I fidgeted. “Um, when we were merging a couple of days ago, and I said that stuff?” I felt my face flaming as a cornerof Mikhail’s mouth twitched upward. “They were just fantasies, you know. Like, I would never…” I trailed off as Mikhail strapped on a wickedly sexy shoulder rig, lined with small throwing knives he’d infused with soul energy. “Holy sheets, that’s hot.”
“I know you would never be unfaithful.” Mikhail lifted an eyebrow, but his tone was deadly serious. “But you should understand something. When I lost you, when I thought I was dying alone, I realized I didn’t have any limits on what I would sacrifice if I could have you again. I would vow anything. I woulddoanything if it would bring you back to me.”
He stepped close and lifted my chin with one massive hand, poking my pouting bottom lip back in with his forefinger. “And now that you’ve returned, nothing about that has changed. I want to see you happy. Whatever that takes. And if that means you want to fantasize about Righteous, or Rafe, or…” His eyes twinkled. “Or a gate. Even if someday you might consider making those fantasies real. For instance, if you dragged Righteous into your bed, tied him down, and tormented him for being such a…”
I gulped audibly. “An ashhole?”
“Mmhm, just so. Nothing could alter my love for you. And you’re the one who makes the decisions on who to allow into your bed and your heart—just make certain they deserve that privilege, my sweet, naughty soul.” He rubbed the feather on his hand, and I shuddered as the echoes of pleasure made me clench. How could I still be horny after two days of nonstop, professional-grade sexy times? I guess the old growler hadn’t had much company for four centuries. And when I had, it had been abysmally awful.
“Quick question,” I managed to squeak out. “On Earth, when I had sex with some human men—” His low growl made me frown. “It wasn’t good sex, no need to be jealous,” I went on, speaking over his strange, animal noises. “It never lasted morethan a few seconds. Why?” All those guys had sworn that had never happened before. I’d assumed they’d been stretching the truth, but from the gleam in Mikhail’s eyes, I knew it was something else.
He pulled me to the edge of the table I’d been sitting on and stepped between my legs, wrapping one hand loosely around my throat. Mikhail had a bit of a fetish for holding onto my neck when he fucked me, and I was there for it. In fact, all it took now was for him to stare at my neck, and my clit wings would start sending messages to my lady parts that bliss was imminent.
Mikhail’s thumb brushed up and down the vein that pulsed there as he answered, “I’m surprised theylived.Touching you, feeling the heaven in between those thighs?” His lip curled up. “You make my knees weak, make my ancient soul flicker like a sputtering candle. For a human, touching this bliss would be like standing next to the sun.” He circled me with his arms, pulling me into his chest, his fingers now playing with the joint between my wing and back.
“Mik! What are you….” I moaned as he did something back there that sent pulses of pleasure through my entire body. “How can that feel so good?”
“I have thousands of years of experience and knowledge, my sweet. I’m going to make you come in ways you can’t even begin to fathom.” He whispered in my ear, his breath ghosting past my neck, “I can see into your thoughts when we merge. I’ve seen all the depraved things you’ve fantasized. All the combinations of partners, and toys, and—this one surprised me the most, to be honest—foods.”
I bit my lip. I wasn’t going to apologize for the fondue fantasies. Or the custard. Or the toys. But the otherguys… I raised my eyebrows for him to continue. Gavriel’s cruel face flashed into my mind. Sometimes my fantasies had included even less appropriate and realistic options than a gate.
Mikhail only smiled lazily, his eyes half-lidded. “Do you know what those dreams have in common?”
“No,” I admitted, terrified at what he would say.
His smile widened. “I’m in all of them. I’m there, holding your hair back, stretching your arms over your head, painting you with syrups and honey. Pushing your thighs open so Rafe can see you. Touching you, guiding Righteous into you while Gavriel begs for a taste.” I gasped, horrified at what he’d seen. “I know my best friend is handsome, powerful. I understand why your subconscious mind might place him there. But I like how you keep him tied up in those dreams. He deserves to be punished. To watch you come apart on my hands, my tongue, my cock. To gaze helplessly as Rafe and I wring every last ounce of pleasure from you. While young Righteous watches, learning how to give almost too much pleasure, the kind that stretches not only the body, but the boundaries of your soul. You want that, don’t you? Tell me. You can admit it to me, mate.”
A strangled “yes” emerged from my mouth just as a cough at the secret door had him stepping back. I wanted to sink into the floor when I saw Righteous standing there, his eyes wide with shock.
Gavriel pushed him into the room and pulled the narrow door shut behind them, his face completely bland. “Can we get started?” he asked in a bored voice as he stalked to the table. I glared at the jerk when he sat, his wings tight, arms crossed over his chest. There was nothing in his eyes to show that he might have heard anything.
But when I glanced at Righteous, the bright golden flush on his cheeks made it clear he’d heard more than enough.Okay, Feather, new plan: never look at Ry again.
“I didn’t know,” Mikhail murmured into my ear. “I didn’t know they were there. You distract me in a way I’m never prepared for.” His tone echoed with truth and a hint of regret. Iignored the flare of heat on my own face, focusing on the dark spots on his cheeks.
“I believe you. But I’m going to go crawl into a corner somewhere now anyway,” I whimpered. “And I need you to put a lock on the ‘secret’ door that only I can open.”
“Your wish is my command.” Mikhail laughed, lifting me up and dropping me onto a chair at the table where we’d set out plates for this meeting. The surface was piled high with fruit and other food; Mikhail had a feeling they’d need the extra energy on Earth to fight this demon. We all spent a few awkward moments passing dishes around the table, none of us speaking until our plates were full.
“Any idea how long this mission may take?” Righteous asked after we’d begun eating, all of us very carefully keeping our eyes on the food. “Maker, High Angelus Gavriel and I spoke about it briefly, but you should all be aware. The Guides have been acting strangely, especially in Gavriel’s absence.”
“What have you seen?” Mikhail fed a grape into my mouth. “Tradition wouldn’t break any of our laws; it’s against their nature.”
Ry pondered that, then said, “They’ve been calling a lot of closed-door meetings, so I haven’t heard it myself, but they’ve shared details of a few things that concern me. I’ve been meaning to talk to you both about some of the proposed rules. Tradition seems to be following our laws, and I don’t sense any ill intentions there, but they’re so focused?—”
Gavriel interrupted. “We spoke of this. I trust Tradition, Righteous. I’ve looked into their mind. They’re hidebound, but Sanctuary’s wellbeing is always foremost in their thoughts. And the Guides can wait. They’ve been going on about rule changes since the Well was sealed. They don’t have enough to keep busy.”
Righteous hummed in disagreement. “We have a corporeal demon on our hands. Maybe a few of them should lose the robes and try their hands at a mission.”
“Not a bad idea,” Mikhail said. “I don’t like leaving Sanctuary with no High Angelus. Officially, that is.” I blushed as I felt the tips of his wings brush against my calves under the table.
“It’s stronger than it’s been in a long while right now,” Gavriel snapped, taking a huge gulp of wine. “I’ll speak to Tradition again about making certain the Guides are in line, and when we return, I’ll handle it myself. I think a few purifying group sessions are needed for some of the senior Guides.”
I snorted at the thought of the sanctimonious prigs being forced to share their faults in group therapy. Maybe I could watch. Or sell tickets:Guides Gone Wild, the Secret Sins Come Out When Daddy Gavriel Leaves Town.
Mikhail stroked my cheek. “We should only be gone for a few days at most.”
“I still don’t see why you need to go, Growly,” I grumbled. “You’ve been injured.”
