by Geri Glenn
She stares up at me, her face completely serious, and I can’t help it when I burst out laughing. I’m laughing so hard that I totally miss the growing anger on her face.
“This isn’t funny!” she shouts.
Between my laughter, I hold my hand up to her. “No, Em—” I can’t even get the words out. “I just—you—”
“Almost died tonight!” she screams, and I instantly stop laughing. “Those demons came for me, and I was helpless. It was terrifying. Worst of all, Joey almost died too, Cyrus, because of me. If I wasn’t so weak, I could have helped her...I could have prevented all of this.”
Moving toward her, I place my hands on her shoulders and crouch down until I’m staring directly into her eyes. “This is not your fault, Em, and Joey’s tough. She—”
“She was hurt, and we started the freakin’ apocalypse. There wasn’t a damn thing I could do stop either one of those things from happening.”
I stare at her a beat, shocked by her anger, but she’s right. There’s no way she could have stopped what happened, but she should learn how to put up a hell of a fight if anyone tries to hurt her.
I reach out and cup her face, skimming my thumb along the smooth skin of her cheekbone. “You’re right, baby. You’re right.” The determination in her eyes changes to surprise. “I promise to teach you some things, but not tonight. Tonight we need to get cleaned up and get some sleep. Today was fucking terrible, and I’m ready for it to be over.”
She smiles a little, tears filling her eyes. “Me too.”
“Okay. So, you go jump in the shower down the hall, and I’ll use the bathroom downstairs. Sound like a plan?”
She agrees and reaches for my hand, giving it a squeeze before turning to leave the room. I watch her go and think over what she’d said. She might never be able to fight like Joey and I, or Merrick for that matter, but if she knew enough to defend herself, she could at least cause some damage to her attackers. I need to teach my girl how to kick some ass.
On that thought, I grab my shorts and shampoo, then head down the stairs to take a quick shower.
Walking into the room, the first thing I see is Em standing beside my bed, swimming around inside my favorite t-shirt. I can’t take my eyes off of her. She must hear my breath catch—or maybe it’s the pounding of my heart as it rushes all the blood through my body straight to my dick—and spins around, her hair flying around her like a halo.
“Cyrus, you startled me.” Pulling her lip between her teeth, she clasps her hands in front of her, looking unsure. “I hope you don’t mind, but I needed something to wear, and well, I just—”
“You look fucking amazing in my shirt, Em.” My voice doesn’t even sound like my own. It’s deeper and raspy, and even I can hear how turned on I am.
She swallows and drops her hands to her sides as she stands a little straighter, even as her cheeks flush. “I do?”
Nodding, I let my eyes roam over her body, not starting or stopping in any particular place. I want to see it all, and cement every inch of her into my memory forever. “Fuck yeah.”
She takes a tentative step towards me. My heart thunders in my chest. When she stops a few steps away and casts her eyes down to the floor, I decide that I can’t take anymore. I reach her in two giant strides.
I grab the back of her head and crush my lips down onto hers. She gasps and freezes for a fraction of a second before I feel her lips move on mine. Tangling my fingers firmly in her hair, I wrap my free arm around her waist, dragging her body against mine. I can hear her heartbeat as it gallops wildly, almost matching the rhythm of my own.
Sliding my tongue along the seam of her lips, I desperately pray that she’ll take pity on me and allow me entrance. It’s my turn to gasp when she parts her lips and slides her soft tongue against mine. She tastes like she smells—chocolate. It’s fucking delicious.
Keeping our lips locked, I walk her backwards until we reach the edge of my bed. Leaning her back, I gently lower her her down, crawling onto it with her and settling myself between her bare, silky thighs.
Our breaths burst from us in short, fast pants as our hands roam each other’s bodies. Her hands leave burning trails of need on my skin as she runs them down my back. Sliding my fingertips inside the hem of her shirt, I trail them slowly across her belly, praying that she won’t make me stop. Goosebumps appear instantly on her flesh, and her shiver of need makes me want to rip the baggy shirt from her body, and finally take her. I was made for her, I can feel it.
