It was instinct, the urge to plant his boot in the reapers chest and shove her away, but he held himself back. She was female, and even though she’d taken advantage of him, he couldn’t ever forget a male should never hurt a female.

Again, Anniel disappeared, to his chagrin. She probably hated him now more than ever.

His fingers gripped the armrests of his pilot’s chair. “Get off me,” he bellowed, startling Amadashiel.

She broke the suction on his dick with a pop. The sensation made him shiver. Still, he covered his spent cock with his palm and glared down at the frightened girl.

“That was just wrong, Amadashiel. How could you? I was asleep.”

Her lip trembled and her eyes flooded with moisture. “You were in need and I wanted you,” she replied in a voice choked with tears.

He heard boots scuttling up the ramp and turned his head just as a male voice snarled, “You son-of-a-bitch.”

Ashriel watched Natanael, Eriel, and Abdiel hold Reiven back. The black-haired reaper fought against them, looking at Ashriel with enraged black eyes.

Ashriel frowned, moving back away from Amadashiel to stand and close his pants.

“Fuck,” Seth called out from below. “What the hell is going on?”

Ashriel watched the reapers get Reiven under control. They pulled him down into the lounge area.

He let out a huff of frustration and dismay, looking at his hands and arms. What would his aura look like now? He glared at Amadashiel and caught her smug grin before she carefully schooled her features to look repentant.

Ashriel narrowed his eyes and bared his teeth in rage before gripping Amadashiel by her arm to lead her down the ramp. She dragged her feet and pulled against his hold. He let her go when they stood before the double doorway into the small lounge and scowled down at her. “Explain to me why Reiven wants to kill me now.”

She rubbed her arm with a pout and sniffed. “How should I know?”

Ashriel glared at Reiven. By now, Devon had come up behind them, but Anniel was nowhere to be seen.

Reiven was still panting hard, his muscles straining against the hold the other reapers had on him.

“You made her cry, you insensitive prick,” Reiven spat.

Ashriel closed his eyes, rubbing his temples at the throbbing pain that was slowly developing there. The foolish reaper obviously had feelings for Amadashiel, but she was oblivious to it. He could understand Reiven quite well. Had the situation been reverse, where he’d walked in on Anniel…he would have wanted blood. Just the thought of her in another’s arms made him sick.

For some strange reason, Lucien came to mind.

I’ll fucking kill him— Ashriel seethed silently.

“We’ll never make it through this mission if we’re going to be at each other’s throats the whole way through,” Seth snapped angrily. He turned to Devon. “We’re going to have to switch these two,” he pointed at Amadashiel and Reiven. “No way can we continue this way.”

Amadashiel winced. “Me? But I didn’t do anything,” she exclaimed angrily.

“Oh, I think you did plenty,” Seth continued, a few tiger’s stripes appearing on his arms.

Devon nudged his way forward. Ashriel moved aside letting him through and a strange feeling of peace settled over him.

“Enough, Sethaliel,” Devon said, his voice soft, soothing.

Ashriel shook his head with a frown. He was using some sort of calming power on all of them—even Reiven relaxed and bowed his head.

“Everyone go back to their cabins.” He turned and looked at Seth and Ashriel. “You two go back up to the helm. I’ll be up in a bit.” He turned to Reiven and Amadashiel. “You two I want to talk to in private.”

***

Devon had opened a portal back into Alpha 7 when she’d come into their cabin, practically breaking the door down.

“I need to get out of here now,” she’d shouted in his startled face.

Devon hadn’t argued, just pulled out a full-length mirror he’d stowed beneath the lower bunk. He leaned it against the door and whispered an incantation. The surface of the mirror had rippled like water to reveal a gold-colored seating area.

Anniel hadn’t asked anything. She just ran into Zak’s quarters and fell on the couch, dropping the plate with the sandwich on the seat next to her.

The sight of Amadashiel’s mouth swallowing Ashriel’s cock was emblazoned in her mind. His head had been tipped back, his eyes closed, his stomach muscles clenching in pleasure. God, he’d looked so beautiful.

Anyone would do for Ashriel, she realized sadly. She couldn’t risk her heart to him…she wouldn’t fall again. Still, it had kind-of hurt to see him being pleasured by another woman. She’d been his first, though. No one could take that from her. At least she knew he didn’t hate her for taking his virginity.

