by Kim Loraine
The spark of fire in her eyes sends a rush of need straight to my already hardening cock. I love this part. This is the build of power before the storm. "We'll take him back to our place in Manhattan."
"Our place?" I ask, but I love that she thinks of my home as hers now. I’m not going to sully that with Arthur. I’ll take him somewhere, but it’s not going to be the home Helena and I share.
"We did promise forever. What's mine is yours, and all that, Fallen. You're not backing out now, are you?"
"Not on your life."
Izzy places herself between Helena and me, eyes wide and confused. "Wait, what do you mean by that?"
"We…sort of got married." Helena's confession isn't filled with anything but concern for her sisters, I feel it in her words.
"Married?" Izzy asks. "Without us?"
"It wasn't part of the plan. It just happened."
"How? When?"
My aching need for Helena builds as I think back to the vows we made in the hot springs. The heated confession of love and desire. "In the hot springs. I gave her my vows and she gave me hers. Helena is my wife in every way that matters."
Arthur scoffs, eyes dull with pain. Obviously marriage is still a sore subject for the man.
The sound of breaking glass filters through the closed door, over and over, as though someone is throwing… “Oh, bloody hell, love. Is that Gwen?”
Arthur frowns and tries to stand, but he sucks in a sharp breath and falls back to the mattress.
“Whoa there, Artie, that’s not a good idea,” Grant says. Then the shifter cuts a glance to me and mutters, “See to the witch. I’ll keep this one up here until you’re ready to take him.”
Helena and I descend the stairs and rush to the kitchen where we find a pot of tea shattered on the floor, the wall dripping with a mixture of leaves and hot water.
“This can’t be happening. I can’t face him.” Gwen threads her fingers in her hair and pulls hard enough that my own scalp burns in sympathy.
"Gwen," Helena chastises. "I'm supposed to be the crazy one around here. What is going on?"
"Get him out of here. As long as you say he's not after us, I don't care what you do with him, just keep him away from me."
Helena rests a palm on Gwen's shaking shoulder, concern in her eyes. "Whatever you need, Gwen. We'll send him away."
"Use your song. Make him forget."
Helena's face pales. "I…I can't."
"You can. Do it for me. Lord knows I've done far too much for you over the years."
"Gwen, that's not fair."
"She can't because her song won't work anymore. We're soul mates. We've sealed our bond."
“Then take my memories. Please. Make it go away.” Gwen takes Helena’s hands, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“No.” Helena’s response is strong and immovable.
"You can't possibly be taking his side."
My woman throws a glance over her shoulder and locks eyes with me. "Take him. Get him out of here. She's right. I can't take his side."
I materialize at Arthur’s side and do just that. I take him, hand on his forearm, and we vanish. He will be on his own, but I'll have eternity with my soul mate, and I'll do anything in my power to make her happy.
24
Tamiel
After depositing Arthur in a safe place and ensuring he’ll have food and supplies while healing, I return to my wife. She and her sisters are sitting in the sunlight of early morning, sipping steaming hot mugs of tea to the soundtrack of birdsong. Gwen looks better, but still shaken. The three of them together, not weighed down by the curse that kept them from happiness for thousands of years. It’s picturesque, and I stand in the distance if only to watch Helena’s peaceful expression a moment longer.
Her cheeks go pink as she talks, the other two laughing and teasing. I wonder what they’re chatting on about. Is it me? Her mouth forms the words, hot spring, and my cock gives a low ache. I want her.
Purposeful steps lead me to the three of them, their voices loud enough for me to hear, as they giggle together. Helena’s gaze locks on mine, and I see it. The same yearning burns inside her as does in me. My soul mate is in need, and I’ve a duty to see to her.
“Ladies,” I say with a slight dip of my chin. Then I train my focus back on Helena. “I need a word, love.”
She cocks one perfect eyebrow, a challenge. But she doesn’t mean it. Not really. I can sense the arousal running through her. “I’m busy.”
“This is important.”