Slowly, I slide my hand up her belly, giving her every opportunity to stop me. I hear her soft intake of breath, then neither of us breathe as I lift my hand and slowly bring it down on top of her bare breast. Pulling my lips away from hers, I stare down into her eyes as I swipe my thumb across her nipple.
She inhales swiftly and sinks her teeth into her lower lip. I swipe it again, slowly, and she moans, never taking her eyes from mine. Getting braver, I pinch her nipple between my thumb and forefinger, rolling it gently. Her eyes close and her hips roll.
When she feels the hardness of my cock rub against her, she moans. “I want you so fucking bad, Em.”
“I want that too,” she whispers, “but you should know that I’m a virgin, Cyrus.”
I smile, because deep down, I already knew that. “I am too, baby. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was saving it for you.”
She smiles as she reaches low, grabbing the hem of her shirt and dragging it up her body, throwing it on the floor beside the bed. “Make love to me, Cyrus.”
I growl and dip my head, capturing a nipple in my mouth, reveling in the trembles and moans coming from the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Sucking her nipple in deep, I slide my hand down her belly once more until I reach the band of her panties. Fuck, I want her so bad. If I touch her, I don’t know what I would do if she made me stop. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything.
Hesitating, I run my finger just inside the band, waiting for some sort of sign that this is okay, that she isn’t going to stop me. “Please, Cy, don’t stop.”
I release her breast with a loud pop and pull back to watch her face as I trail my finger lower. Both of us hold our breath, eyes burning into one another’s as I dip my finger into her wetness. “Fuck, baby. You’re so wet.”
Running my finger along her slick center, I brush it across the tight bundle of nerves at the top and my cock throbs. I roll my finger across it again. She clutches my arm, digging her fingernails in deep. “You like that?”
She nods and thrusts her hips, grinding her clit against my finger. I move faster, applying more pressure, and can’t pull my eyes away from the view of her flushed skin and parted lips. Suddenly, her body starts to tremble and her eyes roll back. “Ohhh! Oh, Cy...d-don’t stop.” Her words come out in stutters and pants as her climax hits and rolls through her body.
I’ve never been so turned on in my life. I kiss her swollen lips and slow my finger as she comes down from her high. “Damn, Em. That was fucking incredible.”
“Cy, I need you. Please.”
Pulling my hand from her panties, I hook a finger on each side and slide them down her legs, tossing them on the floor beside her shirt. Reaching for my jeans, I pull out my wallet to find the condom I’d stuck in there last week when I found out I was going to college. I never imagined I’d use it for someone like Emersyn.
I slide my shorts down over my hips and throw them behind me. I make quick work of sliding the condom over my hard and eager cock.
Once it’s on, I lay down between her legs, positioning myself at her entrance as I lean down to kiss her. “This is gonna hurt, baby.”
“I know, but I don’t care.”
Moving slowly, just a bit at a time, I slide in and out, getting deeper with each thrust. Fuck, she’s tight. Lights burst behind my closed lids and the pleasure nearly overwhelms me. When I hear her short gasp of pain, my eyes fly open and I look down, pausing.
“Keep going,” she gasps.
Moving inside her, I let my hands roam her skin and my lips plunder hers, wanting to imprint myself on every inch of her glorious body. She cries out, and then I feel it. My whole body tenses as my orgasm washes over me. Emersyn’s nails dig into the tensed globes of my ass. I call out her name as I succumb to every last bit of pleasure she has to give me.
When it passes, I lean down and claim her lips with mine, nipping and nibbling, putting every emotion I’m feeling into my kiss. Finally, I pull away and slide out of her tight heat. Kissing the tip of her nose, I throw a blanket over top of her and stand. “Don’t move.”
Turning, I pull off the condom and tie a knot in it before I throw on a pair of boxer shorts. Moving as quickly as I can, I quietly hurry down the hall to the bathroom, praying I don’t run into my sister, or worse, Father Martin. After disposing of the condom, I wet a washcloth with warm water and hurry back to my girl.
