Alice panted, coming down from the clouds. His touch was electrifying on so many levels. His mouth found hers again, locking her lips in a searing kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down towards her.
His clothes were thoroughly wet, but he didn’t seem to mind. She felt his solid chest against hers. She wanted to see him. All of him. She ran her hands down his back until they latched onto the edge of his t-shirt, but he put a hand on hers to stop her.
“Not yet, Alice.”
She stared up into his green eyes, confusion marring her features.
“I thought you…”
“Wanted you? Yes, but not tonight. You need sleep.”
His hands ran down her sides. He tucked them under her behind. He picked her up with him, stepping out of the bath. They were both dripping wet. She slid down him, where she could feel how much he wanted her before her feet hit the ground. He held her away from him, his eyes roaming down the length of her. Her face burnt.
He gets to see all of me, touch all of me. How is that fair? All I want is to see him, be close to him.
She couldn’t look at him as he made her sit on the edge of the bath. He leant down, whipping the plug out.
“You only have to ask.”
“For the last time, stop that.”
“Alice, what do you want to see? I’ll give you what you want, just tell me. Don’t you know I want to make you happy?”
“I want the ground to swallow me up because I’m mortified having this conversation with you.”
When she dared look at him, he was kneeling in front of her with a towel, smiling.
Did he just say he wants to make me happy? I’m not going crazy, am I?
“Would it make it easier if I did this?”
He clicked his fingers and then he was dry and only clad in boxers. She couldn’t breathe. Seeing him was more than she could take. She gripped the edge of the bath, her knuckles going white.
Oh. My. Eyes. He is the epitome of perfection.
“I take it from your reaction, you’re not displeased.”
“How could I ever be?” she whispered. “It almost hurts to look at you.”
He stood, wrapping the towel around her. Her face was level with his stomach. Tentatively, she reached out, brushing her fingers against his soft skin. He tensed for a moment, sucking in a breath. She snatched her hand back, guilt flooding her.
Did I go too far?
“No. It was unexpected, not unpleasant.”
He cupped her face, leaning down to kiss her, his mouth soft and warm against hers. He pulled away and began drying her thoroughly.
“You don’t have to do that, you know.”
“I want to take care of you, especially after that worthless excuse for a mortal put his hands on you.”
There was the angel she knew, disparaging humans again.
“For someone who doesn’t like humans, you’re being awfully nice to this one.”
“Would you rather I go back to lumping you in with all the other inane mortals I’ve encountered?”
She grinned.
“I was only teasing.”
“Hmm… Is that the only teasing you had in mind?”
She spluttered as he scooped her up in his arms, towel and all, and carried her into the bedroom. He set her down on the bed and pulled a few things out of the wardrobe before insisting on dressing her.
“Is me being naked too distracting?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Does he really find me that attractive? I mean he said he desires me, wants to be in me… And the way he touched me… I have to take him at his word.
“I’m not the one who said I needed sleep.”
He pulled back the covers and settled her down before tucking them around her. He made to leave when she reached out and held his hand.
“Where are you going?”
“Your rules about the bed still stand.”
She frowned. Rules? Oh, shit.
“I made those up because I was unsure of what your intentions towards me were. I want you here with me.”
She tugged his hand, pulling him down towards her. He came willingly. She pulled back the covers. He tucked her up in his arms, her face pressed to his chest. Warmth spread through her. She ran her fingers down his side, enjoying the sensation of his skin on hers.
“Go to sleep.”
So bossy. Alice, you have to stay with me. Alice, don’t leave the penthouse. Alice, I demand you let me see you naked. Alice, I’m going to make you scream. Alice, I won’t have sex with you because you need to sleep.
She flushed when she realised what she’d thought. Daring not to look at his face, she buried hers deeper into his chest.
“I’ll leave if you don’t,” he said.
He so heard that. Even if he’s choosing to ignore me.
“If you don’t want me to touch you, perhaps you should put a shirt on.”
He flattened her hand on his side before moving it lower until her fingers met the top of his boxers. She hesitated when he took his hand away and looked up at him. There was a hint of a challenge in his eyes. She could feel her face burning.
Does he want me to touch him… there?
He said nothing, merely regarding her, his lip curled up at the side. She swallowed. He’d told her to go to sleep and yet he was challenging her to touch him, intimately. Was this his response to her little outburst in her head about how demanding he was?
She moved her hand, gently pressing down as she shifted over him, straddling his legs. She leant over towards his face, feeling a little bold.
