Releasing the Watcher: The Fallen Angel Trilogy #3

by Kim Loraine

  “Selah, stop,” Sariel warns, but his brother’s hand is already on mine.

  “Tell me, sweet one. What drove you here in the middle of the night, in the pouring rain?”

  “I…” My words catch in my throat as his eyes flare. “I can’t explain it. You’ll think I’m crazy.”

  His fingers drift to my cheek in a tender touch. “I will not. I can assure you.”

  “Adam…my…he’s acting so strange.” I shift from foot to foot, uncomfortable with what I’m about to say. “I think he’s been controlling me. I don’t know how else to say it. I tried to leave, but he wouldn’t let me.” Both angels stiffen and stare at each other as I continue. “He wasn’t keeping me chained up or anything. I just couldn’t make myself leave. I couldn’t remember why I wanted to, why I didn’t want him to touch me.”

  Tears spring to my eyes as flashes of him putting his hands on me makes nausea curl in my gut.

  “Sariel…can’t you sense it?” Gabriel asks over my head.

  Sariel’s warm hands cover my shoulders. “No…this can’t be possible.”

  “She’s been controlled by a Watcher. He’s claimed her. I’m sorry, brother.”

  Gabriel’s hand rests on my head, and darkness descends as I fall into unconsciousness.

  Present day, Seattle

  I can’t breathe. I’m blinded by the rage and despair, by the betrayal of a promise I’d counted on. She was supposed to be for me. I can’t understand how any of my brothers could have claimed her. As Gabriel reaches his hand out to her, fear lances my heart.

  “No!” I scream, desperate to keep her safe.

  She crumples, nearly hitting the floor before I catch her up in my arms. “What did you do?”

  Gabriel turns his gaze on me, pity filling his eyes. “She’s heard too much. I’ve sent her to sleep. But I will need to remove her memories. She’s susceptible to the Watcher’s control.”

  “You can’t. Not now.”

  He scoffs and rolls his eyes. “What would you have me do? Keep her here? Risk her life even further?”

  “Sending her out into the world with no knowledge of the danger puts her at more risk. Obviously, she’s already a target. I’m not going to let you do that to her.”

  My brother frowns. “You might be right. Fine. I’ll allow her to retain her memory, with the exception of me. But you have to keep her here. And you have to be willing to use your grace if need be.”

  I bristle at his words. “I’m not—”

  “I know you’ve been trying to stay human. But, brother, you have to do what is right, not what you want.”

  Holding her close, I risk a glance down at the thick, dark lashes resting on her cheeks, at the peaceful expression covering her brow. She deserves honesty and safety.

  “Fine.”

  I make my way toward the stairs, but a flare of power in my wings stops me.

  “Sariel…she cannot be claimed by you. Not now.” My ears pop as he blinks out of existence.

  Pain wrenches my heart as his warning replays in my head, but I only tighten my hold. She is mine. She has to be. But the longer I think about it, the worse my chest aches as the reality of the situation weighs on me.

  Settling her in my bed, I kneel beside her and press a kiss to her forehead. A hum of power curls in my body, making my back tingle and sting. Her clothes are still damp from the rain, and she shivers as she sleeps. Carefully, I pull her shirt over her head, slide the soft leggings down her hips, and peel away the damp cotton panties covering her. A rush of need hits me, but I push it aside as I draw the blankets over her and tuck them around her shivering form.

  “Hush, my love,” I murmur as I lay my palm on her chest and let my power unfurl. Closing my eyes, I send a pulse of grace through her body, working to cloak her presence from every angel other than me. It will work for now, but with my diminished abilities, the protection will fade sooner rather than later. She needs to stay safe, even if she won’t be mine.

  Giving in to my need, I climb into bed beside her and pull her chilled form against my warmth. She sighs and snuggles close, her trembling stopping almost instantly.

  My chest squeezes, and I fight the urge to wake her and slide between her legs.

  “Sariel,” she whispers in her sleep.

  Why? Why would He do this to me? I love her. I know it like I know Heaven exists. But another fallen has claimed her and that shouldn’t be possible if she’s mine.

