by Tigris Eden
“Dalila?” His voice was a low whisper, caressing her senses. “May I try some of your gum?” That was…unexpected. One minute, he was being a dick. And in the next minute, he was asking for gum? Fuck all if she knew what his angle was.
Dalila reached for the glove box to pull out some gum when he grabbed her arm. His fingers seared her skin. Extreme heat emanated throughout her body at his touch.. His nostrils flared as her body temperature went up ten degrees.
“Dalila, I don’t want my own. I want your gum.” Dalila almost swerved and hit the curb on her right side, but she quickly pulled over. She needed a minute. She sat, awestruck, not sure if she should bolt out of the car or die of embarrassment. They’d just been arguing, hadn’t they? No, she’d been venting her frustration. Her heart rate sped up, and heat crept up her neck, likely turning her ears red.
Isaiah moved quickly, placing his lips against hers. His tongue penetrated the seam of her lips, searching for the gum he’d asked for. Breath escaped her lungs at an alarming rate from the cruel ravishment of his mouth. His actions were harsh. Dalila was unable to utter a single protest. Her mind emptied of all coherent thought except one repeated word, over and over again.
Carnal.
Teeth tugged and nipped at her bottom lip. Isaiah began stroking his tongue over her hers, coaxing her to dance with him. His hand still rested on her arm, and the heat of his skin was burning his prints right into her flesh. She’d never felt anything so hot. Her entire body nearly convulsed from his touch. Her body swayed forward as a wave of dizziness hit. She felt invaded, conquered by the dark kiss and the firm hold of his grip.
Dalila’s insides screamed for attention and begged for mercy in the same heartbeat. Waving the white flag was not an option. Isaiah’s flavor, bold like the man himself, was strong, spicy, too rich to be chocolate but smooth enough to melt. The moan that grew within her chest to escape was suddenly and violently torn from her mouth. She was melting from the inside out as she grabbed his shoulders, anchoring herself to him.
Isaiah’s kiss sent spirals of electricity bone-deep into her marrow to mingle with her genetic makeup. It was a feeling of free-falling only to be picked up and dropped again. His kiss would now sit atop a pedestal to be measured against all others to come after.
How could any man compare to what she currently experienced with Isaiah? A tingling sensation begin to whirl inside, intense heat started at the tips of her toes and raced to match her beating heart, a cadence that thrummed through her entire body. She was going into shock from the kiss. Isaiah’s lips skipped the seduction and were on a crash course to an eternal fire of hot sex and ice. His hand tightened around her arm as he reached for her, trying to pull her into his lap.
Still, they hadn’t come up for air. Their lips stayed connected. Dalila saw images, dark fantasies of him taking her brutally, hard and fast. She was clearly in way over her head.
Chapter 5
Isaiah did not recall when it happened or how, but the moment she popped the gum into her mouth, he watched intensely, entranced by her actions. It was her mouth mostly—the sensual line of her lips, the motion of them moving up and down. Images of his cock sliding between her lips could not be denied.
Isaiah wasn’t ready to admit that the mortal female affected him at all. The scent of anise and vanilla spiced with cinnamon tangled in his nose, her unique aroma a crash course to all the things he’d thought buried, hidden far beneath his soul. Thinking it would bring in some well-needed air to abate his desire, he moved to roll down the window. It had failed. He hadn’t even let the windows down, but she had. And for reasons unknown to him, the smell intensified.
Every second in the car with her only strengthened his desire to touch her, understand her. Aware that he shouldn’t, the enticement still dangled in front of him like forbidden fruit. Watching her full lips chew her gum was more than any man—mortal or immortal—could endure. A slow fire of warmth spread up his back, traveling through his skin. He’d never kissed a mortal woman before. He hadn’t kissed many non-mortals either, but still, there was no fire, no uncontrollable desire to grab hold of them and devour their mouth like he needed to do with Dalila.