Climbing onto the bed, I kiss her again, marveling at how incredible it feels to be free to kiss those full lips whenever I want. “Let me clean you up, baby.”
Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t argue. Using the cloth, I take care of her, hoping that my efforts will help get rid of the discomfort she’s sure to be feeling. When I’m done, I toss the cloth into the hamper across the room and shuck my boxers, getting naked once more.
Slipping under the covers, I pull Emersyn into my arms. I almost lost her tonight. I squeeze her tightly to my chest and kiss the top of her head. “Night, Em.”
She sighs, nestling into me. “Good night, Cyrus.”
The only sound in the room is the sound of our synchronized breathing, and I’m almost asleep when she speaks. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you agreed to teach me to fight.”
Chuckling softly, I kiss her forehead and give her another squeeze. “I won’t, baby.”
She yawns. “Darn right you won’t.” Snuggling back down into my chest, she mumbles, “I’m gonna be as badass as Joey.”
I can almost pinpoint the exact second sleep takes her. Laying in my warm bed, wrapped up in the girl I’m certain I was made for, I do something I haven’t done in a long time. I pray.
Joey
-
At the top of the stairs, I can barely make out the quiet murmurs coming from Cy’s room. I have no idea what they’re doing in there, but I honestly don’t even want to guess. I see the way he looks at her and could practically feel his raw pain when he thought he lost her. I’ve heard bits of Emersyn’s thoughts when it comes to my brother. They are falling for each other, and if it were me, and I almost lost Merrick tonight, I know what I’d be doing. Shit, what I want to do regardless, but have no idea how to bring it up.
I walk swiftly, but quietly, to my bedroom door on the other side of the house—to which I’m thankful for tonight—and turn around to face Merrick.
“Do you want to sleep in my room tonight?” I ask shyly, then glance down at my feet. I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m no good at any of this. I feel so out of place in this world and surrounded by others, and even though most of the time I feel comfortable around Merrick, tonight is different.
When he doesn’t answer, I look up to see a very intense expression on his face, though it doesn’t look like a good intense. It’s like he’s thinking too hard, trying to find the right words to let me down easy.
Needing to get away as fast as I can before I do something really stupid, like break out into tears, I save him from the task of giving me an excuse of why he can’t. “I mean, not with me. I mean, you can sleep in my bed, and I’ll sleep downstairs. You’re the guest, after all. I’ll just grab some clothes and a pillow and leave you to it.”
Turning away from him, I rush into my room. Looking around frantically for where I put my sleep shorts and tank top, I jump when I feel arms wrap around me from behind.
“Hey,” Merrick whispers close to my ear, “it’s just me. I don’t know why you’re suddenly so shy and second guessing everything, but you need to stop.”
“You said nothing,” I whisper.
“When?” he asks, sounding genuinely confused.
“Just now. When I asked if you wanted to stay here with me.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I hate myself for sounding so small and broken. Here I am, an Angel/Demon Hybrid, and I’m scared and self-conscious about how a guy feels about me.
Merrick grasps my shoulders and turns me around to face him, but I can’t look him in the eyes. I don’t know what I’ll see there, but I can’t bring myself to look. He doesn’t give me an option. Gripping my chin in an almost bruising hold, he forces my head up. Even though the gesture isn’t brutal, I can feel his silent anger, but I’m still surprised when I see frustration written all over his beautiful, chiseled face.
“Now you listen, and you listen good, Joey. I’m only going to say this once, and after that, if you question me or the way I feel about you, I’ll paint your tight-ass red,” he says in a hard voice, but it doesn’t scare me. It actually makes my heart beat faster and my panties wet. “Do I have your attention now?” he asks. The only thing I can do is nod. I’m afraid if I speak, it will only come out as a squeak.
