RiskingEternity

by Voirey Linger

  His wings curved to settle on the floor on either side of them, the thick muscles of his back flexed under her hands as they took on the weight of his body. His wings shut out the world, created a dark cocoon in which only the two of them existed. There was nothing and no one beyond this moment, this pleasure.

  Her knees came up to grip his hips and the dark feathers teased her, tickling over her as his thrusts rocked their bodies. She slid her legs higher, letting her thighs bracket his ribs and he went deeper than before, wrenching a groan from him.

  “I cannot… Maggie, forgive me, I cannot stop.” Hard hands gripped her shoulders and he grew rougher, faster. He drove into her, pushing her across the carpet with his body. Every stroke rubbed against the tender bundle of nerves inside her. Every hard meeting of their bodies pinched her swollen clit between them. Fire washed over her skin and need twisted tighter within her, driving her higher. His movements grew jerky and his breath came in hard, gasping pants. She was balanced on that razor’s edge when he stiffened, jolting against her hard. He held himself there, grinding against her and pushing himself impossibly deep. The dam within her broke and she screamed his name as she came again.

  Chapter Seven

  Dominicus pressed his face into the curve of Maggie’s shoulder, breathed in the scent of her and called himself every kind of fool. It had been so easy to ignore the world. Under the shelter of his wings it had been only them. There were no demons, no Renatus.

  No prohibition.

  In his mind’s eye he could picture the consequences of such sin, see the beautiful golden nephil, just a child, and Renatus clutching his daughter’s body as he cried out his pain to the unhearing Heavens.

  Squeezing his eyes shut he tried to force that cold reality away. He’d broken the law of the Most High. The law existed to protect, and in ignoring it he’d risked not only himself, but Maggie.

  This was how an angel Fell.

  Maggie shifted under him with a purring moan, rolling her hips in lush invitation.

  “Do angels have super powers?”

  “Super powers?” he repeated, his brow wrinkling in confusion.

  “You’re hard again. Or still.” She rolled her hips again with a sigh of pleasure, and an answering groan escaped him. The devil wasn’t done tempting him.

  “Maggie, we must not.”

  “Oh, but we must.” She pulled her knees up to grip his hips while her hands slid up his back.

  He needed to move, to will himself across the room, but his desire to stay was stronger. His own chains held him in place stronger than her delicate limbs ever could. His hips jerked, thrusting his hard flesh into her. She gasped and he moved again, unable to stop his headlong rush, his free fall into Hell. Damn Lucifer for making temptation taste so much like Heaven.

  He covered her mouth with a desperate kiss, forcing her to swallow his groans, taking her sweet sounds into himself. All the while, he rocked against her, thrusting, pummeling her tender flesh. Trying to crawl inside her wet heat, become part of her, make her a part of him.

  God help him, he never wanted to leave her.

  “Oh, God, Domin—” She gasped as he rammed into her again. The orgasm took her and she spasmed around him, clenching, making him come with her.

  He arched and cried out, spilling himself into her once more. His back spasmed and his balls ached with the empty ejaculation. Tears of guilt and want and frustration burned his eyes as wave after wave of agony and pure ecstasy ripped through him.

  Bites of fire cut into his back and shoulders where she clawed at him, pulling hair and feathers as her orgasm went on and on. He tried to focus on those small hurts, let them burst the bubble of sensation and pull him from his spiral into damnation, but it didn’t work. The pain transformed into pleasure and drove him higher. He convulsed in a second dry climax and the world spun away.

  He was only vaguely aware of collapsing on top of Maggie, his face buried in her bright red hair and his open mouth brushing her freckle-dusted shoulder as he gasped for air.

  She shifted under him, but he couldn’t move, didn’t want to. He didn’t want to lose this moment of Heaven before the Most High smote him.

  She wiggled again, and her body squeezed, forcing a wave of indescribable sensation through him. Shuddering, wings quivering, he forced himself to pull out of her and roll to the side.

  “I think I have rug burn on my ass,” she mumbled, curling against him.

  “I’ll fix it momentarily.” He pulled her onto his chest and ran one hand over her soft hair.

