Cherished by Two Angels [Notorious Nephilim 5]

by Carolyn Rosewood

  The smile that graced her face made his dick grow hard to the point of pain. Seeing her so happy sent a warm feeling through his entire body.

  “Really? You’d let me help? That would be so much fun.”

  She jumped up, oblivious of the fact that the afghan fell to the ground and she was stark-fucking-gorgeous-naked again.

  “We could dress up…or maybe not. Your guests probably didn’t bring forties clothes with them. But we could decorate the space like a nightclub—you know, like the torch singers performed in.” She paced the room, gesturing with her hands. “And we could have decorations like, I don’t know…all those white kitchen cabinets with metal handles, and linoleum on the floors, and tall lamps.” She stopped and stared at Reeve. “Can you do that inside a ballroom, or wherever you’re going to have the party? I mean, can you redecorate it that much? I have no idea how much planning or money you pour into these things…”

  Reeve laughed and stood up, pulling her into his arms. He inhaled her scent, musky and warm from the night before. Would he ever forget the sound of her moans as they’d made her come over and over last night, or the feeling of sliding into her wet, tight pussy? Just holding her in his arms felt like heaven.

  “I sound ridiculous. I’m sorry.”

  “No, you don’t. Please don’t apologize. Your enthusiasm is infectious. I have no idea how we’ll pull off the decorating, but I say we go for it. The space we’re going to use is actually our former nightclub, in the basement. The parquet flooring in places is still intact, but otherwise the space is empty.”

  Sofia’s eyes clouded over. “Niko mentioned that.”

  “Mentioned what?” Reeve’s heart began to race. What had he told her?

  “That there was a nightclub here and he used to play. How long ago did it close?”

  Fuck. It wasn’t like Niko to screw up in front of mortals. He must have been distracted big time to let something like that slip out. “Not too long ago. But we can make it jump and jive again, especially with your help.” Reeve pushed a little with his powers, hating to do so but knowing he had to right now.

  She smiled, but only a little. Her eyes were still filled with confusion and doubt. “You mentioned yesterday that you play bass guitar. Did you play in the nightclub as well?”

  She wasn’t going to let it go, and he didn’t want to use his powers again. It felt like cheating. He wanted her to trust him and Niko all on her own. “Yes, I did.”

  “Why did it close?”

  “It wasn’t cost effective. That sort of thing went out of fashion.”

  She sighed. “Yes, I suppose it did. Quite some time ago, actually.”

  Reeve pulled her close again. “It’s early yet. You should try and get some more sleep.”

  She sighed against his chest. Reeve was hanging on with every ounce of willpower. Her body was warm against his skin, and it drove him to distraction. When she planted a soft kiss on his pecs, he lost his control.

  He kissed her, sliding his tongue between her parted lips. The taste was warm and sweet. An overwhelming urge to protect her from Rake and anyone else who wished to harm her enveloped him, surprising him with its intensity. He wasn’t about to fall for a mortal woman, but there was something about Sofia that he found impossible to resist.

  Despite his physical need for her, he was ready to pull away and suggest again that she sleep, but she slipped her hand down to his dick and began to stroke it. He threw caution to the wind and devoured her mouth in a rough kiss.

  She responded by cupping his balls with her other hand, and moaning softly in the back of her throat. Reeve backed them up until her legs were against the sofa, then he gently lowered her to the cushions and climbed on top. He fondled her breasts and kissed each nipple, groaning as recalled the sight of the nipple clamps on them.

  “That feels wonderful,” she whispered.

  Her gaze was soft and full of lust. He gathered her in his arms and began to move his cock against her pussy. It was already slick, and the realization she wanted him sent his arousal to crazy heights. He forced himself to keep quiet. It was selfish, but he wanted Sofia all to himself this morning, even for just a few moments.

  “Please fuck me, Reeve,” she whispered.

