by Azure Boone
Connie approached and Sally opened her mouth to ask what was going on, but Connie raised one hand in a signal for quiet, and motioned Sally to follow.
She allowed Connie to lead her through a door so low she had to duck. A match flared momentarily, then the light steadied as an oil lamp was lit and adjusted to reveal a small windowless room that held a desk and a shelf full of rolled papers.
"Welcome to my office." Connie poured dark liquid from a heavy ceramic pitcher into a pair of mugs, passing one to Sally. "Wine made here on the property." She lifted her mug to sip. "No doubt you have dozens of questions." She sat, spine straight, on the low stool before the desk, and motioned Sally to a straight back chair.
Sitting, Sally sipped the surprisingly good wine while her most immediate questions prioritized themselves in order of importance. "I was wondering when the first ride to town would be?" For Lisa's sake. She wanted to know.
Connie took another sip of her wine and smiled, setting her mug precisely atop a circular stain on the wood surface of her desk. "I said I knew you had questions. Not that I would answer them."
Sally's stomach tensed at her words. "What?"
Another of those smiles, followed by a soft knock at the door. It swung inward to admit a thousand year old nun carrying a tray. With frail movements, she deposited a beautifully polished wooden platter on the desk and lifted a finely woven cloth back to reveal a small selection of artisan cheeses and breads arranged around a shallow dish of dried fruits. Without speaking, eye contact, or otherwise acknowledging Sally and Connie, the nun backed out of the office and closed the door.
Connie gestured to the platter. "All completely produced here, beginning to end. Platter, cloth, cheese, bread, and fruit."
Sally couldn't care less but gave a nod. "Impressive. But why did you bring me back here?"
Connie smiled, her joy bubbly. "We have few needs with our simple life. God teaches us grace to abstain from idolatrous passions and other sins of the flesh." She placed a thin cheese slice between pieces of tender flat bread. "You're here so I can assess you further. Have some?" She tilted the platter toward Sally.
Sally's stomach chose that moment to voice its opinion with a loud growl. She'd have preferred to refuse the hospitality, but stubbornness would get her nothing but an emptier stomach. "Are you going to tell me what you're assessing me for?" She helped herself to the food.
"I wasn't. But I've decided you have what it takes." She paused for a sip of wine. "I'm going to let you meet our special visitor. He'll be here in a few hours."
Sally pushed back the little swell of pride at being chosen for something out of the ordinary. It wasn't as if she'd accomplished anything. "Who is it?"
The woman sighed dreamily and clasped her hands before her. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. But you'll meet him yourself in just a few hours." She stood. "Now, I'm sure you'd like to clean up from the ride and rest a little." She led the way back out to the large room.
****
Sally came to sprawled flat on her back and cold. Moaning, she started to turn to her side and pull the blanket up. Except she couldn't move. Her wrists and ankles were bound tightly with some material that cut into her flesh. Intense cold leached into her body from the hard surface beneath her.
"You were right." The masculine voice echoed. "She is indeed worthy. Prepare her."
"Glad to see you've made the right decision."
Jessie flew out of Lucian's embrace at the silky deep voice of the blue eyed man. She eyed the red guy, thinking he looked as uncomfortable as Lucian suddenly did. God. Was this really happening?
Jessie swallowed and decided it was a good idea to pray.
God? Are you there? Some kind of sign would be nice right now. Besides scary angel men. I want this to be true, I do, and probably not for good reasons. But if I'm losing my mind and somehow don't know, please wake me up. I don't want to go crazy God. I don't want to end up like Aunt Rita, please God.
"Jessie."
Jessie jerked to the blue man and stared into his eyes. Had he just spoken to her?
"I'm sorry you're frightened. Ooookay, he was speaking to her mind. But I need you to believe that this is real, as unorthodox as it is to you. You're not going crazy like your Aunt Rita. You have my word."
Another thought occurred to her. If you're an angel, why are you encouraging us to have sex before we're married? Isn't that a sin?
The marriage ceremony is for man, a way of claiming one another publicly, to let others know of the commitment between the two. All God needs is love between the two and acknowledgement of commitment, a solid vow to cleave unto one another—physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually—for as long as you live on this earth.
The entire concept seemed natural and right to Jessie. But did she love Lucian? Did he love her? Could they commit like that?
Oh. My. God. So it was all real. She could handle that. Right? As long as Lucian was there and…on board with it all. Her stomach flipped at what was required of them. Sex. It flipped three times with the memory that Lucian would do it even if it weren't required. That, somehow, seemed like the bigger miracle.
"Well," the blue angel said, lightly. "We'll…wait outside again while you two…"
"What?" This from an incredulous Lucian. All eyes turned to him. "Look, I get that this is important and shit, but no way am I doing it with her like that."
Jessie's heart cracked.
"You just agreed to—"
"Yes, I did, but I'm not going to do her like some slut in a crack deal. She deserves better. You said you have thirty days, and I plan on using as many as I can to make this meaningful for her. It's the least you can allow seeing as you've imposed such an intimate will on her."
