Page 16 of Descent of Angels

Eleth grinned. “Yeah, she has that effect on me too.”

Ade let out a frustrated huff. “Physical desire is not—”

“Oh, come on, Ade,” Eleth scoffed, setting his empty cup down. “It’s not just physical, and you know it. There’s something about her. If we left her behind tomorrow, would you forget her anytime soon?”

“I can’t face the thought of leaving her behind,” Jophiel murmured quietly. “Especially if her father is doing what we think he is.”

“No, I wouldn’t forget her either,” Ade admitted. “But even if we did fall and we could be with someone, she’s only going to choose one of us, and we said no matter what we’d stick together. Strength in numbers. We’re family, brothers, and as much as I would want her to be happy, I don’t think I could stand seeing her choose one of you and then see her every day knowing she couldn’t be mine. It would also have to be her choice.”

“It could be you,” I pointed out, but Ade’s description of seeing her every day and not being able to be with her while one of my brothers could would fill me with regret and anger.

“She’d tear us apart,” Ade continued. “Not intentionally, but she would. So we’d either lose all of us or one of us, and I’m not sure I would pick her over all of you.”

The rest of us fell silent at this sobering thought. I looked down and pressed my lips to her forehead, a wave of sadness killing off any lingering physical desire.

“Maybe we should ask her,” Eleth suggested, his eyes on her face. “I mean, she might not even want any of us. I’d guess she hasn’t had much experience with human men, considering how much her father keeps her around.”

Ade nodded. “Maybe. Just be honest with her then.”

“About everything?” I asked.

Ade nodded. “I think we can trust her.” He smiled at Eleth. “My gut says we can trust her.”

“Does that mean we’ve decided... everything then?” Jophiel inquired.

Ade looked around. “Are we agreed?”

“I’m in,” Jophiel replied.

Eleth nodded. “We fight this together.”

I looked at Ade, the angel I’d fought with since the beginning of time in countless battles for a God we had never seen, and gave him a sad smile. “We fall together.”

NINE

DYLAN

I lay with my eyes closed for a while, listening to the birds outside. I had the strongest sensation that if I did open my eyes, and therefore admitted I was awake, that the dream would end, and I really would wake up. I didn’t want to. I felt warm, comfortable, and rested, the best I’d felt in a long time, despite the stress and activity of the last couple of days. I knew where I was, and I knew it was Ade’s arms around me, his body pressed against my back, and I knew that it was Remiel who was sleeping at my front. He must be feeling better, because he’d turned on his side, and I could feel his breath dancing across my hair. His hand was settled on my hip, and every now and then, he rubbed his thumb across the strip of skin just above the waistband of my jeans. My shirt had obviously ridden up during the night, because I could feel the warmth of his hand against my bare skin. I found myself waiting for each tiny movement, my breath catching each time. I hardly dared to breathe so I didn’t disturb them.

Ade shifted, curling his knees up behind mine and moving closer against me. His muscles were strong and solid against my thighs, and the hardness that pressed against my ass sent heat straight to my core. I moved my fingers over Remiel’s chest, feeling the softness of his hair while trying to ignore the urge to slide my hand down between my legs. My breathing was unsteady, and I fought to control myself, but I couldn’t resist pressing back just the tiniest bit against Ade. He sighed in his sleep, pulling his hand back from where it was resting on my upper arm to run down my side. He reached my bare skin just before he reached Remiel’s hand and slid it around my ribcage, just under my right breast. My ribs still ached a little, but I sucked my breath in from the positive effect of his touch, my eyes flying open as my nipples hardened against my bra.

Remiel was awake and watching me. I met his golden green eyes as he looked down at me. His thumb began to rub my skin in small, circular movements that made me crave more. His lips parted, and I thought he might say something and break the spell, but he didn’t. Instead, he leaned down and brushed his mouth over mine. The effect was electrifying.

I’d been kissed before. I’d been about fourteen, and it had been a boy I’d really liked at school. His name had been Tom Wells. It hadn’t gone on long, and had never gone further than kissing, but I had come home from school one day to find my father sitting in the living room polishing one of his shotguns. He’d told me to sit down and had casually asked about my day. He’d then mentioned seeing a couple of my friends in the store earlier that week. They’d been talking about boys, which he said was shameless for their age and revolting. He’d told me he was glad I never had any interest in boys, because if he found out anyone had ever touched me or that I’d dirtied myself, he’d have to deal with the problem. He’d set the gun on the coffee table in front of me and told me to fetch him a beer. I’d jumped up to get a cold one from the fridge and had never spoken to Tom or any other boy from that moment on.

Tom’s kisses had been soft, sweet, and innocent. Remiel’s kiss was soft, but it was anything but innocent. He brushed his lips over mine again, then I felt his tongue slide into my mouth, flicking across my bottom lip. I gasped, and he might have pulled away, but I opened my mouth farther, allowing him in. He groaned, and his hand left my hip to tangle in my hair and pull my mouth to his. The kiss deepened, no longer soft, and all I could think of was his hand in my hair and the way his tongue danced with mine, taking my breath away.

Ade shifted behind me, and I froze, but instead of condemnation, I felt his lips against my neck, and my pussy throbbed between my legs at the thought of being kissed and touched by both of them. Guilt and panic swirled through my mind, but my body ignored it, and I pushed my hips back against Ade as his grip tightened. I ignored the pain of the bruises as his hand swept over my ribcage and then my stomach, coming to rest on my hip before he pulled me back against his hardness. I moaned into Remiel’s mouth, and he pulled away.

“Too much?” he asked, his eyes burning into mine. I blushed as he ran his thumb down the side of my face, but I shook my head.

“Say it,” Ade murmured in my ear, his breath tickling my skin. “Tell us you want us to touch you.”

I closed my eyes, too shy to look at Remiel. “Touch me,” I begged. “Please...”

Remiel smiled and took my mouth again, harder this time, cupping the nape of my neck to pull me close. Ade’s hand slid up my shirt and cupped my breast over my bra. He ran his thumb over my nipple and groaned at finding it already hard. I felt him move away, a ripple of cold against my back, and I moaned in disappointment, but he grabbed my hip and rolled me onto my back. Remiel broke away and raised onto his elbow, looking down at me. I gazed back at them. Remiel, with his long auburn hair hanging over his shoulders, and Ade, with his dark beauty and keen golden eyes that seemed darker than they had the night before.

Ade reached forward and began to unbutton my shirt. I tried to control my breathing as he undid each button until he could part it enough to reveal my breasts. He trailed his fingers along the edge of the cups, then pulled them down below my breasts so they were pushed up and bare for him to see. I blushed and reached up, trying to pull my shirt closed, but Ade grabbed my hands.

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