Or only invisible.
Who knew?
Diadre.Lucifer's predatory gaze, and comments about my mate, gave wings to my feet as I hurried through the halls towards my chamber, praying I was truly as alone as it appeared.
Melek was frustrated by the need to hide in the shadows, and said he envied my ability to walk openly. But even though I had thatfreedom,in many ways, the restriction on my actions seemed far greater.
After all, I was a traitor to the insurrectionist king. And proud of it.
It made me an asset to Lucifer, but kept me walking a tightrope.
That vision in my mind of Diadre’s pain came again, but this time I stood in the grip of a furious Lucifer, and she screamed in the torment of being the human rope in a tug-of-war between Nephilim.
Fear crackled up my spine, and I began to trot, growling instructions to any guards or servants that approached to help, to leave my path clear.
Let them believe I was the asshole, too full of himself to deal with mere servants. Panic rode my blood. I needed to see my mate. To know she was safe.
I was running by the time I reached my rooms, and burst through the door quickly enough that I startled both Diadre and Caelan—who I’d left to serve her until I returned.
Diadre’s head snapped up when the door banged against the wall. Caelan whirled, one hand to her chest, eyes wide—not breathing until she realized it was me.
“Leave us,” I snapped to Caelan as I rushed across the room towards my mate. “Don’t return for two hours.”
“Yes. Of course.” Caelan dropped her head, left whatever she’d been doing, and walked briskly for the door.
“Jann? What’s wrong? Why—” Diadre was getting to her feet when I reached her, but I growled a warning and swept her upinto my arms, carrying her to the door to make certain it was locked behind Caelan—then towards the bedchamber, my heart pounding and my breath far too fast for the merely mild exertion of trotting through the palace.
“Jann? What’s wrong?” Diadre whispered.
I shook my head, teeth gritted, as I swept her into the bedroom and lay her down on the huge, four-poster bed, leaning one fist on her pillow to brace my weight as she began to push up to sit. I caught her precious face, cupped it and took her mouth, inhaling sharply in with relief when her lips opened for me and her sweet tongue tangled with mine.
The soft sigh she gave then, soothed my heart in a way nothing else could.
With a low growl, I crawled up onto the bed, straddling her on my knees as I broke the kiss, only long enough to pull the curtains around the bed.
Diadre’s eyes were wide, but she was already working on the buttons of my tight, silk shirt, while the pinch and strain of my cock in my leathers made me hurry to free myself.
The moment I sprang free, Diadre smiled and reached for me.
With a growl of approval, and pleasure, and sheerneed,I leaned back down over her, bracing on one fist, using the other hand to loosen her clothing, forcing myself to slow and savor the time—to meet her eyes and trace the warm lines of her beautiful body.
It wasn’t until we were both naked, but I still hadn’t taken her—instead kneeling over her, stroking both hands over every inch of her, following the line of her jaw, her collarbones, her breasts, teasing her nipples with my thumbs, fitting my palm to her waist, sliding hands down her legs, then back up to the soft heat between her thighs with a growl through gritted teeth—as I fought the urge to cup one hand at the back of her neck and plunge into her—
“Jann? What’s wrong?” Diadre was breathless, eyes sparkling, her body thrumming—I could feel her arousal in the bond. Yet, there was the flicker of fear there too. She knew I’d gone to meet with the Council. We hadn’t made love in days, because we’d both been tense and tired, and she knew I’d descended on her in a rush, even if I was slowing now…
Inhaling slowly, deeply, I made myself pull back far enough to meet her eyes, but continued stroking her body.
“Jann?” she asked, more nervous now, because I hadn’t responded. “What is it?”
I swallowed hard. “Nothing except… you’re precious to me, Diadre,” I rasped. Her eyes widened, then softened and she lifted her hands to cup my face. “Do you know that?” I asked gruffly.
Her lips curled up. “I do. I can feel it,” she whispered, then flattened one palm against my chest. “Here.”
I nodded, and clasped her hand to my chest, as I leaned down to cover her and press her into the mattress, reveling in her warm, soft skin, and pleading with God that no matter what happened to me, He would keep her safe.
Don’t make her pay for my sins.
Don’t make her a target of my curse.