“What is it you want me to do, Az?”
“Whatever you wish.”
She ran her fingernails down his chest.
“I think you have something in mind.”
His green eyes glinted with mischief. She replaced her fingers with her lips, looking up at him. His hands curled around her legs, fingertips brushing against her skin.
Have I told you how I’ve longed to touch you?
“Without words, yes.”
His body was solid, warm, chiselled to perfection. It wasn’t just his appearance which drew her in. He seemed so adrift in this world. She’d felt the same disconnection from her surroundings, almost as if going through the motions without really feeling anything at all. Being with Azrael set everything alight.
She shifted lower, kissing the hard muscle of his stomach. When she met the waistband of his boxers, she eyed him again. His lips were parted, breath coming faster. His eyes shut, a little furrow in his brow. Wait… he really is enjoying what I’m doing. The sight of him made her heart pound.
“Alice… don’t stop,” he whispered.
She hooked her fingers into the waistband before she tugged them down. He moved to let her take his boxers off. When she looked at him, her breath caught in her throat. Oh, wow. She bit her lip. She tentatively reached out and touched him. He tensed, his eyes squeezing shut further. She ran her fingers down the length of him. When he didn’t ask her to stop, she made up her mind.
Not sure this is what you wanted, but I hope I make you feel good.
He opened his eyes just as she leant down and took him in her mouth, her hand wrapped around the base.
“Alice,” he hissed.
She could see his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. She moved at a steady pace, her free hand reaching out to take one of his. He entwined their fingers together, staring down at her with hazy eyes. His other hand curled into her hair, encouraging her to continue.
She increased her pace. His fingers tightened in hers before he groaned. Somehow, she knew it was genuine pleasure and not some show he was putting on for her. He was always in control, but right now, she had him in the palm of her hand.
My beautiful angel. I want to be the balm to your suffering.
“You are,” he murmured, his voice so quiet she thought she’d imagined it.
He looked so unguarded, vulnerable almost. It made her heart ache with an intensity she’d never experienced before. She wanted to take his pain away. All of it. She could feel him twitching. His mouth opened and closed with each breath. His fingers tightened in her hair, pressing her down. She took more, wanting to give him what he needed. When she felt him pulsate, over and over, she knew he’d let go entirely.
“Alice,” he growled.
He released her hair, his hand dropping back on the bed. She sat up.
Well, no mess with angels… apparently.
She heard him chuckle.
“Humans have too many bodily fluids.”
“And you don’t.”
He shook his head. His eyes were still closed.
“I’m not supposed to do such things with humans, but when He stranded me here, I stopped caring about Heaven’s rules.”
“I see.”
He tugged her towards him. He held her to his chest, stroking her hair.
“I went through the motions with others, but it was for them, not me.”
I don’t like the thought of him with other women, but he’s lived such a long time, it’s not as if I can be jealous.
“And with me?”
“Oh, I think what you just did was most definitely for me.”
Was he teasing her? Didn’t he realise how self-conscious she was about this whole thing? All she wanted was for him to genuinely enjoy it. To give him pleasure just as he’d given her.
“Az… did you actually like that? Don’t say yes to make me feel better. I want the truth.”
He opened his eyes. They were glittering in the low light.
“You have a magic mouth.”
She scowled.
“I’m serious, Alice.”
He cupped her cheek. She was suddenly assaulted with a stream of consciousness.
“She is so sweet. If that’s what she can do to me with her mouth… I want to feel her body, her sex, her everything. Touching her soft, delicate skin drives me crazy. I don’t know why I feel this way, but she’s a beacon, calling me to her. Sweet, innocent Alice. I am burning for you.”
She blinked rapidly when he released her face. He was smiling, his eyes full of admiration.
“That’s how you feel?”
“Yes and more.”
She kissed his chest, curling her hand around the back of his head and running her fingers through his hair. She wasn’t sure what else to say. A feeling of contentment washed over her. She dropped off to sleep, safe in her angel’s arms.
§
Alice stretched when she awoke but found the bed empty. She frowned, looking around the room. He was nowhere to be seen. She shuffled into the bathroom, brushing her teeth and going about her business. So glad it’s Saturday. No work. She snagged her glasses, putting them on before picking up her phone and firing off a quick message to Chris.
‘You were right about everything. He kissed me last night.’
The response was almost immediate.
‘Holy fuckballs. How was it? Please tell me it was amazing. I can’t even imagine what it’d be like.’
