“Suffocating here.”
He realized that woman’s head was mashed against his chest. He released her, instantly figuring where the field of flowers came from. Ugh.
She gave him a little smug smile. “Passionate. That’ll come in handy, I’m sure.”
What an insolent woman. She was being that way purposely, he had no doubt. Enjoying his chaste disposition on intimacy like the filthy slut she was. He needed to have words with that…angel.
“I called the other angels, they’ll be here in…” A group of people suddenly appeared in the room out of thin air. “…now.”
“Hi!” An average looking girl came forward toward the Skylar girl, hand extended and dark brown eyes dancing with excitement. “Welcome, you must be sooooo confused right now?”
Skylar shook her hand. “Eh, it ain’t that bad.” She chucked a glance at Ezekiel. “Except for getting paired with Mr. Chauvinistic, it’s actually kinda exciting.”
The girl seemed genuinely impressed. Another clueless female. At least she had the decency to appear uncomfortable about the insult directed at him. Ezekiel eyed the second blonde female joining the first girl in their spritely plastic greetings. He met the forest green gaze of the guy with the tat along his neck who merely nodded his greeting. It was far more genuine than the theatrics before him.
“Have they mated?”
Ezekiel’s gaze swiveled to the towering man with the god-like body, and held his breath. Not just at his words but the eyes leveled on him. They appeared to be literal gems of clear aqua.
The man’s question was clearly intended for Toren, who shook his head.
“Well there’s a perfectly private room in the suite they can use,” the man continued not at all quiet enough. “We’re going to West Virginia…” Ezekiel couldn’t make out the rest because the boisterous look-at-me woman was busy yelling her conversation to the other two females.
“Imagine my surprise.”
“Oh we can.” The barely contained you-have-no-clue made Ezekiel wonder what the rest of this crew had been through.
“Now all that’s left is figuring out how to get ol’ Moses here to be a gentleman.”
** ** **
Skylar couldn't help the satisfaction that broadened her smile when Ezeliel's cheeks flamed with anger and humiliation. If she had to endure this, she'd make damn sure he was as uncomfortable as she was.
“If you two don’t mind, the bedroom is through that door. There’s a lock on it. We’ll be a few rooms down babysitting.” The big angel with the startling blue eyes gestured toward a carved double door visible to one side.
“Babysitting?” Toren muttered the question, eyeing the man.
“Peggy’s brood. They’re toddler-sized and a handful to keep quiet.”
Toren’s brows shot up. “Really? Wow. She still…”
“Viciously protective? Yes.”
“Now I wonder why Peggy came to me recently, why would she leave them?”
“Is that where she went?”
What could they be talking about? A dog, maybe?
Ezekiel cleared his throat and spoke. "Do all of you seriously not realize how very bizarre you are?" Ezekiel held out both arms. “Think I can get some answers about a few things?”
The question seemed directed at Toren. She'd have thought Ezekiel would have had his fill of being an asshole with the archangel. Toren spoke low to the guy called Kassern, who rolled eyes she could have sworn were red before nodding.
“Let’s go.” The slim woman with dark blonde hair who'd been introduced as Karly hurried to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Ezekiel glared at the unashamed PDAs all around and she could easily imagine his thoughts. Far too intimate. These surely weren't angels. He watched with a heavy scowl as they grouped together and disappeared with an aqua colored flash.
“Don’t think I’ll ever get used of seeing that.” The words slipped from Skylar as she lowered to sit on one of the small abstract colored sofas. These people had money, judging by the presidential looking suite.
The large Toren seemed to become aware that it wasn’t customary to stand around in only jeans. He looked down at his naked torso and his skin began to shimmer until the shimmering thickened into a fitted silver material. Seeming satisfied with the apparently thought-on shirt, he sauntered toward the second couch. “Ask your questions human.” This as he sat with an arm draped over the top and reached for Miss Samantha. There was no mistaking the look of a desperate lover written plain as day on his perfect face even as he waited for Ezekiel's questions.
Ezekiel scowled and appeared to consider how to word the question.