  For a long time, they simply held each other. Their breathing slowly returned to normal and shadows began to stretch across the floor, but Dom and Maggie didn’t move.

  Maggie had begun to doze when Dominicus noted the room had darkened. He shifted her to the floor, and pulling the small blanket from the back of the couch, covered her before crossing to look out the window.

  A heavy lump of dread settled in his belly and he swallowed against the bile rising in his throat.

  Thick, dark clouds filled the sky, hanging oppressively close to the ground. Their steel-gray underbellies rolled with an unnatural violence and cast the landscape in a sickly green.

  Had his judgment come so soon?

  A quick glance back assured him Maggie slept, oblivious to the turmoil building outside. Crossing the room, he willed himself clothed and slipped out the door. Once outside, the eerie feeling increased. Despite the churning clouds above, the atmosphere on the ground was as still as death. No humans or animals could be seen and the plants didn’t stir in the thick air.

  “Hello, angel,” crooned a voice, sensual and suggestive.

  Spinning, he found the puppy lounging beside the doorway. Anger speared through him.

  “I told you to leave her alone, Meela.”

  The dog’s body stretched, morphing into something as gruesome as it was beautiful. The nude demoness was inky black, her skin covered in serpentine scales. Red eyes gleamed like rubies and her forked tongue slithered over full, blood-red lips and sharp fangs. Coal-black hair hung in snakelike ropes and delicate batlike wings spread behind her.

  “Ah, Dom. I didn’t think you recognized me. How nice to know my lover has not forgotten me after all these years.” She walked to him, her hips swaying sensuously, and pressed against him. Hard nipples cut into his chest and the stench of her lust filled his nostrils.

  “Spirit knows spirit. The Fall changed you but you are still the cherub who once graced my side. You are still Philomela.” She recoiled with a hiss. Dominicus’ heart clenched, wondering if he would soon find his Heavenly name painful as well.

  “Why are you here, Meela?”

  “Where else would I be but following Lucifer’s favorite soul? Tell me, is she as delicious as she looks?”

  His hands fisted at his sides and his jaw clenched. “You will never know.”

  “You have really made things difficult, Dom. It was very naughty of you to warn her about the coffee shop. She was so anxious to get her coffee I couldn’t even convince her to stay outside the bank just a little longer, and I had the perfect surprise lined up for her, too. You’d be amazed at what a junkie will do in hopes of finding enough money for his next fix.”

  His blood froze at the thought. He’d been so intent on keeping her away from the wrecked tanker, he hadn’t considered the danger of a simple walk across a parking lot.

  “Begone, Meela,” he rasped.

  “Do you really want me to leave, Dom? Don’t you remember how well we got along?” She leaned into him again. Lifting one hand, she dragged the tips of her black claws over his chest, leaving slashes in the fabric and red welts over his skin.

  “I remember. I also remember you found another far more seductive.”

  “Now Dom, don’t hold that against me.” She gave him a practiced pout and he could see the hint of the angel who had once infatuated him. The tawny skin and sparkling green eyes were gone, but she was still Meela, playing coy.


  “I don’t hold anything against you. We were companions for a time, then you chose to leave. Our time has passed.”

  “It doesn’t have to be. We can be together again.”

  His eyes flicked to the door.

  “Ah yes, your little human plaything. You don’t want to leave her.”

  He clenched his teeth and silently berated himself for giving his thoughts away to the calculating demoness. She had always been far too observant.

  Meela pressed to his side once more. “There are ways around the prohibition. Join me and you can be with her, always. I can give you your Maggie.”

  The dare tempted him more than he cared to admit. Its evil wound into his mind and taunted him. He was close to his Fall. Just one more step and he could keep Maggie forever. In the lower realm there was no prohibition, no sin. There was only pleasure. He could indulge himself. Without conscious thought, one of his hands crept up to cup Meela’s hip, sliding over the cool smoothness of her scales.

  “Yes,” she hissed. “Come with me, Dom. It could be the three of us, you and me and Maggie. I could fuck her while you watch. You can see it, can’t you?”

