Chapter Thirteen

Raine sat forward, not wanting to miss anything. Everything about New York City was vibrant and alive. The buildings reached for the sky, while the people reached for the stars. She rolled down the window, letting the cold wind and raucous noise of traffic surround her.

Lucius was still driving. He was alert while she’d slept for most of the night and into the morning, waking only to visit an ATM and when they needed fuel, for themselves and the car. Probably not smart, since he didn’t have a license, but he handled the vehicle like a seasoned pro, merging in and out of traffic, following the GPS directions to a moderately priced hotel she’d found online earlier.

“Have you ever been here before?” he asked.

“Once, but it’s been years. I’ve always meant to come back but never managed to make it. Too much work, not enough money or time.” And that was a crime. “There’s so much to see and do, from museums to shops and restaurants and entertainment. This city has everything.”

“I was here about twenty years before I headed to the cave in North Carolina. It’s nothing like when I saw it last.”

She couldn’t even begin to imagine how it had changed. Their lives and experiences had been so different. Shivering, she put the window up and cranked the heat. The cool air had given her a boost, but exhaustion was pulling at her. They’d agreed the best thing they could do was get some rest and have a good meal before setting out on the next part of their quest.

The chain hotel wouldn’t strain her already-tight budget and put them close to where they needed to be. After parking in a nearby garage, which wasn’t cheap, they collected their belongings. Lucius remained alert and allowed her to check them in, while keeping a watch on everyone and everything.

All this was new to him, but you’d never know it by the way he handled things. She envied his easy confidence. She was hanging on by the tips of her fingernails. Part of her wanted to run home, crawl under the covers, and hope that all this was nothing more than a bad dream. But that would be cowardly. This was the adventure of a lifetime. She was a real-life Indiana Jones, or better still, Lara Croft. If only she could kick ass like they could.

She really was getting loopy if she was focusing on fictional characters rather than face her own reality. On the elevator ride up to their floor, she began to weave from side to side. With his hand on her back, she managed to make it down the hallway without banging into the wall. When the door finally closed behind them, she dropped her bag and fell onto the bed with a groan, bouncing once before settling.

“You don’t have to do that.” Her voice was muffled by the pillow. She managed to roll to her side and watch through half-closed eyes as he removed her boots and socks.

“You need rest.” He was frowning again, his lips set in a hard line.

“If you want to go to the Angel Foundation now, we can.” She might fall asleep on her feet, but she’d manage.

“No.” He sat beside her and reached for the fastener of her jeans.

“What are you doing?” More bemused than concerned, she allowed him to unzip her pants and tug them off, leaving her lower half bare but for her underwear.

“Helping you get comfortable.”

When he went for her sweater, she placed her hand over his. “What’s wrong?” He shook his head and sighed, staring at their hands. The bleakness in his eyes when he finally looked at her shook her to her core.

“What if I discover Maccus is behind this?”

Relief flooded her. Finally, he was ready to talk, to trust her. It was a huge step forward. “You said he was the leader of the Forgotten Brotherhood. Why would he do such a thing?”

His hair swung when he shook his head again. “I don’t know, but he’s an angel.”

“A fallen one. That’s what you said.” She’d studiously avoided thinking about it until now, having enough to deal with, but could put it off no longer. “Would he have given off the aura of an angel if he’s fallen? Oh my God, is he like Lucifer?” If angels were real, the devil must be, too. Horrified, her entire body broke out in a cold sweat.

“No! Not many know his story, but Maccus was betrayed by an archangel, his wings stripped, and tossed into Hell. He fought for millennia until Lucifer feared him so much he kicked him out.”

Surely I didn’t hear that right. “You’re telling me Lucifer, the devil, feared this Maccus guy so much, he threw him out of Hell? He’s been kicked out of both Heaven and Hell?” Her voice rose with each word until she was practically yelling.

Just when she thought things were as bad as they could get. She hadn’t really put much credence in the entire angel thing until now. Avoidance was her friend, allowing her to function in a world already gone mad. Her throat closed; breathing became difficult. Ragged gasps tore from her aching lungs. This is not the time for a panic attack.

“Raine.” He pulled her into his arms, wrapping himself around her, his warmth seeping into her cold skin. “I’ll keep you safe.” He peppered her face with kisses. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Grabbing his shoulders, she held on. He was solid and strong, but would he be powerful enough to go up against such an adversary? She closed her eyes and forced herself to breathe deeply. Last thing he needed was a hysterical woman on his hands.

Several deep breaths later, she was able to continue. “So he’s a fallen angel. He was your friend, right? Or was he more like a boss?” She had no idea how the whole assassin Brotherhood thing worked.

“Maccus was one of the few I trusted. He brought us together as a group, but none of us are the type to take orders.”

