by Kim Loraine
My heart pounds as the beginnings of an anxiety attack threaten. Taking slow, deep breaths, I lie back on the mattress and pull the blanket up to my chin, willing myself to stop shivering. Before long, my quaking body calms and the comfort of sleep pulls me under.
I haven’t been here in a long time. The curled trunk of the pistachio tree greets me like an old friend as I walk across the dry, cracked earth. This place needs a good long rain. My shoes kick up dust all around me until I reach the shade of the branches and the patch of soft grass under the safety of the tree. Sliding my hand over the wood, I marvel at the pattern of the bark under my fingers.
“You’re here, my Selah.” Sariel’s voice catches me off guard, but the rough tone sends desire crashing into me.
I don’t look his way, but I feel him behind me. He’s a force of nature, his aura palpable even without his touch.
“I’m leaving you,” I say, knowing this is a dream, but needing to say the words. “When this is over. I’m done.”
The air around us changes. A charge of electricity sends the hair at the back of my neck standing on end. Dark clouds roll in from nowhere, and the wind licks at my clothes. A crack of thunder right over our heads makes me jump.
“I’m not going to let you go. Not without a fight, Selah. We belong together.” His hands slide under my shirt, the skin of his palms is warm and welcome. “Even now, your body begs for me. Can you deny it?”
No. I can’t. I never wanted to. My nipples tighten to the point of pain, and when he cups my aching breasts, I cry out and arch back into him. His chest meets my shoulders all while he rolls my nipples between his fingers and trails kisses along my neck.
“I want you,” I whisper.
“You’ll fucking have me, baby. If this is the last time, I’m going to make sure you’re ruined for any other.”
His thick cock presses against my ass through our clothes and as he rolls his hips forward, a rush of wetness floods my core. Running his hands back down my ribs, he grips the edge of my shirt and pulls it over my head in one smooth move. Another crash of thunder strikes, this time accompanied by fat raindrops.
Turning in his arms, I find his swirling silver irises and gasp at the glow emanating from their depths. He takes hold of my bra and rips the lace down the center, freeing my breasts as he presses my back to the wide tree behind me.
“It should be mine. You are mine. The only man who should fill your belly with a child is me.”
My heart strains at the anguish in his words, but he closes his eyes and when he opens them again, a feral look replaces the hurt. Rain falls heavy on us even through the protection of the tree as his lips descend upon mine in a clash of tongues and teeth, breathy sighs and harsh groans. I want him to fuck me, to claim me as his, to mark me and leave a lasting reminder that I’ll never love another. Tugging at the wet fabric of his shirt, I pull it over his head and break our kiss. His beautiful body makes my need for him reach drastic levels. If he’s not inside me soon, I don’t know if I’ll implode or spontaneously orgasm.
I toy with his belt, hoping for access to the rigid length hiding behind his jeans, but he stops me.
“No. I’m taking you. Not the other way around. Take off your pants and turn around.”
I do as he tells me and slip out of the yoga pants I’d worn. A growl rumbles through his chest as soon as he realizes I hadn’t worn panties.
“Fuck, baby. Your ass is so damn perfect. Bend over, let me take a look at that little pussy before I ruin it.”
Jesus. Where had this dirty talk been hiding? Placing my hands on the trunk of the tree, I bend at the waist and immediately stiffen when his long fingers slide between my legs and through the lips of my exposed sex. A moan falls from me as he presses two inside and curls them in a “come hither” motion.
“Oh God. Don’t stop doing that.”
He chuckles and pulls them out, making me press my ass back in search of more contact. “You’re wanton. Already dripping for me.”
Our bodies are slick with rain, but I don’t care. I just want him. “Fill me, Sariel. Make me yours.”
I hear the clink of metal as he undoes his belt, and a shiver of anticipation runs through me. His palm runs up the length of my back before he grips my now-short hair.
“You shouldn’t have cut this. Now I don’t have anything to pull while I fuck you.”
