A Touch of Death Page 8

  “I need more time.”

  He nodded, a touch of disappointment in his gaze. “You have all the time that you need. Regardless of the connection between us, the steps you take must be your choice. I am not to force myself and my world onto you.”

  She rested her head against his shoulder, cuddling against his hard body. She was quite aware that her actions were a contradiction to her words, and sending mixed signals wouldn’t help, but in that moment all she wanted was his comfort. In time she’d work though her emotions and come to the right decision. For now she wanted to enjoy the moment.

  “Let me show you what could be between us.” He leaned into her, pressing his lips to hers, not allowing her a chance to deny him. He tasted of cinnamon, making her crave more of him.

  Maybe it was because she realized each day was a gift, not a given right. She left her fears behind, threw caution to the wind, and returned his kisses without hesitation. After giving in to her desire, she would never be the same. Life as she knew it, and the woman she’d been before, would be gone. Driving her tongue between his lips, she devoured him.

  He pulled back enough to break there kiss, his mouth still hovering over hers. “I take it that’s a yes.”

  She nodded. The passion controlling her didn’t allow her to rethink what they were about to do or to change her mind. He didn’t give her time, scooping her into his arms. “The bed is a better place to show you.”

  His lips reclaimed hers as he carried her. Tugging his black T-shirt from his jeans, she slid her hand under it, touching his chest. Gently he laid her on the mattress, their lips separated and she used that moment to pull his shirt over his head. Baring creamy white skin, and his perfectly chiseled chest as if made of stone.

  “I want you naked.” He grabbed hold of her sweater, slowly pulling it up her body and over her head. “You had your time, now it’s my turn to explore.” He kissed her neck, nibbling down her jawline to her shoulder. She unbuckled his belt and slid it out of the loops. It landed on the floor with a thump. She let him have a few more minutes of exploration, since he’d finally made it to her breast. His fingers slipped between the thin fabric and her skin, teasing over the nipple and pushing the bra aside.

  She reached behind her, unhooking the bra. Her nipples had always been extra sensitive, the slightest touch bringing her pleasure. He lowered his mouth to her nipple, his gaze locked on her. She moaned in ecstasy when his tongue flicked over one hardened tip. She tugged on his jeans before he could move lower.

  “These need to go.” She unbuttoned them, gliding them gently over his hips.

  “Then yours need to go as well, kochanie.”

  While he slipped the jeans the rest of the way off, kicking out of his shoes, she rose up, stripping the remaining clothes off quickly. Her body craved his touch and it had been too long since she felt the gentle caress of a man. He pulled his mouth from hers and kissed a path down her neck. Sensations collided and threatened to overwhelm her when he teased her nipples. Pushing her gently back onto the bed, his bulky frame hovered above her and he stared down at her, desire burning in his eyes.

  He caressed every inch of her body, sending moans of ecstasy from her lips. His touch was incredibly tender, as though trying to memorize every curve of her body with his hands and mouth. Heat soared through her blood, like a fire burning just below the skin, impatient and demanding.

  He blazed a hot, wet trail of kisses across her belly and stroked her thighs with his fingertips. With every touch, she arched her hips, demanding more. She couldn’t get enough of him. It was if her body was making claim to him, even if her mind hadn’t made the decision. Nudging her legs farther apart, his fingers delved inside her and she met the teasing thrusts. A demanding moan she barely recognized vibrated in her throat. The trail of wicked kisses tingled over her thighs. He moved his hand and replaced it with his mouth. Tiny nips and gentle licks flicked over her sweet spot, nearly driving her over the edge. She grabbed his hair, torn between pressing him closer and dragging him up. She wanted all of him.

  “Death, please I need you.” Even in the sexual haze, she realized what she said and those few words changed everything. Sex would complicate things further if she chose not to align herself with him in the battle against Lucifer. It would also make things harder for her to watch him, knowing that he was destined for another.