  I drift to sleep with her in my arms, knowing as the old pistachio tree appears that this is all I’ll have with her. Dreams and stolen moments.

  I smell coffee…and bacon. Sitting up, I glance around the unfamiliar room. It takes a few beats before my brain catches up to my body and I remember I’m in Sariel’s home. Somehow I ended up in his bed. Naked.

  I stand on unsteady legs as I work to process the events of last night. Adam had gone out, left me with a suggestion to be waiting for him in bed when he returned. But, as I’d worked to regain my control, I had been able to put aside his influence and make a break for it. The only place I could think to go was to Sariel.

  Glancing around the room, I don’t see my clothes anywhere. I can’t walk around naked as the day I was born in this man’s home. A large, dark wood dresser sits against the far wall. Padding across the floor, I pull open the top drawer and find what I’d been hoping for inside. The soft, blue T-shirt hits me mid-thigh. It’s comfortable, but more importantly, the fabric covers all my parts.

  My stomach aches from hunger, and when I’m unable to deny my need for food any longer, I make my way down the stairs. My heart flips at the sight of Sariel, shirtless and standing in front the stove. His golden hair brushes his shoulders, tousled from sleep, and the lines of his wings shimmer under his skin as he moves. Arousal floods my body without permission. It’s impossible to see this man standing half-naked in his kitchen and ignore my desire. When he turns toward me and those silver eyes of his run over my body, I shiver.

  “Selah.” His utterance of my name is almost a groan, and it only adds to the need I have for him.

  He steps toward me, his jaw set. I need to touch him, to feel his lips on mine. Rushing into his arms, I grip the back of his neck and pull him down until I get what I want. Our mouths meet in a burning, passionate kiss. It sends a fire running through my blood and his answering moan tightens my nipples into hard peaks. Big hands slide along my thighs and under the shirt where I’m completely bare. Oh, sweet mercy, I want this man. When his fingers run up my rib cage and trail the heavy firmness of my breasts, I think I might explode.

  “Sariel,” I plead against his lips.

  He stops, breaking the spell and moving away as though I’d slapped him. Clearing his throat, he returns to his cooking, leaving me aroused and confused.

  “You cook?” I don’t know why I’m surprised. It seems strange that a man—a fallen angel—like him would be doing something so domestic.

  “I had to learn quickly once I regained my mortal body.”

  “Your…mortal body? You had an immortal one?”

  Pulling out a barstool, he gestures for me to sit. “It’s a long story. But, yes. Up until recently, I shared a body with Devin, and a vampire named Galen before that.” He pours me a cup of coffee, adds two slices of bacon to a plate of eggs, and slides both the plate and mug in front of me. “Eat.”

  “This is…a lot.”

  One golden eyebrow rises as he stares at me. “It’s bacon and eggs.”

  “No. Vampires, angels, demons.” I chew on my lip before I add, “Soul mates.”

  A look of pure agony crosses his face before he tears his gaze from mine. “Right.”

  Tense silence fills the room as he gets his own meal and stands at the other end of the bar, eating without glancing up from his plate. I stare at him over the rim of my coffee mug as I take a long drink.

  “Thank you for taking me in last night. I’m sorry for showing up like that. I just didn’t know where else to go.”
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br />   Dropping his fork, he grabs his dish and dumps the remaining eggs into the trash. Tension sits between us like a physical being. I can’t let this continue. I need to see the softness in his eyes, the affection, the desire that he’s always shared with me. As he stands at the sink, hot water sending curls of steam into the air, I cross the room and press my body against his bare back. My lips find the space between his shoulder blades, leaving light kisses on the only part of his skin not lined with his wings.

  Instead of relaxing into my touch, he stiffens and stops breathing.

  “Please…please don’t do that.” His hoarse plea breaks my heart. I can’t give him what he asks for. My need to be with him pulls us together. All I can do is turn my face and rest my cheek where my lips had been only a moment earlier.

  “Why?”

