Desiring A Demon (Archangels) (2 page)

“All right,” he finally said. “I’m heading out.”

He took his empty cup to the sink and rinsed it out before handing it to her. She set it inside the dishwasher.

“Are you going anywhere today?” he asked.

“I hadn’t planned on it.”

“Good.”

Then he gave her the heartbreaking grin that filled too many of her fantasies
,
grabbed his jacket
,
and walked out the door
.

Too soon
,
the house grew quiet and lonely. She did housework to pass the time and baked a batch of cookies. Rafe left his laptop in the house for her when he went to work so she’d have something to do, but the internet couldn’t hold her attention for long. Inside of her
,
a storm was brewing and her instincts clamored for attention. She wasn’t usually superstitious but she’d learned to listen to her gut. Right now it was screaming that something was wrong. Again. In the past, her normal course of action would have been to pack what she could carry and run as fast and as far as her legs could take her. There was always another town, another job, waiting down the highway.

Unfortunately
,
she wouldn’t just be leaving a dead-end job full of nameless people behind this time. If…no,
when
she left, she’d be leaving Rafe and his brothers.

Her thoughts wandered back to Rafe
,
and she shoved them away. He was an Archangel of heaven, the complete opposite of a demon. She might only be half, but that half was tainted by her birth and could never be redeemed. No way would an angel ever consider her for more than a wary friendship. Rafe worried about her and cared for her because it was an inherent part of his nature. She was little more than a stray to him, a pet project that would leave soon enough.

But she didn’t want to leave.

Holding down a job had never been easy. The regulars would start to complain, her coworkers would become suspicious of everything she did. Sometimes the boss would get a little too friendly. The longest she’d lasted anywhere was almost five months, and it had damn near cost her life by the time she ran away. After that
,
she became a lot better at reading the writing on the walls. She kept her head down until it was impossible to ignore the hatred around her, and then she packed up and left. The demon taint that was her birthright affected each person she encountered in a different way. Some hated her on sight, some slowly began to distrust her, and others lusted after her in an unnatural way. So far the Archangels appeared to be fighting her demonic influence, but how long would that last?

This time she wasn’t working
,
and no one was threatening her. All she had to do was clean the house and cook the food, and not even that if she didn’t want to. Rafe had made it clear from day one he didn’t expect her to be his servant. But she had to find
something
here to do, because he’d also said she was safer staying in his house. So she played housekeeper with no complaint, and she really didn’t even mind except for one important thing. No paycheck. Rafe bought the groceries and paid the bills. She wasn’t required to spend a single penny. But she’d only had a little bit when they’d met and had quit work that same night. Her last paycheck had been a joke and now she was lucky if she had a hundred bucks to her name. It would be stupid to take off with so little.

With a sigh, she opened up the laptop and started searching for a job. Maybe she could stick around long enough to earn some traveling money. Rafe didn’t like her leaving the house without him, but he hadn’t forbidden it, so maybe she could find a job close by. And maybe with more time spent away from him
,
he’d be able to tolerate her for longer. The thought of him starting to hate her churned her stomach. She never wanted to see disgust or distrust on his face when he looked at her.

The last thing she wanted to do was burn bridges with this band of Archangels. They’d taken her in without blinking an eye. Sure
,
at first it was out of suspicion, but that had changed soon enough to protection. And they’d protected her from her demon father
,
of all things. If she could remain here indefinitely she’d do it, but something was going to happen. She could feel it in her gut. It would be best if she didn’t wait around long enough to find out firsthand what was brewing.

…

Rafe got through his time in court a lot more quickly than expected and his first thought was to return home…to Asta. He checked that thought and went back to his office instead. It was just a small space in the tall building owned by him and his brothers. Zerach dominated the top floor for easy roof access, but Rafe preferred being on one of the lower floors. He didn’t even have a secretary. The place was more for show and somewhere to meet his occasional clients. Most of the time
,
he went to their homes to get a feel for who they were and exactly what he was dealing with anyway
.

He sat at his desk and went over the paperwork from the case he’d just settled in court. Then he scanned over some documents having to do with an upcoming case he hoped wouldn’t even make it to court. He busied himself in the same way he’d been doing the past few years
,
as he pretended to be a human lawyer, but today the words on the page made no sense. The documents couldn’t hold his attention long
,
as it kept wandering back to the woman at his house. Astaroth.

