Lore narrows her eyes at the demon, then turns her attention to the djinn, Deekhil. “I need you to make an official announcement that I’m the President of the Obsidian Angels. Maybe it will curb the influx of power hungry assholes I’m about to have on my doorstep, but if it doesn’t and I have to leave a few bodies on the ground as a deterrent, then we can say we warned them.” It’s a strategic move. How many battles has she seen? I look over her soft, unmarked flesh, and my dick stirs, but so does something else—concern. She looks so fragile, but I know there’s strength under all that smooth skin. She’s a gargoyle, a fearsome creature for sure, but not one without weaknesses.
No one says a word when I lean down and pull her scent into my lungs. In truth, I don’t even remember crossing the floor to get closer to her, but I don’t care either. The prince’s scent is mingled with hers, and a stab of envy has me sliding my hand up her back to her nape. I want to claim her.
Lore reaches up and places her hand over mine, not pulling it away but effectively stopping me from dragging her closer when she taps the back of my hand once. I glance up, noting the other two males watching us. I could kill them both in the blink of an eye, but that would leave Lore with more issues, and while I don’t know or trust these two, she may.
“Deekhil.” Her voice is smooth but a little husky as she addresses the djinn again. “Is there anything you can tell me about Harlow in the days leading up to his departure? Did he mention any concerns or anything else to you?”
“No,” he answers quickly. “I was not made aware that he would be leaving, nor were there any problems brought to my attention prior to him leaving.”
Lore cuts her eyes over to the demon. “I want someone watching Thana at all times. She doesn’t feed or fuck without someone you trust being there to watch her do it,” she instructs, then includes the djinn when she adds, “I have some shit to do tomorrow, but I want everyone who isn’t on patrol here the day after. If they don’t make it, it’s an automatic demotion or loss of colors.”
“I’ll get word to everyone.” Deekhil tips his chin down.
“You’re both dismissed,” she announces.
Lore’s shoulders slump when the door closes. I give into the urge to pull her close to me, and she slides her hand off mine and around my lower back. I’ve never embraced anyone in such a fashion, but having her against me gives way to other desires, ones that will have her writhing under me.
“I probably have a week, if I’m lucky, before I have a territory war on my hands.” She already sounds exhausted.
I lay my forehead against hers and squeeze her neck once.
“No, just because you say so.” She chuckles lightly, interpreting my touch the same way we established earlier. I give her two more squeezes to confirm.
Lore leans back and stares up into my eyes. “Never once have I wanted to back down from a fight, and the idea is still abhorrent to me, but there’s a small part of me that would be totally okay with me letting you handle this.”
I pull her wrist up and plant her hand against my chest, and that same rumble of sound erupts. It’s nothing close to a word, but it’s something, and she seems to understand the significance when she presses her palm firmer against me. If I had the words to tell her I will always take care of her, I would, but I don’t, so I give her what I’ve never given another and place my lips against her upturned mouth.
When she lifts up on her toes to get closer, I lower my hand from hers and wrap it around her back, pulling her in so tightly, I can feel her measured breaths as her heartbeat pounds against my chest. Not being able to speak has made my mouth feel useless at best, and I’ve never once entertained the idea of kissing someone, but with her, it’s almost a compulsion.
Her soft fingers slide over my skin, and chills follow in the wake of her touch. Lore’s lips move under mine, and she relaxes into my hold. My arms are the only things holding her up as she melts against me.
No matter how much I want to protect her, I know she’s capable of taking care of herself, or there’s no way she could have been appointed president of the club, so when she slackens against me, letting go of herself and surrendering to me, I feel powerful enough to fight an army of demons.
When her tongue touches my lip, I forget about fighting altogether and open up as she slides it into my mouth. My heart sputters, and I think I might be in danger of having a heart attack, but I don’t care. Instead, I grab her ass in my palms and hoist her up so her mouth is above mine as she kisses me.
Lore’s fingers delve into my long hair before fisting as she tilts my head so she can get better access to my mouth. I huff into her open lips as my dick threatens to split my trousers. When she trades the teasing brushes of her tongue for sucking on mine and nibbling on my lips, I question whether or not oxygen is really all that important to survive. This feels much more vital.
Lore
Egan’sslow to return my kiss, but the way his hands are gripping my ass tells me he’s enjoying it. When I start to pull away, he slides one hand up my back and palms my nape, making it impossible for me to escape.
Wind pushes my hair back, and I slit my eyes open to see his beautiful black wings taking up most of the space in the room. This close, I can see the riot of colors making up his inky feathers, which resemble an oil slick. It’s a struggle not to reach out and run my fingers over the delicate-looking fringe, but Egan’s hand ventures a little farther south, and it has me craving more than just the touch of his wings.
“Egan,” I murmur into the quiet, and he drags in a gasping breath. I’m not sure what I need to tell him, but the urge to say something is too much to ignore. He taps my ass twice, not as hard as a spank but definitely hard enough to get my attention.
“Should I lock the door?” I offer, knowing no one would walk in—well, that’s not true anymore. Modeus might come in, and I’m not sure we’re ready for that. I’m already feeling pretty desperate for Egan.
He takes all my weight and lifts us from the ground. The room isn’t large enough for him to do much besides hover in place, but it fills me with wicked ideas about free-falling through the sky while Egan’s buried deep inside me.
Egan glides over to the door and flips the lock before taking me back over to the couch. He lowers me as if I’m delicate, but I don’t mind, especially when he crawls right on top of me and lines our bodies up so I can feel him pressed against me.
My clothes feel too restrictive and abrasive against my skin, so I reach for the hem of my shirt and pull it over my head. His eyes drop to my chest, and he bites the corner of his lip. If only getting rid of our pants would be just as easy…
As if reading my mind, Egan’s hands go to my waist. He meets my eyes before tugging the button open roughly. There’s no hesitancy there. I lift my hips, and he slips away from me long enough to remove my pants as well as his own.
Seeing a man strip out of leather pants isn’t new to me, but watching him tug on the laces of his soft leather trousers and then seeing them glide down his bare hips is certainly a sight not to be missed.
With a sweetness I wasn’t aware a fallen could possess, Egan presses his lips to mine as gently as a butterfly’s wing and licks across my bottom lip as if he’s tasting me. My heart skips a beat, and I get a tumbling feeling in my lower stomach.
