Chapter Four
Raziel saw the flare of interest in Cody’s eyes, had been feeling it since he’d revealed himself in the kitchen. He’d also noticed the covert looks when his mate thought he wasn’t paying attention.
Even now, the scent of the human’s lust hung in the air, spicy and electrifying. The fragrance tangled with Raziel’s senses, each inhale drawing it deeper.
As soon as the father was gone, Raziel stalked closer, unable and unwilling to resist any longer. He wanted to taste Cody’s lips, to draw every moan and whimper he could wrench from his willing body.
Logic had no place here. He smirked as Cody’s pale blue gaze widened, his breath hitching at the approach. A low growl rumbled in Raziel’s throat as he pinned his mate against the wall, desire igniting like a wildfire.
His wings unfurled behind him as he pressed his lips to Cody’s, letting the hunger consume him.
“Kiss me.”
Raziel crooned the demand, unable to recall the last time it felt like his body was drowning in need.
Like a little kitten, timid but brave, Cody slid his arms around Raziel’s neck.
That was all it took.
His mate’s surrender.
Crushing Cody’s soft body against his, Raziel lowered his lips to his mate’s. “I might not be a demon, but I know how to be sinful.”
The sparks were instant, igniting a flame that would only grow higher. Raziel tightened his arms around his mate, grinding his leather-covered cock into Cody’s stomach.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he recognized the danger in touching his mate, the consequences of his actions, but god help him, he couldn’t find the strength to pull away.
The grip on his control was fraying, and he wasn’t sure he had the will to reel it in. Kissing Cody was a mistake—a selfish, reckless indulgence that risked everything he was trying to protect.
But he was literally drowning in Cody’s scent.
His mate tasted like warmth, like something Raziel hadn’t realized he’d craved until it was pressed against his lips.
Sliding his hands down Cody’s sides, he mapped out the soft curves and firm planes he had no right to touch. Yet, his mate fit against him so perfectly it made Raziel’s heart ache, a sensation he didn’t know how to protect himself against.
The right thing to do would be to pull away. But he wanted just one more kiss, one more stolen second, and then Cody’s breath hitched, and his fingers tightened on Raziel’s shoulders like he was holding on for dear life.
And just like that, it was over. Raziel was undone.
His resolve to stay away was obliterated.
When he eased back, his mate’s lips were swollen, his cheeks flushed, and he wanted to commit that look to memory, wanted to lick every inch of the human as well. His cock was hard and pulsing, and fuck, Raziel wanted him so badly, had wanted Cody even before he realized they were mates.
“You’re beautiful like this,”
he murmured, his voice rough, low.
Still clinging to Raziel, Cody blinked up at him, his pale blue eyes dazed. “I’m not—”
Snarling, Raziel cut him off with a hard kiss, refusing to hear the denial. He trailed his lips over the man’s smooth jaw, tasting the salt of his skin as he worked his way down to the curve of his neck. “Yes, you are.”
“Whatever you say.”
Cody tipped his head back against the wall, giving him access to that captivatingly vulnerable stretch of throat, and the quiet sound the human made, half gasp, half whimper, was enough to push him closer to the edge.
So responsive.
Mastering indifference hadn’t been hard for Raziel. It was easier to keep everything, everyone, at arm’s length. But his mate’s hands, soft and steady, undid every wall he’d built.
For the first time in Raziel’s existence, someone touched him like he mattered, like he wasn’t just an afterthought.
Like he was truly desired beyond a meaningless hookup for mutual pleasure, destined to be forgotten.
And that scared him more than the guilt ripping through his chest.
Skimming his hands lower, he settled them firmly on his mate’s waist, closing the remaining space between them.
Raziel cursed the madness tearing at his resolve. This was wrong—dangerous, indulgent. He should have left the moment he realized what Cody could mean to him.
But now that he’d had a taste of the beautiful redhead, leaving felt impossible. The need to stay, to lose himself in this fleeting connection, outweighed the risks. Foolish bastard , he thought bitterly. One more sin to add to your ledger .
Still, Raziel had to try for both their sakes.
He dropped his lips to his mate’s ear, letting his breath warm the shell.
“Tell me to stop,”
he whispered gruffly. It wasn’t a plea he expected to be answered, but part of him wanted Cody to save him from himself.
