Angel's Desire

\\

Rosalie Lario

Angel's Desire The Fallen Warriors Series Rosalie Lario

In a world where angels rule over humans, twelve outcasts dare to defy expectation, warring with their angel brethren to prevent the extinction of humankind. They are The Fallen.

Book 2 Fallen angel Ethan has been outcast due to his love of humankind. In order to preserve his immortality, he must find a mate with angel blood...but the one woman he desires blames him for her father's death. As a teenager, Tayla had a fierce crush on Ethan, her angel father's best friend. She was humiliated when he rejected her, claiming she was too young for him. Her love turned to hate when he failed to save her father from being killed by the other angels. Battle looms on the horizon, and Ethan can no longer afford to waste time. He must claim Tayla as his...but convincing her she's his mate won't be so easy.

2

Angel's Desire ***** Angel‟s Desire Copyright 2011 by Rosalie Lario Smashwords Edition *****

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

Editorial Services provided by Kim Bowman, Freelance Editor. License Notes This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

*****

3

Rosalie Lario

Chapter One

New Orleans in August. Could the weather be any more miserable? Tayla Russo mopped a layer of sweat from her brow and did her best to ignore the scorching heat. It wasn't easy with the sun blazing down from above and oppressive humidity closing in all around her. You'd think she'd be used to it, given that she'd lived here all her life, but she'd long ago realized there was no getting used to this kind of weather. There was only enduring. The same was true of a lot of other things too. Like the way humans had lived ever since angels revealed themselves a dozen years ago. When the walls between the dimensions collapsed and left angels without their own world, they had convinced most humans their rule could provide better protection for mankind. Very few people knew this for what it really was—a scam. She was one of those people. Of course, she had a very good reason to know the truth. But her father had been dead for over ten years now. Shaking away the wave of sadness that still accompanied memories of her dad, Tayla strode toward her destination, the farmer's market. She ignored the delicious odor of freshly baked beignets wafting over from one of the many French cafes she passed. Her thighs didn't need any more plumping, thank you very much. Stepping under the awning that covered the many booths set up within the market, blocking the 4

Angel's Desire

sun if not the stifling heat, she strolled over to a produce stand. "Afa'noon, m'am," the guy manning the stand said in an easy Southern drawl. Nodding a response, she picked up several tomatoes, testing their firmness. Somewhere in the market, a speaker system blared jazz music. She paid it no mind until the music cut out and the overly dulcet voice of an announcer took its place. "To all our citizens, the Consortium would like to remind you to report any and all suspicious activity. Consortium Guards are stationed throughout the streets, or you can simply dial seven-one-one. And remember, as always, we are dedicated to providing a safe, happy environment for all of our citizens." Tayla snorted. Yeah, sure you are. The Consortium was the guild of humans put into place to do the angels' bidding, and Consortium Guards were what passed for cops. Of course they didn't call them that, since there was no longer supposed to be any crime. Her disdain for the Consortium wasn‟t because they were evil. No, it was that they were ignorant. They had no idea what the angels' true agenda was—to wipe out human existence. After they were done using them as free labor, that was. Few humans knew that. The only reason she did was because she wasn't human. At least, not entirely. "I'll take these." She handed the guy a basket of tomatoes and another of peaches, along with her pass card. Angels had gotten rid of money when they took over rule of Earth. Now everything was free, but all items were logged on nifty little cards using a monthly-allotted point system. One of the Consortiums many ways of keeping tabs on people. Her phone rang just as the man was bagging her items. She dug in the back pocket of her cut-off denim shorts and pulled it out. When she read the display, her stomach did a funny little rolling flop and her heart set a furious rhythm inside her chest. Ethan. 5

Rosalie Lario

The man she'd loved since childhood. At least, she had until the horrible circumstances leading up to her father's death. How was it that, even after all these years, one little phone call from him still had the ability to tie her up in knots? Residual emotions, that's all it is, Tayla. It couldn't be more than that. After all, he was the one responsible for her father's death. Why was he was calling her? Honestly, she didn‟t even want to know. Just thinking of him brought too many mixed emotions to the forefront. She couldn‟t deal with having an actual conversation right now. Gritting her teeth, she hit the Ignore button on the phone and slid it back into her shorts. "Thanks," she said, accepting the bag the man held out to her. Right as she moved away, a sliver of heat washed over her body, instantly hardening her nipples beneath the frilly white tank top she wore. At the same time, a hard, hungry pulse thrummed between her thighs, making her body quake with need. What the— Suddenly she knew. Without a doubt. Only one man had ever made her react that way without touching her. Without even being close to her. Ethan was here. Turning on quivering legs, she raked her gaze over the crowd of passersby, searching out the source of her discomfort. There. Across the street. He leaned against one of the antique black lampposts lining the sidewalk. Even though he wore long jeans and a snug, gray t-shirt, he still managed to look cool as rain despite the muggy weather. But then, it didn't affect him the same way it did her, did it? A ghost of a smile lined Ethan's face as he stared at her, one brow cocked in challenge as if to say, Too chicken to face me? His dark hair was shorter than she remembered. He wore it slicked back along the sides and carelessly tousled up top. 6

Angel's Desire

Other than that, he looked the same as always. No older than thirty, though he was in fact centuries older. Her childhood hero. Her guardian angel. Literally. A myriad of emotions washed over her. Joy, lust, hurt, anger, sadness. He'd always confused the hell out of her, and it appeared that hadn't changed in the years since she'd seen him last. Taking a deep breath, she focused on adopting the calm mask she'd perfected over time. She knew full well if she didn't, he'd be able to sense her emotions up close. It wouldn‟t do to reveal just how much he affected her. Tayla walked toward him, smoothing back a curly strand of hair that had fallen out of her loose ponytail. It figured he'd show up now, when she looked like she'd just worked a day of hard labor and probably smelled almost as bad. She was no more than a few feet away when he broke out into a careless grin. "Look at you...little Taylee Russo." His smooth-as-chocolate voice washed over her, causing a shiver in her spine despite the insulting nature of his address. She stiffened and threw a layer of steel into her tone. "I'm twenty-eight years old. I'm not little Taylee anymore. Haven't been for a long time." Ethan's laugh was like a cool caress to her ears. He'd always had the most amazing voice. It had sparked an answering vibration in her body every time she‟d heard it. "That's obvious to anyone with eyes in their head." He punctuated his words with an appreciative once-over that provoked another tremor in her legs—and higher up. The look was so at odds with the way he'd treated her in the past that she couldn't help but be confused. And that, more than anything, pissed her off. She adopted a scowl. "What are you doing here?" "I was calling you, but you didn't answer." A wave of heat flushed her cheeks at the obvious implication that he'd witnessed

7

Rosalie Lario

her ignoring his phone call. "Spotty cell phone reception," she answered, because she wasn't about to explain herself. "No doubt." Ethan„s eyes lit up with clear amusement. "It's been many years since we last saw each other." "Not long enough." Even if her stupid body did ache to throw itself into his arms. The look of hurt that flashed in his eyes made her instantly long to take back her words. Instead she purposely bit down on her tongue. Don't forget his role in your father's death, Tayla. But she had to say something, so she asked, "How‟s Eva doing?" "Very well," Ethan said. "She's fully adjusted to her new life." Eva, like Tayla, was a nephilim. After her identity had been compromised, Ethan called Tayla to ask if she would be willing to take Eva in, get her fake work documentation, and teach her to live in secret as a nephilim. Most angels despised nephilim—the by-products of a union between human and angel. It was either live under the radar like Tayla had all her life or be destroyed by the Consortium. But apparently Eva had hooked up with Michael, one of the angels Ethan lived with, and in the end, she'd decided to stay with them. "Glad to hear she‟s okay." Just because her feelings for Ethan had soured didn't mean she despised all angels. Far from it. She was half one, after all. Tayla blinked and looked Ethan over. It was so odd to see him again, and in a crowded street of all places. Dangerous too, considering what he was. "How did you get here?" His distinctive topaz eyes twinkled as he stared down at her. "We keep a car in Buffalo registered under a false name. I drove from there." He'd driven close to a day to get here? That said a lot, considering how much he hated enclosed spaces. Unless that had changed. She didn't really know him at all anymore, did she? If, indeed, she ever had. 8

Angel's Desire

"I was driving toward your apartment when I saw you walking down the street," he continued. "So I parked and followed you out here." "Okay." Again that begged the question... "But why are you here?" Sighing, Ethan straightened off the lamppost. His movement rippled the muscles of his chest, clearly visible under his snug shirt, and her limbs trembled in response. Moisture trickled in between her thighs. Great. That was just great. Was it possible she was even more attracted to him now than she had been before? How could that be, given the way she felt about him? She hated him. Didn‟t she? When Ethan inhaled sharply, the corners of his mouth turning up and his eyes narrowing, Tayla silently cursed herself. She'd forgotten how attuned to smell angels were. Could he sense that her body wanted him even if her mind didn't? "I've missed seeing you." His voice sounded sensual, and his honeyed words enveloped her like a lover's caress. Dammit, he probably could smell her desire for him. But despite the way he was looking at her, like he'd love to eat her up, he couldn't truly feel that way about her. Once, many years ago, he'd told her in no uncertain terms that he didn't. "Let's be honest, Ethan. Our friendship ceased to exist a long time ago. So what's the real reason you're here?" He shifted, looking flustered by her tone. On a breath, he said the very words she would have once killed to hear. "Tayla, I'm here because...I need you."

9

Rosalie Lario

Chapter Two

I need you. Ethan's words settled around Tayla with all the weight of a ton of bricks. Partially because she sensed the truth in them, but even more because of her feeling that his words were layered in double meaning. She swallowed hard. "Wha—what do you mean?" He lifted his head to scan the area. "Not here. Let's talk back at your place." Before she could respond, he took her hand. She gritted her teeth against the unintentional moan that threatened to escape upon the contact of their skin. Pulses of energy trickled off him, shooting through her whole body. The essence of an unmated angel, designed to seduce and conquer. Ethan led her in the direction of her apartment building, a mere four blocks away. She didn't bother asking how he knew where she'd moved to after her mother's death seven years ago. Part of her had always known he kept tabs on her. A Consortium Guard turned a corner and stalked down the street in their direction. He kept his hand on the nightstick he carried as a symbol of his authority. Oh shit, oh shit. What if the Guard recognized Ethan? What if he sounded the alarm to bring an army of avenging angels down on them? What if Ethan was killed? 10

Angel's Desire

Her heart pumped furiously and her breath escaped her in heavy gasps, making her fear she might start to hyperventilate. Even though she knew better, she couldn't help but stiffen and slip her hand out of Ethan's. Way to look guilty, Tayla. But then, it wasn't every day a girl walked down the street next to one of the world's most wanted felons. Ethan wasn't just an angel. He was one of the Fallen, a group of angels who had been condemned to die for their belief in preserving humankind. “Relax,” Ethan said, his tone casual. She gave Ethan a sidelong glance, but he looked calm as ever, not even sparing the Guard a second glance when they passed by him. "Aren't you worried you might be spotted?" she whispered once they were well past the Guard. He shrugged, speaking low she could barely hear him. "Only another angel would recognize me for what I truly am. While it's my understanding that the Tribunal has provided the Consortium with renderings of the Fallen, who would actually expect to see one in an open environment?" That was true enough. Unlike angels, who could sense each other, the humans who made up the Consortium had no way of telling whether someone was angel or human. So the only thing they had to go one were drawings of the Fallen, since angels apparently weren't big on photographing. Still, she couldn't help but worry about him, and that sucked. She stayed silent for the rest of the walk back to her Mediterranean-style apartment. Once they arrived, he stood aside so she could unlock the heavy wooden door leading directly into the courtyard. It served as the focal point for all the units. Though the housing lottery gods hadn't exactly smiled down on her—she'd been stuck with a ground floor studio apartment—at least she had an amazing little patio. Lush green foliage framed colorful hibiscus and oleander plants. Her tiny, iron-wrought table with two chairs was practically hidden in the sea of green. "It's beautiful," Ethan murmured as he looked around the space. 11

Rosalie Lario

It was also stifling hot. Tayla peeled her sweat-soaked top away from her flesh, fanning the fabric to get some air flowing. "Come on, let's get inside." After unlocking the door, she stepped aside for him to enter and then closed and locked it. "Okay, what gives?" Instead of immediately answering, he prowled throughout the tiny space. It took him all of three paces to get from the front door to the couch, and another two to the kitchen. He moved as if he was staking a claim on the place. Like a hungry tiger on the prowl. Nothing new there. He'd always moved that way, and it had always drawn her to him like a moth to the flame. Now was no exception. Ethan was in her apartment. Part of her couldn‟t believe this was happening. How many times as a teenager had she dreamed of getting him alone? But things were drastically different now than they had been back then. For one, her father was dead. He turned back to face her, his eyes bypassing hers and going directly to the crevice that served as her makeshift bedroom instead. When his eyes darkened and something that looked suspiciously like desire flashed in them, she stifled a shiver. Now that she saw him through the eyes of an experienced adult, she realized why he'd always confused her. It was those looks of his, like he really could feel something for her. But he'd told her once he didn't, so she had to be wrong. Right? Oh no, having him here was far, far too dangerous. "So what," she demanded, out of patience, "you came here to examine my apartment?" He chuckled, shaking his head. But when he spoke, his voice sounded regretful. "What happened to us, Tayla?" He really had to ask that? "You know exactly what happened." His eyes grew sad. "I've tried talking to you about that night—" "I don't want to go over this right now," she interrupted. 12

Angel's Desire

"I'm afraid you never will." He raked a hand through his hair and turned to pace, only managing one step before he realized he had nowhere to go. With a deep sigh, he swiveled around to face her. "We've learned the Tribunal has built an underground prison for humans. They plan to start covertly executing human figureheads. The extinction of humankind is about to begin." Tayla sucked in a breath. Whatever she'd been expecting him to say, that most certainly wasn‟t it. Oh, she'd always known something like this was coming. Her father had kept her well informed of the agenda of the Tribunal, the justice council that ruled over all angels. She knew full well he'd been condemned to die because he was against wiping out the existence of humans. But on some level, she never thought she'd see it during her lifetime. "The prison needs to be exposed," she told him, panic lending an edge to her tone. "Humans need to be notified." "Agreed. However, over the years whenever we've tried telling humans about the angels' real agenda, they've never believed us. We'll need proof. If we could get into this facility, we could provide humans with undeniable evidence of the angels' treachery." He had a point. Most humans really believed that angels were their salvation. They would need solid proof to be convinced otherwise. "Where is this prison?" she asked him. "Somewhere in Alaska." "Somewhere?" She blinked as the reason for his presence hit her. "But you don't know exactly where." "Correct." He nodded, lifting a brow. "That's why I'm here." Oh crap. Tayla took in a deep breath. Since her mother and father had died, Ethan was the only remaining person who knew about her special gift. She had a knack for

13

Rosalie Lario

finding things that were lost. "I don't know, Ethan. The things I find are little—a set of keys, a misplaced ring. You're asking me to find an entire underground structure." For the first time since entering her apartment, he approached her. She didn't even realize she'd subconsciously inched backward until she hit the wall. "I believe you can do this. I wouldn‟t be here otherwise." When she averted her gaze from the intense look in his eyes, he reached down and nudged her chin upward, forcing her to look at him. Soft tingles of energy shot from his fingers to her chin and down her body, like little butterfly kisses. She couldn't mask her reaction in time. Her nipples hardened, and a pulse thrummed between her thighs. Her body responding to his touch. When Ethan's pupils dilated and his nostrils flared, she knew he could smell her desire. Embarrassment warred with passion. She wanted him. Always had. It seemed some things never changed. His head inched down, as if he was going to kiss her, but just when she held her breath in anticipation, he instead murmured, "You know how important this is, Tayla. You might be able to help save the human race." Something that felt an awful lot like disappointment unfurled in her chest. Of course he wasn't going to kiss her. She took several deep breaths in the hopes that it would tamp down on her lust. She did not want him to kiss her. Not really. Focus on something else. Like the extinction of humans. Like his involvement in your father's death. Okay, so that was a total mood-killer. "I just don't know if I can do it," she said. "Alaska is big. Huge. And the facility is underground. What if I can't find it?" "We don't know unless we try." Yeah, good point. She straightened her spine. "What do you need me to do?" 14

Angel's Desire

Satisfaction and a hint of determination filtered off Ethan as he drew away from her. Most people wouldn't be able to sense those emotions, but thanks to her angel blood she could. Of course the fact that it went both ways was a major source of consternation right now. "Come with me," he said "To Alaska?" That was a long way away. Which meant they'd be spending a lot of time together. Shit. "Yes. But first we'll go to my compound. Others will want to come with us. We can cover more ground that way, increase our odds." Others. He meant other Fallen. More angels who'd escaped the sentence of death imposed by the rest of their kind. Like her father hadn't. The bitter anger she felt whenever she thought of her father's death crept back into her. Though he hadn't raised her, or perhaps because of it, she'd worshipped him. After all, he was an angel. An angel. She'd known of their existence for years before they'd been revealed to the rest of the world. But her father had never trusted the other angels. With the exception of Ethan, his best friend, he'd never revealed to anyone that an affair while visiting this dimension had resulted in a nephilim child. And then, when the veil between the dimensions had collapsed, leaving angels permanently stuck on Earth, he'd gone to great pains to hide her existence. With good reason, it turned out, since he was eventually executed for his defense of humankind. Tayla brushed the despairing thoughts of her father aside. She dreaded going with Ethan as much as she anticipated it. But if the end result was the discovery of this prison, it would be worth the discomfort. "How long will we be gone?" He merely cocked a brow at her. She sighed. "Great. Let me call Essie at the shop and tell her I'm taking an extended vacation." Not that she'll believe any of the reasons I give her. At least she knew The Inner Circle, the tarot reading shop she'd opened up with the fake work visa she'd 15

Rosalie Lario

gotten, would be safe in Essie's hands. Ethan leaned against the wall she'd just abandoned, watching her while she called the shop and made her bumbling explanations to Essie. When she hung up, he said, "It would be best if we left straightaway. You'll be able to bring nothing more than a backpack full of belongings, but Mara or Lily can procure the clothes you'll need while you're with us. Once we get to the compound we'll—" "Hold it right there." She held up a hand, cutting him off in mid-speech. "We're not going anywhere until I take a shower." He blinked, then laughed, a sensual, rolling sound that made her nipples even harder than they already were. His lips curled into a grin. "As you wish." ***** Ethan strode back and forth across the tiny room that served as Tayla's entire apartment. It was beyond him how she could live here. But then, he'd always abided confined spaces. Even more so after his escape from the small hut that had served as the final resting place for so many of his kinsman. Flashes of light amidst the smoke. The agonized screams of his brethren. Tendrils of flame searing his flesh, making death seem like a wonderful reprieve from the mind-numbing pain. He shook off the nightmares of memories that always resided in the recesses of his mind, ready to spring out with the slightest provocation. It would do no good to dwell on the past. The spray of the shower sounded out from the door separating the bathroom from the rest of the apartment. Tayla was in there. Nude. Ethan couldn‟t help but imagine her ringing out the honey-blonde curls that framed her face. Touching her delicate hands to her small, bare breasts. Her soft blue eyes fluttering shut as her fingers drifted lower over her creamy flesh. Was she thinking of him while she showered? Just the thought of her touching herself elicited a firestorm of emotion from 16

Angel's Desire

within him. He wanted her. Had ever since the time he‟d accompanied her father, Caleb, on a visit when she was sixteen years old. What a surprise to witness her ascent into womanhood, to feel such strong attraction for her. It had shamed him. Almost a woman, but she'd still been a child, and he himself had been mated to Bethany at the time. His feelings for Tayla had been sick, disgusting, and completely inappropriate. When she'd thrown herself at him while Caleb was in the other room in deep discussion with her mother, he'd lashed out. Told her he didn't want her. When the truth was he had. Badly. But she'd been too young for him, for the things he longed to do to her. Straying with her would have been the ultimate betrayal, not just to Bethany and Caleb, but to Tayla herself. She'd deserved better than that. She'd deserved to be left alone so that she could grow into womanhood unmarred by the sins of angels. What would Tayla say when she discovered his ulterior motive for seeking her out? It was true. He did hope she‟d be able to use her mystical ability to find the Alaskan facility. Given that they didn't know the Tribunal's agenda or when it would put its plan into place, they were better served finding the underground prison as soon as possible. But more than that, he'd come for her. She might not know it yet, but she was his mate. Her essence called to him as no other's ever had. Mating with another of angelic blood and sharing of their essence provided strength and immortality. Without this an angel would eventually, after many years, grow old and die. His body told him Tayla was the one whose essence he was meant to share. Yes, though he may have once tried to deny it, she belonged to him. And he would stop at nothing until she admitted it.

