by Azure Boone
****
Devyn's body felt like it was going to explode. Troy's mouth on her nipple was beyond her ability to comprehend. A touch that would have brought only discomfort with someone else drove her to the very edge of sanity with Troy. Every flick of his tongue sent heat blasting through her, to pool between her legs.
With his mouth on one nipple, his hand on the other, he maneuvered her sideways, until she stood in front of the sink. Her reflection in the mirror was nearly unrecognizable, with kiss-swollen lips, flushed cheeks and passion-glazed eyes so dark they could be mistaken for black.
Troy noticed her preoccupation and glanced to see what had her attention. He went still for a moment, then turned his attention back to her nipple. His hands on her hips guided her as he changed their positions so Devyn's side was to the mirror while he faced it.
He drew his mouth back from her nipple a little. "Look in the mirror, Devyn."
She complied, the air leaving her lungs in a rush when he met her gaze in the mirror. His tongue flicked out to barely touch the tip of her nipple. Her reflexive moan drew a half smile to his lips before he continued to tease her. Watching his mouth do things to her breasts that she'd never imagined made her want so much more.
Every spare moment since they'd first made love had been spent replaying every sensation and response, in her head. Maybe the idea of women really getting off during sex wasn't so far-fetched after all. It certainly didn't mean it would ever happen to her again. But God, she wanted it to.
Troy raked the edge of his teeth across her nipple with excruciating gentleness, bringing her full attention back to his actions. He continued teasing her with his mouth, while his hands squeezed her ass.
His left hand slid up her spine, pausing to caress and massage muscles she hadn't even noticed were tired. At the same time, he skimmed his right hand under her breasts, then down over her belly to pause just under her navel, right where a baby would grow, if that ever happened for her.
Devyn gasped, eyes going wide. Such a thought was the closest thing to blasphemy for a woman like her, and she'd never thought of pregnancy in any other light than sheer terror at the first hint of a late period. At her back, the caresses slid further down, to the upper curve of her ass, nestling between her cheeks to insist she stop thinking.
Troy took a deep breath, the air cooling her moist skin, and let his fingers slip down to graze her pubic hair. Thoughts fled as she trembled in response, her inner muscles tightening and creating friction within her. Tender fingers parted sensitive folds and slid between. One fingertip brushed across her clit. It hardened, pulsing and ready for more stimulation, making Devyn's breath hitch in response.
Desire parted her thighs to give Troy better access to her body's secrets, and he took full advantage. Wet heat built as he slid his finger further back and teased her opening with the calloused tip. By the time he complied with her silent pleas and allowed his finger to probe inside her, her entire body quivered. Fiery sparks followed his lips down her belly, lingering at various landmarks – the notch of her ribs, the edge of her belly button, the lower curve her ribs, the hollow inside her hip-bone. Those little sojourns of tongue and lips left Devyn panting with want. When he finally teased down the crease of her thigh to her outer lips, she whimpered, hips rocking in reflex.
Gentle but firm hands on her hips maneuvered her around so the lower curve of her ass rested on the edge of the sink. One hand went behind her knee to lift her leg, propping her heel on his shoulder.
A moment of shyness struck, leaving her uncomfortable with the position. The vulnerability of being open to his gaze, her secrets on display, went against every self-preservative instinct. Troy growled then, like a predator with a prize warning others away, repelling even her fear. The protective sound assured her that he would tolerate no harm to her, and she once more relaxed and submitted freely.
Sweeping his tongue up her slit, he moaned, and brought his fingers up to spread her lips, exposing her clit to his caresses. Flicks so light she could barely feel them at first buzzed across her clit. Seeking more, she thrust against his mouth, whimpering in a vague attempt to communicate her need. He apparently understood, slipping his finger back inside her, gasping when her muscles clenched and dragged it in further. His tongue flattened against her clit with a massaging motion, while his free hand moved up the back of her thigh to let his fingers explore the bottom of her ass.