Oh yes, I like this side of him. Rough, dominant, and a little angry. The rain runs down my skin, cooling my overheated body but doing nothing to diminish the need boiling my blood. He tugs on my hair, hard enough to cause a sharp pain to rush over my scalp, but I quickly realize he wants me to stand. Before I can stop him, he’s spinning me around to face him, his stormy expression mirroring the dark clouds above us. The length of his belt is curled around one hand while his other slides from my neck, down the valley between my breasts, over my stomach and lower, until he’s cupping me, dipping inside me where I need him.
“Put your hands over your head. Wrists together.” He never stops looking into my eyes as he works my pussy and I do as I’m told. As soon as my hands are where he wants them, he removes his fingers from my body and wraps the belt around my wrists, binding me.
“You’re still dressed,” I whisper, wanting him to put me out of my misery and sink inside me.
“I want you to beg me. I want you to remember there is no one but me. I hate that you’ve shown your body to others. That you’ve let someone else taste your sweetness.” He drops to his knees, both hands encircling my hips as he presses me against the tree and lifts until my legs are resting on his shoulders and his face is buried between my thighs. His strength is startling, but soon, I don’t give a damn. His magical tongue runs over my clit, swirling and licking.
“Ah, Sariel. I need my hands.” I want to bury my fingers in his thick hair and pull so he knows how much I love this.
He shakes his head before sucking my clit into his mouth and nipping gently with his teeth. The pull of his mouth mixed with the rain falling onto my bare breasts and the scrape of the bark at my back is all too much. I can’t hold on to my control. With one well-timed flick of his tongue, Sariel shoves me over the precipice, and I fall into waves of pleasure. My back arches, grinding my sex against his lips as I come, screaming into the storm.
Before I’ve fully recovered from my climax, he’s lifting me off his shoulders and laying me out on the wet grass.
“Spread your legs for me.” His hoarse rasp betrays the tremulous hold he retains on his own control as he stands over me.
I part my knees and open to him, my bound hands lying over my head. I’m his. Completely.
After popping the button on his jeans, he bites his lower lip and slowly lowers the zipper. As soon as the denim falls below his hips, his thick erection springs free, already glistening at the tip.
Kneeling, he grins before he runs his hands over my legs. When he reaches my hips, he crawls toward me, his lips blazing a trail over my waist, ribs, and finally, my breast. The head of his cock nudges at my entrance and it’s all I can do not to scoot forward and slide over him. He’s in charge. This is Sariel’s show.
“I’m going to fuck you, Selah,” he rasps while at the same time driving himself deep inside me.
I cry out in pleasure at the invasion. After so much anticipation, my body is wound tighter than I’m used to with him. His thrusts are hard and fast, pulling all the way out and slamming back inside as though he’s got something to prove. Maybe he does.
One hand palms my breast while his mouth works the other. I hate that I can’t touch him. I want to run my hands over his back, sink my nails into his ass, fuck, I want to hold his face in my palms and force him to look at me while he comes inside me.
“Please, give me back my hands,” I whimper.
He ignores me and continues fucking me until I’m right there again. But then he stops, leaving me on the edge with no relief.
“I need you to understand something.”
; My heart races with pent-up desire. Now is not the time for a chat.
“Selah, this body has never lain with another woman. Never. I need you to know that. You are the only one.”
He pulls back and sinks deep in one long roll of his hips. With a harsh groan, he tenses and bites down hard on my sensitive nipple. The pain is almost too much, but as his cock pulses inside me and he fills me with his seed, my own orgasm hits, and I forget the hurt because all I know is euphoria.
The dark sky supplies endless drops of rain along with a soundtrack of thunder rolling overhead as he continues to pour himself into me, and I wonder if the storm in our dream mirrors the one inside Sariel.
Either way, he was right. Even in a dream, he’s ruined me.