17

Rosalie Lario

Chapter Three

After all these years, he still took her breath away. That was Tayla's first thought when she stepped out of the bathroom, hair damp from her shower, to see Ethan stalking throughout her miniscule living room. It was obvious he hated being in such a small space, yet he endured it. The muscles in his back flexed and rippled with every movement, showcasing the pure strength of his body. Damn it all, he's just so sexy. He turned to face her, and if she didn't know better, she would've sworn he'd heard her thoughts. His eyes grew heated as he looked her over, from the top of her head to her bare toes. "You certainly look clean," he said, his voice husky. As usual, her body responded to him. The muscles in her legs weakened until she had to back up against the wall for support. "I—" The sound of a knock on the door cut off whatever she would have said. Ethan's alarmed gaze met hers. He cocked a brow at her in silent question. She gave him a bewildered shrug, but then a familiar voice sounded out. "Tayla, you home?" Shit. Oh shit. Of all the rotten luck. Or was it something more than just bad luck? 18

Angel's Desire

Stiffening with fear, she motioned Ethan toward the bathroom and followed behind him to shut the door. When he reached the doorway, he leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Who is it?" "Larry. He went to high school with me, and he likes to visit me at the shop." When Ethan visibly relaxed, she added, "He's a Consortium Guard now." He tensed, then placed his hands over her shoulders and stared into her eyes. "Be calm. There's really no way for him to know I'm here." "Are you sure?" "The best the Consortium could do is track the car, but even if it did discover that it's kept under an alias, the car is parked blocks from here. No one could reasonably trace it back to you." He was right. Still, Larry's presence put her on edge. "Okay. I'll take care of him." Ethan shot her a curt nod before letting go of her and grabbing hold of the doorknob. With one last lingering look, he pulled the door closed. Tayla took a deep breath and tried to calm her raging nerves as she headed toward the front door. Lately Larry had taken to visiting her at the shop, making her think he might be romantically interested in her. But this was his first home visit. She couldn't help but be wary of the circumstances. Why would his first visit to her apartment come at the exact same time she had a Fallen hidden there? Stop being so paranoid. She couldn't help it, however. Ethan being here was so, so dangerous, and much as she might hate him—she did, didn't she?—she didn't want him to die on account of her. Larry knocked again, more insistently this time. You have to answer; otherwise he might not go away. She anxiously smoothed down her clothes and unlocked the door. It opened to reveal Larry, with his light blond hair, chubby build, and pale skin tone. He threw her a friendly but inquisitive smile. "Hi, Tayla, is everything okay?"

19

Rosalie Lario

"Hi, Larry. Um...yeah." She tried her best to sound casual, not wanting to show she was frightened. "Why? What's up?" He shifted in place and let out a nervous-sounding laugh. "Oh, I just happened to be at your shop when you called Essie. She mentioned you were taking an extended trip, and she didn't know when you'd be returning. I thought something might be wrong, so I figured I'd drop in and check on you." Dammit, Essie. She'd probably given him her address too. For some reason she seemed to think they'd make a good match. At least that meant his visit didn't have anything to do with Ethan. She forced herself to relax and gave him a wan smile. "Nothing's wrong. Just a—a sick aunt. She doesn't have much time left, so I decided to stay with her until the end. However long that takes." "Oh." He placed his hand on the doorjamb, leaning into it. "So sorry to hear that." "Thanks." Somehow she got the distinct feeling he was waiting for her to ask him in. Too bad. One, the fact that he was a Consortium Guard automatically made her twitchy, even if he had sat next to her in eleventh grade algebra. But more importantly, Ethan was in the apartment. No effing way was she about to have a Guard in the same room as him. "Yeah, so...thanks for stopping by." He blinked, looking surprised, and straightened. "Oh. Listen, I uh, meant to ask you something, but I hadn't gotten around to it yet. I mean, I know you're going to be gone for a while, but maybe when you get back"—his cheeks turned bright red—"we could have dinner or something." She stiffened at his question. Not that she was totally surprised he'd asked her out, but she hadn't thought it would happen while she had a Fallen hiding out in her bathroom. Despite her best effort to fight it, unease oozed out of her powers. Even as human as Larry was, she feared he would begin to sense her discomfort. She had to get him out of here, fast. "Maybe. Why don't we talk when I get back?" His face brightened. "Sure, sounds like a plan. Have a safe trip. My thoughts and prayers are with your aunt." 20

Angel's Desire

"Thanks." She hadn't meant to give him false hope, but somehow she had the feeling he'd taken her words as a yes. Larry had already walked a few steps when he paused and turned back to her. His brow furrowed. "Tayla. Be safe." Why on Earth did his words sound like an ominous portent of doom? She watched as he made his way through the courtyard, not resting until she heard the clank of the heavy wooden door shutting behind him. What was she going to do about him? Well, of all the things she had to worry about right now, that was the least of them. The potential extermination of humankind was infinitely more important than a case of unrequited puppy love. The door had no more than slid shut when she felt a rush of wind behind her. She whirled, and Ethan was right there, standing so close she instinctively pressed her back to the front door. "Wh—what are you doing?" His topaz eyes flashed and a tendril of frustration wafted off him. "An old high school friend, hmm?" Stunned, she blinked her eyes. "Um...yeah?" "You seemed very friendly." When he reached out to wrap a finger around a strand of her hair, she couldn't help her gasp. He was acting like he was jealous or something, which was crazy considering she'd once offered herself to him, and he'd firmly refused. "What's your deal?" "Why didn't you just tell him no?" "I don't kno—" She cut off as his finger trailed up to her neck where he slid it along the crease of her jaw. Electric tingles crackled against her skin, racking her body with tremors. A wave of longing heat coursed through her veins. God, he'd always smelled so good—like cinnamon and vanilla and earthier spices.

21

Rosalie Lario

I'm always going to respond to him like this. The thought was so distressing she had to put it aside. For now. She could reflect on what that meant later. Tayla tried her hardest to concentrate on their conversation. On his direct gaze. "Why are you acting like this?" "Like what?" he countered, his voice silky. "Possessive." Ethan laughed, the heat of his breath flicking up a few strands of her hair. He lifted his other arm to the wall, effectively blocking her in. "That‟s my nature, little Tayla. You of all people should know." She blinked up at him. "Okay...now you're really confusing me." A hint of impatience drifted off him. "I didn't like the thought of him touching you." "What?" Shock and anger permeated her senses. He wasn't her father. He didn't get to tell her whom she could and couldn't see. She lifted her hands to his chest and tried to shove him backward, but he didn't budge. "Why are you being such a caveman?" A soft whisper of laughter drifted off him. "Don't you get it, Tayla?" In a blink, he closed the distance between them, his lips mere inches from hers. Suddenly she did get it. With the hardness of his body pressed against hers, there was no way she couldn't get it. She froze, plastering herself to the wall, and her heart rate tripled in the span of an instant. "But...but you told me you didn't want me in that way." "You were sixteen, Tayla," he murmured, his breath hot against her lips. "Barely more than a child, and I had a mate at the time. What was I supposed to say?" Holy shiiit. "You had a mate?" He drew back slightly and nodded once. 22

Angel's Desire

A sudden burst of shame brought a flush to her cheeks. She'd thrown herself at an unavailable man? Oh God, no wonder he'd rebuffed her so coldly. "I never knew." Ethan's eyes softened. "Why should you? I'd never spoken of it. It never seemed relevant, and when you...during the incident, I didn‟t want to embarrass you." Tayla closed her eyes, mortified. "I'm sorry." "Don't be. You didn't know." He paused for a beat. "Tayla, the reason I rejected you so soundly wasn't because I didn't desire you, but because I did, and I was ashamed of it." "You..." She didn't even know how to respond to that. Never once in all the years since he'd rejected her had she considered that he might not have meant it. "But then, why tell me this now?" "If not now, then when? I lost my mate when I fell, and you cannot deny what lies between us." Before she could respond, or even decide if she wanted to, his lips rubbed against hers, sending electricity zapping through her body. His tongue darted out to run along the seam of her lips, and her whole body caught fire. She must have lost track of her senses because when she next took note she was wrapped around his body, purring like a contented cat and kissing him back for all she was worth. His hands closed over her derriere, lifting and fitting her against his body. And oh, what a body it was, all rigid curves and muscles. The hardened length of his erection rubbed against her mound, making her undulate against him. Kissing Ethan was a million times better than she'd ever envisioned, and she'd always had a pretty good imagination. The way he kissed her now, she could almost believe he'd lusted after her all these years, just as she‟d lusted after him. But then, if that was the case, why had he taken so long to seek her out? It had been many years since she'd come of age. Many years since he'd fallen. Many years since her father had died too.

23

Rosalie Lario

My father. How could she have forgotten about that for even a second? What was she doing making out with the man who was at least somewhat responsible for her father's death? Even if he was the same man she'd once loved. "Wait." Gasping, Tayla broke away from Ethan and tore herself out of his arms. "Wait?" He opened his eyes to look at her, and part of her was satisfied to see the lustglazed look in his eye. The way he shifted and planted his feet as if off-kilter. At least she wasn't the only one affected. "What's wrong?" he asked her. "This." She gestured at the both of them. "This is weird. I've always thought you had no interest in me, and now, years later, you're here, telling me you want me?" His gaze grew guarded. "Yes." Tayla sighed and turned away. She paced toward her kitchen, all four steps, before turning and looking him straight in the eye. "Is this why you've come back here?" Sighing, he raked a hand through his hair. "What I said about the Alaskan facility is true, Tayla. We do need your help." Even though he'd sidestepped her question, she didn't press the issue. Not when she might not be ready to hear the answer. "This...between us...it's all too confusing, Ethan. And..." And there are too many unresolved issues. "You know how I feel about you." He looked at her for so long she thought he was going to argue, but in the end he just closed his eyes and tilted his head back. "Fine. For now we'll just focus on finding the prison. But eventually, Tayla"—he lifted his head and focused his eyes on hers— "you and I are going to have a discussion about us." It sounded like a threat, the way he said it. So why did some little part of her shiver in excitement? 24

Angel's Desire

***** An hour later, after Tayla had packed a few meager belongings into her backpack, they were on the highway headed out of New Orleans. Ethan shifted in his seat. The walls of the aluminum can humans called a vehicle closed in around him. He hated to be closed in. The early afternoon sunlight blazed in with an intensity no air conditioning unit could keep up with. Heat didn't normally affect him, but the air was so stifling he couldn't help but recall another time, another enclosed space. A small, straw-filled hut packed with smoke and the screams of the condemned. The agonized gasp of his best friend as he lay dying. Too late. He'd been too late to save him, and it would haunt him for all of eternity. Tayla shifted her gaze toward him. "What's with the long face?" "Nothing." The scene that plagued his thoughts was the last thing he wanted to discuss with her. It was her father who'd died there, one of many angels whose lives had been taken due to their supposed heresy. The Fallen. Only he and eleven others had escaped, but the agony of that day would live on with them forever. When the traffic cleared enough that he could chance a look away, he peeked over at her. She had tugged her shoulder-length blonde curls into an unruly ponytail that showcased the angles of her long, slender neck. Her square-necked pink tank top and cargo shorts hugged the curves of her body, and she wore flat silver sandals on her feet. She looked like a piece of candy, utterly delectable. Tayla noticed him watching her. She turned her head and raised a brow. "What are you looking at?" "I'm looking at you," he answered evenly. She blushed and averted her gaze, all her fight seemingly gone. To think she had actually believed he didn't want her. His desire for her had been fierce back then. Disturbingly so. But it was even more so now. Time had softly rounded her curves, 25

Rosalie Lario

leaving no doubt that she was all woman. He stifled a curse when his cock hardened in his jeans. Prayed she wouldn‟t notice it. He didn't want to frighten her away. "Where‟s your compound?" She lifted a hand to brush a stray strand of hair off her face. "You never told me." "Deep in the Adirondack Mountains." Hidden so well it would be practically impossible for any other angel to accidentally stumble upon it. "And the others are expecting us?" "Yes." Not only were they expecting them, but they anticipated he and Tayla would be mated by the time they arrived. He hadn't shared what she could do with the others, since he'd promised Caleb he would never reveal it to anyone. But that meant they thought he'd gone to retrieve Tayla to become his mate. He hadn't bothered to correct them because, ultimately, they'd been right. He chanced another glance at her, only to find her watching him. This time neither of them looked away. The air between them grew heated, charged with energy. "My father explained how angels'—and nephilims'—essences call to each other when they‟re unmated," she murmured. "You only think you want me because of my body chemistry. It's not real." "Not real?" he echoed in disbelief. He tore his gaze from her and focused on the road. "What could be more real than the chemistries of our bodies being in perfect sync? And I don't think I want you, I know it." When she uttered a disbelieving murmur, he glanced at her again. "Why do you think I didn't return until you were nineteen, a woman fully grown? But by then you hated me...blamed me for your father's death. The two times I returned, you spurned me. I didn‟t know what I could do to change your mind." Her mouth dropped open. "That's why you didn't visit all that time? Because you felt guilty about wanting me when you didn't think I was grown up enough?" "Why else do you think?" 26

Angel's Desire

"I thought you were embarrassed I'd thrown myself at you," she muttered, her brow furrowing. "And after...after Dad's death, I thought..." "You thought what? That I didn't care? That he meant so little to me that I couldn't be bothered to visit you?" Her tightly pressed lips were all the response he needed. "That's ridiculous, Tayla." He reached across the space and grabbed onto one of her hands. "Your father was my best friend. Despite what you might believe, there's not a day goes by that I don't think about him." For a moment, nothing but tense silence filled the car. Then, with a short nod, she slipped her hand from his. As he returned his attention to the road, he hoped she would consider his words. That she would believe him. He needed her to believe him. No. He simply needed her.

