“You came to save me,” he whispered.
He gasped when Day wrapped his arms so tightly around him that he swore one—or more—of his ribs cracked. Lam didn’t care. He encircled Day’s neck before burying his face against Day’s chest. They held each other close while chaos swirled around them. It was almost as though they were on an island of calm in the middle of a storm.
“Of course I came to save you,” Day muttered in his ear. “There was no way I was allowing you to leave me.”
Lam eased back enough to meet Day’s dark gaze. “It wasn’t like I wanted to leave. They didn’t give me any choice.”
“I know that.” Day brushed a kiss over Lam’s lips. “Once we found each other, I knew you’d never leave me. The bastards thought they could use you against me. Well, they are going to learn a lesson.”
“Take me home, Day. I have no idea where I am, but I do know I don’t want to be here anymore.” Lam gestured to Seth. “We need to take him as well.”
Day narrowed his eyes. “Who is he?”
Lam tapped Day’s chest. “No need to be jealous. Seth helped me escape. I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it on my own, especially since I’m mortal now.”
“I should’ve known you wouldn’t wait for me to rescue you.” Day grinned at Seth. “I appreciate whatever you did for him.”
Blinking, Seth nodded, seemingly surprised by Day’s friendliness. “Glad to help. My sister has nothing but good things to say about you.”
Day let go of Lam before taking a step toward Seth. “Who’s your sister?”
Lam heard Seth’s audible gulp at Day’s growl. He rested his hand on Day’s arm. “He’s Paisley’s brother.”
“I didn’t know she had one. Is she even married? Considering I’ve never seen the man.” Day took another step.
“Actually no, she’s not married. That’s part of her cover, but she does have family. We’re all related in some way,” Seth informed them. “So she’s my sister.”
“What are you?” Day poked Seth in the chest.
A shout from the rather stunned group of guards brought Lam’s attention back to their predicament. He tugged on Day. “Can we discuss that later? We need to get out of here.”
Day snorted. “Lam, you do realize there’s no need to worry about them? I found you and now I’m stealing you back.”
“Go ahead, but can we go now? I don’t want to stay here any longer than we have to. I’m mortal, Day. Getting hurt isn’t in my plans.” Lam nudged Day with his hip.
“Right. Take his hand and let’s go.”
Lam clasped Seth’s hand in his while holding on to Day. He closed his eyes and let the warmth wash over him as Day unleashed his power.
* * * *
“You found him.”
When his power dissipated, Day glanced over his shoulder to see Gatian and Aldo standing in the doorway of his study. He didn’t step away from Lam, keeping his hold on him. “Did you think I wouldn’t? Once the angels figured out where he was being held, I could go in and get him. I will admit, though, Lam was already working on getting away from there. He probably didn’t need me.”
Gatian frowned while Aldo chuckled.
“Lam never struck me as a person who needed to be rescued. Of course, being mortal now probably made it a little harder, but he’s smart and—”
“He’s right here,” Lam interrupted Aldo.
“Thank God,” Baqir said as he walked into the room before heading straight to Lam and hugging him.
Day wanted to warn them all away. He didn’t like the idea of anyone touching Lam, yet he gritted his teeth. It was silly to be jealous when he knew Lam loved him and the other men were happily married. He moved to the side when they came over to greet Lam, but he couldn’t let go of Lam’s hand.
“Thank you,” Seth said softly from where he’d moved as soon as they’d materialized. “You didn’t have to bring me with you.”
“No, I didn’t, but Lam trusts you, so I did it for him.” He tapped Seth’s chest. “Just so you know that I don’t trust you. It’s too convenient that you were there when he needed someone to help him.”
Seth lifted one of his shoulders in agreement. “I can see why you would think that. I can vow all I want about it not being planned, but you’d never believe me. I have nothing to gain to by helping Lam escape.”
He doubted that. “You could’ve been a plant. They had to know Lam wouldn’t leave you behind. Now you’re in my house.”
“But they can already come in here when they want, can’t they?” Seth motioned vaguely around the room. “They’re archangels, with more power than any other creature.”
Day snorted. “They can’t get in here now. Not since they took Lam. It would take an army for them to break down the barriers I have in place. I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Good.” Seth glanced over at Lam. “I’d hate to have them try to take him again, though I wouldn’t put it past them. They hate you, and see Lam as the easiest way to punish you without having to take you before the Judge.”
