The Fall (14 page)

He couldn’t help but ask, “Do you mean that?”

He wouldn’t look her in the eyes, not wanting to watch her when she realised she regretted saying the words.

Instead, she pulled his head to her face and kissed his nose. “I’ve never been so sure of anything, Archer. I love you. I love you so much that I can’t breathe at the thought of you not being in my life.” She kissed him. She kissed him so hard and passionately that Archer groaned and felt something wet slide down his face. Was he … leaking? He hadn’t shed a tear in more than four thousand years. He blinked the tears away and stared into her beautiful face.

“I love you, too, Addison. The Heavens only know how much I love you,” he told her, his voice thick with emotion. He pulled her back into his arms, and their clothes went flying off without either of them removing them, leaving her clad in only her panties whilst Archer was completely naked.

“Neat trick,” she breathed against his lips before reclaiming them. Archer lifted her from the couch and moved to her bedroom. The room was in complete disarray, but the bed seemed untouched. He promised himself that he would make her first time something neither of them would ever forget.

***

Chapter 16

Archer covered Addison’s body with his, careful to keep his weight off her. He brushed her hair from her face before kissing her forehead, eyes, cheekbones, nose, and then finally her lips. She opened her mouth to him, sliding her tongue against his. He groaned at the taste of her, knowing he would never get enough of it.

She had her arms hooked under his, her hands places on his shoulder blades. Archer felt her fingers move softly down his back, making a shiver travel through his body. She kept moving them down, applying more pressure until her hands covered his rear and she squeezed, raising herself to meet his groin. Archer was suddenly thankful he hadn’t removed her panties or he wouldn’t have given another thought to thrusting inside her.

He moved his mouth down her throat, pausing to bite it softly, and then continued to her breasts. He licked, sucked, and bit at each nipple until they were swollen and puckered. He knew he could do this for hours and not tire of their taste and texture. And he would, but later. No, right now he needed to taste her.

He kissed his way down her stomach, stopping to dip his tongue into her belly button, tonguing her piercing before continuing in his descent. When his head was between her legs he stared into her eyes before gripping her panties on each side and tearing them down the middle. Addison’s breathing hitched, her eyes burning. Archer stared into her eyes while he bit the top of her thigh and then licked over the area. Her breathing increased further, and she let out a low moan.

Unable to wait, Archer spread her womanly folds and licked one steady line along her clitoris.

Oh God
, Archer thought. Addison’s taste was incredible. It was like the sweetest elixir, and he knew he would die without more. That one lick was enough. She came fast and hard, clenching Archer’s head between her thighs. He continued licking and sucking, dragging the orgasm out into something almost torturous. After it finished, Archer propped himself on top of her and positioned his length. Just when he was about to drive inside her, he heard a male voice, and sensed that a Nephilim had walked into the apartment. 

“Addy, be as quiet as you can,” he whispered, standing to his feet before pulling her to her own. He held his fingers to his lips, pointing to outside. Calling his powers, he raised a force-field, making them both undetectable. 

***

“No one is here,” a male voice said. Addison was jittery with nerves, yet she wasn’t really scared. She felt protected around Archer, knowing he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He ran his hand up and down her arm in comfort, and she felt herself relax against him. He gestured to her clothes, and she took the hint. She struggled to put them back on, her legs still shaking from her climax. When she looked back at Archer he was fully clothed.

“You couldn’t have used that trick for me?” she teased. Archer gave her a distracted smile, but it was clear his attention was dedicated to the intruders.

“The girl has gone as well,” an angry voice replied. “Malachi is going to be pissed.”

“I know, we got hardly any information from the emo bitch as well.”

“Come on, let’s get out of here. We’ll have to tell Malachi tonight. Hopefully we have enough intel to avoid him killing us on the spot,” the intruder said with resignation. Addison almost felt bad for them, until she remembered how beaten Kitty had been.

Addison felt the air shimmer after they left, and the tension left Archer’s body.

She let out a sigh. “This is going to take some getting used to.”