A finger from the hand at her ass dipped forward for a brief plunge inside her, making her cry out in surprised pleasure. Apprehension seized her gut when the same finger, slick with her fluids, slipped back to apply gentle pressure against her puckered opening.
Other men had begged for that privilege. A few had tried to force the issue, and one had taken despite her objections. Troy set up a rhythm of gentle pressure and release, pulsing in time with his tongue on her clit and the finger inside her. It only took a moment for her apprehension to ease and the pleasure to intensify.
Tension coiled within her belly, promising an explosive release that continued to hover just out of reach. Seeming to sense frustration looming, Troy slid his finger from inside her and replaced it with his tongue, thrusting and dipping, carrying her across the plateau, and ratcheting her arousal up another notch.
Returning his tongue to her clit with a lighter touch, he slowly worked his finger back inside, applying pressure in creative patterns to her inner walls. He stroked the particularly sensitive area deep inside while he drew her clit between his lips and applied gentle pressure. His tongue began a rapid cycle that sent strobes of pleasure bolting through her pelvis.
A suddenly unbearable pressure centered between her hips, pulsed, then detonated. Her hands clutched helplessly in his hair, refusing to allow him to stop even if he'd wanted. Sharp cries echoed off the cracked tile of the bathroom until the explosions began to ease.
Troy stood, panting, his lips wet with her fluids, and shifted her position to bring her legs around his waist and allow the head of his hard-on to poise at her opening. Devyn lost no time tightening her legs to draw him inside, moaning as he slid in inch by inch. Stretched wide to receive his cock, her inner muscles danced around him.
Eyes closed, Troy leaned to claim her mouth in a hungry demand for everything she had to give. Surprised at the inoffensive taste of her own essence upon his lips, Devyn returned his kiss with equal hunger. The rhythm of his thrusts grew increasingly urgent until her head fell backward, changing the angle of penetration just slightly.
Following a slight pause in timing, his pace increased to a frenzy until he plunged into her one last time with a roar, and froze, quivering, while his volcanic heat erupted into her. Pushed over the precipice by his orgasm, Devyn arched further, her legs pulling him deeper, while her inner muscles cascaded into spasms that milked him furiously.
Collapsed against Troy's chest, trying to catch her breath, Devyn shuddered in the aftermath. Had she really just come? Again? So much for her theory of it being a rare occurrence.
Still breathing hard, Troy bent and swung her into his arms, drawing a surprised squeal from her. Trying not to laugh, he carried her through to the bed and deposited her gently. "Need anything? I'm going to check on Karly and Kassern, and take them some pizza."
Devyn shook her head. "I'm good."
He leaned and tasted her lips. "You certainly are." Grinning at his own corny joke, he rose and went back to the bathroom. Seconds later he returned, pulling up his jeans, shirt hung over his shoulder. At the connecting door, he tapped and dragged his shirt over his head while he waited for an answer.
Devyn watched, her mouth watering to taste his skin again. He frowned and knocked more firmly. Not waiting for an answer, he pushed the door open.
After a moment, he signaled for her to come. Was something wrong with Karly? Heart pounding, she jerked the sheet off the bed and wrapped it around her instead of taking the time to get dressed. Careful not to stumble, she darted into the nex
t room.
Somehow, Kassern managed to appear even larger lying in the bed than he did while standing, despite the gauntness of his face and chest. His normal pallor had deepened, leaving spots of high color on each cheekbone and dark smudges below his eyes while his stern mouth looked unnaturally red.
Perhaps even more surprising, Karly lay atop him with her head resting on the powerfully muscled chest, silky hair spilling across his shoulder. One heavy arm lay about delicate shoulders, apparently holding her in place. Most of her injuries had faded, leaving nearly healed bruises and fresh pink scars.
How the hell? Or maybe what the hell?
Kassern opened one eyelid just a crack and scowled. "About damn time." His voice sounded painfully hoarse. He stroked the back of Karly's head for a quiet moment, then gently shook her awake. "You need to eat."