Jessie couldn't stop her grin as she lowered her head. Wow. How frikn sweet was that? It didn't get any more heroic than a man standing up to an archangel for her. No way she could wait thirty days to have him. She wanted him yesterday as it was.
Jessie noticed the red angel grinning as well. He seemed much more understanding than the blue angel.
"Well…" the blue angel began, seeming at a loss for words, something he didn't seem accustomed to. "Very well. I shall make other preparations while you court her properly." He turned to the red angel and muttered. "Perhaps introducing them to your triumvirate would make this whole process a little less painful for all of us."
The one named Kassern grinned and nodded. "Happy to help with that brother."
****
"God, Troy, I'm going crazy in this hotel."
Heat prickled her skin as he wrote romantic messages on her stomach with his finger. "We'll be moving soon."
"To another fucking hotel, yeah." She flopped her leg until it untangled from the covers.
"Another fucking hotel?"
She giggled at him. "You sound so silly cursing."
He lifted her arm and bit along it gently. "You always mistake me for a saint."
She snickered. "Preacher, please." She slid her fingers in his thick sandy hair. "No mistake, I assure you."
He shook his head. "I'm not a saint." He bit harder and she squealed then followed with a moan at where he was headed with this. God, she loved when he got aggressive.
In one move he covered her body with his, letting his full weight rest on her. She burst out laughing. "Oh no, full weight attack."
Troy put a little angelic talent to use and in a flash had her legs open and arms pinned above her head. Things turned serious.
He grinned slowly. "That's better."
Her breaths came quick and heat pooled in her stomach. "Do it," she breathed.
He lowered his head and slid his lips over her shirt where her nipple was. "Do what?"
She arched her back. "You know…God that thing you do when…"
"Ohhh, you mean this."
Devyn gasped when his brilliant white warrior's robe covered him and he stared into her eyes with t
he red ruby eyes of their angel. "Yes. That."
She gasped again when a blade shot out of his sleeve and he rolled off and sliced her clothes off of her in one invisibly fast move. "Oh God, yes," she moaned when he mounted her again. He still wore the robe but that was it. His erection was hard and hot between her legs. "How…do you do that?"
"I just think it." His voice was deeper now.
"Your body is so hard and…hot and it…kinda vibrates when you're like this." She pumped her hips against his boiling erection and closed her eyes with a gasp. "I love it."
****
Troy loved it too. He loved giving her everything she wanted. In his warrior's form, he had no issues whatsoever with sexual technique. He understood perfection when seeing through the eyes of their angel. Not like he needed angel's eyes to see Devyn's perfection. But having the power to pleasure her with perfection was one of those things you wanted to repeatedly thank the Giver for.
"Turn over," he ordered.
She was already under desire's thick spell. She rolled onto her stomach and he slowly traced her spine with a red ruby nail. When he got to her lower back, he proceeded between her perfect butt cheeks. He loved her sweet little pleasure games she made him play.
"Open."
As he expected, she didn't obey the command.
Despite the fact that she held her legs tightly together, he easily pulled them apart, the warrior in him growling at her cry of defeat. He knelt between her legs and used his knees to open her wide. He slid one finger along her slit, barely touching, teasing. She squirmed her cute butt for it and it made him crazy with that perfect and volatile need. Troy had to pause and growled through it much like a woman breathes through labor pains.
"Put your arms above your head."
Again, she refused.
In one move, he impaled her mercilessly with his cock then just as quickly pulled back out. Her sharp cry of shocked pleasure turned to whimpers as her hips sought for his return. He teased along her slit with his shaft. Then he backed away. "I'll tease you all night, if I have to."
And he would.
She put her hands above her head. "Do me. Please."
He laid on top, pressing his weight into her. "Maybe." He let his cock slide between her tight ass cheeks and stroked slowly. "If you're good."
"I'll be good," she gasped.
"You've already been bad."
She moaned in torment, squirming her butt under him. He bit her shoulder until she cried out.
He slid her body up the bed. "Hold on tight."
She grabbed hold of the edge of the mattress and Troy knelt between her legs, his knees near the juncture of her thighs so he could keep them forced wide. He growled again in agony. She was perfect like this. He took five minutes to stroke her silky heat until she was begging and sorry for being bad.
He finally prepared to give her what they both wanted. Him buried inside her. Then pounding into her with that perfect abandon. He placed himself at her entrance and she gasped, lifting her head and looking over her shoulder. Together, he thrust in and fell upon her.
No mercy.
He held her arms down above her head and fucked her with a soul shattering passion, his thrusts quick and deep. She laid her head on the mattress and he placed his mouth on her cheek, loving to feel her gasps on his lips as she screamed, Troy! Yes, yes. If somebody ever asked him what the meaning of truth was, it was that. Troy, yes, yes.
Troy clenched his eyes at the blinding white light that always came from their orgasm. He felt Kassern groan as the power of their binding flowed into him as well, giving more desperately needed strength to their Triumvirate. Especially after he'd pissed Devyn off and they'd fought like five year olds, nearly blinding Kassern's angelic ability to sense danger.
When there was nothing but panting left, Troy rolled off and laid on his back next to her, the warrior receding. Devyn gasped and flopped onto her back next to him. "That. Was. Amazing."