What a name. They’d searched its meaning together one night and she’d been visibly shaken. It left no doubt in his mind that her mother had been fully aware of who her father was, but Asta refused to acknowledge she was named after a demon. Rafe could feel her anger and pain over the discovery, but he didn’t know how to help her. Sometimes she seemed so lost. Other times, she’d open her mouth with some smart-ass comment and remind him she was old enough to take care of herself. But could she really?

He shoved the paperwork into his briefcase and rubbed his eyes. Asta wasn’t a problem right now, but what about in a few months? Years? They hadn’t talked about how long she should stay with him. She seemed perfectly content in his home, and he’d be lying if he said he minded her being there. It wasn’t just her great baking skills
,
either. She was funny, smart, entertaining in an almost forbidden way. An image of her sensual beauty filled his mind and his blood heated
.
The thought of her throaty laughter hardened parts of his anatomy that shouldn’t react to a half
-
demon at all.

A relationship between them couldn’t last. Not only because of the angel/demon thing, but what could he offer her, really?

As a human lawyer he was wealthy enough not to worry about any day-to-day needs. He had six loving brothers who’d do anything for him, and he couldn’t imagine his existence without them. But they couldn’t hide their suspicions of Asta. They’d never fully warm up to her because of her half-demon nature. Plus
,
they had to change up their appearance and overall lives every ten years or so. To avoid the suspicions of the human population, they’d
die
or disappear from their current life and become someone else, somewhere else. That time was quickly approaching. How could he ask her to live like that, especially when she probably only had a human lifespan? Another question no one could answer.

He sighed and leaned back in his chair to stare pointlessly at the ceiling. The best course of action would be to ignore the attraction between them until she got bored and decided to leave. The time was getting close. Soon
,
she’d move on without his input
,
and he’d have to let her go. That was the best possible outcome. So why did it leave such a bad taste in his mouth?

After forcing himself to stay at the office until dark, he got home just as she pulled lasagna from the oven.

His traitorous stomach growled and she laughed. “Good thing I used the bigger pan. I’ll bet there won’t even be enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” he replied. “I’m hungry. I skipped lunch.”

“Oh? Court took that long?”

He almost lied to her, which drew him up short. Then he shook his head, more at himself than in answer to her question. “Um, no. I had paperwork to finish up at the office. Time got away from me.”

“Well, there’s plenty here. I’m not that hungry anyway.”

He took a good look at her pale face and the shadows under her eyes. New lines were etched in her soft skin
.
He stepped closer and ran a finger over one of them.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked.

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she shrugged. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You tell me.”

She snorted and brushed past him to grab a couple of plates. “I’m fine
,
Rafe. Will you get our drinks?”

He watched her move around the kitchen for a moment before shrugging out of his suit jacket and slipping it over a chair. Then he pulled an open bottle of red wine from the refrigerator and two glasses. He took them to the table and poured while she walked over with their plates full of lasagna. She’d even made garlic bread.

“Damn, that smells good.”

“Thanks.”

When he pulled her chair out, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. Her arm brushed the backs of his fingers as she sat down, sending sparks of awareness through him. The urge to run his fingers through her hair struck him but he took his seat instead.

“This looks delicious,” he said. “Thank you.”

She smiled.

Like always
,
they ate in companionable silence, though a low hum of awareness buzzed between them
.
He and his brothers tried not to get too close to any human. They always died within a hundred years or so of being born, and it was too hard to lose someone they cared about over and over again. But he’d failed to keep his distance with Asta. He was comfortable around her. It was an odd sensation. If…no,
when
she left his house for the last time, he’d definitely miss her. And that wasn’t a good thing. He could most likely find her anywhere she chose to go and keep tabs on her. But that would just delay the inevitable. Her half
-
demon status might give her a few extra years, but most likely not. She’d die like every other human he’d ever known. And it would hurt him
.

…

Asta felt Rafe’s gaze on her and tried to ignore it. He stared at her often
,
after all. But tonight he seemed kind of sad. The day’s case must have really taken its toll.

She drank the last of her wine and pointedly looked at the bottle. He grinned and refilled both of their glasses.

“So, what’s lined up for tomorrow?” she asked.

He shrugged his wide shoulders, momentarily distracting her. “Not much. I think I’m going to stay home.”

“Oh? Must be nice to be your own boss.”

He laughed. “It is.”

She rolled her eyes. “Well I’ve got a couple of places I want to check out for a part-time job. Can I borrow your car?”