  He didn’t have to be asked twice. “Hang on a second.” Reeve didn’t want to leave Sofia’s embrace, but he also didn’t want to try and explain why he didn’t actually need to use condoms. He staggered to his feet and rummaged in the drawer of the table next to the sofa, hoping like hell Niko still had some stashed in there. He had.

  After slipping one on, he slid inside her waiting pussy and gently thrust, even though he was aching to take her rough and deep. She clung to him, whimpering and sighing against his skin. He tangled his fingers in her hair and nipped at her neck, straining to hold off his orgasm.

  It didn’t take long for her to cry out softly, and then he felt her pussy contract around his dick. That was all it took. He climaxed for long moments then kissed her neck and gathered her in his arms.

  As he was drifting off to sleep, the realization he cared more for her than he should jolted him back awake. This wasn’t supposed to happen, and especially not with Frankie Fillipone’s great-granddaughter. That wasn’t the half of it. Like Niko, Reeve was more concerned with what her ex-husband might do. Falling for this woman was dangerous.

  So much for sleep. Reeve waited until Sofia’s breathing became soft and rhythmic then crawled off her and stood in front of the windows on the balcony, watching the sun continue to rise, hoping it would give him answers.

  Chapter Ten

  Sofia walked through the empty space that used to house a nightclub. Niko and Reeve had woken her up this morning and asked if she’d like to see the space where they were going to hold the party, and she hadn’t hesitated to say she’d love to.

  Even though it wasn’t cold, she shivered. The very air down here felt alive with energy. She’d never believed in ghosts, but this place was enough to make her wonder if perhaps there weren’t such things after all.

  “How long ago did you say this closed?” She caught the quick glance that passed between Reeve and Niko and wondered why they did that every time she asked a question about the resort.

  “Long enough to allow it to look like this now,” said Niko. He tossed a piece of broken drywall into the corner.

  “We tried to make it into something else but that project fell through,” said Reeve.

  “The flooring shouldn’t be a problem,” she said. “I know someone who could help you there, and he’d do it at cost.”

  Reeve raised his eyebrows. “Who?”

  “My cousin, Michael. He did a lot of work in our house when Rake and I were still married. He’d be happy to replace the parquet flooring in here for you.” She pointed toward the stage. “Is that original? It’s so pretty, and would make a great dance floor.”

  He and Niko exchanged a dark glance.

  “If you’re worried about him saying anything to Rake, don’t be. He hates him. My entire family hates him.”

  Reeve leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “Did they hate him before or after your divorce?”

  Sofia picked at a loose piece of wallpaper on one of the support poles. “My grandparents were still alive when I first started dating Rake. They raised me—my paternal grandparents. My parents died in a car accident when I was nine.” She cut her gaze toward Reeve and Niko. “My grandparents asked me all sorts of questions about him when we first started dating, but I didn’t tell them much.”

  “Were you still living with them?” asked Reeve.

  “No. I had my MBA and was working by then.”

  “Where did you meet him?”

  “Coworkers introduced us.”

  “Sounds like your grandparents had concerns,” said Niko.

  “Well, it wasn’t so much that they had concerns. It was more the fact that they couldn’t get a handle on him. Does that make sense? My grandmother always felt she was a bit
psychic. We sort of made fun of her—me and my cousins—while growing up, but at times she was downright spooky the way she’d nail people.”

  “What didn’t she like about him?”

  “He was too smooth, she said. His answers sounded rehearsed to her, and he was very evasive about personal details. The first time she met him she told me he was hiding something. I should have listened to her.”

  “It must have been difficult for them when you filed for divorce.”

  Sofia closed her eyes for a second against the onslaught of grief. “They died before my marriage ended. My grandfather died of a heart attack and two weeks later my grandmother followed. I’d only been married about a year.”

  “Sofia, I’m so sorry.” Niko crossed the room and pulled her into arms. She felt Reeve’s hands gently stroking her back as well.

  “Thanks, both of you.”

  “You must miss them a great deal,” said Reeve. “It sounds like you were very close.”