Present day
I wake in the bed where Selah should be. She’s gone. There’s only a slight indentation in the pillow where she’d been. Dread floods my chest at the memory of her words in our dream. I’m leaving you. When this is over. I’m done. She’s not gone; she can’t be. This isn’t done, not even close. Besides that, she’s not safe. She pulled me into her dream without warning, and I wasn’t able to do anything other than ward the house. I’d planned to summon the coven of witches I know of and convince them to help. Michael and Gabriel will find us soon. I’m honestly surprised between the archangels and Lucifer, they let her get this far. But Lucifer is crafty, and he more than likely already has a plan to strike.
Pulling on some clothes, I survey the room for any evidence Selah is still here. When I see her bag still sitting next to the dresser, I heave a sigh of relief. I take the stairs two at a time, hoping I can catch up with her, apologize for the way I’ve been treating her. I can’t keep up the facade and maintain my sanity. I’d rather love her in any capacity than have her think I stopped.
My heart gives a pained lurch as I cross the hall and catch sight of her, holding Sean on her lap as he chatters animatedly, hands flying around in an attempt to better illustrate his point. When she sees me, she stiffens, but a soft smile appears on her lips. She remembers the dream.
“I remember you,” Sean says, his big dark eyes wide as he stares at me. “You bit me.”
I’m shocked at his announcement. Not only was he unconscious when I helped bind his grace, I was in Devin’s body. Galen’s shoulders stiffen as he stands at the stove.
Sean blinks up at me and grins. “You looked different, but your eyes are the same. Ma says my eyes sometimes look like yours. She says we should be thankful for you. Else I wouldn’t be here.”
Galen turns and crosses the room. “Sean, when did she say that?”
The little boy drops his gaze to the table and pouts.
“Sean,” Galen scolds.
“In her head. Sometimes I hear her.”
This shouldn’t happen. I bound his grace. The boy should live out a normal life with no worries of his Nephilim grace interfering.
“I thought you fixed this, Sariel.” Galen’s words are tight with worry.
“I did. I bound him. Any part of me that’s inside him should be hidden.”
“Clearly, it’s not.”
“He must be stronger than we all thought.”
“What can we do?”
Taking Sean’s hand, I pull his attention to me. “Sean. You need to make me a promise. Can you do that?”
He nods.
“You must never tell anyone about me or what you can do. It’s like Superman. He doesn’t tell the world he’s Clark Kent. He just uses his power for good and keeps himself a secret.”
Sean’s eyes widen, and, God help me, they flare silver as he nods again.
Selah has gone very still during this conversation, and it’s only when Sean jumps down from her lap that she looks at me. “He’s yours?” she whispers.
Before I can answer, she shoves back the chair and makes for the back door. I let her go, but only so I can tell Galen not to worry. I think Sean has a destiny to fulfill that none of us were aware of.
Stepping out into the bright morning, I scan the fields for Selah, knowing she can’t have gone far. After walking down the gravel driveway a few feet, I see her bent over and retching. Without another thought, I rush to her, rubbing my hand in wide circles on her back.
“You didn’t say you were feeling sick,” I murmur.
She stands and flinches away from my touch. “I’m fine, Sariel. Don’t worry about me.”
A flash of a past conversation, very similar to this one, hits me. In another life, she’d said those same words just before telling me we were going to have a child.
“Where were you going?”
She starts walking toward the town, jaw set in stubborn determination. “Sightseeing.”
“If you want to see Ireland, Galen and Reese can show us around after we’re sure you’re safe.”
“And Reese? She’s…special to you?”
I shake my head. “Not to me.”
“But you’ve fucked her.” The accusation stings. “And you enjoyed it.”
If I say no, I’ll be lying. “I thought she was my soul mate.”
“You’re Sean’s father. You said you lost your ability to have children, but you gave her one.”
“I gave up my grace to bind Sean’s. He’s Galen’s son, I just supplied a small portion of my power. Unfortunately, Sean’s body couldn’t take it, and the fallen wanted him because I wouldn’t join with them.”
“So, the reason we won’t have children is Sean?”
