Angel of Darkness (The Fallen 1)

The furrow smoothed away. “Instead of you dying that night, the vampire died.”

“You went against orders.” Now she could think past the rage and pain that had consumed her at the motel.

He gave a slight inclination of his head.

Nicole swiped her tongue over her lower lip. “The vamp was supposed to walk away, but he was the one who bit the dust.” Help me. She hadn’t realized it but … he had.

In the only way he could.

Keenan stared back at her.

“Thank you,” she told him softly.

Now he blinked. “Nicole …”

“This whole thing—it’s a little much for me, okay?” She let go of the banister and faced him. “I mean, you’re an angel. I’ve heard stories about angels all my life, but—” Her laugh sounded broken even to her ears, “I never thought I’d actually meet one.”

“Most people don’t think they’ll ever meet vampires, either.”

Right.

“You killed him …” Her focus centered totally on Keenan. “You killed that vampire so I’d live.”

“Yes.”

She stalked toward him and pressed her hands on his chest. “Thank you for saving me.” He hadn’t just stood by. No matter what he’d said—she was alive because of him.

But he pulled away. “I didn’t save you.”

She was there, breathing, fighting bloodlust, because he had.

“The angels are coming after you. Azrael—Az, he’s coming. Nothing will stop him.”

Don’t think about that. Don’t. “Then let him come.” Don’t think about what happens after death. “Right now, I don’t care about him or what might happen in ten days.”

You’re lying.” His head cocked. “Humans lie so much, and usually so easily.”

She stepped forward and closed that distance again. “I’m alive right now. I might not be alive much longer, but I’m alive now.” Alive and with one of the sexiest men—the sexiest—she’d ever met.

He’d saved her. Suffered for her.

Protected her.

Definitely the sexiest.

She stretched up onto her toes and let her mouth hover near his. “Thank you.” She breathed the words against his lips and then her mouth pressed against his. A hot, openmouthed kiss. When his tongue touched hers, a lick of lust shot straight through her body.

But the fierce burn was so good.

His hands clamped around her arms, and he pushed her back.

What? Back?

“I won’t stop this time.” The words were a dark promise.

Oh, nice. She licked her lips and tasted him. Rich, like chocolate. Except better. So much better. “I don’t want you to.” But he needed to be warned. “Sex with me …” Be careful. “It won’t be like with other women.”

His mouth claimed hers. His tongue drove deep, and she moaned. Her ni**les tightened. Her legs shifted as she fought to widen her stance and feel him.

Just when she was getting desperate, his mouth lifted. “I don’t care about other women.”

Very good to know. “It’s just that vampires …” She swallowed and still tasted him. “For us, sex and bloodlust … it’s not like when you—”

“I haven’t been with another woman.”

Now that stopped her. “What?” Not like she’d had oodles of experience. A few lovers, sure, but … none? And he wanted to start with her?

“Humans and most of the Other can’t even see us.” His lips quirked. “So sex isn’t a big option.”

But… “You’ve never—”

“I didn’t want to. Angels don’t feel emotions—no human needs.”

Like love. Lust.

But he’d lost his wings, and right then, she could sure feel his arousal pressing against her. “I don’t want to hurt you.” She’d try to hold on to her control. The sun was up, so she’d be weaker, but …

“You won’t.” His lips skimmed her jaw. “You can’t.”

But he didn’t understand what it was like when a vampire’s bloodlust combined with the physical desire. Control could be so very thin. She’d learned that lesson the hard way with Connor.

“I think I wanted you,” Keenan told her as he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up against him, “since the first moment I saw you.” His lips pressed against her neck.

Her fingers dug into his hair. Such thick, soft hair. “I’m not the same woman I was then.”

His tongue licked over her skin. She shivered. “You’re the woman I want.”

She’d try to stay in control, for him. Try to keep the bloodlust back and enjoy the pleasure.

Just a man and a woman. She could do that.

His first time.

She didn’t want to screw this up.

His warm hands slipped under her shirt. Inch by inch, they eased up her stomach, rising until they rested just under her bra. “You’ll have to tell me …” His teeth grazed her throat. “What you like.”

Her breath rasped in her throat. “You’re, ah … doing pretty good.”

But he eased away from her. “I can do better.”

Then he lifted her into his arms and carried her through the house. Not up the stairs, but down the twisting hallway. Sunlight rained through the windows, chasing out the shadows. He took her inside the last room on the right. A bedroom. No dresser. No chest. Just a bed.

He laid her down, then pulled away, his gaze watching her as he began to strip.

Oh, yes. His shirt hit the floor and she had one awesome view of his chest. Muscled. So very muscled. Way more than a six-pack on her angel. Sun-kissed skin. Flesh that was so delectable she wanted to bite.

Then he dropped his jeans.

Her sex clenched.

Keenan’s body was perfect. Absolutely perfect. And she wanted to touch every inch of him. Taste every inch.

His cock, full, thick, and long, stretched toward her and she rose up, reaching for him.

“No, sweet, I want to—”

Her fingers curled around him and he stopped talking. “Let me,” she said because it was important that this be good for him.

She bent forward and nipped the hard plane of his stomach. Couldn’t help that. Sometimes a girl needed a bite, but she didn’t break the skin.

She licked the small wound, and her hair fell forward, sliding against his body. He hissed out a breath and his hands locked around her shoulders—not to push her away but to bring her closer.