  “They raised me. I think of them as my parents.”

  “Are you still close to the rest of your family?” asked Niko.

  “Yes. That’s why you can trust Michael. When I filed for divorce, he was the one who helped me move out and find an apartment.”

  “How will he feel when he finds out you’re here?”

  She pulled out of Niko’s embrace and looked into his eyes. “He won’t care. He only wants to see me happy.”

  “Well then,” said Reeve, “give him a call. He doesn’t do drywall and electrical work by any chance, does he?”

  Sofia smiled. “He does it all. He and my cousins Vince and Jerry usually work together. They can have this place ready for a party in no time.”

  * * * *

  Sofia spent almost ninety minutes on the phone with Michael. After describing Lilith’s Playground as nothing more than an exclusive resort where she’d simply come to rest for a couple of weeks, she asked if he was free to do a remodeling job. He’d been immediately suspicious, asking why they couldn’t find contractors on their own. She’d had to improvise on the fly, telling Michael they were having problems with competitors and had recently had to fire a bunch of workers for spilling company secrets.

  Michael had always been her favorite cousin. His father and her father had been brothers, and she and Michael shared a birthday. They were so much alike they’d always understood each other. He was the brother Sofia never had. He also had their grandmother’s uncanny way of reading people right away.

  Her excuse sounded lame in her ears, but Michael bought it. Or at least he pretended to. “We’ll come up there first thing in the morning.”

  “Will you bring Vince and Jerry, too?”

  “Sure. They’ll keep their mouths shut about where you are. If the job is too big for the three of us, we’ll make sure to keep it in the family.”

  “Thanks, Michael. I’ll let them know to expect you.”

  “Sure thing. Hey, you sure you’re okay up there?”

  “I’m fine. Couldn’t be better.”

  “If I see otherwise when I get there, heads are gonna roll.”

  She laughed. Michael had always been her protector, stepping in where a brother would have if she’d had one. “I’ll make sure to tell them that as well then. Love you.”

  “Love you, too, Sofia. See you in the morning.”

  As soon as she disconnected the call, she rested her chin in her hands and stared at the wall. How on earth could she move out of state? She had family outside Chicago, but no one like Michael, Vince, Jerry, or the rest of her cousins she routinely kept in touch with. They were her friends, her rocks, and her support system. If she left them, she’d have no one.

  Was she ever going to be free of Rake?

  She called the front desk and asked for Reeve or Niko. After letting Niko know Michael, Vince, and Jerry would be there in the morning, she told him she was going to try and get some rest during the afternoon, and asked if she’d see him and Reeve for dinner.

  Niko told her the owners had scheduled their quarterly meeting that day, and they usually ran until well after midnight, but invited her to the meeting in the morning with her cousins. Sofia accepted, delighted that they wanted to include her in the plans not only for the party but also for the renovation.

  She ordered lunch in her suite and sat on the balcony while she ate. Soon it would be spring, and she imagined the view from this high was breathtaking when the trees had leaves and flowers were blooming.

  After lunch she fell asleep, and when she woke again it was nearly time for dinner. Sofia thought about everything that had happened in the last couple of days. What a difference from when she’d first come here and hidden in her room, watching TV and barely eating. Her appetite had returned, and now she had a party to look forward to. She’d see her favorite cousins in the morning, and she anticipated having more adventures in bed with Reeve and Niko. This was turning out to be the perfect vacation.

  She had dinner sent up to her suite and flipped through the TV channels, but nothing held her interest. Finally she put on a local news station, just to see if she’d missed anything earth shattering in the past few days.

  Sofia pulled out her laptop and turned it on. She hadn’t checked her e-mail in about two weeks. Might as well do it now since she had nothing but time. She’d backed away from using social media sites over the past six months and didn’t use her e-mail much either. Most of her communication was with coworkers in person and with her cousins on the phone. She was one of the few people she knew who wasn’t online constantly. Rake’s constant harassment had made her feel vulnerable and exposed.