A big warm hand on her shoulder made her jump.

Anniel turned to see Zak sitting behind her. He wore a pair of black drawstring pants, but his feet and chest were bare. His waving golden hair spilled to his lap, and his sapphire eyes looked at her in concern.

“It’s barely been three hours. What happened?” he asked.

Anniel crawled into his lap, feeling like an idiot, but the feel of his huge bulky arms around her always soothed her. She laid her cheek on his shoulder and rested her hands over his ropey arms. The scent of citrus and forest that was unique to the golden weredragon wrapped around her, making her sigh.

Zak rested his chin on her head and sighed out loud. She could feel him rifling through her recent memories, but it did not anger her in the least.

“You need to get over your fear of being hurt again,” His deep voice rumbled, interrupting the hypnotic lull of his beating heart against her ear.

Anniel frowned. “If I don’t let myself get involved I won’t get hurt.”

She felt his annoyance and impatience with her. Regardless, his hand stroked her back gently. “You’re going to spend the rest of your life not allowing yourself to fall in love again?”

Anniel bit her lip. “It’s easier that way. Besides, I have all of you.” She brushed a kiss to his shoulder, letting the love she felt for him—for all of them—fill her. It was enough. It had to be.

Warmth engulfed her back, and Zak grunted.

“Fuck, Remi, get off,” Zak complained.

Remi only chuckled, letting his arms go around Anniel’s waist as he pressed up tighter against her back on Zak’s lap to kiss her cheek.

Anniel grinned, feeling touched at their attempt to cheer her up.

She felt Remi’s power wrap around them. In the blink of an eye, Remi had teleported them onto the furry rug surrounding the fire pit.

She giggled when they toppled in a pile of arms and legs upon the rug.

After a few moments of snuggling into comfortable positions, where she ended up lying half on Remi, half on Zak, she breathed in their combined scents and relaxed once more.

Her cheek was on Remi’s chest this time and she absent-mindedly played with one of his nipple rings that peeped out between strands of deep blood-red locks.

She could feel and hear their minds whispering to one another. Remi palmed his face before running his fingers through the mop of his hair.

She tensed, thinking he’d start trying to convince her to accept Ashriel as a mate, but he remained quiet…pensive.

Anniel was not sure that was a good sign either. Remien Fyre was sneaky. Heaven only knew what he was plotting in his insane mind now.

“Shouldn’t you be working on Ashriel’s Silver Comet?” she asked, hoping to interrupt his dark musings.

Zak chuckled and turned his head to Remi. “I still can’t believe you dismantled the whole damn thing.”

Remi snickered, making Anniel frown and lift her head to look at both of them.

Remi’s lip piercings glinting in the glow of the fire from the pit next to them. “I can’t believe it was Seth who disabled the Comet in the first place.”

Anniel frowned. “What are you two talking about?”

Zak lifted his blond head to look at her with a grin. “Devon was freaking out because Ash was going to leave.”

“So Seth disabled the Silver Comet,” Remi finished with a laugh. “I almost like him sometimes.”

Zak snorted. “You love that kid, Rem. Admit it.”

Remi grinned. “Maybe a little.”

Anniel couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Seth disabled the Silver Comet?”

Zak let his head fall back with a nod, his dimples more pronounced with his wide grin. “Yeah, but Remi was the one who started pulling it apart.”

Anniel looked at Remi in shock.

He scowled at Zak. “Yeah but you were the one who found the Moordian Devil and suggested we teleport her into the Comet.”

Anniel’s mouth dropped open as she gapped at Zak.

Zak frowned at Remi. “Devon was the one who found her and called us over to take a look at her. He said she’d make a good mascot for us.”

“Yeah, but you said—and I quote—oh-shit, can you imagine if we were to stick her into Ash’s Silver Comet?”

Zak began to laugh. “You gotta admit, his face was priceless.”

Anniel frowned down at the pair of laughing weredragons. “Oh-my-god, I can’t believe you guys did that…and Devon and Seth. You’re like a bunch of brats. How could you?”

“He wanted to leave,” Zak protested. “Dev was getting all torn up inside.”

“Yeah. I fucking hate when he gets that way. Drives me crazy,” Remi murmured rubbing at his chest as if his heart ached.

