Fall Into Darkness

by Valerie Twombly

  “It’s a bit snug, but will do.” He shoved his hands into his jean pockets. “Sure you don’t have an attachment to it?”

  She couldn’t help but notice how the cotton stretched and accented his muscles. She had thought Ben had been in terrific shape being a Navy guy, but he had nothing on Eli. She wondered what he did to stay so fit. “No. That relationship ended long ago.” She sat forward, holding the quilt close to her chest. “If you don’t mind, I need to shower.”

  He lifted his shoulders. “I don’t mind.” He came toward her and reached for the covers.

  She shoved him away. “What are you doing?”

  “Do you really think you can get out of bed on your own?” He arched a dark brow. “The second your wounded leg touches the floor, you’ll be on your ass.”

  She knew the way her leg throbbed he was probably right, but she really needed to wash her hair. Maybe she’d feel halfway human again. She glanced out the window at the snow beginning to fall. The weather service had predicted a storm, and they may be stuck together for days. For some reason, the thought of how she must look, let alone smell, bothered her. “I’m in my underwear.”

  “I know what you’re wearing, I’ve seen it. Remember?”

  She let out a sigh. “I can stand on my own.”

  He took a step back with a smug look on his face. “Suit yourself.”

  She shifted her hips and threw both legs over the side of the bed. Her chest burned and her leg throbbed, but she pursed her lips. Pulling the covers with her, she placed her right foot on the floor. Next the left one, and she stood with all her weight on her good leg.

  The room swayed and a drum beat in her head. She swallowed down the bile that threatened to exit her stomach and took a slow deep breath. Focusing on the bathroom door, she took a small step. You can do it. Another step forward and her injured leg gave out. She swayed and started toward the floor, braced herself for the painful landing she knew would come, but instead, found herself in a pair of strong arms pressed to a hard chest. A pair of steel-blue eyes stared at her.

  “I told you.”

  She wanted to wipe the smug look off his face, but she couldn’t stop looking into his eyes. Never had she been able to study the flecks of color in the iris. Instead, death always resided there. It ripped her heart out to see how a person’s life would come to an end. For once in her life, she wanted to look at a person and not know how they would meet their demise.

  Why was this man different? Had her wounds changed things or had God finally given her reprieve?

  “Did I grow another head?”

  “W-what?”

  He eased her back onto the bed. “You’re looking at me like I’ve grown another head.”

  “Oh. No, it’s just you have beautiful eyes.” She sighed. “You were right. I need help in getting up, but it’s rude to point it out.”

  The corner of his mouth twitched. “I see. I’ll try to refrain next time. However, I might suggest you not be so stubborn and listen to my advice.”

  She pushed her bottom lip out a bit. “I just want to feel clean again. I need to wash the smell of that thing off me.”

  His features softened and he let out a breath. “I can only see one solution to this problem.” He pulled off the T-shirt, unbuttoned his jeans, and lowered the zipper.

  “What are you doing?” She fidgeted with the edge of the blanket. Her nerves stretched tight, but a part of her wanted to see what hid beneath his clothing.

  He shoved his pants to the floor to reveal a pair of tight-fitting black boxers.

  She swallowed a gasp.

  He closed in on her and gently scooped her up in his arms. “Giving you your shower.”

  “Wait! What?”

  He didn’t reply. Instead, he strode through the bathroom and flipped on the water in the shower then stepped in. He carefully set her on her feet, but kept her back pressed against him before sliding the glass door closed.

  “Um, this isn’t what I had in mind.” She tried to push away, but he was too strong. Fear gripped her, what would he do to her now?

  “Seems to me this is your only alternative. Stand still,” he commanded and spun her to face him. “I’m not going to hurt you. If I intended you harm, I would have done so already.”

  She stopped fighting him and looked at his face. For the first time, she observed more than blue-grey eyes. She noticed his short, black hair and the little piece that fell across his forehead. Dark stubble covered his jaw and his lips were…

  Dear god, he was magnificent and she stood in a shower with him in only her bra and panties.

