Corrupt Cravings (29 page)

“I said let her go, Samael.” It was Nemmy who had spoken before.

Red highlights caught her attention, and she smiled for some unexplainable reason. Leaning forward in her dark angel’s arms, she reached for a lock of the good angel’s hair. “Nemmy?”

He met her halfway, smiling so brightly she was sure the sun had come out. As her fingers touched the red, she felt her face turn to the side. What wasn’t she remembering?

Nemmy laughed. “Long story, but you said, ‘the day hell freezes over and your—’”

Marcella cut him off. “‘—your hair is the color of blood, I’ll come completely over to the light.’
I remember! Nemmy!” She jerked him forward, sandwiching herself between him and Samael. He smelled of mint, so clean, so fresh she hugged onto him harder. It was the dark angel pulling back that broke their contact.

Nemmy shrugged. “So, yeah, I’ve got the hair part going, but I couldn’t bear to do it all in this horrid color. As for hell freezing over?”

“Yeah, fucking forget about that part.” Samael hissed. “Hence, she’s not fucking leaving with you, so stop trying to get her to.”

Marcella turned and waved him off. “I’m not going anywhere, and I won’t lie. I don’t remember too much about you. I’ve only just recently regained a small fraction of my memory. So what brings you here? And why are you spying on me?”

He shrugged and flashed his gaze to his partner. “I couldn’t believe it to be true. After we saw all the pictures in Samael’s penthouse, I knew I had to see for myself.”

“Pictures?” She turned around but decided she’d hit that conversation up later. “Why not come to the door? Well, I mean, I only just got home tonight, but why didn’t you announce yourself? I know you saw me out here earlier. Although you probably were better off hiding.”

“Marcella, this man is not your friend. We need to go back inside,” Samael snapped.

She turned to look back at him, and realized for some reason, he was holding her tighter. “He is, too, my friend. I can feel it. He’s good. Hell, he’s an angel. You can’t get better than that.”

“Angels fall, my dear. Hello? Not everyone is as innocent as they appear. He has his own motives, trust me.”

“Nemmy?” She looked at him, for the first time letting herself really take in his aura. Shit, what had she expected? He felt mostly good!

“He’s right. I do want something. But only in the long run. We used to deal souls, Marcianna.”

“Whoa.” She held up her hand. “I am not her. My name is Marcella. If you want to continue, you have to say it right.”

Nemmy dazzled her with a smile. “If that’s what you want, Marcella.”

“It is.” She wiggled, but still she was held against the one man who never seemed to want to touch her. “I thought.” She turned toward Samael. Somehow, she’d assumed since he was both good and bad, she’d always let him handle the souls. True, she could remember Nemmy, but nothing he spoke of. Just him, in general.

“Can we go?” Samael’s voice pleaded to her.

“Just a sec. Nemmy, you do realize that you’ll have to keep my existence quiet, right? I mean, no one can know I’m back.”

His eyes shot to Samael. “I kind of figured that. That’s why I said in the future. I want nothing more at the moment than to get reacquainted with you.”

“Well, it is kind of late. Could you come by tomorrow? My men and I were just going to bed.”

“You mean you forgave them after what they did?”

“Enough! She’s is
not
to remember yet. When she was asked to be brought back, she gave specific orders to let things come as she progressed. This is not the time. If you tell her, you condemn her. Don’t do it.”

“When she asked to come back?” Nemmy narrowed his eyes at Samael. “If what you say is true, the last thing I want is to be her downfall. I won’t have
that
resting on my shoulders. I’m not sure I could handle the burden.”

Marcella didn’t think Samael could get any tenser. The angel turned in her direction, and for the first time, she wasn’t so sure he was as good as she thought. The pain coming from the man behind her was as fresh inside her heart as she was sure it was in his.

“Until tomorrow, Marcella.” Nemmy took her hand and placed a nearly nonexistent kiss on the top. She didn’t even smile as the two of them disappeared. Samael put her down, but she didn’t move. Turning to her men, she looked at all of their faces.

“You all go inside. I wish to speak with Samael. I’ll be to bed shortly.”

Reluctantly, they walked off. Not one of them even dematerialized. Looking up into the dark angel’s beautiful face, she noticed he wouldn’t look at her. Marcella didn’t hesitate. She braced herself and cupped his cheeks. The pleasure was there but bearable since she was expecting it.

“You wish to tell me something?”

“No.”

“You sure about that? Because if I thought you were lying to me…” She let the words stay open. The chance was his to take.

A sigh left his lips. “Can I take you somewhere? It won’t take long. There’s just something I want you to see.”

Marcella grabbed his hand, never breaking contact with his sorrowful eyes. There was that pain again, and she hated that he was feeling that way. “I would go anywhere with you, Samael. You know where I stand.”

The look in his eyes was one she couldn’t quite make out. Just as she was about to ask him what was wrong, he was suddenly letting go of her hand and hitting a switch. Lights flooded what she assumed was his penthouse, given the glowing city lights she could see from the large windows.

Pulling her into a hallway, Samael waved his hand, making numerous pictures cover the wall. Shocked, she took in each one, walking further down as she went.

