Defuse (Infernal Council Book 2)

by Maya Nicole

  I turned and gripped the edge of the door. Her eyes were red rimmed and her face was puffy. My resolve to shut the door on her vanished.

  "Are you coming in or not?" The better question for me to ask was 'why are you standing outside my door?'

  I knew she didn't like to sleep alone, but I wasn't exactly one of her boyfriends. If that's what they even were. I still didn't understand how all of them were just okay with sharing her. How did the sex even work? Would a color-coded schedule be hung on the refrigerator? Was it first come, first served, like a buffet?

  A small part of me rejoiced over the fact that she came to my door and not Val's and Amari's. Kage had refused a room, hell if I knew where he slept. Did brownies even sleep or did they spend all night cleaning?

  The place looked pretty damn clean to me.

  She walked in without a word and sat on the edge of my bed. She played with the hem of her top, and I groaned inside my head. It was little things like that, that women didn't know drove us wild.

  Was she playing with the hem of her shirt because she was thinking about taking it off? Was she playing with it because she was turned on and hoped I'd take it off? Or the worst, was it because she was about to burst into tears?

  I had a nagging feeling it was the latter.

  "Is it all right if I sleep in here tonight?" Her voice was soft and unsure, completely unlike her.

  I didn't like it. Not one bit. I liked her feistiness toward me. It kept me on my toes.

  "Are your tentacles safely tucked away?" I tried to lighten the mood, but my joke fell short. In fact, it was lying on the floor like an undercooked wet noodle.

  "I just…" She brought her hand to her mouth and covered it. My heart stuttered in my chest and I sat down next to her. I put an arm around her shoulders and she let the sobs that she was holding in escape. "He's my best friend."

  I rubbed her arm and pulled her closer to me. Her hand went to my leg and her head rested on my shoulder. We sat in silence for a while, besides the sounds of her sniffling.

  After what seemed like an eternity, she stood. She wiped her face with the hem of the shirt, revealing she was wearing only black lace panties. No shorts.

  Fuck me ten ways to Sunday and call me father.

  I bit my tongue and resisted the urge to reach out and run my hand over the smooth porcelain skin of her legs. Her legs were the kind that men wrote novels about. I could picture them wrapped around my waist, wrapped around my neck. Fuck me, she was glorious.

  Instead of giving into my urges to bury myself between said legs, I went to my bag and grabbed a pair of boxers I had brought. I hated underwear, but they were necessary given the circumstances.

  I slipped them on underneath the towel and then let it drop to the floor. She was watching me in the faint light from the lamp on my side of the bed. I cocked an eyebrow at her and she shrugged.

  I chuckled and slid between the sheets next to her. "Do you want me to hold you?" I turned on my side so I was facing her. "I'm pretty good at cuddling. Solid chest, warmth, soothing touches."

  She was staring at the ceiling as if it held all the answers. She had tear stains on her cheek. I didn't want her to cry anymore, and I didn't know what to do with that epiphany.

  "My tentacles might touch you." She turned her head and my lips parted, words failing me. She was exquisite as the corners of her mouth turned up slightly and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Her hair spread across the pillow in a fan of purple.

  I swallowed the sudden emotion that began strangling me. "I think I can fend them off. My trusty sword is quite strong." It was such a juvenile thing to say but it made her lips turn up even more.

  "Your trusty sword?" She scooted toward me and then rolled over so her back was to me. I threw an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, careful that my cock didn't bump into her ass. I would make no guarantees that, once we were asleep, that it wouldn't intrude on her space.

  I reached behind me and turned off the bedside lamp and the room went dark, besides the faint light of the moon coming through the window.

  Her breathing was shaky as I stroked my thumb back and forth over her stomach. I desperately wanted to slip my hand underneath her shirt, but needed to keep things friendly between us. Not only for her sake, but mine.

  The last thing I needed was to go and fall for her.

