At least that’s what he kept telling himself.
He held the suit to her and tied the upper part around her neck. Her cheeks reddened. She was clearly a modest person, but she had the most beautiful body he’d ever seen.
He swallowed hard.
She held the fabric in the correct position and let the towel slide down.
“Turn.” He stepped back to give her room to move, then reached around her to grab the straps. “Just tell me when.”
He looped the straps and pulled.
“That’s good.” She leaned forward, and her wings followed.
The straps rested just below where the wings came out. Perfectly smooth skin led up to the light appendages. No swelling, redness or anything. He traced his finger along the exit site, and her feathers ruffled. She gasped, and her shoulders tightened.
He flattened his palm between the wings, right at her spine. His neck pulsed. He couldn’t see all of her shoulder, but knew her Mark was pulsing, too.
Intensely.
He wanted so badly to untie that knot he’d just fastened and press her against him. Soon.
“Your touch makes me feel dizzy.”
He withdrew his hand. “I’m sorry.”
“In a way I’m becoming addicted to.”
“I hope that’s a good thing.”
She looked down, but not before he saw her cheek bulge with a smile. “Yeah, it’s good.”
He dropped a kiss to the nape of her neck, then nipped at her ear. Her wings wouldn’t allow him to pull her back to his chest, so he got as close as he could, wrapping one arm around her waist and pulling her butt against his trunk. No doubt she felt his arousal.
With his free hand, he caressed her left wing where it’d been broken. No sign of injury. Only smooth, flawless feathers.
“That feels nice,” she whispered and leaned her head back, exposing more of her neck. He touched kisses along as much of her jaw as he could, then rested his cheek against hers, reveling in the energy seeping into him.
She revived him with each touch. “Sadie,” he whispered.
She craned her neck and looked up at him, then at his lips.
That was all it took. He bent down and claimed her mouth. Mint melded with her familiar vanilla scent. She drew in a sharp breath through her nose, but she opened, allowing him entry. He held her tighter, but the wings…he needed to turn her.
He needed more of her.
He broke the connection and whirled her around. She gasped at the swiftness, but when her gaze landed on his, she smiled. His towel sagged, but it didn’t matter. He edged her back against the dresser and hoisted her up.
Perfect. Her wings were able to expand, yet she was at the perfect height for him to feast on her mouth.
And that he did.
He edged his way between her knees as his hands slid over her bottom. Delicate curves. Firm, tight body. In one swift motion, he pulled her to him. She let out a moan, then clamped her ankles together behind his back.
Heat roared off her and into him. Her heart hammered against his chest. Teeth knocked as they devoured each other’s mouths.
He nipped at her bottom lip, and his fangs dropped. He jerked away, but she pulled him in again. “Don’t stop.”
No way. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to. She writhed against him, taking the kiss deeper along with his resolve. Gone was the hesitation he’d seen in her earlier. The shyness. No. She was right there with him, wanting to connect. Strengthen. Find comfort.
He undid the knot around her neck, and the fabric shifted. Slowly, he peeled it back, tracing the exposed flesh with his lips. Her fingers fisted in his hair, pressing him to her when he’d reached her breast.
He grazed, learning every inch of her skin.
“Theo,” her voice was strained. “Oh my gosh.” Her body pulsed against his, and he swallowed her gasp as she let the pleasure consume her.
Her wings tightened around them, the feathers triggering his cliff dive. She clung to him as if he were the only thing that kept her afloat. And he would. No matter what, he would.
As he drifted back down to reality, he held her in silence, basking in the feel of her body. She rested her cheek against his shoulder and caressed his back. Slowly her heart rate diminished to a normal patter, along with his. So in sync.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He nuzzled her neck, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair. “For what, love?”
“This.” She hugged him tighter. “Everything.”
Maybe she felt as refreshed as he did with the contact. Energized.
Theophilus
, Halena’s voice rang in his head, and he jerked at the surprise of it. He’d been so into Sadie, everything else had been shut out.
As it should be.
“What is it?” she breathed against his neck. She dusted kisses just behind his ear, and it sent a tiny electrical current down the side of his neck. His body stirred, wanting her again.
Soon. Soon he’d be able to take her to the bed and make love to her. He drew her hand from around his neck and pressed a kiss to the ring he’d given her. “I think everyone grows restless waiting for us.”
