6

Things were progressing with the ciemny tygrys . They had about a third of the souls recovered and in quarantine before they could go where they should be. It was hours and hours later with a hundred angels working from what Michelle said and… I was devastated.

That meant there were too many fucking souls.

I wasn't sure where I ended up. I didn't make a conscious decision to end up anywhere really.

It wasn't until someone else joined me that I understood I was naked in my shower, sitting on the bench and just letting the water run all over me as if it could wash away my feelings or the horror of what was going on. I didn't know who it was, but I knew they didn't mean me any harm, so that was the main reason I stayed zoned out.

"You with me now?" Brax asked, his large body wrapped around me and I was sitting on his lap.

I realized I was hugging his arms. "I don't know what I am."

"I know. I know and feel the same, sunshine," he whispered. "We're all really upset at what's been happening. We thought there were so many more fail-safes in place. How could this have been our job and we weren't just fucking told to handle it. Why is it always the vague shit and fucking tests? Why treat your kids this way?"

I turned in his arms and hugged him for comfort as much as I was comforting him. I lost my anger at the angels for not doing more. Clearly , it was way more complicated than I understood.

After a bit, he used his power to shower us and turned off the water, carrying me out of the shower and putting me in the fluffiest robe I've ever worn. He was wearing the same and sat us on the edge of my huge tub, kissing my hair and snuggling me.

"I know all of this is horrible and I don't want to be heartless. I just want to change the intention of my gift," he said quietly.

"I don't understand," I whispered, my voice sounding hollow.

He sighed. "I arranged something with Remy and Isaac's help. I was going to—we have a villa for the weekend. I knew you had the hearing today, and I thought a nice romantic weekend even if you'd have to pop away was exactly what you needed. And we could progress in our relationship." He hurried on when I flinched. "I'm not saying that now. Now we can just—"

"Hide out and take a breath," I offered, hoping that was the answer.

He turned me so I was sitting on his thigh facing him. "Yes, exactly that." He smiled at me, his bright eyes full of hope. "Trust me to take care of you, sunshine. Please? I have food ordered. I got everything to give you a massage. I want to show you something I think you'll like and will make you smile." He chuckled when I raised an eyebrow. "You've seen my dick. I didn't mean—"

"Brat." I sighed, flipping my wet hair over my shoulder. "That sounds amazing, but how can I seriously even think of—"'

"Helen, Jerome, and Keegan knew of it and haven't told me to call it off. You have to start taking breaks, Soraya, or you will just keep breaking." He gave me a sad look when I flinched. "I know. I know that sounds mean, but—I'm worried. I've been worried, and I know you're trying, but it's like you can't get past some line to heal. Please try this."

That was fair of him to say… And I really wanted a weekend planned just for me.

I nodded. "Let me check with the others for sure and—can your siblings—"

"They will protect your coven and whatever else you need. I promise," he said firmly. "And it's not—Remy and Isaac can stop by. I'm not cutting them off either." He ran his fingers along my cheek when I frowned. "My brother overheard Helen say something to Tommy that she prayed your talk with the three of us went well."

I blinked at him for a full minute before shaking my head. "So much can happen in less than a day that—it seems like a month ago that I had that conversation with her. It all seems silly now and—"

"None of it is silly," he said gently. "You are just too overburdened." He brushed his lips over mine. "Let me show you that I can be a better partner and what you need to help, sunshine. Let me in and trust me. I won't disappoint you. I won't."

I nodded. Mostly because I didn't have the energy to do anything else and was too heartbroken to handle it all on my own. I hated that he knew that was the reason and how beat up I was instead of able to enjoy his gift.

Because it sounded like an amazing gift.

He used his power to handle everything, down to styling my hair and putting on my normal makeup. The clothes he chose for me were attractive but comfortable, and I felt his worry in the attention to detail.

We checked in with everyone, and they practically begged me to go and take the break. They knew how to find me if I was needed, and they hurt for me. Helen looked in just as bad of shape, so I made a snap decision and went to find Michelle.

I made my black card appear and handed it to her. "You've seen me use that now and understand how it works. Everyone's voted to use this chance to have some fun camping at the new island and sleeping under the stars. I'm not an idiot, and that's just the safest play when they can teleport back to use the bathroom or shower, so it's not real camping.

