Her Accidental Angel (9 page)

 
 
  They sat side by side on the flat rock gazing at the beauty of the waterfall. Sunlight hitting the mist made by the falling water created a rainbow effect. Kari had never been anywhere so lovely in her life.

 
 
  “Tell me more about being in prison.”

 
 
  “There’s not much to tell. I challenged a Guardian to a duel and killed him. The Angeli sentenced me to life in prison. For murder.”

 
 
  Rahmiel gazed out across the pool. “He was a traitor, but he came from a powerful Angeli family. We had a girl, like you, one the demon wanted. We found her under a pile of children’s bodies, wounded but still alive. We knew the demon would not cease trying to find her, to kill her. The demon always finishes a kill he has started. We don’t know why. Pride, maybe. Or perhaps it is in the nature of a religious act. Who really knows why demons do what they do?” Rahmiel stretched out next to her and leaned on one elbow, so his face was close to her breast. He lifted a lock of hair off her shoulder and began to play with it.

 
 
  “Anyway, none of us had bonded with her. She was distraught and wounded. We were wounded. We needed to see to the burials. It was a horrible day. Gerial, a Guardian, said he would do the binding, which would give her a measure of protection.

 
 
  He was the only Guardian who had escaped the fight unharmed. So the poor girl, who had lost her whole tribe, went with Gerial. But Gerial didn’t do it, after all. He got involved in family business of some sort and ignored the girl until our planned battle time. Tehmuel and I were so rushed neither of us noticed there was no bond. We just assumed it was there.” Rahmiel moved onto his back, and placed his forearm over his eyes, as though blocking the sun, which came down through the canopy of leaves in gentle dapples. Kari took advantage of the moment to inspect his body, and the sight of his lean muscular form wrapped only in the white fabric swatch made her feel warm.

 
 
  “I moved away from her in the fight, thinking she had the protection,” Rahmiel continued, “and she was pierced. She didn’t survive. Later Gerial said he couldn’t do the bond because his father had arranged a marriage to an important Angeli family. I was furious. He should have told us. She was the last of her tribe. The entire tribe died.

 
 
  Thousands more died before we found another survivor to lure the demon to our trap.

 
 
  The demon doesn’t leave something unfinished if he can help it. Neither do I. I challenged Gerial to a duel and killed him. But by then the powerful marriage had happened…politics intervened. Lemuel, the Guardian leader you met, is related to Gerial’s wife.”

 
 
  “That’s not what I consider murder,” she said, relieved at finally knowing the truth.

 
 
  “I think you did the right thing.”

 
 
  He rolled over onto his elbows, his face very close to hers. His lips curved into a slight smile, and he raised a hand to trace her lips with his finger. “I am glad you do not think me a murderer. I took my Guardian vows to protect our human brethren seriously.”

 
 
  For a moment she looked into his eyes, and then the soft brush of his fingers sent a sudden shiver through her.

 
 
  Rahmiel grinned and sat back up. He picked up a handful of pebbles and began tossing them into the pool. Kari enjoyed the play of muscle as he moved.

 
 
  “Have you ever been bonded before?” she asked after awhile.

 
 
  “No.”

 
 
  “What is it, exactly? I could feel something last night, I think.”

 
 
  “Close your eyes.”

 
 
  Kari looked into his for a moment and then shut her eyes.

 
 
  “Now relax.” He slid one finger on her forearm, moving it slowly. “Focus on the touch. It will take a moment.”

 
 
  Kari concentrated on the gentle touch and then something began to happen. An intricate pattern began to swirl and loop behind her eyelids.

 
 
  “I see something.”

 
 
  “Yes, a pattern. Our patterns are exactly the same—same colors, same shapes.”

 
 
  “But what does it do?”

 
 
  “It is a power grid. We can learn to connect, learn to use the power to do different types of work. Angeli use the power to do manual labor, like building or farming.”

 
 
  “Angels farm?”

 
 
  “Yes.” Rahmiel gave a breathy chuckle that sent a shiver through her. “Angeli are similar to humans. We eat, sleep, raise families, and have occupations, crafts.”

 
 
  She opened her eyes and looked straight into Rahmiel’s crystal blue ones. He had moved during the demonstration and was now just inches from her, resting on one elbow. He looked good so close. His skin was smooth and flawless and his pink lips carved to perfection. She glanced down. His chest was not hairless, but covered with a light blond down. It looked so soft she wanted to touch it.

 
 
  “You can do this power stuff with humans, too?” she asked, her voice a breathy whisper.

 
 
  His finger was now caressing her arm in smooth, firm circles. It reminded her of something he’d done before, when they were bonding, his hand between their bodies.

 
 
  She felt herself blush.

 
 
  “Yes, but with humans and Angeli it takes longer to figure out. Back in my day, there were many marriages between humans and Angeli. Mixed couples tended to have many children, which of course are a distraction, when a couple is still learning to work with the bond.”

 
 
  He took a deep breath. “There is a possibility, then, that you could be pregnant from our bonding.”

 
 
  Kari felt her face get a little hot. “Um, no… I can’t get pregnant right now. There’s this shot…I started it not too long ago. It’s so I won’t get pregnant.”

 
 
  “A form of birth control?”

 
 
  “Yes.”