…

This is it
, Rafe thought.
Her finding a job is just the first step to her leaving.

That surprised him. When had it become so personal? He glanced up to find her staring at him and remembered she’d asked a question. “Uh, yeah. No problem.”

“I can take the bus if you don’t want me driving your car.”

“No, no, it’s fine.”

She seemed skeptical but gave him a small smile before standing up to clear the table. He helped and soon they were cleaning the kitchen side by side, like they’d done so many times before. But tonight felt a little different. Every brush of her shoulders or accidental touch of her fingers on his rocked him to the core. Her skin set off a spark within him that couldn’t be ignored. But he tried pretty damn hard.

Finally they finished and he decided not to play with fire. After a quick good night he all but ran to his bedroom. Attraction to a demon was foolish but acting on it would be idiotic. Sure she was only half, but that only made her twice as dangerous. Maybe he should help her find a full-time job. Suddenly getting her out of his house seemed like a good idea.

Chapter Two

The first three places Asta stopped at said they’d just hired someone and forgotten to take down the sign. The next two pretended they didn’t even realize a sign was hanging in their window. All five of the businesses had been run by women. She decided to skip the next few on her list that were also boutique
-
type retail stores and head straight to the liquor stores and bars. One of those would have a male manager, and her spot would be guaranteed. Though she usually tried not to use any bit of her demon taint for ill use, getting a job would be a good thing and wouldn’t hurt anyone around her. So, in her mind she was almost doing a good deed.

Luck was with her at the second liquor store. A balding
,
middle-aged man named Harvey owned it and needed an evening cashier.

“I can work whatever hours you need me,” she said.

He looked her over, keeping his gaze on her breasts for almost a full minute as he slowly nodded. “Yeah…good.”

“So, have I got the job?”

“Yeah, sure. You got the job. When can you start?”

“Tonight.”

“Yeah? Let me see your social security card.”

She almost rolled her eyes at him suddenly remembering this was business, but refrained as she pulled it from her purse. She had a valid ID
,
too
,
thanks to Rafe’s brother, Cam. One of the first things Rafe had done for her was make sure she had up
-
to
-
date paperwork. The bars she’d been working in hadn’t cared much one way or another, but he’d wanted her to be able to get more steady work. Fat lot of good that did. She wasn’t cut out for an office job. Never mind her purple-tinted hair and cartilage piercings. Most people got the odd vibe her demon side threw out and didn’t want her around. The drunks and drug-addled didn’t seem to care or notice.

“Yeah, all right,” Harvey finally said. “Be here at seven tonight and Mark will train you. I’ll leave him a note.”

“Great. Thanks.”

She took back her social security card and walked out the door. She couldn’t wait to tell Rafe. Just as she was snapping her seat belt into place
,
a sharp pain pierced her head. She grabbed it in both hands and barely stifled a scream. This was bad
.
Very, very bad. She wasn’t prone to migraines and rarely got sick like a normal human. Every time her body did something unexpected it always turned out to be something horrific.

As soon as the pain passed she started the car and headed home. Whatever was about to happen, she wanted it to happen once she was safely back in Rafe’s house. More for the protection of everyone around her than herself. She hoped he wasn’t home yet.

…

Rafe sat at a table in a diner near downtown Houston
,
waiting on breakfast with his brother. He rubbed his temples with his fingertips as he tried to concentrate on what Zerach was telling him. Finally he noticed his brother had gone silent. He looked up to find concern in Zerach’s gaze.

“It’s nothing. Just a headache.”

The disbelief on his brother’s face wasn’t unexpected.

“Yeah, sure,” Zerach said. “Since we get headaches all the time.”

Rafe shrugged. It was true they never felt normal human ailments, especially something so common. But that fact didn’t keep his head from aching as if someone had slugged him with a baseball bat.

“It is what it is. So, you were saying?”

His brother frowned but seemed to realize he’d get no further on what was bothering him and continued where he’d left off. “I was saying, I have good news. I’m sorry you’re the last to know but I didn’t realize Mike was with the others when I called to tell him.”

Rafe waved that concern away with one hand. “Well then tell me already so I’ll know
,
too.”

“I’m going to be a father.”

Rafe’s head snapped up and he sat up straighter. “Really?”

“Yes. I mean, it’s too soon to know by human medical methods, but apparently I haven’t completely lost my angelic senses. I knew the moment we conceived.” Zerach’s face split into a wide grin.