"I need this break. I need the moment to breathe. You know the building managers and people who work at the front desk now, right?" I waited until she and several others nodded. "They will go with you anywhere you want to get food. They'll get the extras for everyone of the coven. Please, just protect them. I know you're more than guards and—"

"Our failure led to your needing this break," one of the other angels said sadly. "I can more than take a few days and watch your people while you heal. Thank you for being kind in how you ask us to help. I would like to try these new donuts Michelle told me of. And… Fusion? She said the fusion you showed her was amazing."

I nodded, knowing she meant fusion foods but not what kind. They were all in agreement, and I saw they truly wanted to help. I thanked them, and they promised not to contact Brax unless an emergency.

Or good news.

So if there was an emergency since we never got good news.

The villa was amazing. It was large with its own pool and private beach. I thought it wasn't part of a hotel chain, but then I realized it was when he talked about room service and the staff having stocked it like he'd wanted.

He frowned at what I was wearing. "It's too hot for that."

I chuckled when he used his power to change it… But mostly what he put me in.

He sighed. Heavily. "You're just too fucking sexy, Soraya. I've seen those be cute and innocent, but you're—fuck, I'm trying to behave and not seduce you."

Brax was so adamant that I believed him even as I stood there in a low-cut romper with shorts so short my ass was completely hanging out. I was pretty sure he'd wanted like cotton jammies with shorts since it was warm where we were, but he was a man with hormones and diverted at the last moment? I wasn't really sure.

I didn't hate the outfit though. "I think I should let you give my ass a nice slap for trying so hard." I smiled when he lost his frown. "Let's get the other two here so we can have that talk, yeah?"

"Massage first?" he hedged.

"I'm too nervous and would like to—I think I need to get this off my mind and then just shut it off."

I regretted my answer five minutes later when the three of them were sitting in front of me and we were enjoying a huge charcuterie board—table really.

"I know—I don't want to make this seem like a theme after the misunderstanding with Andrew and be accused—I'm not a horndog and—"

"Soraya, if you knew how often I thought of having you throughout the day, you would probably never look at me again," Isaac cut in. "I know the pup hurt you, but fuck everyone else. Fuck all the stupid and know we all like your sex drive. Yours is coming back. We've noticed. We didn't want to push and were waiting for you to say something."

That helped. A lot, and I shot him a grateful look as I confessed about this morning and even covering up the bear pancakes because they were too innocent for my dirty thoughts.

"I can't believe I find that so damn sexy," Hunt chuckled as he moved next to me. "And I'm fine. I'm comfortable with where we are. We've worked on us and—tend to your needs, my mate. Brax or Isaac. Me when we get there again. I just ask no one else for right now. That hasn't seemed to be what you wanted either."

"No, not at all." I snorted. "I used to have flings and so many because no one could keep up with me. You think I could wear out the three of you and need more?"

"Not if we're doing it right," Brax teased. "And I plan to always do right by you, sunshine."

I had a flash of something Andrew had always said to me like that and jumped to my feet, not wanting to chuckle like they were. Instantly, their mood changed, and I felt bad because we'd been discussing this calmly. "Sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry for when I clearly stepped in it," he said quietly.

I opened my mouth but then closed it. Sighing and muttering an apology to Hunt, I went and sat by myself. "I think this might all have started earlier than I thought. Maybe it was brewing or…" I reached for some food and chomped on a few bites before I tried again. "It made me think of something Andrew used to say to me about always doing right by me, so it came back."

"And then he made a joke of you and that," Hunt said quietly.

"He did what?" Isaac bit out.

Right, Isaac and Brax hadn't known me then. I shot Hunt a worried look. "Remy, no."

"They should know, pumpkin spice," he argued, smiling when I chuckled. "I know, I really like that one for you. Mostly because it makes you chuckle, but I think it's a good one for you."

"They're all so silly," I mumbled.

He'd been coming up with different goofy pet names for me since we'd gone back and taken things slow to fix what happened. It really helped me feel closer to him. They might be goofy, but he always explained, and they were personal as well, nothing generic like babe or sweetie.

"They won't start trouble," he said, but really warned them. "I think you're right that this was the first crack and started problems for you too. I realized that because—you've made several comments before, Soraya."

