“What else could we be? I see you every so often, and you are always gone without a trace. It’s been nearly a year now, and all I know about you is your name and exactly how to touch you.”
“Promises.” She whispered, looping her arms around his neck. “I promise I keep myself a secret to protect you. I ran from a marriage to a horrible angel, and you must know we aren’t a match to be seen together in public where any would know my name.”
Xander resisted the urge to press his lips to hers and spend the afternoon making love in the grass. Maira tempted him in every conceivable way, more than he should admit out loud since he barely knew her. Her secrets mattered more.
“Then tell me something about yourself that will ease my precious heart.”
She laughed. “Fine. Swans are my favorite animal. They’re graceful and elegant in a way no other bird can be, yet they are also free. Free to fly where and when they want.”
“Free to love who they want,” he supplied, knowing full well where this might.
“Among other things. Plus, they’re beautiful. I enjoy beautiful things.”
Things I could never hope to obtain for you. When Xander’s fathered died, Xander filled a respected role within society, but he could not craft seraph blades with his human hands, so he scarcely commanded a livable wage.
Despite her attempts at disguising her station in life, Xander wasn’t a fool. Simple gowns did not erase the vision of her in the elaborate one she wore the day they met. She was also likely Nephilim if able to marry an angel. Just human enough to consort with them, but also angel enough to carry title if a man set his sights on her. And why wouldn’t they? She’s stunning.
Though she’d since cut her pale hair short, it fell in soft waves around her shoulders, framing a heart-shaped face. Xander hadn’t known a face could look like a heart until meeting her. Lavender eyes seemed to stare into his soul anytime she so much as glanced at him, and it made him feel naked.
“Why me?”
Her lips found his. She teased him, nipping at his lower lip before pulling back. “Because I could.”
“Because I’m handsome?”
She nodded. “Because you’re handsome and you saved me.”
“And then you ran.”
Maira sighed and let her arms slip away from his neck. “Are we never going to get past that?”
“Not until you explain why.”
“I’ve told you, I found myself drawn to you and did not wish to act inappropriately before a man I’d just met.”
“And a year ago when you first reappeared?” He quirked a brow.
“A year ago, I never expected to see you again. I wanted you. I wanted to know what your touch felt like.” She blew out a breath. “I don’t understand it any more than you do. I’ve never been compelled to want a man before – not in this manner.”
The conversation always started and ended the same. He knew women looked at him. He’d not been lonely before Maira coming into his life. It just wasn’t plausible a woman such as herself picked him and continued to pick him.
“I have to get back to work.” He turned, knowing full well she’d be gone when he turned back. She always was, and it was just one of the many reasons he assumed she was Nephilim.
“I wanted to see you,” Maira whispered, sliding into bed next to Xander, tugging the covers up over her shoulder. “I’m sorry for the last time we saw each other.”
He wanted to push her away. To tell her he had no time to be her plaything.
“I forgive you, but this isn’t where we go from here.” I’m falling in love with you, despite knowing nothing about you.
“I understand.” She sighed, her eyes looking down at the bedsheets. “I can’t give you anything more. I enjoy our time together. I enjoy watching you work and pretending I fit in with your friends because I don’t quite belong with my people. I love coming undone under your expert hands, and I love spending the nights curled up doing nothing but talking.”
“And saying nothing.” He snorted.
“Tell me to leave. Tell me I’m too secretive and you never want to see me again.”
Xander didn’t hesitate to speak. “I’m not a liar. You are too secretive, but I am not a fool. When god gives you an angel, you do not rebuke her for small secrets.”
She flinched and left the bed.
“Maira?”
“I’m fine.” She stared at the gently flickering fire in the hearth. “If you can’t tell me to leave, I can’t be strong enough to do what’s right and leave.”
He stood and crossed the space, taking her into his arms only to drop a kiss on the top of her head. “Where does that leave us then?”
“Where we’ve always been.”
“Very well, then.” Xander lifted her chin with his index finger so she looked him in the eye. “We can’t do this forever, but I find myself unable to do anything but be with you when you’re around. One day we will have to name this. To open up our lives to each other. For now, if it means more time holding you in my arms and teasing you about your poor cooking skills and terrible sense of justice, I can handle that.”
“Me too,” she whispered, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Xander knew the woman in his arms would eventually lead to his death one way or another. He just couldn’t bring himself to care.
Chapter Four
Lilacs.
It would forever be the smell Xander revealed in.
Burying his nose in her hair, Xander nipped at Maira’s neck, delighting in her squeal of pleasure. He let his hands cup her ass, squeezing as he angled her hips upright to sink deeper.
Beneath him, she was plaint, writhing even. Every thrust of his hips pulled him to new heights as he plunged into her body. Pleasure radiated just on the tips of his fingers, just out of reach as he switched to lave her nipple, sucking the tawny peak into his mouth as his right hand helped to pump her body against his.
A bead of sweat slipped down his nose, likely plopping onto her bare chest without a care or disruption in the world. The sound of her pants spurred Xander on, driving him to the brink as he thrust in and out of her body as rapidly as his heart beat in his chest.
His breath came in gasps and grunts. Pleasure coiled along his body, tempting his taut skin with every stroke inside her.
The thoughts vanished as all he knew centered around the sensual woman sprawled out on his bed with her hands tangled in the fur throw.
He watched her. Always. Maira gave into passion with her eyes squeezed shut and his name on her lips, but not Xander.
Xander’s eyes roamed her body, watching each and every contraction of muscle as Maira arched to meet him thrust for greedy thrust. Strong arms and legs flexed and coiled every so often as the muscle on her neck would strain when she threw her head back the closer to a release she came.
Xander let his eyes travel between them, watching as his cock moved in and out of her body, appearing and disappearing until it drove him to made to look.
Every time was like this.
Frantic.
Needy.
Explosive.
Maira cried out, close to the edge but not there. Xander lifted his mouth from savoring her and placed a kiss on her lips. She nipped at him as he teased her, his tongue swirling against hers but not dipping inside her mouth to mimic their bodies.