Page 26

TWENTY-SIX

Micha

Matthew’s decision was anticipated, and I texted Ashley I’d be there for her in five minutes. Sure enough, she was precisely punctual. The satisfaction I felt warred with the flame of anger stabbing my upper chest. If the blond demon hadn’t transitioned himself to another Realm, I’d be feasting on his flesh before removing my woman from the den of debauchery that was Angels.

I’d had to cut a meeting short and put Ipomoea’s acquisition of a small start-up holistic medicine company on hold, thanks to the man. I could assume where he’d disappeared to, but I didn’t want to risk a visit without the support of Josiah or Kiam. Preferably, the former.

There’d been no retribution so far, in response to our defiance of the rules, but I didn’t want to tread where we weren’t wanted. As it was, I’d started hearing a few whispers of scouts, though I hadn’t seen anything that would spur me to action. We were living on borrowed time, no matter how long that could be.

Retribution would be attempted, we just had to be ready. I was fully aware I’d tipped the scales, speeding up the process by weakening my position, leaving myself vulnerable and ultimately, Ashley. This was why I’d chosen to disguise myself, to stave off any overtures.

I had to wonder if it was enough.

Mason held the door for her as she clambered into the car while I finished tapping out an email over the aborted meeting, apologizing for my sudden absence and suggesting a follow-up date or phone call.

After I hit send, I tugged the exhausted girl onto my lap. “If you want, I can ask Matthew to forego any more shifts.”

She shook her head, sliding it back and forth against my chest. “No, it's okay, I need something to call my own.”

The expression made me bristle, though logically I knew she was referring to an activity. “Very well. Are you all right?” She wasn’t, but I had to ask. Normally I avoided small talk, finding it pointless and banal. Humans took a comfort in the aimless words, often not expecting answers, yet I knew she’d be soothed.

“I will be. Someone touched me and then tried to kiss me.” She shuddered and pulled back slightly, resting her forehead against me. “I got makeup on your jacket; I’m sorry.”

She tried to brush it off with her hand and I stilled her with my own. The scent of the demon clung to her, pungent and offensive. “We’ll fix this when we get inside.”

“I stabbed him in the eye with my finger.”

My chest shook with laughter; she was amazing. She took on a powerful demon with the only tool she had on hand, consequences be damned. God, I loved this woman.

“He could’ve killed you for that. It would’ve been within his right.” He must’ve had an ulterior motive, seeing as he hadn’t.

Ashley moved to slid onto the seat, but I tightened my grip, imprisoning her. “I have the right to protect myself from unwanted touch,” she snarled. “He had no business pawing at me like that.”

“It doesn’t work exactly how you’d think. Yes, you have that right, but he also has rights.”

“Whatever, that’s some bullshit. I’m going to start carrying a knife.”

We pulled up to the hotel and Mason hopped out to open the door. “I have several, I’ll give you one.”

She looked up at me incredulously, stumbling from the vehicle and joining me at the curb. “You’d do that for me?”

Why would she doubt me? “There’s not a single thing I wouldn’t do for you.”

She blinked and gazed at the sidewalk before we headed inside.

The second we crossed the threshold; I was on top of her. The putrid stench of another man permeated the very air around her, marring her scent and interfering with my enjoyment of her glittery aura. It couldn’t stand.

Grabbing Ashley’s shoulders, I twisted her around and tugged the zipper of her dress. The mechanism caught, defying my attempts so I fisted the material, tearing it down. She gasped, her hands flying to catch her dress, but I pulled it from her grasp and let it fall to the floor.

When I turned her back to me, I sank my canines into her breast, relief flowing through me. He hadn’t fed from her. He hadn’t poisoned her with his essence, or his blood, and Ashley’s familiar taste soaked my tongue as I supped.

“Isaac,” she whimpered, “wait. I’m not ready.”

Growling over the lies flying off her pretty tongue, I sank my teeth deeper into the mound on her chest and yanked the waistband of her panties down before plunging two fingers into her depths.

So much dishonesty from the beautiful creature; she was already soaked and only getting wetter. “Liar,” I hissed into her ear before stripping my coat off.

Ashley stood before me, blood tricking down her chest stained with the shape of my mouth and dual, perfect puncture marks. I was going to leave the evidence this time, a glaring symbol of her status as claimed.

Stepping forward, I seized her neck with one hand before I rammed my fingers into her pussy over and over again. She cried out and then bit her lip, her hands scrambling for leverage as I walked her backward, prodding her with my knee.

“Stop Isaac,” she begged, placing her hands on my waist and trying to keep distance between us.

“You can fight me all you want, pet. I own you.” My thumb reached for her clit, rubbing the little nub over and over. Her legs began shaking but still she took another step, banging into the massive, circular table in the center of the foyer.

She twisted around, her neck bending under my hold and my fingers slid from her core. She was trying to get away from me, despite her body still attempting to angle toward mine.

