Reckless Radiance (18 page)

She jumped feeling his hand come down on her shoulder. She whirled to meet him with a bright smile. “Come over here and get warm,” he said, leading her to the corner where he’d started up the small electric heater. Valerie popped away from him and grabbed a blanket off of a shelf and laid it out for them. It wasn’t exactly a bearskin rug in front of a roaring fireplace but it was inviting and the butterflies in her stomach told her it was romantic.

Kneeling down on the rug, the green skirt of her dress pooled around her covering her legs that she kept tucked underneath her. Russell crouched down next to her and moved in close putting his hands in front of the heater before rubbing them together. He sighed and sat back and Valerie saw a faint smile on his face.

He caught her looking at him and for a moment they stared at each other wordlessly. It seemed like everything she wanted to say was sitting in his eyes. She didn’t know how to articulate it and she knew if she tried, it would all come out wrong. Maybe he could see in her what she saw in him. That the evening had been wonderful and that twenty-four days with him had felt like a lifetime. She wanted him to see that they were exactly where they belonged
. Together.

His hand reached out to her and he smoothed his thumb over her cheek. She melted under his touch and scooted closer to him without thinking. Russell wrapped her in his arms and held her tightly to him. Her stomach knotted when she heard his heartbeat already racing. If she pushed him and he lost control, she could lose him. But if she didn’t savor every moment with him and lost him anyway, she would never forgive herself. She pulled back and looked into his glassy gaze. The weight of his stare left her breathless.

She let her fingers dance along the shiny fabric of his tie. His strong brow furrowed but it didn’t stop her. She loosened the knot and tugged it off of him, never letting their eyes unlock. Then she placed a finger on one button of his shirt and tapped the gray plastic for a moment, uncertain of her next move.

The instant she made up her mind his hands slipped into her hair and he drew her in for a ravenous kiss. Valerie kissed him back and the chill she felt on her skin disappeared. Her hands linked behind his sturdy neck and she kept him close, deepening the kiss. Her lips opened to him and their tongues touched. A moan sounded from the back of his throat causing Valerie to climb into his lap, straddling his waist. Their lips separated and the sounds of their heavy breaths hung in the air.

She nuzzled into his neck and kissed the skin where his jaw met his throat. Russell sighed and she felt his hands smooth down her back over the bare skin showing from the V in the dress. His fingers stopped at the top of the zipper and she knew he was holding his breath. She swallowed hard and kissed his neck again, tasting his skin with her tongue before she spoke into his shoulder.

“Please,” she murmured. He fulfilled her request and she felt the warmth of the heater on her back as he slowly pulled her zipper down. Russell brushed the top of her panties as he glided his hands inside her dress caressing her skin. With his strong arms holding her and his skin against hers, she couldn’t stop her fingers from moving between them to unbutton his shirt. She pulled the fabric apart and although she knew it wasn’t there her eyes searched for the wound he’d suffered at the hands of Henry. Her eyes grazed over his chest and stomach and all she saw were his strong muscles.

Her hands reached out and touched his chest tenderly. She swiped her fingers over the place she knew the bullet had entered and sighed feeling nothing but perfectly healthy skin. Glancing up at him he gave her a crooked smile.

Russell shrugged out of his shirt and tossed it beside them on the dusty floor. When she straightened, she felt the sleeves of her dress start to slip down her shoulders and she didn’t try to stop it. Russell’s eyes widened as the dress fell to the ground and only covered her knees until she quickly untangled herself from it and put it aside. Clad in just a pair of pink satin panties, she stared at him with bated breath.

Her slender fingers glided into his hair and she coaxed him into a kiss. With their lips connected, she leaned back and invited him to cover her with his body. Released from the kiss, he lingered over her, his arms stabilizing him as he gazed at her in amazement. She saw the worry and inexperience flicker in his stare.

She gave him a soft smile and led his hand to cup her breast. He didn’t need leading after that. He kissed her firmly and let his hands wander the length of her body. His kisses trailed down her neck and across her collarbone as her breathing grew more and more labored. With his lips against the bare flesh of her breast, she choked out a moan and gripped his hair in her hands. His fingertips traced along her skin sweetly the same way she had traced patterns on him as he fought to conceal his halo all of those nights.

