Saving Her Angel (Archangels) (15 page)

He slipped his hands beneath her shirt, intent on pulling it off, until she stopped him.

“No, Cam, wait.”

He frowned but stilled his hands.

“We can’t do this in here, baby. Now isn’t a good time, either.”

He swallowed hard and cleared his throat. “Why…not?”

Her radiant smile melted his annoyance.

“There’s no door for one thing, and all of your brothers are right upstairs for another.”

He sighed and closed his eyes. Suddenly the low hum of his brothers’ voices reached out to him, and he let them flow in. He hadn’t realized until that moment that he’d been blocking them so completely.

Rushing footsteps sounded on the stairs, and he opened his eyes to find Mike, Sel, and Uri standing at the barred door. Zerach and Rafe soon followed.

“Cam?” Mike asked.

Though his brother’s gaze was intense, it didn’t frighten Cam anymore. He saw the love and concern instead of the disappointment he’d thought was there before. He took a deep breath and pulled his hands from under Elle’s shirt. “Yes.”

The relief in Mike’s eyes was palpable and echoed through their bond from Sel and Uri, too. Guilt ate at Cam, and he gripped Elle’s hips to center himself.

Mike unlocked the door and let it swing open but made no move to enter. “We’ll be waiting upstairs, when you’re ready.” Then they all walked back up the stairs and out of sight. Only Uri looked back at him, and gave him an encouraging grin.

Elle kissed him. “See? Everything’s going to be okay.”

He rested a palm against the side of her face. “Because of you. Because I love you.”

She smiled with tears in her eyes. “Because you are Camael, Archangel of Love and Forgiveness. And because I love you, too. So much.”

She kissed him again, and he was ready to say screw who might walk in on them. But then he inhaled deeply and froze. “Um, Elle?”

“Hmm?”

He lifted her off his lap and stood before helping her to her feet.

“Everything else can wait. First, I
have
to take a shower and shave.”

She giggled until he threw her over one shoulder and ran up the stairs to the nearest guest bedroom.

…

Elle wanted to tell them to stop, to just shut up and forget about all of it. But Cam had insisted on having his brothers completely recount everything that had happened from the moment she fell into the sinkhole. He remembered some of it vaguely, but she could tell by the tightening of his muscles when something caught him by surprise. The surprises were far from pleasant. From his brothers bringing his unconscious body back to Mike’s house, then struggling to pull the twisted sword from his hands after he woke, to it taking six fully armored angels to get him into the den and hold him long enough for wards to be placed. No, it wasn’t pleasant at all.

The Kehath clan had already left Mike’s house, so they weren’t there to rehash all that had happened. Still, she knew it pained him to hear of how he had acted when overtaken by his rage. His disappointment in himself was palpable, and all she could do was hold his hand as he sat, rigid, through the recounting of his actions.

“I’ve only heard of that happening to a very few angels, and usually in the midst of battle,” Cam finally said.

Mike nodded once, but everyone else remained silent. Cam released her hand and stood to pace around the living room, where they had gathered.

He turned to face Mike again. “I have no excuse for my actions and will accept whatever punishment you deem necessary.”

That startled her. “What? No.”

She stood, but Asta grabbed her hand before she could hurry over to Cam. Mike now stood beside him and placed his hands on Cam’s shoulders.

“If we had been in the midst of battle, your wrath could have easily turned the tides against us. Only your love for Eleanor kept you focused enough to not give in completely to the evil trying to permeate your soul. I knew even as you swung your sword at my head that you weren’t doing it for Armoros or any other evil intent. You were just trying to get past me to her.”

Cam’s head hung in shame, and Elle barely suppressed the urge to shake off Asta’s grip so she could go to him. But Mike wasn’t finished.

“Your anger never fully severed our connection. It just took over to the point where you allowed it to drown everything else out for a while. Unfortunately, our connection has that one weakness.” He glanced at Elle. “But there is another that doesn’t.”

Cam followed his gaze and slowly smiled at her. Her fears eased, and she relaxed. Asta let go of her hand, but she stayed in place.

Cam held her gaze. “I agree.” He looked at Mike. “I know I said I wouldn’t
fall
because my duty was to remain an Archangel and protect humans, but I think I need her more than I realized.” He looked at her again. “I love you, Elle, and I’m ready to
fall
for you, if you’ll still have me.”

Happiness filled her so completely she couldn’t speak, so she nodded and opened her arms. Mike stepped back so Cam could go to her. He closed the distance, lifted her into his arms, and held on tight.

“Marry me, Elle?”

“Yes. Of course, yes.”

Everyone cheered as he kissed her senseless.

…

Cam watched the women from the living-room doorway. They were deep in conversation about baby clothes and furniture. Thoughts of Elle carrying his child one day made his breath catch. He could barely wait. Isadora sat back and rubbed her protruding belly, radiating happiness and good health.

A heavy hand clapped his shoulder, and he looked over to find Sel watching them, too.

“Are you heading back to Van Horn in the morning?” Cam asked.

Sel grinned sheepishly and nodded. “Yeah, probably. I want to check on the twins and find out about the other compounds Lily mentioned.”

Cam chuckled. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s your main motivation.”

Sel rolled his eyes. “Hey, just because you guys have been struck stupid by women doesn’t mean I plan to be.” He looked at the women again and lowered his voice. “You almost went over to the dark side, bro.”

Cam snorted a laugh to ease his brother’s tension. “No way. The force is strong in me.”

Sel’s laugh was strained. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be back in a couple of days. I’ll check in with you, but I’ll be staying here for a while.”

“All right.”

They hugged, and Sel headed out the door; for once Uri didn’t immediately follow.

Cam’s attention went back to the women, and Elle looked up to give him a smile. He returned it and blew her a kiss.

“I love you, Elle.”

“I love you, too, Cam.”

Happiness radiated from her and eased his tension. If all he accomplished every day was making his woman happy, then it would be a day well spent. Though he hadn’t intended to compel a human to love him, he was so very glad she did. Now that the threat of Armoros was gone, they could concentrate on other things. Like raising a new generation. Elle smiled at him again, and all was right in the world.

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Acknowledgments

As usual, no book of mine would become what it is without the help of my wonderful beta reader, Sandy. Thanks again, minion!

About the Author

Missy Jane
is the alter ego of a married mother of four who was born and raised in Texas. She spends most of her time lost in worlds of her own making, alternately loving and hating such creatures as vampires, shape-shifters, sexy Archangels, and gargoyles (to name a few). When not writing, she spends her time reading, taking photos of her beautiful daughters, and training her husband to believe she’s always right.

Excerpts from Missy’s paranormal and erotic tales can be found at
www.authormissyjane.com
and
msmissyjane.blogspot.com/
.

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