  "He finally gave in to me the other night." Her voice was soft, and if I didn't have superior hearing, I probably would never have heard her words. "He finally let go and made love to me." A small laugh left her. "Well, maybe it wasn't exactly lovemaking. It was almost a century of repressed sexual desire."

  Why was she telling me this? I desperately hoped she wasn't about to go into details about her ‘lovemaking.’

  She covered my hand with hers. "Kage also kissed me."

  "Did he really?" I was surprised and a little jealous. He was so nervous all the time, how did he get enough balls to kiss her? I didn't even think I had enough balls to kiss her.

  Not that I wanted to.

  It sounded like she had enough men kissing her at the moment.

  "I feel safer, if that makes any sense." She laughed. "Plus, the opportunity is there. Why would I say no to more than one strapping young fellow."

  "It does make sense given your circumstances, I guess. I just worry about some of their motives... especially Val. Have you been in a relationship with more than one man before?"

  It seemed way too complicated to me, but maybe here it was the norm instead of the exception.

  On Earth, having more than one man might actually be more work for the woman. Instead of one man-child to take care of, a woman would have several. Monday Night Football would be painful. The strain on the septic system alone might be enough of a deterrent.

  "No. I tend to distance myself from relationships of the romantic variety. I needed to stay unknown, and letting someone in like that just wasn't in the cards. Nico knew who I was and what the lightning had done since day one." She scooted her ass back and it hit my crotch. My dick twitched and I stiffened.

  "I'm not sure if I can trust Val."

  How could she even formulate coherent thoughts when the crack of her ass was lined up perfectly with my dick that was starting to come to life? One wiggle and he'd be a happy camper.

  "He fucked up. I don't trust any of you, so I can't tell you if you should cut him some slack. The question is, will your feelings for him allow you to move on from his lies, or will you let what he did destroy what you feel for him?"

  "You don't trust me, but you let me in your bed," she deadpanned. "Three times."

  She had a point. Maybe part of me did trust her, but I also didn't know if I'd wake up the next morning with half of my blood drained to find out a massive horde of demons had gone to Earth.

  Angels were still cleaning up the mess from thousands getting through weeks ago.

  I didn't respond, and instead, put my face in her hair. I didn't even want to ask her why she smelled like my soap.

  Chapter 4

  Samara

  I couldn't sleep, even with Raphael's warm arm wrapped around me and his face buried in my hair. It was a comfortable feeling of safety. I felt that if something were to come at me, Raphael would protect me.

  Even if he did fear me.

  My mind was on Nico, or the shell that was once him. If the archangel of healing couldn't help him, no one could. How was Taylor making vacants if he was a dream demon? Was he harnessing the light he stole from them, or something else entirely?

  If it was something else, could they be saved?

  I focused on Raphael breathing behind me and threaded my fingers through his. I didn't understand what I was feeling toward all these men. It was like I had known them all my life and just wanted them near. I wasn't opposed to the idea of having strong men surrounding me. The only drawback was that it would exponentially increase the odds of my heart being shattered.

  I turned over in his arms and stared at his sl
eeping face. His eyes moved under his eyelids and I gently touched one of them with my fingertip.

  This man, this human angel, was way too good-looking for his own good. I didn't want to be attracted to him. Hell, I was already attracted to four others. I didn't want to explore the deep-seated reason why.

  Maybe I was turning into a succubus. It wouldn't be the first occurrence of a demon transitioning to one.

  I moved my fingertips along his jaw. The hair tickled and I smiled, wondering if he was going to wake up and catch me staring at him.

  His joking about tentacles was probably his way of pushing me away. Whenever we were in the same room together, his eyes were on me. A man didn't look at a woman like that if he thought she had pussy tentacles.

  Although, tentacles could be pleasurable if he opened his mind to them. I snorted back the laugh that threatened to burst free.

  "You're watching me sleep." He didn't open his eyes and I moved my fingertips to his lips. They were incredibly soft. "That's not creepy at all."

