Angel Bait (Angel Assassins #1) (27 page)

“Nephilim Grace — our souls — are restricted. We’ve each inherited some of our fathers’ powers, but the Directorate feared our mixed blood may have changed it. They created a spiritual shield to cause pain if we used our abilities.”

Ionie raised her chin. “What does this have to do with you lying to me?”

“No one has the right to change another’s soul.” He stepped closer, no longer concerned with their audience. “The angels call us abominations. Say we’re impure. We’ve been denied a part of ourselves every living being takes for granted. I believed if I captured Beleth I could petition for Ascension.”

Her brow wrinkled at the unfamiliar term. “What’s Ascension?”

“Freedom. It means the binding would be removed.”

Unshed tears rimmed Ionie’s eyes, blurring her vision. Jarrid smoothed the pad of his thumb over her cheek as the first tear fell.

“I used you, my beloved reporter, to gain that chance for myself and for my brothers. I risked your life, lied to you. My actions exposed your friend to danger, costing her life.”

Ionie’s throat constricted. He’d used her to free his family. She gazed deep into his eyes, wanting to hate him. JP died so he could catch Beleth.

For his family
. Would she have done the same in his place?

“I don’t expect your forgiveness.” He bowed his head. “But you’ve changed me. Ascension no longer matters. Only your safety.”

Murmurs drifted around her as the Directorate, the guards, and the rest of The Eternal Order reacted to Jarrid’s confession. Ionie peeked to the side. Every head was bent in rapid conversation. This was huge.

Jarrid raised his hands and cupped her face like he held a precious object. “I love you, now and always.”

• • •

Jarrid’s heart swelled with the power of his love. His world was cold and analytical before Ionie’s soul ended his loneliness. He had lost his shot at Ascension, but he had found indescribable joy in her arms. Content, he’d take the experience to his grave.

Tanis’ voice broke through the low buzz of conversations. “Before you pass judgment, I have one question.”

“Ask it,” Azriel said.

“Have you found the Renegade sympathizer?”

A shock wave cracked the chamber. The assembled angels shouted at once. Jarrid tugged Ionie behind him, securing her under another shield.

“What ridiculous accusation is this?” Puriel asked.

Jarrid glared at each board member before he settled on Azriel. “Someone convinced Beleth he’d be reinstated to his former position. I’ve never heard of a Renegade being granted absolution for his crimes.”

The angel guards whispered to each other, their suspicious eyes trained on the Directorate. All of Heaven knew only the ruling board could grant such a pardon. Jarrid glanced at the cabal and noticed the shroud of unease on their faces. He grinned.

Let’s see how you enjoy getting eyeballed like traitors for a change
.

“How dare you make such a slanderous remark,” Puriel said.

Jarrid shot the angel a hard stare. One or more of these assholes had struck a deal with the enemy. Talk about betraying Heaven’s laws. His hands twitched, missing the solid weight of his guns and daggers.

“Our guess is Beleth planned to do a little recruiting from the inside,” Jarrid said. “The vampire mentioned they were partners, but we don’t know to what end.”

Azriel rubbed his jaw. “Nephilim have every reason to want Heaven in chaos. This was never your home, and none of you belong here.”

Tanis moved to stand next to Jarrid. “The Eternal Order can’t be bribed.”

Cain stepped forward. “Or threatened.”

“We don’t quit,” Kas said.

“And we don’t grant mercy to our enemies,” Nesty said, his voice a low growl.

Ionie slipped her tiny hand in Jarrid’s. “Let them do what they do best.”

He puffed his chest and gave her hand a squeeze.

“There’s a Renegade sympathizer in Heaven,” Tanis said, eyeing each board member in turn. “Without us, you’ll never flush him out. We have the means, and the resolve, to bring him to justice. Reinstate The Order.”

The bewildered Directorate took furtive glances at their guards. Puriel cleared his throat. “We could agree to a probationary period, but that resolves only one of the crimes.”

“You’re wrong.” All eyes landed on Nestaron. His silver gaze slipped to Ionie. “She’s nephilim.”

Azriel screwed his face into a frown. “What trickery is this?”

A surge of hope plowed through Jarrid’s soul.

God of All, give this to us!

“Ionie is Beleth’s descendent. She’s also human.” Tanis crossed to stand in front of the group. “Jarrid is accused of committing the sins of his father. He did not. He fell in love with another nephilim.”