Unable to resist, Skylar jumped in and asked for him. “I think he wants to know if this is all real, will he be waking up any second, and whether or not he really has to have sex with the slutty American whore.”
Ezekiel stared at Skylar his thoughts excruciatingly clear on his face. She reminded him of the iconic American woman, a plastic Barbie doll, shallow personality glossed into her pores. He looked at the angel while pointing at her. “You were joking I hope, about having to…” He closed his eyes and bared his teeth. “…consummate with her? I’d like to assume you know who I am and what I’m about.”
“Pfffft!” Skylar slapped her leg and cackled like a sick chicken. She tucked her chin down and raised her brows, staring at him. “I know just what you’re about Mr. Jerusalem.” She flicked a finger toward him, “But don’t worry, I won’t hurt you, I promise.” She winked.
His face went even redder with his fury. He looked at Toren. “We’re not even married.”
When the angel spoke to him, his voice was smooth and cold. “You’re about to be. You, of all people, know what constitutes a marriage. Two willing humans, and a consummation. Now, put your differences aside. This is a war. Not a game. And I won’t. Be bothered. With babying you. Soldier.”
Ezekiel's mouth tightened and his shoulders squared. He clearly understood a direct order when he heard it. He forced his fingers to relax from his fists, breathing carefully.
"Brace yourselves! They're headed your way!" The male voice warned from one of the hallways.
Somewhere out of sight, a flurry of nails clicked on tile accompanied by a cacophony of hisses and grunts with an occasional yelp thrown in. So, dogs. Skylar let herself relax. She loved dogs. From the sound of it, they were very large.
The first blur skidded around the corner, followed hard by several more. Skylar had an impression of strange-looking dogs with thick dark fur before the first one tucked into a ball and hurled itself at Ezekiel's chest.
He grunted hard and tried to push it away, but the thing clung to his arm and shoulder, growling ferociously. An avalanche of a half dozen more struck his midsection, bearing him to the floor under their combined weight and momentum.
Well, they certainly weren't dogs. Some kind of cat? Skylar made out enough details to get a better impression. Chimps. Why in the world did they have nearly a dozen young chimps?
Ezekiel managed to push one free and it sat back, poised to launch into the fray once more.
Definitely not chimps. What then? Bears? That must be it.
A bigger one lumbered into the room and paused to glare around, lifting its massive head to sniff the air.
Holy. Cow. It was something like a cross between a grizzly, a chimp and… human? It was terrifyingly similar to the monkey men things from back at the ranch.
No. That wasn't possible. Surely.
The big one rose to stand on hind legs and made a chuffing noise. The smaller ones immediately abandoned Ezekiel and crowded behind what was obviously their mother.
She dropped back to all fours and glared around the room, then strolled toward Ezekiel. The young watched with mouths gaping in awe. The smallest whimpered a little and stuck a thumb in its mouth.
Ezekiel stayed prone, wide eyes watching the creature's progress. That he remained perfectly still and heart-poundingly silent as the thin
g planted a huge hand on either side of his knees and dropped its head to sniff him seriously impressed Skylar. He might be a jerk but he had nerve, for sure.
Skylar looked to Toren, waiting for him to stop whatever was happening. He acknowledged her unspoken question with a surreptitiously raised hand signaling silence and nodded for her to watch.
Even when the beast curled back her lips to show insanely huge teeth, Ezekiel didn't make a sound. It head-butted his leg roughly then pressed its broad muzzle against his groin and inhaled deeply with a sort of whuffling whistle.
And still he didn't move.
Apparently satisfied, the big creature moved on up his body to pause at his throat. After a quick inspection there, it switched to his head, sniffling, poking with long claws, even licking. Tilting its head as if curious, it opened its mouth wide.
With a suddenly snap it had Ezekiel's entire head in its mouth.
"Toren!" Skylar hissed. She wouldn't stand by and watch even Ezekiel mauled to death by something straight from hell.
But Toren was already in action.
