by JL Madore
“Do it.” Her breath came in pants, gaze locked on him. “Whatever that is in your eyes, do it.”
“I . . . I can’t.”
“Of course you can. You need to let go. Whatever happens, I’m with you.”
Man, he wanted to believe that but what if it was too much for her. What if he hurt her or offended her, or—
“Don’t hold back.” She slapped his cheek. The sting of her hand striking his face freed something wild in him. His pulsed thundered from his temples, down to his groin.
“Again,” he breathed, his cock burning with the potential of what was to come. “Harder.”
The second strike snapped his head to the side and knocked his hamster right out of its wheel. Fuck yeah.
As she rode him, his body pulsed with his gift. It was the same high he got with heavenly Grace but a Darkworld equivalent. This was hunger and greed and possession. Through the euphoric fog, he reached out, gauging Austin’s state. He got off on this feeling of being out of control, but needed her safe and secure. Austin was his safe place.
His acceptance. His redemption.
He wanted to curl up inside her and never leave. He needed her to thrive and love him.
I love you more with every breath, angelman. Her voice filled his head, the caress of emotion warming his insides. Everything you are, I want it. Everything you feel belongs to me. Stop denying me what’s mine and let the beast free.
How? What was that?
His beast didn’t care how. The connection between them was locked tighter than ever. His control snapped. His beast took over. The male screamed for him to stop.
There was no holding back. Ripping the silk sheath from her body, his beast exposed her skin and discarded the rags. This woman was his. There was nothing more beautiful to him than her naked body. The world spun as he flipped Austin onto her back.
Electrical charge snapped in the air around them.
Hands. Mouth. Tongue. He ravaged her, his beast roaring in his skull. She tugged at the hem of his shirt. He rose up, grabbed the collar, and ripped it down the center. Now they were on an even playing field.
Her pupils flared. She wasn’t afraid of what he’d do to her. She was anxious for it. The growl that ripped from his chest had glass jingling around the room. “Hold on.”
Austin dug her nails into his flesh and his eyes rolled into his head. Power jolted through him. It surged and burned away anything he thought he knew about their connection.
They were one, as they had been the night he brought her back from the dead. He thought they had been since.
He’d been blind.
He’d nearly split himself in two then, but now his powers united them, his Otherworld energy igniting their cells as one. Their bodies as one. Their minds as one.
Their orgasm was transcendent.
He was her, and she was him. The shattering of her thoughts and senses exploded within him. The keening pulse of her sex, squeezing and pulling, had him reeling as pleasure lit her up. His release cleaved him in two. He panted, the pulse of his heart pounding in his groin. He gave himself over to it. Let the fiery ache free before his body ignited in flame.
Austin cried his name. It echoed in his mind.
She grew hotter, wetter, as his seed poured into her. He pumped his hips, his shoulders pitching forward, his wings stretching wide behind him. Even as his release soaked her insides, he felt something even bigger building inside him. Gripping the rug at her shoulders, his arms shook from the power zapping his cells. Glass shattered by his desk.
He couldn’t stop.
Whatever they unleashed now had a life of its own. Zander’s mind fractured, disjointed thoughts spinning in a thousand directions. Every ounce of current his powers commanded ignited beneath his skin.
No longer a man and his wife—they were a dark angel and his beloved soul.
Withdrawing for the briefest of moments, he pulled his wings in and rolled. Lifting them both onto their knees, he bent her over the seat of the club chair. Entering her from behind, he missed the look on her face but had better leverage.
From this position, he penetrated her completely, and could lift her hips and meet him stroke for stroke.
“That’s it,” he ground out. “Ride me all you want.”
And she did. Bracing her palms against the back of the chair, she pushed back, driving him deeper and harder. He loved her like this. Wild and demanding. Shameless in his arms. Fuck, how could he still be this hard.
His abs burned from wave after wave of ejaculation. Her core was drenched and overflowing. He gripped her hips and held her in place, the glisten and glide so incredibly messy.
So perfect it hurt.