When their tongues met, a wild explosion sounded inside his chest, and he felt drums beating at his rib cage. His entire equilibrium was affected by her taste. He hadn’t meant to kiss her. Shut her up, yes. Kiss her…no. The moment their lips met, though, he just wanted to be on her, in her, as deep as he could go to immerse himself in her scent and her body. Isaiah was caught off-guard by the intensity of what he felt for this mortal woman.
Shit, back off, slow down.
Annoyed with his lack of self-control, he pulled away. Isaiah gritted his teeth and tried for calm. He was high off her kiss, had energy enough to fight hundreds of Demons singlehandedly, and still have reserves to face a hundred more. He burned for her. Flames so intense his insides bubbled with heat—eruption was inevitable.
Forcing a deep breath of air into his lungs, he leaned back against the seat. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand why I did that.” Storm clouds of confusion gathered in his head. Thunder spanked him into submission. Isaiah was still out of breath. Glancing over, he noticed her staring at him, her chest rapidly rising and falling. Her pupils were dilated from her lust, her lips swollen and wet from their kiss. She was affected just as much as he was.
Good, at least he wasn’t alone.
Ω Ω Ω
If there had been tension before, it had quadrupled to the size of Texas now, maybe even with bits of Mexico thrown in to keep things interesting. The kiss had been hot, brutal even, to the point that if he’d continued for another second, things would have gotten really interesting inside her Bug.
“All right,” Dalila said after a while. “I really do appreciate you keeping me out of trouble, but I’ve had all I can take of this nightmare. You’re a great-looking man...uh, Seraph. I’m sure there’s an Angel who’d die for the chance to be with a guy as good-looking as you. But you can’t go around kissing women out of their panties. I only just met you. Hell, I don’t even know you.” She continued her rant.
Isaiah stared at her, confusion lining his brow. “Does my forehead have a big sign that says accepting applications? I can assure you that I’m not.”
I should make an exception.
The idea of accepting the smallest touch or kiss from him had her head spinning in a million different directions. Another blare from a horn made her jump, and she turned back into traffic. She was blocking someone’s driveway. She didn’t even remember the driveway, her only thought was to pull over. Mere seconds. The kiss had lasted only seconds, and she was already a big hot mess.
This time as she drove, she kept her eyes on the road. Dalila turned the car into the back entrance of the park where Isaiah had landed on her roof the night before. She parked over by the clearing by the trees and cut off the ignition.
“Now what?”
“You stay here and let me handle things. Don’t leave the car, Dalila.” Isaiah gave her a stern look. “Stay here and lock all the doors.”
“Is that really going to help me if whatever you are looking for is out there waiting?” Dalila asked.
“No, but I heard that humans like to be given the chance to feel safe, even when they’re really not.”
“Not this human. I need the facts. If you go, am I toast?” If he said yes, she was leaving his ass here. She preferred to take her chances on the road instead of sitting in the state park out in the open like bait. Isaiah gave her a black, layered look.
“Here are the facts: you do what I say, and that’s that. Stay in the car, lock the fucking doors, and I will be back in less than five minutes. You see anything, you just start the car and head back to the farmhouse where Grey and Raz are. Don’t look back, just go.” Isaiah kept his affable mien, but there was a distinct hardening in his gray eyes. They were no longer liquid mercury, but hard steel.
Dalila rested both hands on the wheel o
f the car and flexed. “Fine, you’re not back in five minutes, I’m leaving whether I see shit or not. And I’m not going back to the farmhouse,” Dalila yelled.
“Roll up the windows, and whatever you do, don’t open the doors. Stay here. I’ll be back in five minutes, Dalila.” He sounded menacing as he stepped out of the car, stalking toward the forest. He turned a glare on her. “Don’t leave the park. He’ll follow you, if you do.” He hesitated before speaking again. “And I may not get to you in time.” Isaiah walked into the woods and disappeared.
“I must be crazy.” There was no good reason for her to be sitting in her car, alone in the park. Furthermore, there was something out there that could harm her worse than Isaiah could.
Ah, hell.
She was stuck here, and she knew it. It wasn’t in her to leave him here alone, and he didn’t have a car.