He touched the big beast's shoulder gently. "Hey, Peggy. Come on now. Let go. He's a good guy."
The beast dropped Ezekiel and turned toward Toren. With another huff, it turned and strolled out of the room, the young ones following.
Ezekiel levered himself to his feet in a graceful movement. "What the fuck?"
"That was Peggy and her brood." Toren shrugged as if no further explanation were needed.
Ezekiel leaned down to look at his pants. "Huh. Guess I was too scared to piss my pants."
Toren grinned. "Man, there for a while I thought she had plans for you." He clapped Ezekiel on the shoulder. "Gotta give it to you, you handled that like a pro."
Skylar couldn't prevent the little spark of admiration, though she refused to mention it.
"Okay, I hate to rush things, but it's really important that you go ahead and get business taken care of."
Skylar closed her eyes wishing the little delay could have gone on.
** ** **
It was a language Ezekiel understood perfectly. A direct order. Suddenly he realized how petty his disposition actually was. Wait a minute. What was this angel doing to him when he spoke?
“It’s a spiritual Truth power,” the angel said. “When I speak the truth, your mind cannot deny it or tweak it to fit your desires. You must submit to it. And yes, it’s force. A force I have the right to use on you at this time.”
Ezekiel again could not argue with his words. Guess those were truth too. War training kicked in and the angel’s words became simply an order, something he followed in action. That didn’t mean he had to put his heart and soul into it.
He regarded Skylar who chewed the corner of her lip. Her jeaned legs were crossed and bouncing boisterously. It dawned on him what he was seeing in her in that second. She was nervous. She was all talk that one.
The idea gave him an odd satisfaction and courage. She was just a woman. An American woman—trash to him. A tool to get a job done, that’s all. She wouldn’t intimidate him.
“Fine. I’ll do it. But tell her to stop the bad Jewish jokes. I am not a Jew.”
When she jerked wide blue eyes at him, triumph surged in his blood. While one up on her in intimidation, he decided to finish her off by removing his t-shirt. Then he threw it at her. That wide sky blue gaze fell to inspect his chest and her lips parted with, he was sure, shock. Guess she wasn’t expecting that much male. He turned and looked around. “Is that the room?” He pointed at the double door, making sure.
“I believe it is, go check it out.” Toren’s tone reverberated with an unhappy edge and Ezekiel wasn’t sure why at that point as he went to look behind door number three. A bedroom.
He turned and gestured at the room with a sweep of his arm and a slight bow. “After you, madam.”
“Treat her properly or I’ll do to your balls what I did to your heart.”
The words scraped through his mind like the angel had carved them with a knife on the inside of his skull.
The proud to be a slutty American spirit bloomed with every bold step Skylar took toward him, her gaze focused on the bedroom, ignoring him like he were of no consequence to her. Ezekiel’s heart slammed his chest as he entered the room after her and shut the door. Then locked it.
He fisted his hand after turning the bolt, willing the tremor out of it. Why would he be having PTSD symptoms for something like this? He could do this. It was nothing more than slaking physical needs in a brothel. On rare occasions with compelling enough reason, he managed to do that too.
He took a deep breath for strength and turned. There she stood in only panties and bra, hands on her hips like a proud Arabian horse. A magnificent creature. Dangerous.
Calling on brutal war tactics, Ezekiel slowly approached her with determination, eyes not straying from hers, intent on domination. Unfortunately it didn’t stop him from seeing. He lowered his gaze over her body with the intention of finding her flaws, only to lose himself in her perfection. He turned his head right and closed his eyes, gathering his will and purpose. Conquer the enemy.
When he opened them, he realized his foe was far more devious than he’d imagined. She’d removed her bra. Ezekiel took the blow like a grunt, oxygen deserting him in one whoosh as his eyes stared down his newest enemy. Good God.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Oh. My. Lordy, what was she doing? Giving him what he wanted, the all American slut. No, giving him what he deserved. She’d slept with men out of necessity enough times to know how to turn it all on and off. But then he wasn’t supposed to look at her that way. Like she mesmerized him. She fought the urge to cover herself from his probing gaze, feeling like he was seeing too far in. Past her shell.
