“Well, sort of. I bargained with the angel.”
“Youbargained—” Edwin’s head tipped back and he blew out a gusty breath. “Of course you did. Of course you fucking did. Why am I not surprised you negotiated even with them?”
I shrugged. His reaction almost amused me. Well, perhaps this Edwin knew me better than I’d realized. “What else was I supposed to do? I told them if you weren’t going to Paradise with me, then I wouldn’t go. I’d wait for you right there until you could join me. That…did not make them happy.”
“Them?”
“I may have upset the first angel so much she called for a supervisor.”
Edwin snorted a laugh, although it sounded darkly unamused in a way. “Somehow, your being stubborn with angels doesn’t surprise me either. So you bargained. With two angels. And won the argument?”
“I did. Paradise without you isn’t Paradise to me. I also found it distinctly unfair that you’d fought along with me to defeat the Demon King, in your own way, and weren’t given any credit. So, I argued. In the end, Vuheia agreed I got one more chance at this life. If I failed in my new goals, then I was to go to Paradise without any further trouble. If I won, then I could have what I really wanted—you.”
Thirty
Edwin
James had given up Paradise for me.
The knowledge reverberated in my head to the point where I felt dizzy. This gorgeous, amazing man had looked two angels in the face and saidFuck you, I’m not going without Edwin. He’d loved me that much. He still loved me that much.
Somehow, I believed every word. True, I’m very practical by nature. Parts of this I’d need to sleep on for a few days, as it was too much to absorb in one sitting, but I believed him. I believed he’d come back in time to try this life once more. It made sense, just because of everything he’d known, said, and done when he was no seer. More than that, I felt his sincerity in every word, in the grip he maintained on my hand. I saw it in his emerald green eyes looking at me steadfastly.
I did not understand everything. There was too much to unpack even after his explanation, but this part I was sure of: If there was ever a pure and true love in this life, it was the one sitting right in front of my face.
“Edwin, are you all right?” He looked me over as if concerned he’d broken my brain. “I understand if you have questions or if parts of this are too surreal to accept. I lived through it, and it still feels surreal.”
My mind tried to come up with assurances, with questions,wordsat least. Nothing formed well enough for me to say them. I was completely overwhelmed with emotions, and it choked out all reason.
What did you say to someone who’d turned down Paradise just to have a second chance with you?
Had anyone ever loved me this truly?
Every word he’d spoken had unlocked the shackles my logical mind had put over my heart. My soul rang like a bell, practically saying the words,this was all true.Since the first day I’d met him, my soul had called to this man and now, I finally understood why.
Because I had loved him, even then. And my soul remembered.
Even now, I felt myself falling in love with him, and for the first time, I didn’t check myself. I let my heart lead. Fuck the repercussions, screw the worries, because that hadn’t done either of us any good in the first life. I’d learn from the mistakes and not repeat them.
James wanted me.
I wanted him.
And it’s about time we stopped dancing around each other.
Hot, heavy emotion welled to the fore, and for once I chose action over words. I surged forward, one hand on the back of the sofa for balance, the other cradling James’s face as my lips caught his own. His lips were surprisingly soft, the hint of white wine teasing my mouth. James froze for a full second before his arms clamped around my waist, hauling me into his lap, and he kissed back with fervor.
With a low groan, James’s tongue invaded my mouth and I made way, tangling with it, and felt my whole body come alive. He kissed me as if he’d done nothing but yearn for it, and sadly, I knew he had. There was nothing gentle about our kiss. It was raw hunger, desire, and a desperation so intense I felt consumed by it.
A hand tugged at my suit coat and I slid it off, throwing it casually to the side before my own hands targeted his coat and shirt. I couldn’t stop kissing him, which made getting clothes off a little awkward, but he didn’t seem to care.
It was a relief to have everything off, to feel the hot press of his chest against mine, his hands in my hair. I wiggled, squirmed, managed to get pants off and out of the way. Got his open, and gods preserve me, this man waswellendowed. My hand wrapped around his dick, getting a feel for him, and the more aroused he became, the more it filled my hand.
I would need all the lubrication if I was to takethatin.
Made me all tingly at just the idea of it. Couldn’t wait to have this man on top of me and fucking me into a mattress.
He made the most delicious sounds as I stroked him, and I swallowed them, beyond pleased by how responsive he was to my touch. It was quite fun and arousing wringing these noises out of his mouth.