27

Rosalie Lario

Chapter Four

At around two in the morning, after driving what seemed like a small eternity, Ethan insisted they pull over to rest for the night. Tayla thought about objecting but then decided against it. Though he'd probably never admit it, he must be tired of the car‟s tight interior. Besides, sitting so close to him had set her libido into overdrive. She was so attuned to him that she sensed his every movement before he made it, and his vanilla and spice scent had completely overwhelmed her senses. If she didn't get a break from him soon, she wouldn't be surprised if she ended up jumping straight into his lap. "This'll do." Ethan pulled into a homey-looking hotel with rooms accessible on the outside of the building. She unbuckled her seatbelt. "Stay here. I'll get us some rooms." "No good. You know they'll ask for a second pass card if you request two rooms." Shit. He was right. "We'll have to make do with just one, I'm afraid." Tayla threw him a suspicious glance, but his expression was guileless. "Okay. Wait right here." Heading inside to the desk where the blurry-eyed clerk sat, she tried to calm her 28

Angel's Desire

twitchiness as she requested a room. Being here with Ethan made her nervous. She was half-afraid some angel militia was going to descend upon them, ready to take him out. But the clerk didn't seem to notice her anxiety. He yawned and handed her the keycard for her room. "Have a pleasant stay." "Thanks." Keycard in hand, she stepped out of the main entrance and into the night, only to stop cold, lifting her hand to her chest, when Ethan emerged from a shadow along the building's wall. "Jesus! You scared me." "Sorry," he murmured, his eyes holding a glint of mischief. "But I wanted to remain out of the clerk‟s sight." With a soft disapproving sound, Tayla led the way up the open-aired staircase located on one end of the building to their second story room. The muggy heat of the summer night clung to her flesh, leaving a sheen of perspiration behind. Yet Ethan looked cool as ice as he climbed the stairs beside her. Not even a drop of sweat on his brow. Hell, for all she knew angels didn't sweat. It wasn't like her father had ever discussed the finer points of angel biology with her. Considering she'd only seen him once or twice a year on average, he hadn't had time to discuss much of anything with her. She let them into the room, turning the light on just as he closed and locked the door. Almost immediately her gaze went to the double beds taking up the majority of the space in the room. Feeling suddenly awkward, she forced herself to turn toward Ethan. But then she wished she hadn't. He watched her with a look of undeniable hunger on his face. Her breath hitched, and his gaze lowered to the rise and fall of her breasts underneath her tank top. Oh God, how many times in her teenage years had she wished for him to look at her that way? Part of her longed to throw him down on the bed and have her wicked way with him before he came to his senses and realized he didn't really want her. She had to get out of here before she did just that. He cocked a brow and looked at her in question. "Tayl—" 29

Rosalie Lario

"I need another shower," she blurted out in a panic. Without waiting for him to respond, she turned and fled into the bathroom. She took as long in the shower as she could, doing her best to focus on the coolness of the water sloshing down over her head. The rushing sound it made as it fell. Anything but the way Ethan had gazed at her. Funny how she'd carried all this hurt and anger for years, and it had only taken hours—no minutes—for him to confuse it all to hell. She'd thought she hated him, but now she realized her feelings weren't that easy to define. He confounded her. Always had. Most of her childhood memories were vague, unfocused, but she could still remember with perfect clarity the first time he'd accompanied her father on one of his periodic visits. She'd been all of six, and she'd decided right then and there, with all the calm reasoning of a little girl, that she was going to marry him one day. How foolish she'd been. Problem was, despite everything that had happened over the years, that silly little girl was still buried somewhere deep inside her. She still couldn't believe he wanted her. He desired her, the way she'd always desired him. If it hadn't been for that other thing that lay between them, she would have easily given in. But no, she couldn't forget his role in her father's death. It was far too important to simply discount. Absently, she turned the water off and slipped out of the shower, digging through her bag for her toiletries and her pajamas, a simple brown tank and matching teal and brown silk boxers. What the hell was she going to do about Ethan? Stay far away. There was no other option. Now here was to hoping she actually could. ***** 30

Angel's Desire

Ethan paced the length of the small rented room, waiting for Tayla to exit the bathroom. She was avoiding him. He scratched at the fabric of his gray shirt. Though the material was soft, he was unaccustomed to wearing anything on the upper portion of his body. While he longed to tear it off, he also feared Tayla's reaction if he did. So on it stayed. Now that he was alone, he allowed himself the thought that had repeatedly haunted him for many years. What if she never came around? What if she decided they weren't meant to be together at all? Angels were born with the gift of immortality, but it was not an absolute. Without sharing the essence of another angel or a nephilim through the act of making love, an angel's strength would wane. This hadn't been a concern before he'd fallen. He'd had a mate. He'd even thought he loved her, until he found himself having stronger feelings for Tayla than he did her. Deep down he wondered if Bethany had sensed that he'd strayed in his heart, because when he'd been cursed, she hadn't said a word in his defense. She'd simply walked away. As the daughter of an angel, Tayla was capable of sharing his life essence. He'd known she was the perfect mate for him since she was sixteen. Since before she was even old enough to understand what her feelings for him meant. If he lost her forever... He didn't know what he'd do. The bathroom door opened and Ethan turned toward it. When he saw her, the words he'd been about to speak died on his lips. She was a vision. Her honey-blonde curls lay in damp ringlets over her shoulders. Her tank top and boy-style shorts most likely fell into the sedate range of nightwear, but they only served to emphasize her long, lean legs and high, firm breasts. He fought his body's response to her, but it was no good. She was irresistible to him. That had always been the problem. "I've been thinking about what you said."

31

Rosalie Lario

Her tone was matter-of-fact, but her eyes, as always, held a hint of vulnerability. He wondered if she knew how much she expressed through those eyes of hers. "About what?" He took a few steps toward her. "Our body chemistries being in perfect sync. You're right. They are." He fought to hide his surprise. "Yes, they are." "But that doesn't change anything. There's been too much that's happened between us, Ethan. It would never work." "I can't accept that." He would never accept it. She shrugged and headed toward one of the double beds. "Accept it or don't. That's just the way it is." Ethan watched in disbelief as she unfolded the bed linens and crawled into the bed. Did she really think the matter was over, just like that? No, he would never let it rest. He couldn't. He needed her. He stalked over to the second double bed and sat on the side of it, facing Tayla. Though she didn't look his way, her body tensed and a sliver of frustrated uncertainty wafted off her. "It's far past time we spoke of this, Tayla. Why do you blame me for your father's death?"

32

Angel's Desire

Chapter Five

Her father? Tayla felt her eyes grow wide as she stared over at Ethan, who looked so strong and disturbingly gorgeous, even in the harsh lighting of the cheap hotel room. As if he didn't know. "You know why!" "I want to hear you say it," he insisted. She sat up and threw the covers off, gesturing angrily. "Did you think I didn't know what you did? Mother told me!" "What did she tell you?" he said evenly. "About what happened before you were Fallen." At his blank look, she hopped out of the bed and started to pace the room. "She told me that when the dissension first started, right before the rest of the angels condemned you and my father to death, he wanted to take us and run away. Go into hiding with us. You convinced him not to. If it weren't for you, he'd still be alive!" Sudden understanding tightened his face. Something flashed in his eyes, and frustration and compassion drifted from him. "Tayla, you misunderstand. As did your mother." She misunderstood? "Are you telling me you didn't convince my father to stand with you in defense of humans?" "No, that's not what I'm saying." Ethan sighed and swiped his hands over his

33

Rosalie Lario

face, looking suddenly weary. "Sit down." "I'd rather stand, thank you." "I said sit down." She'd never heard him use such a commanding tone before. It shocked her into obeying. Stepping back to the bed she'd just vacated, Tayla sat on the side of it, almost directly across from Ethan. She didn't look at him, though. Somehow she couldn't. Her feelings were far too raw right now. "Tayla, it's true that I convinced Caleb to stand with me when he wanted to run but I thought I was protecting you at the time. I never would have done it otherwise." "Protecting me?" She lifted her head to glare at him. "How?" Ethan pressed against the bridge of his nose before meeting her eyes. "You and your mother never knew this, but your father also had a mate." "A what?" "Your father was mated before he met your mother, Tayla. It shamed him that he didn't remain faithful to Marian, his wife, but he couldn't resist your mother." "I can't believe this," she muttered. "It's true." If the sense of truthfulness drifting off him hadn't told her that, then his direct gaze would have. Her father had been mated, and neither she nor her mother ever knew. "Go on," she said. "Marian wasn't just Caleb's wife, she was also a member of the Tribunal." Tayla gasped for breath. Caleb's wife had been very influential, then. Not someone to be trifled with. Ethan cocked a brow. "You begin to see the problem. I feared that if he fled with you, she would discover his betrayal and not only kill you and your mother, but take it out on the rest of humankind as well. So I convinced him to stay instead, thinking that he would have influence over her and the decision the Tribunal made concerning 34

Angel's Desire

humans." Tayla swallowed past the lump in her throat. "What happened?" Ethan lowered his head, looking ashamed. "She must have sensed that he'd strayed, because she voted for the eradication of humankind, and when Caleb protested, she agreed with the others that the price of his dissension was death." "I can't believe she would do that," Tayla whispered. "Our kind is not very forgiving when it comes to matters of betrayal." His throat worked as he examined his clasped hands. "It was an error on my part to advise Caleb to stay. In that respect, I do hold partial responsibility for his death." She didn't respond to that. She didn't know how to. This was all so confusing. "What of your mate?" she finally asked. "What she one of the Fallen?" Ethan shook his head. "No." "What happened to her?" He was quiet for so long she thought he wasn't going to respond. "She agreed with the majority of my kind that humans should be eradicated. When I refused to do the same and was condemned to die, she walked away without looking back." The horror his words elicited made Tayla's breath catch in her throat. "I can't believe she would do that to you." Ethan shrugged. "Perhaps deep down she also sensed that I wasn't fully committed to her." For several long moments, Tayla let his words penetrate her mind. What Ethan had told her changed so many things. Yes, he had convinced Caleb to stay rather than flee, and it had ultimately cost him his life. But he'd done it out of misguided belief that Caleb would hold sway over his mate. He'd done it to protect her. This was all mind-blowing, but did it change how she felt about Ethan? That she didn't know. "You...you've given me a lot to think about," she finally said. 35

Rosalie Lario

He swallowed hard and nodded. "I understand, Tayla. You will need time to process what I've said." "Yes, I will." He met her gaze, his eyes clear and direct. "I have time, Tayla. Take as much as you need." They stared at each other in silence, something deep and heavy unfurling in the space between them. He was the one to finally break eye contact, bending over to remove his boots. That simple domestic act made her pulse race. She crawled back under the covers as Ethan rose to flip the light switch. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust. When they did, she realized he'd shed his shirt and was in the process of doing the same with his jeans. Oh damn. Oh hell. No underwear! She squeezed her eyes shut and gulped, her body remaining stiff and tense long after he'd slid under the covers of his double bed. She hadn't seen much, but what little she had seen was enough to make her wonder if she'd ever be able to get any sleep. The man was built like a god. Ethan's sheets rustled when he shifted in his bed. "Good night, Tayla," he murmured in a low voice. Her voice barely audible, even to herself, she responded, "Good night, Ethan." ***** After a long night of restless sleep involving dreams in which she and Ethan made slow, passionate love to each other, interspersed with nightmares in which she was condemned to die by the Tribunal, Tayla finally awoke. It took her a second to process that she was in a hotel room. With Ethan. Oh God. Heart racing, she rolled onto her side to face Ethan's bed. He still slept in it, his arms splayed out to the side. His smooth, muscular chest rose and fell with every breath, and the white bed sheet rode low on his hips, displaying a thin trail of hair 36

Angel's Desire

starting right below his navel. Her mouth watered at the sight of him. Although she knew that male angels rarely wore shirts while in private, she'd never seen him without one before. The heavy lines and ridges of his torso were far more spectacular than she'd ever imagined. And his rippled abdomen? Absolute heaven. He shifted in sleep, and one long leg slid out from under the sheet. Even his bare feet were beautiful, and the thick muscles of his thighs promised strength and ultimate thrusting power. Tayla flushed when she realized the direction her thoughts had taken, but she couldn't help herself. He was too delicious to resist. He's always cared for you. In the light of a new day, she could hardly believed he'd confessed that to her yesterday. Could it be true? Could he really desire her as badly as she'd always wanted him? Could I actually be with him? She didn't know. This whole business with her father was confusing the hell out of her. The truth was, she'd become so accustomed to blaming Ethan for her father's death these past ten years that she didn't know if she could do anything else. He took one deep breath and his head shifted in her direction. She stiffened, thinking he might be waking, but then his brow smoothed out and he began to breathe normally once again. So handsome. His sheet rose slightly with his next breath, and stayed there. She could just imagine what lay underneath. If the sheet lifted one more inch, she'd probably even be able to get sight of it. The thought was too much. Tayla pressed her legs together, trying to alleviate the ache in between them. When that didn't work, she heaved a frustrated sigh. She was so hot right now she could barely even think. And he was still sleeping...

37

Rosalie Lario

Her hand crept beneath her cover. She slid it underneath her boxer shorts and pressed two fingers to the spot that throbbed for relief. No good. That only made her even more turned on. Oh, what the hell. He was still asleep. He'd never even notice. She slid her fingers back and forth, creating friction while she kept her eyes on the amazing lines of his body. Moisture spread to her fingers, making her breath hitch. She pressed one finger in between her velvety walls, rubbing her thumb along her clit at the same time. Moving in and out. Over and over. In her heightened state of excitement, it took her a long moment to process the tenting of his sheet right at his groin level. When she finally did, she gasped and froze. Her eyes flew to Ethan's face. He looked like he was still asleep. His chest continued to rise and fall evenly. But his erection was unmistakable. Oh, and huge. She wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes. He finally stirred, rolling onto his side to face her. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open. They immediately latched onto hers, and he let out a slow grin. Lust pooled in his gaze. "Morning." Only when she heard his husky voice did she process it. Hello? He was an angel. He could sense her emotions, not to mention that he had a heightened sense of smell. He'd likely picked up on her arousal during sleep! Now that he'd awoken, there was no doubt he knew what she was doing. Oh no. Oh crap. She lifted her hands off her body and rolled onto her back, screwing her eyes shut. Was it possible to die of embarrassment? Because if so, this would be her last moment on Earth. Unfortunately, much as she might wish otherwise, she remained very much alive. Palpable waves of desire thrummed off Ethan's body. When his excitement level increased, she could practically sense him touching himself beneath his sheet. He spoke hesitantly. "Did you want to..." 38

Angel's Desire

Did she want to what? Have sex? Get herself off? Take him into her mouth and get him off? All of the above. She cleared her throat. "We should probably go soon. Long road ahead of us, right?" He was quiet for a long moment, and she could sense the barest sliver of disappointment floating off him. But when he spoke, his voice was even. "Yes. I need a shower before we leave." Uncaring of his nudity, he rose from the bed and headed toward the bathroom. She averted her gaze, but not before she noted the perfect curves of his muscular ass. Right before Ethan closed the bathroom door, she heard him mutter, "A very cold shower."

39

Rosalie Lario

Chapter Six

They drove in tense silence for several hours before the large highway sign indicated they were entering Cincinnati. "My mother's hometown," Tayla murmured. Ethan glanced over at her. "Ever been here before?" "No." When he smoothly shifted lanes to get off on the downtown exit, she said, "What are you doing?" "Stopping." "But what about the Alaskan prison? Isn't it top priority?" "Of course," he answered. "But in the whole grand scheme of things, it won't kill us to give up a few more hours. If you've never seen where your mother grew up, then it's worth a stop." "But...it's dangerous for you to be walking around in a city." He threw her an unreadable look. "Careful. You're starting to sound like you might actually be concerned for me." Flushing, she looked away. Ethan drove until they found a parking spot near a large square. A stage was 40

Angel's Desire

being set up in the middle of the square for some sort of event. He slid out of the driver's seat and headed to the other side of the car to open her door. "Come on, let's walk around." He led her down the streets, pausing to look in some of the storefronts. When the sun started to creep a little lower on the horizon, he stopped in front of a casual-looking grill and bar. "Hungry?" Tayla started to protest, but he dragged her inside anyway. Only once the waitress had taken their order and left did she speak. "Don't you think this is a little reckless?" His smile was amused. "I do go into the cities. You know that, right?" She blinked at him, nonplussed. "You do?" He leaned forward over the table so he could speak low. "Often. All the necessities we require are there, so that means periodic trips. I've learned that the best method of disguise is to casually be out in the open." "But what if you see another angel?" she whispered. "I‟d be able to sense the angel before I saw him or her, but the point is that there are so few of us that the odds are slim of running into one out in the streets. Many of them have routines they adhere to, cities they visit at certain times. We keep abreast of that and ensure we aren't there when we expect them to be." Huh. Somehow she'd imagined him and the other Fallen living like cave people in some remote part of the continent. Apparently she hadn't been quite right about that. The waitress arrived with two glasses of Sam Adams and Ethan took them, handing one to her. His eyes flashed with amusement. "Drink. Relax. I promise I'll keep vigil for the both of us." Shrugging, she obeyed. After their dinner, they stepped back into the sticky heat and walked toward the car. By the time they arrived at the square, a salsa band had already started playing. The

41

Rosalie Lario

rhythmic pounding of the loud music reverberated through her body. Ethan noticed her bopping her head and grinned at her. "Come on." Out of surprise more than anything else, she allowed him to pull her to an open area where countless couples shook and swayed to the beat. "You dance salsa?" Ethan shrugged. "I'm a fast learner." But when he pulled her into his arms, moving his hips in time with the music, it became clear he was no novice. A loud, pleased laugh overtook her, and she surrendered to the beat. Night fell and countless time passed while they danced there, until at last the band wrapped up. Half-drunk from the music, the dancing, and the general proximity of Ethan's body to her own, Tayla beamed up at Ethan. "Thanks for stopping. I honestly can't remember the last time I had so much fun." He graced her with a slow smile, his eyes searching her face, and her whole body heated in response. "You're welcome, Tayla. I'm glad I could put a smile on your face, at least for a brief moment of time." She stared at him, not sure how to respond to that. Finally he tugged on her hand. "Come, we should go." A soft silence settled between them as he led her back to the car. Suddenly it was becoming difficult to remember why she didn't want to jump his bones. She'd never been half as attracted to anyone else before in her life, and after last night...after what Ethan had told her about his reasons for talking Caleb out of fleeing with her and her mother, it didn't seem like there should be anything holding her back. But there was. They got in the car and headed back toward the highway. Tayla stifled a yawn. "You're tired," Ethan said. "We can stop for the night." Another hotel room? With him? That didn't seem so wise. "We can keep driving." "I'd rather stop. I'm feeling overheated. A shower would definitely be in order." 42

Angel's Desire

He didn't look the slightest bit sweaty or disheveled, unlike her, but she didn't fight him on it. Not when a shower was starting to sound like the best idea ever. Ethan pulled up to a small hotel and Tayla went inside to get a room before meeting him back outside. They entered the room, almost a clone of the one from the night before, and Tayla motioned to the bathroom. "You can take a shower first." He shook his head. "I'll wait for you." "I insist." Ethan looked like he was going to argue, but in the end he shrugged and went into the bathroom. She plopped down onto the mattress and buried her face in her hands. How was she going to keep from jumping him? The angel was irresistible. Even now, all she could think about was how yummy the curves of his ass looked in the jeans he wore. When she heard the shower turn on, she could practically imagine the water sluicing off his naked, rock-hard flesh. The thought alone made her want to come. But there was a big problem. Ethan was dangerous. Not physically, but to her heart. She had offered herself to him once, and his rejection had nearly crushed her soul. Sure, he said he wanted her now, but she couldn't believe that his desire for her would last. Maybe for a few round of sex, yes. But eventually he'd lose interest, and she'd be stuck back where she was before. Broken. The door to the bathroom opened and Ethan stepped out, clad in nothing but a small white towel that barely covered the important bits. Her womb clenched and Tayla stifled a moan. She wanted him too much. "Sorry." He motioned to his towel, two spots of color forming on his cheeks. "I left my bag out here." "Um, that's okay." She rose and awkwardly edged to the side. "I'll just...I'll take my shower now." She beat a hasty retreat into the bathroom and locked the door before