“Wow. That was fast.”

He laughed. “I promise we wasted no time in trying. She’s just as eager to be a parent as I am.”

“Congratulations. That’s wonderful news.” Rafe reached across the table to slap his brother lightly on the shoulder.

“Thank you. I can hardly wait. I’ve been around pregnant humans plenty of times, but knowing this is a child I helped create…there are no words to describe it.”

Rafe smiled back as Zerach visibly tried to reign in his emotions. A light sheen of moisture shone in his eyes
,
and his pure joy was palpable.

“I’m very happy for you. Both of you. Have you told her godparents yet?”

That sapped some of Zerach’s happiness. He had a love/hate relationship with Isadora’s aunt and uncle. “Not yet. We’re going to wait about six weeks, when a normal human test would give the results. Then we’ll let the world know.”

“Sounds like a good plan. Just let me know if you need anything.”

“I need a will. And a trust for the baby. I don’t want to think of anything happening to either me or Isadora, but now that I’m mortal—”

“Your child would never want for anything.”

“Of course I know that. I trust all of you to take care of my new family even while I’m around to do it. But I’d feel better knowing the human side of things is taken care of
,
too. You know how they like their paperwork.”

Rafe grinned. As a lawyer he had to deal with an awful lot of paperwork. Even in this digital age. “Don’t I ever.”

The waitress set a steak omelet in front of Zerach and a mound of French toast in front of Rafe, then refilled their coffee cups. They waited for her to walk away before Rafe dug in
,
and Zerach spoke again
.

“The time of our usual regeneration is soon. Within the next two years.”

“Us. Right. Since that’s not a problem for you any longer.”

“Yes, but I’ll still need to help the rest of you.”

Zerach started eating as Rafe considered his words. “You and Isadora are going to be instrumental in helping us reemerge as new men. But I don’t think we should stagger it like we have in the past. Maybe all of us should ‘die’ together, and our cousins or whatever can come out of the woodwork to take our places.”

Zerach frowned as he thought that scenario over. Texas had been their home base for centuries, Houston having grown large enough to make blending in easier. Zerach’s popularity in the gossip magazines would’ve made it impossible. But since
falling
for Isadora had made him mortal, he would now age as any human. That would also make things harder on the rest of the brothers. Anyone close to them would notice he was the only one aging.

Luckily they didn’t form close relationships with many people. Cam had a secretary and a few regular marriage counseling clients. Sel had gotten to know all his neighbors. Rafe was known in the legal circles in Houston, which made him almost as visible as Zerach. Mike had no one but the clients of his security firm, and he never spoke to them again after finishing his assignment.

“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,” Zerach finally said.

Rafe waved his hand in a circle to get him to elaborate.

“Well, first of all, Isadora is a terrible liar. If she’s having to deal with condolences from all kinds of strangers, that won’t go over well.”

“Okay.”

“Second, she’s already emotional as it is. This doesn’t have to happen right now while she’s pregnant, but even after our baby is born I don’t want her having to deal with the stress of
losing
all of you at once. She’ll have to pretend you’re virtual strangers afterward. And third, losing all of you at once will give the media cause for more scrutiny. It won’t last, but while they’re at it we’d have to be on our guard twenty-four seven. There’s a lot more chance for screw-ups that way. If we stick to our usual plan, where one of us moves away, one of us dies, and the rest of us subtly change our appearance…that would be best.”

“You mean
us
, not you.”

He smirked. “Well, yeah.”

Rafe rubbed his temples again and tried to shake away the uneasiness creeping in. It wasn’t a serious feeling of alarm, as if the wards on his house had been damaged, but he was damn uncomfortable all of a sudden.

“Hey,” Zerach said with concern. “You’re not going to throw up, are you?”

Rafe frowned. “Of course not. I’m just tired.”

“Uh-huh.”

Rafe sighed and sat back, trying his damnedest to at least appear relaxed. “Look, I understand your concerns for Isadora and you’re probably right.” He glanced around the restaurant at all the various humans in their midst. “I guess I’m anxious to get this one done and start living again.”

Zerach gave him a sympathetic smile and took a sip of his coffee. “I get it, I really do. But rushing into something different at this crucial time would be a mistake. Modern technology could wreak havoc on trying to change all of you over at once. A large enough accident to take care of everyone would definitely garner too much attention…too much scrutiny.”

