Repent in Love

by J. Hali Steele

  “I am not.” She went to stand by the open French doors. “Just a heat flash.”

  “Heat flash my ass.” She pulled on plain, comfortable white nylon panties, tugged a silky royal-blue sheath over her head and slipped into a pair of silver sandals encrusted with colorful crystals. “It’s rather a nice feeling you know.”

  “You haven’t called me by my pet name in years. We have become a stodgy bunch. I have an idea—let’s go shopping.”

  “Shopping? For what?” Bathing and dressing like a human was one thing but she continued to fabricate everything she needed or wanted. The idea of rushing in and out of stores, jostling through crowds to try clothing on, was foreign to her. A little too human.

  “And you consider yourself a modern woman.” Nona’s smile was contagious. “Patricia and Yael told me about some shops we can visit.”

  She gave it thought. “I think I’d like that. I warn you though, if you keep sifting through my mind, I’ll give you a real picture show. Let’s go.”

  Stirring the air mildly, they were gone and laughter tinkled along their shimmering path.

  * * * * *

  Morta peered into the mirror over her shoulder at her ass in the skimpy black bathing suit. Would he like this on her? It’s so tiny. Yeah, he probably would. Her heartbeat picked up. Thinking about him on her, in her, set her blood to boiling and her temperature spiraling up for the umpteenth time. Shit, if she kept this up she would lose the ability to formulate and shoot the ice spears she was famous for. She felt the color rising in her cheeks. I’m blushing like a bride. “How do human women stand being so naked in front of others?” She always swam in the nude so it was not like she needed a swimsuit but it was sexy. Like all the pretty underwear she’d already selected.

  Nona chuckled at her question. “I’m still trying to figure out how they stuff their breasts in this contraption.”

  Her sister stood at her side, ogling her own body in a sexy red demi-bra. She tucked long honey-colored hair behind her ears. “Maybe my boobs aren’t supposed to fit all the way in, huh?”

  “Cripes, Nony, you’re hot!” Mort had not really looked at her sister for a long time. The fancy underwear suited her to a tee. The blue jeans she’d tried on and still wore hugged her butt. They showed off her long legs, accentuated her tiny waist and the swell of her hips. “You’d better be careful. You’ll have men everywhere wanting to towel you dry.” They both laughed.

  She found herself wondering if Nona had been with a man in the last decade. Mort didn’t know who but someone had broken her heart. That had been a thousand years ago and since then there had been men in her lifetime but Mort couldn’t remember the last time Nona had talked about one. They’d not spent intimate time together like this since they stopped sitting around the fountain every Sabbath. Things over the last ten years had gotten hectic in all their lives. It was hard to believe only a little over six years had passed since they fretted over Ram and Yael’s meshing.

  “Who’s thinking about me?”

  Morta spun on the balls of her feet at the playful sound of Yael’s voice. She rested in the doorway with her hip against the wood, arms full of colorful silky underthings. “I—” What could she say? Ram’s exulted, an angel herself now, was hard to keep anything from.

  Yael actually giggled, her eyes crinkling as she walked all the way into the dressing room. “I love buying these things. Ram adores them.” She winked at Morta. “Uri will too.”

  “I didn’t know you’d be here.”

  “I’m addicted to shopping. It’s Patty’s fault. One thing I’ve learned is to keep one of these with me.” She reached into a very modern bag that hung from her shoulder and pulled out a little black plastic card. “We must not draw attention to ourselves, so Ram says I should never leave home without it.”

  “Where is Patricia?” Mort peeped back toward the door. She had already sensed her, and Osce’s essence was strong in the air.

  “With O. They’re having coffee. She’ll be along shortly.”

  Morta thought about it for a moment and decided to put her two cents in. “Why won’t he declare himself to her? He shouldn’t be concerned about Uri anymore.”

  “One thing I’ve found since being exulted is things happen up there,” Yael said as her head tilted skyward, “in their own time. We cannot force them, and neither can we stop what will be.” She walked into one of the small changing areas and began to undress without closing the door.