43

Rosalie Lario

stepping into the shower. All the while she soaped down, she couldn't stop thinking about him. Desiring him. So why not give into temptation? Just once? But...what if he broke her heart? Again? Just don't let him. Don't offer it this time. Huh. She'd never considered that. Could she do it? Give into to that base urge to be with him without risking her heart? You've done casual sex before. True, and she hadn't wanted Paul nearly as much as she wanted Ethan. A surprisingly girlish laugh escaped her when she wondered what Ethan would think if she were to suddenly change course and throw herself at him. Hmm... Maybe you should find out. ***** Ethan rummaged through his bag for a clean pair of jeans and tugged them on. He generally slept in the nude and he didn't own a pair of underwear, so the jeans were his only option. The mixed vibes Tayla emitted were driving him insane. She clearly still had some unresolved issues with him, but she also desired him. His body couldn't help but respond to her lust. He wanted to take her. Hard. Fast. Deep. Even now he had to force himself not to break down the door to the bathroom, stalk inside, and ravage her against the wall in the shower. It had been over ten long years since he'd had sex. He craved it with an intensity she could never comprehend. As much as he might want Tayla, he wouldn't force the issue. She needed to come to him on her own terms, or not at all. He just prayed he could withstand the wait. Please let her realize that I'm her mate. The door to the bathroom opened and Tayla stalked out, clad in nothing more 44

Angel's Desire

than one of the white towels provided by the hotel. Her hair hung over her shoulders in wet ringlets, and drops of moisture beaded off her hot little body. Ethan's chest tightened and his cock sprung to painful attention. He casually crossed his arms in front of him, trying to hide the obvious proof of his desire. "There's no point in fighting it," she announced matter-of-factly. Bewildered, he said, "What?" "I want you. You want me. Why fight it?" His mouth fell open at that. "What?" She strode toward him, determination etched on her face. Desire too, if he wasn't mistaken. This what exactly what he'd dreamed of. What he‟d longed for. But something about this scenario was wrong. He didn't know what, but it didn't feel quite right. "Tayla, we should talk." He kept his tone gentle, lest she believe he was rejecting her again. "No. We shouldn't." She closed the distance between them, the tips of her bare toes touching his. With a soft intake of breath, she tugged his head down to hers. The moment her lips met his, all thought of protest fled. Her scent was so unique, a tropical hint of pineapple mixed with the feminine musk of desire. The perfect, intoxicating blend. How he longed to lose himself in her. It had been so very long since he'd been with a woman, and something told him being with Tayla would eclipse every other experience. She mewled and pressed closer, her stomach making contact with his heated arousal. When he groaned, she undulated against him. He knew he should break away. There were clearly things they needed to discuss. But he couldn't. He wanted her too badly. He needed to know what her bare flesh felt like against his. "Tayla," he breathed against her lips. Lifting her into his arms, he strode toward the nearest bed and gently deposited her on it. She absently tugged her towel down.

45

Rosalie Lario

Though lust filtered off her in palpable waves, she almost looked...well, detached. He pulled away. "Are you sure you—" Impatience wafted off her as she grabbed onto his wrist and dragged him down on top of her. Groaning, he allowed himself to revel in the electrifying sensation of their essences calling to each other. Their lovemaking would be explosive, he just knew it. Her hands cupped his face, guiding his lips to hers. When her tongue slipped out of her mouth to slide along his lips, he lost all sense of reason. Nothing mattered but the feel of her flesh against his, the friction their bodies created. This time she moaned, but it sounded restrained somehow. Enough to shake him out of his lust-induced haze. Rising up, he threw her a questioning glance. "Everything okay?" "Fine," she said in a casual tone. Suddenly it hit him what was off. She was purposely holding her emotions back. Focusing on her lust and nothing more. She wanted to pretend there were no real emotions between the two of them. No. No, that was unacceptable. When they finally made love, he would accept no more than total surrender from her, just as he would surrender himself to her. There was nothing casual about what lay between them, and he wouldn‟t allow her to pretend otherwise. At the same time, he couldn't walk away from her now. That was physically impossible. So, if she was so determined to reign in her emotions, he would simply have to convince her otherwise. And he knew just how to do it.

46

Angel's Desire

Chapter Seven

Tayla sucked in a breath when Ethan's calculating expression morphed into a wicked grin. What was that all about? But before she could further think about it, he pressed his lips to hers once more. His tongue found hers, tangling with it, while his fingers slid under her towel. Her skin tingled as if lightning crackled off his fingers. Every little shock wave traveled through her body, coalescing in one mass of sensation right between her thighs. So good. Amazing how just the touch of his hands had already eclipsed the pleasure of all her other sexual experiences. No. No emotions, Tayla. No emotions. She bit her lip to hold back a moan. Ethan lifted up and tugged the towel open. She gasped and involuntarily arched her back off the bed. When he simply stayed in that position, his eyes locked on the hardened tips of her breasts, waves of self-consciousness poured through her. Blushing, she tried to close the towel, but he stopped her. "No. Just let me look at you." She paused uncertainly. This was too hard, watching him look at her like that. Like he wanted to eat her up. When they had their mouths and bodies pressed together, she could pretend he was just some random guy she was hooking up with. But with 47

Rosalie Lario

him staring at her like that, she couldn't deny it was Ethan, the man she'd always wanted. "Do you know how long I've imagined seeing you this way?" he asked, his voice husky. He lifted his blazing eyes to hers. They were filled with some sort of challenge. "I..." She broke off, uncertain. "Less talking." He laughed. "Oh no, my beauty. I plan to tell you exactly what you make me feel, and you will do the same for me." The first stirrings of panic rose up within her. She tried to sit up. "Maybe we should sto—" Ethan leaned down and closed his mouth around one nipple, and she cut off with a cry. Arching into him, she let her head fall back onto the pillow as waves of electric current erupted throughout her body. His mouth was sinful, and from the way he nipped at the hardened bud before lightly sucking in, he no doubt knew it. He moved his hand to her other breast, rubbing his forefinger over her nipple before cupping and kneading it. "Tell me, Tayla," he whispered as he broke away. "Did you ever imagine me doing this to you?" No, no. She didn't want to think about that. Casual, keep it casual. "Don't remember," she replied in a noncommittal tone as he moved his face to her neck, inhaling her scent. He laughed against her throat. "Come now, I'm sure you do." When she stubbornly remained quiet, he slid his fingers down to her thighs. Ripples of energy pulsed against her flesh, contracting her muscles. Lord, was she already on the verge of an orgasm? He hadn't even touched her there once. As if he sensed her thoughts, Ethan pressed his lips against hers, murmuring, "Tell me what I want to know and I'll reward you." The whisper of his fingertips along her crease told her exactly what sort of reward he had in mind. And oh hell yes, she 48

Angel's Desire

wanted it. Random guy, Tayla. He's just a random guy. Not the guy you’ve loved since you were six. But she was rapidly beginning to see she'd been wrong all along. She couldn't keep her emotions out of this. Not with Ethan. They were too strong. When he slid his fingers along her crease, she couldn't help her cry or the arching of her back. His fingers danced out of her reach. "No. Not until you tell me if you've dreamed about us being together in this way." The muscles in her legs screamed for release, and the spot between her thighs pulsed. Torture, that was it. He'd decided to torture her. "Fine," she ground out from between clenched teeth. "Yes." "Yes what?" he asked silkily, his fingers playing between her thighs once more. "Yes, I dreamed about this." There. She'd said it. Apparently he was appeased, because one second later his thumb brushed against her clit. Once, twice, and then again. Until finally, with a soft cry, she came apart under his hands. The rush of blood roared in her ears as she rode out her climax, undulating against his expert touch. Finally, spent and boneless, she relaxed into the bed. Ethan stared down at her with an expression of lust etched over his face. But then, he hadn't yet found his release. "You are an amazing woman," he said, but he made no move to continue in their lovemaking. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice sounding hoarse to her own ears. He furrowed his brows. "Tayla, why the distance between us? Why do you hold back with me?" Oh no. She wasn't about to confess to him just how much he'd broken her heart so many years ago. And he must never know that she feared he'd break it again.

49

Rosalie Lario

"Why?" he asked again. Much to her astonishment, she blurted out something that she hadn't even consciously realized bothered her. “Why didn't you save him?" What? Where had that come from? "Save him? Your father?" His eyes widened. "Tayla, I tried." "Not hard enough, obviously." She swallowed back the bitter taste in her mouth. "Twelve of you got out. Why not him?" Her nephilim senses picked up a sliver of frustrated emotion wafting off him. He rose from the bed. The muscles in his back popped and flexed when he turned and raked a hand through his hair. Crazy how she'd notice that even now with what they were discussing. But he was just so beautiful. She'd never be able to not notice that. "Tayla, do you know what it's like to be chained to a post in a room filled with fire?" he asked tonelessly, keeping his back to her. She wrapped the thin bed sheet around her. "I don‟t." "The smoke and heat sears your lungs. Your flesh begins to boil. Skin crackles off your body in layers." "Oh my God," she whispered, lifting a hand to her mouth. "You pray you‟ll die quickly, but you don't. The agony continues." "I...I didn't kno—" "You curse those who died before you, for they are the lucky ones. They no longer feel the pain." Tears burned against her eyelids, but she blinked them back. On a practical level, she knew he'd been stuck in the fire too. But if she had to be honest, she'd never really considered what he'd gone through. He'd healed without a mark on him. Thanks to his angel blood, he was able to recover from practically anything. Except, of course, that an angel's regenerative ability was nullified in the presence of fire. There was no recuperating for those who'd died while in the heart of the flames. Like her father. 50

Angel's Desire

"After the blast loosened the pole that half of us were chained to, I almost saved him. Almost made it before he..." For the first time since speaking, he turned to face her. Bleak despair flashed in his eyes, overpowering her with emotion. "He died in my arms, Tayla. My best friend. Like a brother to me. Do you know what that‟s like?" "No—no," she stammered against her hand. "Then why, Tayla?" His voice was a harsh whisper. "Why do you blame me? And know it's nothing that I haven't done myself, over and over again." "I..." Maybe he was right. Things hadn't gone the way she would have liked, but that didn't mean it was Ethan's fault. He wasn't God. Ultimately, fate had decided who lived and who died, and it had been her father's time to go. Maybe it was time to stop blaming Ethan for something he'd had no control over. "I'm sorry." Rising off the bed, she held the sheet tight to her body and crossed to him, placing her free hand on his forearm. When he refused to look at her, the tears she'd been holding back began to fall in large droplets. "I'm sorry, Ethan, for what you went through. I guess I never told you that." At first he held himself stiff like steel against her palm. But then, slowly, he wound his arms around her and pulled her in, burying his face in her hair. "Perhaps it's time we focused on the present instead of the past," he finally said. "What happened before cannot be changed. It's the present that truly matters." "Maybe you're right." Still, she couldn't help but wonder, would she really be able to do that? Or was she somehow doomed to continually relive the events of the past?

51

Rosalie Lario

Chapter Eight

Last night had most certainly not gone according to her initial plan. That was Tayla's first thought when she awoke the next morning, snuggled in the crook of Ethan's arm. After her failed attempt to seduce him without involving her emotions and their subsequent discussion about her father's death, they'd somehow landed on one of the double beds together. He'd done nothing but hold her and gently stroke her skin while he talked about growing up with her father. She'd learned more about her dad in those few hours than she‟d ever known. And when she'd finally fallen asleep, it was with a growing sense of peace. Now, in the light of the morning, she couldn't help but recall how delicious he'd looked last night, his bare torso gleaming in the light. Her skin tingled where it brushed up against his, reigniting her desire for him. She carefully sat up, doing her best not to wake Ethan. He looked so peaceful in sleep, his chest rising and falling with every breath. If it weren't for the ethereal beauty of his face, she never would've guessed he wasn't human. I still love him. The thought blindsided her with its intensity. She'd never stopped loving him, not even for a second. Now that she'd acknowledged it, she realized her anger toward him had very little to do with him 52

Angel's Desire

failing to save her father. No, it was something else entirely. They all leave me. Her father, her mother, even Ethan. They'd all left her, in some way or another. No matter the reason Ethan had given her, it had been so easy for him to walk away. And after her father's death, when she‟d needed him most, he wasn't there. Love wasn't forever. It was just a fleeting emotion. So ultimately, what she felt for Ethan didn't matter. She'd enjoy her time with him, because it would be crazy not to. But it would be with the understanding that it wasn't going to last forever. Nothing ever did. As if he sensed her gaze on him, Ethan stirred. His back arched in a stretch and his eyes fluttered open, focusing in on her. Slowly, his lips curved upward. "I thought I'd dreamed falling asleep next to you." Her heart gave an involuntary stutter at his huskily spoken words. She fought to remind herself they didn't mean much. Just temporary. This was all just temporary. "Apparently not." She smiled back at him, not bothering to hide the desire in her eyes. "So what do we do now?" "Hmm..." Unspoken promise lent a glimmer to his eyes as he reached out to slide his fingers along her bare thigh. But then he glanced at the clock on the nightstand and a look of resignation came to his face. "We should go. We've a long road ahead of us still." "Oh." She fought back the disappointment that coursed through her. Ethan had a point. They were still hours from Buffalo, and from what he'd said, there would be several more hours of flight after that. She was going to fly with Ethan! For only the third time in her life, she was going to soar high in the sky in the arms of an angel. She couldn't wait. It had been completely exhilarating the two times she'd flown with her father. After checking out, they got back into the car and drove, stopping only for gas

53

Rosalie Lario

and food. In the early afternoon, they arrived on the outskirts of Buffalo. Ethan surprised her by turning down a side road. It was heavily wooded on both sides, making it impossible to tell if anything lay beyond. He took another turn onto a long, narrow driveway. "Where are we going?" she asked as she leaned over to stare out the window. "Parking the car." He pulled in front of an iron gate and punched a code on a keypad built into a concrete column. When the gate slid open, he drove further in. The driveway continued forward, neglected patches of grass growing haphazardly on either side of it. Finally a house came into view. Large with three stories and nondescript beige siding. There wasn't much to distinguish it. It looked sort of lonely and unlived in. "This is where you're parking?" "Yes." Ethan pressed the button on a garage door opener clipped to the sunshade and the door to the three-car garage slid open. Two cars sat inside, beige sedans that almost perfectly matched the one they drove. In fact, the cars were about as common as could be, perfect if you didn't want to attract attention. "Wait. Who lives here?" "Nobody. We keep this as a safe house, in the event we‟re forced to flee the compound. It's one of several we have throughout the continent. We have a few in Europe as well." Mouth open, she stared at him. "You mean you've got a bunch of empty houses, complete with cars, just in case you might need them?" He came to a complete stop inside the garage and turned the car off before looking at her. "Yes." "How did you get them?" Cocking a brow, he retorted, "How did you get your work visa?" Tayla thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. If there were counterfeit 54

Angel's Desire

work visa dealers, it stood to reason there would be fake housing permit dealers as well. She unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car, anxious to stretch her legs. "Are we going inside?" "I'd like to continue toward the compound now, if you're able. It‟ll be several hours yet before we arrive." "Sounds great to me." She was dying to be up in the air once again. "Let's go." He led her outside the garage before hitting a button next to the door. It smoothly slid shut. "No fear of flying, little Taylee?" "No, and don't call me that," she snapped. Hearing her childhood nickname had a way of mentally taking her back to that time. It was too weird. Ethan turned to face her, a wicked grin lighting his face. "What shall I call you then? I need some term of endearment to address you by." An impish thought prompted her to suggest, "You can call me Master." He threw his head back, erupting into a full-bodied laugh. In the same breath, he lifted his shirt over his head. Holy— Flustered, she stared at the honeyed expanse of his rock-hard chest. His flesh practically glistened in the bright sunlight, showcasing the tautness of his abs and the ridged muscles underneath. Perfect. He was so amazingly perfect. When he handed her his shirt, she looked blankly at it. "For placing in your backpack," he gently directed her. "Oh." Her cheeks grew hot and she tore her gaze from his lickable flesh, fumbling to take the pack off her back and unzip it. Why did her fingers suddenly feel numb? "Stay here. I'm going to do a quick check of the skies before we leave." With those words, he grew his wings and took off. She had no more than a second to admire him before he was out of sight. I've never seen his wings before. 55

Rosalie Lario

The sudden realization surprised her. She'd seen her father's wings, of course, but never Ethan's. Shyness, along with the gut feeling that an angel's wings were very, very personal, had always prevented her from asking. A gust of wind preceded Ethan landing behind her. She whirled around with a laugh. "You're so fast." He grinned at her. "Only with certain things." Taken aback by his unusually light tone, she stared at him. He was clearly happy to be returning to his home. "Are you ready to go?" he asked her. Nodding, she stepped toward him. When he lifted her into his arms, spreading his wings wide in preparation for takeoff, she studied them unabashedly. "You know, growing up I always wished I had wings." "Truly?" He cocked a brow. "You inherited an angel's love for the skies, then." "Yes. But not the wings, I'm afraid." His smile was blinding. "Never fear, love. You're always welcome to mine." With those gut-wrenching words, he shot into the sky. Tayla let out a gasp and tightened her arms around Ethan's neck as they propelled upward so quickly she lost her breath. Only when they rested above a layer of fluffy white clouds did he slow, skipping over the top of them. With moisture nipping at her ankles, she allowed herself to revel in the feel of soaring through the air. She let out a laugh and released her arms, arching backward. Trusting him to keep her safe. "Woo-hoo! I'm the Queen of the World!" He chuckled and shouted into her ear. "You are such a...what is it humans say? A dork." "Hey!" Playfully, he zipped them through the middle of the clouds where nothing was visible other than fluffs of white before shooting back up to skim the top. On and on he 56

Angel's Desire

did that, distracting her from the passage of time, until she lost all sense of it completely. So when he finally started to descend, she was surprised. "Are we there yet?" "Almost." He whipped his head around to scan the sky as he swept lower and lower. "About twenty minutes from the compound. I wanted to take a little detour to show you something." She looked around curiously as the clouds faded, replaced by lush green mountains and steep valleys, all completely untouched by man. Amazing. She hadn't realized how much natural beauty existed here. Ethan unexpectedly dropped down several yards. She clutched his shoulders and shrieked. "What are you doing?" He shot her a mischievous grin. "I want to show you one of my favorite places." Zooming further down, he soared through a narrow valley with the practiced ease of someone who'd done it many times before. They rounded a corner, and suddenly she made out the lazy winding of a river below. He slowed and continued his descent until they flew over a drop-off in the river. The he circled back around to give her a better view. "A waterfall," she breathed, studying the flow of the river as it slid off four stone ledges before landing into a pool below. "It's beautiful." "I always thought so." Ethan touched down on the flat surface of a large, gray rock along the edge of the waterfall, gently setting her on her feet. "Whoa." She tugged off her backpack and knelt to look out over the water. It was one raging mass where it fell off the ledges above but flowed rather lazily at the bottom. Turning her head back to him, she asked, "You ever go swimming here?" His heated gaze met hers. "Occasionally, during the summers. The water is brisk here, far cooler than the temperature of the springs back at the compound."

