Redemption (A NOVEL OF THE SEVEN SIGNS) (50 page)

Fatigued, Rose hefted herself up from Japheth’s sofa, blinking in mid-morning sun.

She sighed, stretching the small of her back over linked hands. Stiff vertebrae popped. Being a vampire had sucked, sure. But now she was weary.

“Is she sleeping?” Japheth drifted up behind her, a waft of latte-scented breeze.

Bridie curled beneath a blanket on the sofa, cheek resting on one little fist. She murmured, some sugar-sweet dream.

“Yep.” Rose’s smile faded. They’d ventured out to get food, after she discovered that Japheth had only fruit juice and iced water in his fridge, and the place had been like a war zone. The city stank of ash and burned flesh, and the air howled with sirens. Near Japheth’s place, the city still buzzed, frantic, but downtown Babylon from SoHo to Battery Park was scorched earth, and still burning. People looted, fought, killed each other for food or weapons. The polluted water mains were clogged with bloody sludge, and the mess had gurgled up into the subway. The fire department had no power, no water. Debris blocked most of the roads. The charred corpses of
vampires clogged the streets and gutters, with not enough vehicles to clear them away.

It was going to be a long day.

“Good.” Japheth eased his arm around Rose’s waist and kissed her, just below her ear.

“Mmm.” His hair drifted on her shoulder, damp from the shower. He’d changed out of his armor, too, naked to the waist. Hoo boy. His big body fit seductively against hers, and gently he eased her stained red coat from her shoulders and dropped it. Ran his thumbs along her tense shoulder muscles, rubbing, caressing…

God, that felt good. Rose shivered, and tried to pull away. “Don’t you have someplace to be?”

“Uh-huh.” He swept her up in one arm. A golden flurry of breeze, and he dropped her on her back onto his bed. “Here.”

His sizzling gaze undressed her. She swallowed, her heart thumping. “I mean…don’t you have cities to save? People to rescue? Angel stuff to take care of?”

Softly, he clicked the door shut. Drifted onto the quilt beside her. Curled one glowing golden wing over her, a secret place just for them. “I’m taking care of you, Rose Harley,” he whispered. “For once, the world can wait. Besides”—he stroked hair from her eyes—“I believe I’m out of a job.”

He brushed warm lips over hers. Gentle, at first, exploring, like they’d never kissed before. His fingers played softly in her hair. She reeled, undone by his tenderness, already dizzy. Opened her mouth, kissed him deeper, hungry for this hour, this minute, whatever it was.

Because it wouldn’t last. It couldn’t. Nothing ever did.

His sigh of longing sparkled over her skin. A hot ache twisted deep inside her, and she groaned. She needed to have him. Now. Before this moment passed forever.

She sat up, murmuring in protest when his lips left hers. Peeled off her torn t-shirt. Beneath it, her breasts were bare. His eyes burned dark. He pulled her close, kissing hot tingles over her throat, her collarbone, between her breasts.
Oh, damn.
She squirmed, flushing. She’d forgotten how she stank,
blood and sweat and God knew what else. “Um. I’ll take a shower. Just let me…”

“Don’t you dare.” His mouth burned her, insistent. “You taste like you.” And he slid a slow, hot kiss over one nipple.

She groaned and arched, helpless. She hadn’t realized how much pleasure her breasts could feel. He suckled her, his tongue pulling until she was so hard there it ached. Desire burned through her. She fumbled her jeans undone. He helped her, pulling them over her hips and off, kissing hot urgency down over her belly, her hip, the crease at the top of her thigh. He unfolded her legs, and she strained into him, desperate for his touch, and when he eased his tongue into her folds she thought she’d die of bliss.

He explored her, fingertips and tongue, so gentle it broke her heart. She was already so wet, so sensitive. She fisted his hair in both hands, trying to pull him closer. “Harder. Please. I need you.”

But he laughed, a tiny vibration that thrilled deep. “Peace, Rose Harley,” he whispered, “let me love you,” and he glided his tongue softly over her clit and licked her until she melted into a puddle of pure pleasure.

She’d never felt it like that, never had a man take such exquisite care, like she was the most precious thing in the world, and then effortlessly he quickened her, brought her on, harder and faster and tighter until he suckled her deep into his hot delicious mouth and she broke apart, exploding from her clit to her deepest insides to her fingertips and toes.

She panted, dizzy with release. He swept her up in his arms. “
Now
we shower,” he whispered, and fluttered to his feet. In moments, he’d stripped naked. His magnificent warrior’s body gleamed, hard, tough. Big lean thighs, smooth hips, tight butt, perfect cock. Just the way she liked it.