  A total stranger had saved her but now held her in a vulnerable position. Her injuries made it even more impossible to fight him if he wanted to assault her.

  "I swear I have no intention of hurting you. I give you my word—that's all I've got."

  She stared at him for a long moment. "Okay." For some odd reason, she believed him; as if some greater force told her he spoke the truth.

  8

  He’d taken leave of his senses. It was the only excuse Eli could come up with for why he currently stood in a shower with Ashley. He tried not to notice how her wet bra clung to the shape of her breasts. Or how each nipple stood erect and beckoned his lips to wrap around them. The Seven thought he had no humanity left, but they didn’t know shit about him. As he stared into her green eyes, he decided he couldn’t do it. He’d rather spend eternity in Hell than seduce this woman. And no way would he do like so many of his brethren and leave his daughter without her father.

  The Seven could kiss his ass.

  He had to deflate the erection that pressed against his wet underwear. “I suggest you wash your hair. I won’t let you fall.” He moved his hands to her waist and suppressed a groan.

  She nodded, tipped her head back under the water spray, and reached for the shampoo. He tried to focus on her eyes and not other things. Need filled him as she ran her fingers through her long blonde hair then rinsed. Next, she grabbed a bath sponge and squirted coconut-scented gel into it, lathered her skin and swiped down her arms then across her chest.

  He wanted to release her breasts from the confines of her bra and rub the soap across them with his own hands. Fuck! He sucked in a breath. He had to get his shit together and fast or he’d have her pinned against the wall.

  “Um, would you mind?”

  “What?” He shook off the fog of lust surrounding him and noticed she held out the sponge.

  “Can you help me with my back? I don’t think I can do it.” Her green eyes pleaded.

  “Fine.” He turned her around. “Place your palms on the wall and keep your weight on your good leg.” She did as instructed, which pushed her ass out toward him. He kept one arm around her waist and ran the sponge across her back with the other. So much for his deflated erection. Junior had risen back up in hopes of sinking into her warm depths.

  Not going to happen, bud. If he survived this encounter, it would be the last time he’d scrub her back. She could go dirty and all the better for him, anyway. It might help curb his lust. Besides, as soon as the storm passed he was out of here.

  He dipped the sponge to her lower back and wondered if this was a test of his resolve. It was then he noticed a crest of color that peeked past the elastic of her panties. So she has a tattoo on her hip? He fought the urge to pull her underwear down and have a look. The thought of the ink on such an intimate part of her body jacked up his desire. He should have taken the waitress at the bar the other night.

  “Time to rinse. I’m going to turn you around again.”

  “Okay.”

  He couldn’t help notice her shaky voice. He turned her and looked into her eyes. “You doing okay?”

  She nodded. “I’m grateful for your help. I would have never been able to do this on my own.”

  With a grunt, he turned off the water, pushed open the door, and reached for a towel. He wrapped it around her then grabbed one for himself, placing it around his waist. He pul
led his wet underwear off and let them hit the shower floor. “Your turn.”

  Without a word, she reached under the towel and pulled the black panties off while he made sure she stayed balanced. The thought of her naked had his cock thickening once again. He was getting really tired of his dick feeling like a fucking yo-yo.

  “I can’t get the bra with you watching.”

  “Do you think I’ve never seen breasts before? I’ve seen plenty,” he retorted and was immediately sorry. Apparently, his arousal was getting the better of him.

  She pursed her lips and a spark lit her emerald eyes. “Well, you’ll not be seeing mine, so turn around.”

  He liked the spunky side of her. “Christ. Hold onto me for balance then.” He turned his back to her.