“What am I missing?” Rowie said, suddenly appearing with her head lying between Remi and Zak’s. When both men turned to kiss either side of her cheeks, she fisted their hair and grinned up at Anniel, flashing her dainty fangs.

“Did you know these idiots conspired to keeping Ashriel here on Alpha 7?” When Rowie’s grin faded and she stayed looking up at Anniel nibbling the corner of her lip guiltily, Anniel gasped. “You knew?”

Zak barked out a laugh. “Who do you think sang to soothe the Moordian Devil into letting us bring her here?”

“Rowie, you too?” Anniel whined.

Rowie rolled her glittering black eyes. “Okay—yes—I confess. There.”

Anniel braced her arms on Zak and Remi’s chest to look at all three of them. “I can’t believe you guys would do that.”

Rowie shrugged, caressing Remi and Zak’s tresses. “I kind-of like Ash. He’s a sweetheart if you can get past that dark brooding exterior.”

Remi frowned at her. “Don’t like him too much. You’re mine.”

Rowie scowled back at him. “Like I can forget with a belly full of baby dragons kicking my bladder around.”

Remi grinned and lashed his tongue out to lick her cheek and eye.

Rowie rewarded him by tugging his hair hard, making him yelp. His hips arched and Anniel felt the hard evidence of his arousal against her hip.

“I don’t know why you insist on keeping him here if he doesn’t want to stay,” Anniel huffed in frustration.

Zak frowned. “Maybe it’s got something to do with Devon not wanting Ash to have to whore himself out to survive for the rest of his life.”

Anniel closed her eyes remembering Ashriel’s refusal to accept credits from them. Again, guilt weighed heavily on her shoulders…though, if Remi hadn’t given them Liquid X, Ashriel would still be on Seraphia…still trying to hunt Lucien down.

She let her head droop down until it rested on Rowie’s forehead. Hands caressed the back of her head.

“It’ll all work out, Annie,” Rowie sighed.

***

Ashriel took the co-pilot’s chair this time. Seth checked the coordinates of their destination and then turned back to watch Ashriel.

His silent regard had Ashriel clenching his teeth until he had to glare up at him. “What?”

Seth frowned back. “You couldn’t tell it wasn’t Annie sucking your dick?”

Ashriel slammed his hands down on the armrests of his chair. “No. I was asleep. It was dark. I woke up confused.”

Seth rubbed one finger over his lips. “You need to open up your mind, develop your powers more.”

“I don’t see how that would have made any difference.”

Seth snorted, shaking his head. “If you were linked to her…to us, you wouldn’t have had a doubt over who approached you, even if you were asleep. You’d know exactly what Annie feels like telepathically.”

Ashriel opened his mouth, but closed it, unsure of what to say. He looked away. Power to him was something undesirable, to be used minimally. He only needed a few skills and his innate power to kill devils and demons. Anything else was unnecessary.

Ashriel tapped his fingers on the chair’s armrests, thinking. “Can I…can I just link to her?”

He glanced up to see Seth’s lips twitch. “If you link to her, you’ll tap into us. We’re all closely linked. We don’t really hear each other’s thoughts, but we feel each other’s emotions.”

Ashriel licked his lips. Dare he ask? Did he really want to know? “What does she…feel for me?”

Seth remained silent. “She could be yours, Ash. There’s just so much baggage between the both of you.”

Ashriel frowned. “Baggage?”

Seth nodded. “Garethiel really did a number on her. She lost her child and her whole family.” Seth took a deep breath. “And you want to kill Lucien.”

Ashriel felt anger stir. “Why is Lucien so important to her?”

Seth’s impassive face showed no hint of emotion. “Luke is important to all of us.”

“I don’t understand,” Ashriel asked, shaking his head.

Seth closed his eyes briefly before opening them and revealing…sorrow? “I was the one who ran Lucien through with my sword. I killed him…or thought I did.” Seth eyes blazed brightly in the darkness of the helm. He turned away briefly and whipped at a cheek. Ashriel felt shocked, realizing that the weretigri wept quietly. “There wasn’t a day I didn’t regret what I did,” he finally said in a low voice. “Luke was like a big brother to me. I had to…do what I did. He’d killed Devon and was going to rape Angel. I was blinded by rage, running on instinct.”

“Didn’t he try to use you as the virginal sacrifice?”