***

On the way home, Archer noticed Addison seemed a little distant. He didn’t want to push her, especially after all the information she had been bombarded with, but he couldn't remain quiet either.

"What's bothering you, Addison?" he asked her gently, reaching over and covering her hand with his. She looked over at him in confusion, pulled from her thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"You're being very quiet. Tell me what's on your mind. Please," he added. From the corner of his eye, Archer could see her nibbling on her bottom lip, gathering her words.

"I've just been thinking about everything, and something really stands out to me." She looked at him, her face filled with hesitation. "You're immortal."

"Yes," Archer replied. "I am. I know it's a little weird—okay, very weird, but it doesn't have to affect our relationship, Addy."

***

Addison felt uncomfortable voicing her thoughts, but she knew it was unfair and damaging to keep them to herself.

"Archer, you're going to look like a male model for the rest of your life. I'm going to get old. What happens when I'm forty, or fifty, or sixty?" Addison wasn't a vain person, but she knew she would get self-conscious about her ageing at some point. While others might think it was too soon to even have this talk, she knew better. Despite only knowing him a few weeks, there was no one else for her.

"Addison, do you think my feelings for you would change? That I would find you any less beautiful?" Addison shook her head, feeling bad for making him think she questioned his love for her.

"No, I don't think that. I know how you feel about me, Archer. I just don't know how I would feel about it."

"There might be a solution," Archer said hesitantly.

"What?" Addison pressed.

"The Holy Grail."

Addison coughed in surprise before realising Archer was serious. "Are you kidding me?"

"Nope. It's rumoured that if someone drinks the blood of a Nephilim from the cup of the Holy Grail they become immortal." Archer let that sink in.

"So, I'd be like this with you?" she asked.

"Yes," he said with a smile.

"Forever?"

"Well, so long as we don't get killed, yes."

"Where is the cup?" she asked with determination.

Archer sighed. "That's the problem. It tends to pop up every hundred years of so, but I haven't heard of it for some time now."

"We can find it." She wasn't sure if that was conviction or hope in her voice, but she refused to give up this chance of hope. She gave his hand a squeeze in reassurance. "We've got a few years, anyway. Let's just worry about the pressing problems for now."

A comfortable silence settled in, and Addison found herself thinking that this whole situation might turn out alright.

Chapter 17

Archer was struck speechless when Addison walked out of her room. Her curls fell around her shoulders and down her back. She wore dark kohl around her eyes and gloss on her lips. Her face looked so beautiful he could barely stop staring at it, until his gaze flickered downwards. She wore low-rise black jeans that sat on her hips and hugged her long legs, which were accentuated by high black stilettos, and put her at almost six feet tall. Her top was black as well, a little short so that it left an inch or two of her taut stomach visible. The neckline dipped slightly so she showed the perfect amount of cleavage; the perfect amount to tease him.

Addison caught him staring when she looked up from her bag. She smiled slowly. She turned, revealing her back. The jeans clung like perfection to her shapely rear, and the top was held together by only a dainty bow, leaving her skin bare. Archer walked over to her and slid his arms from her jeans up her back, bathing in the feel of her warm, soft skin.

“You look good enough to eat,” he told her. “Do you have to go to work? I can think of many other things I’d rather do, most of which involve you keeping the heels on.”

Addison bit her lip, clearly tempted. “I wish I could. I need the money, though,” she admitted. “But we still have the rest of the night. And morning,” she added with a smile.

“Love, you don’t need to worry about money. I have more than I need, and nothing would make me feel better than being able to provide for you,” he said hopefully, despite knowing what her response would be.

“I know, Archer. And I appreciate the offer, but I like to pay my own way.” She reached out to stroke his cheek. “You’ve given me everything I could dream of and more. It would truly be selfish if I didn’t suffer every now and again,” she said with a wink.

“Okay, but you do realise that every single guy in that place is going to be drooling over you when you walk in like that, right?” He pointed out.

Addison let out a short laugh. “I don’t know about that, but it was worth seeing your reaction. Besides, we both know who I’m going to bed with tonight,” she added before walking out the door.

