Summon Lyght (Archangels Creed)

by Daniels, Kenra

  She fanned her cheeks and set the place for a left-handed person. She set her side next. Should she sit next to him? Or across? Across would seem less…clingy. She hurried to lay her place across from him, wanting to have it all done before he showed up. Shit, she wished she'd changed now. What else. Juice.

  She dashed to the fridge and got the cut diamond looking carafe that held orange juice and set it exactly in between them. Then closer to his side. So he didn't have to stretch.

  Hope he didn't have some sort of food allergy. It would suck to feed him something that made him swell up like a whale. Or die.

  Ten minutes after she started, she put the finishing touches on the table by adding a jar of fresh-looking salsa to the little tray of condiments at one side.

  With everything ready, she listened for the shower, almost surprised it still ran. He really believed in taking his time. Maybe she should change. But the robe said I'm comfortable and not nervous. Yeah. Definitely the message to give.

  She knocked at the bathroom door, then entered. "Hey, sleepy head, breakfast is on the table."

  The glass shower door slid silently into the thick smoky black wall. Holy shit. Lesedi stood, breathtaking contours covered with that gorgeous dark skin glistening with water droplets. She'd forgotten exactly how stunning he was. Miya wanted to lick each and every drop of water away. He gave a slow grin and turned, dripping, to brace his arms across the thick stone opening in a way that accentuated his abs and massive erection.

  Miya took a slow trembling breath and licked her lips. What was she doing there again? "Breakfast." That was it. "I made breakfast."

  His grin broadened. "Good. I need fuel in order to have the strength to do all the things I plan to do to you." The gravelly, sexy tone of his voice sent heat roaring through her body, already preparing her for him again.

  She struggled to find her voice and he chuckled in response, seeming to enjoy that. She finally managed. "It's a good thing I made plenty, then." Shit. Her nerves always somehow managed to overrule her common sense and her mouth. The last thing she'd intended was to taunt him into doing anything.

  He stepped out of the shower and approached her with a swagger that promised many things. When his chest touched the front of her robe, and through it, her aching nipples, he halted and looked down at her without lowering his head, reminding her of a predator about to pounce. "Yes, it is a good thing."

  He took hold of the lapels of her robe and tugged them back until it opened, revealing her to his sharp gaze. "Take it off." Rather than wait for her to comply, he shoved the robe over her shoulders and down to let it fall to the floor. "This is too beautiful to cover." He swept his palms over her ribs. "I want to see you while I eat the food you prepared for me."

  Not waiting for a reply, he took her arm and led her from the bathroom and back toward the kitchen. Who'd have thought just making breakfast for the man might get her in so much trouble? Even so, her inner muscles tightened in anticipation.

  Lesedi paused beside the table and whistled softly between his teeth. He drew the chair out for Miya.

  "Oh, but…this is your spot."

  He grinned and guided her shoulders into the chair anyway. "It is a very lovely spot. And should belong to my queen."

  Her heart fluttered at his words and the urge to argue vanished when his palms brushed along her nipples as he straightened. She jumped and he smiled before seating himself at her place across the table. He had to reach across his body for his cup before he took a sip of his coffee, eying her across the rim of the mug.

  "If you were sitting here, your cup would be where it belonged."

  His hand froze for a second on its way to the table. "You are a most observant queen. I too have learned some things about you."

  She didn't know what to say to that, so she decided to only smile. Then came the waiting for the verdict. She hoped the food wasn't too cold. Silent and without looking, he unfolded his napkin and picked up his fork. He even managed to cut and pick up a bite of his omelet without taking his gaze from her face.

  She mindlessly stirred her own food with her fork, trying not to stare while watching his reaction from under her lashes. What if he was one of those guys who hated everything except his momma's cooking? Or some kind of gourmet food critic or something? He wasn't smiling, or even blinking, as he brought the fork again to his mouth. He chewed slowly, still without changing expression. And swallowed.