  He could. It was easy to picture it, Maggie lying on black sheets while Meela crouched between her thighs, lapping at her with a forked tongue. Red blood on white skin as the demon sank her teeth into Maggie’s flesh. Him kneeling in front of a crouching Maggie, his wings spread, demon and batlike behind him. He forced his cock down her throat while Meela shoved those wickedly clawed fingers in her ass.

  He saw himself coming, spraying thick, white streams of his ejaculate on her pale human flesh while demons swarmed her, bit at fragile skin and drank pieces of Maggie’s pure soul.

  “No!” He shoved the demoness away, forced the images she’d fed him from his mind. “Be gone, Hellbitch. Stay away from me and do not come near this woman. She is under my protection.”

  Meela laughed at him. “You cannot protect her. The Most High has not given you the authority.”

  “With or without his sanction, I will guard this woman,” he snarled, leaning in until he could smell the Hellfire on her breath. “It would serve you to remember seraphim are warriors. Cross me and I will feed you to the Hellbound demons.”

  “We will see, Dom. You have upset the balance and my liege is not pleased. I leave for now, but you will not stop us from claiming what is ours.”

  Meela vanished in a wisp of sulfur and Dom blew out a harsh sigh of relief. For now, Maggie was safe and the confrontation assured him he had not yet Fallen. A breeze ruffled his feathers and he looked to the skies in alarm. The clouds had begun to move in a slow spiral and an ominous wind blew leaves from the trees. Someone was not happy, but Dominicus couldn’t tell if the power came from Heaven or Hell. At this point he wasn’t sure one was better than the other.

  He entered her apartment on a thought, materializing in the kitchen, and immediately regretted it when she jumped and screamed. A coffee cup flew from her hand and shattered on the hard kitchen floor.

  “Stop sneaking up on me!” she snapped and smacked his shoulder.

  “I didn’t mean to surprise you. I thought you were sleeping.”

  “Surprise me? More like scare the crap out of me. Why can’t you walk across the room like a normal person?”

  “Because I am not a person.” Was that not obvious?

  She went still and her gaze flicked to his wings. “Right.” Sadness flared in her eyes, then was gone, leaving a cold wall of separation between them. He knew that wall far too well. A wall had plagued his existence, caged him in for far too long. He hadn’t expected rejection from Maggie. For this he’d risked his soul?

  She bent down and started picking up pieces of shattered stoneware.

  “I will clean this, Maggie.”

  “I can get it.”

  “So can I, and I am the one at fault. Again.”

  “Fine. Whatever.” She stood with a huff and stalked to the living room.

  Taking a deep and frustrated breath, Dominicus willed the mess away. Pieces of cup came together and the spilled liquid vanished. This was truly a horrible day. He prepared a replacement cup of coffee for her the human way and walked to the living room, trying to make noise along the way. She turned to watch him and her gaze landed on the yellow cup in his hand. That deep something flickered in her eyes again, something he could not name but didn’t like.

  “Have I done something wrong, Maggie?” he asked. His face felt stiff and deep inside something twisted so tight he feared he would shatter.

  “Of course not. You’re perfect. I’m the one who’s all wrong.”

  That made no sense. She was beautiful with a pure soul. He was so flawed, even the Most High could not suffer his presence. “Maggie, there is nothing wrong with you.”

  “You’ll leave soon, won’t you?”

  “I cannot stay forever.” His heart clenched. He was a Hellbound angel who could offer her nothing but pain. She deserved so much more than he could offer.

  “How is your backside?” he asked, sitting beside her and handing her the steaming mug.

  Her fair skin pinkened and she shrugged, refusing to meet his eyes.

  “May I see?”

  She spared him a shy glance before shifting and tugging the sash of her robe free. She angled toward him on the couch and held the front of the robe to her chest while letting the back drop down to her waist.

  Angry red scrapes ran from her shoulder down her back to disappear under the waistband of her panties, marring her beautiful skin. He winced at the sight. He’d hurt her. Pushing the fabric lower, he leaned in and pressed his lips against her damaged skin. He heard her gasp and she jerked away, but he slipped a gentle hand around her.

