His Angelic Mate [Paranormal Protection Unit 7] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Honor James

  “All right.” Reaching up, she cupped his cheek with her hand and lovingly caressed her thumb over his lip. “I love you, Talon Silverwing, and if you say that I’m exactly who and what you need in life, I believe you. I want to spend time with the women to forge friendships as well. I’ve never had one of those, and I would like one.”

  “You already have a couple friendships, love,” he said softly. “I’m not just your bond-mate but also your friend and your lover. You also have Quincy as a friend. He does like you a lot after all,” he pointed out softly. “You are a conundrum to his poor mind, but he likes you for who you are as well, Cinnamon.”

  That had her grinning. “I’m glad. I like him as well. I also really do love that you are my friend as well. I also like Maya and their son. He’s so amazing, and he has such a wonderful destiny laid out before him. He’s truly going to be stunning and make changes that need to be made, with his father’s help of course.”

  Lifting a brow at that, Talon touched the end of her nose. “How do you know that, love?” he asked softly. She said things from time to time that clearly revealed she was garnering information from elsewhere than what was right in front of her. He just didn’t think she realized all she was picking up and nearly constantly sharing with him. He just didn’t want her sharing the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong place.

  Cinnamon shrugged. “All right, I am going to tell you something, and I hope that you can understand it. I hope that I can explain it properly.” She chewed her lower lip, a nervous gesture he would notice. “When I look at people I see…” She hesitated as she thought about it. “I see not just what you see right now, but I see the past, and I see the future. It all overlays for me. That’s why sometimes I will say something that doesn’t fit in the moment. It’s because I’m having a hard time distinguishing whether that reality belongs to today, or to yesterday or tomorrow. Does that make sense?”

  “Of course it does, darling,” he told her honestly and grinned at her dubious look. “I’ve been around a while, love. Not as long as you, sweetheart mine, but I have learned a few things and had more than a few Mage friends during that time. I have also known a couple seers as well who said the same thing. One told me that when she looked at someone there were layers, the past, present, and future, as well as possibilities of what might be, could be, and would be. According to her, for the first years of her life it was like a horrible distortion to everyone she met until she learned how to filter merely to the present and now, the other things are still there, still being processed by her mind but not of a concern in that moment.”

  “Exactly. When I was home I didn’t have to worry about that because I could literally choose them like flipping through the, what is that thing called? That plays the pictures on it? Microphone?” There were so many words she was learning and trying to acclimate to. “Well whatever that thingy is. The one that hangs on your wall, and there is one in every hotel room we have stopped at so far.”

  “Television,” he said softly to her. “So it’s harder here on Earth for you to narrow your field of what you can and can’t view.” Made sense in a way. “What about me?” Talon asked curiously. “Have you always had an issue with seeing the me that is now, or are all the other layers there, too?”

  “I’ve never seen you,” she admitted. “Your ancestors, yes, absolutely, but you were always dark to me. And now…” She shrugged. “All I see is you, Talon. There are no layers. No past or future fighting with the present to show themselves. I don’t understand it, but you are the only one that I don’t feel confused with.”

  “That’s always a good thing,” he said softly with a smile. “I like that you are not confused by me, Cinnamon,” he whispered against her mouth. Brushing his lips back and forth, he nipped at her lip. “But let’s go home and discuss this further in the nude.”

  “I love how you think, Talon. I thought that we were going to another hotel though, and not home?” She was confused. She was ready to go home if he was, but only if he had enough of a “vacation,” whatever that was.

  “Definitely home. We’ve vacationed enough this year,” he said with a smile. “We’ll go again in the spring so you and I can see new things and find new hotels. But for now it’s time to go home, see how you like my shower.”

  “I look forward to that,” Cin told him with a grin. “I look forward to being able to try out your shower and your bed and everything like that. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, don’t you? I look forward to learning how to cook, too. Will you help me learn?”

  “You want to learn to cook?” he asked in surprise. He hadn’t even thought of that. Guiding her toward the bike, he nodded slowly. “I can teach you what I know. It’s not a lot though, I should warn you. But I do know enough to at least teach you the basics.”

  “I want to learn to do everything. I want to live, Talon. I look forward to doing all the things that will make life, well, life,” she admitted with a shrug and a blush. “If you don’t know how to cook, how are you as large as you are? You eat a lot, so how have you been able to keep your mass if you don’t eat?”

  “I eat a lot, but usually I eat here on base,” he told her, lifting her helmet off the bike and passing it to her. Throwing his leg over the bike, he settled on it and turned it on with a smile. “I do cook on the rare occasions I’m at home, but really, it doesn’t take a neurologist to grill a steak.”

  “Well I look forward to learning. Who knows, maybe I will be very good at it.” She could hope. “The base does feed you rather well, don’t they? Tell me about this place and why you chose it for your base. I could see Katherine and her bond-mates. I watched as she chose this small town as her home, but what made you choose here? It’s far from the cities. The town is so small everyone knows everything about each other.” She was curious, about everything.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Turning the engine off again, he stared up at her. “We chose spots all over the world, those that are low key and yet integral to the safety of the world and all the humans that live here. They are nearly non-existent spots on the planet, places that would never ever be attacked. They are safe, and we are making every place around us as safe as we could.”

