Alice couldn’t stop the tears flowing. She clutched him tighter, the wind rushing around her ears. Tonight was one huge mess.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
“You’re not calling me stupid, are you?” he asked.
“No,” she sobbed. “Quit listening.”
She wanted one private thought to herself. Despite how she felt about the angel, she still hated him hearing her when she didn’t want him to.
“It’s hard not to, but I’ll try for you.”
He’d try for her?
She wanted to look at him, but she didn’t want him seeing her tear streaked face. She was sure her makeup was running everywhere.
This is so embarrassing. I hope he doesn’t think I’m crying over him or anything.
She was upset with herself and Jason. Mostly herself for being an idiot and going to see him. She wanted to have a clean break, but he’d tried to get her to go home with him. It had been fine until they’d gotten outside and he’d dragged her into that alley.
She felt her feet set down on the pavement for a moment before Azrael swept an arm under her legs and picked her up.
“Az!”
He ignored her and carried her into the building, straight into the lift. He punched in the code with her still in his arms. The door closed. She was thankful there was no one else in here. When they reached the penthouse, he set her down. She didn’t look at him as she hurried away towards the bedroom.
“Alice?”
He followed her, but she couldn’t stop. She ran into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. She flipped the lock. It wouldn’t keep him out, but she needed a minute. She put both hands on the counter next to the sink, looking at her face. Her mascara was running, her makeup streaked across her face with her tears. She tugged her makeup wipes towards her and wiped it away until her face was clear.
“Alice, open the door.”
She sighed, throwing the wipe in the bin before going over to the door. She opened it. He stood there, in full armour. She looked up into his bright green eyes. He was still glowing. Everything about the angel in front of her made her heart ache. He reached out, cupping her face.
“What were you doing?”
She looked at her hands.
“Honestly, I didn’t want you to see me looking like a mess after I’d been crying.”
He ran a thumb across her bottom lip. It made her skin tingle and caused a stirring in her stomach. Her eyes went to his mouth.
“Why would you think that would bother me?”
“Because you’ve told me you don’t like it when humans cry on you and you don’t like human emotions.”
“I wanted to kiss your tears away.”
Her heart skipped a beat.
He wants to what?
She raised her eyes to his just in time to see him lean towards her. His mouth met hers, his arms coming around her. The cold metal of his armour dug into her chest. All her focus was on his mouth, gently pressing against hers. He really did know how to kiss a girl. I can’t be the only human he’s kissed, right?
He backed them away from the bathroom, into the bedroom. She didn’t quite register what was happening until she felt her back hit a wall. His fingers roamed down her sides. He pushed her coat off her shoulders. He released her mouth to press kisses down her jaw and the column of her throat. She couldn’t breathe.
“Alice,” he whispered. “I want to kiss you, to feel you.”
He was answering her question from earlier. He wants this? He wants… me? How could she even believe that after all of his ranting about mortals? She put her hands on his chest, pushing him back. His eyes were questioning when he looked down at her.
“I can’t do this right now. Also, you’re all in like serious battle gear and it’s just weird.”
She hadn’t meant to say that last part. She didn’t want him to think she didn’t like his attention, but her head was a mess. He stepped away from her, looking down at his armour for a moment.
“I don’t really know what’s going on between us,” she continued. “All you’ve done is tell me how much you dislike humans.”
She ran a hand through her hair. She hadn’t meant to start this line of conversation.
“I’m sorry I went out to see Jason. I thought it would get him to stop contacting me, but he had other ideas. Him touching me, makes me feel sick and now you’re kissing me and it’s just confusing. I need… I need time alone to think, process what’s going on.”
He looked back up at her.
“Time…”
“Yes, time.”
He frowned.
Not forever, Az… just like… an hour?
“You told me not to listen to your thoughts.”
She shrugged. It was kind of becoming a habit to talk to him in her head. It was sometimes easier than admitting things out loud.
“I’m going to go in there.” She pointed at the bathroom. “I don’t want you to think I’m going to leave again. I know it’s not safe and, well, I want to stay here.” With you. Only with you because my heart races when you’re near me.
She wasn’t sure if he’d listened to the last part. He didn’t object when she slipped away. Going into the bathroom, she left the door ajar, hoping it would be enough for him to know she wasn’t trying to shut him out.
She ran herself a bubble bath. She took her contact lenses out, throwing the daily disposables in the bin. She only needed them and her glasses to see things at a distance. She undressed, leaving her clothes in a neat pile on the counter before slipping into the water. She lay back, the bubbles settling around her. Staring out at the London skyline, the lights twinkling, she tried to relax. It was beautiful seeing the city this way.
Since she’d seen the bath the first day she’d been here, she’d wanted to try it out. It was huge. Can definitely fit more than one person in here. She flushed as she imagined taking a bath with him. She shook herself. She’d come in here to get away from her thoughts about the angel, not to fantasise about him.
She put her arms on the side of the bath, laying her head across them as she stared out at the dark sky. I was an idiot to go see Jason. She wished she’d just stayed here like Az had told her to. She wondered what happened with Lucifer. Did he find out what the Devil wanted with her? The Devil who was really an Archangel himself. Is Lucifer as beautiful as Azrael? Are all angels beautiful?
She cursed herself. Why was she even thinking about that? Her thoughts were filled with his perfect features. She wanted to see him, in all his glory. Groaning, she tipped her head back against the lip of the bath, putting a hand over her eyes. She needed to get a grip. He probably didn’t even really want her at all. How could he? He was the epitome of perfection and she was nothing. Even though his personality was occasionally prickly, he still managed to show her that he had a softer side.
