Raven's Breath (The Women of Purgatory) (19 page)

"I'm not sure. I guess we'll just have to hope that's not how things play out."

I nodded.
I doubt we'll be that lucky.

After leaving Garrett's I headed home, worn out from the day's events, and still not warm after my encounter with Svell.

An ice-hellion.
Who'd have thought?

Shaking my head at all the exhausting impossibilities I'd faced in one day, I hopped through my window and dove straight into bed.

31

I hadn't seen a light, or felt the presence of anyone in my room, so when I opened my eyes and found Michael standing over me with a sexy smile pulling at his lips, I was immediately jolted awake.

"Good morning, beautiful."

He was dressed in jeans again, and nothing else. I struggled to sit up, grasping the sheets and trying not to worry about how bad my hair probably looked.

"What are you doing here? Did you find Death? Were you able to stop him?"

Michael eased down to sit on the edge of the bed. "No. But every angel in Heaven has been notified of his plan and all remain on high alert."

"Good." I breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good."

Michael nodded and continued to stare. I'd fallen asleep in my clothes, but the heat in his eyes left me feeling exposed nonetheless.

"So. Why exactly are you here, then?" The question came from my heart and therefore slipped right past the filters in my brain.

"I wanted to see you and make sure you were all right." He reached for my hand.

I didn't buy his excuse, as he could have easily seen whether I was
all right
or not as he done in the past by "constantly monitoring the situation." Obviously, he had another reason for being here, and by the look on his face, I had a pretty clear idea of what it was.

He started to speak, but before he could utter another word I leaned forward, entwining my fingers in his hair once more.

Our lips met with soft glances, again and again. I scooted closer until I was practically sitting in his lap. His hands roamed by back, skillfully avoiding the sensitive spots under my wings. The feel of his fingers sliding down my curves and squeezing my hips had me clinging to him as our kisses grew frenzied. He pushed me onto my back, repositioning himself until he was leaning over me, his broad shoulders filling my view.

"I want you, Raven, and I cannot wait any longer."

"Who's asking you to wait?"

"I just want to make sure you feel the same before I claim what's mine."

Dammit
.
Why did he have to use those words?
I pushed him back and leaned up on my elbows. "Claim what's yours?"

"Yes. As I told you, you are to be mine, Raven. And though I'll give you the choice to join me in Heaven or not, that doesn't change the fact that we are meant to be."

"Oh my God! How can you talk like that? Just because I was created to be a pawn for Death, it doesn't mean I'm meant to be a pawn for Heaven, too. I don't care that you've 'blessed me' with the gift of life and intuitive dreams; that doesn't mean I'm yours to do with as you please. You can't treat people that way, whether you're an Archangel or not."

He sat back, his jaw clenched and eyes trained directly on mine. "Is that what you think? That I'm choosing to 'do with you as I please' simply because you've been marked?"

"Well, yes. That's how you're acting. That just because of this," I pointed behind my ear, "I'm now a piece of property that you can 'claim'." I shimmied up until my back hit the headboard. "Well, let me tell you something...I'm no one's property!"

If Michael hadn't been sitting on top of the covers, I would have stomped across the room and slammed the door to emphasize my point. But, since I was effectively pinned in place
, I simply crossed my arms instead. I realized that I was sending mixed signals by initiating our kiss and then putting on the breaks thirty seconds later. But damn it, there was no way I would let my libido override my self-respect.

The lazy smile that spread across his face had me squirming in my cocoon of blankets. "What?" I demanded.

"You are very attractive when you're being stern."

I leaned forward, bringing our faces within inches of each other. "You haven't begun to see me get stern." I was trying for intimidating, but instead, all I did was sabotage myself into becoming more turned on.
This is ridiculous
.

Michael smiled and grabbed me once more, stood, and lifted me straight out of bed. He cradled me in his arms and mumbled something under his breath. In a flash we appeared in Heaven, the bright light fading around us.

"Why did you bring me here? I thought you said you'd give me a choice?" I exclaimed.

"I want to show you something."

He set me on my feet and gently took my hand. We walked away from the pearly gates and headed into what looked like a massive cloud bank off to the left. As the thick air dissipated I saw another set of gates. They were huge and stunning blue, sparkling like a tropical sea.

"I want you to see my home," Michael announced.

Oh my God!