I hadn't realized that. I sighed and told Brax and Isaac about what Andrew had done the last time we'd been together with having buddies from his nest hidden to watch and setting me up like I was his whore. I told them how Victor had touched me that night.

Once the floodgates opened, I told them how I'd let Victor fuck me finally and how horrible it had been. How much it had broken me and made me feel like a whore. That I'd lost all hope for having a real relationship and happiness after that.

Hell, I told them how things had gone with James so many centuries ago and while I'd been over that, when his mate had died and he'd treated me like some pathetic woman just pining for him, it had damaged me inside. I also told them about other flings that had hurt me and landed hits even if I'd denied it. People wanting to use me and put me in my place, seeing me as a tool.

"I think you needed to get that out," Hunt whispered, sitting next to me again. I'd been rambling so much I hadn't even noticed it. He kissed my hair. "Thanks for sharing all of that, pumpkin spice."

"Goof," I weakly chuckled. I glanced at the now finished food. "I ate all of that, didn't I?"

"No, we mostly did as you talked," Isaac admitted before glancing at his watch. "And the fancy dinner we helped Brax set up is coming now. So I'm glad we did talk, and now we're going to get lost so you guys can relax and have your night." He chuckled when I simply blinked at him and his not being pushy.

"Have we met?" I asked when he came over to me for a kiss.

"Yes, and we've been spending a lot more time together for me to realize you're not playing games with me like all of the other women in my life and my damn issues. So now I've calmed down, and we can take things as they come." He brushed his lips over mine a few times. "Plus, I'm coming back with breakfast and hopefully a nice naked swim."

"He means with his crocodile so you can meet him finally since this is the right climate for him," Brax interjected before I got squirmy.

"Yes, but when I'm naked as a man, I hope she wants me as much as I want her."

One more kiss from each of them and then they were gone.

Food started arriving from my people, all of them giving me happy smiles and saying they were glad I was taking at least the night off from the drama. They wouldn't let me ask how things were going and simply promised everything was fine and people were having a blast.

There was also one goofy comment about maybe doing a naked bonfire dance under the moon like humans always accused us of doing.

Brat. They were all brats.

But brats who truly cared.

The food was all from that amazing chef that Hunt had stumbled across working out of his food truck. I'd started a restaurant with him, and while the dream had been that people from all over the world could dine there since we could teleport… The logistics of that were a bit more complicated.

Like customs and security stuff.

So for now it was in the US.

But it was insanely popular. Mostly with A-listers and famous people who always wanted to try something new. A lot of supes who could afford fancy and didn't have to worry about stepping on toes since it was Chicago and I didn't allow that shit.

Much to the annoyance of the other supe leaders.

Well, they could kiss my very fine ass and move somewhere else.

"What are you thinking about?" Brax asked quietly when we were done with our salads.

I shook out of my thoughts and gave him an apologetic look. Then I remembered his question. "Oh, how much we get in our own way."

"You mean enchanters?"

I shook my head and took a sip of water. "No, I was thinking supes, but really just people." I shrugged. "I was thinking how the supe leaders in Chicago always have beef with me because I don't allow bullshit, but how much time do we waste on that bullshit? How much more could we all accomplish if we stopped with it?

"Or hell, took a break from it half the year. Could you imagine what we could get done as a society if we could work together instead of all this stupid? If we could use logic instead of—I cannot tell you how stupid I feel that I never realized that it was probably demons who made it so people like me who could see spirits were killed."

"We feel stupid too," Brax admitted, sighing when I froze. "It felt so… It seems silly to say underhanded when it comes to demons, but I want to say off brand?" He sighed again and pushed to his feet to get what was next when I simply stared at him. "Their goal was just to get more for their side. Get humans to do evil. For thousands of years, Soraya.

"We were fighting one type of battle. One style really. On that front because it wasn't all we were doing. And not to pick on people but honestly, it's a fucking miracle humans didn't wipe themselves out many, many times. They were also really stupid to start. I get that wasn't their fault, but they were. And… It never ends."

I nodded. "I can see that." I gave him a sad smile when he didn't seem to believe me. "I had a hell of a time wrapping my mind around the changes in mal fundidos , and that is such a small, small part of my experience and fighting. If it was all I did and there was a shift—I would have stumbled a lot more."

