I felt my face flush scarlet, but Orion merely laughed, the rich sound reverberating through me. “Yes. Your match-making machinations paid off quite well. I’ll recommend your services to any who ask.”
“I don’t meddle,” Michael said mildly. “I simply align pieces where they’re needed and let events unfold.”
His characterization of what he’d done skirted the line of meddling, but his version wasn’t blatantly false. “Call it whatever you like,” I said. “I still say thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He raised an eyebrow and pointed at Orion. “Manners are still in vogue.”
“All jokes aside, I thank you, too. I didn’t see what I’d lost until you forced me to confront the truth.”
“Welcome back, Orion. Our kind is better with you among us.” Michael touched a spot on his side of the image, paused, and then touched it a second time. “I’d like you both to be in Milan two weeks from tomorrow. Plan to stay at least five days. I want you to debrief with the council. I’ll have rooms set aside in my home. You can stay as long as you like afterward, but the first five days will be busy, so don’t make outside plans. We’ll speak more when you’re here. Thank you again for your excellent work.”
The call abruptly ended before we could reply. I stared at the empty space for a few seconds, processing everything he’d said. “I’m not an expert on Michael, but I’d never heard any account of him being that friendly.”
“He keeps most of his relationships as professional as possible. It helps not to have close ties to the players when he has to make the hard decisions.”
I never wanted his position, but I wanted it even less after hearing Orion’s assessment. “That sounds lonely.”
“Michael’s father was the leader before him. He had to choose the angels who would die so the others could survive. There might come a time when that onus falls on Michael.”
I nodded and saw my watch flashing. I missed four calls talking to Michael. One of the calls was from Brenda. She wanted dirt on my new relationship, which was so wrong how quickly it spread.
Orion put his hand over mine before I could call anyone. I faced him and his dark eyes burned with an intensity that took my breath.
“Get naked,” he said, his voice a low growl that ignited heat across my skin. “And get in the shower. Now.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded for a heartbeat. Then, feeling a heady thrill coil low in my belly, I smirked and scrambled to my feet. As I hurried toward the bedroom, he huffed out a soft laugh.
He’d be laughing a lot if he found it funny whenever I wanted him like few other things in my life. I peeled off my clothes, tossing each in a pile in the corner. By the time I reached the bathroom, I was naked and my pulse thudded with a mix of nervousness and want.
Orion
Iwatched, utterly transfixed, as Zeke scrambled to obey my command. The way he moved, all lithe grace and eagerness, sent tendrils of scorching desire licking through my veins.
Part of me still marveled that this incredible man was mine. That after decades of emotional solitude, I’d somehow been granted the unexpected gift of Zeke’s love and devotion. He awoke parts of my soul I thought lost forever—parts of myself I didn’t even realize needed healing until he showed me.
As he disappeared into the bedroom, shedding clothes in his wake, I drew in a steadying breath. Tracking his movements through the house, I gave him a few moments’ head start before rising to follow. Need simmered hot and insistent in my core, yet I refused to rush this. I wanted—needed—to savor every second.
When I reached the bedroom, Zeke stood naked in the bathroom doorway, beautifully bare. His eyes, dark with want, met mine in a searing gaze that robbed me of breath. Purposefully, I closed the distance between us, fingers itching to map his hard body.
“Zeke . . .” I murmured his name like a sacred invocation as I cupped his face in my palms. His skin was soft velvet beneath my touch.
Our lips met in a slow, scorching kiss that rapidly deepened into something more heated and ravenous. I angled his head to deepen the contact, delving my tongue into the slick cavern of his mouth to duel with his. An inarticulate whimper spilled from Zeke as his fingers clutched at my shirt.
Breaking the lip-lock, I rested my brow against his, our mingled breaths coming in harsh pants. He was so exquisite like this—flushed, aroused, utterly unraveled by my mere proximity. It flooded me with a profound sense of power and possession I’d never experienced before.
“In the shower,” I rasped against the silken skin of his throat. “Get wet but don’t touch yourself in any way. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he said in a whisper so soft and needy, it was barely audible.
I released him, and he met my gaze one last time before disappearing behind the fogged glass. Through the steam, I watched him do exactly as I said, but no more. He didn’t even move the hair off his face.
My cock throbbed inside my pants in anticipation. Zeke had been the undisputed leader of the mission, controlling the situation, and bringing it to a successful conclusion. Now, he craved someone dictating every aspect of our intimate moments. Only someone totally secure with themselves could understand his needs and not care if he didn’t look strong.
That was the mistake Lael made. He saw what he wanted as a sign of weakness. There was no strong or weak in intimacy. Only taking care of each other. If I was giving Zeke what he wanted, he gave me exactly what I desired.
I pulled my shirt over my head. I was overthinking the situation. Zeke waited for me, so we could take the first step in what I believed to be a very long journey together. Stripping off the rest of my clothes, I left them in a pile where they fell.
Steam greeted me when I opened the door. Zeke was in the same place as when I last saw him, but his eyes burned for me. I pulled him flush against me, our naked bodies slotting together like long-missing puzzle pieces finally reunited. The steam and water surrounded us in perfect warmth.