32

As we walked through the sparkling gates, I felt like a teenager on my first date. I knew other Reapers had been here before, as Garrett had explained during his sexual proclamation where he shared with me his affinity for angels. But I, personally, had never considered that at any point in my afterlife I'd be strolling down the glistening halls and gawking at the white dolomite structures that made up the Archangel's quarters.

"This is lovely," I said, trying hard not to stutter.

"Thank you." He gestured to a large building on the right. "This is me."

The edifice had massive marble columns and a gorgeous, or
nate golden door. "As in, your room is inside this building, or the entire place is yours?"

Michael simply smiled and led me inside.

The domed ceiling rivaled the Sistine Chapel with its impressive frescos––most, but not all, featuring Michael and his numerous victories. The high, arched walls and stained glass windows took me back to my time as a child when I worshipped every Sunday with my grandmother at St. Peter's.

I was awestruck. "This is absolutely breathtaking."

Michael continued to guide me through his home, from the elaborate entrance, to the more humble kitchen and living areas, and finally to the bedroom. "Um...I thought I made myself clear before." I pulled my hand from his and stopped where I stood.

"You did. I just need to show you something that resides here in my room."

He walked to the far side of his luxurious Greek-inspired, four-poster bed and picked up what looked like a small crystal from the side table. "This is an angelic seeing stone," he explained, holding it up between his fingers for me to see. "It's how I'm able to see topside and into Purgatory. I want to let you see the history of all that's been recorded within."

Before I could respond, he closed his fist around the stone and mumbled a few words under his breath. Upon opening his hand, the crystal floated into the air and began to project holographic images right before my eyes.

I gasped.

All the images were of me. From when I arrived in Purgatory to now––my smile, my tears, my laughter, my anger––all on display, shimmering directly in front of me.

"I've been watching you from the moment you became a Reaper, and I've never wanted anyone other than you." He took my hand again. "My 'claiming' you isn't about that mark behind your ear, but because Death's mistake has allowed me to make contact with you; a dream I've carried for a very long time."

I was speechless. I didn't know whether to be pissed about being spied on, or giddy that the most gorgeous and powerful angel in the world wanted only me. I shook my head and pulled out of his grasp again, then walked over to the plush chair along the far wall. I needed to sit down and process.

"I've spent an eternity waiting for the one person who could rule my heart, and that person is you, Raven.
That
is why I want you with me," Michael concluded.

I lifted my eyes to his and self-doubt invaded my thoughts.
I was sure he had dated before ––angels of course, but a Reaper?
Now there's a catch
. I was something new, and that
had
to be the draw

I took a deep breath. "I'm not sure what to say. I'm flattered and definitely attracted to you, you know that. But the idea of you watching me all this time is very upsetting. It's an invasion of privacy, which if you know me as well as you should, you'd understand is a big problem for me."

Michael took a deep breath but remained in place. "I did not invade your privacy or simply sit and watch you at all hours of the day. I was tasked with monitoring the situation of a female Reaper who'd been created outside the covenant, and by doing my job, at the intervals I was instructed, I couldn't help but fall in love with you. Your strength, your selflessness, your heartfelt friendship with Garrett. All those things that I glimpsed made it clear that you were the only one for me." He crossed his arms, defiantly, making it clear he was done explaining himself.

I watched his jaw tick and knew it couldn't be easy for someone like him, a man in his position, to lay his feelings on the line.

That alone, softened my heart.

I stood and crossed the room. I placed my hands on his forearms and smiled when they unfolded and slid back to his sides. Easing closer, I ran my palms up his taut biceps and onto his muscled bronze pecs. "I will still expect to be given a choice when this is over as to whether or not I want to come live here with you. But for the time being, I'd love nothing more than to date the hottest angel in existence."

It sounded shallow, but as much as I wanted to balk at the things that should keep us apart, it was the rightness of our union that radiated from deep within my soul that pushed me forward.

I didn't have time to see Michael's sexy smile take shape, because before I could blink his lips were once again crushed to mine.

He nipped and sucked his way from my lips to my neck, then across my collarbone, the sensual feel of his mouth sending me over the edge. I reached up and secured my arms around his neck and my legs around his back, as he walked us both across the room and gently laid me across the bed. "You are so beautiful, and I'm honored you've chosen to
date
me, but you should know, I'm not into one night stands," he teased.

I smiled. "Neither am I."