“So is this. I’m bonding with my sisters. They haven’t seen me in months.”
Running a hand through my hair, I fight the urge to throw her over my shoulder here and now. “And after we take care of this, you can return to them.”
“I’m not your—” Whatever she was going to say ends on a squeal of surprise when I give in and scoop her into my arms, hoisting her over my shoulder.
“She’ll be back,” I call to her sisters.
“Tamiel!” Her shout of my name is laced with laughter and she squirms in my hold.
I smack her arse and scold. “None of that now. I don’t want to drop you.”
Unable to wait, I use my grace to transport us to one of the three small bedrooms upstairs. The four-poster bed takes up most of the space, but that’s just fine with me. All I need is a place to lie her down.
“You really couldn’t wait for me to finish my tea?”
Running my nose along her slender throat, I take in the rainwater and rose scent of her. “No. I really couldn’t. I’ve lost you too many times to spend any time waiting ever again.”
A shiver rolls through her. “Sometimes you say the sweetest things.”
I cup the back of her neck and pull her to me, crushing my mouth to hers, tasting tea with honey and cream on her tongue. Fire ignites between us, the power we have seeming to link and build because we’re the same now. Her angelic grace speaks to mine.
Breaking our kiss, she holds my face in her hands and grins. “I want to be on top.”
Oh, fuck yes. Without a word, I move off her and stand, whipping my shirt over my head the instant my feet hit the wood floor. She does the same with her sheer black top, her bare breasts making my balls tighten with need. Then her hands are on my trousers, pulling them open, shoving the fabric down my hips, reaching for the steel length of my jutting erection.
“That’s it, love,” I say on a deep groan. Her palm glides over the weeping crown, spreading the moisture and sending waves of pleasure down my shaft.
“On the bed,” she orders. I’ll let her think she’s in charge, but I want to watch those gorgeous breasts of hers as they bounce and sway, to see her moving on top of me as she takes me inside her beautiful body.
I position myself on the mattress, one hand behind my head, the other lazily stroking my cock. “You’ve still got far too much clothing on, wife.”
Her eyes flare at the word. “Patience…husband.”
My erection gives an involuntary jerk. “If you tease me, I’ll have you over my knee instead of letting you do what you like.”
“Promise?” Her nipples are stiff and tight, begging for me to suck and bite.
She runs her fingers through her long waves, then over her shoulders, between the valley of her luscious tits, and down to the waistband of her black jeans. Those fucking jeans are my favorite item she wears. There are a few threadbare places on the thigh, not quite holes in the fabric, but thin enough I can see a hint of her skin. It’s a preview of the smooth perfection of her legs.
“Take them off, love. Right the fuck now.” I’m stroking my cock faster now, unable to stop myself as my desire builds.
A challenge lights in her expression, but her gaze falls to my hand as it moves over my length and it’s easy to see how much she wants this. She licks her lips before blinking hard and popping the button on her jeans. With one graceful motion, she pushes the fabric over her hips, knickers going with the rest and she’s bared to me
.
“Thank you,” she says as she crawls onto the bed.
“For what?”
“For always returning to me.”
“You’re mine. We’ll never be parted, no matter what.”
She kisses my inner thigh, her hair brushing my cock. “Now we never have to.”
I moan her name when her warm palm cups my balls and squeezes. “Fuck,” I whisper.
She releases me and for a moment I mourn the loss, but then she’s straddling me, her hand guiding my throbbing shaft inside the tight, wet, heat of her, and I forget everything else. We both gasp at the sensation of our bodies joining. It’s everything.
“Touch me, Tamiel.” Her breathy plea sends jolts of pleasure through me.
My fingers trail along her hips, up her narrow waist and over her ribs. She’s impossibly soft while being so fucking strong. The dusky tips of her nipples beg for my mouth, but she’s not ready to relinquish any control yet. I’ll wait. Then, my beautiful, powerful woman starts moving. She rides my cock slowly, circling her hips, rocking back and forth, soft cries escaping her with each of her motions.