  Heaving a shuddering sigh, he shuts off the water and takes my hands from around his waist, separating us. “You’re not mine. I can’t let you have any more control over my heart. I was wrong about everything. I’ve been a fool.”

  “Sariel…” I start, but don’t know what I could possibly say to show him he’s wrong. I feel it in my bones. He was right about us.

  “Selah, just stop. You were with another man. You let him inside you, you let him claim you. If you were truly meant for me…if you were mine, your soul wouldn’t have let you do any of that. He wouldn’t have been able to do it.” He drags his hand through his hair, and I can see him fighting the burden of emotion. “You can stay here, but don’t expect anything other than safety. My heart can’t take it.”

  Before I can say another word, he leaves the kitchen, and I swear to God, a piece of my soul goes with him.

  Present day, Seattle

  As the days pass, I force myself to avoid her, but that’s nearly impossible when we’re in the same house. I’ve kept my distance with the exception of our dreams. There, I’ve had her every damn night, reveling in the feel of our connection. It probably isn’t helping me to have vivid memories of what her body feels like, but I can’t stay away. I sense her everywhere. Even locked in my office, pretending to be busy doing anything and everything, I hear her moving around. I have to resort to turning up my music to keep myself from listening for her. This is going to be impossible to bear.

  Standing at the large bay window behind the desk, I survey the city below. Galen had a keen eye for property, I’ll give him that. This house is perched at the top of a hill, affording a view people pay millions for.

  A warm hand slides over my arm, sending tingles racing up my spine and waking a hunger deep inside me.

  “Selah, is something wrong?” I don’t turn to face her. I’m afraid I’ll give in to my need for her if I do.

  With a click, she turns off the music and hooks her arm with mine. “It’s been days.” She leans her head against my shoulder, her scent invading my carefully constructed wall of defense.

  I can’t take this for much longer. If we don’t stop Lucifer and the other Watchers soon, I’ll give in and take her.

  “I didn’t marry him.”

  My chest tightens with a glimmer of hope.

  “Your friend said—”

  “That’s Rosie’s token answer anytime one of the dancers doesn’t show.”

  Relief races up my spine and excitement burns in my chest until I remember what Gabriel said. She’s been claimed.

  “It still doesn’t change the fact that you’ve been taken by another Watcher. You don’t understand…that shouldn’t be possible for another fallen to claim you.”

  “He doesn’t have me. I’m here with you, aren’t I?”

  Fighting the urge to give in and press my lips to hers, I clench my teeth and remove myself from her grasp. I haven’t told her everything about us, about our past, or the tragic end we’d met. And I don’t plan to. Gabriel warned me that she has my Selah’s soul, but she isn’t the same woman. Now, after all that’s been revealed, I know he was more right than I’d thought. Deep down, I’d hoped he was trying to keep me distanced from her, focused on stopping the fallen so I’d come home. He wasn’t. He’d been telling the truth. She isn’t here for me.

  “Please don’t shut me out,” she whispers. “I dream of you every night. I swear to God, I can feel you even when you’re not with me. You said you fell from Heaven to love me. Then do it.”

  My resolve weakens at the reminder. Is this what I want from her? To have her even knowing she’ll never be mine completely? As I turn toward her, she crosses the room until she stands before me. She’s so much smaller than I am, but her stance is strong and determined. The desire in her eyes sends my own roaring to the surface. Before I can stop myself, my hand cups the back of her head and I drop my lips to hers.

  She tastes better than I remember. When her tongue presses into my mouth, I groan, my blood heating and rushing through my body, straight to my rapidly hardening shaft. I need to be inside her. I need it more than my next breath.

  Grabbing her ass with both hands, I lift her and walk us toward the desk. Her fingers dig into my back, sending sparks of pain through my wings—a warning of the consequence of loving her. Settling her on the dark wood, I step back, needing a moment to clear my head. Her busy hands slide down my chest and under my shirt before I can stop her. The sensation of her nails scratching lightly along the ridges of my stomach does nothing to calm my raging need to take her. My cock is harder than it’s ever been, desperate to be touched, begging for her.

