Present day, Seattle

Sariel

As the days pass, I force myself to avoid her, but that’s nearly impossible when we’re in the same house. I’ve kept my distance with the exception of our dreams. There, I’ve had her every damn night, reveling in the feel of our connection. It probably isn’t helping me to have vivid memories of what her body feels like, but I can’t stay away. I sense her everywhere. Even locked in my office, pretending to be busy doing anything and everything, I hear her moving around. I have to resort to turning up my music to keep myself from listening for her. This is going to be impossible to bear.

Standing at the large bay window behind the desk, I survey the city below. Galen had a keen eye for property, I’ll give him that. This house is perched at the top of a hill, affording a view people pay millions for.

A warm hand slides over my arm, sending tingles racing up my spine and waking a hunger deep inside me.

“Selah, is something wrong?” I don’t turn to face her. I’m afraid I’ll give in to my need for her if I do.

With a click, she turns off the music and hooks her arm with mine. “It’s been days.” She leans her head against my shoulder, her scent invading my carefully constructed wall of defense.

I can’t take this for much longer. If we don’t stop Lucifer and the other Watchers soon, I’ll give in and take her.

“I didn’t marry him.”

My chest tightens with a glimmer of hope.

“Your friend said—”

“That’s Rosie’s token answer anytime one of the dancers doesn’t show.”

Relief races up my spine and excitement burns in my chest until I remember what Gabriel said. She’s been claimed.

“It still doesn’t change the fact that you’ve been taken by another Watcher. You don’t understand…that shouldn’t be possible for another fallen to claim you.”

“He doesn’t have me. I’m here with you, aren’t I?”

Fighting the urge to give in and press my lips to hers, I clench my teeth and remove myself from her grasp. I haven’t told her everything about us, about our past, or the tragic end we’d met. And I don’t plan to. Gabriel warned me that she has my Selah’s soul, but she isn’t the same woman. Now, after all that’s been revealed, I know he was more right than I’d thought. Deep down, I’d hoped he was trying to keep me distanced from her, focused on stopping the fallen so I’d come home. He wasn’t. He’d been telling the truth. She isn’t here for me.

“Please don’t shut me out,” she whispers. “I dream of you every night. I swear to God, I can feel you even when you’re not with me. You said you fell from Heaven to love me. Then do it.”

My resolve weakens at the reminder. Is this what I want from her? To have her even knowing she’ll never be mine completely? As I turn toward her, she crosses the room until she stands before me. She’s so much smaller than I am, but her stance is strong and determined. The desire in her eyes sends my own roaring to the surface. Before I can stop myself, my hand cups the back of her head and I drop my lips to hers.

She tastes better than I remember. When her tongue presses into my mouth, I groan, my blood heating and rushing through my body, straight to my rapidly hardening shaft. I need to be inside her. I need it more than my next breath.

Grabbing her ass with both hands, I lift her and walk us toward the desk. Her fingers dig into my back, sending sparks of pain through my wings—a warning of the consequence of loving her. Settling her on the dark wood, I step back, needing a moment to clear my head. Her busy hands slide down my chest and under my shirt before I can stop her. The sensation of her nails scratching lightly along the ridges of my stomach does nothing to calm my raging need to take her. My cock is harder than it’s ever been, desperate to be touched, begging for her.

“Let me show you how much I want you, Sariel.”

My pulse pounds in my ears as I fight the primal instinct to flip her over and have her, rough and merciless as I pour myself inside her and take what I crave. “Show me, baby.” I push the words out even as she unbuckles my belt and slips her hand beneath my boxer briefs.

When she grips my length and strokes, my eyes roll back in my head, and it takes all my control not to shove my pants down and spread her legs so I can sink into her heat. She places her free hand on my chest and pushes me backward. Frowning, I step away. Why does she want space between us? But then she hops off the desk and sinks to her knees. Anticipation builds all over my body as I stare at her mouth and realize exactly why she’d done this. Those lips are about to wrap around my aching cock.

“I want to taste you,” she murmurs, eyes locked on mine. “All of you.”

“Fuck.” It comes out a guttural groan as she tugs my jeans and boxers down my hips, releasing my rock-hard erection.

Gentle hands run up my thighs, and I’m trembling like a nervous virgin. This woman. She’s got more power over me than anyone ever has.

“Close your eyes, Sariel.”

Without question, I do as she tells me. Her warm, wet mouth encircles my cock, taking me deep and forcing a cry of ecstasy from me. My hands find her hair and tangle in the long waves. As she moves over my length, long, slow slides of her lips and tongue, my climax begins to build. I won’t last long, not with her rolling her tongue around my crown, humming in approval as she sinks back down, occasionally grazing her teeth along my shaft.