I nod.
She heaves a sigh, and her lower lip trembles slightly. It’s a small detail, but I notice every nuanced change in her face. “Why did you bring me here, Sariel? Did you just want to rub it in my face that you’ve been with another woman? You didn’t have to force me to look her in the eyes.”
That’s not what I intended at all, but I can see how she might think I’d be vindictive enough to do something like that. “No, Selah. I brought you here to keep you safe. To fix everything.”
“Between us?” Her voice quavers as she turns a fierce gaze on me. “Or to fix me?”
I don’t know how to answer. Being with her, loving her puts her at risk.
“Right. Your silence speaks for itself. I’m going for a walk.”
Panic spikes through my chest as she turns away. “You can’t go alone,” I say, reaching for her. Glacial gray eyes greet me as she stops and glares.
“I’ll do what I want. You aren’t my guardian, Sariel. You’re a fallen angel, remember? You may be beautiful, but you’re selfish and disloyal, and I wish to God you’d never fallen for me in the first place.”
I don’t follow as she walks away with my heart in her hands.
I know I said I’d stay until this was over, but I can’t. He loves Reese. He might not want to admit it, but the way they spoke to each other, the way she touched him, it proved the depth of their connection. And, now knowing he played a part in Sean’s conception. I can’t handle it. I have to get away.
My limbs feel like lead as I walk down the winding road that must lead into town. I wish I could enjoy the beautiful scene, lush greenery, misty fog settled low on the hills, the sun shining through the breaks in the clouds. I can’t. I’m nauseous, heartbroken, and lost.
“I knew you’d be here.” From behind me a singsong voice with an Irish accent catches me off guard and sends me whirling around, heart in my throat. A small, beautiful woman stands in the middle of the road. She’s decked out head to toe in leather, striking and formidable all at the same time.
“I can’t believe he’d leave you alone,” she says as though carrying on a conversation with herself. “He’s lost his humanity. I’m sure his faith in her has been shaken as well. Maybe he’s finally making the right choice.”
Her assumptions send rage bubbling close to the surface.
“Excuse me. Who the hell are you?” I ask, hip cocked and bravado dialed up as high as possible.
A bell-like laugh fills the air. “Sweetheart, I’m Sariel’s worst nightm
are. I’m going to need you to come with me.”
Turning on my heels, I run, but instead of finding escape, I gasp as my limbs stop working.
“Don’t fight it. This is for the best.”
She walks in front of me and, with a gentle smile, drops her lips to my forehead and I swear I hear Sariel scream my name as the world turns white and I lose consciousness.
Present day
They’ve taken her. I couldn’t see anything other than Selah as she vanished into nothing. It must be Gabriel and Michael who have Selah. How did they get through the barrier I drew? Selah hadn’t left the property. She should have been safe.
Letting out a growl of frustration, I grip my hair and tug until it hurts, trying to pull myself away from the edge. But the fact remains, my brothers have her and there’s not a damn thing I can do to stop them. I close my eyes against the pain radiating across my back, through my chest, into my heart. She’s gone. Because I was fool enough to let her leave. If they kill her, I’ll tear down the gates of Heaven with my bare hands.
Limbs shaking, I use the power I’ve been trying to control and materialize in Galen’s home.
“Sariel, fucking hell, what’s wrong?” Galen shoots up from the breakfast table.
“They’ve taken her. Michael and Gabriel have Selah.”
Reese gasps and brings her hand up to her lips.
“How? You warded the property against them.”
“I don’t fucking know. They’re stronger than me.”
“What do you need?” Galen asks.
“What I came here for. The witches. I’m going to need your help. Reese, can you spare him? I can’t do this alone.”
She nods and stands, crossing the floor to pull Galen in for a deep kiss. “Just come back to me.”
“Always, a ghra.” After kissing his children, Galen leads us outside and to his waiting car. “Where is the coven?”
“I’ll need to summon them. Do you remember the barn we crashed into?”