what little he had left of his sanity.
Chapter 5
Severn
It had been a week since the torture sessions had ended. And in that week, Samiel had proven in multiple ways how he’d taken to the taste of angel. Which was all well and good, but if Severn didn’t escape Samiel’s room soon, he’d lose his damn mind to frustration.
Samiel’s mention of the madam’s return was all the persuasion he needed.
“She helped me feed for years.” He hastily dressed in a shirt and trousers while watching Samiel reluctantly peel himself from the bed and throw on a hooded, gray top and loose, black jeans. So understated. He looked like a large human. One of those substantial types who tried to build muscle to emulate demons. Of course, no human could grow horns. His wings were still tightly illusioned out of sight.
“I have to see her.”
“I’m not convinced meeting her is a good idea,” Samiel mumbled, flicking his hood up to tent over his horns.
“What harm is there? You said she’s waiting. Besides, as much as I enjoy spending all my spare time with my tongue wrapped around your cock, my dear, I need to get out of these four walls before I lose my fucking mind.”
Having been reminded of Severn’s tongue and with the addition of “my dear”—a pet name from before—the tension instantly drained from Samiel’s body, and a smile propped his lips up. He drew Severn into his arms and nuzzled his neck. “Hm… A minute in those clothes and I want you out of them again. Even as an angel, you’re fucking irresistible.”
Severn kissed him hard and plunged a hand into his pocket. He snagged the key and pulled it free with a grin. “It’s mine now. Like you’re all mine, demon.”
Samiel frowned, then playfully lunged. His solid arm caught Severn around the waist and reeled him into a long, deep kiss. There was no doubt in Severn’s mind that he’d once adored this, adored Samiel, but the only thing he got from this now was ether. Ten years had changed more than his body. It had changed his heart too. He’d moved on.
Gods, this was wrong.
Severn pried himself from Samiel’s grip before the kiss turned to more and unlocked the door, flinging it open to get a good look at the corridor. Basic, old, some sort of human high-rise built long ago to house people without the means to buy their own homes. Wallpaper peeled from the walls, and a musty smell tickled Severn’s nose. The building sounded empty. No slamming doors, no distant laughter. This wasn’t Samiel’s real den, just a temporary one. Severn had no right to be offended that Samiel hadn’t trusted him enough to take him home, but he was all the same.
“You don’t even know where you’re going.” Samiel laughed, jogging behind to keep up.
“Outside. Outside is good enough.”
The elevator worked, and as they waited for the carriage to rumble to the correct floor, Samiel gently shoved Severn back against the control panel and braced his arms beside him, trapping him under the full force of warrior-demon. Samiel was handsome. The curved horns made his height impressive. He hadn’t revealed his wings yet, probably assuming the sight of them would only remind Severn of how he’d lost his, but Severn remembered them well. Lightly tanned, almost fawny, and velvety smooth.
Samiel sucked gently on his neck as the elevator pinged a countdown. Severn didn’t need the ether, he was brimming with it, and while this was nice, it wasn’t Mikhail. But pushing Samiel away wasn’t an option. No other demon would let an angel feed off them.
“You were right, you know?” Samiel mumbled, hands claiming Severn’s hips. “Angel tastes fucking amazing.”
He tried not to think of Mikhail, or his silken hair and how it had trailed over Severn’s naked chest. “Right?” He cleared his throat. “Who knew we’ve been missing out all this time.”
The elevator doors rumbled open, and Severn twisted from Samiel’s grip to duck inside the car.
“Do you miss it, the taste?” Samiel asked, leaning against the side of the car, his desire waning as talk turned to angels.
“No,” Severn answered quickly.
“Liar.”
“Yeah, all right… Fine. Yes, I miss the taste of angel.”
“Do you miss him?” Asked so casually, but Samiel’s face was sincere.
“No.” And Severn made that single word convincing this time.
“What was he like?” Samiel spoke carefully, too, hiding his thoughts from his face.
Severn stared at the control panel, watching the numbers count down the floors. “Like the rest of them.