  Mort turned away to hide the smile that curved her lips.

  Yael grinned. “Don’t you dare laugh at my panties.”

  “I’m not, they’re nice. What there is of them.”

  “Ramiel likes lace.”

  “I think I’m going to buy some like that.” They were virtually see-through.

  “Buy at least a dozen, mine get… They tear awfully easily.” Yael’s face turned beet red.

  “What?”

  “They’re not made very well and they rip easily.”

  Nona came out of the changing room, wearing a revealing top over her jeans. “I’m going to get this in gold to highlight my complexion. I’ll be right back.”

  Yael had donned a dark red sheath that clung to her broad hips and grazed her mid-thigh. The short concoction fit her like a second skin. Mort watched as she checked herself at all angles in the mirror—such a womanly thing to do. It made her want to be more feminine.

  “You are aware Marmaroth is here?”

  Morta didn’t expect that but she managed to mumble, “Yes.”

  “You must continue to stay with Uri and see that no more harm comes to Marcan.”

  “I’m not sure—”

  “You can protect him. Use your feminine wiles if necessary.” Yael’s eyes gleamed. “Considering how happy you are today, that won’t be hard for you to do.”

  “This can’t happen. We both know that.”

  “Morta, what can’t happen is any more harm to Marmaroth’s son. Are you aware of the power he wields over you and your sisters?”

  “I will let no harm come to Uri either.” She leveled a look on the other woman.

  “Good, then you understand. Stay with him.”

  Knowing what she did now, Morta wouldn’t leave Uri for the world.

  Yael’s amber eyes turned dark, and her body shuddered. “Leave.”

  “What’s happening?” Mort felt disoriented and her skin prickled. She was unable to summon her strength to vanish. “I can’t.” Sweat poured from her pores. Peering at the other woman, she practically heard the wheels turning in her mind. She’d definitely be communicating with Ramiel. Mort’s breath hissed from her at the sudden appearance of a glowing form. He was clad in black leather from head to toe, and his hair was the shade of new-grown wheat, and it streamed behind him as though caught in a whirlwind. Not the normal color that graced archangels’ heads. Except Ramiel and Sam, all had black-as-night hair. Yet his essence and the glow both told her he was, indeed, an angel.

  Nona picked that time to return and she froze in the doorway of the dressing room, her body trembling all over. “Why are you here?”

  “I’ve come to see the Fate who would cause my son pain.”

  “Your son has committed many sins against his own kind. He’s not been exactly angelic.” Nona’s words sounded far away.

  Mort could barely drag air into her paralyzed lungs.

  “He will answer to me for his vile behavior. No one else.”

  “This is not the time or place.” Holy shit. Osce stood just outside the door with Patricia tucked behind him.

  The angel craned his head in the exulted’s direction.

  “Perhaps you are right. Another time.” He spun to glare at Morta with midnight blue eyes. “Be careful what wheels of destiny you set in motion. I will bring them to a screeching halt.” A serene smile lit his extraordinarily handsome face as he gazed at her. “I believe Uriel seeks me, so, we’ll finish this later. Oceola, it is good to see you.”

  His la
rge golden wings unfurled and he vanished, leaving a warm blast of air in the room filled with the scent of jasmine.

  The clarity of who had stood before her doubled Morta over. Her hands flew to her throat and she gasped for air. Only one being could hold this power over her but having been the third born of the sisters, she’d been too young to remember him.

  This was the angel who could thwart the Fates.

  Marmaroth.

  Chapter Nine

  Marmaroth had found Morta.

  Uri had to meet him as an angel.

  His eyes blazed like the searing tip of a blow torch. Sweeping into the air, he released his charcoal-fringed wings. Their breadth covered the sun and threw Central Park into darkness. He entered the outer atmosphere with a blast that sent rain pummeling down on the northeastern part of the United States.

  “Ease up.”

  Ramiel is not who he wanted to deal with right now, but for Mort, he’d deal with the Father himself.

