He reached across the counter and fed her the other part of the strawberry pastry. The decadent sweet-tart taste had her blinking.
“Wow, this tastes good.” She chewed and angled her head, studying the glitter, fingers drumming on the marble counter. “I’m not sure if Shae’s wings do that. Her sire was a Throne, but she rarely has hers appendages visible—” She frowned at his indulgent smile. “What?”
“Why is it important I know all this?”
She scrunched her nose. “Because people, humans, demons, and Others are drawn to angels. It’s their allure, so you should know this.”
“Ah. Right. I was drawn to you after all.”
She huffed out a laugh and rubbed her damn palms down her jeans. “But seriously, Nate, you must keep your allure shielded and your wings hidden, or this dust will undoubtedly send them into a frenzy. It won’t go well with those beings in the Celestial Realm. And I don’t want anyone coming after you. Not again, after everything that happened.”
“It’ll be okay,” he said softly. “I won’t be using these extremities in front of mortals.”
“Okay…” Her gaze shifted back to his beautiful expanse. Unable to resist the call of his wings and the need to touch him, she moved around the isle, laid her palm on his cool skin, and gently caressed the arch with her other hand. The feathers were like a slide of silk under her fingertips.
He stiffened.
Oh, crap. She yanked her hand away. “Did I hurt you?”Vae!He’d just transformed, evolved, or whatever into this new being. He must still be sensitive. Darn her curiosity and horniness. “I’m sorry—”
Nate shook his head and pulled her between his spread thighs, his scent surrounding her. He nuzzled her neck, and desire blazed. “You turn me on, doing so.”
She did? She tucked away the information for later. Stars, he smelled so good, fresh, mouthwatering licorice, sandalwood, and now a hint of cool ice—no whiff of sulfur on him. Was it because of his new symbiont—or his moon bath? Or both?
Heck, she didn’t care. She wanted to lick every bronze inch of him, wanted him to lick her…
“You’re burning up again,” he said against her throat.
“I know.” She sighed. “I was more worried about you, and managed not to let it overcome me, but…” She bit off a moan as he sucked the skin on her neck, the sensation tugging at her nipples and core.
“But what?” He gently tugged her hair, encouraging her to look at him, his stare equally intense.
“I need you. But I can wait for a bit. Eat first.” She nodded at the food on the counter. “I need a shower to wash off this sulfur and sweat—”
“Eeep!” she squealed as he scooped her off her feet, and the food containers and plates she’d laid out magically moved aside.
He settled her on the marble surface.
“Nate, what are you doing?”
“My mind’s a little hazy after this change, but I remember!” he growled. “Do you honestly think after everything you’ve done for me, putting your life, hell, even your relationship with your family on the line, I would go and calmly eat while you suffer through this damn fever?” He looked a little annoyed. “Do you not know I would lay down my life for you?”
“Or kill yourself,” she muttered. She moved to hop down, but he planted his hands on either side of her hips, caging her, his gorgeous, serious face a few inches from hers.
He sighed. “Ely, at that point, there was no other way out for me, or so I thought. The only time the Black gave me relief from my tormented existence was when I decided to go to the Infernii Realm. Except, I had no plans to let it complete its evolving.”
“I know. You told me to find another, and then you dropped off the ledge.” Tears stung her eyes. “Do you have any idea the terror and anguish I went through when I thought I wouldn’t reach you in time?” She thumped his chest. “If I couldn’t save you, well, I would have ended up the same way as you, becoming ash.”
He went pale beneath his bronze skin, expression stricken. “Ely—”
“Now that I found you, I cannot bear to live this life without you, Nate. I just can’t.”
“Nor I you,laika,” he said huskily. “The thought of you gone…” He shook his head. “It’s not something I can endure. But with the wraconis taking more and more control, I saw no way out, and the only thing that mattered to me was not hurting you. The beast wanted your death, and that I refused to let happen.” He cupped her face. “Forgive me, Ely. All I thought of was you.”
Between his words, the tender expression on his face, and breathing in his scent, the constriction in her chest and her flashback of terror subsided. No one and nothing could control him in such a horrific way again.
She cupped his scruffy jaw and pressed her lips to his. “I know.”
With a low groan, he kissed her.