Azriel’s jaw unhinged, mouth gaping. The collective intake of breath by the rest of the Directorate was like the ocean receding from land before a tidal wave crashed down. No one moved.

Puriel looked at his comrades as if willing one of them raise an objection. Jarrid narrowed his eyes at Azriel. The angel had succeeded in keeping Beleth out of Heaven, but he’d never stop trying to destroy The Order. If he formed an argument against Tanis’ claim, his and Ionie’s slim chance would wither.

Azriel closed his mouth, turned on his heels, and stomped from the chamber.

“By decree of the Holy Host,” Puriel said, lifting his chin, “we hereby grant probationary reinstatement of The Eternal Order and task them with upholding Heaven’s will.”

The angel glanced at Ionie. He tipped his head, studying her.

“The half-breed, Ionie Gifford, may return to Earth, but must remain in the company of The Order.”

After returning to the Stronghold, Ionie had made a hurried excuse and slipped away. Jarrid had let her go.

Now he rested his head against the entertainment room wall. He’d wiped out death squads in Chechnya, cut down slave traders in Sudan, and snuffed rogue angels. One human woman shouldn’t scare him.

Kas strolled over to the bar, grabbed a beer, and sat across from him. “Bro,
I’m
scared of her right now. You see those five hell beasts living with her?”

“Grow a pair, man. Those are Great Danes, the gentle giants of the dog world.”

“Dogs I don’t have to stoop to pet can’t be good. One checks me out like I’m a snack.”

Jarrid’s lips curved up.

“Seriously, sorry to mind snoop, but you owe it to Ionie to apologize in private.”

“Thanks, Dr. Phil.” Jarrid pushed off the wall and headed to the exit. “And if you read my mind again without permission, I’ll dip you in bacon grease and let the pooches out to play.”

He took determined steps across the main hall and up the stairs until he reached Ionie’s room. He hadn’t knocked before her furry protectors announced his presence. Jarrid pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Five dogs formed a semi-circle around him, barking like he was a shit out of luck burglar. She sat at a small desk, her laptop open.

“I didn’t know you were working.”

“Hush,” she said. One dog kept barking. Ionie crossed over to it and made a move with her hands. The white dog quieted. “Just sending my editor an email.”

“Sign language is a useful skill,” Jarrid said, impressed. His breath caught when Ionie glanced at him.
So beautiful.
She had pulled her hair back from her face, allowing him a clear view of her slender neck.

“What do you want?”

“You have a right to hate me. But I’m going to tell you my side of things.”

“Now isn’t a good time, Jarrid.”

He stiffened and the dogs growled a warning.
Great
.
Another audience.
“I want to apologize again. What I said in Heaven was true. I
should
have told you sooner.”

“Why didn’t you? I had to hear it from my kidnapper.” A sob escaped her throat.

Jarrid stepped closer. Her eyes glimmered as the light caught the reflection of her tears. He tried to find something in his training to ease her, but standing there, watching her cry, destroyed the last of his armor. An image of his mother flashed into his mind. He hadn’t thought of her much, always shutting down his memories of her last night alive.

His gut clenched and twisted.
Mother
. How could he have forgotten how much she loved him? After her death, the loneliness had been profound. He would have despaired if not for Tanis. Now here he was, facing a woman who’d trusted him and had shared her love. He would lose her, too.

He dropped to his knees, unable to hold his weight. His body trembled. It felt like a wall crashed around him, burying him in centuries of loss and regret. Jarrid shuddered as his emotions assailed him. “I … I’m sorry, beloved. I’m so sorry.”

Delicate fingers cupped his chin, urging his head up. Jarrid gazed into Ionie’s face. His vision blurred. Confused, he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, surprised to find it wet.

• • •

Ionie fought to force air into her lungs. Jarrid, the most powerful man in her universe, kneeled in front of her. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Fathomless longing stared up at her, open and fierce.

He really loves me
. Her hands shook. “I’m sorry I wouldn’t listen before, but I was scared.”

Jarrid went rigid. “Of me?”

She bit her lip. “I was afraid of what Saul told me. I didn’t want to believe him. Assassins don’t usually take women out for barbecue, do they?”

“No.”

