by Janie Marie
Loud laughter filled the yard. When she turned her head, Jane saw Gawain and Gareth’s smiles, and she was so happy that they weren’t glaring at her or Death anymore that she grinned wider.
“All right, Jane,” Death said, losing his playful tone. “Tristan can explain how he uses his power later. I want to figure out what’s triggering your abilities. You need to think about whatever you were thinking and feeling before, and then try to pull Tristan to you.”
Jane looked Tristan over. He was handsome, but he was no David. The desire she felt with David was nowhere to be found. She wondered if it would work when she simply focused the thought of pulling Tristan. Nothing happened.
“Jane, you need to concentrate.” Death moved closer. “What was it you were thinking about anyway?”
Her face burned. How could she tell him she was thinking about having David’s body all over hers?
He chuckled softly and lowered his voice. “Were you having naughty thoughts, Jane?” His tone was amused, and she was surprised he would tease her over her thoughts of David. She tried to deny it. Everyone was listening after all!
She shook her head quickly, and Death grinned then trailed his fingertips down her arm.
“I think you were,” he murmured. She shook her head again, and his voice dropped even lower. “Do you think it would be better if you tried it on me instead? Could you have those thoughts about me, Sweet Jane?”
She gulped, staring at his glowing eyes before scanning him head to toe. Thank God he wasn’t in his Grim Reaper form because she didn’t know what she’d do seeing all the muscles that were hidden by his jacket and jeans.
A confident smirk formed on his lips when she finished her visual search of him. He knew he was perfect, and he knew she could think those same thoughts about him.
Jane nodded.
“Good girl. Now, just remember what you were thinking, and how you felt.” His smooth voice almost made her moan from the tingles it caused to settle between her legs.
I’m going to Hell.
She looked into his glowing eyes and tried to remember what she was supposed to be doing. His sudden smile caused her to stare at his perfect lips—those perfect lips that had pressed against hers just like his hard body had.
Jane sighed. She’d been wrapped around him once before. Her fingers had been tangled in his hair, her breasts pressed against his firm chest, and her legs squeezed tightly around his waist as she pulled—
There it was. She could feel it. The rope that held him to her. It wasn’t as strong as it had been with David, but it was there.
Death grinned. “I feel you, Sweet Jane.”
David quietly made his way through the base house. He knew Jane wasn’t inside, he’d already heard her and a few of the others in the yard, but he wasn’t quite ready to disturb her yet.
He paused at the entrance to the dining room when he noticed Arthur, Kay, and Bedivere staring out the window.
“You still cannot break through?” Kay asked Arthur.
David stepped back, wanting to listen without bringing attention to himself.
“Not a single thought,” Arthur said. “I tried to read her earlier, and he gave me the most powerful mental kick I’ve ever received.”
Kay nodded. “I thought he was going to kill you when he told you to leave her alone.”
Arthur chuckled. “I did as well.”
“I do not understand how she can stand there with him,” said Kay.
Bedivere rubbed his chin as he observed the scene outside. “It is strange, but you can see by his gentleness that he cares for her.”
David stepped out. “He loves her.”
They all turned their heads to look at him as he took a spot alongside Arthur. He didn’t meet their stares. Instead, his gaze was already glued to Jane. She looked sexy, but he didn’t really like that she was wearing so little. Then he reminded himself he’d put those shorts and tank tops in her drawer. This is what he got for wanting to see her in them. He shook his head.
“She’s so casual with him,” said Kay. “How does she not look frightened?”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“David, he’s the bloody Grim Reaper,” said Kay. “How many people can ignore that?”
David looked at Arthur for a sign of understanding.
Arthur chuckled. “He sees a regular man. Though I cannot gather a clear image from his mind, I know he sees what looks like a human male.”
David looked back at Death as if his appearance would suddenly change. “He looks completely normal to me—a bit of an ass, but he looks human for the most part. His power and ethereal features are similar to Michael and Gabriel’s, so I know he is of divine origins. Why he dresses like a punk, I have no idea though.” Arthur grinned, shaking his head while David went on. “I did not picture Jane as one to go for the whole biker look. Is her husband a biker?”
Arthur laughed. “No, her husband is not a biker. But I have a theory on why he looks human to you and not us.”
David glanced at them. “He was telling her the truth? He looks like the Grim Reaper to everyone else?”
“He is the Grim Reaper!” said Kay. “She’s got to be the bravest soul I’ve ever seen to be so comfortable with him.”
Arthur smiled at David. “You and Jane met Death when you were dying. Fate had destined your lives to be taken by him, and he came for you. However, Michael intervened before you could die, and Jane, well, I am not sure why he never took her. All the same, she was supposed to die, and he came for her. None of us have come so close to dying before, so he has never revealed himself to us. I expect that would be the only time one would be granted sight of God’s most powerful angel.”
Jane’s groan and Death’s laugh drew their attention away before anyone could respond to Arthur’s theory. Death appeared to have stumbled a bit toward Jane, but she seemed frustrated with herself.
“It’s all right, Jane,” Death told her. “You did well.”