  Shit. Miya quickly took a bite herself to discover what was wrong with the food. She chewed carefully. It was delicious as far as she could tell. He continued taking bite after silent ominous bite and she just waited and waited for something. Anything. But what she got was nothing. Zilch. How could anyone possibly do that?

  She bit her tongue to keep from asking if the food was okay. No one needed to tell her the fluffy, tender, and savory omelet was perfect. Not like she needed his approval. But a little display of gratitude would be nice. And a lot less rude.

  By the time her omelet was half gone her confidence in her ability as a cook was completely restored.

  The soft click of Lesedi's fork on his plate drew her attention first to his empty dish, then to his eyes, practically glowing with mirth. His smile stole her breath with its sensual heat. "I am ready for dessert."

  Dessert! It's fucking breakfast! He was taking this King Queen shit a little far. Self-annoyed heat flowed into her cheeks. "I'm sorry, I didn't think to fix a dessert."

  Lesedi stood, half-erect cock on full display, and began removing dishes from the table. "The dessert I hunger for requires no preparation." With the table cleared, he stopped by her chair and drew Miya up and into his embrace. His hot skin against hers was almost a shock to the system but it felt too good not to let it convert her anger to the possibility of desire.

  He tipped her head back with one finger under her chin and settled a kiss to her mouth that marked her soul all over again with his possession. His tongue swept across her lower lip before sucking it gently between his teeth for a slight nip that set her pulse pounding in all the spots where his heat had settled. Her little moan of surrender softened his mouth into a smile against her lips and he drew her even tighter to him.

  His palms skimmed down over the back of her shoulders, waist, and hips to slip under her ass cheeks and pull her pelvis tight against him. At the same time, he rocked his hips forward to press his erection to her belly. After a few massaging strokes of her butt, he let his hands begin to move upward while he continued to plunder her mouth.

  He stopped to measure her ribcage with gentle but firm pressure, stroking fingertips over the contours of bone. His hands felt so strong like that, as if he could just crush her ribs with a thought. Maybe the vulnerability should alarm her but it didn't. Oddly, it comforted her. She didn't need to be the strong one with him. He had plenty of strength for both of them, and the concept made her feel more feminine.

  Miya relaxed a bit more into his strength and gave herself over to his plans, content in the knowledge he would see to her satisfaction. Had that been the missing element with earlier relationships? She just hadn't met a man she trusted to please her? Somehow that didn't feel like the entire answer.

  Lesedi slid his hands up to cup the undersides of her breasts and drew her full attention back to him. She decided the prospect of becoming an active participant interested her a great deal. Then he brushed his thumbs across the tips of her nipples and robbed her of the ability to think, much less participate.

  Her nails dug into his shoulder in reaction to the incredible sensations he created with his touch. The feel of his skin giving way, then welting under the pressure of her nails intoxicated her. She lessened her assault and scraped her nails over his back, thrilled with his groan.

  She swept her hands lower until her fingers encountered the little triangle of silky hair at the base of his spine. One finger dipped into the crevice just below, drawing a startled gasp from him. Did that mean he liked it? Or not? Damn, she wished she knew a lit
tle more about real men and their likes and dislikes. Maybe then she wouldn't unintentionally cross some mysterious line and anger him like she had when she asked about positions.

  Should she just ask? "Lesedi?"

  He took advantage of her momentary distraction to move his mouth down her neck and over her chest to the top curve of her breasts. "Hmm?" He continued without hesitation, teasing the sensitive flesh with his teeth and tongue, nibbling and licking ever closer to her nipple.

  She had to think hard to remember what she was supposed to ask. "How… Um, how…" How the hell was she supposed to ask a question like that?

  "Yes?" His lips tugged gently at her nipple and sent a shockwave of heat crashing through her body and mind, wiping away whatever she'd been thinking.

  Lost in the disturbance he created, she hardly noticed her hand at the base of his spine slide lower, and lower still. Her fingers met the lower curve of his ass and grew a mind of their own, exploring. Regrettably, he took all that uncharted territory off the map when he lifted her by the waist.

  Once her feet were off the floor, he turned and settled her butt on the edge of the table. Dropping into a chair, he kissed and teased his way down over her belly, then gently spread her knees to slide his broad shoulders between them.