  This action would give her heart to someone she might never be able to completely have. There would be no going back, but in that moment she didn’t care, she wanted him inside her.

  “Anything for you, kochanie.” He spread her legs farther, giving him the access he needed before filling her slowly, inch by inch. Halfway in, he slid out before thrusting back in, filling her completely with his manhood. His strokes fed her fire like tinder set to dynamite. Their magic mingled, making the air thick with it, until their skin glowed from it. Magic of death and life, coming together as one, blazing between them until it lit up the room like fireworks in the night sky.

  His hips increased pace, driving the force of each pump. The erotic dance amped up her tension, every delicious glide of his shaft inside her seemed to set off another cascade of heat. Their bodies rocked back and forth, tension stretching her tighter as she fought for the release she longed for. Upon that release, she dug her nails into his back, arching her body into his. He pumped twice more and shouted her name as he found his own ecstasy. Eternity stretched on until he collapsed beside her.

  Her breath slowly returned to normal and Death cuddled her against him, caressing her with long, lazy strokes.

  * * *

  Pain erupted in Jael like a volcano. Her whole body felt like it was on fire. The insides of her were boiling, scalding her from the inside out. It was like nothing she ever felt before and she couldn’t hide it. She screamed in pain, wiggling on the bed as if to put herself out. Only then did she realize the bright light filling the room was from her. She was glowing a reddish, yellow light from deep within her, illuminating her skin and the room.

  “What’s…happening to me?” She cried out through clenched teeth.

  He held her tight against his body as she thrashed about. “Oh, kochanie.”

  She had a brief second to realize his touch didn’t relieve the pain as it had when she came into her powers before the agony intensified. The pain was like nothing she felt in her life, pure torture. She wished her body would go into overload and pass out, but it seemed like there was no such luck. Screams tore through her lips until she was hoarse.

  “Kochanie, I can’t take the pain from you, but you can. Focus.” He crouched over her, pinning her to the bed. The fact she hadn’t felt him move let her know how out of it she was.

  Focusing seemed to be impossible, but she tried to get her mind together enough to remember what it was like to be pain free and willed it to be so again. Her eyes burned hot until all she could see was flames before them. She craned her neck to look at Death. Through the flames she could see him, his eyes wide. Before she could ask what was happening the flames shot from her eyes in a wave, expanding to hit everything in her vision.

  The flames sent Death flying off her, across the room to slam into the coffee table, cracking his head on it. “Embrace the chill of death.” He blew a wave of cool air at her.

  Pushing herself into a sitting position she met the breeze, willing it to cool the flames burning within her. As if her body knew she couldn’t take any more heat, it accepted the cold, letting it slide through her, putting out all the fires within her. No longer did flames dance in her vision.

  The burning inside was replaced with cold, frost coating her veins, her breath emerging in visible puffs. The chill traveled through her body, coating everything within her, until finally reaching her heart.

  I’m going to die. Her mind raced with fears of what would happen now. Who would take over as the Grim Reaper, since there was no women left of her line? Would the spirits be cursed to spend their days wandering Thanatos unable to cross over? Som
etime during all that had happened, she’d accepted her legacy, her duty to defeat Lucifer, and it wasn’t until the thoughts of her final moments that she truly realized it.

  She expected more pain at the frost that stole the life from her, but there was none. The only fear she had was not for herself but for those that depended on her, for Cleg and Death. She collapsed onto the bed, not fighting it as the life slipped from her veins. Inside her chest her heart stopped beating, and she let her eyelids close as she waited for the last bit of life to slip away. Would she be one of the spirits stuck in Thanatos, since the killer was still out there? It didn’t matter, there was nothing she could do about it now, only hope that Cleg caught the murderer, and then maybe her and the other women would cross over together.

  Chapter Nine

  Minutes ticked until she felt the mattress shift until Death’s weight, and he took her hand in his. “You’re not dying. Open your eyes, kochanie.”

  “I’m not?”

  “Not as in the end of things, no.”