  Spreading his fingers over her soft stomach, he held her in place and kissed again, this time letting power flow over her. It rippled, golden and beautiful, across her skin and healed the injuries. Her breath came in shallow pants, bringing a smile to his lips. The power could do more than heal, and he wasn’t above using it to his advantage. An angel on the edge had few scruples.

  “Does that feel good?” he whispered against her skin.

  “Yes. Very.”

  “Put down the mug, darling.”

  Satisfaction curled through him at the sound of the mug clunking heavily on the side table. Sliding his hands down her arms, he pushed the robe away, baring her to him. His teeth scraped her skin in a rough caress. She trembled under his mouth as he placed nibbling kisses up her spine. Slipping his hands around her, he cupped her breasts and pulled her against him.

  Her head fell back against his shoulder and she moaned. The soft, needy sound sent a surge of desire through him. Sweet friction sent sensation shuddering though him as she moved against him. How could one mere human make him need like this again? What was it about her that made the desire so overwhelming, made him dance on the fine line between redemption and eternal damnation?

  He tangled a hand in her hair and pulled her head back, twisting to cover her mouth with his. He had to taste her, needed the flavor of her sweet humanity on his tongue. Without breaking the kiss, he lay back. He flicked his fingers over her nipples and ground his cock against her spine with a groan of pleasure. All it took was a single kiss, and he was lost in her.

  “So, this is why you risk creation.” The condemnation echoed through the small room and Maggie jumped with a strangled scream.

  “Dammit, don’t you people knock!” She turned her back on the intruder and scrambled to tug her robe back on.

  “Why are you here, Ren?” He ought to thank his friend for saving him, but at the moment, he didn’t feel grateful.

  “I’ve come for the girl. You have not done your job so I will do it for you.”

  “No.” Dom’s blood ran cold. Would the Most High allow Renatus to take her from him, punish her for his sin? He rose and stood toe-to-toe with his friend. “You were not sent for her. I would know if you had been.”

  “Does it matter? She must
go and you are not doing the job.” Renatus reached for Maggie and Dominicus knocked his hand away.

  “Dominicus?” Maggie called from the couch, but he didn’t dare take his attention from Ren. To provide an opening was to lose Maggie.

  “I cannot let you take her.”

  “You must. Have you not looked outside? The demons are rising. Creation is on the verge of the End Time and it’s all because of her.”

  “What are you talking about?” Maggie asked, unease adding a subtle tremor to her voice. “Take me where?”

  “The demons cannot have her. The Most High is the one with the power. He can stop the demons without sacrificing her soul.”

  “Whoa, demons? Sacrifice?” She grabbed his arm and tried to jerk him around to face her. “What are you talking about, Dominicus?”

  “He’s talking about you, foolish human,” Ren spat at her, his eyes narrowed in anger. “Dom was supposed to take you to Hell when you died, but he decided to make you his pet instead. He healed you and took another to feed the demons.”

  “Dom, you were taking me to Hell?”

  He couldn’t bear to look at her, to see the accusation in her eyes. He’d never wanted her to know what her fate held. Damn Renatus for telling her.

  “She is not going.” Every muscle in Dom’s body quivered with rage, with the need to protect this woman. His woman.

  “It isn’t your choice.” Renatus moved with Heavenly speed, snagging Maggie by the wrist and jerking her toward him.

  No!

  Dominicus summoned his reserves and struck Renatus in the chest with a bolt of power. He was weak, but it was enough to stun. Renatus released Maggie and gaped at Dom, his expression filled with surprise and hurt. Pulling Maggie to him, Dom tucked her safely behind his shoulder and curled his wing around her, holding her there, protected, surrounded by his body.

  To get her, Renatus would have to go through him.

  “She stays here, Ren. Alive. Healthy. I will not give her to you any more than I would to Lucifer himself.”

  Maggie curled her shaking hands into the back of his t-shirt, and the tremor ate at him. She didn’t need to know about this, there was no reason to frighten her with matters she could not control.