  “Don’t try and stop me.” Uri’s wings propelled him toward Florida, each powerful stroke taking him closer to his Fate. Suddenly his chest constricted and he was drawn to a dead standstill. “Ram, I will fuck you up if you don’t release me. Now!”

  “This isn’t the way to handle it. Michael will bring Marmaroth to heel.”

  “Would you have waited for his intervention on Yael’s behalf?” Uri spun faster than the human eye could see and the air grew freezing cold. The grip on his body snapped away and Ram was encased in an ice capsule.

  Shit, these are Morta’s powers!

  Her magic was in him and somehow he’d captured Ramiel, the most powerful of archangels, in a bubble of ice.

  “What the fuck?” Ramiel was caught off guard as Uri pushed him back into space.

  Uriel turned his attention to reaching his destination before the angel he sought disappeared. He burst through the clouds in time to intercept Marmaroth hovering over the building.

  “I wasn’t going anywhere,” he fired at Uri.

  “Don’t ever touch her or go near her again. I’ll kill you—and your son.” Blue fire from Uri’s eyes cast a specter of pale blue light on the other angel’s body.

  Marmaroth’s soft laughter filled the sky with a rumble. “We can’t kill each other, Uriel. Do you really think you can stop me?”

  “We can stop you.” Uri spun to see Morta right behind him.

  The angel before them could take all of her power, strip her to nothing and bring misery to her door. Yet here she was at his back. Her long white hair whipped in the air and gave her an ethereal look he hadn’t noticed before. It struck him to the bone. Her pale beauty mixed with the look of determination on her face froze him in the moment.

  Morta had placed his life before hers.

  His heart lurched in his chest, tears wet his eyes.

  I love her.

  Something happened that Uri had never experienced before. An unbelievable power surged through his veins and he threw it all at Marmaroth. The angel tumbled through the sky, landing on top of the building far beneath them.

  Together, he and Morta could topple worlds.

  Without giving the angel sprawled on the building beneath him a backward glance, he boomed, “Never come near her again.” He swept Morta into his arms, pulled her tight against his body and enclosed her in his feathers. He streaked toward Heaven. Michael’s power ruffled the edge of his wings as he flashed by. Undoubtedly to collect the angel Uri had left in his wake. He would have a bit of a reprieve but sooner or later he’d be pulled away to explain what had happened. Right now the unknown power surging through him made him feel invincible and able to hold off any of those above. Well, almost any.

  “Uri, where are you going?” Morta was breathless.

  “To my heavenly domain.”

  “Take me back.”

  “Do you really want to go back there?”

  She buried her face in his neck, peppered it with hot kisses. “No.” A nervous giggle slipped from her mouth and hung in the starry sky “I did want to get some fancy underwear though. Yael says it works wonders.”

  “The only wonder I need is you.” He eased into her mind and had to use every bit of his strength to keep it from her. Uri stole the thoughts of every filmy garment she had tried on. His cock stiffened and pressed into her belly.

  “You have a dirty mind,” she chuckled.

  “What?”

  “I doubt that swelling comes from anything pious.”

  Laughter flowed from Uriel making the stars and the moon shine brighter in front of him. “I intend to piously worship at your sweet fountain.”

  He entered his domain and locked it tight with the strongest shields he possessed. No one would be able to enter except the general. Uri felt her lending assistance in the task and wondered if she’d helped earlier. That wasn’t possible. Unless… He didn’t want to think about that right now.

  As he settled on his feet in the domed foyer, Morta’s hiss reminded him his angelic likeness adorned his palace here. Unlike Ramiel, whose painting hung in his home in Florida, Uri didn’t want his portrait below. Staying as far away from Michael and Ram as possible, Uri had not seen it or his heavenly home for hundreds of years. Still holding Morta in his arms, he glanced up and saw the younger likeness of himself immortalized forever in stained glass. His blue eyes were crystal clear and full of wondrous ideals. He was going to make the world a better place for every man, woman and child born on Earth. Every being in the universe would repent and live happily ever after because of him.

