Wanted Angel - Sadie Moss Page 0,71

devices could malfunction. The hellfire could prove to be stronger than what we can combat. I could still lose any of these men. There are seven of them, for fuck’s sake. I can’t keep track of all of them the entire time. I’ll do my best to protect them and to play my part, but…

Ugh. My stomach is one giant knot.

Propping myself up on my elbow, I look down at the sleeping men around me. Even in sleep, I can see their personalities etched into their faces.

Knight is curled up, like he’s keeping himself from reaching for the touch he wants. He’s gotten better at accepting the love his brothers and I offer, but I know it’s still hard for him. Ryland is sleeping on his back, his body straight as an arrow. Ford’s face is scrunched up like he’s dreaming about beating someone to a pulp. Sawyer is draped over the mattress like he’s sensually posing for a magazine ad, and Beck’s hogging all the blankets, while Remi lies beside me, nosing a pillow like he’s dreaming about smelling a delicious meal. Nix is on my other side, sprawled out in a lazy pile of limbs.

My heart swells as I take them all in. Their personalities are so strong and unique. I thought when I first met them that I would have to find a way to care about them in spite of who they were. Now I do so much more than care for them—I love them—and it’s because of who they are, rather than in spite of it.

After all, they might be sins, but who doesn’t have flaws? Who can truly say that they’re perfect and they don’t have their weaknesses?

As if he can sense me staring, Nix stirs, his eyes opening slowly and sleepily. He looks up at me, his gaze slowly sharpening as he grows more awake.

I smile at him. I don’t say anything, not wanting to wake the others. But Nix props himself up on one elbow and kisses me, one hand on my cheek. It’s soft. Lazy. Just like him.

“Do you know how beautiful you look?” he whispers, his voice barely audible. It’s like a lazy river, a soft slow breeze, and I bask in it.

I’m sure he can’t see it, between my dark skin and the darkness all around us, but I can feel myself blushing. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

Nix kisses me again. This time it lasts a little longer, the press of his lips a little firmer.

“When this is all over, I’m gonna make sure you don’t leave the bed for a week. I’m gonna teach you how to fully relax, you know?” He waggles his eyebrows. “After I fully tire you out. Can’t relax if you haven’t done all the hard work. Like how sleep feels better after a long day.”

I smile at him, unable to stop myself. Not that I would even if I could. It’s so sweet of him to be thinking of what we’ll do after this. Of our future. Especially since… well, it’s possible neither of us will get through this alive. There’s no way of knowing if any of us will make it. We could all end up sacrificing ourselves in the coming battle, in our attempt to contain one of the most powerful elements in the universe.

But for a moment, I let his words wash over me, allowing my mind to picture everything he’s saying. I imagine a world where we’ve won, and Nix and I are in his massive bed in his fortress, tangled up together, sleepy and sated after a few rounds of sex, idly watching television and doing nothing at all.

“We need some sleep, sweetheart. Big day tomorrow. C’mere,” Nix murmurs, pulling me in, and I curl up in his arms.

“You’re using your Sloth on me,” I whisper around a yawn. The sudden onset of sleepiness that washes through me isn’t natural. I wasn’t aware of being influenced by the sins’ power the first time it happened, when I was eating Remi’s food in his restaurant. But since then, I’ve learned to tell when one of them is exerting his power and causing me to indulge in his particular sin.

I yawn again, and I can feel Nix smirking, and the next thing I know I’m asleep. It’s sweet of him to take care of me like this. Make sure I’m getting my rest.

Especially because the next thing I know—I’m being jolted awake by the alarm.

We set up an alarm using