Chapter 5

Raphael

Darkness envelopsus like a heavy velvet cloak. I can feel her tense form inches away from me, every movement of her body sending an electric jolt through mine. The charged silence between us feels fit to ignite. My lips are still tingling with the ghost of her kiss.

Never have I been so forward with a woman upon first meeting her. Yet something about this gorgeous enchantress pulls me like a magnetic force I’m powerless to resist. She arouses such startlingly violent desires in me, to pin her body against the shelves and kiss her until neither of us can breathe.

I’m a little ashamed at my lack of restraint. But judging by her ardent response, any fleeting regret vanishes swiftly. Release from rigid self-control feels liberating, intoxicating. For once, I simply gave in and took what I craved most. And by God, was her fire worth the indulgence...

As an immortal being, few experiences surprise me anymore. But this mysterious woman manages it splendidly.

I reach for the main door to the cellar, but give up opening it after a few tries. The blasted thing is shut. As I move towards her, I clear my throat, shattering the taut stillness. “So, um... It seems we’ll just have to wait here,” I force a teasing tone, trying to lighten the mood.

A weighted pause. “Looks like it.” The words come clipped, guarded.

I lean against a concrete pillar. “Should we talk about our favorite TV shows?” I reply simply, opting to skip introductions and, thus, withholding my celestial title for now. No need to send her running for the cross and holy water just yet.

I hear rustling as she adjusts her clothes, slightly unnerved by my nearness. Can’t say I blame her. Being trapped with this beautiful woman is unnerving me, too. I’m trying hard as hell not to kiss her again right now. Fuck, she’s so wonderfully addictive.

“I’d... rather we didn’t.” The response comes formal, remote. I bite back a chuckle. Still clinging to tattered shreds of propriety after our feverish make-out session, I see. “Look. It’s been a pleasure meeting you, but—”

“The pleasure was allmine. Trust me,” I blurt, adding a roguish grin she can likely hear if not see.

I’m rewarded with an indignant huff, followed by more shifting as she turns away. Seriously? She’s giving me the cold shoulder treatment—a classic avoidance maneuver. But I’m determined, so I goad her playfully. “Come, now. Don’t be shy,” I say. “We’re already intimately acquainted, you and I. What’s with the sudden attitude?”

“You’re so fucking sure of yourself,” she retorts, tart as spoiled milk. “For your information, you were… okay, I guess. But I wouldn’t go farther than that.”

I give a dramatic gasp. “Ow! That hurts! As I recall, you were rather... enthusiastic back there.” A pause as I sweep a hand across my chin. “You definitely sounded more than just ‘okay’.”

“Keep up that lewd teasing and you’ll sorely regret it,” she snaps. Yet despite the barbs, a breathless tremor ripples beneath. Our charged chemistry refuses to be ignored.

Firecracker, this one. My grin widens, her prickly reactions stoking my flame, and I’m drawn to her like a moth to a zapping light bulb. I am fucking screwed.

“Is that a promise or a threat, gorgeous?” I purr.

Her sensuous frame shudders in the dark. I can all but touch the sizzling energy building up between us.

Before she can respond, a tremendous groaning creak shakes the cellar. We both startle violently as a rectangle of light appears, silhouetting a female figure on the stairs.

“Helena?” a voice calls out. “Are you down here still? It’s been ages. Your uncle is looking for you.”

I squint against the glare as she leaps up. “Eve! Thank Lucifer. We seem to be stuck!”

Helena?Bloody hell… NotClaire. Damn it. I messed up big time—not that I regret a single second of it. I’d gladly mess up again and again with this girl.

“We?” Eve questions. Footsteps creak on the stairs and the light sweeps towards me, revealing tousled golden curls and ruby lips curved in a knowing smirk.

“Well, well, well,” she purrs, eyeing me up and down. “If it isn’t the prodigal Archangel Raphael, gracing us with his presence.”

I spread my arms, offering a cheeky bow. No point denying it—my celestial energy shines too bright, I guess. “The one and only. At your service.”

The look Eve gives me is equal parts amused and alarmed. Meanwhile, Helena makes choking sounds beside me.

“Archangel?!” she squeaks.

I rub my neck sheepishly as her widened eyes swing my way. “Ah, yes. Well... surprise?” I give a helpless shrug. Not exactly how I would have chosen to reveal that tidbit.

“Oh! This is a right mess,” Eve tuts, shaking her head. She turns her probing gaze on Helena. “Lucifer has the whole club in an uproar, searching for his missing niece. We’d best get you topside straight away, Helena.”

My expression slackens as I swing my head towards the gorgeous woman to my left. “Lucifer…” I mumble, my voice barely audible as shock washes over me. “You’re Lucifer’s niece.”

Helena nods at Eve dutifully, moving towards the stairs. But Eve holds up one manicured hand to usher her forward. “Come on, love. I’ll take you up the front way, and buy our handsome intruder here time to sneak out the back.”

She pins me with a sharp stare. “I trust you remember the route you took down, Raphael?”

I duck my head. “Clear as crystal.”

With a terse nod, she hooks her arm through Helena’s and guides her up into the pulsing lights and music. But at the threshold, Eve pauses, tossing a coy look my way.

“We’ll have a nice long chat about this later, yes? For now, keep it under wraps, you two.” Her meaning is as clear as sacramental wine.

“There’s nothing to tell,” Helena and I rush to say in sync. I avoid her eyes, her warm honeysuckle scent still clinging to my senses.

With a cryptic smile, Eve departs, plunging me back into muted darkness. I loiter awkwardly, waiting a few beats before attempting to slip out unseen.

The hidden cellar door gives easily now, leading me into the dusky alley. I gulp the crisp air like a drowning man breaking the surface.

What a night of surprises. My thoughts churn as I make my way through the garbage-strewn backstreets to where I parked. Helena’s kiss plays on a loop in my mind, a short circuit in my brain.

I knew Lucifer kept intriguing company. But his own niece? That’s a new level of forbidden fruit, even for me.

No. Fuck, no! I can’t. I shouldn’t.

When I reach my Mercedes, I pause with my hand on the door. I should leave this be. Nothing good can come from tonight’s little misadventure.

And yet... my engine still runs hot, thoughts swerving back to Helena despite all sense. What harm could one more encounter do? I’m addicted to her flame now—consequences be damned.

I rev the engine, peeling off into the sultry night air. I know Eve gave me clear instructions to keep away. But when have I ever excelled at obedience?