Cassiel’s kiss is so tentative and achingly sweet.

His hands cup my face, and while I feel like I could just eat him up, he moves with a deliberateness that’s driving me wild. Like he’s tasting me, savoring my lips, then tentatively dipping his tongue into my mouth. I grab hold of him—my fingers digging into his shoulder and his hair—and try to pull him deeper into the kiss.

But he’s holding back.

I feel like I’m ravaging him, so I stop. “What’s wrong?” I ask, breathless.

He hasn’t moved away, but I can feel his body shuddering, his bare chest pressed up against mine, just the thin fabric of my blouse between us. I want it gone—all of it. I want us naked and wildly fucking this instant. The joy of that—of wanting that—is enlivening every nerve ending I own.

He dips down and brushes his lips against mine, a soft sweep that makes me clench with need so hard, it’s almost painful. “I have to take care,” he whispers, and I’m not sure if he’s saying it to himself or me. “I have to warn you.” He pulls back and looks deep into my eyes. “If I turn shadow, I promise I will remove myself. Banish myself to another realm. I would never harm you.”

I frown. “I can’t imagine you ever—”

He stops me with the intensity of his scowl. “It is a serious danger, Rebecca. I will not get you with child, for angelings do not create a new soul by accident. But I could lose control of my lust. If I tumble into shadow…” He swallows. “If the danger is too great, I will make every effort to tear myself away from you. If I disappear, you will know what has happened. But are you sure… are you certain you want to take the risk?”

I’ve never been so certain of anything in my life. “I think it’s going to be me ravaging you.” His eyes go wide, but I just take his hand. “Come with me, hot angel boy.” I lead him away from my studio with all my poorly rendered versions of the perfection I’m about to take to my bed. My steps are light, and I feel like this a fantasy—only it’s better than any fantasy I’ve ever had in my life.

By the time we reach my room, he looks slightly terrified.

Oh, God, what am I doing?

The moonlight spills through the window and lights up the room. The bridge is hulking and dark in the distance, but it holds an entirely new meaning for me now. I fell from that bridge straight into this man’s arms. This angeling. And he desires me.

I release his hand and slide both of mine slowly up his arms. Sweet mercy, his skin is like silk over the iron strength of his muscles. His wings are tucked close to his back, and the feathers quiver slightly. “I’ve done more living in the past twenty-four hours,” I say, “since you came into my life, than I have in the past three years.” My hands reach his face. I run my fingers over his lips. They’re trembling. “But we’re going to take this part slow, okay? Really slow. Because I don’t want to repay all you’ve done for me by sending you into this shadow state, whatever it is. Okay?”

He nods, a little jerkily. I get the sense that he’s holding himself back with some heroic level of willpower. “I’ve watched humans engage in sexual activity,” he says breathily. “I’ve studied the positions and techniques.”

“Have you now?” Good God. I go up on tiptoes again and bring his mouth to mine. I’m more deliberate this time. Brushing lips, sweeping my tongue more gently. Less hungry and demanding and ravishing. But I swear, it’s all I can do to hold back.

His hands skim my back, pulling me deeper into the kiss. When we finally break, we’re both breathless.

His eyes are wide with wonder. “Watching is nothing like the actual… the kissing alone is…”

The idea of this being his first time—of me taking an angeling’s virginity—not to mention paying him back for saving me in the most delicious way possible… holy shit, it’s turning me on like crazy.

I run my hand across his bare chest then slide the small knot of his toga off his shoulder. It falls down his arm, and I can feel his pulse pounding through his skin where I touch. “Is it possible for humans to fall from lust?” I ask softly. I run my hands along his shoulders then back up to his face. “Because I’m burning up with need here.”

“I do not think so,” he says, like that was a serious question.

“Good.” I step back and reach down to lift my blouse over my head. I drop it on the floor. His gaze is raking over my body. Then I reach around to unzip my skirt and let that fall too. That insanely big erection of his is tenting out his toga. I was not imagining the size of what he’s packing under there. My mouth is aching for a taste.

I swallow. “I need you to do the rest for me,” I say, meaning my clothes. My panties are already soaking wet.

