Redemption (A NOVEL OF THE SEVEN SIGNS) (35 page)

She trusted him. And that was a victory for
her
.

She licked dry lips, her pulse aflame. “Torment
me.
”

His eyes blazed dark. He flared his wings, a fragrant golden cocoon that shut out the world. And then he bent to kiss her.

Mouth first, deep and slow, drawing out her desire until she moaned, drunk on his heady flavor. She could feel his body trembling, alive with urgent need…yet he took his time with
her, sought her pleasure, tested it. His kissed his way down her throat, sucking her throbbing pulse, nipping playfully at her collarbone. By the time he reached her breasts, she was wild, writhing with need. She laughed, breathless. “You bastard. Sure you don’t do this often?”

His only response was to kiss her more. Her nipples ached in the midnight heat of his mouth. Pleasure dizzied her. Delicious summer breeze played over her skin, tuning her to an ever higher pitch. She barely noticed that he’d let her go, that he had slipped one hand down to play over her belly…but then magically her jeans were undone, her flesh bare to the sultry darkness and his fingers slipped warm into her secret places and he was
touching
her…

“Oh, fuck.” She arched, delirious. He stroked her with such exquisite care, searching, finding what she liked. It was too much. It wasn’t enough. As if she’d never been touched before, and had only just now learned what sweet pleasure touching could be.

She thrust her hips forwards, desperate for more, and dragged him back up for a kiss. “More. I want to feel you.”

Mmm.
Deep inside her, the demon curse groaned, waking from slumber.
More, Rose. You’ve got a job to do. Take him now, and his soul will be ours
…

Cold shock almost spoiled her high.
No, I don’t want to. Leave us be!
She fought the demon, wild, even as her mouth molded to Japheth’s, her breasts aching against his silver-clad chest. He dipped one finger deeper into her folds, playing the tip over her entrance, and the exquisite sensation nearly toppled her over the edge.

But the pleasure was sharp, cruel. Polluted with hunger for blood.
No!
she screamed silently.
Get away. This is mine. He’s mine!

The creature just laughed.
I want his blood, Rose. You want his blood…and his SOUL
…

She tilted her hips, desperate to take him inside her, banish this evil creature that tempted her to darkness. “Yes. Touch me.”

“Look at me.” Japheth pulled back, and their gazes locked. She shuddered, pleasured by the passion that burned there.
Slowly, he eased his finger in. Deeper. More. Until he could go no further, and then he started to move, caress her, draw her on.

Oh, God.
She was so tight, so wound up with frustrated desire, it felt like he was fucking her with his cock, every sweet thrust parting her with delicious precision. She wanted to explode, blast away this horrid hungry creature inside her… Her flesh throbbed, tension coiling so rapidly, it must surely break…

Desperate, she focused on the sensation, the cruel-sweet delight of her angel inside her, stroking her most secret places, that little spot in her flesh hardening, resonating, ready to shatter…

Evil laughter shook her.
You can’t be rid of me. I’m part of you. The thirst is what you are. Feed, Rose. It’ll feel so good
…

Her fangs sprang out, greedy. The demon’s spell chewed up what remained of her reason and spat it out in bleeding chunks…and suddenly, all she could smell was blood.

God, she was so hungry.

His pulse vibrated through her, quickening in harmony with her own. She could feel it in his fingers, where he touched her inside. Against her thigh, where his male hardness strained. In his trembling lips, as they brushed her cheek, the blood throbbing in the sweet words he whispered to her. “Let go for me, Rose Harley. I’ve never wanted anything more.”

She fought it, frantic, but her eyes dragged themselves to the broad muscled curve leading to his shoulder. Such fragile, delicate skin. The vein pulsed beneath it, hot and delicious…

Her vision misted scarlet. Wildly, she arched her neck, baring her face to the greedy moon. Her fangs strained, aching, triumphant as the first shockwave of orgasm sparkled from her belly towards her toes. “Oh. Yes. Yes!” She was coming, his fingers leading her, his scent drowning her, and she wanted his blood in her mouth so very badly…

She stretched hungry jaws, and deep in her heart, the wicked demon smiled.
He’ll taste soooo good
…

CHAPTER 31

“Sweet Lord in heaven, what are you
doing
?”

Japheth sprang to his feet, and instinctively swept Rose up behind him.

She cried out, stumbling against the protective shield he’d made with his wings. Dizzy, he fought for breath. Sweet heaven, he’d smelled that. Felt her tighten and pulse around his fingers. She’d come for him, her beautiful body shuddering exquisitely…

Sword on the grass, too far away. In a blur, he scooped up his darkened dagger. “I warned you, Esther. Back off.”

Esther landed lightly, fluttering her coppery wings. Her immaculate gray suit settled around her. “I knew it,” she announced with a sneer. “You’re having
sex
with her. That’s disgusting, Japheth. Is there anything you won’t stoop to?”

“I told you not to spy on me.” But his pulse raced, out of control. He was drunk on Rose’s scent, her spicy female skin, her hot slick wetness… Lord, he’d been so close to wrapping her sweet thighs around him and slamming into her. To feel that delicious flesh on his cock, feel her surrounding him, so close, dissolving together, becoming one…

Shit. Blind lust just wasn’t enough for him, was it? He had
to go and
feel
something. And that made it so much worse…or better…?

Esther’s mouth curled. “Yeah. Because me spying on you totally makes sticking your dick in some foul hellspawn bitch okay.”

God, he wanted to claw that supercilious expression from Esther’s lips. Slam her face into the dirt and scream
yes, it is okay, hear me? It’s okay because I care for her. I
feel
something. Is that so awful?

Is it?

