by J. J. Dean
"I know you will, Peaches," he tells me on a hushed whisper. I feel him drop a kiss onto my neck before he settles down for the night, falling asleep fairly quickly. The sound of Asher's heavy breathing mixes with the sickening noise of skin stitching back together, the gaping wounds in Eli's back finally healing.
I can tell the moment my power starts to lose its effect when Eli starts to fidget more before his eyes pop open and a set of deep brown irises meet mine. Pain swims in their depths, and my heart clenches tightly in my chest at the sight. His teeth snap together and grind painfully. I up my ability, trying to overpower the pain I know he's feeling. It seems to help some since his shoulders relax, and his body seems to thaw a little.
"It sucks, I know, but just try to keep your body relaxed. I'll keep singing so you get a little bit of pain relief, okay? It's not going to take it all away, but it's something," I explain quietly, brushing a hand through his hair again.
Eli nods and closes his eyes when my fingers run through his soft stands. I pick up my singing once more, feeling two arms tighten around me.
The time seems to drag as Eli goes through his healing, hours ticking by as his wounds fuse together. By the time they stitch themselves back in place, exhaustion weighs heavily on my shoulders. My eyes are dry and stinging, and I feel as though I'm a hop and a skip away from passing out.
"How are you feeling?" I whisper to Eli, quiet so as not to wake Asher who fell asleep two hours ago. He stayed awake as long as he could, but we're all running on fumes by this point. I'm surprised Ash lasted as long as he did.
Eli's eyes blink open, the pain not so intense now. He'll be tender and sore for a little while, but the worst of it is over with. He leans close and drops a sweet kiss on my nose, groaning when he falls back to the bed. "Thank you, Flower."
I shake my head and offer him a small smile. "No need to thank me. I'm just glad you're okay."
He gives me a tired smile, and I run my hand through his hair one last time before keeping it at the back of his head, lightly brushing my thumb over the nape of his neck.
"Try to get some rest," I whisper. "The pain shouldn't be so bad now, but try not to move around so much."
He completely ignores me and shuffles closer to me instead. I roll my eyes, but he snuggles in tightly. When his head occupies the same pillow as me and Asher, he leans closer and gives me one of the sweetest kisses I've had from him. I can feel the gratitude in the way he presses his soft lips into mine, the eagerness in the way he nips my bottom lip.
When he pulls away, he whispers, "You're stuck with me now, Flower."
I roll my eyes and shake my head with a smile. "Pretty sure I was stuck with you the moment Asher Fell."
He huffs out a laugh and mutters, "Well, now it's permanent. Hope you like roomies, because I'm never leaving."
"Go to sleep," I tell him with yet another eye roll, but warmth blooms in my chest, and a smile breaks out over my face. Shaking my head, I sigh and settle in properly between my two Fallen angels. The moment my body relaxes, my eyes flutter closed, fatigue finally winning over my determination to stay awake.
Just before I fall asleep, I hear a gentle whisper. "You're mine now, Flower."
***
I'm surrounded by warmth.
That's the first thought I have when I wake up next. There's heat on the right side of my body and from my waist down. The only part of my body that's not taking in heat is my left... where Elijah should be.
My eyes snap open, and I suck in a lungful of air before I feel the pressure on my stomach. Repeatedly blinking to remove to sleep from my eyes, I look down the length of my body, only to find a passed out Eli lying on me. My shirt has raised, his head is tucked under my breasts, and his arms are wrapped around my waist snugly. His lean body rests between my legs with his feet poking out at the end of the bed, the skin of his chest warming my belly. The comforter is hanging around his waist, tucked under his body and looking as though it's been tugged upwards. When I follow the line in which it's been yanked on, I find the source still next to me, his firm, muscled body just as close as it was when he fell asleep.
Asher wears a frown, likely because the parts of the comforter he's managed to drag up to his body still aren’t enough to cover the sheer size of him, so much of his body isn't covered. I know for a fact that it's chilly in the mornings, but since I have an angel whose power revolves around fire and another who's feeding me his body heat, I can't say I'm feeling all that cold right now. I can only assume my nightmare plagued me again last night.