  What had happened to him? To them all.

  Her words drew him back to the moment. “You are the most beautiful.”

  “That was a long time ago.”

  Her fingers tangled in the back of his hair, pulling him to face her. “I didn’t say you were. I said you are the most beautiful of all the angels.”

  He covered her mouth with his and pried at her lips, seeking entrance to taste the sweetness hidden there.

  The brief thought of not having furniture in his home entered his mind. Uri couldn’t think straight with Mort so close. He transported them to the bedroom and in a blink he furnished it with a large bed and placed a big golden chest in the middle of it.

  Breaking their kiss with reluctance, he set her on the bed. Hundreds of candles appeared and flared to life, giving the space a bright, but soft, glow.

  She turned and looked at the glittering chest. Kicking her shoes off, Morta quickly crawled to it. While she flipped it open to delve inside, he pulled his wings in.

  Without looking back, she said, “Don’t, not tonight.”

  He unfurled them and waved them through the air, trembling at the knowledge he was going to take her in his angel form.

  “You were in my mind and I didn’t even feel it.” She hurled the colorful pieces of flimsy lace and silk underwear all over the place, like a child ripping into Christmas packages.

  “I still have some secrets.” She’d emptied the box of all the goodies he had fabricated for her. Sitting back on her heels, Morta appeared thoughtful.

  “What’s bothering you?”

  “Here, up here, will they leave us be for a little while?” She turned to look at him and her eyes were clear, unafraid.

  “Did you assist me with Ramiel?” he asked. She might be holding a few secrets of her own.

  “I’m not sure. I felt him trying to restrain you.” She hunched her shoulders. “I only know I wanted you with me.”

  “You’re not afraid now.” Uri could tell by her eyes.

  “I need to be with you for as long as they allow it.” She lowered her chin and pretended to study her fingernails. “Something’s different. I felt a strange power when I thought Marmaroth would attack you. That scared me.”

  He understood. Uri thought back to how easily he had evaded Ramiel and Marmaroth. Would it be that way if the angel came for either of them or for Marcan again? What had happened? If it was what he thought, he’d never voice it aloud.
>
  Meshing, the coming together meant for angels only.

  Removing her dress with magic, he slipped into the bed. He wanted to touch her, hold her and forget everything else. Sitting with his back against the headboard, he said, “Come here.”

  She eased up the mattress, turned and settled between his legs where her butt pressed on his erection. Surprised as hell, he wanted to give her comfort more than he wanted to be inside her. That confused him.

  Wrapping her in his wings, he held her.

  She didn’t speak right away.

  “Why did you stay away from Heaven?”

  How should he answer? Michael and Ram had gotten on his last nerve with bullshit. But that wasn’t all of it. “I’d developed an unhealthy attraction to a certain Fate.” Lifting her hair, he planted a kiss on the back of her neck. He traced a line with his tongue and felt her tremble when he reached her earlobe.

  “You need an interior decorator to make your palace livable.”

  “Volunteering for the position?” He nibbled softly on the lobe of her ear and used his teeth to pull the earring off. He removed it from his mouth and held it up in his finger. The diamond doubled in size and sparkled, casting prisms of white light around the room.

  “You could do it with magic.” Her laughter rang out.

  “I want you to do it. I’ll always have it to remember you by.” He turned her so he could see her violet eyes. “No other woman will ever be here.”

  Were those words enough to express what he was beginning to feel?

  * * * * *

  His voice had grown soft and wistful. Morta caught a glimpse of his thought about meshing. It was what had scared her earlier. She was afraid of it happening too. If somehow she had helped him and the power displayed today was an example of what they could do should they completely mesh—she certainly understood Michael’s fear. Repelling Ramiel with his powers was something akin to a miracle.

  Had they done that?

  Keeping this from her sister Fates would be the hardest part. They had a connection to one another and it was a constant struggle to keep them from her mind. That was another reason she intended to stay at Uri’s palace. Mort needed some space from Decima and Nona. More than anything, she had to figure out how to stop any further meshing.