his hand to the face of the woman he loved. The one he would gladly have Fallen for, if only he still had the chance. Tears streamed down her lovely face. Wounded animal noises fell from her lips. He tried to smile for her, but doubted he succeeded. He closed his eyes.
I will never harm Grace. The thought brought him comfort.
I will no longer be able to protect her. Unimaginable sorrow.
His legs crumpled beneath him at the same time that the cell door burst open.
Shouts pinged off of the concrete walls as soldiers flooded the room, Eli and Jericho at the forefront. Dahlia ran to Grace and wrapped her in a hug, questions flying from her mouth at the speed of light.
Jericho and Eli knelt beside Jayden. Eli pulled the sword from Jayden’s chest, and pain shot through his body. Jayden moaned, much to his horror.
But what was worse was how they all kneeled around him, shouting orders and questions and blocking his view of Grace.
He wanted — needed — to watch her while he died.
He twisted his head and managed to catch sight of her through a gap between two soldiers. Even more warm blood seeped over his chest, and he could not help thinking it was because the sight of her made his heart beat faster.
With a cry, Grace wrenched herself from Dahlia’s arms and rushed out of the room.
She took all of the light with her. Black edged in on Jayden’s vision, and despair filled his lungs, robbing him of breath. He could not blame her for leaving. He had attacked her. Become her very worst nightmare.
His vision began to fade and he heard an odd rattling sound that he realized was his attempt to breathe. He closed his eyes and hoped it would come quicker.
“Get the fuck out of my way!”
Jayden struggled to get his eyes open as shuffling erupted all around him. It took a moment for Jayden to focus, but when he did, he discovered Grace kneeling by his side, a determined look on her face.
She came back. Joy surged. Jayden focused all of his energy and managed to raise his hand. To touch her cheek.
His fingers left a smear of red upon her skin, and he dropped his hand in horror, never wanting to see blood upon her. “Proud of … you,” he managed to whisper through clattering teeth. So cold. His lids grew too heavy. His head sank to the side.
The smell of peaches perfumed the air. A trickle on his chest. Warmth flooding him.
Breath shot into Jayden’s lungs, and his eyes popped open. Inches from his face was Grace’s hand. It cradled a pulverized piece of fruit.
Jayden slowly raised his eyes to hers. They were laden with hope. Love.
Thunder boomed, and Jayden’s body contorted in agony as he screamed with all of his strength.
Chapter Eighteen
They all fell to their knees and clapped their hands over their ears as otherworldly thunder rolled throughout the room.
Grace wedged her head against her shoulder, trying to cover her ear that way so she could grope the air in front of her with one hand. She needed to find Jayden, to touch him, but her eyes wouldn’t allow her to pry them open so she could see him.
A blast of energy exploded right in front of her, throwing her back several feet. She landed in a pile of twisted arms and legs belonging to the others in the room.
The blast of energy had come from where she’d last seen Jayden.
Now, she was able to force her eyes open. Her sight traveled the distance between her and the angel.
He writhed on the floor in a pool of his own blood. His hands, fingers spread painfully wide, slid through the slick redness, trying in vain to find purchase of some kind. His back was arched, his head thrown back. His mouth was wide open, and his desperate scream rent a hole straight through Grace.
Terror spiked, and Grace forced herself to move, crawling on her knees to where Jayden twisted on the floor. “No!” she shouted, the noise lost in the thunder and his scream.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. She’d given him the fruit. It was supposed to heal him.
Her hands shoved the ripped and tattered fabric of his robe aside as he tossed and turned. Her hands sought out the wound.
It was … gone. He had healed. It just hadn’t helped.
“Oh, God,” Grace moaned, trying to embrace her angel. Had she caused this? She had to have. It was the only explanation.
Giving the fruit of the Tree of Eternal Life to the angel charged with ensuring it was never defiled? A sob barreled out of her chest. Why would I do that?
“I’m so sorry, angel.” Her sobs distorted her words to the point where she knew he would never hear them, much less understand them over the pain that demanded so much more. She reached for him, trying to ease whatever anguish he was experiencing. She gathered him in her arms and pulled his head and shoulders into her lap.
He buried his face in her stomach and continued to scream, his body shaking with the pain that wracked him. His left hand grabbed her, digging into her back as he pushed his body as deeply as it would go into her lap. All the while, his screams and that thunder rent the air.
“Jayden, Jayden,” she tried to coo through her hysteria. “I’m here. Shhh … ”
She rocked him back and forth, her tears soaking his hair.
Then, suddenly, the thunder vanished. Jayden’s scream cut off. The world fell into a deadly quiet.
Around the room, men and women slowly stood from wherever they had landed after the blast. They looked at one another in the silent, speculating shock that always followed natural disaster.
Grace only had eyes for the angel pressed against her stomach. Tremors shook his entire body, and his gasps and ragged breaths heated her skin.
He was still alive.
Tears still blurred her vision, but Grace forced her hand to move. Her trembling fingers sifted through his hair, gently pushing it away from
his face. She needed to see him, to make sure he was still okay.
The angel took one last shuddering breath and slowly pulled back from her middle. He turned his face toward hers. His eyes remained clamped shut.
Unease lurched within her. Grace quickly scanned his body. He still had his wings. They were partially open and gleamed a very ordinary white. They’d lost the pearlescent sheen. Next to them, a soldier picked up a sword, and Grace realized with shock that it was Jayden’s sword. The flames were gone.
She moaned. “What have I done to you?” She could never make this right. Never. Her fingers sank into his hair as she bowed her head and tried desperately not to break down completely.
His head moved beneath her hand. Her eyes sprang open to find him turning his face into her palm to press a kiss against her skin.
Grace gasped.
His eyelids fluttered open.
His eyes. That honey green color she loved … the honey was gone. He blinked once. Twice. A deep green stare looked up at her.
• • •
Such bliss.
The warmth of her skin. The scent of her. Her arms around him. Her fingers in his hair. The gray, stormy eyes he would spend the rest of his existence losing himself in.
The One. She is yours.
Jayden allowed his eyes to close briefly. Oh, I know. Absolute rightness settled down through his body, and his arms tightened around Grace’s middle.
She stiffened within his hold and took a ragged breath. “Angel?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his eyes again and looked up into the face of the woman he loved. For the first time, he noticed the tear tracks down her cheeks, the dark hue in her eyes.
He frowned. “Grace?”
Her face crumbled before his eyes. Sobs burst from her so hard, her body lurched with them.
“Grace!” Jayden shifted as quickly as possible. Sitting up and reversing their positions, he pulled his woman into his lap.
She pressed her face against his throat; her tears coursed down his neck. “A-are you s-still an angel?”
Understanding.
Operation Middle of the Garden 03 - Of Consuming Fire Page 15