Tirade (Heven and Hell #3)(69)
Author: Cambria Hebert

In Gemma’s mind, that was true goodness.

And Sam… she smiled softly. He might be a hellhound, but there isn’t one evil place lurking inside him. From the minute she sold him that bracelet, she knew he was inherently good. She’d never met another hellhound who could so easily turn his back on the bad qualities of a hellhound yet still use its powers to his advantage. Not even Callum had done that. She had hoped Riley would be that way… but the curse tainted him, made it harder for him to accept goodness.

How could she leave me and Sam in this mess without helping? She had knowledge and skill that we needed. Sam was a ferocious fighter and determined man, but he needed training so she offered. It was the first time in over a decade she had stayed in the same place for more than a week.

Cole made a soft sound and her focus went to him. His chest was rising and falling with ease and she laid her palm against his bare skin. His heart beat steadily against her palm and she closed her eyes. So few times she allowed herself to touch him, to really feel him. Sometimes at night she lay awake and thought of the way his lips had felt against hers… His kiss had been devastating.

If she hadn’t already lost her wings, then she would have given them up for another chance to kiss him like that.

Her hand began to travel over his skin. It was warming and the color was beginning to return. Her fingers went gently over his abs that were taunt and defined. He’d always been muscular, but all the training had made him more so. He had a sprinkling of black hair across his chest and her fingers teased the strands. Next, her hand went to his shoulder and slid lightly down his arm and over his corded bicep. When her fingers reached his palm, his hand tightened around hers for the briefest of seconds before going lax against the mattress.

She pulled her hand away quickly, thinking she’d been caught in her perusal of his body. But he was still out, his dark eyelashes casting shadows over his face. Unable to resist, she let her fingers trace the strong brow above his eyes and trail slowly over his cheek to rest at his soft, full lips. She yearned to kiss him again, but she was afraid if she did what was left of her strength would be lost.

She didn’t have anything to lose, but he did. She couldn’t ask him to give it all up for her. They might share something wonderful for many years while he was alive, but once he died he would lose his body and his status and she would be alone once more.

She should walk away now. She turned to look at the open window, the curtains floating in the breeze. You could go right now and never come back. They would forget you.

She turned back and lowered her forehead to the mattress. Should she go? She could watch from afar just to be sure they would all be okay and then leave. Cole would heal and Sam and I were strong enough now to take care of ourselves. And Riley… She’d burned that bridge a long time ago. Fresh tears gathered in her eyes and she let them stain the sheets. Something brushed against the top of her head and she lifted it to look at Cole.

His eyes were open. She’d never seen anything that blue except in heaven. He cupped her cheek with his callused palm and before she could stop herself she pushed herself closer.

“You healed me,” Cole whispered.

“I was afraid it wouldn’t be enough.”

“It’s exhausted you.” He brushed the pad of his thumb beneath her eyes where there were probably dark circles.

“Are you in pain?”

He shook his head. “But you are. Tell me why.”

“I should go.” She pulled away, gently, remorsefully, and felt bereft from his touch.

He moved so fast she hadn’t seen it coming. Her exhaustion made her slow and the thought of leaving made her careless. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her backward, the two of them landing on the bed with his body breaking the fall.

She tried to get up, but his arms clamped around her like vices and she didn’t have the strength to pull away. She didn’t want to.

“You gave up too much of yourself to heal me,” he whispered. “Let me give you something in return.”

“I can’t.” She was embarrassed that her voice broke.

He rolled them over. His body was heavy, pressing her into the mattress. He didn’t try and support his weight on his arms. He knew she could take his weight and she loved the fact that he gave it to her. Before she could say another word, his lips were on hers and what little restraint she had melted away.

He kissed her softly at first, his mouth meeting hers in the briefest kiss before pulling back to look into her eyes. Then he did it again, testing her will. She had none left and she buried her hands in the dark softness at the back of his head. He groaned and kissed her deeper, his teeth grazing her bottom lip before smoothing his tongue over the same spot.

His body moved against hers and she relished the feeling. His hand traveled down her side and back up, his fingers splaying out over her neck as he kissed her with an intensity that she never felt before. Everything inside her urged her to get closer, that it wasn’t enough. When he found the hem of her T-shirt and tried to drag it over her head, she gasped.

He paused in kissing her to look into her eyes.

“You’re thinking too much,” he murmured and pressed kisses to each of her eyelids.

But she had to think. Someone had to. If she loved him as much as she knew she did, then she couldn’t let him do this. If they slept together right now, then all would be lost and she would never be able to walk away.

She put her hands on his shoulders and made like she was going to pull him closer, but then she pushed him away and slid out of the bed.

“Gemma,” Cole said. Hurt and desire laced his voice.

“You need food. Something hot that will replenish your body.”

“I’m not hungry for food,” he growled, reaching for her.

“I’ll go get you some and be back. You need to rest.” She rushed to the window as her body screamed to get back in the bed.

“Why are you doing this to me?” She heard him whisper as she went out into the night.

When she hit the ground, she stood there for a moment with her eyes closed and body trembling. “I don’t know what else to do,” she whispered into the night. Then she forced herself away from the house and denied herself the pleasure of looking back.

I gasped and fell backward, the railing of the steps stopping my fall. Gemma’s eyes narrowed as she watched.

“What did you just do?” She demanded.

I took a deep breath, struggling to push away her strong feelings. “You really love him.”