  Nodding at his explanation, she smiled. “It makes sense. You can literally go from here to anywhere, and with this being a prior military base, you have an airfield and everything. You are able to move with planes or helicopters. I would like to ride in one of those by the way.” Her thought processes were all over the map as usual.

  “We will go for a ride one day,” he promised softly with a smile. “But yes, with the Council Chambers in another realm that can be accessed from anywhere and then the bases from that point by those of us with the ability, it’s actually a very efficient way to get around. Plus with where we are we attract very little attention because there is almost literally nothing and no one out here to see. On top of that, because we do so much for the town, even if hell upchucked a bunch of nasty, they would stand as the first line of defense just because they consider us theirs to protect.”

  “Good points, one and all.” She had seen the good that he and his men and women did for the town. They had single-handedly kept the small shops in operation in the town, ensuring that the people of the town didn’t have to fight big business and all. “I think that the town is wonderful as well.”

  “It is. It’s the perfect place to raise children. Small town and yet not stuck in the past.” Not with the lot of them having invaded. They’d helped to drag the town into the future, and there had only been a little kicking and screaming. “It’s a place that, except for the manner of speech, clothing, and new technology, reminds me a lot of the village that was next to where I grew up.”

  “I like that,” Cin said with a smile. “I like that the town is so small. It’s good that they are able to keep their children inside of the town as well.” Mostly because of the funding that Talon’s group set up for education of the children, no matter ho
w few were in the school.

  “They are our family, too, love,” he pointed out with a grin. Pulling her in close, he kissed her lightly. “Put on your helmet and let’s get home,” he said, eyeing her dress. It would ride high on her legs, and Gods it would be amazing to see all that silky flesh.

  Cinnamon got onto the back of the bike with Talon’s help and moved in tighter and closer to him. Her helmeted head lay on his back, and she whispered in his mind. Can you feel my constant need for you, my Talon? I do, you know, constantly need you, that is, she assured him. And that is a good thing, right? It was to her at least. He might not feel the same.

  Starting the engine once more, he smiled. I feel it like a smooth and vibrant beat against every nerve in my cock constantly. I’m always very aware of you and your need, love. Your hunger is mine, too, Cinnamon.

  I’m very glad that is true. Cin loved that they were that connected to each other. She loved that he knew her every want and need even before she did. “I love you, Talon,” she said louder, over the roar of the engine, Now, let’s fly on your bike. Not literally, but she loved going fast with him.

  Grinning, he squeezed her leg gently. As you wish, my little angel. Pulling out of the garage, he got them off base and far enough away to ensure no one raised an alarm. Then he cranked the engine up and let it fly them down the road until the wind was nothing but a roar.

  Laughter trailed behind them. She laughed with joyful abandon and let his waist go so that she could spread her arms wide and let the wind whip around her. This is amazing, Talon, she said happily as she let the joy she felt move through her.

  Laughing softly, he checked on her in the mirror before he pushed the engine even further. He loved opening up the bike, but only when it was safe, especially since Cin had come into his life. How you doing back there, darling? You want a little more? he asked softly.

  Oh yes please! Cin loved this. She felt so incredibly free, and even though they were speeding down the road she trusted Talon with every single fiber of her being. She knew that neither of them was exactly human, so she wasn’t worried. Faster. More!

  Yes, my love, hold on, he warned and waited until she put her arms back around him once more. While they would survive a crash, likely, he didn’t want to chance throwing her. Only when she had a good grip did he open the engine up further and pull the Dragon up so he could use the vision to watch for anything ahead.

  Holding onto him tight, Cinnamon scooted in closer to him. He could feel the happiness and joy of her heart and soul when he opened up the bike and let it roar through the dark highways. Sheer pleasure wrapped around them both from deep within her.

  Grinning slightly at her actions and the thoughts in her mind, he slowed a little for a corner, easing them around it, and then slowed up more. They were close to the town. There’s a section of the countryside where there are nothing but open highways we can roar along. We’ll go one day soon, make a day of it, and just race through with nothing but the wind in our hair.

  I would love that, Talon. One day when we have nothing else to do I think that would be a wonderful thing, darling. When we have ensured that your people, our people, are safe, we will have some time to be completely carefree, but for now duty calls. Or something like that.

  Something like that for sure, he thought to himself. Reaching back, he squeezed her thigh gently in silent understanding. They had a long and rough road ahead of them where such things as vacations and free days would be very far and few between. Slowing to the speed limit as he hit the city limits, he looked at and took in everything. He was always conscious of any possible or perceived threat that could come at them.

  I love how well you take care of me, honey. I love just how much you are willing to put aside your needs and desires for me. For his people. He did everything for everyone around him and yet never asked for anything in return. I’m glad that I’m in your life and you are in mine.