“Yes, but the demons were forcing him to do it. Half the time, he wasn’t even coherent. He was like possessed or something. If he didn’t sacrifice me, they would have tortured and killed me anyway. He figured he was doing me a favor.” Seth rubbed his face with both hands as if trying to erase some horrid memory. “You have no idea what they do to him—what was done to him since he was just a little boy.”

Ashriel took a deep breath, remembering Davariel’s memories, the horrors he suffered at the hands of the demons.

“I have an idea,” Ashriel admitted.

Devon walked up the ramp and sat across from Ashriel and Seth.

His inky black hair virtually disappeared in the gloomy interior of the helm. Just his eyes glowed in his inhumanly white face. He was both beautiful and terrifying.

He crossed his ankle over his knee and slouched down in the chair.

Ashriel glared at him when he remained quite. Both men just stared at him.

“Are you just going to sit there and look at me?” Ashriel growled glaring at both of them.

“What are you going to do about Anniel?” Devon finally asked bluntly.

Ashriel blinked at him a few times before frowning. “What am I supposed to do about her? She probably hates me now after what she just saw. Where is she by the way?”

“On Alpha 7,” Devon answered.

Ashriel felt gut punched. “W-what? B-but how?”

“I opened a portal and let her go back.”

Ashriel felt disappointment slice through him. “I see.” It was worse than he thought. She’d gone back to the space station, obviously not wanting to see his face anymore.

“In a few minutes I’ll bring her back,” Devon added. Ashriel snapped his gaze back up to his face. “We need her for the mission, remember? Unless you really want to be sold as a whore?”

Ashriel remembered the pretext they were going to use to get into the palace. Anniel would pose as an ambassador looking to have a little fun and relaxation on Rhylos and she was to purchase a little entertainment in the planet’s black market festival. Ashriel and the others were to pose as her merchandise.

“Talk to her,” Seth said.

Ashriel took a deep breath. “What am I supposed to say?”

“Anything. Just don’t leave things the way they are,” Devon answered.

“She’ll act like nothing’s happened, but confront her. Make her talk.”

“She’ll be angry,” Ashriel gulped.

“That’s good,” Devon said drawing his attention.

Ashriel snorted. “Good?”

Devon’s eyes narrowed. “Better than her not feeling anything at all.”

“True,” Seth sighed.

***

Anniel used her hygiene unit and changed her clothes. Despite Devon’s urgings to return to the starcruiser, she spent the rest of the day with Alluna and Zak. Poor Alluna’s feet were swollen and her back constantly ached. Zak doted on her like a mother hen.

Finally, she sighed, seeing Devon’s reflection in the dark glass wall that looked out to space.

“Annie,” he said softly, his arms crossed over his sculpted chest.

“Oh, okay,” she huffed.

Zak was massaging Alluna’s feet when she bent to kiss the girl on her cheek. “Take care, honey,” she sighed and then gave Zak a peck on his cheek too.

She shuffled reluctantly toward Devon and the rippling glass.

Stepping through the portal Devon opened was like walking through gel. It was hard to breathe and even see, but the sight of his glowing eyes and power wrapping around and drawing her closer helped soothe the hint of fear. He’d always warned them never to look to the sides when traversing a portal. She’d never asked why, just kept her eyes on him—always.

On the other side of the portal, she was hit with the familiar metallic scent within the starcruiser and the soft hum of the engines. She’d changed into her drawstring shorts and clingy white tank top. Generally, she slept in the nude, but that was so not happening in this starcruiser.

Anniel stared longingly at the lower bunk in Devon and Angel’s cabin. She was almost willing to withstand listening to them screw all night long instead of having to face Ashriel on the other side of the cabin door.

Her gaze slid to the inhumanly beautiful man standing by the door.

His glowing blue eyes narrowed as he crossed his sinewy arms over his chest. “Coward,” Devon taunted with a soft smile, making her scowl at him.

Anniel sniffed indignantly and marched past him. She opened the door and closed it behind her, clenching her teeth when she heard him chuckle.

Swallowing hard, she stared out into the dimly lit second level. Everything was quiet, the overhead lighting low to signal night cycle.

The lounge to her left was in complete darkness and she made a mad dash for it. Last thing she wanted or needed was to run into Ashriel. That would be awkward…and a little humiliating.

