The Fall (21 page)

Addison wrapped her legs around Archer, pushing the heel of her foot into his rear. He let out a moan, and then a low hiss when she bit his nipple as he rose over her.

“Harder,” Addison urged, mindless with pleasure.

“Are you sure?” Archer asked. “I don’t want to hurt you, baby. Let’s take it slow.”

“Fuck going slow, Archer. Go harder. I want to feel you push into me.”

Archer didn’t need any more convincing. He growled before slamming into Addison, pushing her against the headboard.

“Yes, Archer. Oh, God, yes. Don’t stop!”

Archer made love to her hard and fast; it wasn’t long before the orgasm that had been steadily building inside her exploded. As soon as she began climaxing, the rippling sensations drove Archer to his orgasm, and he collapsed on her before rolling off and pulling her over him.

“Heavens, Addison. That was unbelievable,” he declared between breaths. Addison licked a bead of sweat from his chest, making him shiver.

“It was amazing. Thank you, Archer. It was better than I ever imagined,” she breathed, kissing his lips softly.

“I love you, Addison. I don’t deserve you, but I promise that no woman will be loved by a man as much as you will,” he told her, hugging her close to his body.

“I love you, too, Archer. If all this Malachi business means I got to meet you, then I would do it all over again,” she told him. Archer kissed her forehead and swept her up into his arms.

“Let’s go have a shower and get something to eat.”

***

Chapter 23

Ace woke up with the worst migraine of his life. His whole body was sore and stiff, but he had no cuts or wounds. He looked around, trying to get a grasp of his surroundings, wondering where the hell he was.
Addison.
Shit, what had happened to her? Ace cursed himself. He should have acted sooner, instead of wasting time convincing himself that he didn’t care what happened. But he was kidding himself. Stupid conscience.

Things weren’t supposed to work out this way. He knew he couldn’t let her die, but being surrounded by more than a dozen Nephilim and, to his surprise, a demon lord, there had been no way to grab her and leave. Ace had racked his brain trying to think of a way to get her out safely and had come up with nothing. He didn’t have Archer’s contact details, either, so that had been a dead end. At the last minute he had just reacted and stupidly tried to stop Addison’s demise. Unfortunately, he hadn’t realised that Malachi was dumb enough to get his information from a demon lord. You don’t have to be a genius to realise that he would only double-cross you. They were self-serving bastards, and everyone knew it. Then all that drama with Samyaza. He tried not to think about it.

He had known it was stupid, but it was all he could do. He would have died trying to save her. He didn’t even know why. Well, that wasn’t true. She was funny, sweet, and innocent. Undeserving of the fate Malachi had planned, which had been unnecessary, anyway.

He looked around the room in an attempt to decipher where he was. The bed was large and comfortable, with chocolate-coloured silk sheets. The only personal items in the room were a suitcase against the wall and a … bra? Yes, a bra that was hanging around the bedpost. He went over to the door and found it was locked from the outside. He punched it hard once and then tried to use all of his body weight to slam into it. It was obviously warded, as was the window. Great; he was a prisoner.

He went over to the other door and entered a wardrobe. He found unused toothbrushes and some female clothes, but nothing he could possibly use as a weapon. He could probably turn the toothbrush into a shank, but he was guessing that a plastic knife wasn’t going to do much against his warden, who was most likely a supernatural being.

He needed to remember the events of last night after he was knocked out and figure out where the fuck he was right now.

***

Addison woke up with Archer wrapped around her, his rhythmic breaths tickling her neck. Her body was tingling deliciously from last night’s activities, and she was smiling so wide it must have looked as if she’d slept with a hanger in her mouth.

She slowly extracted herself from Archer’s warmth so that she could go to the bathroom. After she relieved herself and brushed her teeth, she went into the kitchen. It seemed that no one else was awake, so she began making breakfast. She pulled out the waffle-maker and all the ingredients necessary to make them. She decided to make some bacon and eggs as well, just in case some of the boys felt like something greasier. After she made enough to feed a small army, she got out some berries, ice cream, and chocolate syrup, and set out plates.

She heard a rattling sound from her room, and realised it was the doorknob. She let out a sigh. Archer must have locked Ace in, paranoid man.