His Mark lit the entire room, bathing them in blue light. The pressure inside him grew dangerous. Still, she accepted everything he gave her. Not accepted—demanded.
Closing his eyes, he ground his teeth to stave off the end of this. The air swirled around them, the hair on his arms and legs tingling as it stood on end.
“That’s it, angelman. Wring yourself out. Give me everything.”
Sex beyond the extreme.
His heart threatened to explode in behind his ribs. He rode her hard, crushing their bodies together until a throaty shout ripped from his chest and his hips locked in the grip of yet another release. Shuddering, he pinned her to the chair and detonated from within.
The room exploded in a violent burst of color.
Darkness took him hard and fast.
CHAPTER TEN
Males. You couldn’t rely on any of them. Layne waited over an hour in that stupid aquarium, looking at fish swim in circles while mindless humans and their offspring oohed and ahhed. For what? He hadn’t come. If her command worked so well at the Sumerian’s loft, Bo should have heeded her call and found her for his next instructions.
Without contact, her hold would weaken.
Arriving back at her apartment, she unlocked the spell sealing her apartment, and slammed her door behind her. Unwinding her scarf, she stopped halfway and cursed. “What’s this, a family reunion? Not in the mood.”
Neither of her siblings looked like they cared.
“You didn’t enjoy Ripley’s?” Gheil said, feigning surprise. “I’ve heard it’s a wonderful aquarium. I’m considering hosting a dinner party there. I’ve heard you can eat above the shark tank.”
Her disappointment hit her harder than she thought it could. First, betrayal that he had her followed and Jhaia knew. Second, she hadn’t realized? Was the Grand One right? Was she so sure of herself, she’d become reckless?
“How long?”
“Since you acted out with the boy,” Jhaia said, jutting her chin. Her sister, seven years older than her, looked every bit as proud and regal as their mother ever did. “You humiliated me in front of a friend and jeopardized an alliance Gheil and I are working on for the future of all Djinn.”
“I am sorry you were embarrassed, but hello, Jhaia, how about a bit of warning? Hey Layne, heads-up, this might be a shocker. We think Taid’s essence transferred to a Watcher half-breed bastard child.’”
Jhaia pursed her lips, looking like she’d been struck across the face. “Don’t you dare dishonor my son’s choice with your own prejudice.”
“Prejudice?” Layne’s mind reeled. The Watchers had been enemies of the Darkworld since the beginning of man. “Maybe it’s you who dishonor Taid by cozying up to the assassin who ripped his essence from him and Frankensteined his own kid to steal his powers.”
“Is that truly where your mind went?” Gheil asked, his face screwed up. “Watcher Tanek lays the babe in your arms, and you envision the child as a monstrosity of greed and ambition?”
“Have you forgotten who we’re dealing with?”
Jhaia shook her head. “Layne, you haven’t spoken to Seth. You didn’t feel the anguish in his mind when he apologized for failing to bring Taid home to me alive.”
Layne threw up her hands and continued taking off her coat a
nd boots. “If you two are here to convince me that kid has anything to do with Taid, you’re wasting your time.”
“Because you know more about my son than I do?” Jhaia never struck a tone with her—that was Gheil’s go-to, but not her sister. Not until tonight. “You think too highly of yourself, little sister. It’s ugly, and I want no part of it, or you.”
“Big surprise there!” Layne shouted as her sister stormed from the room. “The big question is, what took you so long to realize it?”
Gheil straightened from the hearth of the fireplace and adjusted the button on his suit jacket. “I leave you to the mess you’ve created, sister. I didn’t tell Jhaia about your meetings with the rebels—that would break her heart and you’ve caused her enough pain in this time of mourning—but continue with the uprising, and I shall exile you as a traitor of our people.”
“What?” The breath hissed from Layne’s lungs. “I’m not a traitor. Everything I do and have done is for the Djinn people, for you and Jhaia. I’m fighting to keep us on solid footing with the Darkworld.”