“This is everything. My whole life.” Her voice broke upon seeing her mother. She brought her fingertip to the picture, tracing the outline of the woman’s face. God, she had been so young when this picture had been taken. Marcella was but an infant in her mom’s arms.

“Yes. I made sure you had a good life. Your change came when you were unexpectedly young. I wasn’t prepared as much as I thought. You see, if I would have known, maybe I could have prevented the loss of your parents.”

There was the aching. God, she missed them so much. “Samael, nothing is definite. What’s done is done. Besides, they’re in a better place. My mom is…with my child. I know she’s watching over it for me.” Fuck. Marcella wiped the tears from her face. She so wasn’t stable enough to be thinking along those lines.

He nodded but remained silent. It was time to see where he stood in her suspicions from the angel. “You brought me here for a reason, Samael. What would you like to tell me? Maybe something that Nemmy seemed to think you were lying about?”

“Marcy.” Samael stepped forward only to completely turn around and start walking away. He seemed to realize what he was doing and came back in her direction. “Listen, maybe I haven’t been one hundred percent truthful, but you have to understand that I can’t tell you. It would only make things worse. Do you understand?”

“I’m trusting that you’re referring to my past and therefore can’t tell me. If it’s something that wouldn’t affect the path I’m on, then I think I have a right to know.”

His lips parted. “It is about the past.” Blue eyes looked down at the floor almost as if deciding something. “And I really think it’ll make things worse. I know it won’t make them better.”

“Then no more. Not a single word. I’m sorry that Nemmy hurt you. I didn’t like that so much.”

“Who said he hurt me?” He seemed to get defensive at her words.

“I felt it. Here.” She placed her hand over her heart. “It really pissed me off, truthfully. Maybe you were right. Maybe I should stay away from him.”

Samael’s lips parted. “You would do that? For me?”

“Of course I would. He said he needed me in the future. That doesn’t consist of now. I think to be safe, I should probably brush him off gently. The last thing I need to do is tick him off and have him ratting me out.”

Samael burst out laughing. “And this is why, well, this is why we get along. We’re one of a kind.”

“I think that’s truer than either of us think.” They were two of a kind, weren’t they? It was as if everything about him seemed to fit to her personality perfectly.

“What do you mean?” The thickness in his whisper caused her body to gravitate in his direction.

“Samael, don’t pretend there’s not something between us. We’d both know you were lying.”

The sway of Marcella’s hips had nothing to do with her succubus, and everything to do with a woman who was trying to entice a man she wanted.

“The chemistry is there, but nothing will come out of it. I’ve already told you my terms. I won’t share you.”

Marcella brought one of her eyebrows up as she took in his trembling body. When he used to say that, the anger would quickly follow, but not anymore. She wasn’t so sure that was true. Maybe once upon a time he wouldn’t share, but time changes people.

“No?” Bringing her finger up to his lips, she braced herself. He jumped at the first contact of her tracing his lips.

“No,” Samael more moaned than whispered.

“You seem really sure.” The softness of his mouth had her eyes drawn to the fullness. What would he taste like in the heights of passion? Could she even handle the ecstasy she knew he would bring? Pushing the tip of her finger just past the entrance of his mouth, his breathing quickened.

“I’m”

“You’re what, Samael? You’re tempted? Curious?” Marcella dropped her hand before she had an orgasm just from touching him. The wetness of his mouth only increased the flow of juices from her pussy. “As am I. I’m dying to have you deep inside of me.” Turning, she walked a few feet away from him and turned to take one last look.

Samael’s body was as frozen as a statue. His beauty put most men to shame. Yes, the time was near. Soon, she’d have him, and when she did, she was going to take advantage of every minute they were together. But now was not that time.

“You need to know that I consider you mine, whether we’re intimate or not. I won’t deny I feel something for you. It could be because your soul dwells inside of me, but I think it’s more of something you’re hiding about our past. And I will remember, eventually. When I do, your terms aren’t going to stand in my way. Your body
will
be mine.”

Marcella vanished instantly. There was nothing he could say that would deter her from what she knew in her heart was meant to happen. Why was the ultimate question, but one that she didn’t even want to think about. Her instincts were buzzing, and she knew what she had to do. It was time to make plans. Big plans.

Chapter 12

Samael was shocked. His body was frozen. What in the hell had just happened? Somehow, she’d managed to turn the tables on him completely. Unbelievable! And the bad part was, he’d let her. At her touch, he had become putty in her hands. She could have asked for anything, and he knew he would have given in. Oh, shit. He was in major trouble.

Stripping off his suit, Samael headed for the shower. Turning the water as hot as it would go, he waited for the steam to thicken in the room before he stepped in. As his eyes stared straight ahead at the black marble, his hand went right to his cock. What lay before him wasn’t a wall, but Marcella. That look on her face, he’d never seen it aimed in his direction before. Sure, he’d seen her determined when she wanted something, but sexually determined, oh no, never for him.

Samael rested his head against the marble while water poured over his body. His fingers held his cock tighter while he increased the stroking. Those eyes. Fuck. They said everything, showed everything. All he could see was her beneath him as he slowly pushed into her tight, wet pussy. That golden stare would never leave his face. Never. He could see her looking up at him as he thrust deeper.