But he knew his mate wouldn’t. Not when he felt the human trembling against him, caught in the same current that had Raziel spiraling out of control.
“I-I can’t.”
His mate pulled Raziel down to him, causing him to smile then groan when Cody scraped his teeth across his short beard. “Since you ate my bacon, the payment is making out with me for longer than ten minutes.”
Fuck. Raziel growled, his hands tightening on his mate. “I’m about to pay for tomorrow’s breakfast too, kitten.”
“What—”
Cody’s eyes went wide when Raziel used his knee to push apart his mate’s legs before thrusting his thigh between them.
Cody was much shorter, yet their bodies fit perfectly together.
“I think you get the idea of what I want you to do.”
He bit down gently on Cody’s bottom lip and then licked the sting. “Ride me, handsome.”
The blush that erupted across Cody’s face nearly outmatched the inferno of his hair. It appeared his mate was even shyer than Raziel had first thought.
And that knowledge only turned him on even more.
Gently gripping Cody’s waist, Raziel guided his timid kitten, moving his leg in rhythm to the man’s body rocking gently against it.
“Baby, if you keep moving this slowly, I might be able to get you off by the end of next week,”
Raziel teased, burying his face in Cody’s neck. He inhaled deeply, the intoxicating scent drugging him.
I am so screwed.
Cody’s hips shifted against him, testing, exploring. Raziel bit back a curse as his mate’s warmth and desperation stoked a fire within him he had no business feeding.
But fuck if he was backing down now.
“See, not so hard.”
Raziel playfully nipped at his mate’s chin. “No pun intended.”
Cody grinned, the smile unraveling even more of Raziel’s control. Guilt tried to rear its ugly head, but he refused to acknowledge it, solely focused on bringing his kitten as much pleasure as possible.
It killed Raziel that this was all he could give, but he didn’t dare take things any further. Not when his mate already had him dangling over the edge.
If he dropped over the abyss…
Cody whimpered softly, and Raziel tightened his grip, helping to slide his mate faster along his thigh. “ Don’t hold back. Show me what you need, kitten. Teach me what you like.”
He leaned in closer, his voice a gruff whisper. “Tell me what fantasy gets you off when you lie in bed pleasuring yourself.”
“Holy shit,”
Cody groaned, his movements growing bolder, his rhythm falling into sync with the steady pressure of the thigh between his legs.
Raziel reveled in the way his mate clung to him, the guy’s hands fisting his long hair, his kitten’s gasps and groans breaking the silence.
Each sound felt like a reward, each shiver and tremble a victory.
“ You’re so fucking perfect like this,”
Raziel growled, placing a hand in the middle of Cody’s back, the other around his waist. He nipped lightly at his mate’s neck, soothing the bite with a soft, wet kiss.
Cody was temptation incarnate, causing Raziel to fight a different battle inside of him. His fangs ached to descend, begged him to sink into the soft flesh of Cody’s neck, to feel the human’s blood coat his tongue. He wanted to fuck his mate and seal their bond.
Don’t you dare wreck his life!
Breathing heavily, he slammed a hand against the wall, watching a myriad of emotions sweep across Cody’s features. But his mate was holding back. Raziel could see it in his pretty blue eyes.
“Stop fighting it.”
His voice was a deep rumble, proof of his struggle not to claim Cody. “Let go, baby. I got you.”
He buried his fist in his mate’s fiery hair and then yanked the man’s head back. He’d meant to kiss Cody, but the pulse drew his attention, mesmerizing him.
Raziel’s heart quickened. His gums ached. His heart beat even faster as his breath grew shallow. Then his wings fluttered, as if telling him to do it, to bite down on the warm flesh and claim what was his.
“Raziel!”
The shout of his name was enough to wrench attention away from the biggest mistake Raziel had nearly made. His mate’s body seized, trembling violently as his release hit. His muffled cry sent a thrill through Raziel, who held him steady, keeping him grounded as Cody rode out every shudder, every wave of pleasure.
Then his mate slumped against him, his breaths coming in ragged bursts. That had been too close.
“You’re incredible.”
Raziel cradled the back of his mate’s head. “I could watch you fall apart like that forever.”
When Cody finally stirred, his cheeks were still flushed, his eyes glassy. Raziel eased him back, studying the dazed, beautiful expression on his mate’s face.