The minute she stepped into the dark lounge, she made out the dark shape on the couch before the familiar scent hit her.

Still, Anniel yelped in surprise when Ashriel rose from the sofa like the dark angel he was. His eyes locked on her and his black wings lifted, making her take a step back. Before she could take another one, he grabbed her. She lifted her hands to hold him at arm’s length, but forgot her intentions when her fingers made contact with the hot silky skin of his chest.

“Oh-god,” she moaned, squeezing the delicious bulge of muscles under her hands.

His hands slipped around her waist, pulling her against him. With her heart pounding almost out of her ribs, Anniel tipped her head back and licked her lips. Her entire being lit with desire as she parted her lips in anticipation of his kiss, but Ashriel turned his head to rest his chin on her shoulder. He sighed in contentment as his arms squeezed her tight.

A hug?

The memory of Amadashiel devouring his cock taunted her, and frustrated confusion turned into indignation.

She pressed her lips into a grim line and patted his bulky shoulders. “Alright, Romeo. You can let me go now.”

He lifted his head to look down at her.

“I was asleep,” he growled.

She frowned and pushed against his chest. “Well I’m sorry I disturbed you. Let me go and I’ll leave you to your sleep.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he replied tightly. “I was sleeping when she…I didn’t know—I was confused, Anniel.”

“You owe me no excuses, Ashriel. Whoever you let suck your dick is no concern of mine,” she hissed, struggling in his arms.

His body went rigid, and for a second, she thought she saw rage.

She let out a squeak of surprise when he lifted her and tossed her on the couch. Anniel found herself caged beneath him and let out a snarl of warning.

Ashriel growled back surprising her. “Don’t tell me you don’t care. It’s not true. You lie, Anniel.”

She opened her mouth to tell him off, but he shut her up by crushing his mouth to hers.

Her hands fisted his dark hair. The kiss was brutal, angry, hungry. Inside, her wolf howled in lust, making her growl into his mouth. She tasted blood, felt him wince and let him go. He didn’t go far. His hot breath fanned her lips.

“Anniel,” he whispered.

She swallowed, staring up in the dark at his face. His silky hair slid against her cheek when he dipped his head for another kiss. This time his lips teased hers, soft as butterfly’s wings. A sweet ache twisted her heart and her belly quivered. She could feel herself go heavy and liquid between her legs. Reaching up again, she gripped his bunched shoulders, squeezed, and then slid her fingers back until they stroked the arches of his wings. His feathers lifted beneath her hands. She arched her torso until the tips of her achy breasts rubbed against his chest. A soft sound had her opening her eyes to see his wings stretch up, sliding against the wall to her left.

She’d thought Garethiel was beautiful with his blond hair and white wings, but Ashriel’s dark beauty had no competition.

“Sleep with me, Anniel,” he whispered.

Her eyes widened. Did he mean sleep as in curl up together and sleep, or as in…have sex?

He straightened and pulled her up. “Come with me.”

Sliding his fingers through hers, he led her toward the ramp.

His wings were pulled back as if in prayer and his bare feet padded on the metallic mesh ramp down into the dark storage area.

Anniel did her best to keep her eyes anywhere other than on his low-slung, black, drawstring pants. His bronzed torso was sinfully exquisite, so it was damn near impossible. He was definitely brawnier than Zak.

The position of his wings made the sweet double dimples over the swell of his ass all the more noticeable. She bit her lips, wishing she could bite one of his cheeks instead. Good thing he held her hand because she really just wanted to grab…

He swung around and crowded her. “You’re so quiet. What are you thinking? Please tell me, Anniel,” he begged.

Her jaw dropped. Oookaaay. With a shrug, she replied. “I want to grab your fabulous ass.”

Ashriel gaped at her. Just as she felt heat begin to rise into her cheeks at her blunt—but truthful—answer, he threw his head back and began to laugh.

It was deep, rich, and beautiful. Anniel hadn’t heard such a lovely sound since her baby had first giggled. Her eyes watered and she felt something within her heart melt a bit.

Oh-no.

He took her hand again and finished leading her down into the storage area.

It was dark, but since she was part wolf, she was able to make out the rows of shelves and caged compartments. Behind the ramp was an area that was illuminated.

