A heated finger slipped between her folds. Warmth penetrated her body, quivered through her core, leaving Ellie gasping with pleasure. While his thumb found the sensitive nub, his mouth moved to her jaw line, lower to her neck.
“It’s a constant struggle when I’m with you,” he whispered, slipping his finger into her tight sheath.
Ellie moaned, arching her back and taking him deeper. How had this happened? A week ago she’d been completely fine doing garden tours at Crestmoore Manor, and now… now she felt as if she’d never be content again, not without this man inside of her. Now. Damn it, he needed him now.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” he whispered.
His hand found her right breast, cupping the soft mound. Her breasts grew heavy, her nipples hard peaks.
“How bloody worried I was about you. I can’t sleep…. eat…think…”
“Stop,” she demanded.
Devon paused, his confused gaze meeting hers.
She gripped his shoulders. “Stop doubting. Stop trying to fight it.” She brushed her hands down his chest. He didn’t protest when she tugged at the hem of his t-shirt and pulled it over his head. Didn’t even argue when she found the button on his shorts and tugged them down far enough for his erection to spring free.
Need rose within her, twisted in her gut so strong she couldn’t deny the feeling. When she cupped his hard shaft in her hands, Devon sucked in a sharp breath. Watching the pleasure upon his face was almost her undoing. He was beautiful. A gift from the heavens. And for now, he was hers.
She moved her fingers down the velvety rod, marveling over the feel of him. With a growl, Devon nudged her thighs further apart and settled the thick tip of his erection at her entrance. He might not like it, but he wanted her as much as she wanted him. For now, it was enough.
Ellie arched her back, taking him deeper. “Please, Devon. Now.”
Devon surged forward, sinking into her body with a groan of surrender. Pleasure and aching need combined, twisting through her in a way that left her breathless. Ellie wrapped her legs around his thighs, holding him close. As he began to thrust into her, pushing himself further and harder into her body, her soul, all worries ceased. She knew in the end he would leave, but for now she would take what pleasure he gave.
“How I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you,” his voice came out harsh, breathless.
Ellie drew her hands up his muscled chest, over his broad shoulders. She couldn’t stop touching him, couldn’t get enough. She arched against him, finding his rhythm so easily, as if they were meant to be together. The world faded and only they remained, bonded together. Devon surged into her deep, so damn deep. It was too much… all too much. Her fingernails bit into his shoulders, holding onto him as if she could keep him to her forever.
A fine sheen of sweat covered their bodies, his chest rubbing against her hardened nipples in an erotic way that drove her to the brink. Ellie’s body tightened, the pleasure almost unbearable. She felt his shaft harden inside her and knew he was about to come. The realization sent her over the edge.
Her own body exploded, rippling pleasure building and bursting within, while white stars danced against her eyelids. She heard Devon’s cry and felt him come inside her. She was in heaven.
And for a moment, Ellie swore she saw a piece of Devon’s soul. And she knew, in that moment, that it would be pure hell when he left.
Chapter 14
How they’d ended up in the small bed together, she really hadn’t a clue. After being intimate, she’d fully expected Devon to shake her hand and be on his way. At the least, she’d expected him to avoid eye contact and mumble something about how they couldn’t be together for some stupid reason. Instead, he’d helped her pull on the robe, then had taken her hand and led her toward the pub, not speaking a word, the moonlight and silence of the night enough.
They hadn’t parted ways upon entering the pub, heading toward different bedrooms. No, instead he’d led her toward the room that had apparently been his. Although the bed was small, forcing her to practically lay atop him, she wasn’t complaining. She didn’t want to be alone in this rambling building she didn’t know, yet sensed was full of unseen things. And she didn’t want to be alone after experiencing what she had with Devon, the intimacy that only a good cuddling could satisfy.