57

Rosalie Lario

Sounded perfect right about now. The temperature had been fairly cool up in the clouds, but it was near stifling down here on land, thanks to the record-setting heat wave that had gripped most of the continent. He crouched down beside her, pointing toward the right edge of the waterfall above ground level. "Do you see that, behind the water?" She looked carefully at the spot he indicated. "Is that...a cave?" "More like a ledge, really. No more than ten feet wide." How freaking cool was that? A ledge hidden behind the waterfall. On impulse, she sat back and swung her legs out in front of her. "Let's go there. Unless you think we really need to get back right away." Ethan lifted a brow. "We've several days yet before we'll be prepared to move out to search for the Alaskan prison. There are still things we‟re waiting on." She took that as a cue to slide her sandals off. Had he intended to take her here all along? Maybe hoped it would motivate her into skinny-dipping? Well, she wasn't going to make it that easy for him. Grinning up at him, she used her hands to push her butt off the ledge and splashed into the water fully clothed. Tayla gasped at the shock of the cool water on her flesh then floated to the surface. Ethan was already in the water, right in front of her. His wings extended fully as he displaced water with them in slow, lazy beats. Her gaze went straight to them. "Can I see them?" She motioned toward his wings. "You'll have to come closer," he said in a husky tone that dared her to do just that. It was hard to concentrate when he looked at her like he wanted to eat her, but she swam close enough to focus in on his wings. Instead of the plain black she'd thought they were, they contained swirling ribbons of dark gray. 58

Angel's Desire

"They're so beautiful." "You can touch them if you like." Her eyes flew to his. There was an unmistakable haze of desire in his gaze, but he was also clearly serious. "Okay." Reaching out, she drew a hand across the upper part of one long, full wing. It was warmer than she'd expected, practically pulsing with life. The pure strength of it was undeniable. Reversing direction, she moved her hand back up, laughing when he let out an involuntary shudder. When she reached the base of the wing, which so seamlessly blended into the remainder of his flesh, he actually purred. An honest-to-goodness purr. "This turns you on," she accused, snatching her hand back. He laughed but answered truthfully. "Yes." A tingle of awareness pulsed between her thighs, and she swallowed an involuntary gasp. Time froze for an endless moment, their eyes locked. Finally she tore herself away, all hot and bothered despite the coolness of the water. "Come on, Tayla. I'll race you to the ledge behind the waterfall." His voice sounded hoarse, like it might after a night of heart-pumping sex, and suddenly she couldn't get that image out of her head. She focused on the swim, on the expansion and contraction of her muscles as she sliced through the water after him. The waterfall provided another shock to her system when she went under it, the cold, hard water splashing down over her back. She blinked the water from her eyes to see Ethan, already standing on the ledge, his soaked jeans dripping all over the stone. He leaned over to offer a hand. "Thanks." She grasped onto it and he swung her up with ease. Water splattered down around them, slapping into the river with a deafening roar. With no sun to warm the spot, it was a good fifteen degrees cooler. Tayla shivered as she looked around. He was right. It was nothing more than a ledge, ten feet wide and no more than twenty feet long. Still, it was pretty amazing to be in a secluded place that had obviously seen so little life before them. Maybe none at all. 59

Rosalie Lario

"What do you think?" he asked, watching her face as she took it all in. "I can live with it," she quipped. Another shudder ripped through her and she hugged her arms to her body. He must have noticed because he reached out and pulled her into his arms, rubbing his warms hands over her back. "You know, you'd probably feel warmer if you got out of those soaked clothes." He was joking, clearly. Still, he sort of had a point... Enjoy the time with him while you have it. Nothing lasts forever. "Okay, but only if you take off your wet clothes too." With those casual words, she slid out of his arms and pulled her tank top over her head.

60

Angel's Desire

Chapter Nine

Ethan's gaze went from playful to hungry in the matter of an instant. He shifted, the muscles in his arms contracting in a way that made her mouth water. "Tayla," he murmured hoarsely. "I'm afraid I'm not capable of playing games right now." She understood what he wasn’t saying. It had been too long for him. "I'm not teasing." To prove her point, she unbuttoned her soaked shorts and slid them off her body. Her underwear went with them. He sucked in a breath. "You are so beautiful." Right. She knew what she looked like. Slender. Athletic. Serviceable enough, but nothing compared to him. His pectoral muscles practically pulsed in front of her, rivulets of water slowly rolling down his honeyed chest, as if putting off leaving his body for as long as possible. Funny, even though she didn't see angels very often, she'd become accustomed to their alien beauty. It was only now that she took in just how inhuman he was. Every movement was carefully controlled, yet fluid in a way no human's could ever be. In a word, he was perfect. "Take off your jeans." Her voice came out husky, evoking images of what she knew was coming between them. She might be determined to keep her heart firmly 61

Rosalie Lario

locked in her chest, but before they left this place, she would know what it felt like to make love with an angel. Her body demanded it. Ethan unbuttoned his jeans and peeled them off his body with an easy grace that bespoke his angel heritage. Now it was her turn to suck in a breath. She inched back, hand to her heart. Her eyes hadn't lied to her that night when she'd gotten a glimpse of his arousal beneath the sheet. He really was huge. Nowhere close to the human men she'd been with. "Oh...my." He stepped forward. "My love, I—" She unconsciously stepped back, realizing too late she was on the very rim of the ledge. With a shriek, she dropped back down into the pool of water. It engulfed her before she could catch her breath and she sputtered, trying to claw her way back up. An instant later, a pair of arms closed around her, and she was dragged back up to the surface. She broke it with a heaving gasp, forcing air into her burning lungs. "Are you all right? Tayla." He shook her slightly. "Are you okay?" "Yes." She gulped and then broke into a laugh. "Yes. I'm fine." Feel a bit like an idiot, but I'm fine. "Are you sure?" Giggling, she clutched his shoulders for support. For the first time, she realized how close they were. Her legs slid against his as they paddled, and the very thing that had shocked her into stumbling was now pressed hard against her thigh. He must have read the look on her face, because his eyes narrowed, his pupils dilating. "Tayla—" Oh, hell. Giving up the fight, she tugged his head down. Closed her lips over his. He groaned and swiveled her around. She barely even noticed when her back hit the slippery surface of the stone. When he moved away a fraction, she let out a little whimper, but then he slipped his hand between the both of them and two of his fingers 62

Angel's Desire

found the heat of her core. He slid them along the seam of her moistened crease and she cried out, squeezing her thighs against the electricity pulsing off them. "God, yes," she moaned, dragging her mouth from his. He laughed hoarsely, his eyes flashing in desire while his fingers continued their sensual dance along her flesh. He found her entrance and slid a finger in. Slickened with her moisture, it went in easily. His thumb flicked across her clitoris, igniting little sparks of heat between her thighs. One, two more flicks, and she was gone. She bit her lip to hold back her cry but finally gave up, throwing her head back as she rode out the most intense orgasm of her life. It should have left her feeling sated, but instead she only felt hungrier. Ethan. This was her Ethan, the angel she'd loved her whole life. As much as she wanted this to be casual, she knew it wasn't. It was too special for that. And she needed more of him. Now. "Ethan, please." She grabbed his hand and tugged him closer, wrapping her legs around his hips. "Tayla," he groaned, leaning down to press a sensual kiss on her lips. His tongue slid along the seam of her lips, seeking access to her mouth. She sucked it in, positioning his stiff arousal at the entrance to her womb. Half-crazed with desire, she tightened her legs, forcing him closer so she could slowly impale herself on him. When the sensation of him stretching her became too intense to bear, she broke away from his kiss to let out a soft cry. He pushed onward and she rested her head on his shoulder. So big. So hard. So electrifying. Every inch of her flesh that made contact with his tingled, creating residual pulses in each muscle of her body. "Harder. Now." Groaning, he obeyed, sliding his hips back so he could slice them into her once again. And again. He grabbed onto the rock behind her for support, and when his hand slipped, they both briefly went under the water. She tightened her legs around him, holding on for dear life. With a stretch of his wings and several hard flaps, Ethan propelled them out of 63

Rosalie Lario

the water and onto the ledge. He stumbled forward until her back hit the stone wall. "I want you so much," he confessed in a hoarse whisper. "I'm not sure I can be gentle." "I don't want gentle." She was beyond that now. To prove her point she raked her nails over his back and bit down hard on his shoulder. He cried out, grasping onto one hip to hold her steady as he pulled out, then thrust back in hard. Over and over, until she convulsed beneath him, losing all sense of thought. Doing nothing but feeling. Her vision splintered into a million pieces of light as she rode the wave of her climax. And still she wanted more. Would always want more when it came to him, she was afraid. "Ethan!" Her nails dug into the rigid muscles of his ass, guiding him into her harder, deeper, until she went over the edge once again. This time, he came with her, yelling his pleasure into the air while he emptied himself inside her. She held on for all she was worth, so conscious of the fact he could easily break her if he lost all control. Glad that she could make him as crazy as he made her. He held her there, pressed to the wall with his body weight, until their breathing evened out and their heart rates slowed to less dangerous levels. This. This was how all lovemaking should be. Earth-shattering, scream-inducing, mind-bending. It won't last. The lazy smile on her face faded as he drew back, gently untangling her from around him and setting her on her feet. Maybe it wouldn't, but she'd have fun while it did. No one had to get hurt. And when it's time for me to leave, I'll be able to do it without my heart breaking, because this time, I kept it safe. Yeah, right. She almost believed it. When she noticed Ethan studying her expression, she managed to throw him a casual smile. "That was pretty amazing." 64

Angel's Desire

"Yes." His brow furrowed. "Are you okay, Tayla? You seem—" "I'm perfect." She kept her voice light as she sauntered over to retrieve her damp clothes. "How couldn't I be? You're an amazing lover." He frowned. "You're certain?" "Absolutely." She peeled her underwear from her shorts and tugged them on before grabbing her tank and turning to look out through the curtain of falling water. "The sun's going down. We should probably get to the compound, right?" Looking surprised, he turned to examine the world outside their little hidden shelter. "Yes, I suppose." "Great." She forced a smile to her face. "I'm sure it‟ll be very interesting meeting your friends." ***** Ethan kept a close eye on Tayla, purposely trailing behind her as she cut through the surface of the water. In no time at all, she reached the ledge on which her backpack rested and hoisted herself up. Something was clearly wrong. He'd just shared his essence with his mate. He should feel amazing. Invincible. And in purely physical terms he did. But something was missing. She'd said she no longer blamed him for her father's death, and he believed her. So why was she still so detached? It didn't make sense. Her issues with him ran deeper than blame over her father. That much he could tell. But how could he get her to confide in him? He hoped time would loosen her tongue, because having tasted her sweet essence, he wasn't about to give her up. She was his for keeps, whether she knew it or not. Tayla tugged her sandals on and grabbed her backpack before looking over at him with a raised brow. "Ready to go?"

65

Rosalie Lario

"Almost." He slipped his boots on and extended his wings, shaking any excess water off. His woman was an enigma. One thing was for certain, she would never bore him. When his gaze drew to her silky, sun-kissed legs, he realized he would never stop desiring her either. Mine. All mine. And one day she would see it too. "Come." He held out his arms and she strode to him. Lifting her up, he took off through the valley, keeping low as he headed to the mountain where their compound was located. The blazing orange of the setting sun lit the river, creating fiery pockets of water. By the time they flew into the valley housing the compound, the sun had already set, stray streaks of color painting the sky orange and purple. Tayla gasped when she spotted the entrance to the compound sitting low on a ledge, close to the natural spring below. "Wow, this is...this is..." "Home," Ethan finished simply. It was his favorite place of all time. Somehow this little corner of the world had wormed its way into his heart until he could no longer imagine not living here. It was everything his old world hadn't been—quiet, peaceful, filled with the sights and sounds of nature. In a word, it was paradise. And he couldn't wait to share it with Tayla. "We're home."

66

Angel's Desire

Chapter Ten

It was nothing like she expected. Heck, she didn't know what she'd expected. But this...this was amazing. They lived inside a mountain, for God‟s sake. Tayla held onto Ethan's hand, memorizing the path they took through the pitchblack cavern. On and on it went, until at last she saw a sliver of artificial orange light in the distance. "We've cut into the rock to create a home here," he told her. "There are eight floors total." "Eight floors? How?" "Determination," he shot back in an amused tone. "And quite a bit of manpower." Manpower? More like angel power. There was no way a group of twelve men would be able to dig eight floors out of the interior of a mountain, no matter how big and buff they were. The dark corridor led them directly to what looked like a living room. A black leather sectional, two leather chairs, and a plasma television sat in one corner. "Unbelievable," she muttered with a laugh. "You haven't seen anything yet." He threw her a grin. A low din sounded out from another part of the cave. "What is that?" she asked.

67

Rosalie Lario

He listened for a moment, then cocked a brow. "I believe we've arrived just in time for dinner. Come." Hand still firmly closed around hers, he led her down a corridor that ended with a swinging wooden door. He pulled her through it into a kitchen. A state-of-the-art kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a large, rectangular island with several barstools. "I'm not even going to ask how you got all this in here." She shook her head. "Good." Without pausing, he pulled her through another door where all the noise seemed to be coming from. "Whoa." She stopped cold as an immediate hush fell over the room and numerous pairs of eyes turned to look her way. They all sat at a giant, stone-cut table with matching stone benches that looked like it could probably seat thirty people. While she'd known there were twelve of them, the shock of seeing so many angels in the same room was almost overwhelming. Especially considering how jaw-droppingly beautiful they all were. The women could have passed for supermodels, and the men were all big and well-built and not wearing any shirts. I've died and gone to heaven. After a moment of silence, one of the men on the far end of the table rose. He had longish black hair that fell down to about jaw-length. When his shrewd gaze traveled over her and Ethan, she realized for the first time that their clothes were still damp. Lord, what they must look like. Just then a mortifying thought hit her. Will everyone be able to guess what we were doing out in the water? "Welcome, Tayla," the man said. "My name is Michael. We've heard so much about you and are delighted to have you here." "You have?" She turned to look at Ethan but he only shrugged. "Tayla, I'd like to introduce you to my brethren." He pointed around the table as he announced them. "Next to Michael is Jason, then Lucas, Lily, Nathan, Zach, Ben, his mate Mara, Seth, Gabriel and that is—" 68

Angel's Desire

"I'm Eva," said the woman sitting next to Michael. She rose and walked toward them. "Ah." Tayla recognized the name. "So you're the nephilim." "Guilty as charged," Eva retorted, shooting her a crooked grin as she held out her hand. Tayla shook it, examining her with a critical eye. She looked happy, well at ease. "I see you've made a home here." "As will you." Eva gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. "Don't let them scare you." A home? Tayla furrowed her brows. "No wait, I—" "Come, love. I'm sure you must be hungry." Ethan nudged her toward the table, which had serving plates in the center heaped with barbecued chicken, corn, and butter rolls. Eva smiled. "You can sit next to me. Come on." She let Eva's comment slide for now as she followed her to the table, but she couldn't help but notice the men giving Ethan sly thumps on the lower back and mouthing their congratulations as he closed in behind her. Heat crept to her cheeks. Why did she feel like she was missing something here, something that directly involved her? Ethan snatched a dish off a stack next to one of the serving plates and filled it with food before setting it in front of her. He took a seat beside her. "I see Aaron's missing. Where is he?" The angel who'd introduced himself as Michael grinned. "He found his mate too." Ethan's brow cocked. "Truly? Where?" "Chicago," Michael replied. "He's gone to claim her." Eva let out an amused chuckle. "What is it?" Ethan asked her, his tone suspicious.