“Yeah…you’re probably right.”

“Of course I’m right. I’m always right.”

Rafe smirked and lifted his coffee cup in a mock salute. “Well then, here’s to knowing all the answers.”

Zerach barked out a laugh before tapping his cup to Rafe’s. “Damn straight.” He sipped, then set his cup down. “Besides, you never know who might
fall
next.”

Rafe’s attention snapped back to him. “Something going on with one of the others that I haven’t noticed?”

His brother chuckled and shook his head. “More like, is there anything going on at home that you want to tell
me
about?”

He fought to keep his face blank. “No. What are you talking about?”

Zerach smirked. “Oh, come on, Rafe. We all see the way you look at Asta. And the way she looks at you should be illegal.”

“She’s half demon, Zee. I’d never do that.”

One thick eyebrow shot up as Zerach simply stared at him. “You’re kidding, right? After all the time the two of you have spent together? Her demon blood can’t really matter to you anymore. We all know that’s not something she has any control over, and she’s acted more human than demon.”

For some reason
,
his incredulous look stung. Rafe dropped his gaze even as he shrugged. He lifted his coffee cup to his mouth for something to do and realized it was empty. “Look, I’m not saying she isn’t tempting. The Source knows she’s temptation incarnate. And for all I know that’s the whole point. Maybe I’m being tested.”

Zerach snorted and rolled his eyes. “I can’t imagine for a second you truly believe that. Not after total silence from the Source for so damn long.”

Rafe grimaced. “Perhaps not. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to give in to my baser urges where she’s concerned. It would never work out anyway.”

No matter how badly I might crave her.

“Why not?”

He studied his brother’s baffled expression. “For one thing, Mike wouldn’t approve.”

Zerach ran a hand through his hair and said nothing. They both knew they had to defer to Mike in all things; even Zerach as a mortal would still listen to their chosen leader. They’d been following Mike for too long to do anything else.

“Yeah,” Zerach finally said. “There is that.”

“Besides, she’s so…flighty. I mean not right now. But I can sense the restlessness in her. I like it here. I’m not so sure she would want to stay put for long. It just wouldn’t work.”

He tried not to squirm as his brother continued to watch him, but he knew he was right in this. Asta tempted him on many levels and giving in would only hurt both of them in the long run.

They finished breakfast and Zerach drove him home. It was a beautiful day in Houston, with the weather at an even seventy degrees. Maybe he should take Asta to a park for lunch.

“So what is our resident demonling up to today?” Zerach asked.

Asta hated that term, which was why his brothers insisted on using it. They only meant it as a joke, but Rafe wasn’t sure if she thought it was funny at all.

“She went out to find a job.”

“Oh? You gonna start charging her rent?”

Rafe snorted a laugh. “Hardly. She’s getting bored.”

“Tell her to open a bakery.”

“She probably could. You know, I think I’ve actually started gaining weight.”

He patted his stomach as Zerach laughed.

“I’m serious.”

“Yeah. I’m sure you are, but don’t worry. Unless you
fall
that’s impossible.”

“Among other things. How has it been for you?”

Zerach shrugged almost carelessly, but there was no mistaking how his smile dampened a bit. Finally he said, “I miss my wings.”

A sympathetic pang of loss hit him in the chest. “I’m sure that was quite an adjustment.”

“Yes, it was…is. But every time it starts to bother me I look at my perfect wife and remember why it’s been worth the loss. Once the baby comes, I probably won’t even remember what it was like to fly.”

The smile of contentment on his face eased Rafe’s concern and even made him envious. Would he ever want that for himself?

He snorted a laugh. “You’ll be too damn busy to remember anything.”

Zerach chuckled along with him. “Most likely.”

They pulled into his driveway and relief filled him to see his car already there. Asta was back from job hunting.

…

When the men entered the house it took all of Asta’s will to remain calmly sitting on the sofa. Something was terribly wrong inside of her, but she had no idea what it was or how to deal with it. Sweat rolled down her neck
,
and she swiped moisture from her forehead. Her pulse had begun to accelerate as she drove home from the liquor store, and it felt as if it hadn’t slowed back down yet. Her head pounded to the rhythm of her heartbeat, speeding up in time to it. Overall, she felt like shit. Unfortunately, she couldn’t stay still long enough to lie down. She tapped her foot to an unknown beat as the brothers walked into the room.