 
 
  He frowned. “Was there a man in your life? Some boy you were planning to have relations with?”

 
 
  “No. And no one calls it relations nowadays.” She turned away from him and gazed at the pool.

 
 
  “Do human-Angel babies have wings?” she asked after a pause.

 
 
  “Sometimes. Not always, though. We are able to tell before the birth if the child has wings.”

 
 
  He reached up and brushed a strand of hair from her sweaty forehead. “Come, let us go swimming. I can feel how hot you are.”

 
 
  “I didn’t bring a suit.”

 
 
  He raised his eyebrows at her.

 
 
  “To wear.”

 
 
  “You can swim naked.”

 
 
  She rolled her eyes.

 
 
  “You are wearing undergarments, they will suffice.”

 
 
  “They’re lace,” she grumbled.

 
 
  His eyes opened wide. “See through?” His lips curved into a delighted smile. “I would like to see those.”

 
 
  He stood before her and her eyes caught sight of his groin, where his white cloth tented out.

 
 
  Kari crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I’m not having sex with you.”

 
 
  “I wasn’t even thinking of it. Not until you aren’t sore anymore.”

 
 
  “Liar.” She waved one hand toward his crotch. “You are too thinking about it. I can see your—your tent.”

 
 
  He laughed. “Tent,” he crowed. “Even I know you Americans don’t call it a tent.

 
 
  You call it a hard on.”

 
 
  She scowled at him until he finished chuckling.

 
 
  “Kari, you can’t expect me not to react to you. You are lovely and we bonded in the most intimate way.”

 
 
  He moved close and a shiver ran through her body, which was not paying much attention to her mind. Rahmiel reached out and stroked her face. She should pull away, but his hand was warm and tingly sensations ran through her.

 
 
  “That is something I can’t forget. I can’t even stop thinking about it for long. I have not touched a woman in a long time, and then to be suddenly bond to one…and you are beautiful. You are spirited, too, which is not a quality I am used to finding in a human woman.”

 
 
  He leaned close and nuzzled her ear, then slipped kisses down her neck. She shivered, and desire suddenly made her pelvis feel heavy and full.

 
 
  “See? I am being honest with you. It was exquisite. To feel your soft body pressed against mine, your tongue in my mouth…”

 
 
  She said nothing, but she felt much the same. She wanted to feel him, feel his naked hard flesh along the length of her body.

 
 
  His stroking hand slid down her neck under her hair, which was blazing hot, and she shivered again. She had to stop herself from putting her hand on top of his and guiding it lower.

 
 
  “So show me your lace things.” He removed his hand, put it at his side and took a step back from her.

 
 
  She felt bereft.
He’s being honest. Maybe I should try it. It’s not like he isn’t totally hot.

 
 
 
It’s not like he raped me…I wanted it as much as he did last night.

 
 
  “I will try not to stare or touch, though I am having a hard time not touching you.

 
 
  And your other garments will not dry well in this humidity.”

 
 
  She nodded. Now that he said he wasn’t going to touch her, she wanted his touch.

 
 
  In fact, the idea of no touching made her feel cranky. She liked his touch, the gentle feel of his finger caressing her arm and the comfort of his arm around her. Every touch sent waves of warmth through her body. She took a deep breath. Why couldn’t she have his touch? Oh, yeah. She was mad at him.

 
 
 
He didn’t really lie to me. There is so much to learn about this Angel stuff. He lost somecontrol, true. But he hadn’t been touched in centuries.

 
 
  “I like your touch,” she admitted in a soft voice.

 
 
Chapter Seven

 
  He was suddenly very close and his face was serious. “Then I will touch you, and you can touch me if you wish. If you want me to stop, I will.”

 
 
  “Okay.” Kari pulled her tank top over her head, revealing her white lace bra, and then slid her shorts off, showing white lace boy cut panties.

 
 
  She looked down, and saw that Rahmiel’s hard on was now wetting the thin cloth that covered his loins, making the fabric nearly transparent in a spot.

 
 
  “Don’t worry about me,” he said in a hoarse voice. “I’m going to cool off. And if that doesn’t work, maybe I’ll take a quick walk into the trees.”

 
 
  He pulled off his loin cloth, revealing his engorged cock, moisture at the dark pink tip. Then he leapt into the pool.

 
 
  Cool droplets sprinkled over her and reminded her how very hot it was. Kari slipped into the water and found it cool but far from cold. Perfect. She rolled onto her back and sighed in satisfaction.

 
 
  Rahmiel suddenly appeared at her side, his expression serious as his eyes inspected her underwear. He placed one index finger along the top of her bra and traced the lace scallops that curved over her skin. His finger found the small satin flower that covered the front clasp of her bra, lingered there a minute, and then drew a line down her abdomen to her belly button. He dipped his finger in for a moment, made a small circle inside her belly button then slid down to the lace that rested on her triangle of rusty curls. She drew in a fast breath as her body seemed to melt under his light touch.

 
 
  “The water is not cooling me off,” he whispered. His eyes focused on her mouth.

 
 
  “Me, either,” she admitted.

 
 
  Suddenly he clasped her in his arms and they were airborne. His beating wings sent a veil of water drops into the air that caught the light, sparking as they fell to the pool below.