Ashriel smiled down at her. It was a sight to behold, seeing him smile. She looked away, unable to bear it. She had a lump in her throat and the urge to turn and just throw her arms around him was making her realize she was getting angel-struck—big time.

Not-again-not-again-not-again— she kept chanting in her head.

“I fixed myself a place to rest back here. I hope you like it,” he was saying, his voice so velvety deep—it gave her chills.

He led her to a softly lit corner between two tall racks of equipment. The bedding was bowl-shaped, and had to measure over fifteen feet wide.

“That’s huge,” she said looking at him wide eyed.

“A Seraph needs huge, Anniel,” he replied slowly spreading his wings.

She gulped, staring at the midnight feathers. Each filament shimmered blue-black in the glow of the fire stones piled to one side of the bed. He extended one to her and she reached for it, unable to resist.

The texture was silky soft, but the center vein of each feather was hard as steel. They were more than warm. They were hot to the touch. Ashriel shivered and closed his eyes. His breathing increased, and his flesh pimpled with goose bumps.

Her eyes automatically dropped down to his crotch, but it was too dark to see if he was becoming aroused.

He moved, circling around her and dropped down into the bowl-shaped bedding on the floor. His wings spread beneath him and he lifted his arms.

“Join me.”

Anniel stared. His wings took up every inch of the bed. He smiled and patted the underside of one of his wings.

“Lie here.”

“Th-that won’t hurt? I mean—“

“It won’t hurt me, Anniel. Come.”

Her eyes swept over the sight before her. His knee was up, probably covering an erection, but the flimsy pants were low enough to show the sexy V of his groin. Ashriel’s muscled gut framed a delicate navel, and his bulging pectorals were the perfect pillows for his beaded light brown nipples. His arms bulged from him supporting his upper body on his elbows and his hair was a sable fall of silk over one shoulder. Ashriel was a reaper, a death angel. She knew this, but his eyes…his glowing grey eyes were very much like wolf eyes, pale with silver and black flecks, highlighted even more by the black ring circling the whole iris.

As if all that masculine beauty weren’t enough, it was all framed by a pair of jet-black wings—fifteen feet from tip to tip. A dark angel of temptation.

“Anniel,” he whispered, making her realize she was just standing there, staring like an angel-struck idiot.

Toeing off her slippers, she stepped over the lip of the round mattress. Her second step had him rising a bit to take her hand. He pulled her down.

“Are you sure?” she asked, panicked, even as her knees sank into luxurious black feathers.

His only answer was to pull her next to him until her body rested flush to his, with his arms tight around her. Anniel stared up wide-eyed into his face. Beneath her body, she felt the heat and pulse of his blood. His whole wing pulsed like a heart.

“Oh-god,” she whispered. She was lying in the arms of an angel.

Ashriel’s hair slid forward, almost covering half his face as he leaned closer to trace one finger gently over her cheek. She shivered when he ran the tip around her lips and then down her throat.

“I have loved you for over three siglons, Anniel,” he whispered. “I never dreamed I could have you in my arms this way.”

She gaped at him. He loved her? His face blurred and she realized it was because her eyes were tearing.

Anniel cupped his cheeks. His mouth was red and a little swollen from their harsh kiss earlier. Her tears fell faster. He loved her.

Did he?

She began to shake her head, not wanting to believe him, but he leaned down and captured her mouth.

His tongue stroked hers and she arched against him, wanting to get closer. His scent filled her nostrils. She couldn’t decide what he smelled like exactly, but it reminded her of wind and rain—a tempest waiting to be unleashed.

Anniel threw one leg over his hip and immediately felt his jutting erection press into her belly. The snarl erupted from her throat before she could stifle it. She felt herself clench deep inside and heat engulf her entire being.

She needed to mate—now—and showed her frustration by biting his lower lip, hard.

Ashriel moved suddenly. The action caused her to be tossed over onto her stomach.

She would have growled at him, but he shocked her by caging her beneath him and then proceeding to take a firm hold of the back of her neck with his teeth.

Her whole body shook with the uncontrollable desire to be fucked by him. If he didn’t, she’d howl in misery. As it was, she was already whimpering pathetically.

She felt his hands grip her shorts and material tore. Her tank top was the next target of his destructive hands. Her double D breasts burst free of the soft material to hang heavy and achy.