Archer groaned and debated bending her over the car and taking her right now. He let out a sigh. A few hours wouldn’t kill him.

***

Waiting
was
killing him. Archer sat silently in a corner of the club, tempted to go and body slam the jackasses who were leering at his woman’s stunning body. Knowing it would do nothing but anger Addison, he settled for knocking back another shot of whisky, wishing it actually affected him. He was one of the rare Nephilim who couldn’t get drunk. The one angel power he didn’t want. Of all the luck.

He saw Chance enter the club and make his way over to him. Dressed elegantly, as always, Chance was already drawing stares from most of the women. Archer pounded fists with him and sat back down.

“What’s going on, my man?” he asked.

Chance shrugged. “The usual. Times are tough.” Chance looked at the bar and let out a low whistle. “Heavens be damned, your woman is looking even more tempting than usual,” he noted, chuckling when Archer slapped him over the head.

“Keep your eyeballs to yourself,” he warned. “I’ve already had to stop myself from breaking enough dickheads’ necks.” Addison looked in their direction and gave a smile and a wave to Chance, who blew her a kiss.

“Ouch!” he grumbled, when Archer knocked him over the head He saw Addison chuckling after she saw Archer’s reaction. “Couldn’t resist. You are much more fun to chastise now, cousin. After years of stoicism, it’s a relief to see you rattled. It’s human.”

Archer merely grunted in response. He reached for the bottle of whisky and poured another shot. He downed it with ease. He could be drinking orange juice for all that counted, really.

“Archer,” a high female voice purred from behind him. “I haven’t seen you in such a long time.”

Kate, an old flame of Archer’s, walked around his chair and placed a kiss on his cheek. Kate was undeniably pretty. Her light brown hair was carefully styled, and her makeup was impeccable, though too heavy for Archer’s taste. She wore a vibrant pink dress that barely reached her thighs. Her neckline plunged to her bellybutton, her small breasts threatening to slip out. Her matching heels were at least five inches high.

“How have you been, darling?” she gushed, leaning against him suggestively, stroking his hair.

“Good, yourself?” Archer said, grabbing her hand so that it didn’t stroke his leg, wishing she hadn’t seen him.

“Hmm,” she pouted, retracting her hand, “I’ve missed you.”

Archer let out a bark of laughter before replying. “Yeah, it was, ah, nice running into you but …” Archer trailed off as he saw Addison walking towards them. She stepped in between Archer and Kate, running her hands up Archer’s neck and into his hair. Addison roughly pulled his head up to hers, kissing him fiercely, pulling on his lip with her teeth, before turning to Kate and leaving Archer breathless.

“Oh, sorry.” Addison smiled, not at all apologetic. “I’m Addison, you are?”

Archer hid his smile with his hand.

Kate looked Addison up and down, unimpressed. “This is who you replaced me with, Archer?” she asked scornfully. Archer was about to tell her to leave when Addison laughed lightly. Archer knew that laugh. It was filled with so much sweetness that he knew she would say something biting.

“Oh, no, honey. I certainly wasn’t your replacement. I don’t just share his bed. We fuck so hard he comes screaming my name. And not only in our bed, but in the bathroom, kitchen, and anywhere else he can put his mouth between my thighs.” Addison paused to lick Archer’s bottom lip for emphasis, making him groan and lick it, just to taste her. She smiled at the action and turned back to Kate. “So when you want to try to compare yourself to me, remember that I’m the one who he makes love to every night and wakes up next to every morning.”

Kate gave Addison a murderous glare before turning to Archer, who was still staring at Addison like he had never seen before. She let out a little shriek and walked away, fuming.

“Where did that come from?” Archer asked.

“That was the hottest thing I have ever seen,” Chance added with a dazed grin. Archer shot him a look that had Chance chuckling and heading for the bar. Archer turned back to Addison, who was looking a little embarrassed. He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Was it too much? I’m sorry. She was pawing you, and I saw red. I wasn’t thinking,” she admitted.