“You’re fighting against the rule of your Master, Layne. That is, in its very definition, the act of a traitor.”
Layne’s entire body shook, her cells and muscles trembling at once. She wanted to scream. She wanted to make them understand. She’d done this for them. It was they who weren’t seeing things clearly.
Gheil walked to the door and paused, stiff-backed and chin up. He didn’t look back to speak to her. “Consider yourself under house arrest, little sister. Leave this apartment again without my approval, and you won’t be welcome back.”
If Layne had something in her hand, she would have pitched it at the back of the door. Her brother was such an arrogant ass. House arrest? He underestimated her.
She wasn’t a traitor, and she’d prove it. She’d find out what the Watchers did to capture Taid’s essence and make both Jhaia and Gheil eat their words. No need to be out in the world to get the job done. She could contact the Viking and get him back online from right here in her apartment.
Kyrian knew from the first roll of thunder on the clear, winter morning, something wasn’t right. The other brothers might not be able to sense the difference between a normal meteorological event and Zander’s mojo getting out of hand, but he did. He rolled out of the warmth of Cassi’s arms, got dressed, and launched his molecules toward the ranch.
When he arrived, all seemed quiet, despite the hair on his arms standing on end. He stepped into the vestibule, let the retinal and palm scanner do their thing, and then stepped inside.
Stetson bounded over, the bundle of chocolate fur cracking the wall, and the leg of the foyer table with his tail. Lightning sliced the sky, and a sea of nausea rolled in his gut. Okay, that was new.
“What’s going on out there?” Tanek asked, ghosting through the stunning mustang mural to greet him in the grand entrance.
“Oh, that’s not weather. That’s our boy, Z, when his heightened dark angel mojo is out of control. Where is he?”
The look on Tanek’s face said it all. Okay, awkward.
“Where?”
“In his office. They must be done. Zander’s a machine, but I closed the door for them ages ago.”
Kyrian kicked off his slushy boots and socked it down the corridor. “You don’t get how it is with a Nephilim mate, my brother. Time stops. The world disappears. There’s only you and your female, and the hunger for her never eases.”
“Sounds exhausting,” Tanek said, chuckling.
Kyrian shared the laugh and they stopped outside the office door. He put his palm up to the wooden slab between them and the energy charge made his Mark burst into full neon green. “Okay, wow, we need to stop whatever Z’s got going on in there. You feel that?”
Tanek put his palm up to the door and shook his head. “Nope. Nada.”
“Weird. Well, regardless—”
The blast detonated from within Zander’s office and knocked Kyrian on his ass. He slid backwards twenty feet, and cracked his head on the marble hall table. It took a moment before the little birdies stopped twittering around his head, but eventually, he crawled to his knees.
Tanek stood straight and strong, with his palm still on the door. “What’s happening with you, Greek?”
Kyrian shook his head and regretted it immediately. “It’s not me. It just didn’t happen to you, T. Maybe a ghost thing?”
Heavy footfalls thundered from above. The others felt it, and it had gone further than the immediate vicinity. Hark, Brennus, and Danel joined them on a run, weapons in hand, ready to fight off the enemy in their Calvins.
“Check on them,” Kyrian said, to Tanek.
Danel and Hark got him to his feet, and made sure he was right and tight.
“Zander? Austin? It’s Tanek. Is everything all right?”
There was a groan, and then a panicked Austin came back at them. “I need Kyrian,” she yelled. “Please, don’t come in, Tanek. I need Kyrian. Call the hotel and get him here.”
“I’m here, cowgirl,” he said, getting back into the swing of one foot in front of the other. “May I come in?”
The scent of her tears brought his beast roaring forward. Cassi wasn’t the only female he loved. Austin would forever own a piece of his heart.
“Just you. Promise.”
“I promise, sweetheart,” he said, casting a look to his brothers to ensure they understood to stand down. “Whatever it is, I’ve got you both. I swear.”