“Fuck, baby. Oh, fuck, I’m going to come. You need to stop.” The urgent need to pull out of her willing mouth hits me as she grips my ass and sucks harder. Then I’m gone, spilling into her as pleasure buckles my knees. My hand shoots out to grip the bookshelf nearby as I ride out the orgasm. A loud crack fills the room, but I don’t give a damn. My climax continues as Selah swallows everything I give her and slowly pulls away.

Breathing hard, I grip her arms and tug her to her feet. “You…” I can’t manage much more, my heart is beating so hard. Instead, I pull her against my chest and just hold her there while I wait for my world to stop spinning. Her fingers tangle in my hair as she pulls me down for a kiss that sears my soul.

I can’t stop this.

I can’t deny her.

And I don’t want to.

* * *

Selah

Sariel’s hands are everywhere on my body, and his rough groans of desire nearly send me right back to my knees as he lets me kiss him. I’m aroused beyond measure after sucking his cock and making him come. Knowing I had him at my mercy, that I could make him lose control so quickly, fills me with fierce pride.

“Your turn, my love,” he growls against my lips.

A full-body shiver runs through me at the thought of him filling me. I want him more than I’ve ever wanted another man. In one smooth move, my skirt is over my hips and his fingers are pushing my panties to the floor. Oh, sweet mercy.

“Sit on the desk. Spread your legs for me.”

I don’t protest. Knees spread wide, I wait on the cool top of the desk and watch him take in the sight of my bare pussy. If he only knew the things he’d done to me in my dreams. My whole body clenches at the memory of the dream from just last night.

“You’re so wet, you glisten, baby. Do you want me that badly?”

All I can do is nod. I do. I want him so much, it hurts.

His cock is already hardening again. I can’t believe it. “How are you ready for more?” I ask.

“I’m always fucking ready for you. This is what you do to me, every moment.” He strokes his shaft, biting his lower lip as he closes the distance between us. “I could sink inside you right now and make sure you never forget who made you feel like this. I could fill you with my seed, mark you as mine, and make damn sure his claim is obliterated.”

I squirm, needing him to do exactly that. “Yes, please. I’m yours.”

Positioning the blunt head of his cock at my entrance, he pushes in slowly, and I moan. Already I’m so aroused, I stand on the edge of orgasm. “More, Sariel. Please.”

With a hiss, he sinks farther, his width stretching me and causing a delicious burn. I want more. God, I want it all. “Stop teasing and fuck me,” I cry.

“Selah.” His silver gaze finds mine, and I bite back a sharp cry as the color changes to a glowing platinum.

His cock jerks inside me, and he slams home—hard. Sparks of pleasure burst behind my eyes. It’s frenzied and wild, nothing like the slow, sensual beginnings of our lovemaking in my dreams, and I love it. He takes me with the abandon reserved for desperate lovers.

Long fingers slide down between my legs as he fills me over and over. The overwhelming sensation of his cock inside me while his hand works my sensitive clit sends me over the edge. I’m clenching around him, crying his name, and clawing at his shoulders.

I tangle my fingers in his hair and pull his lips to mine. I wish more than anything we were naked together in his bed rather than mostly dressed and fucking in his office. I want him above me, his bare skin on mine. I want to learn his body.

“Selah, fuck.” He draws the last word out on a groan as his body tenses and his thrusts become frantic.

I want him to come inside me more than anything. I’m not on the pill, not protected, but I don’t care. The risk seems small when it’s him inside me. “Come, baby,” I whisper, taking his ear between my teeth and sighing softly. “Come inside me.”

His molten-silver irises lock onto mine and flare bright again. It’s unsettling, and when a golden glow begins to surround him, I gasp. He lets out a guttural groan as he swells inside me and pulses long and hard.

The light around him dims almost as soon as he finishes, and he kisses me deeply, as though he wants to crawl inside and never leave.

“You’re mine.”

I clutch at him, not wanting him to leave my body yet, but without warning, my vision swims and a headache takes hold behind my eyes.

“Ah, shit.” I frown and lean away, pressing one hand to my forehead.

“What is it, baby?”

Shaking my head lightly, I wince as I try to open my eyes and light pierces my brain like a hot spike. “Headache. Oh, fuck, this hurts.”

He’s speaking, but the words are unintelligible as everything fades from view.

It’s then that I see him standing at the river, his clothes strange, skin an even darker bronze, hair brighter. He turns and smiles at me, love shining in his eyes as he walks toward me.

“How are you feeling, wife?”

I feel strange. Heavy. An unsettling tickle swirls in my belly, making me gasp.

His eyes widen, and he rushes toward me. “What is it?” Warm palms rest on my belly—my swollen belly. The tickling begins again, this time strong enough that I know he feels it as well. “Our little one is strong.” He beams with pride, and I forget to be terrified.

It’s then I feel the first fat drops of rain hit my skin.