  I bit my lip, feeling guilty about touching another man when Nico was doing who knows what in the basement. Would I ever get to touch or kiss his lips again?

  Raphael's eyes opened and his eyes dropped to mine. He didn't move to touch me, but he let me explore more of his face.

  "Do you want me to put you to sleep?" His lids were half closed, but in the faint light they appeared darker.

  I shook my head and moved my hand down to his collarbone, running my fingers lightly across it. He shut his eyes and frowned. "You're too emotional to make a decision to sleep with me right now."

  I put my hand on his chest, brushing my thumb under his nipple. He sucked in air between his teeth. "What I need is a distraction. I am centuries old. I don't need a man to tell me what I need and don't need."

  "And how is that fair to me? Being your distraction?" I was taken aback by the hurt in his voice and removed my hand from his chest. He grabbed it and put it back, this time over his nipple. It hardened under my touch. "If the roles were reversed, would you be okay with it?"

  I chewed on my bottom lip, pondering the scenario. Would I be okay if one of them wanted to be with other women? Multiple other women? My blood boiled at the thought.

  "That's what I thought. I can't be your distraction. As much as I want to be." He patted my hand like I was his sister or some shit.

  I rolled back over and he wrapped his arm back around me. A light flashed on the wall and I sat up abruptly. I looked toward the window, panic causing my chest to tighten.

  There couldn't already be another storm. They didn't come that frequently. Another flash of lightning lit up the night sky and a whimper escaped my lips.

  Raphael stood and went to the window, glancing outside. He turned and looked at me.

  "You have to stop me." I sat on the edge of the bed, my leg bouncing with worry.

  "How do I stop you? You were pretty fucking strong trying to get to the last storm." He went to the door and locked it. That wasn't going to do shit.

  "Not enough." I clenched the sheets. I had seconds, maybe minutes before the pull started.

  He pushed the dresser in front of the door and looked at me with raised eyebrows in silent question. I looked to the two windows in the room and shook my head.

  Nico and I had never been anywhere that had a second floor when a storm hit. I wouldn't put it past my entranced-self to jump from the window to get to the storm.

  He checked to make sure the windows were locked and then stood in front of me, placing his hands on my shoulders. "It's going to be okay. I'm strong."

  I rolled my eyes and a small giggle escaped. "Stop. This is serious."

  "I was being serious." He frowned down at me, and then in one swift move, his wings exploded from his back and he wrapped them around me.

  I squealed as we fell onto the bed together, his wings cocooning us both. My hands rested on his chest and I lowered my head to rest on his shoulder. "I'm going to hurt you."

  He snorted and wrapped his arms tighter around me. "I'm the archangel of healing. I heal immediately."

  "Well, aren't you just special." I shifted on top of him and he grunted as my thigh brushed his erection. I had felt it before against my ass, and there it was again. "Sorry."

  It was dark wrapped inside his wings and quiet besides the sounds of our breathing. I could barely hear the crack of thunder through the thick feathers.

  "Do you think we can save Nico?" I whispered.

  I shut my eyes as he ran his fingers over my hair. I felt a similar wave of tiredness wash over me like the first time we met.

  "I'll keep trying for as long as you want me to."

  My brain barely processed his words before I passed out on top of him.

  "That motherfucker!" I sat up, clutching my chest as Val's voice boomed down the hallway. I heard a bang, like a door was slammed.

  The bedroom door was cracked open, and light poured in from the hall. I ran my fingers through my messy hair and slid from the bed, feeling well-rested.

  "I wouldn't g-go out there right now." Kage spoke quietly from a chair at a desk. There was a hint of laughter in his voice, like he was stopping himself from laughing.

  I jumped at the sound of his voice and turned toward him. He was invisible. "How long have you been there?"

  "Not long." I heard him move and he came to stand in front of me. He appeared and held out a small feather. I took it gingerly, as if it might break.

  What had happened with the storm?