  * * *

  Even through her pain, desired burned. Ashley had to admit the entire situation was beyond twisted. A stranger rescues her, showers with her, rubs soap along her skin, and now she finds herself physically attracted. She hadn’t had any kind of relationship in over a year and this guy had stepped off the cover of GQ magazine. A little rough around the edges, but damn he looked good. Her body couldn’t help but respond every time he touched her. It was a no brainer.

  Add the fact she could actually look into his eyes—beautiful ones, at that. A small part of her wondered what it would be like to make love to a man and gaze into his eyes at the same time.

  She shook the thought free. Geez, I must be insane to even think it. She looked up and noticed the scars on his back. Long, thick, red scars formed a vertical line along the inside of his shoulder blade, one on each side. Odd, they appeared identical. She reached out and fingered the one on the right.

  He jumped forward and spun around. “What the hell?”

  With the unexpected lack of support, she put her weight on the injured leg. Her knee buckled and she lost her balance. Tumbling forward, she braced herself for impact with the hard tile below. Instead, she landed against a chest of corded muscles. Strong arms encircled her and pulled her close.

  She squealed in pain. Her ribs had taken the brunt of the hit. Tears welled and streamed down her cheeks as she tried to push herself free.

  “Ah, damn it. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He tipped her chin up and she noted the sincerity on his face.

  “I-it’s.” Her chest burned and she gasped for air.

  “Shit.”

  His mouth brushed hers. Gentle kisses peppered her lips.

  Open for me.

  She heard a voice in her head. How the hell had he done that? The pain must be causing her to hallucinate.

  Let me help you, now part your lips.

  This time she had no fight left and did as he commanded. His tongue slipped past and slid across hers. He savored every inch of her and she him. He tasted of vanilla and she wanted to devour him. Her pain eased to the background, but her breathing increased from arousal.

  He broke off the kiss and they stared at each other for several seconds before he picked her up and carried her back to bed. He laid her down then took several steps backwards.

  “What the hell just happened?” she whispered.

  Both brows shot up. “You really need me to explain it?”

  She maneuvered into a sitting position, careful that her towel didn’t open and reveal anything when she confronted him. “You were talking in my head and you kissed me. Why?”

  He crossed his arms over his naked chest. “Most women would ask for more not ask me why.”

  Oh the guy had an ego the size of Texas. “Look, I appreciate everything you’ve done, but I need some answers. Who are you, really?”

  He glanced out the window as if contemplating his escape. The snow came down so heavy he wouldn’t be able to see one foot in front of the other. There was no place for him to go. “Fine. You startled me when you touched the scars. By kissing you, I absorbed your pain.”

  She tipped her head and thought about what he said. The pain did decrease significantly, but he was still not telling her everything. “Perhaps I should be asking, not who you are, but what?” Her gut said he was something other. But what?

  “I’m an archangel. To be exact, I’m a bounty hunter for the Tribunal.”

  She let her jaw drop before snapping it shut and narrowed her gaze. She really wanted to believe him, but her faith had been lost long ago. Still… “Angel, huh? Let me see your wings.” She sat back and waited for the impressive show and tell.

  “The scars on my back are where they used to be. They were taken from me.”

  Could he really have had wings at one time? They were pretty massive marks on his back and anguish settled in her gut. How painful would it have been? She couldn’t let up just yet. “Who took them from you and why are you here?”

  Eli moved back to the bed and sat on the edge. His body rigid, she sensed he was uncomfortable. “I hunt fallen angels and bring them back for judgment. The last few I killed instead, but that wasn’t the icing on the cake. I am here because I left a human alone to suffer. The Seven condemned me to earth to find my humanity.”

  The story got stranger by the minute but for some reason, she felt he told the truth. “So what happens if you don’t? Find your humanity, that is.”

  He gave her a hard stare. “Then I’m condemned to Hell for eternity.”

  She chewed her lip. The thought of him burning in the fiery pits displeased her. “And you’re going to find it here? In Alaska?”

  “I’m not sure. They dropped me here in the middle of the night and I heard your scream. When I came running, I saw a Hellhound over you. I killed him and… well, you know the rest.”