‘Euphoric. Did a little more than just kissing.’
‘Tell me all right now!’
‘I need to go find him. I’ll call later, promise.’
‘Alice! You dare leave me hanging?!’
She laughed, putting her phone down. A part of her wanted to ring Chris and tell him everything, but then Az would hear their conversation.
She walked towards the living room, pausing in the doorway. Standing with his back to her, staring down at the city below was Azrael. He was topless, only clad in a pair of shorts. Her mouth dried up.
She tiptoed into the room, curling her arms around him and resting her cheek on his back. He stiffened for a moment before the tension in his body evaporated.
“Sneaking up on an angel is a bad idea.”
“As if you didn’t hear me.”
“I thought you’d sleep longer. Did I not wear you out?”
She snorted.
It’d take a lot more than that to tire me out.
“I was missing an angel.”
“Oh? And which one would that be? There are thousands.”
“This one,” she whispered, tightening her arms around him.
“Mmm, come here.”
She let go of him before coming around his side. Without warning, he pinned her to the window, green eyes glittering with amusement. Her pulse spiked.
One look from him and I’m melting on the spot.
“What were you looking at?” she asked.
“Now or when you came in?”
“Before I interrupted you.”
“Lucifer hasn’t returned to Hell. I was thinking.”
She curled her hands around his back, her fingers dancing over his smooth skin. His muscles twitched at the contact. The way he said it made it seem as though it was unusual for Lucifer to remain on Earth.
“Why does he want me dead?”
His eyes darkened, the tension in his muscles returning. She could feel it radiating off him and regretted asking the question.
“He thinks you’re a part of something much larger going on.”
“You’re not going to let him kill me, are you?”
His eyes widened for a moment before he frowned.
“Why would you even ask that?”
Isn’t it obvious?
“He’s your brother.”
“Do you think that gives him the right to take you from me?”
That was the last thing she thought. She just wasn’t sure how close the two of them were now.
He’d said he’d not spoken to Lucifer in a long time, but it didn’t mean he didn’t care about his brother any longer.
“Well, no.”
“I sense a but here.”
“Az, I don’t understand why I’m so important.”
“To him or to me?”
“In all of this, whatever this situation is.” She waved a hand around. “Like a few weeks ago, I was a normal girl and now… now, there’s you, Lucifer wants me dead and I know there’s shit you’re not telling me about. It scares me. All of it, but especially this, right here, between us.”
His eyes grew wary.
“We don’t really know much about each other. Yet… and yet… when I look at you, I see all your loneliness, the disconnection, the years of suffering and it all feels so real to me.”
He reached up, holding her face in his hands.
“I’m the only one who can see you for what you really are, aren’t I? That’s why Jason didn’t believe me.”
“Yes,” was all he said in response.
“Is that why you want me?”
His hands on her face tightened, his eyes growing dark.
“You know that’s not why. Can’t you accept I want you for you?”
“I can try.”
It was all she could do. It was hard to understand why an immortal being would want to be with her, a plain human. He kissed her, their mouths melding together. The temperature between them spiked. His fingers curled into her short hair, holding her still. She could drown in him. Right here. Right now.
Distracting me with kisses isn’t fair.
“Were we not done?” he asked, pulling away enough to allow her to breathe again.
“No. I talked, you didn’t.”
She wasn’t quite sure if he didn’t want to have this conversation or he just didn’t know what to say.
“Lucifer won’t get to you.”
“I meant about us.”
He pulled away further, dropping his hands from her face. He looked off to the side, eyes full of caution.
“It is disconcerting having you see all of those things.”
“You mean…”
“My suffering as you call it.”
“I feel lonely and adrift too. I was trying to say I sort of understand, in my own way.”
He ran a hand through his auburn hair. She was momentarily distracted by it glinting in the sunlight.
“I didn’t realise you were one for deep conversations first thing in the morning.”
“I’m sorry, it wasn’t my intention.”
She pressed herself to him, her cheek resting against his bare chest, glasses a little askew.
“Would it be so hard not to question this? To let it be what it is.”
He had made his feelings towards her clear. He wanted her and she wanted him too. Was there any need to keep trying to work out the whys and hows? Did it really matter?
“I guess not.”
“When things are clearer, I’ll tell you what I know about Lucifer and our Father. I want to be sure. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
She clutched him tighter, her fingers digging into his back. He kissed the top of her head, leaning his chin on it.
“I’m going to need you to get dressed now. We have some people to track down.”