She went over and unlatched the lock, opening the door slowly. She figured that Ace probably thought he had been kidnapped or something, because that was what she would have assumed were she in his position.

He was nowhere to be seen. Then the door shut behind her, and an arm came around her neck, throttling her.

“Ace,” she choked. “It’s me, Addison.” The arm released her immediately, and Ace spun her around and picked her up in his arms.

“Oh, shit. I’m so sorry. I’m so happy you are okay,” he said, his arms still around her. Addison hugged him back. She looked up at him, and realised his hair, for once, was out of his face. She studied his gorgeous features, and her mouth opened in shock.

***

Archer woke up to the mouth-watering smell of bacon and waffles. He almost whooped in joy until he realised that Addison wasn’t in his bed. He realised it must be her cooking, and the thought of her making him food made him glow with pleasure.

He exited the room, and when he passed hers he saw that the lock was undone. He opened the door without knocking and stopped dead. Addison was in the man’s arms, embracing him! Archer saw red, and within seconds had his fist in the man’s face. Addison shrieked.

“Archer, are you crazy? Get off him!” She grabbed his arm, and he stopped immediately, not willing to risk her accidentally getting hurt.

“Touch my woman again and next time, she won’t be able to protect you,” he told the man menacingly.

Addison merely rolled her eyes. “He was just happy to see I was alive, Archer. No need to be melodramatic,” she chided, and wrapped her arms around his waist, soothing him instantly. Heavens, she always knew exactly what he needed.

“I don’t care. No other man touches you,” he repeated clearly. Addison pinched him playfully before glaring at him seriously, although the gravity was belittled by the grin tugging at her lips. She went over to Ace.

“Are you okay, Ace?” she asked. “I’m sorry, Archer is a little … protective.” Well, wasn’t she diplomatic?

Ace smiled a little. “Can’t blame him,” he muttered before turning to look at Archer. Archer’s breath left him.

Ace’s brown eyes bore into Archer, his black hair familiar, and his height imposing. Samyaza had fathered many children; Archer was aware of that. Not as many as some of the other Watchers, but a significant amount. However, Ace was almost identical to Archer. He had the same strong cheekbones, arrogant nose, and proud chin. His eyes were the exact same shade, a brown as rich as chocolate that glowed in the dim light. Except for the piercings, Ace may have been able to pass for Archer,

“Who are you?” Archer demanded.

Ace’s jaw tensed in response, and a silence weighed between them. “I am Asadian,” he said. “Son of Samyaza.”

“I have met a few of Samyaza’s line, but none of them look so much like me. Jake himself does not look so similar,” Archer remarked.

Ace stood up a little straighter, and looked somewhat apprehensive when he answered. “My mother’s name was Alethia. She was sister to Lucia.” Archer’s mouth opened in shock. Lucia was his mother. Ace was his brother and cousin.

“Samyaza was busy,” he noted. Ace’s face flashed with anger.

“He was with my mother before he left her for yours,” he told him with hostility.

“Why didn’t you ever approach me or Jake?” Archer asked curiously.

“Why should I?” he said. “You are just another brother, like so many. I don’t talk to any of them, why would I contact either of you?” Ace’s tone didn’t suit his words.

“We are family,” Archer told him. “I am indebted to you for helping my Addison.”

Ace raised a brow. “I wasn’t particularly successful in that department.”

“It’s the thought that counts. I got there in time, and she is okay. That is what matters.” Archer put out a hand.

Ace took it hesitantly, and Addison let out a sob.  He turned to her immediately.

“Love, what’s wrong?” Archer asked, touching her all over as if that would inform him.

“You guys are so cute and macho,” she said, still sniffling. “Just hug already.”

Ace let out a snort of laughter. “Let’s not.”

“Agreed,” Archer concurred, putting an arm around Addison, shaking his head.

“Fine. Let’s go eat,” Addison said, and her stomach rumbled as if in perfect agreement.

“I hope you cooked enough,” Ace said with a grin. “You eat more than any man I’ve ever met.”

Addison gave him a scathing glare before walking into the kitchen.

“Addison, this looks amazing,” Archer said putting a kiss on her forehead. She smiled and told them to get seated.

They were filling their plates when Jake walked into the dining room, stretching his body with a yawn.