“Who are you again?” Day squinted at Seth. “I know you said you were Paisley’s brother, yet you weren’t blood related. What exactly does that mean?”
“Did I say we weren’t blood?” Seth pursed his lips as though he were trying to remember what he’d said. “Ah well, it doesn’t matter. Paisley and I are Watchers. We’ve been around since the earthly realm came into existence. We spend our time watching angels and mortals. We’re neutral parties in everything. ”
Day wasn’t sure he believed that, but he couldn’t be bothered with it right now. He squeezed Lam’s hand and turned to the rest of the group. “Thank you for coming to help us. I’d like to spend some time alone with Lam now. You’re welcome to stay and take whichever bedroom upstairs you want. The other option is that I can send you back to your husbands, wherever they are in the world.”
Seth frowned, which caused Lam to shoot Day a glance. Day sighed then said, “Of course, you’ll be staying here, Seth, unless you wish to go to Paisley. I can send you to her.”
An expression crossed Seth’s face as though he’d just realized something. “No. That won’t be necessary. I can take care of myself.” He walked over to Lam before hugging him tight. “We’ve only known each other for less than two days, but I’m in your debt for not leaving me behind. If you need me, simply say my name out loud and I’ll come.”
Lam hugged him back. “I wasn’t about to leave you behind, Seth. It’s not in me to ignore the plight of others.”
“Not like me,” Day muttered. “I would’ve abandoned you in a heartbeat.”
“Are we supposed to be shocked by that,” Kibwe asked.
Day rolled his eyes while the others laughed.
Why lie? They all know I would’ve left his ass behind if it hadn’t been for Lam.
“So what do you four want to do?”
“Send us back to our husbands. You don’t need us to keep an eye on Lam unless you’ve changed your mind about confronting the Quad.” Gatian eyed him.
Lam’s alarmed gasp ensured Day wasn’t going to change his mind. “No. I’m done with them as long as they leave us alone.” He approached Aldo first. “Picture where your husband is.”
Aldo shut his eyes then nodded. A touch to his forehead and Day sent him home. Then he did the same with the other three. Afterward, he turned to Seth, who held up his hands.
“I can take care of myself. Remember what I said, Lam. If you need me, I’ll be there.” Seth disappeared in a blink of Day’s eyes.
Once they were alone, Day whirled to face Lam. He slid his hand around to grip the back of Lam’s neck then dragged him forward to crush their lips together. Lam whimpered but didn’t fight his hold. Day encircled Lam’s waist with his other arm then thought of their bedroom. He was ready to show Lam how much he’d missed him.
Chapter Fifteen
There was no finesse to their lovemaking this time. It was all passion and need. Lam found himself face first on the mattress with his butt up in the air. Day knelt behind him, stroking the small of his back with one hand while teasing Lam’s opening.
“I can’t be gentle,” Day warned him.
Lam reached back to pat Day’s thigh. “I don’t want you to go slow. Take me, Day. Remind me that I’m yours.”
He clenched his jaw as Day started to push in. The burn grew with each inch Day gave him. Even though his urgency was palpable, Day managed to take his time and let Lam get used to his invasion before he moved.
Lam tightened his inner muscles around Day’s shaft, hoping his lover would get the signal that Lam was fine. Day pulled out then slammed in, driving Lam’s face into the bed. Each thrust was harder and faster than the one before. Day’s strong grip on Lam’s hips would leave bruises in the morning, Lam had no doubt about that, and he didn’t care. All he wanted was to come and to feel Day fill him.
He worked his arms out from under him and braced his hands on the mattress so he could rock back into each stroke. Lam loved how Day growled his name as he nailed his gland every time, shooting little electric shocks through his nerves. Then Day slid his hand around to encircle Lam’s cock.
“Day,” Lam shouted as Day seemed to demand a response from him.
“You’re all right, Lam. I’ll keep you safe. Never again will you leave me. No matter what happens from now on. We’ll stay together through it all.” Day pumped his erection, and Lam shivered. “Come on my cock. I want your pleasure.”