Yet, for some reason, lying there with his arms wrapped around her, it felt much more intimate than when they’d had sex near that lake only an hour ago. She hadn’t slept with a man, actually slept, in years. In fact, she wasn’t sure when the last time she’d spent the night with a man had been. But how the hell was she supposed to sleep with her heart thundering and her mind racing with emotions she’d never experienced before? How was she supposed to sleep knowing that he obviously cared, completely and totally, about her? Unable to stop herself, her fingers moved up his flat stomach, over the dips and mountains of muscle, not an ounce of fat on his toned body.
“Devon,” she whispered, speaking no louder for the house was too quiet, too watchful.
He didn’t respond, but she knew he was awake. She hadn’t argued with him when he’d led her to his room, nor when he’d settled on the small bed with her. No, sadly, she’d been only too eager to cuddle with the man. So much for not getting involved. But now that night was fading and the birds were beginning to chirp, she felt slightly vulnerable. As if their time together was slowly ticking away.
“Tell me how you met Ashley.”
Yes, she was fishing. But damn it all, how could she relax in the house of the woman Devon obviously cared for? He took in a deep breath and released a sigh full of emotion she wasn’t sure she wanted to understand. “I come from a long line of warrior angels sent to earth to send unwilling spirits to the other side. Cristian is also one of those angels. We grew up together, most warriors do.”
Of course she realized how strange the world could be, how inexplicable life was. Yet, the idea that there were angels on earth controlling spirits and sending them to the other side… weird indeed.
“So you want me to not only believe in angels, but also ghosts?” she teased.
“I want you to believe in what you see, what you have witnessed.”
And she had witnessed it all. Yes, she believed. Of course she did. And frankly she was relieved to finally have a name for what she was, validation for the things she had experienced. She snuggled closer to his warmth, attempting to savor the moment as much as she could. She knew soon enough this would all change. In only a few hours she’d start training, whatever that involved. Every day without a battle was to be savored, who knew what would happen tomorrow.
“You said you had died. How?”
He slipped his fingers through her hair, playing with the strands, the caress of a lover. She wondered if he even realized what he did. Most likely not.
“I was married.”
“I know.” Her heart skipped a painful beat she tried to ignore. Devon, her Devon had been married to another. The idea sent an unwanted ripple of jealousy through her body. She sure as hell didn’t own him, and he’d made it painfully clear he didn’t want a relationship. She supposed that was why his past upset her so; he’d had a life, a family when he was so against any relationship with her. Damn it all, the realization stung.
“What was she like?”
“Blonde, beautiful.”
Just like him.
Ellie rested her head on his shoulder, drawing her fingers down his chest.
“Charming. My wife was…friendly.”
Ellie frowned, confused by his tone. Friendly? As in slutty? She rested her hand to his heart, wishing she knew what he was thinking. Wishing she knew the full truth, although why it mattered, she wasn’t sure. Perhaps she was looking for his wife’s one negative character flaw that would make her feel better. Jealous of a dead woman. She almost laughed at her own ridiculousness.
“She was very close to Cristian. And for some time, I was happy about that, pleased that my best friend
and wife got on so well.”
Ellie stiffened, sliding Devon a glance, but could read nothing on his face. Holy hell, had his wife cheated with Cristian?
“Cristian’s father killed mine. While they were battling, my wife got in the way. She died as well. His father disappeared. I couldn’t fight his father, so I blamed Cristian. One night on the moors, having had enough, I caught up with Cristian. I blamed him for my father’s death, my wife’s. We fought. I fell. I died.”
The words were stunning, yet spoken in a casual manner that she wasn’t sure how to respond. Sure, he was here, now. She could feel the beat of his heart, the warmth of his skin. Yet, she also knew that by tomorrow, the next day, sometime soon, he could be gone… again.
“Why did Cristian’s father turned?”
Devon shrugged. “He let his human emotions get the better of him. Greed. Jealousy.” He was silent for a moment. “After I died, I was basically stuck for decades, here on this earth as a spirit. I wasn’t even sure who I was, or why I was here.”