Since Eli has taken up the space over my waist, I notice my hand is firmly clenched in Asher's, resting just beneath his chin as he holds it close to his body.
My other hand is free, so I lift it slowly and go about brushing the copper strands from Eli's sleeping face. His fluttering eyelashes tell me he's waking up. He should really sleep a little longer, but I guess he's going to wake up if I plan on getting out of the bed at some point.
When his eyes stay open, I quietly mutter, "Guess the bed wasn't comfy enough, huh?"
His head snaps up, and he braces himself a fraction above me, looking around the room before slowly dropping back to the bed and shoving his face into my belly.
"Too early," he grumbles, his voice rasped and sleep-ridden. That shouldn’t do anything for me, but hearing his voice so gravelly sends butterflies swarming in my stomach.
"Fucking preach," Asher groans from beside me, his breath tickling the hairs on my head. His hand tightens in mine, sending those butterflies flurrying all directions. "Get your ass back to sleep, Peaches. I don't even know what the time is. I just know it's too early for any of us to be awake yet."
Why do I always get Asher the Angry Angel first thing in the morning? I mean, I'm not a morning bird, either, but damn. I'm the happiest person in existence in comparison to the angel who needs to learn that I'm an early riser even if I wish I wasn't.
"I can't go back to sleep. The two of you are overheating me. This one is on you, not me," I dutifully inform them, nodding like that's going to help my case. I continue to run my hand through Eli's hair, content to lie here for a little while in the peace and quiet.
Knocking at the door completely throws a wrench in that plan.
"In my defense, I had every intention of staying in bed for a while today, even if I wasn't sleeping. Blame whoever is behind that door for ruining a perfectly good plan," I inform them, hearing two groans of irritation before the door opens.
Devon's head pops into the room, looking over the position I've found myself in before he clears his throat and says, "Sorry. Heard talking so I thought you were all awake. You, uh... You have visitors."
"Who, me?" I ask, albeit a little stupidly given this is my apartment and everything. Only, it's me. I never get visitors. Even Francis never visited; I always had to pick her old ass up and drive her here.
Rolling my own eyes and then watching Devon do the same, he says, "Yes, you, Princess. Get your lazy ass out of bed. All of you, actually. You're all going to want to be downstairs for this."
With that, Devon leaves, shutting the door after himself.
"Well, that's really ruined the whole lie-in thing I was prepared to do," I tell the two angels who are very much awake now. Tilting my head towards Eli, I ask, "Think you can get out of bed without too much pain? Or do you need a little help?"
"I can manage, Flower. I'm just a little sore, that’s all," he tells me with a tense smile. I know he's more than a little sore, but I don't say anything.
I nod and scrape my nails gently on the back of his head before saying, "Okay. Let's go see who's visiting someone who never gets visitors, shall we?"
Chapter 14
Luna
Asher groans, turning over in bed and shoving his face into the pillow. Eli snickers, but he forces himself to rise above me. He drops a quick kiss on my lips before awkwardly climbing off the bed, hissing and groaning in pain. He's shirtless with low sleep pants hanging on his waist,
flashing those sexy lines at his hips that disappear under the waistband. I'm both internally cursing and praising Asher and Noah for cleaning Eli up while I was healing because he looks so damn hot that I feel my heart hiccup in my chest and my palms grow a little sweaty.
I shake my head, catching the poorly restrained smile Eli is sporting, before climbing out of bed with a blush warming my cheeks. Leaving Asher in bed, I head to the bathroom. I go about my morning routine, washing my face, brushing my teeth, and throwing my hair in a messy bun on the top of my head, silver strands escaping the hair tie and framing my face.
Once I'm done, I walk back into the bedroom. I don't get far until I'm scooped up, my legs wrapping around Asher's waist and my arms latching around his neck. With startled eyes, I breathlessly ask, "What the hell are you doing?"