  I jumped as another slamming door sounded down the hall. Kage covered his mouth with his hand and his brown eyes sparkled with... mischief.

  I narrowed my eyes and bit back a smile. "What did you do?" I crossed my arms over my chest. Kage's eyes followed the movement.

  The brownie was much more male than I thought. I would have never in a thousand years thought he would check out my boobs.

  "He offended m-m-me." A small smile played on his lips. "He got what he deserved."

  Just as I was about to ask him what he was talking about, the door was pushed open and he vanished in an instant

  "Where is he?" Val stomped in the room, rage written all over his features and his fangs protruding from his mouth. "I'm going to spill his blood all over the floor and then make him sit and watch it dry."

  Amari leaned against the doorframe, a grin spreading across his face. "You shouldn't have done anything and kept your damned mouth shut. You're the one who told me brownies can be naughty when provoked. You provoked him."

  I looked between them as Val stormed around the room, pulling the curtains back as if Kage would be hiding there.

  I wasn't completely sure what abilities Kage had while invisible. I could touch him if I knew where he was, and was fairly certain he could walk through walls.

  "A man doesn't put his hands on another man's underwear. It's wrong and creepy!" Val huffed and I snorted back a laugh. Val turned toward me and narrowed his eyes. "Where is he?"

  I held up my hands. "You're this pissed off over him touching your underwear? What if I wanted him to touch your underwear?"

  He scoffed and continued looking around the room as if Kage would suddenly reappear.

  "No. He's this pissed over what Kage did while he was sleeping." Amari laughed, but stopped when Val turned to glare at him. "It's funny. Who would have thought the guy had a sense of humor? Give him a break."

  "Give him a break? He violated me!" Val was beyond reason, the anger he felt taking over his rational side.

  I raised a brow and Amari gestured for me to follow him as he walked down the hall toward their bedroom. It was on the other side of the landing of the stairs and took up that entire side of the house.

  Amari pushed open the double doors and my eyes widened at what could only be described as a clothes explosion. There were clothes flung everywhere, and even some hanging from the ceiling. How did he get so many up there? Magic?

  A giggle burst out of me before I could help it.
"What the hell did you say to him?"

  My chest felt tight as I spotted what looked like every one of Val's socks hanging in neat rows from the ceiling. Nico would have gotten a kick out of seeing it. I squinted. It spelled fanger, whatever that meant.

  Val pushed past me, grumbling to himself, and began picking up his clothes that were scattered around the room. "Well, first, I put my underwear back the way I had them and then the cabrón made a noise of disgust, so I called him a stalker."

  "The drawer was meticulously organized and folded. I'd be a little pissed at you too. He was being nice and you just went and messed it up." I raised an eyebrow at Amari. There was much more to him than I previously thought.

  "I didn't ask him to touch my shit." Val stood with his hands on his hips, staring up at the ceiling. "How are those even stuck up there?"

  A hand took mine and squeezed. "An adhesive that s-softens with heat."

  Val lunged forward, and I stepped in between him and Kage, who was invisible, but very much there. "You need to calm down." I put my hands on his chest and looked into his stormy blue eyes. "Let's eat breakfast and clean this up later, okay?"

  He muttered under his breath and frowned. His anger seemed misplaced. When we were younger, he would have thought the prank was hilarious.

  We sat down at the breakfast table, Val still scowling. Amari patted his hand and then laughed when Val hissed at him. He didn't seem to mind a cranky vampire, he must have been used to it.

  I should have been the one used to it. I shut my eyes. I needed to stop rehashing what could have been, because it wasn't and never would be.

  I opened my eyes and steeled my jaw, ready to take on whatever Val was about to throw at us. "I'd like Kage to join us for breakfast. Are you going to be civil?" I gave Val a warning look and he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "You did deserve it. Consider it your repentance. That is what you want, right?"

  "What did I miss?" Raphael strode into the room looking like a wet dream. My body instantly reacted to him and I sat up straighter.