He moves so fast, it’s almost a blur, and suddenly, he’s kneeling at my feet, gazing up at me through those thick lashes. “You must instruct me,” he says, but his hands are already on my hips, his fingers seeking the edge of my panties.

“Don’t worry,” I say, my breath catching. “I’ll tell you exactly what I want.”

Then he takes his sweet time pulling down my panties, his hot breath bathing my skin but his lips not bridging that aching gap between us. When those are finally around my ankles, I step out. “Now the rest,” I say.

He rises up and turns me around. It takes him a moment, but my bra loosens and slides off my arms. His hands reach around from behind and cup my breasts. I hear his breath catch and feel the heat of his chest against my back, the stiffness of his cock between us. His lips brush my cheek and then my ear. His hands are reverent on my breasts, holding them but with soft caresses. Almost like he’s afraid they’ll break.

“Harder,” I say.

His breath is a shudder on my neck, but he obeys and grips my breasts more firmly. Then his fingers venture to my nipples, which are hardened to rigid points. He squeezes them, and I gasp.

He stops. “Am I hurting you—”

“More,” I demand. Because I will really have a hard time articulating detailed instructions given how much I’m aching with need. It’s been so long.

He responds by nibbling into my neck and squeezing down on my nipples.

“Yes,” I gasp and revel in that as long as I can stand before turning in his arms to face him. His toga has disappeared, and his bare cock is now standing tall between us. I want to grab it and make him cry out. I want it so badly, I have to dig my hands into his arms to keep myself from doing it. Still, even the press of our bodies together makes him groan. “This going slow thing might be…” My throat is so dry already, just from the heavy breathing. “That might be difficult to do.”

“Yes.” His voice is strained. “I feel I might explode.”

I debate whether to tell him that’s exactly what he’ll do. I decide against it. I really don’t want anything bad to come of this—it’s too beautiful and delicious and full of life.

His eyes are half closed as his hands wander my back. I peer up at him and capture his gaze. “How will I know?” I ask. “If you’re close to… to turning shadow?”

He reaches down to kiss me softly. Then he’s leaning into me, urging me toward the bed. “My wings,” he says, his hand finding my breast again. “They’ll turn black.” He squeezes my breast, harder this time. The ache between my legs surges. God, if he lets loose with this, if I don’t have to instruct him the whole way… I shudder with desire for that.

But we have to be careful. “Keep your wings out then.” Then I decide that if this is going to go south, I want to have at least tasted him before he disappears. To have taken him inside a part of me, even if just for a short while.

He flexes his wings wide, and they nearly take up the small guest room. I’ve reached the bed, so I drop down to sitting. His cock is stiff in front of my face. His eyes are wide, watching me.

“This is going to feel good,” I warn him.

He frowns, but before he can wonder too long, I take his thick gorgeous cock in my hand. He jerks, but not out of my grasp, and suddenly, his hands are on my shoulders, gripping me—as if he’s about to topple over. I stroke him once, twice, with my hand, just to get him ready. He convulses and gasps, and I’m afraid just that will send him over the edge. Then he steels himself, and only his cock twitches in my hand as I slide it along.

“It does,” he gasps. “Feel terribly good.”

“I’ve barely begun,” I warn him again. I pump him a couple more times, then I slide my mouth over the thick, soft head.

“Holy angels of light!” he cries out.

I’d smile, but I’m busy taking his enormous cock as deep as I can, gripping the rest and sliding my tongue along the underside. His whole body is twitching, and the cursing switches to some language I don’t understand. I love every part of this—the groans, the thick masculine taste of him, the fact that I can barely do a decent job of giving him head because he’s so fucking big—but I don’t want to push him too hard, too fast. I peer up as I work him with my mouth and hand. His eyes are squeezed shut, his mouth gapes open, and his head is tilted back. It’s unbelievably erotic, seeing this pleasure on his face, but his wings are still sparkly white in the moonlight.

I suck harder, eliciting another set of satisfying curses from him… then I pull away.

His eyes pop open, watching me crawl up on the bed. They’re wild with desire, and after a moment, he thinks to check his wings. “I’m still in the light,” he says with wonder.

“Well, we’re not finished yet,” I say with a smile.

