Once the ringing in my ears fades and we’ve all come back to Earth, Cas eases me off his cock and lifts my face to his. Heartbreakingly tender, his gentle fingers wipe the tears that streak my cheeks, then he swipes his thumb through the creamy mess on my lips. His eyes settle behind me on Amon, and he offers his coated thumb. Amon sucks it into his mouth as Cas leans in to kiss me.
Full of unfiltered emotion, his tongue is soft and sweet as it dances with mine. He releases me as Amon fists my hair and claims my mouth, still tasting of Cas’s release as he kisses me with a passion he has never shown. A warm rush streams down my thighs as he pulls out of me, never separating our lips.
Heart thundering in my chest, I pull back to find his eyes locked on mine, his usual walls demolished. For the first time, he’s wide open.
Vulnerable.
“Tell me something.” The words tiptoe out on a whisper, almost afraid to find the light of day.
A fleeting moment of uncertainty washes over his face before that trademark easy smirk slips into place. “What would you like to know?”
“Why did you leave?”
There’s a questioning tilt to his head as his brow lifts with practiced precision. “Leave Hell? Did you already forget that you summoned me here?”
“Not that,” I say. “Earlier.” His nostrils flare as his mouth closes, that wariness returning. “In the kitchen, you were upset—”
He jerks his head backward, averting his gaze with a snarl. “Demons don’t getupset…”
“I felt it,” I insist, and he twists further, refusing to meet my eyes. “Youwereupset, and you left, and I want you to tell me why.”
His aura seeps into the air as he whirls back, his control slipping. Something hides in the shadows of his face, exposed and angry at the same time. “You would compel me to answer you?”
“No,” I whisper, and his eyes find mine again. “No, I’d never force you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.” The anger in his expression dampens, and I decide pushing boundaries can wait. “Come on.” I tug on both of them and nod towards the bed. “Let’s rest.”
The mattress dips under our weight as we climb in, Cas positioning himself at my front while Amon settles in behind me. Ever the cuddler, Cas intertwines our bodies and snuggles in, making sure every surface of our skin touches. My mind drifts to Amon, lying stiff at my back.
The inch of space he left between us might as well be a mile.
He’s worlds away. Unreachable.
Nevertheless, I reach.
He’s wary as I glance over my shoulder at him.
“It’s okay,” I whisper, but he only stares. The nerves in my throat are a tangled ball, but I force a swallow and work past them. “It’s okay to let your guard down sometimes… to turn it off. That must be so exhausting, always being in control. Never allowing yourself to let go.” His chest rises in a deep inhale, still silent. “You can, you know. Let go. It’s okay to let yourself feel with me.”
A hint of anguish crosses his face, and he nods—a single, abrupt jerk of his head. His body relaxes as he snuggles against my back, a long exhale blowing across my neck. He never speaks, but that’s alright.
The gentle kiss he plants on my shoulder says more than words could, anyway.
Chapter 16
Ruby
Days fade into a week, and I’ve grown far too comfortable with my current situation. I can’t get enough of them—Cas’s endearing goofiness or Amon’s closed-off intensity. They’re two puzzle pieces, one vibrant and colorful, the other subtle and muted, but when they come together, they somehow create a masterpiece.
It’s as beautiful as it is terrifying.
My human life has come to a screeching halt, and I know I need to get it back on track. Look for a job, revert to a normal lifestyle…
Find a way to send them home.
The thought hurts more than it should.
Whenever Cas dips his head and snags me with that flirty grin, or when Amon allows me a tiny glimpse past his barriers, I lose another piece of myself.
Bit by tiny bit, I’m giving myself away.