all at once.
The only thing he heard was the mingle of their gasps and moans as they fought to taste more, faster, their hunger becoming more lethal with every second. He slid his hand eagerly over her side and hip and she gasped when he pressed her into his arousal. She slid her leg up along his and he curled his fingers around it and pulled it up higher, trying to get her as close as he could.
"I guess you figured out I'm not gay?" His breath stirred the hair by her ear and made it tickle his nose, inspiring him to let his lips glide over the sweet shell of her ear.
She pressed closer, rising against his erection with another sharp intake of breath. "I sorta guessed." She rained little kisses along his jawbone and sighed with satisfaction as she let her teeth gently scrape over his skin.
Lucian turned to meet her kiss-swollen mouth, ready to ravage it with his desire. For the first time in his life, real passion flamed through his blood and made love-making a pleasure rather than a chore to be endured.
He suddenly froze at the sound of hissed whispering but then it stopped almost the second he'd picked it up. Jessie clawed at his neck, her need seeming to rage higher. He paused, realizing he wanted to go slower with her. No regrets. He gradually pulled up until his kisses were feather soft. "Not fast. Not with you," he whispered against her lips, "never with you."
A throat cleared and Lucian spun with Jessie in his arms and went rigid. He stared. He blinked. Jessie 's gasp and her nails digging into his back confirmed that he was not hallucinating.
" Now?" A beautiful man in brilliant light blue clothing snapped the question to a giant man in red clothing who rolled his eyes. Eyes that appeared to sparkle like gems. Red gems.
Jessie and Lucian stood frozen while the two strange men from nowhere discussed something in hushed whispers. Finally the red giant spoke. "I know this must be very, very strange for the two of you. I'm going to try and make this the least insane sounding as possible, but, be prepared for it to likely not work." He touched the blue man with a hand. "This is Dorn, and I'm Kassern. We're both angels."
" Archangels," the blue man corrected.
Lucian was suddenly spellbound by the man 's ice blue eyes and spectacular features. The surreal apparition had him reaching into his pocket for the scapulars, the only weapon he had that might do him any good. But Lucian only experienced shock and maybe awe, no fear.
"Can't we use the animus imperium to just get them to cooperate?" The blue man regarded the Lucian and Jessie like they had sprouted a few extra heads.
" Not until after phase two," the red one said quietly.
" May I speak plainly, human?" the blue man asked.
Lucian 's mouth felt cemented. The blue stranger was addressing him. Speak plainly? Human? What was one to say for such a thing? Lucian nodded.
" We're here on an important mission and what I need from the two of you is—"
" Dorn," the red one cut in, clearly annoyed. "How many times do I have to say it? This can not be rushed, or you will compromise the triumvirate before you ever form it."
Enormous wings erupted behind the blue man and Lucian jumped back with Jessie. "Holy shit," Lucian whispered over Jessie's oh my God, oh my God mantra. Light tinkling filled the air as the massive icy blue jeweled wings fluttered above and behind the man.
The red man shook his head. "Traumatizing them could cost you time."
" I don't have a lot of time."
" Exactly, so, don't waste it by doing something foolish. Their psyches aren't made of steel, and you need them intact, so do what you have to but no more."
Lucian finally found his voice, not liking what he was hearing. "What…what are you talking about? If this is about penance for sin, use me, but leave her out of it, please."
" I need the two of you," the blue giant began again. "Satan has found a deviation, an opening of sorts, in the human genome. He is exploiting it to build an
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