His eyes half close, and he climbs on the bed, coming after me. In an instant, I’m pinned under his gorgeous, naked body, trembling with my own need for him to touch me everywhere.

He kisses me quickly and says hoarsely, “I’ve seen these acts before. I want to do them with you. All of them.”

Oh, God, yes. “One step at a time,” I breathe. I’m debating what the next step should be when he slides down my body, stopping with his lips on my breast. He quickly finds my nipple, sucks it in, and nibbles at it.

“Oh, fuck.” I arch up into him. “Okay, if you’re going to do that—” But he’s already moving on, sliding kisses down my belly. Is he… he can’t be… “What are you doing?” I ask, more amazed than anything.

He stops, his face nearly between my legs, and peers up at me. “I’m going to pleasure you. But you must tell me if I’m doing something wrong.”

“Don’t worry, I—” He’s already lapping his tongue between my legs. “Oh, fuck.” I grab the bed because I’m instantly arching into him. But he’s so strong, he holds my writhing body in place. And then that tongue… Holy Christmas. He seems to know just where to lick and flick and tease. I fist my hand in his hair, so he doesn’t even think about stopping, but holy fuck, I’m rushing to orgasm unbelievably fast. Then his fingers add into the sweet heavenly torture he’s giving me. When they plunge inside me, I cry out. And from there, I’m just gasping and cursing as the pressure builds and builds, a sudden storm that’s taken me over… and when it crests, I think I scream. Or cry out. Or something, but holy hell, he’s wrenching the pleasure out of my body in sweet, sweet waves that rock me head to toe.

I can barely catch my breath. The echoes of the orgasm just keep coming. I want to say something, tell him what to do, but I can barely see straight. He eases up from between my legs, sliding with infinite sexiness up my body until he’s face-to-face with me again. His eyes are on fire, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Did I pleasure you?” he asks.

I literally cannot tell if he’s joking. “Good God, Cassiel,” I breathe.

His smile grows. “That is a yes, isn’t it?”

“Fuck,” is all I can say. I’m digging my fingers into his shoulders again, just to make sure he doesn’t run away. I blearily remember to check. “Your wings,” I gasp out. He flexes them forward, but they’re still white.

He grins. “It is far easier to give than to receive.”

“You can give me that any time you like.” Damn, I’m still catching my breath.

“Can I do it again?” he asks, eyes wide.

“No,” I gasp, only because what I want from him now is something entirely different. When his expression falls, I add quickly, “I mean yes. But later. First…” I slide my hand down his gorgeous body, reaching for his cock. He sucks in air through his teeth when I grasp it. “It’s good to give. And it’s good to receive.” Sweet mercy, I want this man inside me so badly. “But it’s divine when we’re doing both. Together.”

“Together?” I can see a small course of fear on his face.

I cup his cheek with my hand and kiss him. Then I pull back and whisper, “Make love to me, Cassiel.” I stroke his cock once more then release him. If he’s watched humans enough to know how to make me come the way he just did, with only his fingers and his mouth, I’m sure he knows how to do this part.

He licks his lips and slides down a little, positioning that gorgeous cock at my entrance. Then he slips his hand under my bottom, lifting me slightly, angling me and looking down to where our bodies meet. He teases my entrance with the head of his cock, but I think he’s just preparing himself. I’m about to say something encouraging when he looks back up to meet my gaze.

“Rebecca Anne Stollen,” he whispers, his cock nudging, a little more pressure, but still not taking me. Not the way I’m aching for.

“Cassiel, please.” I will fucking beg for this if that helps.

“Thank you for the gift of you,” he whispers, the pressure growing a little more. “If I have to leave, I want you to know that first.”

Then he strokes into me, hard and fast. I yelp, but it’s masked by the groan that comes from him. He holds utterly still, a shudder running through him, straight down to his cock buried deep inside me. I want him to move, to stroke into me again, but I hold still, giving him this moment to adjust.

Hell, I need the moment. “Cassiel, you are so fucking big.”

“Is that bad?” he asks hoarsely, face buried in my hair and the bed.

“No. Not at all.” And now my hands are gripping his back, and I can’t help arching up into him. “More,” I beg.