  “Then what happened? What was the fire? The chill? More importantly why isn’t my heart beating?” She put her hand over her heart, confirming what she already knew. There was no longer a heartbeat. She had died.

  “You’ve come into the rest of your abilities, including those of your father’s blood. Hellfire. The chill of death. You’re immortal.”

  It took her a moment to realize he answered all of her questions in one breath, because at first it sounded like he was rambling. “Let’s slow down here and start with one thing. What the hell is Hellfire?” She started with the simplest and left the immortal comment hanging between them, not ready to face that one just yet.

  “Hellfire is an ability of Lucifer. In simple terms you are taking the fires of Hell and using it. It was burning you because of your fear, which is why I gave you the chill of death. Otherwise it would have burned you alive.”

  “Why did this happen?”

  “I believe while we were cuddling you began to accept the prophecy, and it forced the rest of your powers to manifest in order for you to become immortal. It’s why there was such an onrush of Hellfire through your veins, not to mention your eyes.”

  A vision of his flying through the air sparked in her mind, and the fear that she injured him returned. “I didn’t mean to…are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, kochanie. It takes more than a bump on the head to get me down.” His thumb teased along her knuckles. “Are you ready to discuss the fact you’re immortal?”

  “If I said no, would it go away?” She smirked, not ready to face it.

  “You’ve accepted the life that’s supposed to be your destiny or you wouldn’t have made the change. Why the second thoughts now?”

  “You told me I would be immortal, not that my heart would stop beating. What am I supposed to do for the yearly physicals the department requires? I can’t hide the missing heartbeat.”

  “It can be replaced with magic. I’ll show you. It seems to be more than a missing heartbeat that’s put the terror in your eyes.”

  She scooted up in bed, resting against the pillows, and tugged the blanket over her again, covering her nakedness. She took a moment to think about it before answering him. “It’s the fear of the unknown. It was one thing having spirits depend on me to help them cross over, but now the duty to defeat Lucifer is on my shoulders as well. What will happen to Cleg if I destroy Hell?”

  “Cleg’s decisions are his own, but he has a number of options. The biggest ones are that the bond between twins will keep him on our side, and when Lucifer is defeated Cleg would rule. Hell will never be destroyed but it could be changed. Hell was only supposed to be the eternal place for those who truly deserve it―murderers, rapists, child abusers, and demons. It was not for those who were led astray right before their deaths, giving them no time to repent. Cleg’s other strong possibility would be to follow in Lucifer’s steps keeping Hell as it is.”

  “That will make him my enemy, leaving me no option but to eliminate him as well.” Her voice was low as she came to terms with more devastations in her future.

  “I wouldn’t worry about any of that now. Your mother instilled exceptional values in both of you, I doubt your brother will pick up where Lucifer left things. Now that your new abilities are unleashed you should be able to sense possibilities of things that might happen, as well as certainties in a person’s life. Being twins, Cleg’s choices should be clearer to you.”

  “How will I tell?”

  “When you see him, open yourself up, let your shields fall, and you’ll feel them. If there’s more than one option they will follow suit.” He let go of her hand and moved to lie next to her, tugging the blanket away.

  “What are you doing?”

  “We were interrupted before…” His fingers trailed along her side, brushing gently along her hip, and for the first time she realized he no longer felt like a cold chill.

  “Your touch, it’s warmer.” She placed her hand over his, feeling it to again to make sure. Before he had been cool to the touch against her warm skin, but now there was no difference. “How?”

  “You’re no longer human, your body temperature is the same as mine. Cool because of the grave chill.” Death lowered his face until it was inches above hers. “I’m glad you’ve made this choice, kochanie.” Thunder erupted behind them, making Jael jump.

  “Your Grim Reaper is finally among us.”

  Death tugged the blanket over them before rolling off her giving her a clear look at who stood behind them. She recognized Thunder immediately. Even without the white highlights in his otherwise ebony hair, he was unmistakable. The man standing next to Thunder sent a chill down her spine. His black hair cut short against the skull, his eyes were just black holes glaring at her.