When no further protest came up, he used his powers to unlock the door. He eased in and cursed to himself. The room looked like a bomb had detonated—and that made sense. Zander was across the room unconscious with a head lac, and Austin was clinging to him, crying her heart out, for once . . .”
The scent of sweat and sex hung rife, and he tried to stay objective. The first thing he needed to do was get Austin covered up. He turned and opened the door a crack. “Danel, run up to their suite and check on the baby. Tanek, go with him and bring down some clothes for them both.”
When he had them locked in again together, he went over and knelt on the rug beside them. “Austin, are you okay, sweetheart? There’s a lot of blood here, cowgirl. What hurts? Why the tears?”
“I broke him,” she choked. “I shouldn’t have . . . things got out of hand. I thought if he just let it out, for once.”
“Did he hurt you?”
She recoiled. “No! You know better.”
“Yeah, I do. Just had to be sure.” He grabbed Z’s shredded tee off the rug and handed it to her. Take this and clean up. I’ve got clothes coming.”
Austing smelled the fabric, and no doubt recognized that it was Zander’s shirt. She pressed it to her mouth and cried harder. “Why isn’t he awake. A bump on the head shouldn’t knock him out.”
“I’ll figure that out, but first, let’s get you presentable. If he wakes up and he’s still full-beast, he won’t appreciate me near you when you’re nakey.”
Getting back to his feet, he jogged to the door and stuck his head out.
Danel handed him the clothes and frowned. “Do we need Raphael to make a house call?”
Did they? Fuck. He didn’t want to pull that trigger. Zander would be furious to have his private business part of the Archangel circles. “Let’s start with Drina. Give me five.”
As the peanut gallery cursed, Brennus pulled out his phone and gave him a nod.
Kyrian pulled the club chair back onto its legs while Austin slipped into her yoga pants and fleece. With Zander’s t-shirt rag, he brushed away the blood on her face, relieved to find that it was, in fact, all Zander’s.
“Stop fussing over me,” she said, swatting at his hands. “It’s Zander who needs help.”
Kyrian swallowed. “I know, sweetheart. I’m taking care of you first for Zander. Trust me. It’s a beast thing. I have to make sure you’re good before I let the others in to help.”
“The others?” The terror in her eyes seared his heart. “You think
he’s that hurt?”
“I need help getting him up to your suite, and called for Drina. I’m not taking any chances by underestimating what just went down. Trust me, Austin. We’ll fix this.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Bo stood at the opposite edge of the creek and watched as he and Gyda were run through and left for dead. He knew he was dreaming. This reoccurring nightmare had haunted him for centuries. It popped up out of nowhere. It would plague him after something happened: seeing a girl on the street who looked like her, smelling the damp moss of an autumn forest, hearing the searing pleas for mercy tear from a young girl’s throat. Thankfully, it didn’t happen much.
“You really should let it go. Why do you dwell on it?”
He turned and blinked at the raven-haired female who shadowed his mind. “That falls under the category of none-of-your-fucking-business.”
“Fair enough. But, what good is the self-flagellation? Does it change anything?”
Bo stared at her, the female’s image bringing memories so close to his recollection, he fought to capture them like coy mirages of his mind. “Who are you? Why are you here?”
“You know who. You didn’t come to me, so I came to you.” She sidled up to him and frowned at the scene behind him. “Take us somewhere less depressing.”
He swiped a hand through the air, and the background of his dream changed. Now they were on a Viking ship, bobbing in the open water, the sun hot on the decks. With no wind, the sails hung flaccid and lifeless. He never minded the hours he spent awaiting the breath of the gods on the open sea.
Stepping over to the long, wooden bench, he stretched out on his back and let the golden heat warm the chill in his soul. Closing his eyes to the brilliance, he drew a deep lungful of salt air.
“Oh, you’re great company. Did you forget I’m here?”
Bo feigned a nonchalance he didn’t feel. Not at all his usual type of female, the raven-haired vixen lit a fire in him he couldn’t explain, the wanton hunger of a sexual addict too long without his fix, which was totes cray-cray given the amount of sex he’d had lately.