“Good. Now, hear me when I say this. You are mine, Joey. I want you and your sexy body, your gorgeous mind, and your beautiful soul. I even want your sassy mouth. I want all of you. I don’t care if Le Vieux is turning the world to ashes as we speak. I’ll still want you right this second, and say fuck everyone and everything else. But,” he pauses as he lowers his mouth to lightly brush across my own, “I want more too. I want to know you. I want to see inside your mind, know your thoughts, your hopes, your dreams. I need you, but I need all of you. I want more than just a warm body beside me and a few hours of pleasure. I want it all with you, babe.”
Damn him! Now I want him even more. I love that he wants more than sex, even though it may literally kill me to wait.
“Okay,” I say, because as much as I want him, I want more too. I want to know all the things that make him the man he is.
He smiles brightly, like he just won the biggest battle in history, and pulls me in close. “Good. Now, why don’t you go take a shower and meet me back in here.”
Stepping away from him, I turn towards my dresser to grab a new pair of sleepwear, since I probably shouldn’t sleep in my normal attire tonight, but before I can take another step, he grabs my hand to spin me back around to face him, taking my lips in a hard kiss.
I gasp, which gives him the perfect opportunity to dive right into my mouth with his tongue. Not like I’m complaining, though. Yet, as soon as I start to return the kiss, he lifts his head and whispers, “Hurry back,” before he turns around and walks out of my room.
I hear him chuckle as he walks down the hall to the other bathroom. Asshole. He did that on purpose. Well, I can be a tease too. Game on!
What was meant to be a quick shower turns into a half-hour. I forgot about the bumps and bruises that were inflicted on my body from earlier today when the house was invaded. Standing under the hot spray of water feels too good to leave, even for the sexy half-demon that waits for me in my bedroom.
Finally stepping out, I put on one of my racier pair of sleep shorts and a tight tank top. Merrick thinks that he’s the only one that can tease, but he has another thing coming. My plan is to make him sweat, and wish that he didn’t suggest we get to know each other better first.
Merrick is already lying in my bed, messing with the sheets. Hearing me walk into the room, he looks up and his mouth drops open. Smirking, I close the door behind me and walk up to the bed.
“Like what you see?” I ask.
I must have completely struck him dumb because he doesn’t say a word. Laughing, I pull the covers b
ack and get in bed beside him. “What’s wrong, Merrick? Pussy got your tongue?”
That snaps him out of his stunned silence. I know I’ve shocked him with my choice of words. I’ve never said that word out loud before, but it feels natural saying it to him.
“You are really testing my restraint right now, babe. But, if that’s the way you want to play, I’ll play along.” He grabs my hips, pulling me closer to him, then pulls himself on top of me, taking my mouth in a passionate kiss. My lips tingle, and electricity shoots up my spine as I kiss him back, pouring every emotion I feel for him into it.
I get lost in his lips and don’t even realize my hands are moving until he lifts his head, panting for breath. “Behave,” he growls, grabbing my hands, restraining them so I can’t move them farther up his hard body.
“No fair,” I pout, pushing my bottom lip out, emphasizing how much I don’t like the rules he’s putting out.
“How about we both call a truce for now. We’ll spend tonight talking, then tomorrow...well, tomorrow will be a different story,” he says with a smirk.
I’d pretty much agree to anything at this moment to get what I want, and I want him more than my next breath.
“Okay,” I agree.
“So, what do you want to know about me?” he asks as he lays back down beside me, pulling me against him.
“Everything.” I don’t even know where to start. I want to know more about his time with his parents, how he felt when they were killed, how it was growing up without them. I need to know everything about him, even the little things, like what his favorite food is, what he’s majoring in in college, what’s his favorite color?
“All right. How about I start from the beginning?” He continues to tell me everything I want to know. We stay like that, lying in each other’s arms, talking and getting to know the deepest parts of each other. He talks about himself, then I talk about myself. I ask him a question, then he asks me. It’s the most fun I’ve had in a long time, which is really pathetic if you think about it, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Because here, with Merrick, I finally feel like I belong.