There’s something about him which is just so sad. He’s been alone all this time. It makes my heart hurt, ache for him.
He couldn’t go home. His real home was no longer an option for him.
“An hour is far too long.”
She looked up, startled before sinking into the bubbles to hide her nakedness from him. He strode into the room, dressed in a white t-shirt and a long pair of trousers. His feet were bare.
“Um… you do realise I’m not wearing anything in here, don’t you?”
“And?”
She flushed, scowling at him. He went over to the window, shoving his hands in his pockets, staring out at the skyline.
“And… it’s kind of not cool to watch me bathing.”
“I won’t look.”
She stared at his back. His broad shoulders and the line of his narrow hips.
Oh my. It’s not just the water making me feel hot right now.
“You should voice it out loud if it’s really how I make you feel.”
She sunk lower in the water, pressing her hands to her cheeks.
“I can’t control my thoughts.”
“And yet you asked me to stop when it’s clear I want to give you what you desire.”
“What?”
“You want me to touch you, intimately. I’ve heard it enough times in your head.”
She couldn’t quite believe he’d just said that.
The ground needs to swallow me whole, right now. I’m going to die of sheer mortification and embarrassment.
She couldn’t exactly deny it. He wouldn’t believe her if she tried. She needed to change the subject and fast.
“Did you see your brother?”
His back stiffened. She ached to get out and hold him, to melt away the tension radiating off her angel. Okay, I might have told Jason he’s my angel, but he’s not really mine, is he?
“Yes.”
“You don’t want to talk about it.”
“No.”
“Did you at least find out what he wants with me?”
“In a sense.”
She frowned. Why would he want her company when he wasn’t being particularly communicative? He turned away from the window, his eyes on hers.
“I will deal with Lucifer. I’m more concerned about keeping you away from him. You’re not safe.”
“Why, does he want me dead or something?”
There was a flicker of worry in his eyes for the slightest moment. She had been joking, but the seriousness of his expression made her pause.
“Wait… that is what he wants.”
“Alice…”
She sat up, forgetting she was naked for a moment. She crossed her arms over her chest, hiding her breasts from him. His eyes blazed. He strode across the room and knelt down beside the bath. He reached out and cupped her face.
“Don’t be embarrassed to show yourself to me.”
How can I not be?
“Why not?” she whispered.
“I want to see you.”
“But why? I don’t understand.”
“Do you think I don’t desire you, Alice?”
Her face burnt brighter.
“No, how could you? You’re an angel and I’m a human.”
His eyes searched hers for a moment. Without warning, he got to his feet and stepped into the bath with her. He knelt before her, in between her legs, still in all of his clothes. She stared up at him in confusion.
“What are you doing?”
He took her hands, tugging them away from her breasts. He looked her over, his eyes blazing with want, need. He pinned her hands to the back of the bath before leaning over her.
“I have been on Earth for centuries, never once have I felt desire until I met you. I want you, Alice. I want to touch you, to feel your body against mine, to be inside you. I’m burning for you and only you. Am I making myself clear?”
She nodded. The intensity of his gaze and his words left no room for doubt. His eyes fell to her breasts. His tongue darted out, running over his bottom lip. When his eyes met hers again, she felt frozen in place by the desire reflecting in them.
“Do you want this? Do you want me?”
She bit her lip, utterly exposed to him at that moment.
“I think you know I do.”
“I want to hear you say it out loud.”
“I want you.”
He let go of her hands, running one down the column of her throat. His fingers roamed lower until he cupped her breast, his thumb running over the nipple. She gasped. He leant down, taking the other in his mouth. His tongue swirled over the sensitive nub.
“Oh… fuck.”
Am I seeing stars right now? His mouth… oh, if that’s what he can do to my breasts, what about…?
She could feel him smiling against her skin. It was going to make for an interesting experience if he could hear her every thought. Would she even need to tell him what she wanted?
His tongue continued to swirl around her nipple. The jolts running down her skin were intense. His other hand ran down her stomach, dipping below the level of the water. His fingers brushed up her inner thigh. She jerked in surprise.
Whoa… What…
They met her softness, parting her so he could access her core. His fingers brushed over the nub, circling it gently. She was going to combust on the spot.
Oh, oh, what are you doing to me?
“I’m going to make you come.”
Hearing him say that was just about the hottest thing she’d ever heard in her life. Her very own Archangel wanted to make her come. He raised his head, staring down at her for a moment before he kissed her.
She cupped his face with one hand, the other on his shoulder, nails digging into the hard muscle. His fingers were like magic. Her breathing came hard and heavy.
She had to pull away from his mouth for a moment to groan. She felt it building inside her. The explosive end that was to come. He placed kisses to her neck before his tongue curled around her ear. His breath hot against it.
“Hearing you moan is making me hard for you.”
Do you want to fuck me?
“Is that what you want me to call it?”
Only if you want to. I mean… I haven’t heard you swear before.
“So, if I told you I want to fuck you until you’re screaming my name… that would be acceptable?”
She couldn’t reply. Hearing him say that sent her over the edge. She cried out, trembling as her climax rocked through her. Her fingers dug harder into his shoulder. Stars blurred her vision. Her body shook uncontrollably, all her limbs felt like jelly. The intense waves of pleasure took her under and drowned her. Nothing and no one had ever made her come so hard and with such intensity.
Azrael… whatever you did to me, I want you to do it again and more.