I unbuttoned and unzipped my pants and tightened my hold on her. “You better hold on to that table. I’m going to fuck the scent of that demon from you until you can’t stand on your own two feet. You’re mine, Ashley. No one else is allowed to touch you.”

Little did she know she owned me, too.

Whatever she saw in my eyes had her shrinking, cowering. I slid my hand up to her chin and covered her mouth with mine, plunging my tongue inside. Her trepidation, her desire, and the remnants of something sweet met my taste buds as I plundered her. The sensation calmed me, soothing the beast inside that wanted to tear into her and consume her until there was nothing left leaving nothing but her soul sharing space with my own.

Finally, she acquiesced, and her hand traveled upward, grasping my hair as she began to meet me thrust for thrust with a short moan. I grazed her lip with my sharp teeth and licked the beads of blood before I spun her.

Her hands flattened against the table, and I palmed her lower back, lifting her ass. “Hang on,” I warned her, letting my lips trail against the shell of her ear.

She shivered as I lined my cock up with her dripping hole and pushed the head in an inch. Her heat surrounded me, and a tingle trickled up my spine over the ecstasy of being joined with her, even if just a little bit. Reaching up, I placed one hand on her waist and the other curled her hair in my fist.

When I thrust myself into her depths, she cried out, a long low groan. I saw stars, her silken heat surrounding my organ as I pummeled her against the marble ledge, over and over.

I could feel her spirit attempting to shrink, doing its damnedest to separate from my own, and I yanked her head back, shoving my hips forward until I could go no further. “You were mine the moment I laid eyes on you. Get fucking used to it. I fucking own you.”

Pulling back, I slammed into her again and again while she braced herself against the assault. She cried out repeatedly, yet her pussy clenched my cock like it was the only thing keeping her alive. Her juices dripped down her leg while she twisted and angled, her body seeking relief for the pressure I knew she was feeling.

Releasing her hair, I snaked an arm around her and pinched her clit. She cried out, wiggling her ass against me before I started stroking the dripping wetness between her legs, playing with her and flicking her nub as I slowly moved back and forth.

Her pussy fluttered around my cock pulsating as it sought relief. Her pants grew deeper, her moans, louder. “Isaac, please,” she whimpered.

I straightened, taking her with me and sank my teeth into the crook of her neck as I pushed my thumb against her clit, grinding down with the pad of my finger.

Ashley broke, convulsing in my arms so hard I was the only thing holding her up as she screamed. Picking up my pace, I plunged my cock into her depths, letting the white-hot ball of heat form at the base of my spine until my release shot from me, coating her inner walls as I roared.

Smoothing my hand down the delicate curve of her back, I gazed at her skin glowing under the beams of the moon streaming in through the skylight overhead. She was everything I’d ever dreamed she would be. Soft, responsive, stabby, and sweet. I’d found the perfect woman.

She was panting softly, resting a cheek on the cool marble surface of the table when I lifted her into my arms, her own wrapping around my neck as she tucked into me. Our mutual release leaked on me as I clutched her, carrying her into the ensuite bathroom.

I set her down on the tiles and as I reached for the control, I caught her wobbly stare. She appeared both crushed and content, the dual emotions fighting for predominance. As much as I wanted to, I had no idea what she was thinking. Her spirit was still clutched closely to her chest, the aftereffects of our lovemaking tinging it red around her loins, but it was fading fast. A misty golden glaze sparkled around her skin, muted.

“You’re holding secrets,” I said. “You will divulge them, whether that’s right now, or perhaps later. You will not hide from me.”

Water poured from the showerhead while I removed the rest of my clothing. Ashley’s head dipped but she stood, her spine straight, and stepped under the water, letting the stream course over her skin and wash away the blood, cum, and spit. The marks on the crook of her neck were gone, but I’d left the punctures on her breast and eyed them with satisfaction.

She caught where my gaze traveled and glared at me, waiting for me to heal them. Stepping in front of her, I flicked them with a nail. “These are staying.”

She rolled her eyes and reached for her bodywash, but I snatched it from her hand. I treated the things I owned with the utmost care; I had high standards.

When we finished, she patted her hair dry with a towel, a second one wrapped around her torso. I tucked one around my waist and couldn’t help but get irritated over the admiring gaze that perused my form. Did she prefer me with the mess of dark ink etched into my skin? Did the slightly bulkier form I’d donned fill her nighttime fantasies?

It was never supposed to be this way.

Her eyes met my own before they widened, and she quickly glanced away. My own aura had rushed around the room, carrying with it my darkness, anger, and intensity. Shakily, she placed the towel on the counter and grabbed the lotion she used in her hair. Maybe she couldn’t see it, but I knew she’d felt it.

“No, I will do it,” I said, stopping her. Grabbing her around the waist, I set her on the counter and spread the product between my palms.

“How do you know how to care for curly hair?” she asked, sniffling.

I began smoothing it through her strands. “I was trained well.”