“You know, you could have helped.” I take a moment to frown at my favoriteSector.
“I adore observing you in the throes of motherhood.” The words strum from him with absolute boredom. “It suits you. Have you thought of morechildren?”
“Ha!” I laugh in his face, and both boys flinch, so I lead us over to the piano. “Are you kidding? I can hardly handle two. Imisssleeping. I miss my old jeans. Heck, I miss my old boobs.” I pluck at my blouse, and his brows rise withapproval.
“What brings you and your”—his eyes sink to my chest—“new, voluptuous, beautiful,nurturing—”
“I get it.” I take a seat on the sofa and Marshall is quick to land next to me with his arm draped over my shoulders, and a wild fit of vibrations strums from his body to mine. The haunted speculum in the corner winks in the light. “Chloe is meeting me here. I’ve summonedher.”
“Summoned, have you?” An obnoxious grin spreads like wildfire over hisface.
“Okay, so she summoned me. But nevertheless, we’ve business to tendto.”
That gorgeous face of his reconfigures into a perfect scowl, and he looks that much more comely. It’s shocking the women of Paragon aren’t beating down his door, not in the same disturbing frequency they used toanyway.
“Skyla, you know that I wish you well in this new war you’ve embroiled yourself in. May your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of your enemies. Let their nations fall beneath yourfeet.”
A heart-stoppingly beautiful moment pulses between us. “That was a gorgeous benediction. Thank you forthat.”
“You’rewelcome.”
“And—speaking of having business to tend to with the aforementioned beast.” I curl my finger under his chin as if I were trying to seduce him, when in fact we’re both fully aware I’m about to do my best toseducea little info out of him. “When will you pay back my darling new pet for stealing that bed warmer from Ezrina? I believe you promised retribution.” Honest to God, some of the most horrific things that have happened to me were a direct result of me showing off my five-finger discount skills when it comes to theSextor’ssecret things. Having my arm chopped off, that entire fiasco at winter camp a few years back where Kate lost her head—yup, all nefarious arrows point right back to Marshall’s draconian punishment tactics. But why should I reap all the horrific benefits? Surely, Chloe of all people could use a hatchet or two hurled her way. Just the mention of a hatchet makes me miss old-schoolEzrina.
His brows dip as he frowns. “I’ve already begun the wheels of punishment brewing for Ms. Bishop. Worry you not about my retribution. I’m afraid you’ve enough on your own plate as far as raining down the comeuppance on the parties that have wronged you and yourpeople.”
“Touché to that. You know”—I tap his shoe with my own—“you’re the only one who hasn’t asked me what I’m doing with her.” My heart lets out a few wild wallops because clearly this alarms me on somelevel.
“There are some things, Ms. Messenger, that I do not wish to be apprisedof.”
“Nice. I wish there were more people like you in my world. Because I loathe the day I need to cough up my confession to Logan and Gage. It’s ridiculous the way they have me on aleash.”
“You don’t believe that, and neither doI.”
“No, but it sounded good.” I think about it for a moment. “They used to, but something’s happened. Ever since Gage has sacrificed his destiny for the boys, it’s as if nothing has really been the same. Logan, Gage, and I have always been ateam.”
“Quite an erotic team,” he adds without a single dash ofhumor.
“Yes, well, you can get off your high horse because you’re amember.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” He glides his finger over my cheek. “I am not amemberalongside Jock Strap or the Pretty One. I’m in a league of my own. Lest, you forget our spiritual bond—our covenant with one another that transcends flesh and blood.” He traces the outline of my lips, and my body indulges in a mean quiver. Damn hormones. “Our love is unique, special, and true. I left the heavenlies for you—retained the proper permits to dwell among humans and Nephilimalike.”
“Permits, huh? I sound like a construction project you’ve undertook.” My thighs rush with pleasure as if they too were about to take on a project of their own—Operation Climax. It’s never safe to sit this close toMarshall.
His cheeks depress into rarely seen dimples. “I treaded the weary halls of West Paragon High for you.” He’s too busy itemizing his horrific sacrifices to offer up a proper comeback to my architecturalhumor.
“Now that you mention it, I’ve always wondered why you chose a position of authority rather than being my contemporary, like say Logan orGage.”
Marshall groans at the mention of their names. “Although I consider myselfyourcontemporary, your rival, your fully equipped lover—I don’t consider myself theirs. Casting myself from the heavenlies was a supreme sacrifice all on its own, but to demote myself to a teenager was more than I couldbear.”
“Fully equipped lover,huh?”
A growl emits from him, low and husky. “I can demonstrate if youlike.”
The doorbell rings in triplicate, followed by hasty knocking that jars the boys to life with a startledcry.
“I’d say I was saved by the bell, but I think we both know who thatis.”
Chloe bursts in just as both Nathan and Barron scream as if their hair was on fire, and I unbuckle and scoop them up one byone.
