Instead of going back to the penthouse, Azrael shot higher in the sky until they were above the clouds. He set them down on top of a particularly large one. Alice looked at their feet, eyes wide with confusion.
“How are we standing on a cloud? Wait… more to the point, why are we here?”
He wasn’t quite sure Alice would approve of all his reasons for bringing her up here. It was selfish. Part of him wanted to make their first time memorable for her, but the other half wanted to say ‘fuck you’ to dear old dad. Taking the final step with her where they were in full view of Heaven. The darker side of him relished the prospect.
“Have you forgotten who I am again?”
“No, I just didn’t realise this was possible.”
The moon glinted off the clouds, setting off her skin in the low light. He was done waiting. She was going to have a lesson in what it meant to be desired by an angel. He hooked his fingers into her coat, tugging it off her. Next, he began unbuttoning her blouse.
“What… What are you doing?”
“Undressing you.”
“Undressing… What? Why?”
She put her hands on his, stopping him in his tracks. She stared up at him, eyes wide with confusion.
“I’m going to fuck you, right here on this cloud.”
Her mouth dropped open. Her hands fell from his. He continued unbuttoning her blouse. It fluttered down between them. He tugged her into his arms, his mouth connecting with hers. Her hands rested on his shoulders.
“Why is it such a turn on to hear you say things like that to me?”
He pulled away, grinning.
“I think you’re wearing far too much still.”
It was taking too long, undressing her as a human would. Impatience flared inside him. He clicked his fingers and in an instant, he’d divested both of them of their clothes. She moved to cover herself, but he took her hands, kissing her fingertips.
“I… What did you do?”
Instead of responding, he pressed her downwards, covering her body with his own. He kissed her again, devouring her mouth. She moaned, her hands clutching his back. She was so soft, pliant under his fingers. He could feel her desire for him pulsating in her veins. He wanted to take his time with her, but his need to feel her was driving him to distraction.
“I feel like my whole body is singing from his touch. I don’t even care why we’re doing this here. If we get interrupted again I might actually scream.”
He cupped one of her breasts, thumb rubbing over the hardened nub. She arched up against him. His other hand found her sex. She was already wet for him. It made his heart pound faster. This desire he felt was unlike anything else.
“Do you have any idea how desperately I want to bury myself in you?”
“Please, I want you to.”
Her tone set his entire body on fire. Waiting was no longer an option. He waved a hand. The cloud curled around her ankles, pulling her legs open for him. It then lashed onto her wrists, holding her in place. She stared up at him, grey eyes wide with desire.
“Is this your idea of punishing me?” she asked, straining against the bonds. “Making it impossible for me to touch you.”
“Do you want to touch me?”
“Yes, you know I do. How is this fair?”
He smiled.
“Perhaps if you’re good, I’ll allow you to go free.”
His fingers brushed over her sex again, circling her sensitive core. She groaned, wriggling against his hand.
“Please, stop teasing me. I want you so much.”
“I didn’t think hearing you beg me to take you would be so… sweet.”
“I’ll beg you as much as you want if it means you’ll give it to me. Please, Az.”
Her pleas were too much. He pressed her legs open further, staring down at her naked form. She is so beautiful. I’m utterly at her mercy and she has no idea. Leaning over her, he kissed her neck, tongue running down her heated skin.
“Az, please, I can’t take much more of this. I feel like I’m going to combust.”
He gripped her thighs, pressing into her, feeling her enclose him inch by inch. She cried out, her eyes flying open. Her chest heaving with every breath she took.
“Fuck,” he grunted.
She encased him in liquid heat. It was unlike anything he imagined. No other human woman he’d been with felt like her. The way her body moulded to his. She was perfect. He released the hold the cloud had on her. Her hands curled around his back, her face buried in his shoulder. She groaned when he pressed deeper, giving her everything he had to offer.
“Az, you feel like nothing else in this world.”
He began a slow, torturous pace. She clutched him tighter, letting out a series of garbled curses. He stopped caring he was doing this in full view of Heaven. All his focus was on the woman beneath him. There was electricity between them were their skin met, their bodies joined. Now he knew what she felt like, a human lifetime with her would never be enough.
He burnt with need. Gripping her hips, he thrust harder, needing to take her to heights she’d never met before. Show her that no one else could give her the pleasure he could. He wanted to brand himself on her skin. He needed her to know what it meant to be his.
“Az… look at me.”
He leant back a little, staring down into her grey eyes. They were full of heat, lust. She reached up, running her fingers through the hair at the back of his head. Her expression changed, concern falling over her features.
“I need you to tell me this is what you want, that this feels right.”
“You feel right. Everything between us is right. Do you doubt me still?”
“No… Not when you look at me like that. Not when you make me feel things I’ve never experienced before. This isn’t like being with a human.”
“No, you’re with an angel now, Alice, and I don’t intend to let you go.”
He captured her mouth to stop her from saying anything further.
You’re mine, Alice. My human. Do you hear me? Mine.
“I hear you… I’m yours.”
He didn’t let up. Giving her more, deeper, harder until she begged him to give her a release. Her nails dug into his back, her thighs tightened around him. She was close to exploding all over him. He could feel the tremors across her skin.
“Let go,” he whispered in her ear.
She bucked against him, her body trembling, her sex clenching, tightening. She cried out his name as it drove through her. He couldn’t hold back against the tidal wave of her climax. He grunted, feeling his own end pulsate through him at an alarming pace.