“Stay with me, kitten,”
he whispered, his lips grazing Cody’s ear as his fingers curled beneath the hem of his mate’s shirt. He slipped them inside, brushing them against the bare skin beneath. “ Don’t drift away. Let me feel you.”
Let me hold you for as long as I can.
Closing his eyes, Raziel let himself savor the moment—the feel of Cody’s weight against him, the sound of his breathing, the unspoken connection humming between them.
Then reality forced its way back in.
What in the fuck have I done?
* * * *
Cody wasn’t sure why he thought Raziel would still be there when he woke up from his nap. It was a foolish hope that had only led to disappointment.
Sitting up, he lifted his arms and stretched, the good kind that burned and popped all the right muscles.
“It was too intense anyway.”
He walked to the kitchen to make some coffee, the floor cold under his bare feet. But he stopped when his gaze landed on the backward chair and remembered how gorgeous Raziel had looked straddling it.
Cody pressed his palm against his chest when it began to ache. “ Don’t you dare fall apart over some guy. You’ve known him less than a day.”
Righting the chair, he refused to let Raziel live rent-free inside his head. He was stalked by an angel, had used the man’s thigh like his personal sex toy, and now it was time to move on.
Duchess crept slowly into the kitchen, her eyes darting around. She took measured steps, like she was walking through a mine field.
“You’re fine.”
He scooped her up into his arms. “Mr. Invisible poofed home. You’re free to run around disobeying all the rules.”
Duchess loudly meowed, like she was lodging her complaint with him. That was the thing about calicos. They were very vocal. Cody had lost count of how many times they’d argued.
“You can’t blame me.”
He rubbed her back, stroking her soft fur. “What kind of security system does someone buy to keep out a celestial being?”
he asked her, but she gave him a lazy stare. “Exactly! I don’t know either!”
He set her on her feet then headed into the living room when his cell phone rang.
It was his mom. He knew exactly why she was calling him.
Thanks, Dad.
“ Heeey , Mom. What’s up?”
He plopped down onto the couch and dragged the Afghan blanket over him.
“You might as well confess now.”
She sighed. “Whenever you use your ‘I’m guilty’ voice, I know you’re hiding something. Now tell me what has your father so concerned.”
She was using her no-nonsense voice. That wasn’t good.
“Why does there have to be something wrong?”
he politely argued, praying he wasn’t dragged kicking and screaming to hell for trying to pull a fast one on her.
“Cody,”
she said in warning.
“Your husband declared I looked tired, and now I’m being grilled? How fair is that?”
She huffed. “First, whenever you refer to him as my husband, and not your father, I know you’re guilty. Second, you’re getting defensive.”
Dang. The woman knew him too well. If Christmas hadn’t just passed, his dad would be getting coal in his stocking.
“I have no recollection of what you are talking about. I plead insanity.”
Cody just might win his case. He’d felt crazy since meeting Raziel.
Fuck. His chest was aching again thinking about the angel, and he didn’t understand why. They didn’t even know each other.
“Sweetie, I’m sure whatever it is can’t be worse than watching your father trying to deep fry a turkey. At least this year we didn’t have to call the fire department.”
He remembered the fiasco they’d had last Christmas. His father thought putting a half-frozen turkey into hot oil would be “totally fine, son.”
If his mom hadn’t insisted he fry the turkey in the garage on the concrete floor, his parents wouldn’t have a house left.
Although Cody had known it was a bad idea, he hadn’t expected a volcano of fire to spew out of it. His dad had yelled for him to grab the fire extinguisher, but Cody had just stood there, too stunned to move.
The year before, his dad had bought a live tree and decided it would look incredible right next to the fireplace, only he’d forgotten to keep water in the basin.
His parents were on a first-name basis with the fire department.
“So, what are you trying to hide from us, honey?”
Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her tone had probing tentacles. She was dying to know what he was hiding, while Cody was desperate to forget.
Just thinking about the beautiful angel hurt in ways that shouldn’t be possible.
Raziel was captivating and irritating in equal measures. Cody had wanted to kiss those soft lips but also wring his neck.
“That bad?”
his mom asked in a gentle tone, which only made his misery feel so much worse.