  A nervous flutter assailed her stomach. "What are you doing?"

  "Shh. Trust me?" His warm eyes and smile reinforced the gentle beg. She nodded her approval and he took her hands. "Lie back for me."

  His firm hold provided plenty of support as she carefully lowered her back to the cool surface of the table. The nervous flutter had increased in velocity to a thousand giant birds beating their wings against her insides. She knew what he intended. Sure she'd heard of it before, but suddenly the idea of him doing it to her right then...and on the table seemed unthinkable. But there was no reason for him not to that she could come up with.

  Her fears scattered like leaves in a strong wind the instant his breath brushed across tender flesh. A reverent-sounding moan reverberated through the air to stir silky hair and cool heated skin. Every single force in Miya's body centered in her core as one pulsing mass.

  She writhed on the table, torn between trying to escape and desperate for his touch. The whimpering sounds he demanded from her were naughty foreign to her. And yet so very familiar. As though the woman buried inside her had waited a long time to bear this very pleasure with this particular man.

  Thick fingers stroked her exterior and ratcheted that nuclear potential higher. "Unbelievable. Such perfection." He continued his exploration, quickly turning her into a heap of quivering need. Those same magical fingers gently parted her to explore her inner secrets. Lesedi's sharply drawn breath made her pulse surge anew.

  How could he affect her so much with so little? Such intensity had to be some forbidden, arcane magic.

  He repositioned her legs and pinned her thighs to the table top and touched the tip of his tongue to the tiny bundle of throbbing nerves. Miya's body jerked in unison with her sharp cry of pleasure.

  "Mmm." He flicked the tip of his tongue rapidly over that spot again, making her gasp and shudder, making her grab hold of his head and knead her nails over his scalp. Her hips began to move in tune to the rhythm of desire he created. His tongue danced over that spot the way a snake tasted the air, causing her to cry out sharper, squirm harder.

  "Oh God. So hot." She cried out, needing to have more. So much more, yes, just like that.

  He dug his fingers into the tender flesh of her thighs, heating her hotter with his harsh breaths. Then he kissed her there. She could feel his lips nibbling delicately at her folds and Miya squirmed with the need for more.

  "Please." She thrust her hips, trying to make a harder connection.

  "Oh Miya," he whispered. "This?" He kissed along her folds then gently worked them open, kissing her hidden secrets. Fingers pressed at the juncture of her thighs, holding her petals open for him.

  He settled his lips over her clit and she bucked under his mouth. "Yes, yes, that."

  He groaned and sucked her there, a milking movement that lit her up like a raging inferno. "Lesedi, God, yes." She held his head and helped him, pressing him just right, moving her hips to the perfect rhythm. "Don't you dare stop! Don't…oh God…"

  He slipped his finger into her and flicked rapidly, massaging her core.

  "Oh my God yes! Yes, yes, yes!" The heat under his mouth finally erupted like a volcano and she writhed and dug her heels into his back, pressed her mysteries firmly to his delicious mouth, crying out over and over, Lesedi, Lesedi. Yes, oh God. She'd heard of shocking pleasure and wondered if such a thing existed. It did. She'd never have guessed anything could feel so good. So good.

  It was definitely one discovery she wanted to further explore.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Dorn's Brothers appeared in the Inner Sanctum nearly at the same moment he arrived.

  "What in God's name is that?" Kassern asked the question that summoned them all immediately.

  Dorn shook his head. "I don't know, but it's attacking the entire compound. Hitting at the outer and inner walls with a force unlike any I've ever felt or seen." The ground they stood upon shuddered, the entire compound buffeted by some supernatural force that threatened to tear the place to bits.

  Toren turned his ear downward, his wings humming with unrepentant power. Dorn impatiently waited for the Mercury warrior's verdict. All of their powers had been testy since they'd reached the compound. No, since they'd purified. The Purifier was good at what it did, but it seemed to scramble their already unsteady abilities since it targeted spiritual impurities, and since becoming part human all of them were vulnerable to infection.

