“Holy hell,” Dagan finally murmured. “That was amazing.”
“Mm…” She couldn’t disagree. It had easily been the most unforgettable sexual experience of her life, and not just because it was one of the few times she’d done it without being high.
Dagan was a master when it came to making love. She’d known from the start he would be. Just as she knew what they’d done was more than just sex…for the both of them. They would have to examine the consequences of that later, but for now, she couldn’t help but be anything other than happy.
When Dagan’s hand slid lower on her back, she realized she’d broken out into a sweat during their lovemaking. It hadn’t bothered her one bit then, but now it brought back horrible memories of her withdrawal symptoms.
“Mm…I need a shower,” she mumbled into his neck.
His hands smoothed her hair back. “How about a bath?”
She pulled back to look him in the eye. He looked just as satisfied as she felt, but there was an unmistakable glimmer of interest in his eyes. Given her self-imposed years’ long celibacy, she understood where he was coming from.
“You think the tub will fit the two of us?” she asked dubiously.
He shrugged. “We can make it work.”
Well, if he was game, she was certainly willing. Only a fool would turn down a chance to bathe with Dagan, and she was determined to be a fool no longer.
Before she could respond, his lips curved into a wicked grin. “Did I ever mention all the things I’m good at doing underwater? Being able to breathe down there has its definite advantages.”
Huh. She hadn’t even considered that small factor.
“The tub is too small,” she pointed out.
“Well,” he grinned, “I’m nothing if not resourceful.”
Good point.
Tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear, Lina gave him a slow smile. “Then what are we waiting for?”
…
Hours later, Dagan lay with Lina in the small bed inside the cabin. These past few hours had been the best of his life. Despite knowing there’d be consequences for his actions, he couldn’t help but be happy about what had transpired. Lina was…hell, she was meant for him.
They both lay on their sides facing each other, and Lina gazed at him through half-shuttered eyes. She gave him a tired smile, and he returned it.
What had happened with Lina was unstoppable, he knew that now. It was meant to be. Despite all the obstacles, they were meant to be…and if they lived through this, he’d happily tell her so. Over and over again, until she finally believed him.
Her eyes closed on a momentary spasm, and he moved closer with a frown. Brushing her hair from her forehead, he murmured, “Are you okay?”
She gave him a weak smile. “Yeah.”
Sometime after the bath, in between their third and fourth rounds, she’d broken out into shivers once again. It would take a while for all the effects of the drugs to leave her system, and he wished with all his heart he could absorb the discomfort she must be going through. But given that he couldn’t, he resolved to simply be there for her.
“I almost forgot what it felt like, the recovery period,” she said softly, the pain clearing from her eyes. Her fingers moved to his face, idly tracing his lips and cheeks as if memorizing them.
“How did you handle it the first time?”
Though her eyes clouded, she answered him. “Losing Sara was like dying. Kicking the habit seemed light in comparison. And if I died during the recovery period, who cared?”
Who cared? The thought that she’d even felt that way, that he might have gone his whole life without getting to meet this vibrant, intoxicating creature, made his stomach curl into knots.
“After she died, I knew I couldn’t stay where I was,” Lina continued. “I couldn’t stay with Thorne. So I got my friend to smuggle me off Infernum. A distant uncle of hers worked for the Council, and he got me passage through the portal. Once I made it here on Earth, I wandered the streets for a few days, until Getty found me half-conscious outside his martial arts studio.”
“Getty?” he asked.
“The mercenary who trained me.” Her gaze locked on his. “He recognized me for what I was. A drugged-out angel. Any other mercenary would probably have left me to rot, but I reminded him of someone he’d once loved and lost. He told me I was like the daughter he wished they’d had. He took me in, fed me until I recovered, and taught me all he knew.”
“So you became a mercenary yourself.”
She shrugged. “Given all that I’d suffered through, it didn’t seem like a big deal anymore. And the pay was good. For once I had the money to do something of value.”