Karly sat up disoriented. Until her eyes landed on her red giant. She could hardly believe he was real. She'd remembered a commotion had distracted the bastards helping Jake kill her, remembered being roused from the pain and drug-induced stupor she'd lain in. Through narrow slits of her battered eyes, she'd seen him, had even been afraid he was there to add to her torment. But then the giant had grabbed Jake's right hand, still swollen where she'd managed to drive a fork deep into the side of his palm and the next thing she knew, blood began to fly and the sound of a knife repeatedly tearing flesh had consumed her.
She remembered how words accompanied each blow. "…Hit your mother… Took the last dollar a mother had to feed her child…Stole from the woman who protected you…Introduced children to drugs and violence…" Karly'd thought she must've died, because it sounded as if Jake and his boys were being accused of their crimes, judged guilty, and punished, all at the same time. Like the giant was some kind of avenging angel or something.
She'd passed out and when she finally managed to open her eyes again, the bloody giant freed her from her restraints with a touch, lifted her gently, and carried her safely out of hell.
With a moan, Karly shifted to sit on the bed at his side, while looking around. Troy offered her the pizza box. As hungry as she was, she wanted to cram the food and get back to snuggling next to this man who'd calmed her with strange words when she found herself trapped in the nightmare of Jake. This man who smelled of things not of this world and made her feel eternally safe.
****
Kassern woke with two things on his mind. Figure out when and where to move the triumvirate. And Karly. But only one of those thoughts troubled him. And it had little to do with the triumvirate. Without looking, he felt her, once again nestled all soft and warm into the length of his body.
He’d been in and out of sleep for a while. She’d eaten again, showered, then reclaimed her spot exactly next to him, molding his body to hers with a complex operation of wriggles and squirms, alternated with delicious temptations begging for a hand to rest on them.
Convincing himself he actually needed to get up, and leave the guilty pleasure of having her snuggled up to him took longer than it should have. Sighing with regret he shouldn't, couldn't, feel, Kassern carefully removed her limbs from his body. More like tentacles with suction cups.
He froze when Karly stirred. Her leg locked around his and her arms re-attached to him. A disturbing noise purred up her throat as her fingers stroked over his bare chest and sent mini-shockwaves racing over his skin.
Angelic speed launched him from the bed, heart pounding.
Karly stared up at him, fully waken from the jolt. Kassern noted her clear blue eyes held that new hope and pure joy one experiences after being touched by an angel. But then her gaze lowered to his chest and the color that filled her cheeks had little to do with angelic touches.
Before Kassern could finish thinking he needed covering, a red T-shirt materialized on his body.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
She nodded, chewing her lower lip. “I feel…amazing actually.”
Kassern couldn’t resist the wave of relief that washed over him. After she'd been so brutalized by those animals, she deserved to feel good. The memory of what they’d done and how that made him feel plagued him.
That was nothing compared to the memory of how he healed her, though. Why did he have to go to such an extreme? She’d needed physical comfort, that’s why. She was near dead, that’s why. She was utterly broken in every way imaginable – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually – that’s why.
So why did he have the overwhelming urge to punch a hole through the cement walls?
Maybe because normally he would’ve healed her with just one finger, not his entire body.
That bastard, Uriel kind of neglected to mention this extremely distracting part of the triumvirate exchange. How was he supposed to accomplish the mission while managing his new humanity? Felt like he’d picked up a terribly nasty disease and the urge to get clean of it crawled over his skin.
“Thank you,” Karly whispered.
Her words were barely audible but Kassern felt every syllable through his bones. Maybe his angelic hearing was returning to normal. Thank Father.
A knock on the outside door extinguished that hope. Not only had Kassern not heard anybody approaching, but he couldn’t even sense who or what waited at the door. He quickly dressed for company; floor length cloak created from a mesh of small cut rubies set in titanium chain mail cloth, matching jeans with nearly microscopic rubies, sword-feathers ready.
He cocked his head and listened.
