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A Divine Moment

NYX

D eath and his angel stood over me, each emitting expressions so charged with passion, I found it hard to breathe.

Pain drained from my body, replaced by something light and warm. The metallic taste on my tongue was decadent. In a strange, forbidden way. I had never tasted anything like it. Part of me wanted more. I licked my lips, savoring it. I must be dreaming .

Death scooped me up in his arms and whisked me away.

My teetering wonder turned to absolute certainty that I was dreaming because there was no way in hell my surroundings could be real. The familiar backdrop of the Malibu house made no sense. I could not truly be here, now. With…both of them.

A hot stone dropped in my stomach. My head swam, drunk off that mysterious nectar. The effects scorched through me, invading my mind. It taunted me with flashing, soft-lit visions. Sinful visions. Of two different pairs of hands on my body. Two sets of lips brushing my throat. Hot, and cold.

A soft moan escaped me as the visions took over, feeling so real my flesh erupted with goosebumps.

“It’s okay,” a wonderful voice promised. I felt the words in my stomach like a rumble of hunger. “You’re okay now, Nyx.”

I frowned. What had happened again?

But I shouldn’t have asked because as soon as I did, the lustful visions dancing behind my eyes were ripped away. Flashbacks took their place. Vivid enough that I was getting shot all over again.

“Fuck,” I groaned, wincing while my hand shot over my heart.

I vaguely remembered Solaris trying to heal me with some kind of ointment. Beyond that, it was a blur.

All I knew was that both of them were fawning over me, desperate to save me.

And they did.

“Your face,” I croaked, taking in the skull I had painted over his lovely features on Hallows Eve. I blinked. Was I dreaming after all?

“Oh, yeah. Shit. Sorry.” Jed waved his hand over his face—dismantling the glamour. I didn’t have the energy to wonder why in the seven hells he’d been glamoured in such a way. Or why he was dressed like a freak.

He brought me into the candlelit bedroom and sat me down on the bed. He unraveled the dark cloak from my body and tossed it aside. I sat there, exposed while he assessed me. His eyes raked over my naked skin, his fingers brushing the spots where the bullet holes had been. I shivered, my brain assaulting me with phantom pain.

Once he was sure I was truly healed, he went and rooted around in the closet coming back with a little night dress. I let him put it on me. He handled me with such gentleness and care, as if I were made of glass. A lump formed in the back of my throat. He was always taking care of me. I didn’t fucking deserve it.

He knelt in front of me, murmuring for me to slide my legs into the black underwear he’d picked. My cheeks were hot, but I listened anyway.

Solaris stood outside the doorway and watched.

My heart pounded. He wasn’t glaring with his usual stony expression. I didn’t find any malice or envy in his eyes, either. He watched Jedidiah take care of me with something that looked like… No. I had to be reading him wrong. There was no way those emotions on his face could be real.

Jed followed where my eyes went and did a double-take at Solaris. “Jesus! Get the hell out of here!” he roared, swiping his hand so the door shut at his telekinetic command.

It was both a relief and a disappointment to have those endless silver eyes off me.

“Sorry about that,” Jed grumbled. “I forgot he was there. He’s so fucking intrusive.”

My senses were on high alert. I listened as footfalls faded down the hallway. A moment later, I physically felt him leave. A hole burned through my heart. It took everything in me not to cry.

“He brought me to you?” I wondered, my voice small.

Jed didn’t like those words. “He had no choice.”

I nodded. “Right.”

“Here, lay down.” Jed opened the bed, and I crawled under the blankets, grateful for the warmth. My body may have been healed but my spirit was far from it. I curled up, facing away, looking out the dark window. A thick cloud made its way in front of the moon.

The bedroom door opened. I turned to find Jed on his way out.

“Don’t leave,” I pleaded.

He paused. “But—”

“He’s gone.”

He lingered there for a moment, listening.

“We’re alone, Jed.”

He sucked in a slow breath before shutting the door and peeling off his leather jacket. Then he came and sat on the edge of the bed, removing his heavy boots and pants. My abdomen heated when he slid into the bed behind me, spooning his enormous body against mine.

The heat of his chest warmed my back as he wrapped me in his arms and held me. The steady beat of his pulse made my eyes well with tears and a breath of relief escaped me.

“Yeah. I need this, too,” he murmured, pressing his lips to the top of my hair.

“I don’t deserve you,” I whispered.

He needed it hear it. He needed to know how much I appreciated him even though it drowned me with guilt, his kindness toward me. I’d fucking attacked him when he was just trying to help me. I hurt him then I’d left him to go to another man and he was still here . Taking care of me. Comforting me. He could have disowned me for what I did. But he refused— why ?

I was not worth it.

The pillow was wet with my tears.

“Well, you have me, so get used to it.”

“I’m sorry,” I croaked. “I’m so sorry, Jed. For what I did to you. And—” A sob cut me off. He listened, waiting. “And I didn’t mean to kill that woman.”

He squeezed me tighter as I wept. “I know, baby. I know. Shh. It’s okay.”

“It is not okay! She was innocent. She did nothing. I broke into her home, and I murdered her.”