I nearly lose my grip on my own climax at the sight of her, the feel of her slick pussy gripping me. I want to spill my seed deep inside her, fill her with everything I have to give, leave a piece of me in her womb. Fuck. I want to get her pregnant so bad it hurts.
I can’t stop myself. I thrust hard, jutting my length upward as she rocks back down. It’s perfection. “God, yes,” she screams. “Fuck.”
“There it is,” I say. “Come for me, love. I need to feel it.”
She falls forward, hands braced on my chest, lips crashing to mine as she chases her orgasm. I grip her hips and help her, thrusting up into her as she rides me furiously toward the finish line.
My balls ache with the need to release, but she has to come first. Anything else would be a failure. Breaking our kiss, I press our foreheads together and whisper, “Are you there?”
“Yes, oh, yes, I’m so close.” Her words are soft and desperate.
Sliding my hand between our bodies, I find her needy little clit and rub tight circles until she’s trembling. And then she’s right fucking there, her walls clenching around me, her skin flushing pink.
“I need to come, love. Oh, holy fuck,” I groan.
“Do it. Come inside me.”
I do, my vision blurs as intense pleasure explodes throughout my entire body. She calls my name and comes around me for what seems like eternity as I fill her with pulse after pulse of my release.
She doesn’t move after. Instead, choosing to drape herself across my chest and nothing will convince me to change this position. I stroke her hair and breathe her in, content in the knowledge that we’re together.
“I love you, Fallen.”
I smile at her softly murmured words. “And I love you, my beautiful Helena.”
Helena is my forever. Our love is written in the stars, but ours won't be a tragedy. The only story we'll ever tell has no end, no sadness, no betrayal. Her face may have launched a thousand ships, but her heart is mine alone.
Epilogue
One month later
Helena
The salty sea air hits my face sending a wave of happiness through me. This is the perfect day. Sun, sand, and a cool breeze to keep us comfortable. Today we saw my sister get married. Grant couldn't be happier, and Izzy is glowing in her long white, Roman style gown, her round belly and long blond waves making her look like some kind of fertility goddess.
The only thing missing is my fallen angel. He's been gone since last night and my worry has begun to creep in. "Your angel is coming," Gwen says as she sidles up beside me.
"Aren't you powerless? You shouldn't be having visions."
"My visions don't come from our magic. That was a gift from Sariel when we helped him before the fall. You know that." She leans in and bumps me with her shoulder. "But this isn't a vision. He's on the path, just over there." I follow the finger she has pointed on the horizon. And she's right. There he is, beautiful and all mine.
"Thanks," I mutter.
"Oh, one more thing," she whispers. "You might want to check your handbag. I put a little something inside for you. But truth be told, you won't need it. The result will be positive."
My gut clenches and I sway on my feet. "What did you say?"
"This one was a vision." She claps her hands. "Oh, how I will love this angel baby. I get a wolf and an angel in less than a year. I promise I'll be a good auntie. And don't worry, you'll still have time together. I'll babysit."
"Gwen, what are you talking about?"
"You're definitely pregnant. But, like I said, there's a test for you. Just pop round to the loo and pee on the damned stick if you don't believe me."
Nausea rolls through my stomach as I count back the days and weeks. Tamiel closes the distance between us and stands before me, soft gray trousers, a light blue button-down shirt—undone at the collar. God, he's the picture of the perfect man.
"Did I miss it?" he asks. "I tried to get away, but Michael is such a bloody windbag."
Gwen stares at me, I stare at him.
He frowns and steps closer. "What's all this? You look like you've seen a ghost, love."
"She's just upset because you knocked her up. She'll get over it…in about eight months."
Tamiel chokes. "Pardon? Did she just say I knocked you up?"
All I can do is nod. I'm still thinking about my symptoms. Things I've been ignoring and passing off as me getting used to being alive again.
"Why didn't you say something?" Tamiel asks, taking my hands in his and running his thumbs over my knuckles.