"God yes," Troy muttered. "And Kassern needs to talk to us. Dorn's couple kissed and…" Troy focused on the silent message, practicing the mind link with Kassern. "…something about needing our help." He finally rolled onto his side and pulled Devyn into his arms. "Kiss me," he whispered. "I need your tenderness after you rape me."
"Me!" she laughed, kissing him.
"Mmm. You always make me do naughty things to you."
She mmm'd back. "And you always do it."
"Because I'm a fucking saint."
Her laughter made him feel like a champion as Troy snuggled his face into her breasts.
Lucian stared down at Jessie, wondering if she was as close to flipping out as he was.
"I know, it's insane." She seemed to read him.
"Let's sit. Please."
Lucian led Jessie to the couch and they sat inches apart. He put his elbows on his knees while Jessie sat back. He finally glanced over his shoulder at her. "Look. I don't want you to feel pressured into anything—"
"I'm not." She shook her head emphatically and his gaze lowered to her lips. They tilted with a suppressed joy he thought. Was she really that happy about it? So hard to imagine. Not for him, he was surprisingly thrilled. After fucking women just for the sake of making a "normal man" statement, he'd given up on feeling any other way. But what he surely did feel was dirty and unworthy of her.
He sat back next to her.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He looked at her. "For what?"
"For caring like you do. About me."
His heart raced as she slipped her hand in his. He liked the contrast. In both color and size. She was so pure, delicate. "I really like you, you're different. In a very good way." Love was the expression he found in his mind and on his tongue, like an elementary boy with extreme infatuation. He soon forgot about language and its meaning when she brought their joined hands to her lips. His racing heart turned to hammering when she kissed his hand. Once. Twice…a third…a fourth. He tried to recall anything ever exciting him so much as he focused on her lips and how they looked and felt pressed into his skin. Images of her lips on various…parts of his body brought a shaky breath out of him.
He froze when she slowly climbed into his lap and sat facing him. An odd fear took hold of his body. The kind you might have when handling priceless artifacts. His hands found their home on her perfect waist and again, the contrast excited him.
He was more than happy to let her lead him. It only took her tracing his jaw with a finger then down his neck to get him painfully aroused. "I want to see your tattoo again." The heat in her tone said this wouldn't end with merely seeing. And he didn't mind if she were in control.
She lifted the hem of his shirt and Lucian helped, extremely thankful for the unfortunate OCD he had with working out. His body was in impeccable form. He put his arms on the back of the couch so she could see it better.
"Ohhhh wow," she whispered.
The tattoo covered nearly his entire front and back, the image of the broken male angel ran along his right side, from Lucian's hip to hairline, one bloodied wing covered his front and the other his back, embracing him, owning him. A single black tear of broken fury, dripped onto Lucian's heart.
"He's beautiful." She traced the feathers on the wings along his chest and Lucian hissed when the tip of her finger brushed over the nipple that bore the angel's tear. Her eyes raised to his, hesitant and timid. "Just like you."
She captured her lower lip in an erotic gesture and fire erupted in his veins. He sat there, frozen in painful need to touch her and be touched. But he feared if he moved, he'd devour her. And although the suggestion in her face nearly dared him, he was too afraid to test it.
She reached for the hem of her own blouse and removed it. Lucian felt drugged, his eyes weighted, breath too labored as they fixated on her full, white lace-covered breasts. As though seeing the dysfunction of his body parts, she took his hands and placed them on her chest. The second he connected wit
h her exquisite softness, he was lost in heaven. He gently squeezed, weighed, traced her shape with his fingers and hand. Her eyes rolled shut with a gasp when he brushed her hardened nipples with his palms. He loved the sound so much, he couldn't stop. He continued the tormenting friction, enraptured with her body's response, watching her back arch and her hips undulate, inches from his erection.
Without thought, he moved his hands down to her hips and pulled her onto it. The pleasure was so intense that he dropped his head back and ground her onto his thrust. She cried out but there was no fear in the sound. And the saints help him, he wouldn't be satisfied until her cries came harder, louder, faster, with his name among the syllables of her sweet desire.
Her hips squirmed more in his hands and her nails bit into his shoulders, driving him toward a feral frenzy that would make her his none too gently. Lucian leaned and took her lace covered nipple between his lips then shuddered as she raked his scalp with demanding fingers, pushing more of herself into his mouth. With a gasp, he moved to the other breast, wanting to know her completely, her feel, her size, her plump nipple between his teeth and lips, the change in her cries at various administrations. She liked to be nibbled the most and Lucian obliged, wanting very much to bite while he slid his hands up her back, and latched onto her shoulders, pulling her harder against his bursting need.
She grasped his face and pulled his lips to hers and kissed him with breathless precision. "I want to taste you."
Lucian's entire body jerked from those burning words on his lips. He couldn't even think, he could only feel as he watched her rain passionate kisses slowly down his body, her nails and erect nipples marking him with desire along his abs. Her pale fingers trembled as she undid his jeans and still he could only grip the couch like a petrified adolescent, even forgetting to breathe.