And he gives it to me. Holy hell, how he gives it to me. He pulls back and strokes in again, even harder and faster. That seems to jolt him momentarily, but then he’s doing it again and again, one hand fisted in my hair, another angling my hips, and he’s fucking me so hard. He’s grunting and cursing in that strange angel-talk, filling me again and again with his inhumanly beautiful cock. I’m racing to my peak, but I’m more worried about him. This is it. This is the moment. I can feel it with the tension in his body, the way he’s desperately pounding into me. If he comes—and God, he has to be close—that will be the test. That’s how we’ll know if this is possible for him, or if my bed will suddenly be empty again. Small tears leak from the corners of my eyes just with that thought, and I send out a special prayer to whoever might listen. Please don’t take this away. Please grant this angeling his wish—and mine.

Cassiel’s cries become more urgent. “Rebecca,” he pants between thrusts.

God, I’m so close. “Yes!” It’s an exclamation, not an answer.

“Rebecca, I feel…” More thrusts. “I’m going to…” He groans, and there’s almost pain in it. “I’ll explode!” It’s a cry for help.

I grab at his body. “Explode into me!” I command.

And he lets loose, thrusting and groaning. I can feel his thick cock twitch, his hot seed spilling into me. The sounds and feel of his pleasure trips me over the edge. I cry out, my own orgasm shaking me, quivering me underneath him as he keeps plunging deep inside.

“Holy… Angels… of… Light,” he pants, slowing down his thrusts, finally stopping and holding deep. Impossibly, he’s still filling me, and he seems just as hard as he was a moment before. I revel in the delicious feeling of that, of the second orgasm this beautiful man has given me, but most of all… the beautiful sight of his glowing white wings hovering above us.

“Cassiel,” I sigh. I search for his gaze, but his head is still buried in the crook of my neck. “Hot angel boy,” I say more lightly.

He lifts his head to look at me, lips parted, gorgeous cheeks flushed, eyes dilated. A man well pleasured. Something I haven’t seen in a long time, and it fills my heart with joy.

“Are you all right?” he asks, a tiny frown marring the slack pleasure of his face.

I grin. “I haven’t felt this all right in a long damn time.”

A smile slowly steals across his face.

“And look.” I give a pointed look behind him, at his wings. “Those wings look awfully angelic to me.”

The look of wonder as he catches sight of his wings… it steals my heart. This man risked everything for one night with me. Which makes me realize… “You know what that means, right?”

He whips his gaze back. “What?”

I wriggle underneath him. We’re still joined. “That we can do this again.”

His eyes half-close with a look so filled with lust, I swear it’s lighting me on fire. Then he moves, pulling back and thrusting in again… and I didn't imagine it.

“How can you possibly…” I gape but can’t help matching his growing thrusts. “You know, human men need time to recover. Like, they’re not hard as a rock two seconds after coming.” I’m light-headed and almost giddy with this. Or that could be the fresh waves of pleasure he’s wrenching out of me.

He strokes harder. “I told you. I’ve more endurance than human men.”

Holy fuck. And he’s ramping up quickly on round two.

“And do you remember what I said?” he asks huskily, shifting his angle to plunge even deeper.

“You might have to…” I gasp with how hard he’s stroking. “You might have to remind me. I’m a little distracted at the moment.” Oh, God, how can he be bringing another orgasm on so quickly?

“I said I want to try all the positions.” His voice is rough, and he suddenly pulls free of my body, making me gasp in a not-happy way. But then he grabs hold of my hips and flips me over on the bed. He fists his hand in my hair and keeps my face pressed to the bed while he hauls my rear end up. Then he takes me in one fast, deep stroke from behind. I gasp with how much he can fill me this way. “This one,” he grunts as he thrusts into me again and again. “This one I want to try… first.”

First. I whimper as he drives into me, already quivering as a toe-shaking orgasm is coiling deep inside me. I have no idea how long I can last with this. But there’s no way in heaven or earth I will say no to anything this angel in my bed wants.

“Tell me,” he gasps behind me, voice strained. “Tell me this pleasures you.”

“Fuck, Cassiel,” I cry out. “Fuck me. Hard.”

And he does.

All night long.