69

Rosalie Lario

"Get this. She's a thief." "A thief?" was Ethan's choked response. "Do you recall hearing in the news about the art pieces that have gone missing in various museums on this continent?" This came from Seth, who sat across the table. "Hey, I remember that," Tayla said to him. "They said certain pieces were misplaced while out for cleaning." Seth nodded. "It was all lies. They were stolen, but of course the Consortium won't admit to this since there isn't supposed to —" "Be any crime," Tayla and Eva chimed in at the same time. They locked gazes and both broke out into laughter. "I wonder why she would do such a thing," Ethan pondered. "Good question," Michael said. "One I'm sure Aaron will no doubt uncover." "So with any luck that means we'll have another nephilim here soon," Eva said to her in a joking tone. "We're hopelessly outnumbered right now." Tayla laughed because it seemed expected of her. But she couldn't help but wonder why Eva acted as if she was going to be staying there. She made small talk with Eva while she ate, half listening to Ethan as he spoke with the other angels. "You know," Michael suddenly announced, "if Aaron's mate is as accomplished a thief as she appears to be, she might be able to aid us once we discover the Alaskan facility." Conversation hushed all around them as everyone tuned in to Michael. "How so?" Jason asked. "Perhaps we can discover a way for her to break in and conduct video surveillance," Michael responded. "That would give us direct proof of its existence." Everyone was silent for a moment. Mara finally responded. "It's a good plan." "Yes, but only if we can find the facility," her partner Ben muttered. 70

Angel's Desire

Surprised, Tayla blinked at him. "Well, that's where I come in, isn't it?" Everyone turned to look at her again, and curiosity drifted off them in waves. Beside her, Ethan shifted and cleared his throat. "That's something we need to discuss. Tayla has always had an uncanny ability to find things. Usually things of a smaller nature, but perhaps it may be useful in finding the facility." Tayla furrowed her brows and looked over at Ethan. "You didn't already tell them that?" His gaze on hers was direct. "I promised your father I wouldn‟t reveal your ability to anyone. I wanted to honor my word, at least until you were in the presence of those who would discover your secret." "Oh. But then why did they all think I was coming he—" She cut off, heat flooding her cheeks as she realized exactly what the others had believed. They thought Ethan had brought home his mate. And he'd let them think it. A sense of discomfort permeated the air as everyone shifted in their seat and looked everywhere but at the two of them. Tayla stared down at her plate rather than look at Ethan. She didn't know what to say. She was saved by Eva, who softly murmured, "You can actually find things?" "Yes." Glad for the distraction, Tayla met Eva's gaze. "I mean, I've never tried to find a hidden building or anything as big as that, but I'm pretty good with finding smaller things. Rings, keys, pieces of paper." "Wow," Eva breathed. "How do you do it?" "Don‟t know. I just get a sense of where they are, and nine times out of ten, my gut feeling is correct." "That could be very useful indeed," Michael announced, lifting a brow. There was another moment of awkward silence before Eva said, "That's pretty cool, Tayla. Wish I had a useful ability like that." "You have many other wonderful abilities," Michael murmured to Eva, so low

71

Rosalie Lario

Tayla could hardly hear him. When he reached out to stroke his fingers along Eva's arm and threw her a heated look, Tayla blushed and glanced away. The two of them were obviously head over heels in love. She was happy for them. Yeah. Happy. So then why did she feel distinctly jealous about their easy relationship? Tayla quietly observed Ethan throughout the rest of dinner as he spoke with the other angels. He seemed in his element, surrounded by others like him. She couldn't help but wonder if her father's life had been somewhat like this, before he'd been murdered. This time when she felt the familiar wave of sadness engulf her, she pushed it away. Right now she would focus on the mission, on helping humankind. Her father would have liked that. "Would you like for me to give you a tour of the compound?" Ethan asked her after dinner. She hesitated. How much did she really need to know? It wasn‟t as if she‟d be here for that long. But what could it hurt? "Sure." Mumbling good night to the other angels and to Eva, she followed Ethan out the door and through the kitchen. He led her to a corridor containing a staircase. "Downstairs there is a bathing facility. A hot spring feeds into the cavern floor. Want to take a look?" "Later." Right now all she wanted to do was have a talk. But not out here where the others might be able to overhear them. "Where's your room?" Ethan cocked a brow but said nothing as he started up the stairs. From the serious look on his face, it was obvious he didn't mistake the reason she wanted to go up there. The orange lighting cast an eerie glow over the rough-hewn stone walls as Tayla followed him up past one landing. She did her best to keep her eye on the scenery and not on the way Ethan's powerful back flexed. There was no doubt he was major eye candy, but she had other things on her mind right now. 72

Angel's Desire

He came to a stop on the second landing. "I share this floor with Lily." He motioned toward one end of the long, narrow corridor before turning the other way. "My living quarters are down here." Lily? He shared this floor with a female angel? She couldn't help the tide of jealousy that washed over her. Ethan wasn't hers. Never had been. Getting territorial about him would accomplish nothing other than making her feel bad. "Lily is mated to Seth." He turned to wait for her to catch up with him before continuing forward. "They‟ve been estranged for many years and therefore stay on different floors. However, happy or not, we know the two are together." "Oh." She got what he was saying. Lily was off limits, and so she didn't have to worry about her. Of course that also meant he'd been able to sense her jealousy. Shit. The corridor ended at a wooden door. Ethan swung it open and stepped aside, allowing her entrance. She walked in and looked around. "Everything about this place is a surprise." Instead of the damp hole she might have expected in a cave, she stood in an honest-to-goodness den. It had a leather couch, an entertainment center, and even a Wii. The room was unmistakably his. It carried a faint trace of the vanilla and spice scent she'd come to associate with him. "We've done everything in our power to make this a true home." He shut the door and stalked toward the opposite side of the room where a smaller door cut into the rock. "This is the bedroom." Tayla peeked her head inside. A king-size, cherry wood bed took up most of the space. It was done up in burgundy sheets and a matching down comforter that screamed relaxation. Amazing. "So what do you think?" Ethan murmured. "What do I think?" She didn't know what she thought about all this. Turning, she absently strolled to the entertainment center and ran her hand along the plasma television that sat on a pedestal there. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face Ethan.

73

Rosalie Lario

"Why did you let the others believe you were bringing me here as your mate?" His face took on a strangled expression. "Tayla—" "I'm serious. I want to know." Ethan sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "I told you I made a promise to your father that I'd never reveal your secret." "But in the end you did, so that can't be it." "What do you want me to say?" He shifted, stalking toward her with a look of determination on his face. "I didn't tell them otherwise because, ultimately, I was bringing back my mate." Her eyes widened as she stared up at him. "I-I'm not your mate." "No?" He let out a hollow laugh. "What are you then?" "I...don't know." Impatience flashed in his eyes, and he reached out to grab her shoulders, pulling her tightly to him. "Touch me and tell me you don't believe we‟re meant to be together. Tell me you aren't mine." "I—" She couldn't even think when his body was pressed against hers like that. He was confusing her, and she didn't like it. "I'm not. I can't be." She pulled away, blindly stalking toward the other side of the room. "Why, Tayla?" Frustration echoed in his voice. "Why do you insist on denying what we have between us? Why do you continue to push me away?" "Because…" Because if we were meant to be together, you wouldn't have left me alone all those years. And if he'd abandoned her once, there would come a time when he'd tire of her again. Well, she wasn't about to wait around for that to happen. Stiffening her back in resolve, she turned to face him. "Let's get this straight, Ethan. We've had some fun, and you know how attracted I am to you, but I'm not staying here. Once I help you find the facility, I'm leaving. This was never meant to 74

Angel's Desire

last." He jerked back, and the look of hurt that crossed his face made her heart twist into a knot. But then his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. "Fine. If you insist there's nothing between us, then I suppose you're right." Turning, he strode to the door and opened it. She fought the instinctive urge to call out after him as he stomped out, shutting the door hard behind him. "See?" she murmured to herself as she trudged over to the couch and threw herself back on it. See how easy it was to convince him he doesn't really care? When she felt suspicious moisture stinging the back of her eyelids, she blinked it away. There was no point in crying. It was better to convince him now that he wasn't interested than to get even more attached and have him realize it later. So then why did she feel like she'd just thrown something valuable away?

75

Rosalie Lario

Chapter Eleven

When Ethan didn't return to his quarters after several hours away, Tayla decided not to wait around for him anymore. She'd go to sleep, and in the morning she'd help them make a plan for finding the facility. After all, that was what she'd come here to do. She‟d focus on that. Except she couldn't sleep. All the adrenaline from her argument with Ethan, not to mention the intimacy they'd shared back at the waterfall, had left her feeling confused and restless. Finally she decided to check out the bathing facilities Ethan had mentioned. After her evening at the waterfall, she was already pretty clean, but that water had been cool, while the spring feeding into the cavern below was supposedly hot. And it would get her out of this room, which smelled so much like him that it was like being enveloped in a warm cocoon of his scent, for at least a little while. It was silent as a tomb as Tayla made her way downstairs, which seemed odd considering how many of them shared this compound. Was this normal? She took the stairs down to the floor containing the bathing area without spotting another soul. They led out to a long, narrow corridor with slimy-looking walls. About halfway down stood a small table with room for nothing more than a hokey brass angel. It was six inches tall at most, but someone had carelessly dropped it on its side. 76

Angel's Desire

Ugly thing. She picked it up and examined it. It looked nothing like real angels did. Even the wings were wrong, ending at mid-back rather than falling to the ground. Why would they keep something like this around? Somebody has a sense of humor. She placed it upright and continued to the end of the corridor, where an echo of a sound stopped her short. Almost like a moan. Huh. She rounded the corner and then stopped short with a gasp when she discovered the source of the noise. The corridor led to a wide, open room, with a stream running perpendicularly throughout the space. A natural bank rose up a few feet, which kept the stream from engulfing this entire level. Michael sat there, his back to Tayla, and Eva knelt in between his legs. The two of them were obviously not expecting company. Not only were they nude, but from the angle of Eva's head, they were indulging in a little foreplay. Thank God they hadn't seen her. Heat flooded her cheeks. And yeah, lower too. She'd never seen anyone else making love in person before. The way Michael arched his back and moaned in time with the bobbing of Eva's head, they made sex look like an art form. She stepped back around the corner, but her inner imp urged her to take another peek. Even from this angle she could see Michael was about as well hung as Ethan. Must be an angel thing. Her nipples hardened in memory of Ethan's nude body at the waterfall. The way his soaked chest had slid across hers as he'd thrust into her. The feel of him inside her. Sex with him had been everything she'd dreamed of, and more. What would it be like to get to do that every day? To live a life here, in the company of angels? It certainly seemed to suit Eva well enough. If only Ethan had meant it when he said he wanted her forever. But she knew all too well how short forever could be. Just then a familiar voice murmured into her ear, the husky sound of it tickling her ear drum. "Seen enough?" Tayla jumped and almost let out a squeak, but Ethan's hand covered her mouth 77

Rosalie Lario

just in time to muffle the sound. Oh shit. Busted. Shamefaced, she inched back so Michael and Eva were out of sight and turned around to face Ethan. He looked amused. Cocking a brow, he nodded his head toward the exit, then grasped her hand and led her forward. The muscles of his bare back flexed and danced with his movement, and somehow it reminded her of the way Michael had tensed under Eva's touch. The sharp ache of her desire returned with a vengeance, until suddenly she didn't know if she wanted to distance herself from Ethan or throw herself at him. When he came to a stop in front of the table housing the angel and turned to gaze at her with lust-filled eyes, she knew. He could tell exactly how turned on she was right now. Great. ***** Dual tones of embarrassment and lust drifted off Tayla as she wordlessly looked up at Ethan. His puzzling little beauty. After they fought earlier, he'd decided to take flight to see if he could calm himself. He hadn't meant to lose his temper, but her insistence that she wasn't his mate infuriated him. Any fool could see they were destined to be together, and he couldn't understand why she denied it. When he'd come back into the compound and started for his room, he'd caught a trace of her scent from the lower level and had followed it. And after he realized she was spying on Eva and Michael, he'd had to force himself not to throw her over his shoulder and stalk back to his room like the caveman part of him longed to be. Even now, every instinct in his body urged him to claim her. And claim her now. But his little tigress would never submit to him. Or would she? Something about the way she looked at him now, as if her body were screaming for sex, made him wonder. 78

Angel's Desire

The little brass angel stood upright. Her doing, no doubt. He made a show of setting it on its side. "Why did you do that?" Tayla whispered, her brow lifted. "It‟s how we signal to each other that the bathing area is occupied," he responded in the same low tone. "Oh." Once again her embarrassment drifted over to him. "It's okay, love. I never had the chance to explain that to you." He grasped her hand again, wondering whether she would pull away. When she only shivered, clearly affected by the electric interplay of their essences calling to each other, he knew just how much she wanted him. She would never believe him, but he would bet his desire was greater than hers. "Come." He led her up the stairs and through the empty common room, but when they reached the darkened corridor leading to the outside, she stiffened and pulled away. "Where are we going?" Her mouth had a challenging set to it, but it was at odds with the lust-glazed look in her eyes. He couldn't help himself. His gaze traveled down her body. She shivered and her nipples hardened, poking through the thin fabric of her shirt. When his cock stiffened in response, he let out a groan and abandoned all pretense. Pulling her to him, he crushed his lips to hers, coaxing her mouth open so he could slip his tongue inside. She pushed against him for a fraction of a second before giving up the fight and melting into his arms. Her hips brushed against him and she leaned further in, undulating against his body in a rhythm that drove him mad. He debated pushing her down to the floor and taking her right here. What were the odds of someone happening upon them? "Wait!" She tore her lips from his and pushed away. Her chest heaved as she panted, the movement showcasing the lushness of her small, firm breasts. "I thought we were fighting?" "This is so much more enjoyable." With a wicked grin, he stepped toward her 79

Rosalie Lario

once again. She stumbled back. "No." He stopped cold at the finality in her tone. "No?" Tayla gave a furtive glance around and whispered, "Not here." "Ah." Thank the heavens. He didn't know what he would have done had she been rejecting him outright. "This way." He took hold of her hand and led her through the pitch-black cavern, ever mindful of the scent of her desire invading his senses. Gritting his teeth against the pain of his arousal, he bade himself wait. After what seemed like a small eternity, they finally made their way out of the cave. A glimmer of moonlight slid over a portion of the neighboring mountain, illuminating the green of the trees and reflecting over the water down below. Nightfall had brought a cool breeze with it, a welcome respite from the smoldering heat of the summer. It didn't make much difference to him, but he knew Tayla would appreciate it. She watched as he sprouted his wings, the muscles in his back giving a twinge when he stretched them out. Her gaze moved from his face to his wings, taking on that same expression of wonder she always wore when admiring them. She inched forward subconsciously. "Can I touch them again?" His cock twitched, growing even harder. She wasn't talking to you, he admonished it. To her he said, "Of course, my love." When she moved around to his back, sliding her fingers from the base of his wings down, he bit back a groan. Only a true angel would ever understand how sexual the touch of the wings was. Especially where they connected to the body. It was like the most erotic form of foreplay. And when she rubbed her fingers across the base, scratching him with her nails, he had to bite down on his lip to keep from losing control all together. "Pity you weren't born with wings," he told her hoarsely. Had you been, I would have delighted in torturing you just as you have me. 80

Angel's Desire

"I know," she replied innocently. "I think I would have liked that." "Come." He maneuvered away from her hand before she could succeed in driving him completely insane and snatched her into his arms. "I want to show you the forest floor." Before she could protest, he took flight, soaring up several yards before spiraling down. She gave a delighted squeal in his arms, totally absorbed in the pleasure of flight. But when he landed in a patch of grass at the base of the mountain and set her down, her expression grew shuttered once again. He took hold of her hand and led her up through the forest. "We need to talk, Ethan." He cut to the chase. "You still insist on denying you‟re my mate?" "Sorry," she said in a tone that brooked no argument. "I don't believe in that." "Then what do you believe?" She was silent for some time before answering. "I believe two people can enjoy each other without emotions getting involved." He stopped short and turned to face her. "And what we shared earlier at the waterfall, that's all it was? A simple case of lust?" Her eyes glittered with moisture, but when she spoke her tone was hard. "Exactly." Nonsense. But she seemed determined to convince him, or herself, of that. He would simply have to show her otherwise. "If you believe that, Tayla, then why not enjoy each other again? No emotions, correct?" "Yes," she snapped, her eyes flashing with temper. "Good." And I'll enjoy making you admit otherwise. Drawing her into his arms, he brought his mouth to hers once again. He nipped at her lip before sliding his tongue along the seam, and when she inhaled, he dipped inside her mouth. Thrusting and

81

Rosalie Lario

retreating, tangling with her tongue. She drove him crazy as no woman ever had, and tonight he wanted to return the favor. When she trembled, he drew away long enough to drag her shirt over her head, leaving her beautiful breasts bare. "Ethan," she moaned. "Shush." Arching her back, he bent to slide his tongue across one then the other nipple. Sparks of electricity danced off her and onto him, then back again. Their essences calling to each other. He all but ripped her shorts off, leaving her clad in nothing but sandals and white cotton underwear. She let out a harsh gasp, something unrecognizable flashing in her eyes. In the next moment she tore at the button of his jeans, drawing them open. Her soft hands closed around him, and it was his turn to suck in a breath. "No." He gently guided her hands away. No way he‟d last if she insisted on doing that to him. Swiveling Tayla so her back faced him, he led her to a flat rock that rose just a few feet off the surface of the ground—the reason he'd brought her here. The base of this mountain was covered with them, and they were perfect for what he had in mind. He guided her onto her hands and knees and knelt behind her. "Ethan," she protested, glancing over her shoulder. "Hush, my love." He drew his hand over the cotton fabric of her underwear, drinking in the erotic scent of her desire. Like a siren's call, urging him forward for a taste. Sliding the fabric to one side, he bent to slide his tongue along the seam of her entrance. "Oh my God!" She let out a little scream as she convulsed beneath him, and he flicked his tongue against her clit, doing everything in his power to prolong her pleasure. His cock 82

Angel's Desire

ached with the desire to drive into her, but no. Not yet. When she finally relaxed beneath him, he set about driving her insane once again, sliding his fingers inside her, alternating with his tongue. Setting a rhythm that soon had her on the verge of orgasm once again. "Ethan, please!" He let out a rumbling laugh. "Please what?" She moved her hips, trying to hit the spot that would send her careening over the edge, but he moved away. "Please...let me come," she ground out. When she asked so sweetly, it was impossible to resist. He closed his lips around her clit, sucking in lightly, and she shuddered and cried out as she came apart underneath him once more. The sight and sound of her reaching pleasure was almost overwhelming. It could only be a miracle that kept him from spending himself right there. "Ethan, please." She turned her lust-filled gaze to his, undulating her hips in a provocative gesture. "I want you." Yes. He forced himself to hold still, looking directly into her eyes. "Does this seem casual, what we have between us?" Her gaze grew shuttered. "Ethan..." "Does it?" he insisted, running two fingers along her moist seam. "I don't..." She gritted her teeth, turning her gaze away. "Tell me, Tayla, does it?" She let out a little frustrated scream and looked at him once again. "Just shut up and fuck me. Now." Her impassioned words, ones he never thought he'd hear her speak, shocked him to the core. And yes, aroused him too. He couldn't wait anymore. Rising to his feet, he slid his jeans down. Too impatient to do anything else, he 83

Rosalie Lario

tore her underwear off her body and grasped her hips, holding her in place. His stiff arousal led the way, unerringly finding her entrance. One hard thrust and he was all the way inside. "Damnation," he swore, vaguely hearing her loud cry. She slid forward then back, impaling herself on him once more. Then again and again. Setting a driving rhythm all on her own. At the rate she was going, this wouldn‟t last very long at all. "Heaven, Tayla. That's what it feels like inside you," he confessed hoarsely. "Oh, please more," was her moaning response. Bending forward so he could cup her breasts, he focused on the feel of her taut nipples as he pushed all the way inside her, then slid almost entirely out. Over and over again until she reared back, urging him to go harder. She gasped, dropping her head to the rock as she arched her back, pressing her hips higher. Definitely not going to last. He grasped her hips and pounded into her, their bodies rhythmically slapping together with the force of his thrusts. Very rarely did he sweat, but a few beads of the stuff dripped down his chest, reminding him just how overheated he was right now. One more plunge and he went careening over the edge. He let out a harsh cry, his thrusts growing jerky and unmeasured. Tayla's scream echoed through the forest when she joined him in a climax, shoving herself all the way back onto him. Accepting every inch of his body into hers. Her cries continued as she undulated against him, riding out the wave of her ecstasy. He kept moving, kept shoving into her, until at last she fell forward onto the rock. His heart was beating so fast he feared it would give out all together. He collapsed onto his back next to her, totally spent. Amazing. Mind-blowing. He'd never experienced anything like that before. Not 84

Angel's Desire

even close. "That was...that was...whoa," she gasped in between pants. "Yes," he rumbled. "Yes, it was." And still she would claim there was no emotion in their lovemaking? That it meant nothing beyond pure physical release? How very wrong she was. He only hoped she‟d realize that before it was too late. Before she did the one thing that would break his heart. Leave him.