“I can only imagine.” Talk about a scary bunch of people or paranormals or whatever they called themselves. It would be so easy to bury her face in the curve of his neck and forget everything outside this room, but it would still be there waiting and eventually would come looking for them. “Why would he wake you?” That’s the part that didn’t make sense. “You weren’t causing any problems where you were.”

“I don’t know. I’ve been away a long time.”

He wasn’t wrong. Things changed. People changed. “Let’s take this one step at a time. We’ll go to the Angel Foundation. If that’s a bust, we’ll find this Maccus guy. We can find him, right?”

“The Forgotten Brotherhood lives in the shadows, to protect themselves and others.”

“It’s not easy to hide in today’s world.” An idea struck her. She reached for her bag, but he kept his arms locked around her, not allowing her to leave. “I’m okay now,” she assured him. “I just had a mini meltdown.” Who wouldn’t? Angels were real and so was Lucifer. He was someone she never wanted to come face-to-face with.

“I need to touch you.” Seemed she wasn’t the only one having a difficult time coming to terms with things. He was facing the possibility of a friend’s betrayal.

“I’m here.” She might not be a supernatural being with preternatural abilities and strength, but she could offer comfort and understanding. “We’ll figure things out. How can we not with my brain and your brawn?”

That teased a smile from him.

“Or maybe it’s your brain and my brawn.” She flexed a bicep.

“Raine.” The way he said her name had butterflies exploding in her stomach. Pink eyes glowing, he pressed his lips against hers. Sighing, she sank into the kiss, needing his touch as much as he needed hers.

…

Holding her made everything make sense, or at least easier to deal with. He knew better than to jump to conclusions, but there was compelling evidence.

He hadn’t mentioned this to her, but Maccus had known the area he’d planned to settle in and sleep. It would be easy enough for him to find Lucius if he put his mind to it. This land had been sparsely populated at the time, with few around other than the indigenous tribes who had always given him a wide berth, sensing something different about him.

The sounds of pleasure she made as they kissed drove all thoughts of the past and future away, leaving only the now. She likely thought herself weak for having a panic attack, but courage wasn’t the absence of fear. It was doing what needed to be done despite it.

His dragon shuddered when her hand stroked his face, starved for her touch, her caring. It was a strong hand with slight nicks and calluses, left over from her attempts at escaping the cave. She was slender but resilient, bending rather than breaking in the face of adversity.

He lifted her so she was sitting astride his thighs, letting her feel the hard press of his erection against her stomach. Another of those whimpers of pleasure made his scalp tingle. He slipped his hand beneath her sweater and top, finding the warm, smooth skin of her back. Her spine arched like a cat as he stroked upward.

She was wearing one of those sports bras she favored. They were utilitarian and sturdy and made his mouth water. He shoved it up and skimmed his hands around to the front to cup her breasts.

“I love your hands on me.” Her nails scored his upper back and raked lightly over his biceps. “They’re so big and hard.”

They weren’t the only big, hard thing. His cock was painfully swollen. “I want you.” Never had a woman been as vital to his well-being. It made him vulnerable, gave him a soft spot his enemies could exploit, made her a liability. But the only thing that mattered right now was having her.

“Yes.” She grabbed the hem of her sweater. Her elbow swung toward his nose. He jerked out of the way in time to keep from getting hit. “Sorry.” It didn’t stop or slow her down. Her enthusiasm was both sweet and arousing as hell.

Helping her, he dragged the tangle of bra and top up and out of the way. Her skin glowed like the finest of pearls, creamy and delicate, and marred with bruises from her ordeal.

He traced his thumb over several of the black and yellow smudges. “I’m sorry you were hurt.”

“They don’t matter.” She planted a line of hot kisses down the curve of his throat before nipping at his shoulder. “Get back to work.”

He threw back his head and laughed. His light in the darkness, she chased away his worries. Raine was talkative and bossy and perfect at handling a drakon.

She stilled, her eyes wide and luminous.

“I’m not laughing at you.”

“I don’t care.” Her hand stroked his chest, the muscles jumping beneath her palms. “I made you laugh.” Her gentle, wistful smile brought warmth to his entire being.

All hint of laughter fled, replaced by a burning need that would never be fully quenched. He didn’t kiss her as much as consume her, stealing her breath until she clung to him. But she wasn’t content to be taken, not his Raine. She attacked, her tongue aggressive and demanding.

He fell back onto the mattress and rolled until she was under him. The bed was too short, his feet hanging off the end. He dragged her to the head of the bed, shoving the pillows out of the way, and ripping her underwear in his effort to get it off.

Her giggle broke through the madness tearing at him. “In a hurry, are you?” Her face was flushed, her nipples furled into tight buds.

“Yes.” He dove down and captured one of those pert nipples and sucked.

“Hurrying is good.” She tunneled her fingers into his hair, holding him in place. “Hurrying is an excellent idea.”