He has wings. He could easily make it back to the farmhouse.
Dalila sat in silence for what seemed like forever. She kept replaying the events in her head that had led up to this unrealistic moment. It was broad daylight outside; surely nothing too bad could harm her, right?
Dalila began running over different scenarios in her head. Isaiah and his brothers were Angels, so the Warrior Angels had a purpose. What was it?
The sound of her hand tapping the steering wheel brought her out of her thoughts. She was so not going to leave Isaiah here in the park. Time and time again, she let her guard down to help someone, only to have them stab her in the back. “I must be a glutton for punishment!”
Dalila stepped out of the car and headed in the direction Isaiah had walked. Now was the time to be the Hollywood starlet, even if it wasn’t a romantic chick flick.
I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.
Ω Ω Ω
As Isaiah made it to the clearing, he noticed that the smell was stronger, burning his nostrils with the heaviness of sulfur and a hint of vinegar. Where was the bastard? He was here somewhere. To gain an advantage, he shed his clothes, taking his true form.
Willing himself to embrace his power, linen pants replaced his street clothes, and his sword and wings appeared. Seconds later, he stood to his full height, stretching his back and spreading his plumage.
He took his sword from its sheath and walked deeper into the woods. “Azazel, I know you’re out here!” Isaiah shouted. “Don’t make this harder for me than it already is, brother. Come to me and seek forgiveness.”
Isaiah took flight, landing on a tall pine. He kept searching, gazing out as far as his eyesight would allow. Nothing. There were many reasons this trip should have been short-lived, many questions that needed to be answered. He should have been able to take Azazel down last night. He was a messenger Angel, not of the warrior class, and what the hell was up with him and the human woman he left in the car?
When Metatron left, he disappeared, leaving no evidence whatsoever. When Azazel left, whispers of war and discord carried throughout the halls. Then, the Book went missing. Why now? What was the reasoning behind Azazel deciding to fall the way he had? Why had women been killed after the Angel left? Isaiah almost lost himself on his perch when, out of nowhere, Azazel appeared.
They glared at one another for a moment before Isaiah spoke.
“Azazel.”
“Isaiah.”
“We have unfinished business.”
“Do we now, brother?”
Azazel seemed sure of himself, the fool. He was always arrogant. “You need to come with me and take me to where the Book is being kept.”
Azazel arched a brow. “The Book?”
“Yes, the Book. I know you took it. It went missing right after you left.”
“Why would I, of all people, take the Book, dear brother?” Azazel taunted. “I’m perfectly happy here. I am enjoying my time on mortal ground immensely. I get to enjoy the finer things in life. I am not here to deliver news of death. I’m just out here trying to live my best life, and you and your brothers are fucking shit up for me.”
Isaiah gripped his sword tighter. “Well, your time of crime is over. You must return. Don’t force my hand, you know you must come with me.”
“I’ve committed no crimes, only played a little and enjoyed myself—something you should try,” Azazel said.
Azazel stayed in his position, hovering over the branch that Isaiah perched on. A slight breeze had Azazel taking a deep breath. “I see you’ve indulged in some mortal fruit, my friend,” Azazel’s nostrils flared. “A woman at that.”
Fuck. This was what Isaiah was trying to avoid. He didn’t want Azazel on Dalila’s trail. If she wasn’t in danger earlier, she was sure as shit a target now. Isaiah stiffened. He’d been careless. He should’ve let her go home.
“Yes, it’s a woman. There’s nothing wrong with interacting with mortals, as long as I don’t reveal my true self.”
Too late for that one, as well. Isaiah thought. She is getting wiped, though, so it doesn’t count.
“I don’t care to further investigate this subject with you. Now, come. Beg for forgiveness. Or shall I take you here...now,” Isaiah spoke in a deadly, hushed tone.
Azazel smiled at him. “I beg no one.” He looked over his shoulder toward the front of the park, and Isaiah noticed someone out in the woods with them. It wasn’t Azazel he smelled. Others were here, as well.
