Slowly, his laughter faded. “I was using you.”
That hurt, but the truth often did.
He stalked toward her. “A human. One being hunted. Pursued.” His head cocked to the right as he studied her. “Helping you was going to be my first step toward redemption.”
“Instead I just led you deeper into hell.” What had he called her? His temptation.
She wanted to be more, but knew now that would never be. “You need to walk away from me,” she told him. “You’ve already crossed too many lines.” Fighting other angels, cheating death. “If you want that redemption, then leave me.”
“Is that what you want?”
“I want you to have the chance to get the things you need. I want you to be able to go back home.” Jade licked her lips. “I won’t let you trade your dreams for my life.” That didn’t seem like a fair exchange to her.
His gaze dropped to her mouth. “There is no trade. Heaven is gone. I won’t be going back.”
Her heart ached. “If you had the chance—”
“I’m not leaving you.” His mouth took hers. Rough, hard, but without the rage of moments before. Just wild heat and hunger and a passion that burned her from the inside out.
Her hands came up and pressed against his chest. She leaned into his kiss, helpless to back away this time. Desire quickened within her.
One more time.
Just once more, before the end game. Once more.
His lips lifted from hers. “I was . . . afraid.” The confession was gruff, and the last thing she expected.
Jade could only stare up at him.
“Bastion took you when I should have been protecting you. If you’d died . . .” His gaze seemed to darken. “I’m not sure what I would have done.”
The cold whisper of fear chased over her skin again. She kept being told that Az was dangerous. That she shouldn’t be with him.
She’d had one monster for a lover. Seen just how wicked he could be. Evil hid so easily behind a handsome face.
When she looked at Az, she saw another handsome face.
Was it one that hid evil?
No. The certainty was soul deep. “You don’t have to worry. I’m not planning on dying anytime soon.”
He wasn’t leaving her. She wouldn’t leave him. Maybe . . . maybe they could make this work. Hope was small, fragile, but stubborn inside her, growing even when she knew better.
It had been years since she hoped.
But maybe . . .
Her fingers slid down his chest. Found the snap of his jeans. He’d given to her. This time, she’d be the one to give to him.
Pleasure.
The snap gave way beneath her fingers. She carefully slid down his zipper. Her eyes were on Az’s as she knelt before him.
“Jade?”
She shook her head and wanted to offer him a smile, but the moment was too tense.
He wore no underwear and his c**k sprang toward her, thick and full. Her fingers curved over him as her knees hit the floor. She stroked him, pumping him gently from base to tip and Az flexed against her, the sensual move almost helpless.
She didn’t want him helpless. Never that. Never him.
Her head bent forward, and she licked the tip of his cock. The flesh was firm, salty because he was so ready for her, and the head of his erection bobbed eagerly toward her mouth.
Her breath blew lightly over his flesh.
“Jade.” No question this time. A heated demand.
Her mouth opened over him and she took his flesh inside. She licked him and let his c**k slide over her tongue. Her cheeks hollowed as she drew him in deeper, and he thrust into her mouth.
When Jade swallowed, he growled his pleasure.
Her hand curled around the base of his erection so that she could keep the control as she tasted his flesh. Back and forth, his c**k slid over her tongue. She sucked him. Licked him. Learned the feel of his c**k and grew wet as she savored him.
Her ni**les were hard now, aching. Her hips moved restlessly because the need was tightening within her.
His fingers were in her hair, sinking deep and holding her as she held him. But she couldn’t seem to get enough of him. His flavor was hot and wild and it was driving her crazy.
She wanted more. She wanted him to come and—
Az pulled away.
Breath panting, she stared up at him. His eyes were blazing with need. His cheeks stained with a surge of hot color.
“In . . . you.” That was all he said. In the next second, he had her pinned on the floor. A rug protected her back as he yanked off her jeans and tore away her panties. Then his c**k was there, pushing up between her legs. She was slick and ready and in one hard thrust, he’d embedded his length balls-deep within her.
It wasn’t enough.
Her heels pressed against his back as she arched up against him. Each downward thrust sent his body sliding against her clit and the sensation had her moaning.
He pushed up, separating their bodies just enough so that he could palm her breast. His fingers plucked the nipple, then his mouth found her.
His tongue licked her even as his hips pounded down against her sex.
More, more, more.
The whisper wasn’t just in her mind. She was pleading, demanding.
He rolled, repositioning their bodies, and Jade found herself staring down at him. Her hands flattened on his chest as she rose up, then brought her hips back down almost frantically. She just couldn’t get enough. The pleasure was close, just out of reach, and she stared into his eyes and his c**k filled her, every single inch of her and—
She came on a blast of pleasure that shook her whole body. Az kept thrusting into her, and the deep push of his c**k into her just made the pleasure intensify. She wanted to cry out but couldn’t catch her breath. Her nails sank into his chest as she rode out the wrenching climax.
His eyes flashed to pure black when his release hit him. His body tightened, turning to steel beneath her touch, and he shoved even deeper into her. When he climaxed, she felt the hot surge in her core, and the pleasure whipped right through her.
Her heartbeat raced too fast. Jade gasped as she stared down at him. There’d never be another lover for her like Az. Never be someone that could make her scream, make her come so hard . . .
Because she’d never love another the way she loved him.
The truth terrified her, but she’d suspected it for some time now.
She’d given her heart to her Fallen. Her head lowered toward his, and she pressed a light kiss to his mouth. Not wild and desperate any longer. Softer, heavy with emotion.
He was so strong beneath her. So powerful.