He gives me one of his rare grins, and I... melt. There's no better word for it. My heart beats erratically, my head grows dizzy, and my eyes glue themselves to his mouth. Ash carries me into my closet, exactly where I was heading next, and slams the door behind him before pressing me up against it.
"I'm not doing anything," he mutters, pressing his body against mine. I can feel every inch of him, from his muscled pecs to the shaft that's pressed snugly against my core.
"You are most definitely doing something, and it is not nothing. I have visitors," I tell him, still just as breathless, probably more so when he grinds against me. I have no idea if it's on purpose or if it's just to get comfortable while he pins me to the door, but it heats me up in ways that really shouldn't be possible.
Ash presses against me in all the right ways and says, "I think they can wait. Believe it or not, I've fucking missed you. Just as we get you back, you up and vanish out of thin air. I'm stealing some time for myself because I'm a selfish bastard sometimes."
Well, when he puts it like that, who am I to argue?
"I'm good with making them wait," I tell him, nodding quickly as my eyes fall back to his lips.
He gives me another grin that has my heart beating double time before those full lips I've been eyeing descend onto mine.
My body shivers, causing Ash to groan into my mouth, his tongue seeking entrance that I'm more than willing to give him. The moment I part my lips for him, he attacks like man starved, his tongue stroking, teeth nipping and tugging. I can't get enough.
My hands are in his hair, pulling him as close as I can while his hands begin to roam since he's effectively pinned me to the door with the use of his hips. He breaks us apart, breathing heavily as his lips barely skim mine. "You taste so fucking good."
I grin before slamming my mouth back on his, feeling a sense of urgency I can't explain. He seems to feel the same because the sensual way he was kissing me before morphs into him completely ravaging me, soft and gentle turning into desperate and rough. His tongue dominates my mouth while his hands trail down my body to my ass, cupping my cheeks with a firm grip. Need builds in the pit of my belly, heat forming at the apex of my thighs.
He pulls away quickly, and I see his eyes flash blue before the shadows seem to move like graceful dancers around us. They creep closer until they're directly beside us, and Asher smirks.
Suddenly, my sleep shorts and panties are being torn away with the use of nothing but the shadows, leaving me bare from the waist down. The shadows fade along with the glow in Asher's eye, and I find mine widening when I realize he's used his second ability. Shadow Magic. Of course. Why didn't I guess he would be in possession of that kind of power? And why doesn't it surprise me that he used it to get me naked?
He leans in close and nips at my bottom lip, drawing his hand around to my now uncovered center. The sexy growl he releases when his finger glides between my folds makes my insides clench, and I grow wetter while his hand plays me like a piano. Expert fingers draw my arousal to the small bundle of nerves, coaxing a moan to pass through my lips while my head drops back and thuds against the door. My legs tighten around his waist as he draws circles around my sensitive clit, eliciting more moans and gasps of pleasure.
Asher kisses me again, demanding and eager. The slick heat between my legs grows with my need, eagerness causing me to tug on his hair and dig my nails into his shoulder. He tears his mouth away, trailing my cheek and jaw before covering my neck and shoulder with kisses and bites, no doubt marking me.
The hand between my legs in incessant, growing firmer and quicker in his ministrations. I moan louder, finding myself getting closer and closer to the edge I hadn't realized I was so close to falling off. My orgasm teeters on that very edge as Asher's skilled fingers draw me nearer and near to oblivion.
Just as I feel like I'm going to combust, Asher's eyes glow blue, and his sweatpants are stripped away. He replaces his fingers with his hardened cock, sliding through my wetness and hitting my clit just the way I need him to. He groans and shoves his face in the crook of my neck, growling, "Fuck, you're so wet."
Before I can even respond, he pulls his hips back, holding my thighs securely before lining his shaft with my opening and thrusting inside me with a curse. My legs tighten further, a gasp escaping me with the feeling of him filling me.
He pulls out, only to thrust in harder, using my own juices to fuck me with ease. My sounds of pleasure grow louder, impossible to repress when he starts a rhythm that has my toes curling and my nails digging harder into his skin. His hips crash into mine with an audible slap, his cock hitting a place deep inside me that has me seeing stars.