All he got was the beat of Karly’s pulse drumming in his head. Damn, these fluctuations in his powers were dangerous. How long were they supposed to last? And why didn’t he know that answer? More importantly, why had Uriel not warned him of the possibility? That was some thorough research Uriel had performed, if he'd revealed all his results..
Kassern glanced at Karly, huddled in the middle of the bed, covers clutched under her chin. Terror pumped off her like sonic waves. He brought one finger to his lips, signaling her to silence. Her wide clear eyes remained riveted on the door as she gave a rapid nod.
Troy and Devyn crept in from the adjoining room. They knew something. And he didn’t? Troy pointed to the door and shook his head, hurrying Devyn toward him. “Something’s wrong.” His voice was barely perceptible next to Karly’s blaring heart still beating through his head and body.
It was good Troy had gained some of his powers but Kassern sure as hell didn’t appreciate his end. Like they’d entered through the triumvirate gate and exited out a hellish celestial blender, being parts all wrong.
Karly's magnetic pull on him demanded his feet back toward the bed, and her.
Another hard knock and Karly flew off the bed and ran behind him, clutching at his cloak like a toddler clutching its mother's skirt. His right hand reached for her, needing to calm her. At his touch, her heart rate slowed. But a touch wasn’t enough for Kassern. He pressed her close and yet needed her closer.
Kassern felt Devyn’s curious gaze lock on him. She hurried to Karly, prying her off. Hopefully Devyn sensed his predicament, pulled between the need to stay at Karly's side, and the need to investigate and protect them all. At Karly's wordless protest, Kassern was nearly floored by the urge to inflict pain on whatever or whomever made her uncomfortable. Fuck, this was bad.
Troy stood before Devyn, his concerned gaze ranging from Kassern to the door.
The outside door imploded inward with a spray of bullets.
With the flick of a finger, Kassern threw up a ruby wall to shield them, and Troy spun toward Devyn and Karly. Flames crawled along Kassern's wings as he stepped through his shield to meet his prey.
A heavy jolt hit square in his chest and slammed him through the hotel wall leaving him stunned. On his feet instantly, he gripped his weapon of choice for close range – a custom automatic handgun in his right hand, and his staff in the left, while his ruby gaze zeroed in on the one who’d blasted him.
What the hell was he? Ka
ssern slowly circled toward Troy where he hovered over Devyn and Karly. Careful, he looked over the normal-seeming human with the colorless eyes. Maybe not human.
Or maybe human under serious influence. But of what? Kassern didn’t like not knowing that answer.
“Move! She’s mine. I’m going to kill that bitch.” The familiar voice approached the door, and Kassern’s blood boiled. Jake. How the hell was that scum still alive?
Kassern blasted his gun into the little group at the door while somersaulting himself above the expected return fire.
Before landing, Kassern used his staff to slam for the strange one, but he disappeared. Kassern spun the staff behind him, satisfied with the nice crunch when it connected with flesh.
Fingers bit into Kassern’s neck and he jerked to find Jake's eyes glaring into his with otherworldly fury.
Flashes of Karly in that bed hit Kassern. Using his wings, he deflected the bullets of raw power being torpedoed from the odd one behind him.
He latched his own hand on the jugular of the bastard before him. Pain erupted in Kassern’s neck when Jake’s fingers shot out bladed fingernails.
Kassern hissed, exhaling a mist of burning lava onto Jakes face. The pain in his neck persisted as Jake thrashed in agony.
Jake slammed his clawed hand into Kassern’s abdomen and let out a demonic roar when his bones shattered against ruby armor.
The other being released a sonic boom of power that rocketed Kassern and Jake outside. Karly screamed, raising an oddly powerful bloodlust in Kassern. He formed treble hooks from the fingernails latched to Jakes throat. One yank and Kassern dropped the lifeless body.
Tossing the bloody chunk of jugular, Kassern spun toward Karly’s screams. A bright light covered the three of them. Troy and Devyn’s combined powers. Thank Father.