Alice had once said in her head she wanted to be the balm to his suffering. She was that and so much more. Ever since he’d kissed her the first time, he’d felt calmer. At peace almost. Now, after they had taken the final, irreversible step with each other, he felt a completeness he’d never experienced before. He wasn’t quite sure what all these alien feelings were, but he knew he couldn’t let her go.
“Az,” she whispered, coming down from her high. “You’re like ecstasy, except this isn’t like any drug I’ve ever heard of.”
He grinned, stroking her hair from her face. She’d worn contacts this evening, but he still thought she was beautiful when she was in her glasses.
“I’m a drug to you?”
“No, you’re so much more, but I don’t have any words to describe it.”
Her heart thundered next to his where they were pressed against each other.
“If I’m yours… does that make you mine?”
He took her hands, pinning them next to her head.
“Hmm… is that what you want?”
“Yes.”
He smiled. Sometimes she could be quite direct, at others, timid and shy.
“If that’s what will make you happy. I have no patience for anyone but you.”
She entwined their fingers together, turning her face so she could kiss his hand.
“Being with you makes me happy.”
That’s all I want. Her happiness.
“Do you want to go home?”
She nodded, kissing his fingers again. He shifted off her, releasing her hands. The next moment, they were dressed. He picked her up, holding her close. He looked up.
Whatever you sent me here for, Father, I don’t care anymore. All that matters is her.
His wings appeared and they descended back to Earth together. He fully intended to keep the beautiful girl in his arms safe.
§
Alice stretched a little when she awoke. Her body still thrummed from Az’s touch the night before. Sex with him… I have no words. It was everything and so much more.
She pulled the covers off her face, turning to find the angel next to her. His eyes were closed. His long eyelashes stark against his pale skin. She reached up, brushing the lock of auburn hair, which had fallen across his brow, away. He caught her hand before she could retract it, bringing it to his lips. He kissed her fingertips one by one.
“Were you sleeping?” she asked.
“For a time, yes.”
She shuffled towards him, pressing her lips to his. He pulled her closer, murmuring his approval against her mouth. It was bliss. Waking up with him and knowing she could be close to Az. Kiss him. Touch him. Whatever reservations she had about wanting an immortal being had well and truly gone out the window. He’s mine. It felt right.
“Mmm, I want you again, but first, I’m going to make sure you’re adequately fed,” he said.
“Is that so you can have me several times over?”
“If we didn’t have company soon, I would keep you in this bed all day.”
She didn’t have a response. Heat flooded her cheeks. She was aware of their mutual attraction, but his appetite for her was unexpected. Everything about this was unexpected.
When he’d brought her back to the penthouse, he’d pushed her on the bed and taken her again. Slow and sensual, unlike the intense pounding he’d given her up in the skies.
Still can’t believe we had sex on a cloud. When he had me at his mercy… Holy crap that was hot. I wonder if he’ll do it again… keeping me restrained whilst he has his way with me.
He slipped from the bed, kissing her forehead. She watched him leave, her mouth growing dry at the sight of him shirtless. She would never tire of seeing him in all his glory. She stretched out, feeling contentment settle in her bones. Grabbing her phone off the bedside table, she knew she’d be in trouble with Chris for not getting in contact with him.
‘I’m sorry. I should’ve texted you. I just got distracted.’
A minute later, his response appeared.
‘In a good way I hope?’
‘The best. All I can say is cloud sex.’
‘What?! He fucked you on a cloud?’
‘Yes :) mental isn’t it?’
‘I hope it was good.’
‘Good? Chris, he was fucking incredible.’
She smiled. It really had been incredible. She put her phone back down on the bedside table. Even though he was making her breakfast in bed, she wanted to hold him again. Her angel.
There was no warning when something exploded out of her. All she saw was black smoke writhing, twisting around her body. She tried to scream, but her mouth stayed firmly shut. Images assaulted her senses. Her eyes rolled back in her head. Visions of the world burning. Buildings crashing down. The land scorched with flame. Ash clouds coating the skies. The dust settling on the blackened earth. And the only person left was her, bathed in smoke. Her hair wild. Her eyes black.
“I am coming,” said a voice in her head. “I am coming.”
The smoke drove into her mouth, filling her with darkness. She felt it deep in her skin, her bones. When she opened her eyes again, they were pools of black. She launched herself out of the bed before taking shaky steps towards the living room. She needed Azrael. Whatever this was had a message for him.
He turned in the kitchen at the sound of her footfall on the carpet. His eyes widened. He’d dressed in a plain white shirt and chinos, his feet bare.
A voice that sounded nothing like her own erupted from her mouth.
“I am coming.”
“Alice?” he whispered, taking a step towards her.
The doors to the elevator dinged. She didn’t turn to see who it was when they slid open.
“I am coming to consume you. Heaven. Earth. Hell. The Darkness has awoken. The lands will bleed. Feed my wrath. You have awoken me, Azrael. I will not be contained again. I am coming. I am coming for you all.”
Her legs gave out. She collapsed on the carpet, her mouth wide as the smoke billowed out and evaporated into thin air. A sob tore from her throat.
“Az.”
He was in front of her in moments, kneeling and pulling her into his arms.
“Shh, shh, it’s okay. You’re okay.”
“What was that?” she sobbed.
He stroked her hair, tensing at her question.
“Lucifer warned me what you might be. I didn’t want to listen to him. I didn’t want you to be a part of this mess, but you are and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Alice, I’m sorry.”
There was a cough from their right. Both of them turned at the noise. Standing by the elevator doors, staring at the two of them were a man and a woman. He had dark hair and dark eyes. The woman beside him had long chestnut brown hair and blue eyes. They both looked shocked and confused.
“You must be Ella and Lukas,” Azrael said.