Page 25 of Her Fallen Angel

My prayers shift, becoming something new - not just rote devotion, but a passionate plea for guidance in this dangerous dance between light and shadow.

But then inside I hear a door crash open, startling me from my prayers. I stand, immediately feeling the draw to go to Kai.

His massive frame fills the doorway, his wings dragging slightly - a clear sign something's wrong. Blood trickles down his forearm, staining the dark leather of his training gear.

My stomach lurches but I move to gather the healing supplies I've learned to keep ready. His violet eyes track my movements as I approach, that familiar predatory focus making my pulse quicken.

"Sit." I gesture to the chair, proud that my voice remains steady despite the way memories of last night flood back. The way he'd commanded me, claimed me...

He drops into the seat with unusual heaviness, spreading his wings to either side. A long gash runs across his bicep, already starting to bruise around the edges. My fingers tremble as I clean the wound, hyper-aware of how his muscles flex beneath my touch.

"Who managed to land a hit?" I keep my tone light, professional. Clinical. Like I'm not remembering how those same muscles felt pinning me down in the temple.

"Mykael got lucky." His voice rumbles through me, dark and dangerous. "Won't happen again."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak as I apply the healing salve. His skin burns beneath my fingertips, and I can't tell if it's from training or something else entirely. Every brush of contact sends electricity racing up my arms.

His wings shift restlessly, the scarred edges catching the light. I wonder if he's remembering the same things I am. If he's regretting it or thinking about doing it again.

Neither of us mentions the temple. Neither of us acknowledges how my hands shake when I wrap the bandage around his arm, or how his breath catches when my fingers graze the sensitive skin near his wound.

The silence stretches between us, heavy with everything we aren't saying. I focus on securing the bandage, pretending Idon't feel his gaze burning into me. Pretending my body isn't humming with awareness of how close he is.

That night,my dreams betray me again. I'm back in the temple, bathed in the kaleidoscope light of stained glass. But this time, I'm not kneeling before Kai out of submission. I'm the one initiating the worship.

His violet eyes burn into mine, a gleam of surprise and hunger sparking in their depths. My heart hammers against my ribs as I reach out, tracing the jagged scar across his chest. His muscles tense under my touch, but he doesn't pull away. Emboldened, I lean in, pressing my lips to the mark, tasting the salt of his skin.

A low growl rumbles in his throat, sending shivers down my spine. I trail kisses up his chest, feeling the power coiled within him. His wings shift restlessly behind him, the scarred edges catching the light. When I reach his jaw, he captures my mouth with his, fierce and demanding.

Something he never did in that temple.

I yield, melting into him. His hands grip my hips, lifting me effortlessly. My legs wrap around his waist, and I can feel the hard length of him pressed against me. Heat pools between my thighs, a throbbing need that only he can satisfy.

He turns, pinning me against one of the temple's pillars. Stone bites into my back, but I barely notice. All I can focus on is him - the way his body claims mine, the way his mouth moves against my neck, teeth grazing sensitive skin.

"Worship me, little flame," he commands, voice rough with desire.

My breath hitches. "Yes, Kai."

His wings spread wide, cocooning us in shadow. I reach between us, fumbling with the laces of his pants. He helps me,impatient, until he springs free, heavy and hard in my hand. I guide him to my entrance, slick and ready.

With one brutal thrust, he's inside me. I cry out, nails digging into his shoulders. He pauses, giving me time to adjust. Then he starts to move, each stroke deep and possessive. I cling to him, meeting his thrusts with my own, encouraging him deeper.

Pleasure builds, sharp and intense. Every movement sends waves of sensation crashing through me. I'm lost in him, consumed by the darkness he embodies. And I revel in it. I crave it.

My climax hits like a storm, ripping through me with a force that leaves me gasping. Kai follows, burying his face in my neck, growling my name like a prayer.

I wake with a start, my body throbbing with unfulfilled desire. My nightgown clings to my sweat-soaked skin, and the pallet beneath me feels cold and empty. I press my thighs together, horrified at how much I crave his touch. How much I want him to claim me again.

In the dim glow of the embers, I can see Kai on the bed, wings draped over the edge, sheets tangled around his legs. His chest rises and falls steadily, but his face is turned away, hidden in shadow.

My breath hitches, the remnants of my dream clinging to me like a second skin. I hug my knees to my chest, whispering fervent prayers into the darkness. Praying for guidance. For understanding. For forgiveness.

Because despite everything, I want him. I want his darkness, his dominance. I want to worship him, to give myself to him completely. And that terrifies me more than anything.

13

KAI’RIN

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