She smiled. “You said they’d understand Mates need to be alone.”
“Evidently they’re willing to risk my wrath.”
“Who spoke to you?” Sadie’s eyes darkened.
“Halena.”
“I don’t like her in your head while we’re together.”
“Oh, she wasn’t.” He feathered a kiss to the tip of her cute nose. “You were the only one on my mind. Trust me.”
She combed his hair back and kissed along his jaw. “The things you do to my body…” She inhaled long and deep, tracing her nose over his Mark as she breathed down his neck.
He worked his hands up between them and found her breasts. Her eyes widened, then the lids hung heavy over her blue orbs. She loosened her grip around him and gave him free rein.
Oh yes. The gang could wait while he explored his Mate a little longer.
Chapter Forty-eight
“A bathing suit?” Halena’s finely tuned eyebrow quirked up.
She was just too beautiful for her own good. Sadie squeezed Theo’s hand, and a flush took hold. She had just been
very
close to Theo; she shouldn’t even give Halena a second thought.
“It’s all we could think of right now with the wings,” Theo said.
“Whatever. So, Batya. Daughter of God. Justin was doing something smart on his computer while you were—”
“What’d you find out?” Theo smiled.
“Nothing. It’s what Halena says. It has Hebrew roots. It appears to be an old language for the most part. But names have meanings all the time, so
Batya
doesn’t necessarily mean Sadie’s
literally
God’s daughter.”
“And how do you explain the wings?” Dasha said, rubbing her warm hand on Sadie’s shoulder. She felt bare with shorts and a bathing suit top. Hopefully they’d find out what was up with her parents and the ring so she could find out how—or if—she could retract them.
“Yeah, well. You got me.”
“You’ve been extra strong all your life?” Halena sat at the kitchen table, staring at Sadie. “As in, lift-a-car strong or just bench-pressing a few extra pounds?
“It wasn’t lift-a-car strength. Mostly just extra strong, enough to be noticeable sometimes.”
As in times when she had to bend metal to get out of a group home that had barred windows.
“
D’accord
.” Halena stood next to Justin, her arms crossed over her chest. “Nothing else in regard to your powers?”
“Only if you count supersmart. I pick things up pretty easy.”
“She was done with high school by age sixteen and college by eighteen.” Dasha flicked her shoulder. “Just graduated from college. I’m sorry you had to miss the ceremonies.”
“Yeah, well, it wouldn’t have gone over well sprouting wings on the stage, huh?”
“No.” Halena pointed. “No one must see you. If they do, we must erase their minds. This is very delicate.”
“Relax, Halena.” Theo smiled. “We’ll protect our supernatural existence as we have for centuries.”
The edge in his tone was noticeable. Tight, harsh, yet commanding. Halena dipped her head, then looked at Sadie. “Strength, intelligence…anything else?”
“Not until my Mark showed up on my shoulder.”
“The growing, morphing, that’s normal.” She shook her head and looked at Justin. “Seeing Heavenly Hosts isn’t. Not to mention a mysterious ring. Let me see it.”
“Jeez. She’s a bossy little thing,” Dasha whispered into Sadie’s ear.
“Bossy little thing with excellent hearing, human.” Halena held out her hand. “The ring.”
Sadie plopped it onto her open palm and glanced at Theo. He studied Halena with narrowed eyes, as if reading her mind. Searching her out.
She held the jewel up to her face, turning it in every direction. She moseyed over to the bright window over the kitchen sink. “This inscription… Justin, type this in to your trusty laptop. ‘Batya. Most treasured from our hearts.’”
“It’s just a phrase from a mother to her daughter,” Justin said as he typed.
“We know how powerful words are,” Theo said. “For some people.”
“Like, when you say
Reverto ut Abyssus
, demons turn to vapor. But when I say it, they just blink and commence with the killing, right?” Dasha said.
The idea of Dasha’s dying sent Sadie’s stomach churning. Maybe she should have Theo erase her friend’s memory, so she’d be safe. Hell, maybe he could erase her own. There were plenty of things she wanted to forget witnessing.
“Hey. I found this funky website. All things mystical.” Justin leaned toward his laptop, which rested on the kitchen table. “Mentions the Batya name again. But nothing else, really.” He read it out loud again, then looked at Sadie. “Maybe you have to read it aloud.”
