to be. The nature I often suppressed by controlling my body wouldn’t have it. It released my seed with a force that made me shout her name and collapse over her, barely holding myself up on my elbows.
She flipped onto her back, cheeks flushed, gaze on my mouth. She lifted her head as if to kiss me, but I put a hand over her throat and squeezed. “I’m feeling rather ravenous and possessive. Are you afraid?”
She licked her lips, eyes locked with mine.
I took that as a no and slipped into her again, moving so that she could experience pleasure too, and once she had, I spooned her and moved inside her some more. I moved inside her until her body grew limp with exhaustion and her eyes closed. Finally. Finally, she would sleep. And I would witness her fears.
She narrated her dreams to me. I hadn’t known I’d fear more for her life than I ever had. Because Nevaeh was a killer, and Lucifer would come for her. The question arose: why hadn’t he already?
Chapter 13
Wine and sex. The night’s power pair. Not so much in the morning when I got up and winced with a headache, rising onto my elbows to look around, bleary-eyed and disoriented. The empty bed, the rumpled sheets, and the lingering scent of roses and leather told me I hadn’t dreamed up last night. I really did have sex with the Lord of the Court of Sunder. Or, more accurately, he had sex with me. He moved my body in ways I never believed it could be moved. And also, no man, maybe no angel either, could stay erect the entire night, and have the stamina of…my lord, Raphael, who surely was a gift from God. And mine.
I covered my face with a pillow, kicking up my legs. Once I’d finished celebrating my extraordinary sexy night, the headache resumed. I touched my palm to my forehead.
“Good evening, Nevaeh.”
I lifted onto my elbows. Lord have mercy, Raphael stood under the waterfall naked, his beautiful shimmering purple wings erect. Water beat over his body as if punishing him. Hair trimmed, beard braided and woven with beads, he was more beautiful than I remembered him from the glimpses I’d stolen during his visits to the Court of Command. Never in a million years would I think we’d have sex or that he’d look at me with adoration in his eyes. It felt good. No. It felt excellent. As if my soul sang like a bird at the first sign of the morning. Wait. “Evening?” I asked.
“We are adjusting to nocturnal life.”
“Why?”
“Because of the undead.”
I nodded. “You look nice, my lord,” I said.
He smiled, his violet eyes twinkling. He extended a hand. “You may approach.”
“I need a bathroom.”
He pointed. “It’s between the butterfly lamps.”
I rolled out of bed and groaned. “I’ve got a headache.”
It was gone as soon as the words came out of my mouth. “Thank you.” I walked to the wall with lamps. “What do I do?”
“Push the left wing of the right butterfly.”
I did, and the wall rolled into itself, revealing a simple tiny bathroom. I walked inside.
“I had it installed this morning when it dawned on me you might need one. Where did you empty yesterday?”
I crossed my legs again. He wanted to chat, and I had to pee.
He laughed. “Never mind.”
“How do I close the door?”
He flicked his wrist, and the wall rolled back. The little space darkened but for one dim lamp. It was soothing, even peaceful. Once done with my business, I noticed toiletries under the lamp. I freshened up, feeling a hundred times better having just brushed my teeth and having found the gentle shampoo and oils I needed for my hair.
After pressing a butterfly mosaic on the door, I walked back into the chambers, disappointed that Raphael had dressed, even if those silk black pants did wonders to showcase his muscular thighs.
In the closet, all my clothes hung on racks, crisp and ironed. Even the dress I wore last night. Again, I searched for a pair of pants. When I couldn’t find any, I put on a pale pink dress. It was shorter than I’d normally wear, but summery and pretty. The scarf he gave me back in the Exile caught my eye. I secured it around my neck. When I came out, his eyes immediately locked on the purple scarf.
“Yes?” I teased.
Lord Raphael smirked. “Come.” He took my hand and led me outside and into the foyer full