“I hope you know what to do.” She forced the words out harshly but they sure sounded too close to a desperate plea. He snapped his gaze to hers and she nearly crumpled. Anger and desire boiled in those dark eyes. Whoowee, lots of it.
She didn’t mean to chew her lower lip but it was instinct, reflex even. Without taking her eyes off his, she was aware that he was removing his pants and she could only hold her breath. She fought to retain her courage and stubborn pride. Fought not to lower her gaze to look and show her interest. She couldn’t let him see how much he affected her. Why should he affect her? Arrogant Jew. Even if he wouldn't admit it.
She gulped down her panic and the sound seemed to ricochet off the walls. He was naked now. He’d stepped out of his jeans. She didn’t need to look down to see but damn it she did. Oh holy Montana music. She took a step back when he took one forward. Her legs hit the bed and she had to sit to keep from falling. Which put her eye level with…her circumcised friend.
Lord help her get with the program. Business. That’s it. Do the deed, done.
She laid back on the bed and drew her knees up a little, one leg staggered next to the other in a sensual pose, a timid seduction.
He climbed on the bed, looking like an angry panther that had chased his meal too long. She slipped into her numb zone and opened her legs becoming another woman. One that didn’t care about anything but finishing. And the way to do that was to pretend she loved it. She began purring and mmming and before she knew it he stole her breath with a quick entrance. She tried not to think about the feeling, only the purpose. Finish. She went through the moaning motions and vocal cries keeping her eyes closed and her head turned. Okay, she didn’t have to pretend a whole lot. He was very absolute in his thrusts and they were hard not to experience.
In less than two minutes she felt him there at the edge, his breaths filling with those tell-tale grunts that accompanied a climax. She picked up her own pace, allowing her cries to grow. She even allowed herself to touch him in a feeling kind of way. She traced the ridges of warm muscle along his back until she reached his pumping buttocks. Hard. Like him. Skylar got lost in the entire sensation, gave herself to the power of his body, let it take her away from that platform she nor
mally remained glued to while she played the fucking game. It was surprisingly easy to do.
Just when she began to wonder how far he could take her, he froze up for a split second and pulled out, gasping through his orgasm. Maybe she should have told him she was on birth control and didn’t need to worry. She sort of resented that he’d disconnected at that perfect moment. Seemed like a violation in so many ways.
He put his forehead on her shoulder, his gasps slowing. Skylar couldn’t resist turning her face into his, while feeling his perfect body in the embrace of her thighs. He rolled off until he sat at the edge of the bed with his back to her.
“Done.”
The one muttered word speared through her chest and stole her breath.
Done.
She flew off the bed and got her clothes on, fury bubbling in her veins. She hated men. All of them. All races, colors, creeds, they were all bastards.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Of course he said it like there shouldn’t be anything wrong, like using women was as common and natural as plowing a goddamn field.
“Fuck you soldier.”
She stormed off and caught his sarcastic you just did before she slammed the door and went sit on the couch like a good little whore.
He came out the room and Toren and Samantha entered from another door. Ezekiel sauntered over like a piece of shit and had the nerve to sit on the same sofa as her. She got up and went sat on the single chair next to the far window of the suite wanting nothing more than to jump out of it and stop existing.
“What the fuck did you do?”
All eyes turned to Toren’s harshly whispered words. Skylar was relieved to see them directed at Ezekiel. She couldn’t deal with a scolding of any kind at that point.
“We did as you wanted,” Ezekiel said like the cocky bastard he was.
God she’d never come to loathe a man so quickly.
Skylar jumped when the angel seemed to become a streak of metal that ended on top of the human scum, neck pinned under one hand. “I will rip out your tongue if you ever use it to lie to me. You did not do what I wanted, you did what you wanted!” The yelled words shook with a metallic sound as a squirming Ezekiel struggled beneath the furious angel.
Summon Toren (Archangels Creed #3) Page 19