Anniel panted and stared straight ahead, blinking at the wall a few inches away. He moved in rapid jerks behind her, but never released his hold on her neck. She was so turned on by his show of dominance, she was about to combust. God—Zak was going to laugh his ass off when he found out.

His arm wrapped around her waist, his palm opening on her lower belly. All thought ceased when she felt the unmistakable press of his cock against her needy hole. His teeth bit down harder as he growled, ratcheting up her lust.

She spread her thighs, panting, and finally howled when he thrust into her. She was so wet, he sank in without much trouble, though the fit was exquisitely snug.

It got hot—literally. He began to fuck her in long hard strokes, his wings fanning waves of heat over them.

“Oh—god—yes,” he panted finally releasing her neck. “Brace yourself.”

It was all the warning she got. He leaned over her, gripped her double D’s and really began to fuck.

“Shit,” Anniel hissed, gripping the rounded lip of the mattress.

His teeth went into her shoulder this time with a snarl as his cock kissed her womb. It made her writhe in erotic agony. The feel of his hot body undulating sensuously over hers, the hard smack of his hips against her ass had her coming apart in seconds, to her shock.

Ashriel covered her mouth when she screamed and howled at the same time.

His body tensed. She felt his hard muscles as he continued to slam his hips against her ass even faster. His breath panted next to her ear.

She could feel his heavy balls pounding against her engorged clit and screamed into his hand again when another orgasm ripped through her body. Her whole body convulsed around him and he growled. His wings fanned faster, making a sound similar to thunder. It would have terrified her, but she was too busy coming again.

His wings suddenly went stiff, his teeth sank into her shoulder as his hands gripped her breasts again with bruising intensity. His roar mingled with her howl. As she quivered around his hard prick, she felt him pulsing deep inside her—hot jets bathing her insides, sending a shiver all throughout her being. The stones seemed to burn brighter for a moment as she panted, and suddenly she couldn’t hold herself up anymore.

They collapsed to the mattress. Ashriel held the weight of his body with his forearms and thighs. Inside, she felt him still rock hard.

His body quivered and his cock jerked deep within her. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think he wanted another go. She needed at least five minutes of recovery time, because she was about to have a heart attack.

He moved and she had to bite the mattress beneath her to keep from shouting out how good he felt.

“Did I hurt you?”

Anniel could only whimper.

“I’m sorry for my lack of experience.”

She couldn’t help but give a breathy laugh. “Trust me. I couldn’t tell.” He fucked like a machine. No experience needed.

Again, his cock quivered, making her gasp. She was suddenly hungry for him once more and raised herself a bit. Looking over her shoulder, she gasped when she saw his eyes had gone black, no whites showing.

“Why are you in kill mode?”

He blinked, and shook his head slowly. “I-I…don’t know. I just feel so…”

His cock jumped hard inside her and he bit his lip hard with a sigh. Ashriel was extremely aroused. His body shivered with it.

And she wanted him again.

Anniel squeezed the muscles in her pussy, making him pull his lip back to show his teeth in a sexy snarl seconds before he was thrusting again.

His wings fanned furiously once more, and the sound of his hips slapping her ass was loud. He grabbed her boobs and she arched her back to offer him her ample breasts and ass for his pleasure.

He flipped her over, making her squeak in surprise, and then grabbed her ankles to hold her legs straight up and spread wide. Her ass left the mattress making her hands scrabble for purchase.

Anniel wiggled her toes, her mouth still open from the surprise move.

Ashriel’s torso gleamed with sweat, and his hair was a wild mess over his face. Despite his bronzed coloring, he still looked pale compared to the rich dark brown of her skin. His pounding hips made her big breasts bounce wildly. His eyes were on hers, though, black and glittering. He looked terrifying and beautiful with his wings beating behind his undulating body. Anniel fell apart again, her body arching up into a sensual bow. As she panted out the last of her orgasm, she looked down to see him as if frozen, wings held stiff, body taut, mouth open before he shivered and cried out in completion. He filled her again with his hot seed. Her womb drank him down greedily.

