Devin

I hate angels. There, I said it. Nothing but trouble comes from dealing with them. As I sit on the edge of the pier, my feet dangling over the ice-cold water, I try to process everything I’d just learned. Sariel holds my soul in his angelic palms. I have no guarantee of salvation. And the worst revelation—I’m falling in love with a woman I can’t have. There was no way Sariel would let me love her beyond the remaining few months of our bargain, and if I tried, he’d take over and destroy me. All he needs is a willing body to transfer himself into. I’ll die and burn in Hell while he continues his search for his lost love.

The air pressure changes behind me, making my ears pop. Rolling my eyes heavenward, I let out a long-suffering sigh. Gabriel.

“What do you want, Feathers? I’m not much for conversation at the moment.”

“I want you to do your job. You seem to forget your purpose.”

“I didn’t forget, but I wouldn’t be lying if I said I’d hoped you’d forgotten about me.”

The pompous angel laughs. He fucking laughs at me. “You’re needed.”

Getting to my feet, I turn to face him, wishing I could run from everything, take Willow with me, and escape.

“I see the fear in your eyes, Devin. You can’t hide from this.”

Raking my hands through my hair, I take a steadying breath. “Where do you need me to go?”

“Home.”

A sinking feeling takes hold in my gut. “Home, where?”

“To Galen’s house. We need to collect their child.”

“I can’t do that. I’ve never even seen him. They’re keeping him away from me. Reese thinks if Sariel sees him, something will happen.”

Mouth thinning to a firm line, Gabriel crosses his arms over his chest. “We need access to him, but I can’t get inside. Warding the house against angels means all angels. Sariel is the only one who can get through because of the boy’s connection to him.”

“I’m still not clear on all this. You told them Sean was Galen’s son. Why did you lie?”

Shrugging, he takes on a haughty expression. “I didn’t lie. The child is Galen’s as well as Sariel’s.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Sariel made it possible by infusing his grace into Galen’s blood. They became one and the same while Galen played host and Reese is descended from the same bloodline as the current incarnation of Sariel’s soul mate. It might be confusing for your tiny brain, but this child is as much Sariel’s as he is Galen’s.”

“And you just let them ride off into the sunset, thinking they’d be safe and free of all this shit?”

“I thought it would end for them. Most Nephilim don’t manifest any powers. Sean has, and the Watchers sensed it.”

“You said it yourself, the house is warded. Why would I take him anywhere that might put him in danger?”

“Devin, you don’t seem to understand the urgency of this. Without our help, the boy will be a target until this war is over. Do you know how long this could take? He can’t spend his entire life locked in a house. He needs us to bind his powers and shield his grace. If his powers get out of control, he’ll be hurt.”

I shake my head, starting forward and pushing past him. “Galen and Reese will never let me take him. They’ve never even let me see him.”

Without warning, my chest tightens and fire races through my veins as the angel hits me with his full power. I’m immobilized as a bright white glow fills the dock. “You will take him with or without their consent, Devin. If you do not, I will smite you where you stand and bottle up Sariel without hope for release.”

Fuck. My whole body hurts, and I know he’s not kidding. I’ve seen him smite before. It’s not pretty, and it doesn’t look like fun. Letting out a cough disguised as a laugh, I force a response through the pain. “Fine, you winged asshole. But, you’d better promise not to hurt the boy. He’s innocent.”

The world around us darkens as he backs off and the pain recedes. “You have seven nights. Get him outside in one piece, with or without his parents. I promise, no harm will come to him. You forget, we are first and foremost protectors of God’s creatures.”

I shrug, and malice colors my tone. “Sure, that’s why you leave them to the wolves day in and day out. That’s why you let them fight wars in the name of God.”

“He gave them free will, Devin. Not us. If I had control over their actions, no one would die by violence, but that is out of my hands.”

