Page 34 of Pretend Wife (Angels of the Secret Order #4)

I nodded even as a flash of trepidation swept through me.

I was a healer at heart, just like Nate was a warrior.

To him this was fun. I’d seen him and Sam go at it like they were legitimately trying to kill each other and then get up with the biggest grins on their faces.

For me, fighting went against every instinct I had.

And I didn’t know how to get over that. Sometimes I wondered if I was even capable of it.

Nate’s hand shot toward my wrist.

“Don’t let him grab you,” Sam said.

“Either block me or get out of the way,” Nate said. “But whatever you do, commit to it.”

I spun away.

“Good. Now follow up.”

“With what?” I asked.

“Too late,” he murmured as he ducked under my wing and wrapped an arm around my waist, his blade hovering in front of my neck. “Don’t give away your advantage. If you let me have time to recover, you lose your opening.”

“What should I have done?”

His fingers circled my wrist, and he moved my arm backward, straight into his gut. “This.”

I shook my head. “My wings would have been in the way. Honestly, how did you even get behind me without catching your wings on mine?”

He chuckled. “Your wings are a part of you. They move where you tell them to.”

“Maybe yours do.”

“If your wings are a hindrance, fight without them.”

“What?” All my brothers had always been clear on the fact that our wings helped with balance and made fighting easier. None of them had ever suggested I not use them.

Nate shrugged. “There’s no right or wrong way to do things. You have to do what works for you. Play on your strengths. ”

“I don’t have any strengths.”

“Of course you do. You’re an excellent bowman, better than any of us at fighting long distance. Not to mention the fact that you’re better at peopling and healing. Lean into that and stop trying to be something you’re not.”

“But I want to belong in the secret order.”

Nate shook his head, a lock of golden hair falling across his forehead and into his eyes. “You do . Danielle, you were handpicked by Father. He believed you belong exactly as you are, so who are you to say you don’t or that you have to change?”

“But I want to be more helpful.” Especially with the fight I knew was coming with the Prince of False Idols.

“Why?”

I sighed. “I just feel like a liability if I can’t even protect myself.”

“But you can protect yourself,” Sam said. “You can’t fight some orders of angels or the highest-level demons. So what? Neither can any of my hunters or most of the angels of Heaven. Chances are, you’ll never have to.”

Only that wasn’t true. I’d already come face-to-face with a grand prince of Hell, and I would again. But now wasn’t the time to get into that with my brothers.

“Let’s call it a day,” Nate said, tucking his wings away and dragging a shirt over his head. “Do you need a ride back to your place?”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll call Hayden.”

Sam scowled, but I pretended I didn’t see it.

Ten minutes later, a motorcycle pulled to a stop right outside the club. Hayden yanked off his helmet and practically ran toward me .

“Are you okay?” he asked, cupping my face between his gloved hands.

“I’m fine.”

“You didn’t sound fine over the phone. Tell me what’s going on, baby.”

I let my eyes fall closed, his touch bringing me a peace that nothing else ever had. “I’m just tired. My brothers are trying to teach me how to be a badass, and I’m failing miserably.”

“I doubt that.” His lips brushed over my forehead.

“You didn’t see me.”

“What do you need?”

“Can you just take me home?”

“Of course. Let me call Caleb.”

“No. I want you to take me.”

“Sunday School, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but all I have right now is a bike. I literally don’t even have a spare helmet with me.”

“Just don’t ruin my dress and we’ll be good.”

A startled laugh escaped him. “ That’s what you’re worried about?”

I smirked. If we crashed, I would walk away without any damage; the same couldn’t be said of my clothes.

“Just for the record, we are never doing this again. I’ll get you a helmet and some real gear if you want to ride in the future.”

“Fine.” I doubted we’d have another chance before Hayden learned the truth and realized how little I had to fear from a motorcycle accident.

He climbed back on the bike, and I settled in behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist and laying my cheek against the back of his padded jacket.

The rush of wind going by as we sped through the streets was the closest I’d felt to flying without actually flying.

I closed my eyes and fought against the sting of tears at the thought that I might never do this with Hayden again.

I hadn’t even known he owned a motorcycle.

How many other things would I never get the chance to learn about him?

When we were back home, Hayden barely let the front door close before pushing me back against it. His fingers found the strip of bare skin on my stomach, his thumbs stroking over my ribs and creating trails of goose bumps in their wake.

“Have I told you how much I like this outfit?” he whispered against the shell of my ear.

“No.”

“It’s one of my favorites.” His lips dragged down my neck and along the tops of my breasts where they peeked over the top of my neckline.

“You’re just saying that because you like the easy access to kiss me.”

“Hm.” He reached down, his hand slipping inside the slit in my skirt to grab my thigh and lift it. “It’s a nice bonus.”

“Hayden…”

“What do you want, Sunday School?”

“Everything.”

“Hold on tight.” He lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, burying my face against his neck as he carried me straight up the stairs .

I expected him to go for the bedroom, but instead, he turned toward the balcony that overlooked one of the living rooms.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

He set me on my feet and spun me around so I was facing the two-story-high wall of glass that offered a stunning view of the city. “Bend over with your feet apart,” Hayden ordered.

I obeyed, curling my fingers around the bars of the railing, more so I had something to hold on to than for balance.

I both heard and felt Hayden drop to his knees behind me. His hands ran up my legs in a slow, sensual exploration. He pressed soft kisses and bites along the backs of my thighs and over my ass cheeks.

“Hayden.” I gasped as heat flooded my veins until I felt like I was on fire.

“Yes, baby?”

“Please.” I needed more, needed him to soothe the inferno that was consuming my body.

I felt his chuckle against my core, and then his tongue was running over my panties, so close to what I needed and so very much not enough.

“Don’t move or I’ll stop,” he murmured. “Okay?”

“Okay,” I breathed.

One of his hands latched onto my hip, his touch almost hard enough to leave a mark, while his other hand pushed my panties aside. And then his tongue was sweeping up my slit in one long stroke, making me see stars.

I think I moaned, but I honestly wasn’t sure of anything at this point.

Hayden’s tongue was relentless as he thrust it in and out of me in a measured rhythm that drove me crazy.

I could feel myself getting wetter, and Hayden’s movements turned frantic, like he was trying to make sure he didn’t miss a single drop.

He groaned against me. “You taste so good.”

“Hayden, please. I need more.”

“Mmm.” He made a satisfied sound and then added his fingers to the mix. He toyed with my folds, teasing and torturing me before finally thrusting two deep inside me.

I couldn’t help the cry that tore out of me at the feeling of fullness, but I didn’t have time to focus on that before his tongue was on my clit, licking and sucking like it was his favorite type of candy.

My thoughts scattered like dust on the wind. There was nothing but him and the feelings he was pulling out of me. I’d never felt so connected to another person, so overwhelmed by emotion—both happiness and fear.

I didn’t ever want the moment to end, but I couldn’t hold on forever. The pressure built and built until it crashed down in a wave of pleasure that took me under, shattered me apart, and left me floating somewhere in pure bliss.

“Sunday School?” Hayden murmured, rising to his feet and leaning over so his chest was pressed against my back.

“Mm?”

“Can you let go of the railing for me? ”

I hadn’t even realized I was holding on to it with a death grip like my life depended on it.

I slowly uncurled my fingers.

“Good girl.” He pulled me upright and then swept me up in his arms bridal-style.

“Where are we going?” I asked, leaning my head against his chest.

“Our room. That was just the appetizer, wife. I’m nowhere near done with you.”