  I love you, too, sweetheart, Talon said quietly to her. Stroking his hand over her leg lightly as he drove through the town, he noted who was there. A lot of the townsfolk didn’t realize that even when his men and women were off duty they actually never were. Their lives’ dedication to keeping the human world safe was full-time. Even downtime meant they were watchful and aware. Turning onto a side road, he cut a bit of their trip off and headed for the large gates that announced his home. Fire-breathing dragons made of metal guarded his drive. A little cliché, he knew, but the artist had been a friend and extremely talented as well as taken from the world much too soon.

  “I love it,” Cinnamon said when they finally parked in front of his home. “It’s massive, but the dragons…” She turned back toward the gate. “They are what sold me on this place.” Rapidly she turned back to him and grinned. “It’s perfect, Talon. Our home. It’s exactly perfect.” She hadn’t seen the inside, but she didn’t need to because so far the outside was perfect.

  “You should probably reserve judgment until you see inside it,” he told her, quietly chuckling at her enthusiasm. “You may absolutely hate the decor.” Though he didn’t think so. It was updated of course, but was the same as it had been when he’d bought and gutted the place long ago. It had been designed to be the home of his mate, one he’d never gotten until then. Opening the door, he felt a moment of sheer and complete nervousness. “I hope you like it though,” he murmured, turning on the light.

  She snorted. “I seriously doubt that I could hate the inside when I love the outside so much,” she told him with a grin. She walked into the wide-open space and breathed in happily. “Oh Talon,” was all she could say. The home took her breath away. “It’s amazing, Talon.” The space was completely open. Gleaming and beautiful marble floors should have made the home look cold and sterile, but the gold and silver in the floors made it instead gleaming and beautiful.

  Shutting the door, he shrugged out of his jacket and gently took hers to hang them up. “Keep going, love. Walk around and see if the rest suits you as well,” he advised, more than a little worried. He was seeing the house through her eyes now, and it definitely made him nervous. Stuffing his hands in his jean pockets, he followed on her heels as she moved to peek into a doorway.

  Cin turned into what looked like a family room and paused. Grinning at the massive fireplace there, she looked to him. “I love this room.” It was homey and it felt like Talon. “How about you get the fire started for us, my Dragon?” she asked and moved from the door to the massive-sized sectional and dropped down on it as she did so.

  “That’s it?” he asked with a chuckle. “You’re not going to go and look at the other fifty-five rooms?” he teased. Moving to the fireplace, he ducked down, fiddled for a moment, and, striking a match, slipped it into the wood stacked at the ready.

  “Nope, I’m happy right here. I will look at the other rooms later. Right now I only wanna worry about this room and our bedroom.” She grinned at him as she spoke. “So get yourself over here, darling, so that we can cuddle in front of the fire.”

  Shaking his head at her words, he moved closer and eased onto the sofa close to her. Wrapping his arms around her, Talon hugged her close to him. “Welcome home, my little mate,” he whispered against her cheek. He finally had his mate, the only woman that would ever truly know him, understand him, and be there fully for him, in the place he created just for her. “There is one room though I will want to show you before you see the bedroom,” he told her softly. It was a room he had created on instinct, pure and simple, never once understanding why.

  “Oh really?” she asked with a grin and turned to look up at him. “Well then before we go to the bedroom you can show me that room, but for right now I’m totally great being just where we are. If you are.” She would go wherever he wanted to go, when he wanted to.

  Lifting her into his lap, he hugged her tight. “Here is just fine for now,” he assured her softly. Nuzzling at her soft skin, Talon adjusted her so he could rub his hand up and down her leg. He loved having her at his
mercy, and she let him have his way. Likely not great for someone as possessive as he was at his core, but he adored her even more for giving him a little leeway. “Anywhere with you is amazing and perfect, my love.”

  “That’s a good thing,” she murmured and began to pet him. “And I will always let you have your way with me, darling. Haven’t you realized yet that I will always let you get away with anything and everything? That I will gladly allow you to show me which way to go?” She did interject, however. “But only me and only with you. No one else had better ever lay their hands on you from here until the rest of time, or they will see that Angels are more than protective. We are also possessive.” Well, she was at least.

  Smiling at that, he gave her a squeeze. “So I can’t hug my friends when I see them?” he asked curiously with a grin. “Kat is going to be very upset, and don’t even get me started on Maya or my baby girl, too,” he sighed. “Oh well, I will just have to tell them they can never touch me.”

  “Oh silly man. They aren’t women. They are family,” she muttered and shook her head. “Family is far different from a random woman putting her hands on you. Like that waitress at the restaurant. That made me very upset to see her laying her hand on yours when you were clearly with me.” Jealousy was something that Cin wasn’t used to, and it left a very bitter taste in her mouth.

  “You’re jealous?” he asked, absolutely shocked. Shifting, he tipped her chin up. “Why?” he asked softly. “We’re bond-mates, Cinnamon. There is no one else in the world for me but you,” he whispered, stroking his fingers lightly over her cheek. He loved her skin. There was something just a little ethereal about it that taunted and teased him. “Even if she’d jumped up on the table, stripped naked, and gotten up in my face, I still would have only had eyes for you and only you.”

  “I know that, and it makes no sense that I am, but I just am.” She shrugged. “It would be the same for you I’m sure. If we had a male waiter and he came over and touched my hand. Wouldn’t you feel jealousy or outrage?”