“He’s confusing, mysterious, irritating, and…”
Cody drew in a deep breath. “An angel.”
His mom’s laugh was light and full of wisdom. “Men usually are.”
“But I’m a man too.”
Like he had to point that out.
“You are,”
she agreed, sounding hesitant. “But I would imagine that you’re… well, more of the nurturing sort.”
Blinking, his fingers tightened briefly in the Afghan draped over his lap. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
he asked, his tone sharp but not unkind.
“Nothing bad,”
she assured him quickly. “Just… you’ve always had a way of wearing your heart on your sleeve, honey. You care so deeply about people. It’s not a bad thing—it’s a strength.”
Her words were soft, yet Cody felt a defensive edge creep into his chest. “I’m not that soft, Mom,”
he muttered.
“I didn’t say you were,”
she replied, her voice even. “But there’s nothing wrong with being someone who loves deeply. It just means you need to be careful who you let close. Not everyone will appreciate it.”
He leaned back against the couch, exhaling a breath that felt heavier than it should have. “Maybe it’s easier not to let anyone close at all.”
“Oh, Cody.”
Her sigh held a familiar mix of empathy and exasperation. “That’s not you, and you know it. You just haven’t met the right person yet.”
He bit his lip, guilt twisting in his stomach. If only she knew how wrong she was. Raziel hadn’t just crashed into his life—he’d invaded it.
“Mom…”
he started then stopped, his throat tightening. Duchess jumped onto the couch beside him, interrupting his thoughts as she butted her head against his arm.
“You’re quiet,”
his mom remarked gently.
“Sorry.”
Cody stroked the cat’s soft fur. “Just distracted.”
Duchess curled up in his lap, her rumbling purr grounding him in the moment. It was as if she knew he needed the comfort.
“Distracted by this mystery person you’re not telling me about?”
his mom teased, but there was no push, just warmth.
Cody gave a strained laugh. “You’ve got a wild imagination, you know that?”
“I’m your mother. It’s my job.”
He smiled despite himself, running his fingers through Duchess’s fur. “Well, if a guy does pop into my life, I’ll only tell you if he doesn’t turn out to be a bacon-stealing rogue.”
“Then let’s hope your bacon is safe.”
“Literal bacon or my safety?”
He leaned back against the couch, his mind drifting to Raziel, to what happened against the wall he was now staring at. That had been the first time he’d ever ridden a guy’s thigh to orgasm.
Stop thinking about that while your mom is on the phone.
Duchess, who had been sprawled across his lap and enjoying his absentminded petting, suddenly stiffened. Her ears perked sharply, her tail puffing out.
“What is it now, girl?”
He scratched behind her ears to calm her down, but the cat launched herself off his lap with a yowl, darting under the coffee table.
“Cody? What’s going on?”
his mom asked with casual concern.
“Nothing.”
His gaze darted to the front door. “Duchess is just being her usual dramatic self. Probably saw a shadow and decided it was the apocalypse.”
“Well, don’t let her scare you, honey,”
his mom said with a chuckle.
“Scare me? Never.”
Cody tried to keep his voice light, but Duchess’s behavior made him think Raziel was somewhere nearby.
The cat crept out from under the table, her body low to the ground and her fur bristling. She stopped midway and yowled, her golden eyes locked on the front door before she shot back under the table. Thank god she wasn’t his guard dog.
The sudden knock made Cody jump. Jesus. He needed to pull himself together. “Uh, listen, Mom, I’ve gotta go. Someone’s at the door.”
“All right, but call me later, okay?”
“Okay.”
Cody ended the call, setting the phone aside. He glanced at Duchess, who was still glaring at the door like she could mentally will the person away.
“It’s probably nothing.”
He wasn’t sure if he was trying to reassure his cat or himself.
Although he doubted the angel would knock, Cody still called out, “Raziel?”
No answer. Then again, he didn’t feel a presence near him.
Normally, Cody didn’t freak out when someone knocked, but Duchess’ reaction made him wary. He moved silently toward the door, but when he reached for the doorknob, he hesitated, his hand hovering, and then he slowly pulled it back.
Now, whoever it was, banged on it. Would danger really knock?
Yes. Yes, it would.
“You’re being ridiculous,”
he said under his breath before yanking it open.
On the other side was a stranger glaring down at him.