“How did you end up at this pub?”
He sighed, rubbing his forehead as if the memories were too painful to relive. “I suppose I bonded to Cristian and he brought me here.” He frowned. “Or maybe I came with my sword.”
“Your sword?”
He wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her close. “Every warrior has a sword, a weapon gifted by God. It’s very much a part of us.”
It’s what he had been searching for when she’d first met him. She’d help him find it, if he was stronger with the weapon. Outside, early morning birds had begun to chirp their hellos. Life surrounded the house, yet death was there too…lurking in the shadows.
“What was it like being a ghost?”
He was silent for a moment, as if thinking over his response. “There were times I’d be places and wasn’t sure how I’d gotten there. Flashes of life and then the world would go black. Flickering, like one of those television screens you have in your modern world.” His hand moved down her back, caressing the skin as he stared unblinkingly at the ceiling. “I wasn’t sure where I was, who I was or why I was there. Half the time I couldn’t even control my own body. I’d appear in rooms without knowing how or why. I was angry half the time, lost, confused… It sure as hell wasn’t a pleasant experience. And then Ashley arrived…”
The emotion in his voice was almost her undoing. They hadn’t known each other but for more than a week. Perhaps he truly cared for her, perhaps he didn’t. But one thing was sure, he loved this Ashley woman.
“She and her witch friend, Camile, brought me back to life, hoping I’d have answers. But I didn’t come back alone. There was a demon buried in this house, a demon spirit who used me to do his deeds. That demon is Cristian’s father.”
Ellie bolted upright, clutching the blanket to her chest. “Cristian’s father is the demon we’re trying to kill?”
He watched her warily. “Indeed.”
She released a wry laugh. “The same man who slept with your wife? Who practically killed you?”
Devon sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. “He didn’t sleep with her. But she did fancy herself in love with him, I suppose. She fancied herself in love with many men. And he didn’t kill me, although I tried my damnedest to blame him.”
He seemed awfully ready to forgive and forget. She wasn’t so easily swayed. “You’re sure we can trust him?”
Devon nodded. “Indeed. They’ve both saved my life more than once.”
“And what about this Ashley?”
“This Ashley?” He pushed himself upright and leaned casually against the wall. She didn’t miss the grin upon his handsome face. He found her jealousy amusing, lovely.
Ellie turned, settling her feet on the cold floorboards, her back to him. “Honestly, I’m not sure we can trust her.”
Devon laughed. She threw a glare over her shoulder.
He pressed his lips together, attempting to keep his mirth at bay. Gently, he reached out, rubbing her back as one would do to soothe a wild animal. “What is it you’re not telling me?”
His face might have been serious, but his blue eyes still twinkled. He knew exactly why she was upset and he loved that she was jealous.
“Nothing at all.” She surged to her feet and jerked the blanket from him, leaving Devon completely naked upon the bed. “I’m not an expert on relationships,” she said, wrapping the blanket securely around her. “But your girlfriend seems a bit suspicious. Why hasn’t she called? Why can’t we get ahold of them? They bring you and the demon back to life, then disappear?”
Devon reached out, grabbing the edge of the blanket and jerking her toward the bed. Off balance, she fell into his hard chest with a gasp. Before she could escape, he rolled atop her, trapping her boldly beneath his weight.
“Is that what your sudden anger is about?”
“What anger?” she grumbled, staring at his lips, not daring to look him in the eyes for fear he’d see the truth.
Devon slipped his finger under her chin and tilted her head back, that amusement still in his gaze. “Ashley is not my girlfriend. Perhaps I thought myself attached to her at first, but not now.”
The relief she felt was completely ridiculous, yet she still couldn’t help but ask, “Does she know that she’s not?”
“Yes, as well as Cristian, the man she’s in love with.” He brushed her hair from her face. “Now, you tell me something.”
She looked up at him warily. Although she supposed he deserved a question or two after the grilling she’d given him. “What do you want to know?”