  "My ruby is saying all of hell is outside the door." Kassern pointed at the wall that quaked more violently than the others.

  "I feel it too."

  Dorn turned at the voice of Francis and in the next second, Maxwell, Peggy, and Robert were there.

  "We all feel it." Peggy's mercurial form shuddered with power as she stood with eyes closed, head tilted slightly in concentration, making her look like a rippling human chrome mirror.

  "It's familiar to me," Robert whispered. He looked around at all of them, his bright diamond eyes sorrowful. "It's my father."

  "Holy shit, you're right." Kassern's wings sagged then erupted to full expanse as the wall behind him blasted inward.

  Lyght staggered in and collapsed on the floor. Every one of them flashed to his side and Dorn couldn't believe what he saw. The beautiful archangel trembled as though he'd fought his last battle and lost. But judging by the color of his wings, this battle was more deadly than any he'd ever fought.

  "He's bleeding." Robert dropped to the floor and took his hand between his pincher.

  Toren muttered curses and hurried to summon the farechtera to help.

  By the time all the Quad members made it to the scene, the doc knelt at their Brother's side. After quick examination, he looked up, his brows full of something Dorn had never seen before. Confusion.

  The human side of Dorn's temper erupted without warning. "Speak, for God's sake!"

  The farechtera shook his head, as though to clear an impossibility. "He's…somehow…dying."

  Without thinking, Dorn yanked him up to his feet. "Archangels don't die farechtera, so stop bullshitting around with this."

  "Bullshitting? Male…" He trailed off, confused. Genuinely. "I am not being facetious. I assure you, I am not."

  The fear in the doc's eyes didn't soften Dorn's anger in the least. "Did you go through the Purifier?"

  "Brother!" Dorn turned to meet Kassern's hard ruby gaze. "He doesn't pass through the Purifier. Only we do. Release him."

  Dorn realized everyone around him was covered with aqua flames. But it wasn't until he found Sally's compassionate and loving gaze on him that he was able to get control. That the control was so tenuous nearly sent him into another rage.

  He growled and released the doc, fighting not
to shove him clear back to Aesculapius' Grotto.

  Toren laid a calming hand on Dorn's shoulder. "Do you have any idea how this has happened?"

  The doc seemed relieved for the question and smoothed his pale hands over his impeccable white robe. "It is almost as if he is having an anaphylactic reaction to humanity."

  Kassern knelt next to Lyght. "Can he hear me?"

  Dorn looked at his normally beautiful Brother who stared into nothingness, his clear eyes having gone solid blackish red with no way to distinguish pupil from iris from white.

  "He's hurting." Sam clutched Toren's arm as if for security.

  "What can you see, baby?"

  She wiped tears away and moved closer to Lyght, tilting her head as she slowly circled him. "Oh my God." She squatted next to Lyght and touched his forehead.

  A soft growl rumbled from Toren and Dorn eyed him curiously, finding jealousy an odd response for the Mercury Warrior at such a time.

  Lyght's hand nearest her, slowly rose. Sam looked at it then looked at the diamond warrior who appeared to be sleeping with his eyes open.

  "Don't touch him!" The doc moved to put himself between Sam and Lyght.

  Sam slipped her hand around the doc's leg and put it in Lyght's. She smiled and nodded at her husband while she tried to soothe his Diamond Brother, tears streaming. She curled into a fetal position on the floor next to the stricken warrior, retaining his hand. And shut her eyes.

  The others stood and waited for endless seconds only for nothing to happen.

  "Sam?" Toren knelt down at her side. "Sam, talk to me." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Tell me what you're doing."

  She didn't answer.

  Toren looked at the doc, then Dorn and Kassern before trying again. "Sam." He touched her cheek and the room exploded with white light, turning him into a mercury projectile that exploded through several walls before coming to a stop on his back.

  "Holy shit!" Kassern stared from the two peaceful figures lying on the floor holding hands to the gaping hole in the wall where Toren was just visible dragging himself to his feet. "What the fuck was that?"