David scowled at the sight of them. She pouted her lips. Those were supposed to be his pouts. “Well, I did not remember his arrogant ass… But now that you mention it, I do recall someone standing off to the side as Michael spoke to me. He said nothing, only watched. It feels as if my soul recognizes him now. Actually, I believe I felt him when she was unconscious after her attack, too. The bastard watched her hurt and did nothing.”
Arthur nodded. “Well, he still did not take her, so he did something.” David glared at him.
Arthur held up his hands in defense. “Only pointing that out for you.” David sighed and looked back out the window as Arthur continued. “Now most people believe when we die, a hooded figure, decayed as our bodies will one day become, comes to carry our souls to the afterlife. I have often wondered over this myself. There are several stories throughout the world, and they all have variations of the Angel of Death. Most are shrouded figures that hide his identity. Obviously, those that saw his face, would not be around to describe him to a living soul after looking upon him. You and Jane are an exception. I am sure most of the cursed immortals have witnessed his true appearance as well, but the rest of us will only see what our minds conjure.
“I imagine if we did not know he was Death, we may see a glamour many angels wear when in the presence of mortals. They hardly ever reveal their true identities to us because they are too divine to look upon. I am sure that Gabriel and Michael altered how we originally saw them. I know Gabriel had more divine features the second time I saw him. As far as us seeing the Grim Reaper and not a glamour, it may be because we knew the Angel of Death was upstairs. Perhaps his glamour won’t work on us now.”
“Well,” said David, as he ruffled his hair. “I’m not impressed. I would much rather go without seeing that fucking smirk on his face.”
They chuckled before Bedivere turned to him. “David, you know you can take as much time as you need—”
He shook his head. “I’m fine. I only needed someone to tell me to stop feeli
ng sorry for myself.”
“What are you going to do?” Arthur asked.
He grinned. “I’m going to fight for her. She’s mine.”
“Well, there’s the door,” Arthur said, laughing.
David smiled wider and went outside to show Death he wasn’t going anywhere.
Jane groaned at the sight of Death’s smile. She wasn’t happy with her progress, and her audience made her feel even more humiliated. When they had started, she had definitely felt a hold on Death, but it wasn’t strong enough to pull him. There’d been a moment she had made him stumble, a big step, but she had never been a patient person. The fact she had already performed more impressive feats without knowing what she had been doing discouraged her.
At the sound of the back door opening, she watched Death’s expression harden. It didn’t take her long to understand why. David was back.
Anticipation and worry overwhelmed her thoughts, but she couldn’t stop herself from turning to look at him.
He was just as glorious as the last time she’d seen him. His black hair blew in the slight breeze as he passed Sorrow. She admired how strong and confident he appeared, and she was happy he didn’t seem as down as he had been.
His sapphire eyes suddenly connected with hers.
Jane gasped and her heart beat harder. She couldn’t look away from him and felt nothing but the urge to have him with her. He was staring at her as if she was all he could see and there was no hate or anger. Then he smiled.
Before she realized what had happened, his body collided with hers. She yelped, falling, but he caught her with one hand behind her back as his other hand smacked the ground. She looked up at him as he loomed over her. She had gripped his wide shoulders to steady herself and his thigh was between her legs.
David chuckled. “Well, that was fun.” She couldn’t speak. He smiled and, still holding them off the ground in a one-handed pushup position, pulled her closer. “I think you know how to use that ability now.”
“Huh?” was her brilliant response.
He smiled wider.
“David.” Death’s voice was like a bucket of ice water down her back. “Glad to see you made yourself useful…You looked ridiculous flying through the air, by the way.”
David chuckled and stood, pulling her up with him. “Well, it looked like you couldn’t progress any further with her.” He smiled, and she found the smug smirk on his lips incredibly attractive.
Jane knew they were taunting each other and was about to speak, but David’s hand held the nape of her neck now, burning her skin. My thighs are sweating.
“I figured she might need a different partner to find what she needed.” David’s fingers slid back and forth behind her neck as his other hand spread out against the small of her back, pulling her close. “I must have been right.”
Death let out a low growl, and Sorrow snorted, stomping his hooves in the dirt. Jane tried to turn in her angel’s direction, but David’s soothing touch distracted her and he pulled her closer.
She sighed; she fit against him like a puzzle piece.
“Perhaps,” Death said. “But I think she could use a break. She might benefit from watching some swordplay, though. What do you say? Feel like playing around with Death?”
David smiled, then lowered his face to softly kiss her forehead. She sighed again, not aware of how she swayed toward him. This is nice. She wanted to stay just like this.
David straightened. “Well, I came out all right the last time.”
“Finally recalled your own near-me experience, I see.” Death chuckled at his own joke. “Let’s see if you fare better in this fight—because next time you receive a fatal wound, I might not find you worthy of a second chance. Or her heart.”
“Death!” she said, coming out of her blissful state. She didn’t want David hurting further.
David smiled down at her. “God doesn’t make mistakes. But He expects patience.” Her mouth fell open. “Don’t worry about me, baby. I can handle whatever obstacles are thrown at me.”
She stared at him, not really sure what to say.
