Page 20 of Seraph's Tears
I gasped in surprise, which made him still. I couldn’t think, I couldn’t—couldn’t—do anything but instinctively want more. And the fear that he would stop and pull away made me drop the vest and cling to him. I threw my arms around his neck and my fingers brushed the arch of his wings.
He gasped and shuddered, his mouth opening to mine, and desire uncoiled within me. It had been dozing, waiting for the right moment to react to my attraction to Gabriel, and now it rose with full force. My lips molded against his, and he responded. His hands wrapped around me, one hand at the nape of my neck and the other at the small of my back, pressing me against him.
My nipples went hard through the layers of fabric, and I moaned at the pleasure that shot through them as I rubbed against the broad expanse of his chest.
When his tongue slipped against my mouth, caressing my bottom lip, I groaned with surprised delight. I had wanted him since the instant I saw him, and my body reacted. He moved, and my eyes fluttered open enough to see his wings expand behind him, curling forward, cocooning us in heavenly white.
This was…everything. Never had I felt so safe, so wanted. Never had I wanted someone else so completely. I shamelessly rubbed against him, pressing my hips to his. A bulge pressed into my lower stomach, hot as a brand.
My tongue stroked his, then darted away so I could gently bite his lip.
He grunted in reply.
I needed more of this. Again and again. It doesn’t matter if it’s Gabriel. If he’s a seraph. It doesn’t matter if Zorababel wants Gabriel?—
My eyes flew open as I remembered exactly who I was kissing. Because it did matter. Oh, so very much.
He must’ve felt me go rigid, for his kiss gentled immediately. I let go of his shoulders and stepped back. His wings withdrew, snapping back into place, as he, too, stepped backward.
We stared at one another again, chests heaving and eyes dilated.
“That was?—”
“I can’t—” His brilliant gaze burned like green fire, and I couldn’t tell if it was passion or anger hiding behind his eyes.
This was a mistake. The realization washed over me like a bucket of icy water. I couldn’t afford complications.
A sound, then a cough sounded at the balcony door.
I gasped and whirled, heart pounding in both arousal and now fear. Who was there?
Another seraph landed on the tiny balcony, making my scrambled mind stutter and my jaw drop. Another?
This angel was not as tall as Gabriel, but he had broader shoulders. Dark brown curls clung to his temples, perspiration from his flight evident. He paused in the threshold when he caught sight of me, his brown eyes widening in surprise. Mahogany wings shook behind him, as if casting off water droplets, then folded along his spine.
“Hello.” He grinned. “I’m Castiel.”
I blinked, surprised. I had assumed—wrongly, apparently—that all seraphim were solemn, stoic creatures because of Gabriel. This one had the aura of your favorite older brother, the one who always let you sneak along when he got into mischief.
“Eve,” I said automatically. “A pleasure to meet you, sir.”
His brown eyes flicked between me and Gabriel, then back again.
I inwardly cringed, hoping he couldn’t guess what he’d nearly interrupted. Oh, gods, he hadn’t seen, had he? The thought made me shrivel inside.
“You’re the housekeeper.” He snapped his fingers at the realization, an oddly human gesture.
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “I am.”
“Glad to see you’re making the captain live a little. Stir him out of that melancholy.” He glanced at Gabriel, as if expecting or even hoping for a reaction.
Gabriel scowled at both of us.
“Will you be staying for supper?” I inquired politely. “So I can prepare a meal adequate for both of you?”
Castiel still smiled as he shook his head. “I’ll stay, but don’t feed me anything.” He wrinkled his nose. “Still adjusting to human food.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. From the corner of my eye, I saw Gabriel rub his chest and stiffen, his scowl deepening.
