Summon Toren (Archangels Creed #3)

by Daniels, Kenra

  Kassern raked his hand through his hair, wanting to hurt something. “It seems not to be progressing any further than a rough bruise.”

  “Bring her to the Grotto at first chance. I am confident in three days, I will have an antidote.”

  “I’ll get her now. Dorn?”

  “I’ll hold things here. We’ll keep all activity under the radar while you’re gone.”

  Kassern nodded, rubbing his mouth and looking around, feeling disoriented. The idea that Karly was so close to death ripped his angelic control apart. Kassern tried to figure out how to break it to her that they would have to leave immediately.

  She would resist, no doubt, insisting that the wound was nothing, so he would have to convince her to go. Not to mention, he wanted to spend one more night with her first, since he would likely not get to touch her while there. Just the idea made his entire body ache for her. “In the morning. I’ll bring her in the morning.”

  “Good idea.” Dorn gave Kassern one hard slap on the back.

  Unfortunately, Kassern's worries took away any enjoyment of the highly unusual display of affection.

  The sooner he had Karly looked at the better. This was good. Of course it was, he needed to act like an angel and not a pussy-whipped human.

  ** ** **

  Exhaustion pulled at Sam, bones and muscles filled with a liquid ache on top of the waves of painful tremors that kept rolling over her. Despite the soul-deep weariness, she forced her reluctant brain to consider the cozy warmth surrounding her.

  The most delicious scent filled her senses, all fresh and warm and… Male? Surely she was imagining it?

  The question forced her brain into the next level of alert.

  She was cold, bone deep and deadly, but a source of magnificent heat held direct contact with her skin. The surface was firm but giving, silky smooth but textured. Skin?

  She climbed to the next level of awareness. Searching for details, she found hard muscle and amazing contours. Big.

  A dream no doubt. No man would be naked and pressed up against her. It was the pitiful truth, even if it hurt. She might as well enjoy. No doubt imaginary men were the only kind she'd ever have the opportunity to make love to.

  She needed no further incentive to snuggle closer, molding her body to the big muscular frame of her dreams. His scent was addictive and she drew it deeper into her with every breath. She nuzzled her face in even closer and gave in to the temptation to slide her lips along the silky skin at the base of his throat.

  The dream man sucked in a breath and held it, muscles tight. Mmm. What an amazingly vivid dream.

  Warm satiny skin begged to be tasted and Sam obliged. Her tongue slipped between her lips for the tiniest sample. Delectable. She had to have more. The tip of her tongue moved of its own volition, tracing the line of his collar bone then settling back into the notch at the center.

  Dream man’s throat moaned, barely audible, and strong arms pulled her closer to his body while one big hand slid down her back to lightly cup her ass. He shifted a little to his back and brought her partially atop him, allowing her better access to that wondrous chest. The hand on her butt slid down the back of her thigh and applied gentle pressure to draw her leg up.

  An inferno of a massive erection twitched against her inner thigh, drawing a moan from her. Damn, how vivid and realistic could a dream be? She ached, knowing any minute she’d wake up alone in a cold bed in her second story bedroom of the ranch house. She trailed little kisses down the center of his chest, occasionally veering to the side to taste an incredible pec.

  Dream Man moaned again and trailed the hand still on her thigh back upward, taking the time to stop and caress her muscled curves, and made her wish she'd shaved her legs more recently. Then magical fingers found the groove at the top of her thigh and slipped forward to nestle next to her sex.

  "Mmmm, yes." The breathy whisper escaped with a desperate ache for more. She paused to swirl her tongue along the underside of a well-developed pec, reveling in the little shiver that passed through him.

  Those fingers moved over her cotton panties to settle across her lips with the lightest touch, almost tickling. He grunted a little—frustration?—and slipped his fingers inside the elastic at the leg. The tips combed lightly through her pubic hair, tightening muscles she'd never known about. Incredible heat and tension built fast, settling right above her pubic bone, making her push toward it.