His head was still thrown back, his chest heaving with labored breath…his dick still solid steel. He shivered and growled. He began to move, but slow this time. Anniel clawed at the bedding, feeling so sensitive. She whimpered, but still bucked slowly against his thrusts. Ashriel lowered his head, his eyes had gone back to grey, but the pupils were so wide they still looked black. Turning his head to the side, he ran his hand up her leg, to her foot, before letting his tongue lick up her instep. It made her scream in pleasure, and squeal some more when he began to suck her toes until she came gloriously around him. His eyes glittered with male satisfaction at her pleasure.

He released her legs and lowered his sweat-slicked torso on her. Gripping her wrists, he pulled her hands over her head, pinning her completely. Again, he began to rock hard and rough into her.

Anniel wrapped her legs around his waist, crossing her ankles so that her feet rested against his fabulous ass. They moved more frantically.

“I love you, Anniel,” he growled.

And she came, hard, soul shattering, with him following in her wake. She was sobbing by now, feeling that…her heart belonged to him. He’d taken it…completely.

And he would probably destroy it now. She wanted to hate him. Why? Why did he have to ensnare her heart again? It had taken her so long to get over Garethiel. And here she was again—fucking his twin brother. Her stupidity knew no bounds.

***

Anniel cried softly, making him terrified of having hurt her. His dick still ached to continue plowing into her, but maybe she’d had enough. Shame filled Ashriel. He had wanted to court her first, lay down a foundation of trust and mutual respect—something to build a lasting relationship on. He’d intended to just sleep with her.

He rocked her in his arms, his cock still embedded within her tight heat. He shivered.

His good intentions had gone way off course.

“Annie, please,” he begged. “Did I hurt you?”

She hiccupped against his chest and murmured something. Ashriel frowned. It sounded as if she’d said “no, but you’re going to.”

That couldn’t be right. It didn’t make sense. She continued to hiccup, but her sobs grew quiet. Ashriel remained mute, not knowing how to comfort her. He was loath to pull out of her. He didn’t want to, but knew he must. He’d keep fucking her if he didn’t. The weakness of a newly fallen reaper.

Her body grew more pliant against him and except for the occasional hiccup, her breathing evened out.

She’d fallen asleep.

Biting his lip, he withdrew from her. Sliding his still erect cock from her clinging warmth was the hardest thing he ever had to do. A flood of semen poured from her well loved sex. He stared down at her lush curves. Her reddish brown hair spilled over the pale grey bedding in shimmering waves. He wiped the tear stains from her cheeks and let his eyes take in the beauty of her full breasts. The nipples were still drawn tight and were much darker than her mocha skin. He hadn’t even tasted them this time, just rutted her like a horny beast. Her tummy was tight, muscles delineating her abs between her cinched waist before swelling out to wide, curved hips. Her satiny legs were shapely and long, her feet delicate and her toes painted an outrageous shade of hot pink that made him smile. God—she was breath-taking…exotic.

His hands itched to touch and stroke.

Rising abruptly to his feet before he sank his face between her legs, he made his way to the ramp leading to the second level.

Eriel and Natanael looked up at him when he approached. They both stood and sheathed their swords.

“Why were your swords out?” Ashriel asked.

They both looked at each other before Natanael answered with a shrug, “You said kill whoever tries to come down here.”

Ashriel rolled his eyes.

“That’s it?” Eriel frowned. “You only fucked her for about an hour.”

Ashriel frowned. “I still ache, but…” He remembered her tears.

“We can go for days, but some species of humanoids can’t fuck for that long,” Natanael said, running a silver wand over a strand of his hair, turning it purple.

“I’m afraid of hurting her,” Ashriel admitted. “She cried at the end. That’s why I stopped.”

“Cried?” Eriel asked with a worried expression.

Ashriel nodded, feeling guilt tear him apart inside.

“Did you say anything to her before she started crying?” Natanael asked.

Ashriel swallowed. “I told her I loved her,” he replied in a low voice.

Eriel and Natanael began to chuckle.

“She became emotional. Don’t worry.” Eriel assured.

“She really has feelings for you too, otherwise she wouldn’t have gotten emotional,” Natanael added.

“Yeah,” Eriel agreed with a nod. “If she didn’t feel the same way, she might have laughed in your face, or kicked your ass and told you to fuck off. I always hate when they do that.”

“She has feelings for me?” Hope soared within Ashriel. “You think so?”

Both reapers nodded.

Ashriel smiled, but then frowned. He still had to kill Lucien. She would hate him then.

His shoulders slumped.