“Yeah, well, it’s fucking shitty.” A pang of loss shoots through my chest as I recall a long-buried memory of smiling blue eyes just like mine, chubby little hands, and curling blond hair. Her soft voice calling out to me. “Daddy! I missed you.”

I have to press my hand to my chest to stop the ache. Not now. I’ve kept her away for the last two centuries. I can’t afford to be thinking of her now.

* * *

Willow

I’m such an idiot. I let him leave. I can’t believe I let Devin leave without so much as a warning for him to stay the fuck away. In all honesty, I think I didn’t have any say in what happened after Sariel revealed himself to me. Fucking angels. I’ve got enough to worry about without heavenly bodies joining the mix.

As I stare at my computer screen, eyes burning from the hours of research, I’ve come to realize one thing. I’m in deep shit. My mind continues to wander, and I wish things were different, that Devin was just a hot biker rather than the very thing I’ve sworn to extinguish from this earth. Especially when the idea of killing him makes my chest burn with the urge to cry. I don’t want to hurt him. The thought of never again seeing those penetrating blue eyes as he smiles at me makes my throat tight.

Slamming shut my laptop, I shove at the stack of books on my desk. “Goddammit!”

Why do I want him so much? Even now, as I wander to my bedroom window, I’m hoping to see his figure standing under the streetlamp. It’s been two days since I let him go, and all I want is to see him. I’m a traitor to my family and to their memory. The sidewalk is empty, save a lone cat licking itself clean on top of the mailbox. Lucky bastard. All he has to worry about is finding his next meal and staying out of the way of traffic. Rolling my shoulders, I pace my room until I can’t take it any longer.

I shove my phone into the pocket of my coat and pop in my earbuds, turning on my most upbeat playlist. I need to run this shit out. The moment my feet hit the pavement, I feel better. Everything fades away as my sole focus becomes the cadence of my breaths, the feel of the ground under my feet, and the cold night air whipping my cheeks.

I run until my lungs burn and my muscles start to shake. Turning back when I can’t take it any longer, I walk and allow my mind to wander. Where is he now, and what would I do if I saw him? My nipples, horny little assholes that they are, tighten at the simple thought of Devin. I swear to God, I can smell him in the breeze as I round the corner to my building. And then I realize why.

He’s there.

Standing under the fucking lamppost.

And I want to kiss him and kill him all at the same time.

Instinctively reaching for my stake, I approach him cautiously. “What are you doing here?” I hate how breathy my voice is.

He raises his hands in the air, innocence wrapped in a sinful package. “Willow, I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Maybe not me, but you’re still a killer.”

His face darkens with some expression, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say it was hurt. Then an arrogant mask takes its place, covering the vulnerability. “You still want me to fuck you. I can smell it on you. You’re dripping for me.”

Damn it, he’s right. Squeezing my legs together, I try to fight the pulse of need that rushes through me, straight to my core. “I can want to fuck you and still need to drive a stake through your heart.”

Taking a step toward me, he pulls his lower lip between his teeth, and I fight a shiver of desire. “As long as you let me inside you …”

He licks his lips. “One.”

His hand snakes around my waist. “More.”

His lips hover over mine. “Time.”

And I’m gone, tipping my head up and letting him have me.

I’ll kill him later.

When his hips press hard against me, I can feel his thick erection as he pushes me backward, into the stairwell. Our kiss grows heated, deepening as he thrusts his tongue into my mouth and lifts me until I can’t help but wrap my legs around his waist.

“Why do we always end up like this?” I ask as he trails his lips over my jaw.

“Because I can’t keep myself away.” His breath comes out in a shudder. “I need you.”

Oh, he’s a swoony fucker. But something in his tone sends a stab of something uncomfortably stronger than lust straight to my heart. “Then take me.”

I press my breasts forward until they’re crushed to his chest, and if it weren’t for my thick jacket, he’d know exactly how aroused I am.

