Angel in Chains (The Fallen #3)(16)
Author: Cynthia Eden

“Almost got it,” Jade told him. She moved her body, straddling his legs and ass. “Almost—there!”

The pain receded instantly. The muscles and tissues began to heal with a faint tightness that stretched across his back.

“Un . . . freaking . . . believable.” Jade’s hushed voice. “Your back—I can actually see the wound closing.”

And he could feel the warmth of her body all along his.

But then she was scrambling away from him. Climbing off his back and onto the bed beside him. In her hand, she held the bullet.

Az turned and pushed up beside her. He took the bullet, staring down at it. Gold in color, the bullet had a surprisingly heavy weight, and it burned. The heat singed his fingertips. The bullet he’d taken from his shoulder had burned, too, and that was why he’d ditched it at the first opportunity.

Now that he knew just how powerful this bullet was, he’d be holding onto it.

Curious, Az glanced at her. “Did it hurt you to touch it?”

“No.” Jade shook her head. She slipped away and headed toward the bathroom to wash the blood from her hands.

The bullets didn’t burn humans. Interesting. He put the bullet on the nearby nightstand. He’d have to find out just what special hell was in that bullet.

Huh. Maybe it was hell. Literally. It seemed to him that the supernaturals had gotten particularly vicious and inventive with their attacks lately. Even going so far as to use Angel’s Dust against each other.

Angel’s Dust. The Other weren’t talking about a drug when they named this weapon. They were referring to the actual dust that was left behind when an angel’s wings burned away. A few enterprising paranormals had managed to catch or find some of the stuff, and they’d been using it—with deadly consequences.

The magic from an angel’s wings could be very, very potent.

So now, angels appeared to be the main course on the menu—because everyone wanted that special kick of power. Like there needed to be another reason for the Other to go after his kind.

Az looked up and found Jade’s intense stare on him. “Tell me what you are, Az. I need to know.” She stood near the edge of the bed.

She’d asked before. He hadn’t answered. This time, he wouldn’t lie to her. In fact, he couldn’t. Angels weren’t allowed to lie.

But he wasn’t exactly an angel, not anymore.

“Those marks on your back, the ones that cut across your shoulders . . .” She leaned forward and traced a fingertip over the left scar—a scar that marked where his wing had once been.

When she touched his scar, a shock of pleasure stole through his body. The pleasure was so intense that he shuddered.

“Az?”

Her fingers were lightly caressing the scar.

The wings were always the most sensitive part of an angel’s body, and even the scars still maintained that enhanced sensitivity. So when she touched him, he just thought—want more.

“Keep touching me,” he gritted. The fire in his body didn’t come from his wound any longer. It was pure, hot need. Desire.

Lust.

Humans lusted. They needed. They took their pleasure.

I want the pleasure.

Her hands feathered over his back. “What happened to you?”

“I fell.” Truth.

Now both of her hands were on him, stroking over the scars that lined his shoulders and sending pleasure pulsing through his body.

That sweet scent of strawberries filled his nose as she leaned in even closer. Then—

He felt her lips on the scar that cut across his right shoulder blade. “I’m sorry you hurt,” she whispered and kissed the scar.

A dull roar seemed to fill Az’s head. Raw lust and need flooded his body. He spun, locked his arms around her, and pulled Jade close. His mouth found hers and his tongue drove deep.

Her fingers were on his scars, sliding gently over them even as her tongue stroked back against his.

Az’s c**k jerked toward her, so full and thick that he ached. Pleasure.

He shifted their bodies to better bring her beneath him. Az kissed his way down her throat. He liked the way she gasped his name. Liked the lush feel of her br**sts against his chest.

Liked her.

He yanked up her shirt. Her br**sts spilled against the black cups of her bra. Taste.

With a hand that wasn’t quite steady, Az pushed the thin bra straps down her shoulders. Her br**sts pressed toward him. Her small ni**les were tight and dark pink. He lowered his head, and his tongue slipped over the edge of her nipple.

“Az.”

She tasted better than strawberries.

He licked her again. Again. His mouth closed over her breast, and he began to suck her flesh.

No wonder humans enjoyed sex. So far, it seemed pretty damn fantastic.

Her hands were on him. Her hips arching toward him. Her body was silk and sin and he wanted more.

But. . .

Angels didn’t need sex. Angels didn’t crave.

He craved her. Az’s hands were on her jeans. He yanked the button loose. Eased down the zipper.

Temptation.

He should fight the temptation. He should—

A thin scrap of lace.

Az shoved down her jeans. His fingers slipped under the edge of her lacy panties.

Touch her. Take her.

So much temptation.

“I want you,” her voice, whispering to him. His head lifted. Her lips were red. Full. He kissed her again. Drank her in and wanted more. His c**k was so heavy with arousal that he felt like he’d explode any minute.

In her.

But her hand caught his. “I want you, but Brandt destroys everything—everyone—I want.” The memory of pain darkened her words.

Az grabbed onto his control and held tight. Take. Touch.

Jade shook her head. “This isn’t a good idea. They’re already after you because of me.” Now she pushed against him. “Let me go, Az.”

He didn’t want to let her go. Not then, not—

What am I doing? Az yanked his hands away from her and rolled to the other side of the bed. He stared at the ceiling as he sucked in deep, heaving breaths.

Jade didn’t leave the bed. She stayed there, just inches away. “He killed the last man that I slept with—Brandt killed him right in front of me.”

Bastard. Az turned his head and gazed at her. Jade’s eyes were on him.

“They’re gunning for you now, because you helped me that first night,” she told him. “Brandt . . .” She swallowed and her eyes were sad. “He likes to play with his prey.”

He didn’t really gave a damn about Brandt right then. Not while his body was hard and tight with need for her.