There was no way Lam could deny Day. His climax ripped through him and he yelled, covering Day’s hand with his cum. He shuddered and twitched while Day pounded his ass. Finally, Day grunted, filling Lam to overflowing. He felt cum trickle down his thighs.
His arms lost their strength and he flopped down onto the bed. Day followed him, but at the last second, he fell to the side, apparently not wanting to crush Lam under his weight.
When he could control his body, Lam turned onto his back and stared up at the ceiling while Day cleaned up. He twitched when a warm washcloth landed on his stomach. He glared and Day grinned.
“I thought you’d want to wash off.” Day gestured to the cum coating his thighs.
“I do, plus we should change the sheets.”
All of it was achieved swiftly then they settled under the blankets and cuddled close. He drew circles on Day’s chest while they lay in the darkness.
“How did you find me? I thought it would take longer,” he asked.
Day exhaled slowly. “I thought it would too, but I had some angels who offered to help and they found the location of the prison. Once I had that, I could go there. I had planned on taking it apart brick by brick until I discovered where you were.”
“And take out anyone that got in the way?” Lam questioned.
“Yes. I would’ve killed the Judge himself if he’d kept you from me.”
He pressed his fingers to Day’s lips. “Don’t say that. That could get you into a lot more trouble than fighting angels to rescue me.”
Day nipped at him then said, “The Judge doesn’t scare me. If I’m honest, he’s never scared me. Not even when he passed judgment on me.”
“Why not?” Lam studied Day closely, not sure he believed Day wasn’t afraid of the Judge.
Shrugging, Day ran his fingers along Lam’s side, causing him to wiggle and shift away from his tickling touch. “What was he going to do? Taking my wings is a harsher punishment than sending me to the hellish realms.”
“He could’ve destroyed you,” Lam reminded him, shuddering at the thought.
“I’m not sure he can. The Judge might be the ultimate authority in the universe, but I don’t think even he can unmake something.” Death held up his hand to keep Lam from speaking. “I can’t be killed, Lam. The only way he can get rid of me is by unmaking me as though I never existed, and that’s impossible.”
Lam gave a little cry and buried his face in the crook of Day’s neck. “Don’t even talk about you never existing. If something like that were to happen, I’d want them to destroy me as well. Living without you isn’t an option for me anymore.”
Day embraced Lam, crushing him as close as they could get without sharing the same skin. “That will never happen. You and I will go on living and loving generations from now. Trust me.”
He took a deep trembling breath then shoved his worry to the back of his mind. “Explain how you found me.”
“I recruited three angels to go looking for you. When they discovered the prison, they came and told me. I was able to use the memories in their brains to pinpoint where the structure was. After that, it was only a matter of me fighting through the guards to get to you.” Day’s amusement colored his tone and when he laughed, he jostled Lam’s head where it rested on his chest. “Luckily, you had already made your way to the main room, so your rescue was faster than I planned it to be.”
Lam smirked. “Glad I could make things easier for you.” He paused for a second then went on. “Don’t you think it all went too easily? Seth and I shouldn’t have been able to overpower the guards like that.”
“They weren’t expecting you to fight back, Lam. They weren’t prepared, so you surprised them. Don’t worry about it. You’re back with me and that’s all that’s important.” Day dismissed Lam’s concerns. “You get some rest. It’s been a stressful few days. Everything will look brighter in the morning.”
He wasn’t sure about that, but he didn’t want to argue—or talk about it—anymore. Right now, he was home and as Day said, that was the important thing. Lam closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. Exhaustion swept through him, dragging him under.
* * * *
Lam stretched, grimacing at his aching muscles. Day had been very enthusiastic about showing Lam how much he’d missed him. Which was funny since they’d only really been apart for a few days. It wasn’t like Lam had been held captive for weeks, or years.
After his hand hit the empty space beside him in the bed, he rolled on to his side and frowned. Where was Day? The sheets were cool, so he’d been gone for a while. Lam climbed out of bed before grabbing the robe draped over the back of a chair.
He made his way downstairs then peeked into the study to see if Day was there. No one. He was about to head to the kitchen to make some coffee when he heard a noise coming from outside.
“Sounds like shouting,” he muttered as he dashed over to the French doors. After yanking them open, he stepped out to find Day glaring at three angels. “What’s going on?”