Ash groans when my pussy clenches around him, and the noise brings me even closer to my impending release. Feeling me teetering on the edge, his hand sneaks back to my clit, circling gently but firmly, the sounds of my arousal growing louder as he thrusts in and out of my opening.
He leans in closer, his mouth going back to the crook of my neck where he bites down on my skin. That’s all it takes to finally send me over the pinnacle, my release coming hard and fast around his hard shaft. I cry out, only for his lips to slam down on mine, drinking in every moan. My pussy spasms around him, tightening enough to elicit another sexy growl that vibrates his chest.
He pounds into me even harder, my back slapping the wooden door with a lewd rhythm. Satisfied and feeling a little naughty, I begin humming under my breath, my power easily flowing into the tune as I send it in Asher's direction. It takes effect immediately, his hips thrusting more aggressively, his cock hitting that spot deep inside me mercilessly. His lips crash into mine as I try to keep sending him pulses of power, even while another orgasm starts to build quickly.
Asher rips his mouth away, panting and groaning as he draws closer to his climax, and I push that little bit more power into him. It's all it takes for him to growl long and deep, releasing inside me as his thrusts stutter and his hold tightens on me slowly relaxes.
He's breathless, panting against my collarbone while his forehead rests on my shoulder. My heart is hammering in my chest while I try to control my breathing. I run a hand through the back of his hair and rub a hand over the dents my nails have made in his smooth skin.
It's silent save for our breathing until Ash says, "Good to know your power comes in handy for things other than just giving me blue balls or embarrassing myself in public."
A surprised bark of laughter leaves my mouth, and he groans. He moves his head away from my shoulder and cups my face in his hands, still pinning me to the door with his hips. He drops a kiss on my lips before pulling back. I follow him, stealing another kiss since I can't seem to get enough of him. Instead of breaking away, he moves his hands to hook under my ass and carries me to the bathroom, the door opening without him even touching it. That Shadow Magic really does come in handy.
Reluctantly, he deposits me onto the sink and pulls out of me as soon as we're in the bathroom. He gives me one last kiss before saying, "Let's get you cleaned up and see who the fuck is knocking at the door at stupid o'clock in the morning."
"Okay," I whisper with a smile, feeling my heart expand in my chest. Something seems to be
changing inside me, the sensation of panic I always feel with these guys lessening the more time I spend with them. It's kind of nice but terrifying at the same time.
"You'll have to stop looking at me like that if you want to actually see who it is, babe," he says, his eyes darkening before they drop to my lips.
I shrug. "Looking at you like what?"
He steps closer to me, lowering his mouth until his breath skims my lips. "Like you don't give two shits about who's at the door."
"I don't," I whisper back, my legs opening enough for him to step between.
Just as his hands go to my thighs and he lifts my legs to wrap around his hips, there's a knock at the bathroom door. I groan, and Asher smiles against my lips.
"Guys, you really need to come downstairs now," Noah calls through the door. I deadpan. These fuckers are using that angel against me, I just know it.
I narrow my eyes at the door, and Asher laughs. "Let's check who it is. I'll dirty you up again when whoever it is leaves."
Well, I would be a stupid angel to turn down an offer like that. Pretending to think about it, I say, "Fine. But I'm doing it under extreme protest."
"Duly noted," he teases, dropping another kiss on my lips before finding a washcloth. He leans around me to pour warm water on it before handing it to me. "Clean up. Can't get you dirty if you're not clean."
Oh, this man.
Shaking my head but doing as I'm told, I hop off the counter and clean up as best as I can. Once we're both done, Asher goes to my closet to get me fresh clothes. He comes back with black leggings and a sweater that I throw on before fixing my messy bun and leaving the bathroom.
Asher leaves the bedroom first with me following not too far behind him. We take our time walking down the stairs, but when Asher stops suddenly, I almost crash into his back. "What the fuck, Ash?"
At the very same time, Ash growls, "What the fuck are they doing here?"
Wait, what? Who?