Page 42 of Beyond the Storm
That’s when I saw a trace of a smile on his lips.
“You stubborn angel.” I lightly pushed away from him and slid out of bed. When I glanced back, it took every ounce of willpower I possessed not to crawl back in beside him. It should be illegal to be that tempting.
The sheet barely covered his groin as Lazarus lay on his back, one arm hooked behind his head. Valleys of muscle rippled along his torso, leading up to a mouthwatering pair of pectorals and higher toward a still-curved set of lips. “Do you see something you like, Pride?”
I scoffed—again—and left the bedroom. My heart fluttered though, and once out of his sight, I smiled. He might’ve been stubborn, but I was crazy about him.
“I know you’re smiling,”he said through our mind link. A link that was unique only to us, formed by him sealing our bond long ago. Our connection had been so strong that it had taken the shape of something else. It had remained even after we’d bonded our souls and life forces together.
“Where’s your proof?”In the bathroom, I started water for a shower. It heated to the perfect temperature in mere seconds. Life was easier in the celestial realm. Definitely more convenient.
I sensed Lazarus before I saw him. Our souls recognized each other. My smile widened. With excitement. With love. The infuriating angel brought out so many emotions in me. Right as he appeared in the doorway, I stepped into the shower and shut the glass door.
“You did not just close that door on me,” he said, approaching the shower.
“Oh? I didn’t know you were there.”
“Lying is unbecoming of you.” Lazarus opened the door and joined me beneath the stream of water. The two faucet heads hit both of us with a gentle torrent. He kissed my nape as he stepped up behind me, his arms sliding around my waist. “What shall I do with you, Pride?”
I pressed my ass against his half-hard cock, like it was interested but still in recovery mode. “I could think of one or two things.”
And then, we did them.
He shoved me against the shower wall and took me from behind, grazing his teeth along the top of my shoulder as his cock sank deep into me. Midway through, he spun me around to face him. I hooked a leg around his hip and held on to his neck as he sent us both to oblivion for a second time that morning.
Afterward, we washed and got out of the shower. He quickly dried off before changing into pants and boots. No shirt, as usual. I had no complaints. Though, the multitude of scars marring his back still caused an ache in my heart each time I saw them. Each time I felt the indentions beneath my fingertips.
“You should eat something before you go,” I told him as I stirred some sugar into my cup of tea. I then checked the fried eggs cooking in the skillet. They were done.
“I’m not hungry.”
An English muffin popped out of the toaster, and I added one of the eggs between the bread, along with two slices of bacon, before handing it to him. “It’s nonnegotiable. Angel or not, food gives you energy. You’ll need it for training.”
Lazarus snarled at the muffin.
Sighing, I placed it on the plate I’d grabbed for myself before walking over to the basket on the counter. My husband’s eyes lit up as I pulled out a huge red apple with lines of gold. The apples from the winter orchard were his favorite.
“On second thought,” he said. “I suppose I could eat a small something before I leave.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. As he caught me around the waist, I lifted the apple to his mouth and watched him sink his teeth into it. Juices trickled down his chin as he chewed. I leaned in and licked it off. His throat moved as he swallowed, and I licked and kissed there too, loving the vibrations of his pleased groans against my lips.
My apple-loving angel would be the death of me. How someone so stern could melt like butter with a simple bite of his favorite food thrilled me to no end. He was adorable when he was like this—when he let his guard down. He’d done it a lot more since Lucifer’s defeat.
“What will you do while I’m gone?” Lazarus nuzzled my cheek before grabbing a second apple from the basket behind me, like he’d paid the toll before advancing forward. He only thought he was clever.
“Raphael mentioned having afternoon tea in the garden,” I responded. “Selaphiel may join us. So I’ll check in with my brothers and maybe read a few chapters of my book before heading to the palace.”
My friendship with the archangel, Raphael, had been an unexpected surprise. In many ways, he reminded me of Gray—vibrant, outgoing, and kindhearted. But his eating habits definitely leaned more toward Raiden. Raphael loved sweets and teas of all types. He also didn’t look down on me for being the son of a fallen angel.
The other archangel, Selaphiel, had become a friend as well. He was less talkative than Raphael but very insightful and pleasant to be around. I enjoyed our intellectual conversations about the universe and our roles within it.
A hard knock came at the front door.
I breathed out a sigh. “Your boyfriend is here to take you away.”
Disgust filled Lazarus’ expression. “Please do not refer to him as such. He is my superior.” He tugged me closer. “Andyouare the only being in all of the realms who has ever kissed and touched me. You’re the only one who ever will.”
I knew that without a doubt in my mind. Which was precisely why teasing him about it amused me.