  She hadn’t realized just how much she’d shied away from human contact until she opened her e-mail account and found only thirty-seven e-mails. That was just over two a day since she’d last checked it. What was she doing? It wasn’t right to hide like this. She was only thirty-one years old, with a promising career that she happened to like a lot, and her entire life ahead of her. Hiding from a man to whom she no longer had legal ties was ludicrous.

  Michael, Vince, and Jerry would be here in the morning. Perhaps it was time to come clean with her family and let them know what was going on? She hadn’t because she knew they’d march straight to Rake’s house and threaten him. He was a cop. She didn’t want to see her cousins in jail for beating the shit out of a cop, and Sofia didn’t believe there was anyone higher up to turn to. But if they knew what was going on, maybe they could help her figure out what to do? She’d told Reeve and Niko, and they weren’t even family.

  Sofia began to read through the e-mails, discarding those that were spam or advertisements from places where she’d recently shopped online. Her fingers froze over the keyboard when she clicked to the second page and saw Rake’s personal e-mail address as the sender.

  It couldn’t be. How the hell had he found her new e-mail address? It didn’t contain her name, and the profile she’d built had no identifying information. Had he hacked into some police database to trace her online habits and found the e-mail address that way? Was nothing she did safe from him?

  Her heart hammered in her ears. This couldn’t be happening. Her palms grew so damp she had to wipe them on her jeans to make the track pad work again. She hovered over the link, debating.

  She could simply delete the e-mail. She could mark it as spam and delete it then block his address. She hadn’t blocked it earlier because it never occurred to her that he’d find this e-mail. She didn’t have to read it. There was no law that said she to read an e-mail from her crazy ex-husband who was still stalking her.

  But if she deleted it, she’d have no ammunition against him if it contained a threat. Right now, all she had was her word against his. He’d been careful not to leave any messages on voice mail or in electronic form that could be saved. So why had he fucked up now? It frightened her beyond words to think he was escalating.

  Should she wait for Reeve and Niko to open it? No. This wasn’t their concern, and they said they’d be i
n their quarterly meeting quite late. It was time for her to stand up to Rake. Sofia clicked on the link and read.

  I know where you are. Even in the forests surrounding Fox Lake you can’t hide from me.

  Chapter Eleven

  Niko shook his head as Gregory rambled on about dead mob bosses, yet again. Ninety years on this freaking planet and they still lived in the past. Not that he could blame Gregory. Time was of no consequence to any of them. It never had been. Niko had been with this same group when they were sent to intervene during the Crusades, and they’d blended in among the townsfolk in Salem Massachusetts four hundred years later. In the grand scheme of things, the past ninety years was nothing more than a blip on the radar.

  One event tended to run together into the next one, just as the decades spent running Lilith’s Playground ran together. The only thing defining them since 1936 had been the noted absence of the owners who had chosen mortality and eventually grown too old to help run the resort.

  Zach and Emmett still helped run the resort, despite having chosen mortality with Abigail in January. Although Niko knew Gregory would rather see Zach and Emmett fade into the background, Niko was grateful to have them both present, especially at this meeting. They brought common sense and order to what could easily turn into a brawl.

  “You got something to say, Niko?” Gregory’s green eyes flashed with anger as he stood, glaring at Niko.

  “Yes, I do, but I’m not going to shout over you. Sit down and shut up for two minutes, and I’ll be happy to share my thoughts.”

  Gregory clenched his fists, but Niko merely smiled. He’d love the chance to knock Gregory into the nearest planet if given half a chance, but it wouldn’t solve the issue at hand.

  Demetrius tugged on Gregory’s shirt. “Let him talk.”

  When Gregory finally took a seat, Niko stood up. He stretched then examined his fingernails for a moment, just to piss off Gregory. “Okay, so, where are we? Let’s recap. Gregory and Demetrius believe Sofia is Frankie reincarnated and has come here to take us down.”