“I didn’t know about your day job. You made me laugh. You showed genuine interest in getting to know me. Then Saul told me I was only bait. It hurt.”

“I’ll never forgive myself for that,” Jarrid said, lowering his eyes.

Ionie wanted to be angry, but how could she? A warrior was trying to apologize to her. Christ, she wasn’t heartless. She had half a mind to lean down and kiss his sad lips. One thing stopped her. If there was any hope for them, she needed to know. “It’s forbidden for humans and angels to … get together, correct?”

He nodded.

“What about two nephilim?”

Jarrid didn’t answer right away. Her stomach clenched. The Directorate enforced Heaven’s laws. If they sent an army to destroy angels, women, and children who they believed broke those laws, what hope did she and Jarrid have?

He rose to his feet and skimmed his fingers down her face and neck. His eyes heated with desire, and she found herself mesmerized by the power within them.

“There’s never been a female nephilim” Jarrid said, his voice a delicious rumble in her ears. “You are mine, Ionie Gifford.”

He molded his lips to hers in a smoldering kiss. Ionie melted against him, consumed by need, and ran her hands up the broad expanse of his back. The muscles rippled under her touch.

Jarrid lifted her and moved to the bed. There, he set her down. She mewled in protest when his lips left hers, only to sigh when he grasped the edges of her shirt. Her nipples hardened when he rubbed the pad of his thumb over them. Ionie forgot her own name when he cupped her right breast in his palm, kneading it. She arched into the sensation and sucked on his wet tongue. He tasted delicious, like rain after a storm, and she couldn’t get enough.

Her fingers tugged at his T-shirt until her hands met skin. Jarrid’s abs felt sensuous as she rubbed them. God, he was perfect in every way, and he belonged to her. The thought made her dizzy.

“I need you, beloved,” he said, his voice a rasp in her ear.

Jarrid kissed her again, this time soft and gentle. The heavy thud of his boots sounded distant, as did the denim sliding down his legs. She glimpsed down at his naked body in hunger. Her eyes peeked at him through heavy lashes.

“Lay down,” Ionie said, thrilled when Jarrid stretched across her bed, his body exposed to her greedy gaze. She wrapped her fingers around his swollen manhood, never moving her eyes from his. She pumped her hand.

“Fuck!” he said through gritted teeth.

Ionie kept her hands tight, sliding upward, his arousal lubricating her strokes. Jarrid threw his head back, his sexy stomach trembling. His hands gripped the mattress like an anchor. The veins in his neck corded with strain. Nothing could ever look as sexy as her assassin.

She leaned forward and flicked her tongue against him. Jarrid howled, his seed erupting in thick streams. Watching him orgasm sent an ache through her. No matter what happened, she’d do anything to stay with him forever.

• • •

Jarrid pulled Ionie against his body. With one hand, he yanked off her jeans and panties, flinging them across the room. Her slender legs entwined his, her toned form soft in all the right places. He indulged himself, squeezing her butt between his hands, just to have her grind her smooth skin against him.

Ionie was curvy perfection. Jarrid loved the little sounds she emitted as her pleasure grew. He rolled her onto her back, and then used his height to his advantage. At this angle, he could touch her from head to calf without shifting.

“I’d like to practice what you’ve taught me,” he said, brushing his fingers through the curls at her apex. Ionie moaned. His fingers circled and teased. She wiggled her hips, trying to make him abandon his methodical exploration.

“So impatient,” Jarrid said, chuckling. He leaned over to suck on her breast. Ionie cried out, sending blood rushing to his cock. He peppered her chest with kisses, enjoying the thin layer of sweat that appeared. He licked her stomach in slow, even strokes until satisfied she was ready for what came next.

Two fingers slipped inside her, making Ionie bow off the mattress with a weak cry. He worked her slowly, adding a third finger, until she thrashed her head, lost in desire. His dick bounced, desperate to be inside her.

Jarrid gripped himself, positioning at her opening. Although he’d made love to her once before, he had to keep control. She thrust up when he breached her, forcing him to pin her hips to the bed.

“Christ, don’t move or I’ll hurt you!”

Ionie’s eyes glowed with wildness. “Fuck me, please!”

His world came undone. Jarrid pushed inside her in one, slow glide. His brain exploded from the intense pressure that gripped him. Deeper and deeper he went, filling her body with his thickness. He shook with strain.