  He tenderly separated throbbing folds that, while not virgin, hadn't known a man's touch could impart real pleasure.

  She instinctively spread her legs a little more to give him better access and she pressed her hips into his to create a new sensation. "Oh, God, yes." Air surged into her lungs and she pushed onto his fingers for better contact. Her lips explored another portion of his chest, desperate to taste all of him.

  He continued to gently stroke her outer folds for what seemed an eternity. The pressure he applied seemed to magnify her clit with indirect caresses until she dripped with desire and thought she might never breathe normally again.

  Sam's entire body throbbed in time with her pulse, every heartbeat producing exquisite tremors through inner muscles that desperately sought the heat of his cock.

  And still he continued with those maddening caresses that promised so much.

  Delirious with his touch, she whimpered against his chest and let her mouth trail wherever she could reach. Her upper lip encountered a small swathe of silky hair and she couldn't resist tugging at it with her lips.

  Dream Man moaned in response and finally let his fingers go a bit deeper, actually penetrating her inner folds to slide across skin exquisitely needful of his touch. Her muscles clenched again, sending another cascade of moisture flowing.

  Her lips continued to toy with his chest hair until she found the hardened disk of his nipple and allowed her tongue to lavish it with attention, drawing another moan from him.

  His hips rocked to thrust his scorching hard-on against her inner thigh. He needed to act like a Dream Man soon, and dissolve their underwear, or something equally dreamy.

  Before she could follow the thought along a path of logic, he let the tip of one finger slip inside her while another finally came into direct contact with her clit.

  Her nails dug into the muscle on his sides, drawing a dreamy groan from him and earning her more sincere caresses on the ache between her folds. “Yes,” she whispered, “yes, touch me.” She pushed her hips into those perfectly dancing fingers then gasped when he rolled to halfway cover her body with his.

  God, so good. So real. So impossible.

  Scorching breath accompanied lips along her neck just as his finger slid in deep. “Oh God yes! Yes!”

  Lips moved up and sucked along the line of her jaw until they reached her mouth. She turned for them, desperate to kiss. She wanted to really kiss this wonderful Dream Man. Full warm lips settled softly over hers and proceeded to tenderly taste with hot groans.

  Insane with need, Sam grabbed hold of his smooth face, tired of the teasing, and pulled him in for a real kiss. He rewarded her with what felt like a shocked gasp, right in her mouth. That amazing finger of his plunged into her and didn't stop until his hand pressed hard against her body like he couldn’t get deep enough. She tried to help, lifting her hips, wanting more, bigger, harder, faster.

  His lips left hers and seemed to make a hurried trail down. She protested with needy moans, gasping when that hot mouth found her naked breast and sucked gently. Shame for what she didn’t have rudely pushed into her dreamy consciousness. She was almost glad when his lips left her nipple with a light smacking sound. It'd be great if she weren't so incredibly self-conscious about her deficit so she could fully enjoy the white-hot sensations he created there. No matter, as long as he kissed her again.

  Wait. Why were his lips going in the wrong direction? Her mouth was north, not south. Well, as long as he left that delicious finger buried inside her, she could ride that pleasure just flicking her hips. Mmm. So g
ood.

  The finger slowly slid in and out and Sam writhed on the bed, wishing he’d come back and kiss her. His hot breath flowed across the insanely sensitive skin at the junction of her thighs. What was he doing there?

  Sam bolted up in bed when she felt wet heat slide across her clit. “What are you doing!” The biggest oh my God oh my God reality slammed into her as she stared at her Dream Man. The new hired hand! Kneeling in the bed of a…she looked around. Where the hell was she?

  A violent headache slammed her entire body and she remembered the fire, the storm, the stranded. Oh shit! She pulled the nearest garment over her and up to her chin.

  He held his hands up. “I’m…sorry, I thought…”

  “You thought what!” Oh my God, she was sick. This…man took advantage of her while she was sick! “You molested a sick woman?”