He seemed to relax then, and we talked a bit about how hard it was to adjust to a new norm and then everything seemed to be up on its head again. We spent a whole twenty minutes at least on cell phones and how they'd take over everything.

"Okay, so I've never done this before," Brax said when dinner was over. "Do you shower before—no, after the massage, right? You shower off the oils and stuff—we could just go for a swim."

Oh my gods, the huge angel was being so ridiculously cute it made me melt.

I saw the massage table set up and teleported to lie down there without my clothes just to make it easier for him. I heard his sigh of relief like he hadn't messed it up and swallowed a chuckle.

How cute was he?

I threw my hair up at the last second and then he was by me. Something hit me as he poured oil all over my body.

He learned to massage from porn. He absolutely watched porn videos for this. There's no way an actual instructional video or guide told him to just dump oil all over me like that.

Oh boy.

Actually, oh boy, oh boy when his large hands started moving around my body.

He worked my shoulders and tired back for a good ten minutes before he even said anything. "I think I'm falling in love with you, sunshine. Is there any chance you could ever love me too? Love me like you love him?"

"I could never love you like I love him because you're not him," I said firmly, hating that he brought that into such a sweet moment. I turned my head and glanced at him. "He has nothing to do with us. If he's on your mind when you're saying that to me—"

"You're right," he whispered, leaning over and brushing his lips over mine. "I didn't even mean it as jealous as it came out. I meant… Does your heart have room for another love that deep?"

"I think so?" I hurried on when that sounded lame. "I don't know that answer but I know I'm falling for you too." I hurried to turn my head straight again as if that would make this any less embarrassing.

His hands stopped moving. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," I whispered. "You've been—you pulled me out of the darkness, Raphael. I was so far gone after what was done to me, and I know you weren't ready to come back, but you did. And for me. Yes, your siblings too and everything, but mostly for me. I know I hurt you and—"

"No, I've forgiven that and understand it," he promised. "It took me a bit—mostly to understand that Michelle lost herself and truly went for your death. We don't ever need to rehash it. You put everything on the line to save me too, but—my siblings had me turn it around and helped me see you were right.

"You have a duty to and love for your people the way I do to them. If you were a demon and threat to them, I would have put them first too. I wasn't the problem but what I came with. I get it now. I hate it. I hate that we had to go through that and suffer, but I understand it. I've moved past it."

I wasn't going to call him out on saying that.

"I'm trying to move past it, and I know it's not on you."

That was way more accurate, and I appreciated his honesty. "Thank you."

"Thank you," he murmured and kissed my hair… And then moved his massage lower. "I heard you that tonight isn't our night, but tell me if I'm still being pushy."

I gave a half nod but mostly moaned when he started massaging my ass. He teased me a bit and then did my legs but not nearly as long as he did my back. Suddenly, there was a pillow under my hips and my legs were spread.

Subtle.

Apparently, Brax was over being subtle and hinting.

I didn't even get a chance to tease him before his oiled-up fingers were touching my pussy. At first, it was like he was massaging me anywhere else.

But then it wasn't.

He turned my head and ran his tongue around my ear. "I want to let my darkness out a bit. Will you let me, my lovely sunshine?" He chuckled when I moaned. "I know you won't judge me and I feel such anger and darkness and I want to be—I want to explore it all with you before I explode." He pushed a finger inside of me. "No, I want to use this energy to make you explode."

Yes. Please.

He slowly fingered me while behaving unlike what anyone would think an angel would.

"I'm going to have you on every surface of this planet so I can love it again. I'm going to fuck you in every position on every surface of this planet, sunshine. You'll have a list of places you want to revisit so I can do certain things to you again. And that's how we'll find our favorite places. All of the places I please you most."

My orgasm hit me fast and I knew it was his power, so I came in agreement basically.

But he didn't stop. His power made me continue to orgasm over and over again while he kept talking about fucking me and putting everything inside my holes because he'd never done it before and he was curious. Like ridiculously curious.

And he wanted to see me fucked with everything. Even the things I didn't like so he could experience that with me and understand my limits and why I didn't like it. He just wanted to see me in every possible condition.

But mostly to submit to him. I wasn't a fool. He'd been too taken advantage of and walked all over by too many.

And now he wanted the one he was falling in love with to give him everything.

I couldn't do that yet, but I could give him something he needed.

Maybe we both needed.