“Oh, Angel, I’m going to have you all fucking night.” Gripping me tightly, he starts up the stairs, and without the need to hide his true nature from me, we’re there in seconds. “Give me your key. I don’t want to let you go.”

I do as he asks, not wanting to break contact either. We’re inside and on the bed before I can say a word.

He pulls the zipper down on my coat, peeling it from my body with careful movements. I’m clad in a sports bra and running tights, and when he lowers his head to lick my collarbone, I squirm. Shaking his head, he unhooks the holster holding my wooden stake from its place around my waist. “We won’t be needing that.”

I know he’s right. I couldn’t kill him even if I wanted to, not now, not with him worshiping my body like a dying man receiving his last meal. His cool fingers brush the band of my sports bra, sending goose bumps over my skin.

As he frees my breasts, a fire burns behind his eyes. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, Willow. I could spend eternity lost in you.”

Oh Jesus. The man is some kind of mind reader. He seems to know exactly what to say to make my panties melt. “Can you start eternity right now?” I need him to put his hands on me.

His tongue traces my nipple before he pulls the tightened bud into his mouth and sucks. A delicious tingle runs through my breast, shooting all the way down to my swollen clit. I buck my hips toward him, desperate for some kind of friction.

“Not yet,” he murmurs around my breast. “Not until you’re so worked up, you’re begging me to let you come.”

“I’ll beg you right now. But I want your cock inside me. I need you, Devin. Please?” I am not ashamed of myself in the least. The only thing that will satisfy me right now is him, and I’m not going to deny myself the pleasure only he can give me.

Thrusting his hips, he grinds himself over my pussy. I toss my head back on a groan, loving the sensation of him, hard and thick against my aching core.

“Take off your clothes, Devin. I want to touch you.”

With a slight nod, he pulls his shirt over his head, muscles moving enticingly on his bare torso. There’s something to be said for a sculpted male torso, and that something is: yum. My mouth waters as he pops the button on his jeans and lowers them to the floor. His cock juts forward, so long and, just fucking huge. It’s intimidating, even though I’ve experienced it.

I move to my hands and knees, my bottom half still clothed. His fingers grip my hair, and I know what he wants.

“Tell me, Devin. Tell me what I can do for you.”

A harsh growl comes from low in his throat. “Suck me. Bring me to the fucking edge, make me forget everything but your mouth.”

The moment my lips engulf his throbbing shaft, his grip tightens and his whole body tenses. A moan falls from his lips as I slide over his length and take him as deep as I can. Wrapping my hand around his base, I stroke in time with my mouth until his dick pulses and swells even further. He’s close. That much is apparent. A hiss escapes him when I grab his balls and begin rolling them in my hand as my tongue tickles the head of his cock.

His strong hands in my hair pull my head back, but I resist, taking him all the way to the back of my throat and sucking hard. “Fuck. Shit. Stop, Willow.” I ignore him, flattening my tongue and pressing it against the underside of his beautiful length as I run my teeth across the sensitive crown. His breath comes in sharp pants, and when I roll my eyes up to see his face, I’m distracted by the taut, defined muscles of his abdomen. They’re tense, and his whole body is trembling.

“Willow, I’m fucking coming.” I think he realizes I’m not backing away, so he moves his hips in shallow thrusts as I massage his tight balls and sink down as far as I can take him. The long, guttural groan that fills the air makes arousal burn through me. Then he’s pulsing, the taste of his orgasm filling my mouth as I swallow everything he offers me.

He strokes my hair and murmurs something I don’t understand as I pull free of his softening cock. Sitting back on my heels, I offer him a shy smile, because this is tender Devin. He’s put aside the swagger in favor of his true self. And when he looks at me, I see so much more than desire in his eyes. I see the man he has hidden under layers of defense and solitude.

I don’t care that he’s everything I shouldn’t want. I don’t care that I’ll have to give him up in order to save his soul. All I want is to make him look at me like that for as long as I can.