  “Oh God, no, I…you…”

  “I what? Was sick and delusional and you thought that meant I wanted your…your…” she gestured to his body with one hand, distracted by the wall of magnificence that now stood at the foot of the bed, “your fingers all over me? Oh my God I cannot believe you did that!”

  ** ** **

  Toren was dumbfounded standing there like a fallen angel who’d raped a human. She’d seemed so willing. She’d said she was delusional. God, how could he not know that? She’d felt so good and soft and she seemed so…receptive to his touch.

  No wait. She’d touched first.

  He merely answered the need he so easily heard in her beautiful moans and felt in her exquisite touch. His body ached to be back in bed with her, holding her close. “I am extremely sorry, you have to believe me, I didn’t realize—”

  “Do you take me for a fool?” She shook her head. Those lips felt so good under his. She’d been so eager and hungry.

  “You seemed to be aware and you seemed to really like it.”

  She choked on an incredulous laugh. “Well yes of course I liked it, I was half asleep and thought I was dreaming! Hello. Just because you have that… that…” she gestured at him again, her gaze roaming over his body, “dumb physique and all, does not give you the right to use it on women, mister. Sick woman!” She made a sound somewhere between a groan and a growl and covered her face. Was she reliving what he’d done the way he was?

  God, he would never sleep until he knew what she tasted like. And why did she behave like him tasting her beautiful Eden was wrong? She’d felt so good on his fingers, he wanted his tongue everywhere down there, and his mercury properties practically insisted none to gently that he not wait another second to taste her. There was something there that his shield wanted and needed and Toren was extremely curious about the what and the why of it all. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am, really. I would never have done that, had I known.”

  She remained with her hands over her face then groaned and slowly fell onto the bed. “I’m so embarrassed. I can’t believe you did that, and I’m sick, ache-y, and cold again.”

  “I can warm you—”

  Her arm shot out with her palm up in the STOP position. “Don’t even think about it, I’d rather freeze to death.”

  Wow. Was it that bad for her? She hadn’t acted like it was. The memory of her voice and touch filled his body until his mercury became demanding again.

  “You can sleep in the bed but don’t you dare touch me.”

  Toren’s heart skipped a beat and he carefully held back the smile inspired by the truth belying her words. “I don’t really need to sleep. Right now,” he added, remembering he was supposed to be human.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, you need to rest.” Fatigue flattened her voice. “Last thing I need is to have to lug a giant of a man home sick because he was too damn stupid to sleep without molesting the goddamn boss.” She tilted her head a little, taking some of the intended sting from her words. "Besides. It'd be a crime to waste all that wood to heat this place when you're clearly warm enough for both of us."

  Amazing that her harsh words only made him ache to jump on her and finish giving her what she’d clearly craved. But…“Yes ma'am,” was all he’d be doing about that. For the time being.

  Toren looked at the narrow spot of bed next to her. He’d be more comfortable if he slept standing up than that close to her. He slipped into the bed, careful not to jar the mattress more than necessary.

  He paused, feeling like an idiot for not thinking. How long had it been since she’d taken that medicine? He closed his eyes and carefully allowed his mercury to span the distance of time it had been since he’d given it to her. Only two hours? He settled fully into bed, putting his back to her. “I’ll wake you up to take medicine soon.” He remembered about thirst. “Do you need anything? Food or drink?”

  “No, I’m fine.” Weakness saturated the bite in her voice, making Toren need to hold her more. He hardened his resolve and resisted.

  “You be sure and let me know what you need. Please?” he added, as nicely as he could but keeping the firmness there to let her know he’d be pissed if she didn’t.

  She didn’t answer.

  “If you get cold, you’re welcome to lay against my back, I’ll stay turned this way.”

  She gave a weak snort. “Thanks but no thanks. You're about as good as a furnace. I’ll be fine. You just keep your ass healthy cause I’m gonna need that…body of yours to work real soon.” She grunted. "Damn, that didn't sound right. Just don't worry about me. Take care of yourself."

  Toren grinned. She always stuttered any time she referred to his body. He was sure that was a good sign. It felt like it was. “Yes ma'am.”