And soon, he’d be gone. Sorrow licked her exquisitely, sharpening her desire.

She grabbed his hand, yanked him back onto the bed. He tumbled, laughing, and she jumped astride him, fighting him still. “My turn,” she said, and fell on him.

She’d wanted to taste that magnificent chest since she’d laid eyes on it. He started to push her off him but groaned at the
touch of her lips. She licked him, bit his flat nipples to make them peak, traced her tongue over his steel-hard abdomen. Mmm. Her mouth watered. She dipped and took his cock in her mouth. God, he tasted so good, smooth hot male skin. She took more, running her tongue over him, sucking lightly.

His breath quickened. “Don’t. I can’t…it’s, uh, been a long time.”

“Good,” she whispered, and teased him with her tongue, watching his thighs jerk as he tried not to push deeper into her mouth. The power freshened her desire. “That makes you all mine.”

He growled, and with a taut snap of wings, he flipped her onto her back. Fought for her wrists, pinned them over her head. His green eyes burned, intense, and he whispered against her lips. “You want to fight me?”

Her breasts pressed against his chest, her hard nipples slipping on his damp skin. She’d never feel that again. She wrapped her thigh around his hips, and tilted up invitingly. “I want to
fuck
you. Now.”

He caught her bottom lip in his teeth, and fucked her. A long, hot, slow, possessive thrust that blurred her vision, it felt so damned good. “Oh, yes.” He was big, hot, talented, gorgeous. It didn’t matter. He was just him. And she opened her legs and folded them higher and gave herself up to his loving. Slow yet demanding, insistent yet achingly gentle. He took her, let her take him, drowned her in kisses and sensation and sweet, excruciating pleasure that swelled and sparkled and ignited in her flesh like liquid starlight. She shuddered, cried out, surrendered, and it melted her, impossibly perfect.

He rode it with her, crushing her in his embrace, enfolding her in warmth and sighs and sparkling golden heat. “Rose.” His whisper glittered in her mouth. “Rose.” Just that one word. As if it was the only word he’d ever need.

Dizzy, sated, she buried her face in his warm crisp feathers. Jesus, she was crying again. She tried to smile, to swallow her sorrow, but her throat ached so hard she couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think past the swift stabbing pain in her heart.

He didn’t ask. Didn’t challenge her. Just held her, soothed her with the steady thudding of his heart. And at last she slept,
curled in her angel’s embrace. No dreams. No nightmare. Just soft, blessed silence.

*   *   *

Japheth’s feathers prickled, the scent of summer rain.

The quilt, warm and Rose scented beneath him. He hadn’t really been sleeping. Just drifting, breathless with delight, his amazing woman in his arms. She was… Well, he was speechless. Her scent still made him dizzy, her long smooth body against him a honey-sweet revelation that faded everything he’d endured for fourteen hundred years into pale glassy memory.

She was totally worth waiting for.

But danger prickled his spine. That scent of rain persisted, and…well, he was pretty sure it wasn’t raining.

He kissed her, a light brush of lips. She tasted of warm female flesh and pleasure. He stifled a groan, his body reacting with longing that nearly made him forget… “Rose, wake up. We’ve got company.”

She murmured, lashes fluttering. Her lovely dark hair spilled over naked shoulders. So beautiful, his heart ached afresh.

Worth losing everything for?

He fluttered up, retrieved his trousers, and walked out to face his fate.

Rose’s little girl still lay napping on the sofa, one arm thrown above her head. He whispered a sparkling charm, and she sighed, falling into deeper, dreamless sleep. She didn’t need to see this.

Afternoon sunlight poured in, licking the floorboards with gold. But it was easily outshone by silvery glory. Soft feathery wings, the color of storm clouds. Black suit, neat iron hair, steely eyes.

Japheth coughed. “I guess I should thank you for not coming sooner.”

Gabriel leaned his elbow on the dark granite bench, lifting the empty vial to the sun. Sunlight glinted on the golden curves. “‘The power to scorch men with fire,’” he quoted blandly. “In case you’re not keeping up—” He cast a mocking glance over Japheth’s half-undressed state. “The vampires are
all dead. Or their curse dissolved, thanks to your little accident. The city’s on fire. The Apocalypse, however…” He smiled, a flash of chilly sun. “Well, it doesn’t matter who spills the wrath, does it? But not how I’d expected this one would turn out.”

“Me neither.” Japheth shrugged, square. “I did what I had to, Seraph. I don’t expect pardon.”