Sadie perked up. “I’ve said it before.”
“While holding the ring?” Halena offered it back to her.
Theo nodded. “Nothing happened.”
Halena tapped her finger to her lips. “The Mavet dagger must be in the demon’s body somehow while we chant the vanquish. Maybe it’s the same with the ring. Only
on
her finger.”
Theo regarded Sadie, eyebrows puckered. “Okay. But we try it in the safety of this house. Down in the gym.”
A stream of anxiety flooded Sadie’s gut. “What might happen?”
“Not sure. If anything, it might just summon the entity who can help us.” Theo patted her hand. “Hopefully.”
“And they could tell me who my parents are.”
“Or they’ll be your parents,” Dasha said. “It was your mom’s ring, right?”
“According to Nicole.”
“Then there you go,” Halena said. “Let’s head downstairs and find out.”
Sadie didn’t move. She gripped the ring and sought out Theo’s eyes.
“Don’t worry, love.” He curled a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ll be right there.”
“Me, too.” Justin slapped his computer shut. “And Halena.”
“Don’t forget me, you big jerk.” Dasha smacked his stomach. “I’m the best friend. I trump you and Halena any day.”
Sadie noticed how she hadn’t said Theo. Even
she’d
accepted him as her Mate. Sadie accepted it in her mind and her heart, but was she ready to give her body to the commitment?
Yep. She was ready. Maybe this ring would bring them to her parents, and they could be present at a wedding. It was a dream every orphan had: to find his or her parents. Let alone to have her father give her away at a wedding.
But ultimately, it didn’t matter. She was ready for him.
She made her way down the stairs, Theo close behind. Halena had already started moving equipment to the side, freeing up a space that rivaled half a basketball court.
“Ready?” Halena said.
“What should I do?” Sadie asked Theo.
“Start first with putting it on.” He nodded. “We’ll take it slow.”
Theo slid his dagger out from his thigh holster, and Halena and Justin did the same.
“What do you think’ll happen?” The daggers hadn’t helped her confidence.
“Not sure.” He grinned. “But we want to be ready for anything.”
“Perimeter is clear.” Justin stepped away from the wall of security monitors and clapped his hands. “Let’s do this.”
Theo nodded and moved a few feet away, leaving Sadie standing in the middle, alone. She held out her right hand and propped the ring on her forefinger. She pulled in a deep breath and slid it over her knuckle.
Silence.
More silence.
“Clearly just putting it on isn’t enough.” Halena jutted out her hip, staring at Sadie. “Say the words.”
Sadie shifted her stance and drew in a deep breath. “Batya. Most treasured from our hearts.”
The oxygen sucked out of the room. Dasha’s fidgeting stopped, and she stood frozen, eyes wide. Sadie turned and found that Theo, Justin, and Halena were frozen, too, only they were reaching for her.
Sadie grasped the ring to pull it off.
“Don’t,” a gentle female voice said. “You’ve only just arrived.”
Sadie whirled around. There stood the two people she’d seen in the woods. The woman smiled, her bright-blue eyes flickering.
“What’s happening?” Sadie glanced at her friends.
“We suspended time for you to enter our realm,” the man said. He stepped forward. “I am Paxon.”
The female stepped beside him. “And I am Abby.”
They stood side by side, hands clasped before their swaying robes. Wait, how could they be swaying? There wasn’t a breeze in the gym. They were only five feet from her, yet they floated, not quite making contact with the padded flooring.
Sadie glanced at her hand. The ruby flared bright red.
“It means you are in our realm. A plane that runs parallel to the human world.” Abby stepped forward. “Dear, sweet Sadie. It has been so long I’ve wished to speak with you.”
“What do you mean? I—this just—please, tell me what’s happening.” She swallowed hard. “Are you my mom and dad?” Tears burned.
“In a fashion, yes.”
“Meaning…”
“We are angels. Unable to reproduce. Yet you were created from us. By The Great One.” She smiled. “Where there is a willingness, The Great One provides.”
Sadie glanced at Theo. His eyes widened. Very slowly, he began to move. His hand dropped to his side, and he raised his other that held the Mavet dagger. He looked from side to side. The rest of her friends were still frozen.