What the fuck’s going on here? How many others are out here?
“Sorry, I will have to disagree with you today. I won’t ask for forgiveness, and I won’t go back to the Gates until it’s time to return. Although, I must say, when I do come back, you may not like what happens,” Azazel settled himself on the ground.
Out of the shadows of the trees stepped many other Demons and creatures of the Underworld. Amazed that so many had come out to face him in daylight, Isaiah tightened his grip on his sword.
There were about a hundred of them, slowly headed in his direction. Standing, he swooped down into the multitude of Demons, sword in hand, landing in the heart of the assembly.
They didn’t attack him at once; rather, they stood around, crowding him. The putrid stench of rotting flesh tainted the air, causing pain to his senses. Darkness descended on what was once a beautiful day.
The stink of Demon enfolded him. Isaiah only had two choices: fight his way through the fold, or make his way back to Dalila and get the hell out of there before things got out of control.
Fighting would drain him, but it seemed the wisest thing to do. He needed support for this job, though he realized he wouldn’t be able to call his brothers. It was up to him to get a handle on the Demons. Isaiah knelt on one knee, gathering his energy as the Demons kept coming forward. Not Azazel. He knew what was going to happen.
Isaiah hadn’t seen Azazel leave, but he could no longer feel his presence. This would drain Isaiah, and he may not even take them all out. He let the fire build, slowly at first, the sensation something he hadn’t felt in over a thousand years.
Sweat beaded on his brow as he knelt, and as the moment drew nearer, the Demons watched in anticipation. Why weren’t they attacking? There was something crawling on his legs. Isaiah looked down and saw them—hundreds of Gogra ants crawling on his skin. Deadly to humans, they were the bottom-feeders of the Underworld. Isaiah steeled himself for the pain of their bites.
The ants were black with huge incisors almost the length of their insect bodies. Their sting was powerful, but his blood was stronger. As he was bitten, the venom injected would be expelled instantly. He wouldn’t die, but the bites hurt like a motherfucker.
More continued oozing out of the earth like black lava seeping from the ground’s opening. He would be out for at least a couple of hours after this. Isaiah’s thoughts turned to Dalila. She had better fucking leave his ass and head back to the farmhouse. He didn’t want her here; she didn’t need to be a part of this.
His energy grew exponentially. The Demons had stepped closer, watching as the Gogra ants bit at Isaiah’s legs. They looked ready
to go into a feeding frenzy when Isaiah shored up the last of his power and sent forth the burning. His entire body lit to a brilliant blue flame. It consumed him from top to bottom. The Gogra ants let out a loud screech as their bodies went up in flames. His fire took out every single Demon standing near him with a blast of energy.
Isaiah raised his sword above his head, and the flames raced to the tip. He swung out in a big arc and covered the remaining area in his cleansing fire. Anything that had been touched by evil would be killed. The Demons’ screams were abruptly cut short as they were overtaken by the flames.
Isaiah knew what he looked like, knew that anyone who knew anything about his kind would see him for what he truly was. Rage personified. His brothers and he had been forged in the heat of battle. He was a product of a Shaitan Demon, Serb, and the goddess Sekhmet. His brothers were also products of different pairings, each of them carrying their father’s characteristics and their mother’s traits.
A Shaitan Demon was sometimes believed to be Satan himself, but Shaitan were created by fire. Some of the Shaitan had converted and become good, while others stayed on the path of darkness. It was said at one time, his father had been a great artist and poet, filling the world with beautiful words and sculptures. That all happened during the time when humans and spirits walked alongside one another, and Demons walked freely between the Gates.
Until the first cleansing, Serb and his family were free to come and go as they pleased, able to interact with humans and sell their wares and baubles. It was a time of peace and understanding.
The first God Wars had been unimaginable, covering the world in darkness. That was when the Alliance was formed. Factions of gods, goddesses, Angels, Demons, and others alike all shared in the re-creation of mankind. They had seen to its beauty, and to its dark and deadly ways.