Light caresses down her sides transitioned into quivering touches along the seams of her silk panties. Russell’s breath quaked as he tentatively placed his hand between her legs. Valerie lifted her hips instinctively, craving his touch. He made his move back to her lips and crushed his mouth to hers while letting his fingers stroke her through the soft fabric. She held onto his neck with one hand and let the other snake between them to tug at his belt.

He pulled back and shuffled the rest of the way out of his slacks, tossing them on the growing pile of clothes. Valerie drew her fingers slowly down his chest, smoothing over his stomach, working her way around to his lower back where she felt his muscles twitching. He kissed her lips again and again, panting but keeping composure. Slowly his hesitancy seemed to disappear and he grew more eager for her.

Valerie shifted under his weight and reveled in the feeling of his tongue skimming her neck and earlobe. He breathed a string of words in a language she didn’t recognize. He whispered to her, calling her beautiful and a goddess all while he slipped his hand under the only bit of clothing she had left, feeling her wet warmth.

In a quick blur of motions they were finally both completely bare. She looked up at him and saw sweat dampening his hair and a tremor overtake his bottom lip. Silence fell between them when the moment approached. She looked into his eyes and simply nodded and he moved into her delicately. She sighed and gripped his shoulders clinging to him, wanting him to stay there forever. Electricity rippled through her when he moved, finding his rhythm. She kissed him and basked in the building pleasure coursing through her as he moved in her. Russell was kissing her in any place he could reach and suddenly it was making her dizzy.

It was his Serenity. That warm, peaceful feeling that was a part of him made its way to her soul. Already on the brink of sexual bliss, her head fell back and she soaked up whatever he offered her without thinking. A tremble moved through her and she cried out. She felt the warmth of the blood in her veins and every hair on her body stand at attention. Her body responded to him in ways she didn’t know were possible. Until he stopped.

Valerie opened her eyes, still disoriented from the bombardment of pleasure. She stared at him and saw he was wincing. His lips were barely parted and his skin was glistening with sweat. Russell’s head tilted back and he raised a shaking hand to his head. It was a scene so familiar to her. She felt her heart stammer in her chest. She reached up and grabbed his face in her hands and his eyes flew open, glowing brilliant blue. The entire barn was flooded with golden beams of light. He let out a brutal sigh as his halo gleamed all around them, brighter than she had ever seen it. Russell muffled Valerie’s moans with his mouth, kissing her ferociously as he radiated splendid gold all around them. The pleasure that ripped through her was too much to bear. She couldn’t make sense with any words, only the guttural expletive of his name.

Russell collapsed on her and the blinding light faded to a dull glow that flickered from his skin like a faulty neon sign. The fog lifted from Valerie’s mind and she stared at him in awe. He moved to lie on his back, fighting for breath, shutting his eyes.

Valerie’s head was reeling. A moment ago the barn had lit up like some sort of bomb had been detonated. She looked over at him watching the rise and fall of his breath and the sputtering of his halo die down. Her fingers shook as she reached out to touch his chest. The second her fingertips made contact with his skin, the light swelled. But it was just an echo of what had been. He grasped her hand and with a few deep breaths, he snuffed the light out with his own inner strength.

“Are you all right?” she croaked.

He turned to her and opened his eyes. His brow was knit together in the center and his stare was penetrating. “Incredible,” he whispered.

Chapter Twenty Seven

Before she opened her eyes, she became aware of his arms around her, keeping her warm. With a stretch, she looked up at him and snuggled into his body. She didn’t know how long she’d been asleep but when she saw his face, he was staring at her with love in his eyes. “Hi,” she whispered. He smoothed a hand over her hair and brushed the waves over her bare shoulder.

“Hello,” he replied.

She pulled in a deep breath and sat up at his side before glancing around for her dress. She reached for it and slipped it over her head quickly. He was watching her carefully with a faint smile on his lips. His dark hair was tousled and his eyes were tired but he looked pleased.