85

Rosalie Lario

Chapter Twelve

Ethan was nowhere to be found when Tayla awoke in his bed the next day. She couldn't help but wonder where he was. Somehow she thought he'd be in bed still, since they'd barely gotten any sleep. After the mind-blowing incident back in the forest, they'd washed up in the stream before he flew her back to the cave. From there he led her to his room, where he'd proceeded to make love to her over and over again, until, at last, she fell into an exhausted slumber. The surprising thing was, he hadn't mentioned their argument again. Maybe he finally realized what you already knew. That he didn't love her. That she wasn't his mate, at least not in the forever sense. All remnants of sleep fled with that depressing thought. Good sex, Tayla. You yourself told him that's all it was. Don't get hung up on wishing things were different. She scooted out of bed, wincing when her thigh muscles twitched from overuse, and dug a hot pink tank top and army green cargo shorts out of her backpack. There wasn't a clock in the room and her cell phone didn't work in the cave, so she had no way of telling what time of day it was. It felt late, though. Surely the others had to be up, right? The hallway was eerily silent as she headed toward the stairs. Once again, she 86

Angel's Desire

made her way down without seeing another soul. Strange how secluded it felt in the cave, considering over a dozen people lived here. The living room was empty too, but the delicious aroma of fried bacon wafted from the kitchen. When her stomach growled, she obeyed its call, stalking through the swinging door to find several platters of food spread out on top of the large island. One of them contained the bacon she'd smelled, dark and crispy. She snagged a few pieces, along with a banana. The heavy murmur of a voice grew louder. It was coming from the door leading into the dining room. So that was where they'd all gone. Tayla headed for the door, swinging through it just in time to hear Ethan's voice. "—should leave as soon as possible. Every minute we delay is another moment the Tribunal might choose to put its plan into action." He sat at the far end of the long table, directly across from Michael. The other angels were there too, although she noted a few missing faces, including Eva. The men were all shirtless, and they all munched from the plates set in front of them as they listened in on the discussion. It was obvious they were talking about finding the Alaskan facility. Ethan stiffened, his nostrils flaring as if he'd picked up a scent. When he turned and looked her way, she froze. Had he been able to smell when she'd entered the room? "Tayla." He half rose off the bench. "Come in. Have a seat. We were discussing—" "Finding the prison. I got it." Her gaze drifted to his bare chest, to the ridges glinting in the artificial light, as she strode toward him. Despite everything they'd done last night, her body still responded to him. How crazy was it that even in a room of angels she could feel desire for him? And, oh damn, they could probably tell, couldn't they? Feeling self-conscious, she glanced around the room as she took a seat next to Ethan. But if any of them had any inkling of her inner turmoil they didn't show it. "I agree we need to find the prison as soon as possible," Michael continued saying to Ethan, "but we cannot forget we‟re treading in dangerous territory. There are 87

Rosalie Lario

bound to be a number of angels there. We may very well be outnumbered. Only half of us are mated. That means only half of us are at full strength." Huh. She hadn't thought of that. Her father had explained to her that it was through the sharing of each other‟s essence that angels retained their strength and immortality, but apparently a decade or so without sex made a measurable difference to angels. "Then it's those of us who should search out the facility," Seth chimed in from further down the table. "The rest can stay here." "That puts us at a distinct disadvantage," another angel said. Was his name Jason? Wait a second, had Michael been including Ethan when he'd talked about the angels who were mated? She opened her mouth to set the record straight, but before she could say anything, Michael spoke again. "We'll wait for Aaron to return. His mate might be useful, since she‟s skilled in entering secured facilities without being discovered. But we cannot wait longer than that. The odds of all of you finding nephilim mates within the next few months are slim." There were murmurs of assent from around the table. "In the meantime, we can prepare for our trip," Michael added. "Procure the supplies and clothing we'll need and map the areas in a grid according to where each of us will search." "I'll go into town for supplies," Ethan volunteered. "As will I," said Seth. Jason lifted his hand. "Me too." "Excellent," Michael said. "We'll compile a list over the next few days, and the lot of you can get the items later in the week." The matter apparently settled, everyone focused on breakfast. Ethan picked up a slice of bacon from his plate and brought it to his lips. He 88

Angel's Desire

noticed her watching and turned his head to throw her a fiery glance. Warmth rushed into her body, infusing her cheeks with heat. When he looked at her like that all she wanted to do was tear off his clothes and throw him to the ground. It'll be over soon. Once they find the Alaskan facility. That was a sobering thought. As much as she wanted to help stop the Tribunal before the angels could carry out their plan to eradicate humankind, once she found the prison, her role in this would be over. On impulse, she said to Ethan, "Will you show me some of the sights around here today?" The look he gave her said he'd like to show her much more than that, but when he spoke all he said was, "Yes. I have some business I have to attend to with Michael this morning, but after that I'm all yours." Why did his words seem layered in double meaning? Fighting back a blush, Tayla said, "Thank you." She then tried her hardest to concentrate on the meal and not on Ethan's gorgeous body. Once they were done with breakfast, Tayla left Ethan conversing with Michael and the other Fallen. She wandered through the main level, getting a feel for the rooms. The cave was so much more spacious than she could've ever imagined. It was truly a home forged with love and care. How easily she could see herself finding a daily routine here. The thought that she could actually see herself belonging here was so distressing that she found herself rushing toward the exit. She entered the pitch-black room, taking care to stay on the path Ethan had shown her, and at last made it to the mouth of the cave. The view looking out from the ledge was spectacular. Sunlight blazed down to the stream below, creating sparkling ribbons of color in the water. The sky directly overhead looked like a canopy of green. A little piece of paradise. I could easily grow to love it here. Lost in thought, she didn't hear Eva's approach until she spoke. "Beautiful, isn't it?" 89

Rosalie Lario

Tayla jumped and whirled around, placing her hand over her chest. "Sorry, didn't mean to sneak up on you," Eva said. "No, it's okay. I was just..." Trailing off, Tayla turned back to the river. "It is beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen its equal." Eva came to a stop right beside her. "I know what you mean. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure this is all real and not just some crazy figment of my imagination." Tayla nodded. "I can see that." Eva turned to examine her. "A little overwhelmed, right?" "Yes." For more reasons than you know. Her eyes narrowed in on Tayla for a fraction of a second. "Come here. There's something I want to show you." "Okay." Shrugging, Tayla followed Eva to one edge of the long, wide ledge. "Look down here." Much to Tayla's surprise, there was a narrow path. It looked like the variations in the water level had eroded the rock over time to create a natural set of steps downward. "I found this soon after I moved here," Eva said. "I don't think anyone else has noticed it, and why would they? Everyone else here has wings, so if they want to get down to the stream they can just fly there." "Does it go all the way down?" Eva nodded. "Come on." Tayla followed Eva along the crooked stone gradation. It extended down for about twenty feet before they came to a narrow bank along the edge of the stream. The lazy sound of the flowing water filled Tayla's ears, surrounding her with a sense of peace. "This is amazing." Eva sat, pulling her knees up and wrapping her arms around them. "Isn't it? I come here whenever I need some relaxation, a moment away from the others." She 90

Angel's Desire

threw Tayla a wry glance. "It isn't always easy living with a group of angels." "I can imagine." They looked out at the water for several long moments before Tayla spoke again. "Thanks for sharing this with me." Eva shrugged. "I imagine you'll get as much use out of it as I do, now that you're here." Her words settled like a heavy weight in the pit of Tayla's stomach. "I don't plan on staying beyond my mission of finding the prison," Tayla confessed. Cocking a brow, Eva said, "Why?" "I..." The right words failed her. The lines between Eva's eyes flattened. "You don't have to say anymore. I understand you've got a lot of difficult decisions to make." Her understanding filled Tayla with relief. "Thanks." She paused a beat. "Do you ever regret making the decision to move here?" "Not ever," Eva responded. "But then, I've got Michael. Wherever he's at is home to me." After several long moments, Eva rose. "I will say this, Tayla. When these angels love, they love intensely. It's not always easy, and obviously you're choosing to put your life on the line if you stay with Ethan, but there's no other feeling like knowing you are truly adored. I would think hard before walking away from that." She made it sound so easy, but... "Ethan doesn't love me. He's simply attracted to me." Eva scoffed, clear disbelief in her eyes. "If you say so. But if that's what's holding you back, you'd better make sure you're right before you give up the best thing that could've ever happened to you." With those words, she left. Sighing deeply, Tayla stared out over the water and contemplated Eva's words. Eva's situation was clearly different from hers. There was no

91

Rosalie Lario

doubt that Michael worshipped her. He's never abandoned her, never left her all alone to mourn the death of everyone she loved. With Ethan, it was another thing entirely. Much as she might wish otherwise. ***** Eager to get back to Tayla, Ethan rushed through his meeting with the other Fallen. Then he sought her out, finally finding her on the ledge at the entrance to the compound. "Everything okay?" he asked. "Good," she replied, but her smile seemed forced. His stomach tightening with a gnawing sense of foreboding, he lifted her up into his arms and proceeded to show her the entire area of land surrounding the compound. They soared in the air for over two hours before he found a narrow ledge in a neighboring mountain and dropped them down onto it. "What do you think?" She shook her head, staring out at the horizon. "Amazing. I've never seen such a beautiful sight." He waited for a long moment before replying, "Then why would you want to leave it?" Tayla stiffened and turned to look him in the eyes. Something sad and resigned flashed on her face. "Ethan, I don't want to argue about this with you anymore. Can't we just enjoy our time together?" Her words hit him like a bullet to the chest. I'm losing her. He didn't completely understand why, but he knew it as certain as he knew that the sun would rise in the east and set in the west. For some reason, she'd convinced herself she didn't belong here. That she wasn't his. And there's nothing I can do to change her mind. Moisture formed beneath his eyelids, making Ethan fear for the first time in 92

Angel's Desire

many years that he would cry. He turned away from her until he could compose himself. "If a limited amount of time is all you're willing to offer, Tayla, I‟ll take it. I will take what I can, and cherish every moment of it." "Oh, Ethan." Her soft voice spurred him to turn around and snatch her into his arms. She rose up on her toes to press a kiss to his lips then caressed his cheek with her feather-light fingertips. "Will you make love to me, Ethan? Here and now?" How could he ever refuse an offer like that? "Yes, my love. I will." Over and over, until you understand just how much I love you. Her eyes soft and wide, she drew her shirt over her head, then stepped out of her shorts, leaving her gloriously nude. Her firm breasts bounced as she dropped to her knees, unzipped his pants, and tugged them down so she could close her grip around his burgeoning erection. She slid the tip in between her soft, wet lips, sucking hard on it. He moaned, his back arching in response. "This is amazing," he said to her. "You are amazing." "I love doing this to you." Keeping her eyes on his, she proceeded to show him how much, moving her head up and down to slide more and more of him into her mouth. One hand closed over his testicles, cupping and squeezing them. Driving him completely insane. The way she loved him with her mouth, it was impossible to believe she didn't truly care for him. Why then? Why was she so determined to leave him? She shifted her head closer and gripped the globes of his ass, urging him to move faster and harder into her mouth. In no time at all he found himself on the verge of an orgasm. The urge to persist, to pump his release deep down her throat, was almost overwhelming. He forced himself away. "In you, my love. I want to come deep inside of you." "Yes," she panted. Sitting, she leaned back onto her elbows and spread her legs

93

Rosalie Lario

for him. The flower of her sex unfurled before his eyes, the rosy petals urging him to stuff himself in deep. He joined her on the ground, positioning his rock-hard erection at her entrance. Trying to be gentle, he pushed just the tip inside. She cried out and her muscles convulsed around him, suctioning him in further. Just like that, his control shattered. Bracing himself, he rammed inside her to the root. Her loud cry matched his own, and her silky wetness closed around him like a glove, squeezing him tight. Half out of his mind with lust, he withdrew, then slammed home again. Over and over. Only vaguely aware of her shifting her hips to allow him deeper penetration. She grabbed onto his ass, urging him to piston more and more furiously. The dam broke, his climax taking over him with all the force of a raging river. Beneath him, she arched and screamed, raking her nails down his flesh so hard she drew blood. The pain, along with the tangy scent of the droplets of blood welling from his skin, only served to increase his arousal. He pinned her in place and thrust deeper. Harder. Faster. Milking every last drop of his release into her. He didn't know how much time passed before his awareness returned. He lay fully on top of her, surely squishing her with the weight of his body. Shifting onto his back, he pulled her with him so she lay across his stomach. "Are you okay, my love?" "I don't know," she replied, her voice hoarse and dreamy. "That was...amazing." "Yes it was." Finally she let out a little laugh and lifted her head to press a kiss to his lips. "That was an experience I'll never, ever forget." He hoped not. Oh, how he hoped not. If she was going to leave him, he wanted her to wonder what could have been. Every moment for the rest of her life. Just as he would.

94

Angel's Desire

Chapter Thirteen

The next several days flew by quicker than Tayla could have imagined. Every day was one of discovery, not just of the surrounding area, but of Ethan himself. He seemed like a different man here. Younger, more carefree. And he insisted on making love to her at every available chance, taking her everywhere, in every which way possible. Marking her indelibly. Tayla awoke on the fifth morning with a growing sense of doom. Today was the day the men were leaving to get supplies. One step closer to Alaska. And to the day when I have to go back home. The thought made her chest tighten and the air stick in her lungs. She wanted to make the most of every moment she had with him. Yes, when the time came, she'd let him go. But she wasn't ready to give him up just yet. "I'm going with you on the supply run," she blurted out over breakfast, before the thought had even fully formed. Ethan's expression grew weary. "Tayla, you should stay. I'll need to carry things back—" "I have to get some warm clothes for the trip to Alaska," she said, grasping at the first excuse she could think of. "You can tell me your measurements and I'll procure them." 95

Rosalie Lario

"I'll probably need some other stuff too." When he looked like he would object again, she added, "I can carry everything. All you have to worry about is carrying me." A ghost of a smile crossed his face. "I should argue further, but the thought of having you in my arms for the duration of the flight is far too tempting." She flushed at his words. Flustered, she stared down at her half-eaten banana. Ethan's smooth laughter tickled her eardrums. He leaned in close to murmur in her ear, "We have at least an hour before we need to leave." His words were loaded with innuendo. Eyes widening, she met his gaze. "Really? Again?" she whispered. "So soon?" Lips curving into a wicked grin, he retorted, "again," before lifting out of his seat. He had a point. Why not spend the last hour before they left doing the one thing she most loved to do with him? Lifting off the bench, she raised a brow. "Let's go." ***** When she'd talked Ethan into taking her on the supply run, Tayla had assumed "town" referred to a small town not far from the compound. Instead she ended up riding in Ethan's arms for close to two hours as they headed toward Montreal. He kept slightly behind Seth and Jason, forming wide, sweeping loops for her amusement. She had to say she‟d really miss this when she left. Would miss flying around in his arms. Being with him altogether. Then don't leave. Her smile faded at the thought. It was so tempting to stay. So why go? Because if she didn't and he ended up being the one to leave, she‟d be beyond devastated. If she grew closer to him only to have that happen, she didn't know how she'd survive it. No, she couldn't risk her heart like that. She simply couldn't. Her mother had risked it and look what she'd gotten in return. An angel who was gone more often than 96

Angel's Desire

not. Who'd had another wife she hadn't even known about! She'd waited for him all her life, but in the end Caleb had never really loved her. At least, not enough. "Why the serious face?" Ethan spoke into her ear. "Nothing." She forced a smile as she gazed at him. "Just wondering how fast you could go." He stared at her without responding, looking almost like he was disappointed in her. But finally he tightened his arms around her and zoomed forward, shooting past Seth and Jason with ease. By the time they touched down in an empty corner of a park that sat square in the middle of the city, her hair was hopelessly tangled around her head. "Don't you think it's risky to fly here during the day?" she asked Ethan when he set her down. He shrugged and reached around to the backpack on her back, digging out several shirts. "We fly too quickly for most humans to notice. The only concern would be attracting the attention of another angel, but since there are so few of us worldwide, the odds of doing so are quite rare." "Oh." Seth landed next to them, absorbing his wings into his body before she could even blink. He accepted one of the shirts from Ethan. A second later, Jason landed. "Should we split up?" Seth asked as he tugged the shirt over his taut abdomen. "I can handle procuring the electronics." "I'll take the camping gear," Jason volunteered. Ethan nodded, looking at her. "That leaves the clothing for us." "Okay." She followed as Jason and Seth led the way out of the park. Directly across the street stood a shopping plaza with a Best Buy, a few department stores, and a sporting goods store. "This is convenient. You guys have been here before, huh?" Ethan only laughed as they made their way across the street. He stopped in front