For a moment, he said nothing. Then, “You’re right. It’s not okay. But tell me this—did you mean to?”

I sniffled. “No. But still.”

“People do far worse things. Intentionally. You do not have a malicious heart, Nyx. You’re young with a shit ton of celestial power. This kind of thing was bound to happen sooner or later. You fucked up. At least you feel remorse. That’s more than can be said for some.”

“No,” I growled. “I don’t get to get off easy for what I did. I may not have meant to kill her… But I did break into their home, with full intentions to use them like objects to get me what I wanted. I killed that woman for a ride .” I could hardly speak, but I forced myself to continue. To admit it. “I am like Solaris. I’m exactly like him.”

Jed squeezed me, his heart thrashing against my back. “Don’t fucking say that. You are not. Absolutely you are not.”

My sobs made it impossible to argue.

He held me through it.

I swallowed the jagged lump in my throat. “I feel so numb, Jed. I hate it. When Solaris stole my magic, I thought I’d lost everything. But now…” Flashes of my friends, my academy, the golden dragon—images of everything that was torn from me, including the girl I once was—stung the backs of my eyes. “I may have been powerless but at least I had a home. With my sister and my friends. Now I—that girl is dead. I don’t even know who I am anymore. If I’m even anything at all.”

“You’re still you, Nyx. We’ll figure the rest out, okay? I promise. I promise you that.”

I sniffed, staring out the window. I wished I believed him.

We were silent for a while.

“Jed?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?” He held me tightly, his thumb absently caressing my collarbone.

“Tell me about the dragon.”

A beat of thoughtful quiet passed between us, charged as ever.

“He’s…he’s glorious, Nyx.”

I sniffed, biting my lip to hold in a cry.

“His scales are like real gold. His horns are black, though. It’s wicked cool. He has these piercing, super intense eyes that burn right through to your soul. His fire is crazy and bright like yours but it’s blue . He… He’s everything you’d imagine a dragon would be, but also so much more. Oh! And fuck, he has grown. Like, an impossible amount. He was nearly the size of a dog when I saw him last.”

My brows narrowed. “A dog? What kind of dog?”

“I don’t know. One of those floppy golden ones that every nuclear family owns?”

I chewed my lip, pondering that. “I thought he was small.”

“He was. When I saw him after the Clash of Spirits, he was no larger than a cat. I guess he’s in a hurry to grow.”

That had my stomach tumbling, and my mind whirring with ideas. But amid these ideas, lived a deep sadness.

Jed could feel that. He added, “He’ll come to you, Nyx. I know he will. I think…I think he was the one who told me to feed you my blood. I got a vision and… I don’t know. Dragons are mysterious creatures. He must be waiting for the right moment. A Divine Moment.”

“A vision?” I peeped.

“Yeah. It was gone in a flash, but it saved your life.”

I sighed, nuzzling my back into him.

We didn’t talk about the dragon again.

We lay there in silence for what felt like hours.

I thought maybe he’d fallen asleep, but when I turned my neck and peeked up at him, his eyes were open. Our gazes met and my stomach tumbled. Heat coursed through me as I dared to roll onto my other side facing him. I pressed myself against his body, planting a light kiss on his throat. He went rigid. I kissed his hot skin again, moving closer to his jaw. His breathing got heavy, his hands squeezing my thighs. My lips hovered over his, but he made no move.

“Kiss me,” I whispered.

His throat worked. I could feel his heart crashing. “Are you sure? You almost just died. Don’t you want—”

“ Exactly ! Kiss me, Jedidiah.”

The desperation in my voice lit a fire in his eyes like I’d summoned an infernal spirit.

But he controlled his fire. He pressed his lips to mine and kissed me slowly. It was gentle but agonizing and it had my stomach churning with need. I wanted more.

I slid my tongue into his mouth while my fingers snuck under his shirt. I loved the sound he made as I touched his chest, feeling the faint lines of his scars.

He shifted himself so he was on top of me with his huge body pressing between my thighs. His fervid stare raked over me and my belly turned molten. I reached up to tangle my fingers in the back of his hair, pulling him down so his mouth crashed onto mine again.

“Yes,” I sighed into his mouth, arching my back. “ Yes .”

He pulled back, which made me growl in protest. “Wait, Nyx. Just wait a second. Slow down.”

My face twisted in offense. “What? Why? You don’t want me?”

Hurt and disbelief flashed in his eyes as he stared down at me. “Of course I do. But you were just lying on the table—dead. You looked dead . I can’t just—you should be resting. I shouldn’t touch you right now.”

My offense melted into something vulnerable and wanton. I sighed, brushing his hair from his eyes. “You’re a good man,” I told him softly. “I still feel like I’m dead. I’ve felt that way for a while now. I want you to make me feel alive. Please, Jed?”

His breathing labored. He searched my eyes, and I hoped they shone with sincerity and not manipulation.

Then his mouth was on mine. I moaned softly, my lips open as he devoured them. I arched my back, pressing myself into him.