  “And stop pretending you’re a cowboy. You done got the damn job. If you’re gonna pretend something, act like you've got some sense and recognize how stupid you sound.” She gave a little snort. "Next thing I know, the other hands will be copying your good manners. It'll be all yes ma'am and no ma'am and please and thank you. They'll never get any work done.

  Toren grinned. "Yes, ma'am." He didn't even try to keep the laughter from his voice. Her sarcasm seemed to effect only the pulsating muscle between his legs. Fascinating. His mercury shield must read her temper and its effect on him as power and strength. Even if a good bit of it was a front, she was one hell of a woman. He smiled, grateful.

  Exactly two thousand five hundred and sixty-three breaths later, his hard-ass soon to be wife turned over in her sleep and glued herself to his backside with soft moans. Toren stifled the groan of ecstasy, not wanting to wake her. But not because he cared a lick about her rest. How utterly non-angelic could he get?

  He lay in excruciating agony as she burrowed closer with soft mewls and moans. He felt her smelling him and hoped it was pleasant to her. Most humans supposedly liked an angel’s scent, but he wouldn’t be the least surprised if she were the exception to that cute notion.

  Oh God. She was tasting him again. He clenched his eyes shut, astonished with his reaction to something so little. It was just the tip of her tongue skimming over his flesh, for crapsake. The last thing he was going to do was surrender to the need to give her what she clearly wanted. Until she could face the beautiful woman buried inside her in the light of day, she was officially off limits.

  Toren spent the next hour thinking of ways he could coax the real her out of hiding and was amazed and a little guilty at how they all involved his lips and hands on her body. And her body. Specifically her supposed non-existent breasts. He could spend eternity with his mouth on them. Though the mounds were slight, he’d never loved anything more. They were soft and perfect under his strong fingers. And her nipples. Toren wrestled his body into submission as he recalled the way the peaks hardened right in his mouth. He could still feel the erect nub against his tongue.

  Damn, it was going to be a long night.

  ** ** **

  Karly slitted her eyes when she smelled Kassern. The faintest scent of otherworldly smoke and a hint of soft clean sunshine. Mmmm. She smiled when he hovered over her body, his strong arms on either side of her
head, studying her, soul deep. She sensed it then and lifted up on her elbows. “What’s wrong?”

  He covered her mouth in a hungry kiss, obliterating her questions then grasped either side of her head and held her to the fire now dancing over his body and tongue. “I have to have you. All of you. Now.”

  She gasped, inhaling his heat, not caring what drove him, only caring about giving to him until it ached in her soul. “Kassern.”

  He jerked up. “Did I hurt you? Are you hurt?”

  “What? No, I just…” She pulled him back down to him.

  He kissed her but then pulled up again. “You’re just what?”

  “Just wanting to make love to you that’s all, what is wrong with you?”

  Her words seemed to steal his breath and he returned to devouring her body with his lips and fiery tongue. “I love you, I love you, I love you.” The words were a whispered lament filled with ache and rapture. She held his head and opened for him, welcoming him with an arch of her back and a moan.

  He kissed and licked her sex with such tender affection, the fire in his tongue dipping inside her, followed by one, then two of his long fingers. In a matter of seconds, he brought her to a writhing orgasm with his other hand pressed into the valley of her breasts as though he wanted to feel exactly what it did to her. Before she could fully recover, his strong body covered hers and his tongue danced along hers, telling about all the things it’d just done. She held his face between her hands, her hips squirming in expectation of his cock.

  He slid into her with a deep absolution. She arched hard for the ecstasy of having him buried in her. He raked her neck with his teeth making Karly dizzy as he began moving in and out, his rhythm sweet with a promise of devastation on the horizon. She slid her nails along the muscles that rippled with his perfection. His voice soon growled louder with every stroke, and Karly clutched him to her. She always and forever craved his release, loving to watch him when he was in its throes. There was nothing more fulfilling for her. “Do it…yes, yes.”