“I don’t know.” He lowered to the couch, keeping her on his lap, his fly unzipped, his hot, hard length trapped between them.
She longed for him to throw her to the cushions and finish this.
Hell, she’d even ride him where he sat.
He palmed her breasts. “I don’t think I’ll ever find myself again. You shattered me.”
Nia eyed him warily, not sure how to take his words. She understood, too, no matter this draw between them, it could only be momentary. And she tried not to let despair trap her again.
He rolled her nipples gently with his thumbs, stealing her mind back from her gloomy thoughts and causing arousal to swamp her.
“This, you and me, is dangerous, Nia.”
“I know,” she breathed. “Whatever happens will remain between these walls, and the wards here will protect this abbey and us, right?”
He grasped her upper arms, startling her, his stare fierce. “Promise me never to invite anyone into the abbey, even if you know them. Promise me, Nia?”
At his intensity, she put a hand on his bare, heaving chest, loving being able to touch him so freely, this powerful angel who allowed no one close. “I promise.”
“I cannot bear the thought of anything happening to you.”
Questions arose, but she put them aside for now. “I’m sure through the ages, there were angels drawn to humans, and these things happened…” She waved a hand between them. “And in the end, they were able to return to Heaven?—”
He moved her off his lap and rose. His back to her, he zipped up, and her heart sank. It was over already? Her core throbbed painfully as she pulled her bra back in place.
He turned to her. “I don’t know about that.”
Dragging in a deep breath, her core aching, she sat up, straightened her sliding bra strap, and looked around for her sweater, but he was there, kneeling in front of her.
“Why are you covering up?” He took her hands in his. “I prefer how you were moments ago.”
Her face heated. “This…” She hooked a thumb under her strap, tugging it a bit. “Is my bra. It’s hardly covering up.”
“Indeed.” He tucked some loosened strands of her hair behind one ear. “You are the most beautiful soul I have ever seen. But I find I like you this way even more so.”
A wry smile tugged at her mouth. “Yeah, guys generally do. They like the disheveled state, with breasts on show.”
His eyes narrowed, and his expression held the warmth of a glacier. “Who?”
“I didn’t mean me,” she said quickly. “I don’t go around putting myself on display to random guys. I meant men in general like bare-chested women.”
The ice melted a little. “Zayn?”
Ah. Still on that, was he?
“He’s just a friend. I’ve known him since I was a child.”
A growl rumbled in his throat. “No kissing him again.”
Finally, she fully understood his anger at the bar. He’d seen them on the dance floor. She hastened to reassure him. “It was only a kiss between friends.”
“I don’t care. No kissing any males.”
She wanted to smile at his jealousy, hope kindling, but his eyes sparked with irritation. He wouldn’t understand it was a playful kiss to make her smile after a horrid day. So, she nodded. “Okay.”
His gaze drifted to her mouth. He slipped his hand around her nape, gently caressing her throat with his thumb, and brushed his lips against hers.
Just when she wanted to jump his bones, he eased back. “Nia…”