He released a low sound before his lips traveled to my throat. He kissed, sucked, and nipped my skin while I slid my hands from his hair, down his arms until they found their way underneath his shirt. I skimmed them up and down his spine, loving the way he flinched into my touch. Then I tugged the fabric at the bottom of his shirt, lifting it until he leaned back and pulled it over his head, tossing it to the floor.

He dove back down to kiss me. His burning skin against mine had all sorts of soft whimpers leaving my lips. I swiveled my hips, grinding myself along the hard length straining against his boxers. He breathed hard between kisses, his fingers wandering under my nightdress. He traced a line of fire up my thigh to my panties. There, his touch hovered, unsure.

“Yes,” I urged him breathlessly. “Jed, I want you. Please , don’t stop.”

“Yeah?” he murmured against my lips. His tongue invaded my mouth as he slid my panties down. His fingers found me wet and ready, making him inhale a sharp breath. I moaned and arched my back greedily as he circled my clit, sending shocks up my spine.

“Fuck,” he rasped, and I knew that fractured tone.

He was mine.

He pried his mouth off mine to look down and watch himself touch me. My thighs fell apart completely, and I ground into his hand more and more as his fingers worked their magic. I cried out when he slid one of them inside me. He pumped me gently at first, slowly picking up the pace to match the speed of my breath.

“You won’t be numb when you come all over my fingers, will you, Princess?”

I moaned, ecstasy dancing in every inch of my body.

He slowly pulled his finger out and I whined in protest, only to have him add another as he thrust back inside me. The look on his face as he watched himself finger fuck me undid me. His jaw was slack, his eyes hooded and scorching. I writhed under his touch, mewling for him as he drove me further and further into oblivion.

“You weren’t numb when you knocked my ass out,” he snarled, sending shivers across my skin. “I saw a glimpse of the real you then. Furious and powerful.” He pumped his fingers in and out, harder each time, bringing his lips down to mine. “You weren’t numb when I almost fucked you in the street.” He kissed me possessively. “You’re still in there. You’re not fucking dead. And even if you are, I will bring you back to life, Nyx Morningstar. I will resurrect the fiery goddess inside of you and stand by you as you burn this world. Come back, baby. Fucking come back to me.”

Oh!

I gasped and whined, so close to release it dizzied me, but he pulled his fingers out of me just before the moment came. “ Ahg !” I yowled furiously, and he chuckled, trailing a path of kisses from my lips, down my throat, between my breasts. He moved down my body, bunching up my nightdress and exposing me. I squirmed against the bed as he positioned himself between my thighs. He tugged my panties further down my legs, peeling them off completely.

“I want to taste you.”

My heart slammed in anticipation while he admired my pussy. His eyes were dark and full of heat, a man possessed.

“Jed,” I cried, writhing, every nerve ending in me sparking. “ Please !”

“Please what, Princess?” His voice came out low and taunting, a wicked grin tugging at his unfairly beautiful lips.

Bastard.

“Please make me come,” I begged.

He dipped his head down and obeyed me. A scream flew from my throat as he licked me from my entrance to my clit in one slow movement. I gripped the blanket for dear life. His tongue flicked against me relentlessly. Light exploded behind my eyes as I wiggled and cried out.

It took me a moment to realize my eyes weren’t even closed—that light was real. All the candles in the room had burst to life as my pleasure swept through the room.

“ Yessss ,” Jed groaned. “That’s it, baby. Burn for me.”

The flames over the candles grew as his tongue worked harder, coaxing the orgasm from me so fast I thought my brain was going to short circuit.

My final screams echoed through the house and off the ocean itself.

Every inch of me felt alive and on fire. I breathed hard, relishing in the aftershocks of the orgasm while his tongue continued to lick and suck me gently, letting me ride it out as long as I could.

The stench of burning fabric was the only thing that had me coming back down to earth so soon.

“What the—?” I lifted my head to see that my hands had burned holes through the sheets.

I really was burning.

A sly, victorious grin slid across Jed’s shiny lips. He remained between my thighs, looking like an erotic painting. “There she is.”

I panted, my head falling back down to the pillow. “Fuck,” I breathed. “That was…”

He kissed the inside of my thigh and pulled my nightdress back down, covering me. He crawled up the bed and curled in beside me, maneuvering me into the little spoon again. My brows lowered, confused. “Wait—don’t you want…?” I trailed off as a yawn took over.

He pressed his hard cock against my ass. “Yes, I do want . But we have all the time in the world, and you need to sleep.” He pulled the blankets up over us and kissed the top of my head. “I’ll fuck you later, Princess.”

My eyes fluttered shut as I breathed a cheeky scoff. “Seriously, what’s with the whole ‘Princess’ thing?”

I heard him smile. “The first time I ever saw you, outside of Lucifer’s Playground. You strutted past the line-up of people and stood in front of the bouncer with a dare in your eyes. Of course he let you right in. How could he not? The most exquisite, entitled little princess, sure to always get her way.”

That earned him an elbow jab. But we both laughed. And for the first time in forever, things felt alright.

“Oh and by the way,” he said into my hair. He held me tight. “Happy birthday, Nyx.”