His face grew serious. “Why are you here?”
She stiffened underneath him, not understanding his question. “With you?”
“No, why did you leave your homeland. You said you couldn’t go back to America. Why?”
A guilty heat crawled up her neck and into her cheeks. Her instinct was to lie, but Devon had trusted her with the truth, she owed him the same. “I’m kind of wanted by the police.”
He lifted a golden brow. “Why am I not surprised?”
She slapped his shoulder, frowning. “A woman was attacked in the park I used to hike through. I didn’t do it.” She smoothed her hand over the area where she’d hit him, as if she could soothe away the pain.
“I’d hope you didn’t.” He rolled off her. Laying upon his side, he wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her body close to his. “What happened?”
She curled into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I was the only one who saw the woman attacked. The culprit disappeared.”
She closed her eyes, breathing in his musky scent. She didn’t want to think about her past. “I realize now that the attacker must have been a demon. The thing disappeared and there were no other witnesses. With my iffy past, well… let’s just say the police were very interested in me.” She shrugged, feigning indifference, although even now, a year later, she felt the stirrings of anxiety. “I got tired of the questions and decided to skip the country.”
Run away, like she always did. Damn it all, she was tired of running. She’d thought, perhaps she’d found a place where she’d belong… here, in England. But now that she was most likely wanted for stealing Miranda’s car, she’d probably have to hightail it to another country the moment Devon decided to return to Heaven. She swallowed hard, the thought of being alone again too much.
As if sensing her melancholy mood, Devon pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Go to sleep. The sun will be up soon and we’re to start training today.”
But she didn’t want to sleep and she sure as hell didn’t want to think about their time together ending. “I can’t sleep.” She trailed her fingers down his chest. “But there are other ways we can welcome the morning.”
“I like your way of thinking,” he said, right before he lowered his mouth to hers.
****
“Try again,” Rose grumbled, crossing her arms over her sagging breasts. “Ye have to sense their energy field b
efore you can block it.”
The old witch was slumped on a stone bench in the back garden, the surrounding skeletal woods providing only a little shade from the hot sun. A sun much too hot for spring. Ellie was close enough that Devon could see the trails of perspiration rolling down the sides of her face.
Rose was obviously disappointed in her performance, although Devon wasn’t sure what the hell the old woman wanted from her. Ellie hadn’t grown up around the supernatural, she didn’t understand her powers. He shifted, biting back the urge to call it quits for the day.
“I don’t like her,” Ellie whispered, before turning and taking a few steps away from Devon.
She wore a fitted blue t-shirt and jeans that hugged her arse, borrowed from Ashley’s room. Despite his dour mood, he grinned. “No one does. But she knows what she’s doing.”
For a good hour they’d been standing in the garden, attempting to teach Ellie how to control her powers. And for most of the lesson, he’d been lost in thought. Thoughts of last night, thoughts of the past, thoughts of the future. Thoughts of Ellie.
“Sense his powers,” Rose demanded.
Ellie’s brilliant gaze focused on him and hell, if he didn’t feel her attention all the way to his soul. Wisps of golden brown hair had come loose from her braid and hung around her heart-shaped face adding an innocent allure to her being. How could anyone think she would attack an innocent woman? And that’s just what they suspected. If he left, when he left, she’d be alone once more, dealing with things she didn’t quite understand. At the mercy of a world that didn’t understand her.
Devon took in a deep breath, holding her gaze. He’d fought demons, vampires and things best left to the imagination. Yet, this slip of a woman frightened him more than any, for Ellie made him want to be human. She made him want to live.
“Relax, Devon. Yer blocking her,” Rose snapped.
Reluctantly, he forced himself to breathe deeply, to relax his muscles and allow his abilities to seep outward. He wasn’t used to being so open with another, at least not on purpose. Hell, last night, lying next to her, he’d actually felt vulnerable. And when he’d realized she was jealous of Ashley, he’d been thrilled. Not very angelic of him.