97

Rosalie Lario

of the signpost for the plaza. "We'll meet out here when we're done." Murmuring their assent, Jason and Seth broke off and went in separate directions. Ethan led her toward the nearest department store. "Dare I ask how you're going to procure the clothes?" Tayla mumbled. He let out a low chuckle. "Same as the houses." Ah, so he had a fake pass card too. She should have known. "You sure you don't just want to use my card?" "No." His voice was soft. "I don't want it on the record that you've been here." Yeah, probably a good idea. Might be difficult to explain that one if she was ever questioned about it, and with the Consortium, one never knew. Once inside, she grabbed a shopping cart and they headed straight for the warm weather clothes. Coats, gloves, long johns, ski masks. Odds were this facility would be deep in the Alaskan wilderness, where they'd freeze their asses off if they weren't prepared. At least, she would. "Do angels ever get cold?" she whispered to Ethan. "In a way. Extreme temperatures slow us down." When his mouth settled into a frown and a haunted look crept into his eyes, she had the uncomfortable feeling he was remembering another instance of extreme temperatures. The day when her father had died in the blazing fire, and he nearly had too, condemned by his own kind. "I'm sorry," she felt compelled to say. He blinked as if he'd just remembered she was there, and his face cleared. "I know what you need." His lips curved into a wicked grin. When he led her to a rack of lingerie, she broke out into a laugh. "You wish." Ethan chuckled before sobering. "Seriously, is there anything else you think you'll need?" Still giggling, she shook her head. "No, I don't need much. The clothes I brought will last through my stay." 98

Angel's Desire

It was the wrong thing to say. The shadows crept back onto his face. "Tayla." He moved closer and placed his hand under her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. "What can I do to convince you to stay with me? Is there anything, anything at all?" "I..." What could she say? She blinked furiously and looked away. "What else do we need?" He didn't press the issue, but she could sense his disappointment as clearly as if he'd expressed it. Heavy silence lay between them as they finished gathering their items. They took them to the counter, and the cashier rung them up before asking for the pass card. Ethan handed it over without a word. She glanced at it before looking up at him. Then down and up again, setting Tayla's nerves on edge. The cashier's brow furrowed. "Do I know you from somewhere?" Tayla stiffened. A million fears raced through her head. Maybe the Consortium had somehow gotten a hold of pictures of the Fallen. Maybe their likenesses were being spread throughout the world. What if the Consortium had been called and was on its way right now? "No." Ethan spoke easily, his body totally relaxed. But the hand that rested by his side out of the cashier's view was clenched into a tight fist. "Huh." The cashier gave an embarrassed laugh. "Sorry, I guess you look a little like one of the characters on a show I watch." She looked away, running the pass card through the system, and the tension was dispelled. Ethan turned to exchange a meaningful glance with her. Can't wait to get the hell out of here, his gaze seemed to say. She was right there with him. Once the cashier finished bagging their items, Tayla did her best to keep her stride slow and confident, when all she really wanted to do was hightail it out of there. Ethan walked next to her, from all outward appearances looking cool and calm. But she sensed the note of discomfort drifting off him. That whole business had freaked him out too. 99

Rosalie Lario

For not the first time, she wondered how he could live like this. Hunted by his own kind. Forced to hide, lie, and steal in order to survive. You're nephilim, remember? You're pretty much in the same boat. Funny but she never thought about it like that. Maybe because she hadn't been openly persecuted like the Fallen had. No, instead she'd been hidden. A dirty little secret. They made it out to the parking lot, and Ethan visibly relaxed. "That was a little stressful." "You think?" He chuckled, looking loose. "I think we should—" He cut off, furrowing his brows as he gave a cautious-looking glance at the sky. Tayla stopped short, turning to face him. "What's wrong?" "I thought I felt..." His voice trailed off. Suddenly, he gasped, the expression on his face morphing into full-blown panic. "Tayla, run!" Run? She froze, the bags slipping from her numb fingers and hitting the ground with a soft thump. "What's wrong?" "I said run!" He pushed her from him, and in the blink of an eye his wings sprouted. The fabric of his shirt made a ripping sound as it tore to make way for the wings. She stumbled backward. He grew his wings! What the fuck? A sudden wave of energy displaced the air, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Instinctively she looked up. "Oh shit!" The reason for Ethan's panic was all too clear. There was another angel, one she'd never seen before, flying over the roofs of the low-level buildings. And he was headed straight for them.

100

Angel's Desire

Chapter Fourteen

Less than one hundred yards from Ethan and Tayla, the angel swooped down, aiming his body toward them. With one last desperate, "Go! Run!" Ethan propelled his body up into the air. The two angels smashed together with a hard slap, their wings flapping against each other as they tried to stay in the air while each of them wrestled for control. "No!" She couldn't stop the scream from tearing out of her mouth. The angel was so much bigger than Ethan. He looked like the lovechild of a bodybuilder and a giant with his huge, muscled arms and brawny physique. Even with the shoulder-length blond hair he'd pulled into a ponytail, he painted a terrifying picture. She knew she should obey Ethan, that she should run, but her body wouldn't obey her mental command. It just strode there, frozen to the ground while she watched the epic struggle happening up in the air. Ethan had a tight hold of each of the angel's wrists, the muscles visible through the torn shirt bulging with his effort to keep his grip. The angel managed to wrench one arm away from Ethan, and he planted it in Ethan's face. It connected with a sick thud that knocked the wind out of him. He sagged, wings drooping, and would have fallen if not for the tight grip the angel had on him.

101

Rosalie Lario

"Ethan, no!" She covered her hands with her mouth, terrified for him. And there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it. They were too high up for her to even lend a hand. Ethan shook his head and renewed his struggles. "Go. I said go," he yelled, looking back at her. That one second of inattention was all the angel needed. He struck again, this time landing a hit to Ethan's temple. "No!" She watched in horror as Ethan's eyes rolled up into his head and he slumped backward in the other angel‟s grasp. With a wicked grin, the angel hauled his limp body over his shoulder and shot further into the sky before streaking off so fast he was soon invisible. "Oh please, no." She watched the sky for several moments. Not like she expected them to come back or anything, but she didn't know what to do. What the hell to do? "That was crazy, eh?" an unfamiliar voice said from behind her. Whirling around, Tayla noticed for the first time that the battle had attracted a small audience. Three men stood there, staring wide-eyed into the sky. "Never seen anything like it," one of the other men responded. "That's it?" She stared at them in shock. "That's all you have to say?" The men threw her surprised looks, as if noticing her for the first time. Shrugging, one left, followed quickly by the other two. "Tayla!" Seth's voice sounded out from her right side. She turned to see him and Jason jogging toward her, bags in their hands. Seth reached her first. "What's wrong?" "I..." When nothing came out, she simply blinked at him, well aware she was on the verge of a breakdown. He dropped his bags, grabbed onto her shoulders, and gave her a little shake. "What is it? Where's Ethan?" 102

Angel's Desire

"A...an...an angel ca—came down. They fought and it knocked him out and to— took him." "Damnation," Jason swore beside him. Seth gave her another shake. "What did he look like?" "Like a giant with long blond hair." "Darius." Seth exchanged a glance with Jason before looking back at her. "How long ago? Which way did they go?" "Just...two minutes, maybe. They went that way." She swiveled to point a shaking finger up in the sky. "Okay." Seth nodded at Jason. "I'll go after them. You take Tayla back to the compound." "No, wait—" He pushed her at Jason and sprouted his wings, taking off before she could protest further. "Wait!" When it was clear he was gone, she turned back to Jason. "We have to go after them. We have to help." Jason pressed his lips together and dropped his bags. He grasped her by the waist while simultaneously growing his wings, and in the next breath, he shot into the sky, abandoning all their items in the parking lot of the plaza. But instead of going in the direction where Ethan had been taken, he headed the other way. Toward the compound, she realized. "No, Jason. He needs help. Let's go after him." When he didn't respond, she pounded on his chest and squirmed, trying to get away. So distraught she didn't even consider what would happen if he actually dropped her from this height. But it was no use. Jason wouldn't listen to her. He resolutely kept flying toward the compound. Finally, with curses flowing from her lips, she gave up. Whether she liked it or not, they weren't going after Ethan.

103

Rosalie Lario

Oh God, what if she never saw him again?

104

Angel's Desire

Chapter Fifteen

"You should drink something. Please." "No." Without looking at her, Tayla pushed away the cup of warm tea Eva had placed on the table. She couldn't stand to see the pitying expression in her eyes. "I'm sure he'll be ok—" "Don‟t," Tayla interrupted flatly. "Don't even say that, when you have no clue if it's true." Eva shuffled in place, waves of empathy and sorrow pouring off her. "Angels are almost impossible to kill." "Unless there's fire. And don't tell me that's hard to come by." When Eva sucked in her breath, Tayla instantly regretted her harsh tone. Eva was only trying to comfort her. But she didn't want it, and right now she lacked the energy to apologize. Eva finally seemed to get the hint. With a soft sigh, she turned and exited the dining room, leaving Tayla alone at the huge table. Jason had dropped her off at the compound several hours ago. After giving everyone a hasty explanation of what had happened, he'd taken off in search of Ethan and Seth. Ben and Mara had accompanied them. Though they hadn't said anything, it was clear the odds of finding them were pretty low. Seth would probably make his way back, if he was lucky and didn't get caught by any other angels. But Ethan... 105

Rosalie Lario

She stood and shuffled out of the dining room, not even bothering to glance at the angels she passed on her way to the staircase. It was bad enough she had to feel the sympathy they exuded. Looking into their eyes would prove to be her undoing. Her body numb, she climbed the stairs to the level containing Ethan's room. Once inside, she wandered about, feeling completely lost in the space. His smell was so intense in here that it totally overwhelmed her, threatening to make her splinter into pieces on his floor. But that was what she wanted. She wanted to remember. And to regret. "I'm such an idiot." That was all she'd been able to think about the past few hours. She might never see Ethan again, and he would die thinking she hadn't wanted to stay with him. When the truth was, she'd been afraid all along. Afraid of loving and losing, the way she'd lost every other person she'd loved. She'd thought she could protect her heart and walk away unscathed. How wrong she was. It was so clear now. Her heart was no longer hers to protect. No, she'd given it to Ethan long ago. I love him. Maybe she always had. And he would never know, because she'd treated her love like a curse instead of honoring it for the beautiful thing it really was. Tears burned her vision, and she dropped her head into her hands. All the 'what ifs' were killing her. What if she‟d stayed behind today? Ethan might have gotten the shopping done much faster and avoided running into the other angel altogether. What if she'd told him she loved him? Maybe he would have decided to stay in bed with her all day rather than go on the supply run. What if she hadn't been too great a coward to take a chance at finding true happiness? "No. No!" Screaming, she raced toward the plasma television and threw it to the ground where it shattered. Like her heart. This was too much. She couldn't bear it. Death would be a relief compared to the pain she now felt. Tayla crumpled onto the ground and cried until there was nothing left. Until 106

Angel's Desire

finally, feeling like a shell of her former self, she rose off the floor. She knew one thing. She couldn't imagine staying at the compound without Ethan. The memories of him were too great here. How could she ever sleep in his bed if there was a chance he'd never again be in it with her? How could she bathe without remembering the heat of Ethan's gaze when he'd caught her spying in the bathing room? No. No. It was too much to think about. She had to get out of here. Throwing the door open, she raced down the stairs. The living room was thankfully empty. The low din of voices coming from the kitchen told her everyone was in there. She went the other way, winding through the pitch-black cavern until she hit the exit of the cave. It was full dark outside. Hours must have passed since she'd first gone into Ethan's room. What the hell was she going to do? She'd never, ever felt so lost before. Not even after her mother had died. Now there was truly no one left in this world who cared for her. Now she really knew what it was like to be alone. Wandering toward the stone steps Eva had shown her earlier in the week, Tayla took them down and hunched by the bank, simply staring at the water. How she‟d love to jump in and simply let it carry her away. Perhaps if she drifted long enough, she would become just another fallen log. Hollow. Unfeeling. Dead. Ethan wouldn't want that for you. No, she knew that with certainty. He would want her to go on. Fall in love. Get married. Be happy. But then, Ethan wasn't here, was he? What was she going to do without him? A sudden squeal cut through her thoughts, the sound echoing in the narrow divide between the mountains. She lifted her head to listen, and a second later, there

107

Rosalie Lario

was a masculine whoop. What the—? Heart pounding, Tayla lifted to her feet. She forced one foot in front of the other, making her way up the stone steps. When she reached the top, she came to a stop. Several of the angels, along with Eva, surrounded the entrance to the cave. They were all taking turns hugging the figure who stood in the middle. At first she couldn't see the person through the sea of bodies, but then Eva moved back. Her heart stuttered and then momentarily stopped. Was she dreaming? Hallucinating? Ethan. It was Ethan! "Ethan!" Stiffening, he whirled in her direction. He looked bruised and battered, his body half supported by Seth. But he was very much alive. He raked his gaze up and down. Searching for scrapes or bruises, she realized. Making sure she was okay. When she started forward, her knees gave out and she dropped to the ground. She didn't seem to have the strength to stand back up. Well, the ground was as good a place as any. As long as he was still there. "Tayla." His eyes softened and he rushed toward her. She was only vaguely aware of the others silently piling back inside the cave. No, she only had eyes for Ethan. Was he really here? Could she be imagining it? "Love, are you okay?" He knelt down in front of her and closed his arms around her, and, man, he felt so real. So warm and alive. He was real. Thank God, he was real. "Ethan. I thought you were dead." She threw herself into his arms, and when the tears started to flow, she ignored them. They seemed like such a trivial thing to worry about now. "I'm really hard to kill." With a half-smile, he set her back and wiped the tears 108

Angel's Desire

from her eyes. "What happened?" she whispered in a trembling voice. "Darius was an angel I once knew. We were never friendly. Enemies, I suppose you could say.” "But how—" "Of all the places in the world he could be, he happened to be flying through the area and spotted me. Thought I‟d make a good prize to take to the Tribunal." She shook her head. It was so crazy. "How did you get away?" "I managed to break away from him and flee. I flew in circles until I finally lost him. Then I saw Seth flying in my direction. We came back here straight away." "I thought...God, I—" She broke off and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his throat and drinking in his scent. "Shush, Tayla. It's okay. Promise. I'll be fully healed within a matter of hours." "No, I..." She pulled back to look him in the eye, barely able to make out his face through her tears. Her words came out in a rambling rush. "I'm sorry, Ethan. So sorry. I didn't want to get my heart broken, so I pushed you away when what I should've been doing all along was holding on tight. I love you, I always have, and I can't believe I didn't tell yo—" "You love me?" He stiffened, wiping her face free of moisture once again. "I...yes," she choked out. His brows furrowed. "Then, why did you push me away, Tayla? I don't understand." "I just..." She wrapped her arms around her waist. "Everyone leaves me, Ethan. Everyone I love. My father, my mother. Then you. I just thought if I didn't let you get close again...it would be easier. I wouldn't break when you left me again." "Heavens." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm such a fool." 109

Rosalie Lario

"No, you—" He pulled her back into his arms, holding her tight and raining kisses down on the top of her head. "I‟m a fool, Tayla. When I stayed away, I thought I was doing the right thing. Allowing you to grow. I felt shame for wanting you when you were little more than a child. In my selfish quest to absolve myself of guilt, I never stopped to think how abandoned you‟d feel. For that, I will forever be sorry." "I..." She'd never thought of it from his point of view before. Ethan pulled back to look her straight in the eye. "As God is my witness, Tayla, I will never leave you again. Do you understand?" "Ethan—" "Never," he swore vehemently. "Not even if you strike me or beg me to leave. You can curse my name a million times, and still I'll remain by your side. Only by death will we ever part." "Oh, Ethan," she whispered. For the first time since she could remember, a feeling of lightness filed her chest. Hope. It was hope. His eyes filled with moisture, glittering like diamonds in the dim light of the moon. "I love you, Tayla. You‟re mine. And that‟ll never change. Do you understand?" "Yes." Tayla shot him a brilliant smile. She did understand. Now, she really did. "You know, you're mine too." Ethan laughed hoarsely. "I know. Two halves of one whole. Whatever the future holds, we'll face it together. This I promise you." When he pulled her in for a passionate kiss, she couldn't deny it anymore. The proof was right there in front of her. In the way her heart did flops whenever she looked at him. In the way he held her tight as if he would never let go. No matter the past, their future was together. It was meant to be. THE END 110

Angel's Desire Please be on the lookout for Book 3 in The Fallen Warriors Series, Releasing in the Spring of 2012 Did you miss the first book in the series? Keep reading for more on For Love of an Angel Book 1 of The Fallen Warriors Series Plus, a Contest!

111

Rosalie Lario

For Love of an Angel The Fallen Warriors Series Rosalie Lario In a world where angels rule over humans, twelve outcasts dare to defy expectation, warring with their angel brethren to prevent the extinction of humankind. They are The Fallen. Book 1 Michael is one of twelve angels who have been outcast due to their determination to protect humankind. In order to preserve his immortality and strength, he must find a mate with angel blood. Eva Smyth has never believed the propaganda spouted by the Consortium—the elite system of guards put into place once angels took over reign of Earth—but she never expected to learn the angels plan to eradicate all of humankind, or that she herself is part angel. Joining Michael means living a life on the run, at war against the angels and hunted by the Consortium. Eva must decide whether to risk it all...for love of an angel.

112

Angel's Desire

CONTEST Want to be entered to win an e-copy of either Blood of the Demon (http://www.entangledpublishing.com/blood-of-the-demon/)or Mark of the Sylph (http://www.entangledpublishing.com/mark-of-the-sylph/) , Books 1 and 2 of the Demons of Infernum Series?

1. Leave a review of Angel’s Desire on http://www.amazon.com or http://www.amazon.co.uk (which you can do no matter where you purchased this ebook, as long as you have an Amazon account); and 2. Email me at [email protected] to let me know you entered a review and provide your screen name for the review.

All reviews received by midnight on December 31, 2011 will be entered to win a copy of Blood of the Demon or Mark of the Sylph (winner‟s choice).

The winner will be notified by email on or about January 1, 2012 (so make sure you email me in order to be officially entered into the contest).

113

Rosalie Lario

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rosalie Lario practiced real estate law for several years before finally admitting to herself that negotiating contracts wasn‟t nearly as fun as dreaming up stories. As an avid reader of romances and supernatural stories, she knew she wanted to write paranormal romance. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son in their home state of Florida, as well as searching out things that go bump in the night. She still hasn‟t found any proof of the supernatural, but she's keeping her fingers crossed. You can learn more about Rosalie Lario at her website, www.rosalielario.com, or you can find her online at Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.

114