“You are my hero, Addison. I am so fu …” Jake trailed off when he got a good look at Ace. Jake stood still, looking completely stunned. “Ah, Archer? Why does this dude look like you but more badass?”

Archer frowned. “He does not look more badass than me.”

Addison patted his hand consolingly. “Of course not,” she assured him before studying Ace. “I think it’s the piercings.”

Archer scowled at her before answering Jake. “Meet our brother, Ace,” he said before explaining about their mothers.

Jake grinned and went over to Ace, heaving him out of his chair. “Welcome to the family,” he said, pulling him into an embrace. Ace’s face was a mask of horror before he awkwardly patted Jake on the shoulder.

“Yeah, thanks. Now get off me,” he said, and Jake grinned wider in response, hanging onto him for a moment longer before letting go.

***

Addison couldn’t remember ever being this happy. Jeremiah, Levi, Chance, Quinn, Kitty, and even Lazarus had come over. They all talked, joked, and laughed. This was her family, she realised. Well, most of it.

When it was just her and Archer, she turned to him, and smiled. “I want to take you somewhere.”

Archer looked at her suspiciously before his mouth curled into a smile. “Where?”

“It’s a surprise,” she told him, taking his hand. “Come on. I’m driving.”

Archer looked at her questioningly. “Do you even have your licence?”

“Oh come on. Of course I do!” Addy replied with a roll of her eyes. “Do you, Mr. I’m Three Thousand Years Old?”

***

About half an hour later they stood in front of an elegant two-storey house. The gardens were trimmed and lined with roses of various colours. A porch swing swayed slightly in the light breeze, and the ornamental chimes tinkled musically. Archer’s raised a brow questioningly, and Addison merely smiled in response. She took his hand and walked up to the door, knocking clearly.

The door opened and revealed a pretty woman in her mid-forties. Addison embraced her lovingly, kissing her cheeks.

“Hi, Mama. I’ve missed you,” Addison told her mother, entering the house with Archer in tow before turning to him. “This is Archer, my … boyfriend.” Archer’s mouth twitched at her faltering. He stepped forward and kissed her mother lightly on each cheek. Addison smiled with pride. Archer was nothing if not observant.

“Hello, Mrs O’Donnell. It’s an honour to meet you,” Archer said warmly. Addison’s mother looked at him appraisingly before smiling.

“Please, call me Amanthi,” she told him. “Come, let’s go and sit. Addison, he is a striking one, isn’t he?”

Addison laughed. “You have no idea, Ma.”

“Not nearly as striking as your daughter,” Archer replied, staring at Addison. The love and emotion in his expression made her heart swell.

Amanthi smiled approvingly. “She is most certainly something special,” she agreed before calling out, “Kellan! Addison is here with someone for you to meet!”

Archer watched as Addison greeted her father. They were obviously very close, and the man’s eyes told of the love and admiration he had for Addy. Addison introduced them, and Archer shook her father’s hand. Archer felt as if he were being sized up, but hell, he would be doing the same thing if he had a daughter.

They spent two or so hours there, and Archer enjoyed himself as he spoke with her parents, getting to know more about Addison. When Addison and her mother went to the kitchen to get make some snacks, Archer was left alone with Kellan.

“Sir,” Archer started, talking rather quickly so as not to lose his nerve. “I love your daughter. She is everything to me, and I just want you to know I plan on taking care of her and protecting her with my life.”

Kellan raised his eyebrows. “It’s a little soon for that, don’t you think?”

Archer smiled. “Not at all, sir. Addison is a remarkable woman, and for some reason, she loves me. I’m not letting her go.”

Kellan seemed to contemplate that, then nodded to himself. “You seem like a good man, but you don’t really need my approval. Addison makes her own decisions, as I’m sure you have found out.” He laughed to himself. “Good luck.”

Archer frowned. Good luck with what?

***

Chapter 24

When they arrived back at the apartment, Archer was surprised to see Jake and Ace sitting together on the couch, laughing their asses off at something they were watching on TV. He had been under the impression that Ace wasn’t someone who laughed often, but maybe he was more laid back than Archer had thought. As he watched the two of them, he thought it was like they had known each other their whole lives, instead of a day or two. Archer smiled. It was just like that with family sometimes, wasn’t it?