  “Thunder, I expect this of you, but not you, Abaddon. Why can’t you use the door like normal people?” Death reclined next to her as if he didn’t have a care, and cuddled her against his body. “Jael, that’s Abaddon. Abaddon, quit looking imposing and say hello to Jael.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jael.” Abaddon nodded to her.

  “Umm…you too.” She felt extremely uncomfortable naked in bed with Death while Thunder and Abaddon stared at them from the foot of the bed. “I don’t intend to be rude, but is there a reason you’re here?”

  “We’ve come to meet you now that you’re one of us.” Abaddon stated it as if it should have been clear.

  Death let out a deep laugh, his chest rumbling under her hand. “I highly doubt this is the opportune time, we have a murderer to catch, so if you’ll excuse us.”

  “That really isn’t your job, is it?”

  Death glared at Abaddon, a heat of anger to it. “You of all people know we cannot leave the Pishacha roaming free to kill more innocents. Jael is helping to deliver the message from the victims, I am only overseeing her safety.”

  “She doesn’t need your protection any longer, she is immortal now.”

  “Immortal does not mean she cannot be harmed, nor that she can’t be destroyed. You know there are ways for someone to destroy the immortal. I will not stand by and do nothing while she’s in danger. There seems to be more to this, Abaddon, so out with it. We have other things to do.” The tension between Death and Abaddon was thick enough to cut through.

  “There are certain steps she must take before she is capable of defeating Lucifer. The fact that she has accepted the prophecy this quickly does not change the fact the steps still need to be achieved. You cannot stand in her way.”

  Death’s body tightened under her embrace. “Abaddon, I know the future better than you do. You will not come into my home and insult me.”

  “I only speak the truth.”

  Death shot up, the blanket falling away from them as he got out of the bed. Jael looked down to find she was now clothed in a beautiful pale blue silk chemise nightshirt, and Death wore a pair of black pajama bottoms.

  Thunder laid his hand on Abaddon’s shou
lder. “I believe we should go.”

  The men continued to stare at each other, neither of them backing down, and Jael took it upon herself to end the situation before it got out of hand. “Abaddon, I’d take his advice. Now isn’t the time for this. I need to return to my world to help stop this killer. So if you would kindly leave, I’m sure we can arrange for us to meet again once this is over.”

  “As My Lady wishes.” With one final glare at Death, Abaddon nodded and they disappeared, leaving them alone.

  “What the hell was that about? Why did he call me My Lady? It’s too formal no matter how old he is.” She slid out of the bed, putting her feet on the floor and noticed the floor felt warmer than she did. Her new body temperature was going to take some getting used to.

  “You’re right, we should return.” He stalked away toward the walk-in closet.

  “Answer me, what’s going on?” She went to him, laying a hand on his arm.

  He spun around to look at her. “As I told you, Abaddon is Lucifer’s child, your brother. Even though centuries separate the two of you, Lucifer gave his kingdom to Cleg and by doing that, even though you have your own destiny, you are still the Mistress of Hell. To say there is some resentment to that is an understatement. I had planned to prepare you for that before meeting him, I never expected him to show up here before I had a chance.”

  Mistress of Hell? Once again the rug was pulled out from under her feet.

  He slid his arm around her waist, drawing her close to his body. “Before you ask…about the steps you have to take before going up against Lucifer. Once he knows you’re against him, he will send three demons after you. Each one worse than the first. We’ll have to defeat them, therefore gaining more control over your abilities, and powers from the demon.”

  “Is the Pishacha the first then?”

  “No. I believe Lucifer is leaving the Pishacha wreak havoc as a test to you and Cleg. To see what each of you will do. Cleg as the heir to Hell’s throne should gain control of the demon and return him to hell. If he allows us to contain him in the spirit box, Lucifer will take it as proof that he needs to drive a wedge between the two of you. It will also confirm your stance on the situation.”