A glimpse was enough, though, to heat her blood. She heard rather than saw him slip into the water. When she opened her eyes, it was to find him in front of her, a half-grin on his lips.
“Hey, Curls. You gonna get comfortable?”
“I’m fine,” she lied. She wasn’t okay. She throbbed between her legs. She wanted to reach for him. Wanted to ask for another kiss.
They were married now. Except for one thing. “We never consummated our vows.”
His eyes widened. “No, we didn’t.”
“Isn’t that part of the ritual to ensure the marriage can’t be dissolved?” She’d seen it in a movie.
“Are you saying you want to have sex with me?”
The bold manner in which he asked had her suddenly shy. She licked her lips. “I think I would like it if you kissed me again.”
He groaned as he swept her into his arms and plundered her mouth. The heat inside her ignited, as did a throbbing pleasure. She grabbed him and touched. Felt the skin of his broad shoulders and strong back. The firmness of his flesh.
Gasped as his hands divested her of her clothes. The water felt great nude. His stroking fingers felt even better.
She moaned into his mouth as he kissed her. Writhed as he touched her and made her yearn for something more.
Sin. Sin. Sin.
The word chanted inside her head, and yet she didn’t care. She felt good and alive. Wanted more.
When he sat her on the edge of the tub, her eyes opened. He’d remained in the water, level with…
She blushed as he parted her. She put her hands against her mound.
He nudged them with his lips and said, “If you move them, I can make you feel really good.”
“Better than I feel now?” she asked.
“So fucking good.”
Such sinful promise in that claim. She placed her hands on the stone rim of the tub and closed her eyes before he touched her.
With his mouth. Down there.
She cried out. Her hips bucked. Only once and then he held her. Gripped her as he kissed her below and made her writhe with pleasure. Squirm against her need.
When that peak of ecstasy hit, she cried out, and her body undulated. He wasn’t done.
He licked her and pushed fingers against her, the strangeness of it drawing pants. He emerged from the water, sleek and wet, his expression smoldering hunger.
She understood that hunger. She kissed him and pressed her body to his. He grabbed her around the waist and carried her to the couch, where he lay her down before he covered her with his frame.
His lips sought hers. His hand went between their bodies and stroked.
Soon she writhed under him, moaning and panting. Needing something.
She stilled as something hard pressed against her. Her eyes opened, and she met his gaze.
Intent, yet he paused.
She put her arms around his neck and drew him close for a kiss as he pushed into her. She cried out at a sharp pain. There and gone, erased by a spreading pleasure as he filled her.
Literally. She could feel him inside her, and she quivered.
He groaned. “Fuck me, Curls. If you do that again, I might come too quick.”
“Do what?” She shuddered, squeezing him.
He uttered a sound and began to move inside her, and she cried out. Dug her fingers into his shoulders as he thrust his hardness into her. Stretched her and struck at something that made her tighten.
Until she exploded and found herself floating above herself but not alone. He was there in that moment, surrounding her with his warmth.
When she came back to herself, she remained warm and snug in his arms.
He kissed her lightly. “Guess that makes our marriage official.”
“Meaning what?” she asked.
“I’m not letting you go. And anyone that tries to take you will get a fight.”
The promise had her kissing him again. The hunger she now understood as lust filling her.
They didn’t make it to the bed. The coldplace bathed their heated skin as she sat atop him, rocking her hips, sinning in the most delightful way.
His hands touched her all over.
Her fingers dug into his chest as she found true heaven.
In his arms.
18
Julio was in love. With an angel, of all things.
Fucking crazy. He knew it, and yet he couldn’t help it. Something about Helen sucked him in, and he didn’t intend to fight to escape. He wanted to remain married. It might have been done under duress to save her, but he wanted it to be real.
Had hope she might want to stay with him as well.
Not once since her arrival had she mentioned going back to Heaven. He’d seen her curiosity as they explored Hell. Everything was new and wondrous to her, but at the same time, she learned quickly. Especially when it came to pleasing him. She already knew how to make him feel good in bed and out. His happiness just needed her around.
Ugh. What kind of sappy bullshit was infecting his mind?
He couldn’t help but jump on the chance to clear his head when a call came in from Grim Dating. Apparently, there was a client demanding to speak to the commander. Given the boss was still on vacation, that meant Julio.
Helen was in the kitchen, banging around. She had no idea how to cook but was keen on learning.
She smiled at him, and he just about took her on the counter right then and there. He’d done it before, her legs wrapped around his waist, the welcoming heat of her snug around his shaft. By the time there were done fucking, he’d been somehow ended up wearing her halo on a tilt, and she wore the grin of orgasmic satisfaction. It made eating her attempts at cooking worth it.
“I gotta pop into the office to handle something. Will you be okay?”
Helen nodded and plopped a strange fruit onto the counter, along with an onion. “I’ve got a new recipe to try.”
“Yay. Can’t wait.” He might bring them back some donuts just in case.
He kissed her, slipped in some tongue, then thought, Fuck it, and fingered her until she gasped into his mouth.
Julio left, his smug smile stretching ear to ear. It was quickly wiped as he stepped into the boss’s office and saw who waited for him.
“Michael.” The archangel. One of the biggest and baddest supposedly. Also, a client who was going through dating options faster than a teenage boy with a bottle of lotion.
Given the ease Michael managed to get panties off women, it made Julio wonder why he bothered with Grim Dating. He didn’t need help getting pussy, which meant the archangel had another reason for always coming around.
Michael offered him a bright smile, his teeth matching the white glare of his suit. “Julio, just the man I wanted to see. I hear you have something that belongs to Heaven, and I’m here to ask that you give it back.”
Julio did his best to not react. He also knew better than to play stupid. “I don’t know that Helen would agree she belongs in Heaven, given the issues she’s had with one of your soldiers. He tried to kill her because she caught him fucking a nanny.”
The declaration didn’t surprise Michael, who had a ready answer. “I’m aware of the situation with Theodore, and it is being handled. The unpleasantness is why I chose to come here and announce that, given the circumstances, all charges against Helen have been dropped. She can come home.”
Julio’s stomach just about bottomed out. Helen leave? It would be selfish to ruin that chance for her.