“Jane,” Death said. “Go watch with Tristan. Let’s see what your boy’s got in him.” She slowly pulled away from David, feeling the heat slowly fade. Her eyes met Death’s, and he smiled. “It’s all right, Sweet Jane, I want to see him in a real fight. Go take a break.”
She was going to argue, but she knew Death was agitated, and she needed to get away from David anyway. He was making her feel too much, and she felt like an absolute idiot for making him fly into her. She probably would have laughed seeing it, but the fact she did it made her want to hide. Could I have been any more obvious? She gave David a shy smile before quickly walking away.
As she stood beside Tristan, Gareth came to her side. He grinned and slung his arm over her shoulder, squeezing her gently, just like he had done when they first met. “Hello, darling.” She nearly cried from happiness. He was smiling like nothing was wrong. Her joy had to be put on hold, though, so she gave him a quick smile and turned just in time to see David pull his impressive sword.
Death had a dangerous glint in his eyes but so did David.
“This is going to be awesome,” Gareth whispered excitedly to Tristan.
Jane shifted her gaze between both men and wasn’t at all relieved when Death winked at her.
She looked at David who wore a confident smile. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’ll behave.”
Death chuckled darkly, then a huge scythe appeared in his hand. Jane gasped, admiring it as Death expertly twirled it before pointing it at David’s sword. “Look, babe. Mine’s bigger than his.”
Jane glanced at David’s sword. “Only a little bit. I like his.”
David laughed, and she blushed hearing the others chuckling beside her.
I’m such a dumb girl!
Death chuckled and held out his scythe. It ignited in bright green flames and transformed into a sword, very similar to the one David owned.
“Wow,” she whispered.
“I know,” Death said as David shot him an annoyed look. “She likes mine, too.”
“Death,” she said, wanting to cover her face. She knew it was bright red.
He smirked. “I’m playing fair.” She shook her head, seeing the teasing gleam in his eyes. He smirked and nodded to David. “Ready to fight for her?”
David twirled his sword and nodded. “Always.”
A STRONG HAND carefully unclenched Jane’s fist. Her fingernails had already cut into her palm, but the wounds sealed within seconds. As she glanced up, she smiled softly at Gawain. His presence relieved some of her guilt but did little to soothe her anxiety for what was about to happen.
David and Death slowly circled each other, sizing each other up as they gripped their massive swords. The playful smiles did not hide their dislike for one another.
“I don’t mind if you use your scythe,” David said, not showing an ounce of fear for the angel who had a few inches of height on him.
Death grinned. “Let’s show Jane how to fight with her sword; then we’ll have some real fun.”
David smiled and twirled his sword, giving his opponent a slight nod. “Let’s hurry, then.”
Death’s dark chuckle echoed through the yard. No one moved or blinked. They all held their breath, waiting for the first strike to be delivered.
Her two protectors appeared relaxed as they matched each other, step for step. Their similar heights, build, and black hair, almost made them mirror images of each other. It was their eyes and smiles that ruined the illusion. David’s sexy smile under the faint blue glow from his sapphire eyes were met with a more mischievous, cocky smirk shrouded in emerald light.
Jane darted her eyes back and forth. This was a bad idea.
David squeezed the grip of his sword, causing the muscles in his arm to flex. It was a sexy as hell sight, but Jane was too worried to swoon over it. She sucked in a worried breath, expecting him to strike. But he didn’t.
; She glanced back to Death. Her angel met her gaze and smirked before licking his lips. His green eyes slid down her body, and she swore she felt his hands following the same path his eyes took. Her skin tingled in the most pleasant way, and she moaned without meaning to.
Death smiled at her, his emerald eyes flashing brightly, before he returned his attention to David.
She bit her quivering lip when David’s fierce gaze connected with hers for the briefest of moments. So many emotions were exchanged between them and guilt overwhelmed her at the hurt she saw in the dark-blue depths of his sapphire eyes.
Death let out an unfriendly chuckle that sent chills down her spine. David showed no fear and bared his fangs at the Angel of Death.
Death swung his sword right at David’s neck without any warning.
Jane gasped but David quickly dodged the attack and aimed his own strike to Death’s side.
Death blocked the attack as he looked David in the eye. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”
David pushed off with his blade and laughed. The menacing gleam had not left either of their gazes, but they looked more excited about the challenge the other offered now.
This time, David attacked first. He moved swiftly, unleashing a devastating series of strikes. Each swing of his sword displayed the immense power he held. His speed and strength combined well with his fluid movements. His blade was an extension of him. This was something David was made to do well. He was meant to be the best.
Wearing an amused smile, Death blocked each strike David delivered. Had he not been who he was, Jane didn’t doubt they would have resulted in injury or death. She believed David was the greatest of mankind’s warriors, but David was fighting Death—and Death was the ultimate badass. No one beat Death.
Jane watched her angel’s movements. She’d never seen him fight before. He moved more gracefully than David. Every attack and block appeared carefully calculated; almost foreseen. He radiated confidence and power. There was no question in his mind whether he would win or lose because he didn’t lose. He waited.
What worried her was that even waiting could result in devastating consequences for David.