Time was running out for them. His intuition screamed everything would come to a head soon. Someone would die.

It won’t be Raine.

Giving a low growl, he kissed a path down her sleek stomach, nuzzling at the thatch of hair at the apex of her legs before diving deep. Her arousal was musky and spicy. She was wet and ready.

Have to taste her.

When she realized his intentions, she widened her legs, giving him space. Drunk on the scent of her, he licked her slick folds and sucked on her clit. Her thighs tightened around him, her feet thumping against his back.

The essence of his dragon rose inside him, wanting to pour into her. Something niggled at the back of his brain, something he’d read long ago.

“Now,” she demanded. “I want you inside me.”

Pure unadulterated need blasted through him. He surged up and over her, shoved one of her legs up and out, and notched the head of his shaft against her opening.

“Look at me.” He waited until her eyes fluttered open, the golden color almost swallowed by the black of her pupils. He shoved inward, not stopping until he was buried to the hilt.

“Lucius.” Her nails scored his back, sending a bolt of desire straight to his balls.

Keeping his thrusts slow and measured, he gauged her response. He needn’t have worried. She was right with him, her inner muscles rippling around him, clasping him in her sweet warmth.

Supporting his weight on his forearms, he leaned down and kissed her. Their bodies were slick, gliding against each other, getting faster and more frantic. Wild, she bit his bottom lip hard enough to draw several drops of blood, which she licked away.

Her entire body stiffened as if electrified.

He reared back and stared in horror. She’d inadvertently drunk drakon’s blood. A single drop would have given her a slight buzz before the Deep Sleep, now it was likely magnified tenfold, like his new powers.

Drakon blood healed. It also killed. There was no way to know for sure until a person consumed it. This was his fault. He’d been lost in passion, not thinking or paying attention.

“You’re going to think I’m crazy—or crazier than you already do—but you taste amazing. Like red wine and chocolate.” Some of the glazed expression cleared away. “I’m not some vampire. I won’t start craving your blood, will I?”

“How do you feel?” Her color was high, but that was likely from their lovemaking.

Her laugher was full and bright. “Like I’ve had at least a half dozen iced cappuccinos. Hmm, chocolate ones.”

Sweat broke out all over his body as relief flooded him. She’s going to be fine. “Don’t do that again.” There was no telling how a larger dose would affect her.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Her smile fading, she rubbed her thumb over his bottom lip.

As if she could. He captured her thumb and sucked on it. His cock was hard and throbbing inside her. “You didn’t hurt me, but my blood might not be safe for you.” Not a lie, but not the full truth. There was so much she didn’t know about him or his kind.

“I’m not going to die, am I? Although, dying while having sex isn’t a bad way to go.”

His lips formed a smile. Her spirit glowed so bright it was blinding. “You’re not going to die. You’re going to fly.” He rocked against her, grinding his pelvis against her.

“We’ll both fly.” Her slick channel squeezed hard, legs locking around him with surprising strength.

“I’ll take you really flying someday,” he promised as he continued to thrust. “High in the sky with the wind whipping through your hair and caressing your skin. There’s nothing like it.”

“Yes. Yes.” He had no idea whether her agreement was for flying in the sky or flying in bed. Not that it mattered when she tilted her head back and cried out his name. Burying his face against the mattress to muffle his roar, his entire body, no, the entire bed, shook as he came.

He collapsed, managing to do so at an angle to keep from crushing her. A sense of peace enveloped him. Raine nuzzled the arm he’d flung over her collarbone. Their skin was damp, the bed was wrecked, and he was starving.

He’d never felt better.

“I’m humming from head to toe. My skin is prickling. Almost itchy but not quite.”

Concerned it had more to do with his blood than their lovemaking, he pulled away from her, even though he was still hard, and propped himself up on one arm. She’d glowed before, but now she was positively radiant. Her skin was no longer blemished, the bruises vanished.

She raised her legs in the air and curled her toes. “It’s like I’m drunk, but in a good way.”

“You’re tired.” He brushed his fingers over her face, loving the way she leaned into his touch.

“I am, but I’m not. I’m wired.” Her mouth parted on a wide yawn. “Sorry about that.”

He rolled onto his back and pulled her against him. “Get some rest.”

“Wake me in time to get to the foundation. What time is it?”

He turned his head and found a clock radio on the nightstand. “It’s not lunchtime yet. There’s plenty of time.” Taking him at his word, she closed her eyes and sighed.

He could leave her here and go to the Angel Foundation on his own. And she’d never forgive him. Not to mention, there was no way he’d let her out of his sight.

Mine! his dragon roared, incensed he’d even consider such a thing. The primal beast had accepted from the first what it had taken him long to acknowledge.

Raine would either be his downfall or his salvation. There was no way to know which until the end.