  She searched for the mental image of the beast that had attacked her and shivered. Overly large, grey-scaled body, red eyes, and an enormous head. She’d never seen anything like it in her life and her first thought had been it came from the depths of Hell. “I knew it wasn’t normal when I saw it.”

  He stood and walked over to where his jeans lay, pulled them on under the towel, and then tossed the terry in the hamper. “Look, here’s the deal. I’m pretty certain the Seven want me to have sex with you. It’s the only logical explanation I have for them sticking me here.”

  Ashley coughed. “Excuse me?”

  He faced her, his hands shoved into his pockets. “When an angel has sex with a human, we produce only female babies. Our daughters are marked as an angel’s mate. If they are later chosen by an angel, they become an eternal mate and will only bear male heirs. Another generation of archangels.”

  “Wait. So you mean to tell me they want you to have sex with me and leave me pregnant?” She curled her hands into fists. She wanted to punch something, starting with him.

  “You needn’t worry. I have no intention of sleeping with you.” He reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head.

  She relaxed her hands. “Damn right you won’t be.” Then why would the prospect that he didn’t want her suddenly hurt? Was she not pretty enough? She sighed. “I need to get dressed. If you would be so kind as to leave the room and close the door behind you.”

  He gave her a leveled look. “And what do you intend to do? Fall on your ass?” He marched to her dresser and started opening drawers.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Finding you something to wear.” He pulled out a pair of red panties and matching bra and held them up. “Will these do?”

  Her cheeks warmed. “Yes.”

  He tossed them on the bed then continued his search until he’d found a shirt and a pair of sweat pants, which he brought over and handed to her. “Better to have something soft against your skin.” He took three steps away and turned his back. “Change, cuz I’m not leaving the room.”

  “Fine, but no peeking.”

  “Like I would,” he retorted.

  “Did you ever stop to think maybe the Seven tossed you out because you’re an ass?” She could hear him chuckle as she slipped off the towel and wet bra. Relieved to be rid of it, she pulled on the underwear then str
uggled to get the fresh bra hooked. Deciding not to bother, she discarded it and donned the fleece top. She pulled the sweats up her legs then leaned back to get them over her hips.

  “Okay, I’m finished.”

  He turned back around and strode to the bed. “I’m sure the Seven would concur with your judgment of my character.” He held out his hand. “Care to try and walk to the other room?”

  Grateful he didn’t insist on carrying her again, she grabbed his arm and stood. “Tell me something. Would you really rather spend eternity in Hell as opposed to sleeping with me?”

  9

  How the fuck was he supposed to answer that question? Lie! “Yes, I’d rather burn in Hell than have sex with you.”

  The hurt in her eyes burned deep into his soul, but he couldn’t tell her he wanted her more than any woman he’d ever encountered. These desires, brought on by the Seven and their plans for him to procreate, weren’t real. Granted, he could sleep with her and not will her impregnated, but he didn’t trust himself. And he damn sure didn’t trust the Seven. Who really knew what kind of power they held over him and his free will? It was better for both of them if she thought he had no interest in her.

  She tipped her chin up. “Good, glad we have that straight. As soon as this storm lets up, you can go. Until then, we’ll simply have to make do.”

  He escorted her to the living room and helped her to the couch in front of the fire. “You must be hungry by now. Rest here and I’ll find us something to eat.”

  “I can help.”

  “You’d better rest. This storm is supposed to last at least the next twenty-four hours. After that I’ll be gone so you will have to fend for yourself.” He headed for the kitchen. “You can help by telling me what you’d like.”

  “There’s sandwich fixings in the fridge and some soup in the cupboard.” She fidgeted. “Thanks.”

  He heated up a can of tomato soup and grilled two cheese and ham sandwiches. Neither of them spoke, and the silence was deafening. When he’d finished, he placed everything on the kitchen table and went back to give Ashley a hand.