Behind him, Rose fought to escape the trap of his wings. “Who are you calling ‘bitch,’ you uppity feathered tart?” she yelled. “How about you get the fuck out of my face?”

“You heard the lady,” Japheth growled, satisfied. Damn, he loved Rose’s attitude. Especially when, for once, he wasn’t on the receiving end…and at his satisfaction, a tiny blue glimmer licked his knife’s edge.

His heart skipped, baffled. Heavenfire. They hadn’t shunned him. Not completely. Did that mean…?

“Is that how you teach your little playthings to talk? Michael was right. You can’t be trusted.” Esther flashed her sword, lighting the park with a blinding white crackle.

His warrior’s nerves sprang tight. He backed off a step, cradling Rose behind him. “What are you doing?”

“Finishing what you should have started.” Esther advanced.

Instinctively, Japheth raised his guard. His rippled blade dripped moonlight, a bloody curse. He sucked in chilly calm, ready for the fight. “Back off, Esther,” he warned frostily. “You won’t get a second warning.”

Esther twirled her fiery blade, spite glittering in her eyes. “She’s hellspawn, Japheth. She dies. Get out of my way.”

Rose struggled, and tore from his grip. “Let me at her,” she snarled, and dived forwards.

Esther grinned, smug, and struck.

White fire flashed. Rose cried out, blinded. Esther danced in on coppery wings for the kill. And Japheth’s heart screamed.

He didn’t think. He didn’t breathe. He just dived, his angelic senses sparkling with rage, and his centuries-trained blade hit home.

Rose tumbled to the grass. The flaming white sword cartwheeled, an inch from Japheth’s cheek. And Esther’s pretty mouth gaped in shock.

Dumbly, he looked down. Blood drenched his arm to the elbow.

Angel’s blood.

The blade was sharp. He’d made sure of that. And he’d buried it to the hilt in Esther’s heart.

Esther gurgled. Blood bloomed on her gray suit. She gasped, mouthing silent words, and then her lips twisted, a last, satisfied smile.

Japheth’s throat squeezed cold. The knife squelched from his grip. Her glittering body thudded into the grass. Twitched. Lay still.

But her final words slashed deep into Japheth’s benighted heart.

Go to hell, sinner.

*   *   *

Cold reality smothered him, in a deep icy place without air or light.

He’d killed Esther. Murdered a lieutenant in Michael’s heavenly host. That, Michael would never forgive.

He fought for air, but darkness crawled in to choke him. All the stupid things he’d said and done over the past two days cackled like sadistic witches from the shadows.

God’s blood, he’d been so blind. So
stupid,
he didn’t deserve to live.

So he’d kissed a girl. Touched her. Wanted to have her. Other angels did that all the time. Look at Dash, and Trill, and Lune, for heaven’s sake. Lune had practically married his.

Surely, Michael would’ve forgiven him, so long as the archangel got the dead demon prince he’d asked for. Heaven knew, Michael harbored enough lust of his own.

But killing a precious angel warrior, to save a vampire’s life? When more than ever, heaven needed all the warriors they could get?

That
was unforgivable.

Surely, now, his dagger’s flame would die.

Acid guilt stripped him bleeding. Lust for a woman was one thing. But he’d let his hunger for Rose lead him into a grievous mistake.
Fight with your brain, not your hard-on,
Dashiel liked to say. But sweet hellfire, he’d drowned in her. Lost his wits in her sultry body. A vampire’s body.

After centuries of self-denial, he’d finally indulged his lust—touched her, tasted her musky nipples, pushed his fingers inside her and caressed her and made her come and, fuck it all, if he didn’t stop thinking about that, he’d make a mess in his trousers—and it had brought both of them only tragedy.

Esther was dead. Rose was still damned. And he…

Well, he’d only proved what a selfish, black-crusted thing his heart was. And screw him with a pitchfork if he’d let the filthy thing rule him for a moment longer. Heaven had offered him a chance. This time, he wouldn’t waste it.

Beside him, Rose struggled to her feet. Esther’s wrath had blinded her only temporarily, and she blinked, rubbing her eyes. “What happened—oh, shit.” She stared at the corpse, dumb.

Her t-shirt was torn, and her breasts were half-bared where he’d tugged her bra aside. Her nipples still shone pink and hard from his kisses. Her jeans lay undone, her smooth belly naked, and the neat hair between her legs glistened with her female wetness…

Japheth tore his gaze away. Calmed the swift thumping of his heart. Poured liquid frost into his blood, until his aching heart froze over.

“She’s dead,” he said icily. “Isn’t that obvious?”

“Did she get you? Are you hit?” Rose hurried up to him, reaching to touch his cheek.

He averted his face, just an inch.

Her mouth tightened, and slowly, she let her hand fall. “So it’s like that, is it?”

God, he wanted to reach for her. Embrace her, fold her in his feathers and take her away from all of this…

Keep it frosty, angel.

“Dress yourself,” he ordered coldly. “We’ve a demon prince to catch. And this time, I’m not leaving you behind to screw it up.”

Angrily she tugged her t-shirt to cover her bared skin. “Listen, I’m sorry your friend’s dead. It was an accident. That doesn’t mean you have to be such a prick, right after we—”

“She wasn’t my friend. And
we
didn’t anything.”

“Right. Typical fucking guy. Let’s not talk about us having sex. Suits me.”

“Fine.”

“Whatever.” She snapped her jeans closed, wriggling her beautiful hips. “So who was she, then, this Esther? Your angel girlfriend? Why was she watching us?”

“Just someone I used to know. It doesn’t matter.” Rose was lisping, he noted distantly. Fangs glittered in her mouth, playing over her lush bottom lip…