  “Let me show you how much I want you, Sariel.”

  My pulse pounds in my ears as I fight the primal instinct to flip her over and have her, rough and merciless as I pour myself inside her and take what I crave. “Show me, baby.” I push the words out even as she unbuckles my belt and slips her hand beneath my boxer briefs.

  When she grips my length and strokes, my eyes roll back in my head, and it takes all my control not to shove my pants down and spread her legs so I can sink into her heat. She places her free hand on my chest and pushes me backward. Frowning, I step away. Why does she want space between us? But then she hops off the desk and sinks to her knees. Anticipation builds all over my body as I stare at her mouth and realize exactly why she’d done this. Those lips are about to wrap around my aching cock.

  “I want to taste you,” she murmurs, eyes locked on mine. “All of you.”

  “Fuck.” It comes out a guttural groan as she tugs my jeans and boxers down my hips, releasing my rock-hard erection.

  Gentle hands run up my thighs, and I’m trembling like a nervous virgin. This woman. She’s got more power over me than anyone ever has.

  “Close your eyes, Sariel.”

  Without question, I do as she tells me. Her warm, wet mouth encircles my cock, taking me deep and forcing a cry of ecstasy from me. My hands find her hair and tangle in the long waves. As she moves over my length, long, slow slides of her lips and tongue, my climax begins to build. I won’t last long, not with her rolling her tongue around my crown, humming in approval as she sinks back down, occasionally grazing her teeth along my shaft.

  “Fuck, baby. Oh, fuck, I’m going to come. You need to stop.” The urgent need to pull out of her willing mouth hits me as she grips my ass and sucks harder. Then I’m gone, spilling into her as pleasure buckles my knees. My hand shoots out to grip the bookshelf nearby as I ride out the orgasm. A loud crack fills the room, but I don’t give a damn. My climax continues as Selah swallows everything I give her and slowly pulls away.

  Breathing hard, I grip her arms and tug her to her feet. “You…” I can’t manage much more, my heart is beating so hard. Instead, I pull her against my chest and just hold her there while I wait for my world to stop spinning. Her fingers tangle in my hair as she pulls me down for a kiss that sears my soul.

  I can’t stop this.

  I can’t deny her.

  And I don’t want to.

  Sariel’s hands are everywhere on my body, and his rough groans of desire nearly send me right back to my knees as he lets me kiss him
. I’m aroused beyond measure after sucking his cock and making him come. Knowing I had him at my mercy, that I could make him lose control so quickly, fills me with fierce pride.

  “Your turn, my love,” he growls against my lips.

  A full-body shiver runs through me at the thought of him filling me. I want him more than I’ve ever wanted another man. In one smooth move, my skirt is over my hips and his fingers are pushing my panties to the floor. Oh, sweet mercy.

  “Sit on the desk. Spread your legs for me.”

  I don’t protest. Knees spread wide, I wait on the cool top of the desk and watch him take in the sight of my bare pussy. If he only knew the things he’d done to me in my dreams. My whole body clenches at the memory of the dream from just last night.

  “You’re so wet, you glisten, baby. Do you want me that badly?”

  All I can do is nod. I do. I want him so much, it hurts.

  His cock is already hardening again. I can’t believe it. “How are you ready for more?” I ask.

  “I’m always fucking ready for you. This is what you do to me, every moment.” He strokes his shaft, biting his lower lip as he closes the distance between us. “I could sink inside you right now and make sure you never forget who made you feel like this. I could fill you with my seed, mark you as mine, and make damn sure his claim is obliterated.”

  I squirm, needing him to do exactly that. “Yes, please. I’m yours.”

  Positioning the blunt head of his cock at my entrance, he pushes in slowly, and I moan. Already I’m so aroused, I stand on the edge of orgasm. “More, Sariel. Please.”

  With a hiss, he sinks farther, his width stretching me and causing a delicious burn. I want more. God, I want it all. “Stop teasing and fuck me,” I cry.

  “Selah.” His silver gaze finds mine, and I bite back a sharp cry as the color changes to a glowing platinum.