“Japheth?” Rose emerged from the bedroom, blinking and tucking the sheet around her lithe body. “What are you—? Oh.” She halted, awkward. “Sorry. I didn’t realize…”

Gabriel swept her with a rain-dark glare. “Silence, human.”

Rose stalked up to stand beside Japheth, eyes flashing. “‘Silence, human’?” She mocked Gabriel’s deep smooth voice. “How about, ‘screw you, angel’? Are all your lot this stuck-up, Japheth? Because y’all could really use an attitude adjustment.”

Crazy laughter tempted Japheth, and he swallowed it. She was amazing. He wanted to kiss her, strip her naked, take her right there in front of Gabriel.

The archangel swept back stormy wings, a glittering ozone breeze. “Such charming company you keep,” he remarked acidly. “Forgive me if I don’t stay. But there’s the matter of a debt to be paid, soldier.”

Japheth swallowed, cold. He’d thought he was ready for hell. His courage had never failed him before.

But now the time had come… He wanted to fall on his knees, scream,
No, please. Just give me a few moments longer.

A few more moments with her.

But too late. What’s done was done. And hell awaited him.

He squared his shoulders, taking a last breath of sweet earthly air, and let his gaze rest on Rose’s face.

She stared back, confusion glimmering in her eyes. His heart ached, sweet and bitter. She was perfect. She was everything. She’d made him whole. For a few glorious hours, his empty heart had filled…and that was worth any eternity of torment.

Triumph glowed in his blood.
I win. You know it.

I win.

His vision blurred, warm. He blinked, impatient, waiting for the fire.

Gabriel tucked the vial away in his inside pocket, and flickered his feathers. “Don’t have all day. Are you coming?”

Japheth’s numb wits refused him. “Huh?”

The archangel’s thin lips pressed even thinner. “The demon prince is dead, isn’t he?”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“Michael made you a promise,” said Gabriel impatiently. “He can’t be here right now. But I see no reason to renege. You wanted back into heaven? You got it.”

Japheth reeled, and light exploded behind his eyes. Heaven. Redemption. An end to all his earthly suffering. No more ugliness. No more unspeakable emotion, fear, yearning.

Everything he’d ever thought he wanted.

He steadied himself. Blinked away the dizziness. Caught Rose’s hand in his, and squeezed.

Gabriel sighed. “Well?”

Japheth swallowed. “No, thanks. I’ll stay. If it’s all the same to you. I, uh…” He smiled, as he realized it was true. “I like it here.”

Rose’s eyes shimmered wide. She gripped his hand, damp. “Japheth, you can’t—”

“I can,” he whispered. “I am. Peace, Rose Harley.”

And strange, wonderful, heady warmth flooded his heart.

Peace.

Gabriel’s wing and eyebrow lifted in unison, displeasure or surprise or faint disgust. “I won’t ask again.”

“I know.” Japheth’s voice was steady. He squeezed Rose’s hand tighter. “If you see Michael, tell him I said we’re even.”

Gabriel sniffed, haughty, and vanished in a pop of thunder.

Silence clamored…and Japheth’s wings prickled, a faint shimmer of Tainted glory. He flexed his left hand, palm upturned. The twin-lightning sigil glowed, azure bright and true.

Japheth of the Tainted.

Rose stared at him, aghast. “Who was that? What did you do?”

“That was Gabriel.” He grinned, and drew her close. “And I told him no.”

“
Gabriel
was going to let you back into heaven, and you said
no
?” She shook her head, bewildered. “You crazy son of a bitch. Did you do this for me? Because I’m gonna kick your feathered golden ass—”

He cut her off with a kiss. She gasped, and kissed him back, and by the time they parted, his pulse hammered, his body afire with her rich velvet scent. “My heart’s here,” he whispered, crushing her close. “I don’t want to leave.”

“For a frosty-ass angel of death, you are
such
a fucking romantic.” Rose tilted her head back, tugging at his hair, and sighed. “Bridie’s watching us.”

“She won’t wake up.” He kissed her throat, inhaling her. God, he felt drunk, high, up to his eyeballs in wonderful. He hadn’t been drunk in fourteen hundred years.

About time.

She purred, nestling closer, and when he swept her onto her back on the warm granite bench, she yelped, laughing. “What about your precious rules, angel?”

“Let me think.” He yanked the sheet away, baring her gorgeous body. He kissed her, wallowing in her skin’s fragrant delight. She sighed in bliss, folding herself around and against him, and it only took him a few seconds to strip naked. She was already wet, longing for him. She eased him inside her, and he shuddered, so delicious and warm and right…