Valerie put her palm to his smooth cheek and sighed. She tried to keep the fear from boiling inside of her. What they’d done would have its consequences. The feelings he’d given her both emotional and physical were more than she’d ever experienced. It was unearthly. Her stomach still tingled when she let her mind step back moments in time to the flood of ecstasy that had surged through her. The memories of his body melded with hers and that wanton look in his gleaming eyes made her pulse race.

“It’s late, we should get inside,” he said. He reached for his shirt and slipped his arms through the black sleeves. She grabbed his hand and he faced her again.

“Will you sleep in my bed with me tonight?” she asked, wanting to stay as near to him as possible. Russell smiled and moved in to kiss her.

“Of course,” he said, pressing his lips to hers sweetly.

A gust of wind blew through the barn and Valerie looked toward the doors. She could feel the color drain from her face and lightheadedness set in. Russell stared at her curiously but she couldn’t take her eyes off of the door and the three women standing in front of it, staring at her stoically. Each of them was dressed in a flowing white gown though they were cut differently. The brunette with mocha colored skin and shimmering amber eyes wore long lace sleeves that belled around her hands. The platinum blonde’s dress had a halter neckline that scooped in the front showing off her ivory skin. And the last one, the fiery redhead with piercing emerald eyes, wore cherubic cap-sleeves and a fitted bodice that showed a form made up of artistic curves.

Russell’s eyes narrowed on Valerie. She lifted a finger and pointed over his shoulder to the women. She knew exactly who they were without him telling her.
The Order.
When he saw them he immediately jumped to his feet and lowered his head in submission.

“Brother Russell,” the blonde cooed as she glided forward.

“Sisters,” he muttered.

Valerie pulled the zipper of her dress up as high as she could and stood next to Russell, gripping his forearm. He tilted his head to her but didn’t say a word. The three women seemed to float on air as they approached, their gowns dancing in the breeze their steps created. Valerie swallowed the lump forming in her throat.

“We doubt you are confused by our arrival,” the brunette said, taking a quick sweep of the barn with her eyes before looking Valerie up and down. Russell didn’t reply.

“Explain yourself, Brother,” the redhead said. It didn’t sound like anger or even annoyance but her words were coated with some sort of stifled emotion. Russell stiffened even more at Valerie’s side. “I—,” he choked.

“Start with why you circumvented your last call to assignment and every subsequent call since,” the blonde added.

He slowly lifted his head to stare at the women before him. Valerie gazed at his profile, watching his jaw click and tighten.

“After being given the assignment of Usher to the same young man I had been Guarding for years … I felt betrayed,” he said.

The redhead scoffed and her eyes flew open wide. “Betrayed? Your human form has far too deep a hold of you for you to feel such an emotion as
betrayal
,” she spat.

“Cassandra, we are to hear him out and deliver a message. Judgment will come later,” the brunette warned. Finally, Valerie put a face to a name. Russell lowered his eyes to the floor again and Valerie tightened her hand around his arm. Cassandra shook her head and stared disapprovingly at Valerie. “If only you had kept your faith, Brother, you’d be Guarding
her
,” Cassandra mumbled.

Russell’s head snapped up and his eyes flared. “What?”

“It’s true. All is carefully thought out. Your next assignment, had you answered the call, would’ve been as Valerie Gilmore’s Guardian,” the brunette replied.

Valerie felt her chest tighten and her mouth go dry. How much of this was her fault? Russell boldly took a step toward them as the women of The Order stared him down. “If I was to be assigned to her anyway then there is no real problem here,” he insisted, throwing his hands out in front of him.

The three women took turns meeting each other’s eyes with knowing glances. The blonde sighed and her shoulders relaxed. Her voice came out soft and almost sweet. “There is indeed a problem, Brother. Your blatant disrespect for law is the most glaring. You evaded calls, you intervened and now you have surrendered yourself to human emotions. Everything you once were has been clouded.” She took a breath and shot a look at Valerie. “Tainted.”

“Are you prepared to fall?” Cassandra asked plainly.

Russell took a staggering step back and Valerie searched his face seeing stunned eyes and pale cheeks. “No. That is not what I want,” he growled.