"I didn't know."
Gwen raises a hand. "Psychic, remember?"
"Don't start," I tell her. "You've helped enough."
"I didn't help. That was all you and your angel."
"You'd be right about that." Tamiel's voice is heavy with emotion. "Gwen, I'll be needing some time alone with your sister."
She giggles and turns on her heel.
"I've not seen her this feisty since we were first reunited." I watch her leave, a smile on my lips. "When you killed Calista you gave her a new lease on life. Gwen doesn't need to rely on a man to save her and steal her heart. She's free to live."
"And you? Were you beholden to a man to save you? Because you saved yourself."
"You saved me, but not because I knew you would. I think I felt the curse on my heart lift the moment I told Calista I'd stay with her. When I gave my freedom for yours, I realized I loved you. My chest hurt. It was as though my heart had split in two. But then I knew I would tell you how I felt at the first opportunity."
"Until she tried to kill Izzy."
I nod. "Until then."
He sighs and pulls me tight to him. "And now…we're going to have a little one."
I swallow hard past the lump in my throat. "It would seem so."
"I'd be lying if I said this didn't make me fucking proud as hell."
A laugh escapes before I can push it back. "Of course. I knew you'd say that. I wasn't even back from the dead one damn day and you filled me with your spawn."
"Fuck yes, I did, didn't I?"
I roll my eyes and lean against his warm chest, taking in his scent and the beat of his heart against my cheek. But then my ears pop and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Bloody hell, we have company. Gabriel materializes on the shore, standing in front of Izzy, Grant, and Gwen. "What's he doing here?"
"I'm not sure. Michael didn't say anything about Gabriel paying a visit."
We stride across the sand until we're able to join our group. Grant stands behind his new wife, big hands cradling her belly as though he'd be able to protect the baby from Gabriel.
"Brother, what are you doing here?" Tamiel asks.
The tall, blond angel is tense and frustration rolls off his usually calm exterior. "Where is he?"
"Who?"
"I gave you Excalibur for a reason, T
amiel. You were supposed to help restore him, he is the key."
"The key to what?"
"To returning the siren coven to their power. To stopping the end of days. To keeping everything from turning upside down."
"Gabriel, I don't understand. I was just with Michael. He said nothing of this."
He sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The beginning of the apocalypse was set into motion only moments ago. Lucifer will be freed. The fallen and the demons will take over the earth and once they gain their strength, they'll take Heaven."
My stomach turns to stone. "No. Tamiel killed Calista."
"Someone else took up her cause. And we need that knight on our side. So where is he?"
"I…I took him to London while he recovers. He's staying in a small flat near the pub Izzy worked before all this started."
"You left him alone? He's been trapped living a half-life for centuries. The man doesn't even know how to use a telephone." The angel glances at the heavens. "Oh, Father help them, they know not what they do."
"He killed Gwen. Broke her." I can't help but interject.
"Guinevere, I've got three words for you," Gabriel says. "Get over it."
She juts her chin defiantly. "I will not."
"So, you'd rather the world end because you've been scorned?" He shakes his head. "Women." Then my brother extends his wings and hits us with the full force of his power. "Guinevere, you'll take on the responsibility of seeing to his acclimation to this new world. I bind you to this duty with all the power my Father has given me. The man chosen by Excalibur is more important than you can know. He is now your charge. When he sleeps, you sleep, when he eats, you eat, and if he dies, so shall you."
Oh, no. This angel just laid the equivalent of a holy curse on my sister. She stares on in shock, blue eyes angry. "You can't."
"I just did." He turns to Tamiel. “I’ll take her to him. We have far too much work ahead of us."
Sneak Peek
Immortal Flame: The Siren Coven
Gabriel
I can’t believe I have to do this. I have more pressing matters than reuniting two star-crossed lovers, don’t I? But the apocalypse has started. Lucifer is free. And these two are vital to closing the gate between worlds and ensuring the demons don’t take control of Earth.